Jan 16 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)

NEW VENTURE MAKES INDIAN LITERARY CLASSICS ACCESSIBLE

Malini Nair





At a time when there is raucous debate on India's real and imagined past, a library of rare ancient Indian classics ­ one going as far back as 3 BCE ­ has been launched. A philanthropic initiative of Rohan Murty , the literary project is spearheaded by noted Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock and published by the Harvard University Press.The first set of books ranging from Bulle Shah's works in Gurmukhi and the Akbarnama in Persian to Surdas' poetry and Manucharitramu in Telugu was released on Thursday evening by eminent economist Amartya Sen.Over the next seven years, the series, named the Murty Classical Library of India, will publish 48 volumes of these classic works, translated from around 14 Indian languages, including Sanskrit and near extinct vernacular forms.
“India has the single most complex and continuous tradition of multi-lingual literature in the world and a lot of it is inaccessible. MCLI will make this literature available in the best possible way for the general reader as well as students and scholars,“ said Pollock. These books have the original script as well as an English translation on the facing page.
The library, he pointed out, was meant to reiterate the fact that Indians have been storytellers to the world for centuries, and to redefine the idea of a “classic“.“It doesn't as Europe thinks, start with Virgil and end with TS Eliot.There are thousands of Asian texts which show that a classic is that which surprises our sense of being human,“ said Pollock.
Murty, who jokingly referred to himself as the Bruce Wayne of classics, said he represented the general Indian reader who was curious about ancient India but had access to very few literary sources. “What was life like in ancient India? How did people live, die? What was its astronomy, maths, science like? There is so little discussion on any of these in our schools and colleges,“ he said.“This literature will hopefully offer an exposure.“
But the ancient India that shines through in these books may not always be flawless, as revivalists believe. It is real, warts and all, promises the editor. Pollock is aware that ancient India is prickly political turf currently but he points out the irony .
“In ancient India you could say whatever you wanted, a freedom even Europe and China didn't offer. MCLI will show in its aggregate a world of expressive diversity and freedom that was unparalleled in world history . ...Wait for the second volume of Tulsi Ramayan and some of its misogynistic passages. These books are an invitation to reflect on the past, not show utopia,“ said Pollock.
The next set of translations will include Kamba Ramayanam, Ramcharitmanas, Ghalib's poetry and 6 AD Sanskrit scholar's work Kiratarjuniya and Bharatchandra's Anadda Mangal. The big plan is to have 500 books on the MCLI shelves.
Among the most riveting is Therigatha, Poems of the First Buddhist Women which is in Pali and composed by theris, the elder Buddhist nuns. They speak in touchingly honest verse of their spiritual struggles. “It was a hidden classic,“ says Pollock.
Murty promises a digital ver sion of the library sometime soon, low cost or even free to access. “As a tech dreamer I envision an MCLI with a button you can press and read Bulle Shah in Gurmukhi, Devnagari...a day will come when the communal politics of script will be resolved with the click of a button,“ said Pollock.

Jan 16 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)

'You've heard of Kalidas but what about Keshavdas?'





Sheldon Pollock, a professor of South Asian studies at Columbia University and the library's general editor, talks to TOI...

Did you consider transliterating original scripts in Roman script to connect with younger readers with limited language skills?
Yes, we thought a lot about it. But kids need to learn their script. Three generations of Turkish children have lost access to their past because Ataturk moved the country to Roman script. Chinese thought about abandoning their script but didn't, and they haven't suffered for it.

Is there no Indian language community that is doing justice to its literary past?
No. In modern Bengal everyone knows Bankim and Tagore but who has read Bharat Chandra, the 18th century poet? How many Hindi readers know of 16th century Hindi poet Keshavdas? Who reads ancient Telugu texts? Sanskrit? All Indian languages are equally disadvantaged. This is true across the world but in India, the case is more extreme because the legacy is so rich and complex. In Italy I can throw money at Latin, but in India?

The last year saw some very acrimonious attacks on Sanskrit scholars of Hindu texts, books were banned, publishers arm twisted. As a scholar what is your reaction?
When Wendy Doniger was banned, I was in India and among those who organized petitions etc. But I get that there is a sense of humiliation, anger and resentment that is an aftermath of colonialism. This anger is real and needs to be acknowledged. How do we get together around the metaphorical table and acknowledge each other's claims? Not denounce, suppress or shoot but agree to disagree or find areas of disagreement. MCLI will try and provide that context for the discussion. These books don't set out to demonstrate India's diversity, they simply report it. If they don't like it now, well, maybe they will some years later.

But the books do come at a time when the debate over culture and history is heating up.
We want to build a library of India's greatest literature. Contexts will change, shapes will shift, and passions will moderate. People will read and think through their position.





Jan 16 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)

USER-FRIENDLY - Groundwater extraction NOC to go online

Vishwa Mohan

New Delhi:





Bringing another regulatory mechanism and clearance regime to the digital domain, the Centre will launch an online system this month to issue no objection certificate (NOC) to industries, local bodies and domestic users for extraction of ground water.The online system will work on the basis of updated data on ground water level and prescribed recharge activities so that the re source is used judiciously.
“It will not only bring transparency in the system of issuing NOC but also guard against indiscriminate extraction of ground water,“ said an official.
The online mechanism is being developed by Central Ground Water Authority which issues NOCs for extraction of ground water for industrial, infrastructure and mining projects based on guidelines fixed for evaluation of such projects.
Domestic users get such clearance through state au thorities which adhere to the central body's prescribed norms. All the regulations on ground water extraction are being enforced through district collectors in states.
Ground water resources of the country have been assessed and are being updated periodically . All the updated information, used to issue NOC, will also be in the public domain as water resources minister Uma Bharati has pitched for dis semination of data for better of water. management of water.
The Central Water Commission in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre of ISRO has already launched a national project to create such database comprising details of both surface as well as ground water in the country .
At present, a network of 20,698 ground water monitoring wells are located all over the country . The database thus generated forms the basis for planning ground water development and management

Full List of All Upcoming Competitive Exams 2015

January
- 17, 18 and 24 January – The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Assistants Exam.
- January 18 – UPSC Special Class Railway Apprentices' Exam., 2015
- January 25 – Uttar Pradesh Utkrasta District Level Vidyalaya and Block Level Modal School Selection Test, 2015
- January 25 – Uttar Pradesh Trained Graduate Teacher Exam.
- January – United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Administrative Officer (Mains) Exam.
- January-February – Associate Bank of SBI Clerical Cadre Exam.
 
February
- February 1 and 8 – Uttar Pradesh Trained Graduate Teacher Exam.
- February 7 – Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Entrance Exam. (Class VI)
- February 14 – Military Engineer Services Peon, Chowkidar, Safaiwala, Meter Reader, Caneman, Mate (SSK) etc. Exam.
- February 14 and 15 – IBPS Bank Specialist Officers Exam.
- February 15 and 22 – Uttar Pradesh Lecturer Selection Exam.
- February 15 – Combined Defence Services Exam. (I), 2015
- February 15 – Uttarakhand Judicial Service Civil Judge (Junior Division) Preliminary Exam., 2014
- February 15 – Staff Nurse Recruitment Exam. in Central Government Hospitals, New Delhi
- February 19-22 – Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2015-16
- February 22 – Central Teacher Eligibility Test, Febuary 2015
- February 22 – Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 2015 (Flying, Technical and Ground Duty Branches)
- February 22 – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. Junior Accounts Officers Exam.
- February 22 – Uttar Pradesh Vidyagyan School Pre. Exam., 2015 (For Class VI)
- February-March – The Rajasthan/Central/State/Cooperative Bank Banking Assistants, Managers/Computer Programmers Exam.
 
March
- March 1 – Madhya Pradesh Police Department Sub-Inspector, Subedar, Platoohn Commander Recruitment Exam., 2014 (Online Closing Date : January 14, 2015)
- March 1 – CRPF Constable (Technical/Tradesman) Recruitment Exam.
- March 23-April 15 – Madhya Pradesh P.S.C. State Services Main Exam., 2013
- March-April – Indian Navy Sailors (Senior Secondary Recruits) Recruitment Test
- March-April – Himachal Pradesh P.S.C. State Eligibility Test, 2014
 
April
- April 19 – National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I) 2015 (Online Closing Date : 23 January, 2015)
- April – National Insurance Co. Ltd. Administrative Officer Scale I Exam. (Online Closing Date : 24 January, 2015)
- April-May – Indian Air Force Airmen [Group 'X' (Technical) / Group 'Y' (Non-Technical)] Recruitment Test
 
May
- May 9 – Madhya Pradesyh P.S.C. State Services Preliminary Exam., 2014 (Online Closing Date : 8 February, 2015)
- May 10 – NCERT National Talent Search Exam. (For Class X) Stage-II
- May 10 – Chhattisgarh P.S.C. State Services Preliminary Exam., 2014 (Online Closing Date : 8 February, 2015)
- May 10 – Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2015 (Online Closing Date : 31 March, 2015)
- May 29-30 – Netarhat Residential School Entrance School Entrance Exam. (For Class VI) (Closing Date : 12 February, 2015)
 
June
- June 14 – Madhya Pradesh P.S.C. State Engineering Services (Pre.) Exam., 2014 (Online Closing Date : 11 February, 2015)
 
August
- August 2 and 3 – Madhya Pradesh P.S.C. State Forest Services Exam., 2014 (Online Closing Date : 13 February, 2015) - See more at: http://www.currentgk.com/government-jobs/article/upcoming-competitive-exams.html#sthash.zKLUSGsu.dpuf

MDG-led healthcare policy not comprehensive, says report

The government's focus on improving health indicators stated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has worked against the aims of universal health coverage, said experts at the National Convention on Union Budget 2015-16 held in Delhi on January 8 and 9. They recommended that the focus must shift towards comprehensive health policies rather than specific issues.

"Because of this focus, we have specific programmes like those on maternal health and infant mortality. But we need to meet the needs of all problems that women face. MDGs have fragmented health policy. We are asking for a comprehensive framework," said Ravi Duggal from the Indian arm of US-based non-profit International Budget Partnership.

The document “Policy Asks and Expectations from Union Budget 2015-16”, presented by Indian civil society organisation People's Budget Initiative, states that addressing the shortage of staff in the health sector must be top priority. According to the 12th Five Year Plan document, India faces a 76 per cent shortage of doctors in the public sector and an 88 per cent shortage of specialists in government facilities. The shortage of community health centres is placed at 37 per cent. (See box)

Category	Shortfall (in percentage)
Midwives and nurses	52
Doctors	76
Specialists	88
Pharmacists	58
Primary health centres	24
Community health centres	37
Source: Vol III, 12th Five Year Plan document

The document also demands an improvement in the extent and quality of fund utilisation under the National Health Mission. A joint study by Madhya Pradesh-based Sanket Development Group and Delhi-based Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability found that in Chhattisgarh, large sums of money have been lying unspent since the launch of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005. The amount of unspent money ranged from Rs 380 crore to Rs 1,220 crore annually till 2012.

The need for improving access to generic medicines and strengthening of the Jan Aushadhi scheme was also highlighted. The policy document included the long-standing demand that health be brought under the concurrent list. As many schemes like NRHM are funded by the Centre but implemented by the states, delivery of health services is not effectively streamlined, noted the policy document.

Assam moves to curb pesticides in vegetables, tea

In a move meant to ensure better health to people, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi last week announced formation of a regulatory body to monitor chemical pesticide use in vegetable cultivation in the state.

Gogoi also announced setting up of laboratories in all state districts which will have the facilities to test pesticide content. He said that any member of the public will be able to file a complaint with the regulatory body.

“A permissible limit will be set, and if pesticide is found beyond that level, the cultivators will be fined and may also be banned from taking up cultivation activities again,” said Gogoi.

Gogoi further added that after the initial phase, there will be such laboratories at every sub division in the state, and said that the state government will also conduct research to upgrade the set up.

Explaining how this body will function, the chief minister said the regulatory body will coordinate with the district administration, and that people from the district administration would be actively associated with the regulatory body.

Tea Board takes similar steps

Meanwhile, the Tea Board of India has also taken similar steps, and has released the Plant Protection Code (PPC), a comprehensive guideline for safe use of plant protection formulation in the country’s tea plantation and industry.

PPC was implemented in the tea industry from January 1 this year and the list of products permitted for use has been prepared by Central Insecticides Board of India.The board has also asked small tea growers of Assam to provide signed declaration of chemicals used for growing tea to factories for gauging whether they adhere with PPC.

“The code will make Indian tea a safer and healthier drink and improve its competitiveness amongst tea farms and compliance with national regulations and international sustainability standards,” said Dipankar Mukherjee, Tea Board of India’s North East Zonal Executive Director, while speaking to media persons.

Mukherjee said that an important component of the code is safe use of plant protection products and adherence to safety standard for safer, healthier and more environmental-friendly teas.“The aim of plant protection code is to achieve sustainability through good agricultural practices, including integrated pest management, promotion of alternative control strategies to gradually reduce the dependence on chemicals,” said Mukherjee.

The Tea Board has also issued strict directives to the factories, and have asked them to discharge their role and responsibility while buying tea leaves from small tea growers as there are over 78,000 registered small tea growers across Assam alone, who play a very important role in the state's economic scenario.

"TBI has initiated massive awareness campaign through field level workshops, bulk SMS, putting up banners, distribution of booklets and pamphlets in local languages to make the industry's stake holders aware of the guidelines and help them with safe and proper use of recommended plant protection formulation," added Mukherjee.

Idukki becomes first district in India to get high-speed rural broadband connectivity

India's first high-speed rural broadband network, the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN), was commissioned in Kerala's Idukki district on Monday. With this, the district, which has a large tribal and rural population, has become the country's first district to have all its village panchayats connected to NOFN, the world's largest rural broadband connectivity project through optical fibre cable.

NOFN is the only telecom project of its kind in the country in terms of volume of work, geographical spread of work, reach, quantity of optical fibre cable laying involved and costs. The Rs 30,000 crore NOFN project, which involves laying of about 600,000 km of optical fiber cable, is a part of Central government's Digital India initiative. The project seeks to link all the 250,000 gram panchayats in the country, located in 6,600 blocks in 631 districts through optical fibre network, providing high-speed Internet connectivity with a minimum bandwidth of 100 megabits per second (Mbps).

"Our country is entering into a new era of digital empowerment. The NOFN project is a giant leap to bridge the digital divide between urban and the rural India by linking all the gram panchayats in the country through the common platform of optical fibre cable. Our vision is to transform our country into a knowledge economy," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Communication and Information & Technology, who launched the programme in Thiruvananthapuram by receiving the first-ever mobile call from Edamalakkudy, a remote tribal gram panchayat in Idukki. This tribal gram panchayat is 34 km away from the nearest town and has no road connectivity, electricity or piped water.  This settlement was connected to NOFN through VSAT media which has also provided them with voice connectivity. All the 52 other gram panchayats in the district have been comnnected by optical fibre cables.

NOFN, implemented by Bharat Broad Band Nigam Limited (BBNL), a Special Purpose Vehicle set up by the Central government, will be completed in a phased manner by 2016. The project will cover 50,000 gram panchayats in the first phase and will be implemented by three Central public sector units—BSNL, Railtel and PGCIL. The project will be funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Telecom Department.

Why optical fibre?

According to Aruna Sundararajan, chief managing director of BBNL and administrator of USOF, optical fibre is the most economical means of communication as it can carry higher bandwidth applications. NOFN will ensure high-speed broadband connectivity to all the gram panchayats. This is to be achieved by utilising the existing optical fibre network of public sector companies and extending it to village panchayats.

"NOFN is expected to open up new avenues for access service providers like mobile operators, cable TV operators to launch next generation services," says Sundararajan. The project has the potential to transform governance, information and technology, education, health, environment, entertainment, business, agriculture and development planning through high speed Internet connectivity, and will also create local employment, says she.

GPON technology

The project uses Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology for the first time in the country. GPON enables a single optical fibre to connect multiple village panchayats. The technology uses passive (unpowered) optical splitters, reducing the cost.

"GPON technology will carry information in the form of packets which is the technology of the day," says Sundararajan. She also points out that this technology has low power consumption equipment which is designed and manufactured in the country and hence suitable for rural India.

To ensure connectivity throughout the day, solar power back up is also provided, she adds.

The project boasts high-capacity network management system and network operation centre. Plans for about 4,500 Blocks have been put onBBNL website  under "Know your Fibre".