Pant Varsity (GBPUAT) – A Case for a Premier Central University of India: Some Thoughts!

Pant Varsity (GBPUAT) – A Case for a Premier Central University of India: Some Thoughts!

by

Hari Raj Singh^#

Pant Varsity – “The harbinger of Green Revolution” seems to have stuck in the wheel of time – (also) needs to be graduated to new levels. Over the decades, since 1960, it (GBPU) has helped elevate the education & research levels of several generations of professionals. These professionals in turn have performed for self and innumerable organizations – making them scale new heights across the landscape of Mother Earth. It is the high time that we NOW - think and work for the ‘upgrading/ diversifying the role/ status/ stature of GBPU’, in the interest of nation level institutional strengthening.

Some thoughts and observations to assist the idea of GBPU as ‘a premier central university’ are:

1.

The Farmers Commission Report, 2006 Views:

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. The fifth and final report was submitted on October 4, 2006.

The report runs through some 280 odd pages, of these pages “some of the relevant observations in support of taking the Agriculture Education and Research to New Levels” are as follows:

4.3.0 Pre-requisites for Attracting and Retaining Youth in Farming

(Page 112-114 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

Rural Infrastructure

4.3.5 Government Programme on Youth for Leadership in Farming (GPYLF): The ICAR should hold hands of selected rural school children at secondary level who have an aptitude and means to adopt farming as their profession. To begin with, depending on size of the State, about 50 to 150 boys and girls should be identified from each State to participate in one-week programme at an ICAR Institute or SAU or a Farm School in the region. The young minds should feel the thrill and excitement of science-based agriculture and critical appreciation of scientific principles.

4.5.0 New Technologies

(Page 127-128 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

4.5.1 ………In every village at least one woman and one man should be trained to be Farm Science Manager so that army of grass root enlightened and committed people could launch an eco-technology revolution – marrying traditional wisdom and frontier science and technology, leading to an evergreen revolution.…….

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) - Gyan Chaupals

4.5.2 Ecologically sound and economically rewarding agriculture is knowledge intensive. Fortunately, based on the recommendations of the NCF, as contained in its First Report, the Government has already taken steps to establish knowledge connectivity through the e-governance and to develop Every Village a Knowledge Centre……..

4.6.0 Opportunities in Major Agro Ecological Zones

(Page 133, 135, 136 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

Hill Areas

4.6.1 Mountain and Hill ecosystems cover nearly 50% of the total national geographic area and occur in almost all the agro-ecological zones of the country. The Himalayas, extending 2,500 km in length and 250 to 400 km in breadth, the tallest water tower of our planet, occupy about 80% of the mountain and hill area of the country………

4.6.2 Organic Farming:

4.6.5 For farm graduates, the following opportunities in organic farming exist:

Organic farming – a value addition viz. Tarai Organic Farmers Amity is exporting organic Basmati Rice and is pursuing organic essential oils agribusiness …….

4.6.6 In order to realise the self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in organic farming, adequate training and retraining opportunities for graduates should be established. Courses on organic agriculture and agribusiness both for degrees and diplomas should be included in academic programmes of the State Agricultural Universities and other Universities/institutions……..The Graduates could particularly be helped in preparing and using Organic Farming Tool Kits based on IFOAM principles, which will prove extremely helpful in inspiring international confidence in the quality of organic processed foods and other products from India.

4.7.0 Young People’s Mission and Action: India A Major Agricultural Outsourcing Hub of the World

(Page 148 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

4.7.2 Young graduates should be duly trained for specialized production of the various products and dynamically linked with the world information on their agri-business. Appropriate Regulatory measures, particularly Sanitary and Phytosanitory measures, Food Safety Standards, IPR, Geographical Indicators, TRIPS, etc. should effectively be in place and fully functional. Selected SAUs and ICAR Institutes may establish Centres of Outsourcing Business in Agriculture………

4.8.0 Institutional Structure

(Page 149 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

4.8.3 While necessary support should be extended to farm graduates to establish and operate agri-clinics, including extension advisory activities, input dealership should primarily be given to agriculture graduates who besides ensuring timely distribution of quality inputs would also be proactively involved in rendering extension services to their clients……..One Agricultural Supervisor (Agricultural Graduate) for every 2 Panchayats is recommended.

4.9.0 Education and Training

(Page 153-156 of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

Education for Agriculture: The Need of the New Millennium

4.9.1 Establishment of a large number of SAUs and the resulting human resources have played an important role in strengthening and spreading the Green Revolution since the 1960s. Now new demands are being put up on the system, which it must meet in order to remain responsive and relevant. Generally, the knowledge explosion in ICT, Biotechnology, Space Technology, nanotechnology, etc. and the fast changing international environment, particularly in the globalised and liberalized world, and trends and implications of increasing divides on the income, digital, gender and social fronts have not been internalized in curricula of most SAUs and colleges and the graduates are becoming increasingly removed from global realities. Basic and strategic research is drying fast and the teachers, especially the senior ones, are not abreast of the latest developments, hence routine and mundane teaching continues. The agricultural education at SAUs and agriculture colleges must be revamped to become education for agriculture. For this, multidisciplinary teaching, adequate infusion of basic and social sciences and linkages with relevant institutions in the country across Ministries should be ensured to develop holistic and enriched education for agriculture to increase awareness on the challenges and opportunities of new and complex interrelated issues and developments.

4.9.4 There is need for a few Centres of Excellence in Agriculture (Crop and Animal Husbandry, Fishery and Forestry) on the model of IITs and the IIMs. The Agricultural Universities Association should not only bring about curriculum reform for imparting more practical training, but also reforms in the pedagogic methodology taking into account the new opportunities opened up by ICT for promoting a learning revolution among our students. By suitably restructuring the pedagogic methodology using ICT tools, it will be possible to save time for practical work. Agricultural Universities should also organize more non-degree training programmes. All Farm Universities should adopt the motto “Every Student an Entrepreneur”. Entrepreneurship and innovation must be the key goals of Universities.

4.9.5 Adequate financial support should be made available to the SAU’s and other educational institutions which are acutely starved of funds. While the State Governments have rather liberally been establishing new agricultural and related universities, there is negligible increase in the overall financial allocation to agricultural education. It is suggested that one time substantial catch up grant should be provided to the agricultural education institutions for establishing State of the art equipment, training modules and their deliveries and other facilities. Centres of distance education should also be strategically established. In order to avoid inbreeding, a certain percentage of faculty and students must be recruited and admitted from outside the State.

Revamping University curricula – Mainstreaming Business Management and Applied Courses

4.9.7 The following key issues must be addressed towards increasing employment and retention and attraction of farm graduates in farming:

i) Poor and deteriorating quality of graduates and deficiency of practical and business skills for self-employment.

ii) Poor infrastructure and facilities in rural areas, especially irregular and highly inadequate electricity and other energy resources and the lack of desired educational and health care facilities.

ii) Poor communication and information connectivity; lack of technology- market-and employment-related database.

The main reasons for the above shortcomings are:-

i) Routine, mundane, static and stale university curricula; mismatch between the dynamic need/demand of new skills, expertise, talent, tool and techniques and the actual formal training imparted and technologies/approaches available or developed for the purpose.

ii) Shortage of competent and spark-creating teachers, and large number of teaching, research and extension positions lying or kept vacant.

iii) Intake quality compromised, as in several States no minimum is fixed for entrance examinations.

7.5 Technology

(Page 231 onwards of attached file - SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006)

7.5.1 Technologies which can help to enhance land, water and labour productivity are urgently needed. They should lead to an evergreen revolution in small farms, i.e. increase in productivity in perpetuity without associated ecological harm. The smaller the farm, the greater is the need for marketable surplus in order to generate cash income. The small farm can lend itself to higher productivity and profitability, provided the small farmer is enabled to overcome his/her handicaps arising from lack of capital and credit and access to appropriate technologies and inputs and remunerative markets. There is need for a small farm management revolution, which can result in conferring the power and economy of scale on small producers both in the production and post-harvest phases of farming; if this does not happen, mounting debts arising from adverse economics will continue to affect them. The strategy for a Small Farm Management Revolution will have to be developed by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) with technical help from Agricultural, Rural and Women’s Universities as well as IITs and IIMs, since much of the action will be location-specific. ……………

7.5.5 The Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) or Gyan Chaupal movement recommended by NCF in its first report (December 2004), will help to bridge the growing gap between scientific knowledge and its field application. It will also facilitate the removal of many intermediaries from the marketing chain.…………

To achieve the above cited objectives and goals, we need to work upon institutional up-gradation at all levels, to begin with at ‘least one SAU’ need to be revamped and graduated to next level, thus making a strong case for GB Pant University to be provided with this opportunity.

2.

The (Uttarakhand) State Perspective:

On 9^th November 2000, Uttarakhand came into existence as the 27th state of the Republic of India.

As any new offspring, the state also needed all the care and support from its subjects for rightful upbringing and holistic development. Of all other institutions, educational and research institutions are the real building blocks through which a state can take help for the rightful delivery of goods and services to its pupils. The state has been enough fortunate to have a series of upgraded institutions in the form of:

            - HNB Garhwal University upgraded to a Central University

            - A new NIT at Srinagar Garhwal

- A new IIM at Kashipur

and

- Roorkee University upgraded to an IIT

Here arises the question of WHY SUCH A LONG WAIT FOR A CENTRAL AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY for the state? Especially when we find that various states have already had the Central Agriculture University established in their state. Doesn’t GBPU deserve its due with the kind of contribution it has to the Nation’s Agricultural Growth since its establishment in 1960?

Seemingly the answer to the above query will need no elaborate rationale and it would be in an affirmative, in the larger interest of the nations agriculture and the farming community.

3.

An Ecological Perspective/ Thought to Education and Research:

The NCF report, throughout its narration and analysis seems to have an overwhelming opinion for inculcating an “AGRO-ECOLOGICAL SENSE” in the entire top to down function/s of Nations Agricultural set up.

Do we need to have a paradigm shift from –

Package of Practices mode of Farming to Agro-ecologically Adaptive and Eco-sensitive mode of Farming?

In all probabilities, it would be a BIG YES!

Then, an immediate need arises for our Agricultural Education to revamp its nation wide system of SAU’s, which need to be further assisted by a series of ‘PREMIER INSITUTIONS ESTABLISHED or UPGRADED to AGRO-ECOLOGICAL LEVELS in the NATION’ thus having a wider and integrated mandate to serve the cause of Agriculture as well as Natural Resource Management.

To begin with having GB Pant University to lead the nation ones again by graduating it (GBPU) to new levels has a strong potential to be put forth as a new example for rest of the nation.

Endnote

With the diverse recommendations of the NCF and the realities/ needs (both agro-ecologically and state level sector requirements), the Varsity (G.B. Pant University formerly UPAU) stands out to be a definite case to be recognised and elevated to the status of not only a Central University but going a bit further it should be ‘made to graduate’ to the levels of ‘A Premier Agricultural Institution (in generic sense)’ of the nation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LINKS:

- Swaminathan Report: National Commission on Farmers - PRS

www.prsindia.org/.../swaminathan-report-national-commission-on-farme...

- National Commission on Farmers - Department of ...

agricoop.nic.in/imagedefault/policy/draftNPFNCF.pdf

ATTACHED FILES:

- SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING FARMING 5th & Final Report, 4 Oct 2006

- Report Summary Swaminathan Committee on Farmers (Oct 2006) PRS Legislative Res

- GBPU in WIKIPEDIA 11-06-15

 BLOG:

- http://harirajsingh68.blogspot.com (posted on 11^th June, 2015)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

^#Hari Raj Singh

B.Sc.Ag.&A.H.(Hons.); M.Sc.(Soil Sc.); C.E.S.; C.D.M.

Subject Specialist (Watershed / Disaster Mgmt.)            

Contacts: 110, Indira Nagar Colony, (P.O. New Forest)

DEHRA DUN. 248 006. Uttarakhand. INDIA

Tel: 91 +135 +2768962; 0 941 2768962(cell)

Email: harirajsingh@hotmail.com

Blog: http://harirajsingh68.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS – A PRIMER

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS – A PRIMER

RATIONALE

As the society moves ahead in time and space, it evolves and practices varied and new professions and vocations. Every time a technology /innovation injects a utility tool to be used by the social system, it comes along with all its pros and cons. Unfortunately, the delivery system and society gets driven by the 'pros' and (most of the time) ignores to take care of the 'cons' associated with the work, space and the tool. The ignorance to the associated hazards could be due to various reasons, namely, lack of technical know-how/ policy support/ legislation/ societal awareness and so on. The most glaring example of the day being the electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) dominated environment by the presence of mobile telephony networks. The rush for the development / the target oriented work culture / the indiscriminate use of unscientific and loosely understood technology had lead to exposure of human society to one or the other "Occupational Health Hazard/Problem" in present times. The state of Uttarakhand is also into the fast track of development, trying to achieve double digit growth, if not achieving it, but at least getting near to it (7.87% GDP growth rate in 2012-13). This scenario also adds a new dimension to the entire development management concept and that is "Occupational Health Hazards/Problems and their Management". The recent nature fury of June, 2013 in the state has also forced the system to rethink the various development approaches and hazards associated with them. So, there is imminent need to take up the issue of "Occupational Health Hazards", in association with all sectors of society and development in the state. Thus building up a "safer workplace environment" for one and all in the state.

BACKGROUND

The definition of occupational health as give by WHO/ILO in 1950 was “Promotion and maintenance of highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations.” In 1972, the WHO/ILO further defined it as “Occupational health is concerned with physical, mental and social well being in humans in relation to his work and work environment, their adjustment to work and adjustment of work to humans.”

Earliest examples of Occupational Health Problems (OHP) can be referred to the ones faced by the captive prisoners of defeated armies. The kings used to put the soldiers of defeated army into mining and quarry work with inhuman working conditions, leading to acute OHP’s, which included tuberculosis, dehydration, deformities, severe injuries, cancers  and so on.

Historically, reporting of occupational infections goes back to Hippocrates, who in his seminal work ‘On Airs, Waters and Places’ written in 400 BC, wrote that “if you wish to investigate medicine properly”, including ‘epidemic diseases’, you should look at, among other things, “the mode in which inhabitants live, and what are their pursuits”. Historical works were also done by Agricola (1494-1555), Paracelsus (1493-1541), Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) on the occupational health scenario of there times. Employers like Robert Owen (1771-1858) had a definitive role in taking up the issue of workplace environment by refusing to employ young persons of bellow 10 years of age.

It was estimated that global workforce has grown by 500 million by year 2000 requiring that new job opportunities be created for young people.  In addition, employment was to be organized for over 800 million people, who are currently unemployed.  This implies that total employment shortage was about 1 – 1.3 billion jobs by year 2000.  Increasing rate of unemployment are also expected because of increase in productivity as a result of technological development, new divisions of work, high population growth and economic recession in different region.  Unemployment has been found to be associated with health hazards due to adverse economic difficulties.  Social and mental health problems are seen due to unfavourable lifestyle resulting in higher morbidity and mortality.  Thus unemployment is likely to remain a major long-term problem with adverse effect on health, productivity and economy.

Several recent surveys on psychological stress at work show increasing trends particularly in industrialized countries. Such hazards have been shown to cause remarkable loss of health, well being and working capacity and thus to affect productivity, quality of working life, and economic status of individuals, companies and nations.

India’s Reality

·             Highly industrialized (in top 10 nations of the world).

·             Agriculture single largest occupation.

·             Majority employed in unorganised sectors.

·             Poverty, social and geographical factors influence workers health.

In India 30-40 crore people work in agriculture sector and practically all face one or the other occupational health problem. Besides this poor working conditions in the industries, especially, coal, mining, textile, hazardous chemicals - dye/pesticides/paints/drugs and so on, led to Indian’s poor rank in World Human Development Index ranking.

The frequency of occupational diseases is much more than reported, the reasons being:

·             Lack of awareness amongst occupational physicians, safety welfare officers, employees’, employers,   farmers and general population at large.

·             Inability of physicians to differentiate occupational disease from non-occupational ones.

·             Lack of infrastructure facility.

·             Lack of latest diagnostic equipments.

·             Rapid progress in science and technology creating new occupational diseases, previously not known.

·             Fear of involvement in lengthy medico-legal and compensation procedures.

·             Fear of legal action.

Causative Agents of Occupational Hazards

Physical agents - heat, cold, pressure changes, vibrations, radiation, electricity, light and so on.

Chemical agents - organic and inorganic chemicals in solid, liquid and gaseous state.

Biological agents - fungi, virus, bacteria, protozoa, vectors of various diseases and so on.

Psychological agents - monotonous job, shift work, organizational problems and so on.

Physiological agents - maladjustment of man and machine, wrong postures restrictive muscular movement deformities of long run.

In India, at national level, occupational health and safety implemented in three main ways:

·             Legislations

·             Occupational health services at place of work/employment

·             Research and field surveys in occupational health and safety

Motivating factors in development and progress in occupational health:

·             Humanity of society.

·             Wealth and economic needs of society to conserve a healthy and efficient work force.

·             Status of worker in society.

·             Knowledge of occupational health risks.

·             Dignity and respect for human life.

·             Obligation towards safety and preservation of employees by employer.

Occupational history has following five key parts:

·             Description of patients all pertinent jobs, past and present.

·             Review of exposures faced by patient in his jobs.

·             Information on timing of symptoms in relation to work.

·             Data on similar problems in co-workers.

·             Information on non-work factors like, smoking, alcoholism, nutrition, personal habits/hygiene etc.

Major relevant legislations for Indian workers:

·             The Factories Act – 1881

·             The Factories Act- 1947

·             Workmen’s Compensation Act- 1924

·             Personal Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Act

·             Employees State Insurance Act

The ESI Act is the most important act, which provides for social security, health insurance, cash and medical benefits and lifetime compensation for all occupational diseases.

Major problems in the current context, related to work/occupation are:

·             Problems of musco-skeletal systems of human body e.g. drivers, ladies, heavy engineering workers and so on.

·             Posture problems of workers e.g. miners, call center workers, IT industry, workers, industry shift workers.

·             Unorganized sector is the ‘High Risk Group’ due to unsafe work conditions, unregulated work schedule, lack of medical and legal safe guards.

·             Compensation recovery mechanism is very tedious in case of eventuality and at times impossible and bogus.

Some of the safety measures and precautions in relation to various industrial and non-industrial works/occupation are:

·        Use of protective gears like - facemasks, gloves, boots, anti-fire, fire retardant materials.

·        Correct sitting and working postures, especially, in long sitting hours.

·        Yoga and physiotherapy as a mitigation to reduce stress of work and posture.

Prevention of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases and protection of workers against physical and psychological overload imply a prudent use of resources, minimizing unnecessary loss of human and material resources.

The potential sector of works and occupation requiring attention and concerted efforts to address and mitigate "Occupational Health Problems" in Uttarakhand are:

·        Agriculture and animal husbandry.

·        Forests and forestry based works.

·        Building and road, especially dams and bridges.

·        Human health management systems.

·        Industries and industrial environment i.e. nature of industries, nature of work, exposure to hazardous conditions, workers awareness and safety compliances.

·        Tourism industry i.e. hotels, paying guest houses, home stays, restaurant, trekking outfits related environment and hazards.

·        Municipal and Palika (Human settlement) area management, especially the Waste Management sector related hazards.

·        Women centric - work and health related issues, specially the drudgery related issues

·        Natural calamities vis-à-vis occupational safety issues of Disaster mitigation professionals / workforce.

Objectives

The aim and focus of the brainstorming session:

·        Discuss the status of occupational health related scenario in the state of Uttarakhand.

·        Identification of sectors / vocations requiring 'occupational health' related attention.

·        Sector wise listing of ‘occupational health problems'.

·        Methodology and tools need to be adopted by the government, regulatory bodies, planners, society / workforce and its managers to address 'Occupational Health' issues effectively.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hari Raj Singh

B.Sc.Ag&A.H.(Hons.); M.Sc.(Soil Sc.); C.E.S.; C.D.M.

Subject Specialist (Watershed / Disaster Mgt.)       

Contacts: 110, Indira Nagar Colony, (P.O. New Forest)

                   DEHRA DUN. 248 006. Uttarakhand. INDIA

                   Tel: 91 +135 +2768962; 0 941 2768962(cell)

                   Email: harirajsingh@hotmail.com

                   Blog: http://harirajsingh68.blogspot.com                           

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acquaintance with the (real) Meaning of Words:'NAMASTAE'

Acquaintance with the (real) Meaning of Words:

The meaning of 'NAMASTAE'

The commonly used gestures & greetings in the Sanatan/ Hindu system have evolved with o deep insight, not understood to its fullest at times, especially the city bound (majority) younger generation in India. One greeting being NAMASTAE - made up of (sandhi of two shabd)two words : NAMAHA - meaning: Naman or gesture of gratitude + TAE - meaning: Tum or to you. So, by extending Namastae, we are extending (divine) gratitude to the fellow BEINGS & even the BEINGS within the eternal NON-BEING !

~Hari Raj

(Its Hari who speaks not Me!)

 

Views on A Plan to Save the Hills - Link Ecopreneurship to Watershed Concept

Views on A Plan to Save the Hills – Anil P Joshi on 13^th Sept., 2013

Edit Page Mail Box

speakoutedit@timesgroup.com

 

Dear Editor,

Please find hereunder some reflections on the article by Dr Anil P Joshi.

Thanks and regards,

Hari Raj

Link Ecopreneurship to Watershed Concept

(Reference: A Plan to Save the Hills – Anil P Joshi on 13^th Sept., 2013; The Times of India, New Delhi edition, page-12)

Mistakes can be corrected but blunders can seldom be reversed, and that is what happened at Kedar-Badri and the entire range of Uttarakhand Himalaya this monsoon (A Plan to Save the Hills by Dr. Anil P Joshi on 13^th Sept.). Fairly speaking, what happened in this region was beyond our imaginary (and technical capabilities) proportions. This could be equated to what happened in Odisha cyclone or Bhuj earthquake, in recent past. The Himalaya is ecologically characterized as a ‘fragile and delicately poised system’. So we need to live by this practical truth for all ground level interventions in this region. But, at the same time its fragility doesn’t means that it is ‘vulnerable’. Rather, ‘it is made vulnerable’ by the lack of ecological-literacy amongst our development planners and executioners. Thus, looking at the prevalent model of development, ‘preserving the hills’ is ‘a mountainous task’.

               The ‘Ecopreneurship Model (EM)’ stands a good chance, in theory! As we have seen the free fall of all economic models (except for the Char Dham Yatra – an exploitative and consumptive one) due to lack of closed chain mechanism, since creation of Uttarakhand state a dozen years back! I fear the lack of back and forth-value based linkage creation in ‘ecological entrepreneurship’ can land EM too as a non-starter. Tagging EM to MGNREGA too won’t work as the exclusivity of the Ecopreneurship is far and beyond the Center’s flagship programmes potential outreach.

What is required is a wider and all inclusive debate and consultations (especially the valley and village stakeholders) to work out an effective EM. Of the various options, what is required is adopting a ‘Watershed Based Approach’, thereby addressing the ‘uniqueness of closed ecosystems’ of each of the river valley and its tributaries, exclusively. These are to be assessed and managed locally to make a closed linkage of flow of goods and services, be it forests, livestock, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity. And thereafter linking one valley to the other, thus creating a chain of intra and inter dependence and sustenance for the human settlements dotting the Uttarakhand Himalayan terrain.

 

~ Hari Raj Singh

______________________________________________________________________________

Hari Raj Singh

B.Sc.Ag&A.H.(Hons.); M.Sc.(Soil Sc.); C.E.S.; C.D.M.

Development Consultant & Subject Specialist (Watershed / Disaster Mgt.)   

Contacts: 110, Indira Nagar Colony, (P.O. New Forest)

                   DEHRA DUN. 248 006. Uttarakhand. INDIA

                   Tel: 91 +135 +2768962; 0 941 2768962(cell)

                   Email: harirajsingh@hotmail.com

                   Blog: http://harirajsingh68.blogspot.com          

Creating Enabling Environment for Progress in Uttarakhand Himalaya: Some Issues and Views

Creating Enabling Environment for Progress in Uttarakhand Himalaya: Some Issues and Views

Hari Raj Singh

Prelude
Stepping into the tenth year of Uttarakhand statehood! It’s neither too long a duration to be mature enough as a state nor too short to lack sincerity to handle thyself! There is a strong commonality between human and state growth. A human of 10 years age is a child, but s/he is enough grown up to shape up his/her character/ attitude and above all COMMON SENSE, if not the 6th sense.The vibrancy of 10 has a lot of intriguing questions and equally good number of innocent (and practical) opinions. Did we ever realise this? If yes, then it’s so far so good, if not then we need to, in the interest of a perfect statehood (just like manhood).
The progress of any system depends upon the kind of governance and development approach adopted. In either of the cases the two kinds of the approach normally discussed or followed are ‘Top to Bottom or Bottom Up’. The like and dislike to any of the said approach depends upon the adopting section of the system. Normally the ‘Top to Bottom approach’ is liked by the legislative and the executive. Whereas, the ‘Bottom Up approach’ is a choice of the civil society. But, neither of the section ever realise that the stratification and layering within the system creates a ‘Top in each Bottom’ and ‘Bottom in each Top’. So, the idea is neither of the approaches is wrong or right. Actually it is the ‘frame of ideas and subsequent translation of these ideas into ground reality’, which is required for ideal governance and development.
(The all important issue is “Kya ek naveen soach ke tehat vyavastha chalti hai ya vyavasthaon ki bandishon mein ghiri hui soach panapti hai”)

Issues and Views
Reflecting back on to the (Uttarakhand) states governance and development down the time line, certain issues of importance as perceived and to be there for rightful progress are:
Reorganization of administrative district units:
Lets take an example straight away, on one side there are large districts like Dehra Dun and Chamoli and on the other the small one’s like Rudraprayag and Champawat. Now this anomaly needs to be corrected and sooner the better. In a cross section view we find a district like Dehra Dun cutting across several types of physiographic and socio-economic regimes. Is it possible for a centralized district authority or development office to have a recky of the entire district in a single working day, leave aside addressing the needs and problems? It is universally accepted that a management unit is framed on the principle of acknowledging the ‘limiting factor’. In the case of Himalaya the ‘terrain’ and ‘time to cover a unit area’ are two limiting factors. On this premise all administrative units, be it districts, tehsil, block or forest division, range, beats all need to be reoriented. Historically, the revenue management was on the basis of river valleys and catchments; can this be a way to reorient our administrative units to have an easy flow of management responsibilities? If the option appeals, then reforms need to be done and if not, then further options need to be explored.
Dilemma of the Capital Town?
Beyond personal and sectoral whims and fancies, the state legislature and the executive need to fix up a locus as a ‘nerve center’ for the state. Doesn’t it sound strange that being into the tenth year of statehood, yet the state is in search of a headspace? The issue becomes all the more satirical when we observe that ‘a new town of Tehri’ was created for a ‘HYDROELECTRIC DAM’, but for a ‘new state’ a ‘NEW CAPITAL’ is still in waiting! A system of command which cannot decide upon the ‘nerve center’, how it can create an efficient regulatory and management system for its ‘constituent organs’? …And under such circumstances progress and development could only be a distant dream. Thus, the issue of the capital town needs a quick and wise decision in the interest of the ‘state body’.
Who need the development (orientation) more?
It is widely accepted that majority of Uttarakhand’s development needs lie in 16000 plus villages dotting its entire landscape. No doubt there are 72 odd townships/cities, but we also know that these settlements have a natural pull from power corridors and even private interests for their development and progress. So, actually the focus is more required, rather a necessity, for village cluster development then to urban/ quasi-urban settlement to support Bottom Up approach.
Line departments/ directorate’s development divide:
Those who work with the rural development sector, know it very well that no single therapy or approach works for solution finding, afterall village is not like an industrial estate! Yet we find a multi-pronged fragmented approach in execution of development works by various line departments (and that too not having an eye for each other), then be it Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Soil Conservation/ Forest/ Irrigation/ Drinking water/ Livestock and so on, all having their own agenda and issues with a bare minimum interaction or symbiosis with each other . Is it so in a village? NO. The mountain villages are a ‘harmony of all’, but alas! the development superstructure is ‘fragmented’. Thus, there is an immediate need to integrate the whole issue, how? It’s a management challenge. We have the ‘Watershed Directorate’ as an answer to it. Can we design a similar ‘super structure’, but then what about the ministries and directorates? Who would like to divulge his/her power in the interest of commons?.
Capacity building- of whom and for what?
Into the tenth year down the line the state has grown from 23 MLA’s to 71 odd and simultaneously the executive has also flourished. Panchayat elections have also added to the capacities of villages. But now is the time to further the cause of capacity building of the commons. The idea is to address the issues of basic living and strengthening them, these include livelihood options, quality of life issues, health/sanitation/food safety/education and so on.
Are we a single or multifaceted state?
Every time there is a hype of a concept, at times it is 'Urja Pradesh’, on the other it’s ‘Herbal State’, then it is ‘Organic State’, next is ‘Adobe of Gods-Tourism State’ and so on. The state people are simply in dilemma that what kind of ‘state’ we are visioning for? Is it at all necessary to project certain personal preferences in a ‘singular manner’, can’t we project our climatically, resource wise and culturally diverse state as a ‘MULTIFACETED STATE’? Probably the answer would be ‘YES-WE CAN’! This gives us the kind of impetus and range of options and sense of confidence amongst the masses that we have a lot and we can do a lot? We need to do away with ‘Mono-Cultured Idea Promotion’ and replace it with our age old ideology/philosophy of ‘Diversity is Prosperity’.
Issues of Green Bonus and beyond:
‘Green Bonus’ sounds good but at the same time the allurement of string of benefits and techno advantage of modern day lifestyle are at a conflict with it. How the common citizen can be made to realize the long term gains of green living and forgo the life entertaining and technology comforts. It’s a huge challenge for all at the ‘Top’ (as they have it all in terms of modernity) to convince the ‘Bottom’ who’s vying to achieve all the luxury in his/her life time. Let’s have a solution for this; can we lead by setting example? We should try to have a ‘Clean and Green’ Vidhan Sabha/ Secretariat/ Directorate/Departments. Let’s have a BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) sponsored energy audits for all our establishments. Let their be ‘Carbon Audit’ of the functioning of our line departments and offices. Let’s have a fair view of how the ‘Top’ is ready to give in favor of the ‘Green’ issues vis-à-vis its system requirements. One such example of Rastrapati Bhavan set forth by former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is there with us for follow.
Livelihood promoting projects or mechanism?
No doubt projects are more target oriented and even catchy at times. But it’s not the need of society and rural to be specific. What they need is a ‘mechanism’ which is ‘process based’ then to time bound. Afterall life and livelihood is a ‘continuum’ then to a definite cycle. So what could be the idea? Most of the productive & livelihood supporting line departments lack a pyramidal structure (rather its inverse pyramid at times). Why? It needs to be answered, as agriculture, livestock, horticulture, forests, trade support (and so on)related establishments, which address livelihood issues of 16, 000 odd villages, severely lack motivation, efficiency and rightful execution. This puts additional burden on civil society institutions (NGO’s/ CBO’s/ VO’s) to intervene in execution of the works and programmes then to their basic role of working as social auditors and sound board for all development related activities at micro level. Can we think of an option where a ‘mechanism’ is established in which there is an unhindered flow of ‘problems and solutions’, for e.g. the age old lab to land and land to lab concept. Then, we can have trained human resource (like para-vets) for vegetables, fruits, flowers, crops, livestock, medicinal and so on, placed at ‘functional & delivery nodes’ i.e. Blocks and Village Panchayats levels. The state is in dire need of a focused hill agriculture institution and even a forests/forestry support institution. IIM’s, IIT’s and IIIT’s are good ‘Tops’, but we need everyday solution giving ‘technical and further education’ institution at the ‘Bottom’ so that micro-systems can evolve and take shape of enterprises. Can we borrow a learning model from neighbouring China? If at all yes, we should do. As long as we have ‘right kind of ideas’ and a ‘will to translate’ them into ground realities with purity and honesty, success is just round the corner (obviously with a pinch of bitterness of failures) and over the hill top. So let’s begin for a change… as life and livings are just a beginning which never ends!

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Hari Raj Singh : +91 412768962, harirajsingh@hotmail.com; http://harirajsingh68.blogspot.com
Subject Specialist (Watershed/ Disaster Mgt.). Dehra Dun

Is it more of a ‘Human Change’ than to a ‘Climate Change’?– A Perspective Shift Required!

:A No-mind Sharing ~ A Thought:

Is it more of a ‘Human Change’ than to a ‘Climate Change’?
– A Perspective Shift Required! #

Hari Raj Singh*

Climate is there to change! Do we change or even remotely think of a change (in our daily life)? Is it we to change the climate or we need to change with the climatic (rather cosmos) rhythms! So the whole issue is not of the aptitude but the attitude, which is more of (human) behaviour centric then to technology centric. But alas! We are trying to address the environmental problems via (more of) technological means then to behavioural and sociological. So which way to go? No doubt the (good) technology has been a product of our (human) aptitude, but the misgivings are the product of our attitude. The whole perspective then automatically shifts from the ‘climate change’ factors (mostly embedded in technological pursuits) to the ‘human change’ factors (which is a cosmic complex, and technology is only a part of it). With this shifted paradigm we need to address and analyze our living as a PART of the WHOLE. Thus treating the WHOLE as the solution of a PART. Get Clicking~ start resonating with the cosmic changes ~ solutions will automatically start rolling in!

Remember, humans (in coexistence with nature) have always thrived as a society/ civilization whenever philosophy and thought have held ground above technology and was brutally decimated whenever technology (here technology has an extended meaning-of-nature overdraw by humans) has overwhelmed its mind, body and soul.

So, the problem is not the solution, but it’s the unidirectional bandwagon approach of the humans down the ages. Historically, we have landed our race from one stupidity into the other (we know by the demise of so many ‘yugs’ and civilizations). Even the current scenario of ‘Carbon fixing’, C-credit’, issue of ‘atmospheric common space’, ‘CO2 scrubber installation’, and what not..... seemingly needs a longer natural vision. Let’s begin with ourselves; I am yet an ignorant as regards any of the ‘globetrotting environmental saviour (human)’ to work out his/ her ‘PERSONAL CARBON AUDIT', least to talk of our neighbourhood and what to talk of the state, where we find most of the calculations are done on (political & presumed) assumptions (which are obviously not the reality!). The issue assumes a serious dimension when we find that such an expert questions the rice produced under submerged water conditions by the (small and marginal) farmer as it adds to the methane (CH4) load of the atmosphere BUT without realizing that he/ she (the farmer) is doing it for the sake of his bare minimum survival and NOT to earn fortunes to travel in jets/boiengs and live in five/ seven star hotels or attend UN meetings! Now let’s examine another dimension of society; the more and more of the urban centric human society thinks that they are the byproduct of themselves (here I may be putting a biased opinion?). While the fact is that we are all a resultant of ‘mother nature’. Side by side we also find increased sense of realization/ respect towards elements of nature in this urban society, but it is most of the time human bias centric! Or cosmetic/ ritualistic (celebrating all sorts of day’s viz. food/ environment /earth/ water………… and so on, what about rest of the 364 days?), After all we are trapped in a self created maze.

Coming back to the issue of the BIG-‘C’, is anyone thinking that in this race (unidirectional) what if we fix more carbon than actually required (and actually no one knows how much need to be fixed as we accept in principle that humans still need to understand the majority of nature)? What if we in the process lead to the excessive cooling? OR create an O2 richer environment (as we intend to plant greens –greens and greens)? And lot much unexplored………………. The idea is, are we in a state to perceive the ‘Totality of Situation’? I believe ’NOT’! Again, the histories is the reason for it, we, as humans, over the time line (from Stone Age down to Virtual Age) have over and over again presumed to be well versed with nature, did anyone ever realized at the start of the Industrial Revolution that ‘WE WILL LAND UP WITH SPOILING THE BASIC FABRIC OF MOTHER NATURE’ to this extent one day? So when we reflect back we find ourselves more ignorant then learned. Then what is the actual need? Probably logic and knowledge ways are not all; actually there is a lot more than that- be it emotions, feelings, intuition, spiritual, even illogic......and all that nature permits us (life) to be, to find an appropriate solution. Ultimately, we need to match our pace with the evolutionary pace of nature and the stride with the consistent march of time. NO MORE Fight Against Nature WE NEED TO BE Living With It AND NO MORE Race Against Time WE GOT TO Get Along With It and let the cosmic music play on…………………………..sans beginning and the end.

(#Thanks for your attention and bearing with the abstractness of ideas)


*Contacts:
Hari Raj Singh
B.Sc.Ag. & A.H. (Hons.),
M.Sc.Ag. (Soil Sc.), C.E.S. ,C.D.M.
Consultant (Watershed Dev. / Disaster Mgt.)
110, Indira Nagar Colony, (P.O. New Forest) Dehra Dun. 248 006. Uttarakhand. INDIA
Tel: 91 + 135 + 2768962, 0 941 2768962 Fax: 91 + 135 + 2760334 (Attn.)
Email: harirajsingh@hotmail.com