Feb 06 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)

`New govt has set high green goals'

Vishwa Mohan





French minister of ecology, sustainable development and energy Segolene Royal invokes Rabindranath Tagore as she urges nations to work together to save the planet from disastrous consequences of climate change. In an interview to TOI, Royal pitches for `clean transport and electricity' to wipe out air pollution. Excerpts:

Do you think a strong climate deal is possible when developing countries insist on giving more emphasis to adaptation than on mitigation (emission cuts)?
You have to act on both fronts.India has already made significant efforts in this area.The goals set by the new gover nment are ambitious.Prime Minister Modi announced the target of 100 gw from solar energy by 2020.Clean transport and electricity are also needed for cleansing air pollution in cities.
What is France, as host country of the next climate conference (COP21), planning to offer in the form of its INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) to strike a global climate deal in Paris in December?
France is acting to lead by example, first through the law on energy transition towards green growth, which I drafted and got voted in the National Assembly and which concerns all the challenges of climate change, and the preparation for a post-oil era. France has opted for an energy mix of energy-saving measures, nuclear energy and renewable energy. Europe has set itself the ambition of achieving the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels, increasing energy effi ciency by 27%, and a renewable energy share of 27%. This is also a way of generating jobs. A major drive is on for waste treatment and converting waste into energy .
Rich nations, including France, have so far contributed very little to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Will France increase its contribution?
France was actually one of the first countries to contribute to the fund with $1 billion. This is really a major contribution as this enabled the fund to attain the $10-billion mark since the Lima Conference in December last year. The issue today is to swiftly decide how these resources will be used, because we must help the least developed countries to protect themselves from climate disruption and adapt to the changes of energy transition. This fund is to be supplemented with contributions from the private sector to reach the $100-billion mark. France has also committed bilaterally to increasing its financing support to climate-related projects.
What will France's stand be as far as ex-ante review of country goals is concerned in view of strong opposition to it by most of the developing countries, including India and China?
I don't think that a country's attachment to its sovereignty and the necessity of reaching an agreement to face the dangers of climate disruptions are mutually exclusive. This is what should guide us: there is but one planet and we must work together to save it. Being true to yourself and working with others go hand in hand. Often, during our climate debates, I think of these lovely words of Tagore, “I have had my invitation to this world's festival... and I have done all I could“. We have also met the Chinese negotiator, who was quite constructive.
What is the solution for countries that need to grow at the cost of carbon emissions as they want to improve the living conditions of their citizens through economic growth and energy access?
The more we wait, the more it will cost, and the worse the impact. Solutions are within reach and that's a good thing for our countries.India is a great country with engineers, scientists and talented people who can contribute to the new energy model, which reconciles the aspirations for growth and access to carbonfree energy . If nothing is done, climate disruption will lead to many disasters. So, we must act and we must consider this as a chance to think and act differently .

Scientists discover oldest known solar system

A team of scientists, led by the University of Birmingham, has discovered a five-planet solar system based on observations from the NASA Kepler spacecraft. The system contains planets with sizes between those of Mercury and Venus.

They orbit around Kepler-444, a metal-poor sun-like star from the old population of the Galactic thick disk. The star was formed 11.2 billion years ago when the universe was less than 20 per cent of its current age. This pale yellow-orange star is 25 per cent smaller than the sun and substantially cooler.

Scientists claim this makes it the oldest known system of terrestrial-size planets and may help calculate when in universe’s history planets began to form.

Tiago Campante, from the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy, who led the research, said, “There are far-reaching implications for this discovery. We now know that Earth-sized planets have formed throughout most of the Universe's 13.8 billion year history, which could provide scope for the existence of ancient life in the galaxy.”

Campante explains that the five planets orbit their parent star in less than 10 days and can be called a miniature version of the inner planets in our own solar system. Their observations also imply that thick-disk stars like Kepler-444 were among the hosts to the first Galactic planets. The findings have been published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Time for new environmentalism

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Author(s): Sunita Narain @sunitanar 

Feb 15, 2015 | From the print edition

2014 has brought India’s environmental movement to a crossroad. On the one hand, there is a greater acceptance of our concerns, but on the other hand, there is also growing resistance against the required action. More importantly, every indicator shows that things on the ground are getting worse. Our rivers are more polluted, more garbage is piling up in our cities, air is increasingly toxic and hazardous waste is just dumped, not managed. Worse, people who should have been in the front line of protection are turning against the environment. They see it as a constraint to local development. They may protest against the pollution from neighbouring mines or factories, but even if they succeed their livelihood from natural resources is not secure. They are caught between mining companies and foresters. Either way, they lose.

We must also realise that even as environmental problems have grown, the institutions for the oversight and management of natural resources have shrunk. While the environmental constituency has grown, core beliefs have been lost. In this way, the underlying politics of environmental movement has been neutered.

It is important we point out the fundamental weaknesses and contradictions in the environmental movement. It is only then that we can deliberate on the direction for future growth of the movement.

Firstly, we have lost the development agenda in environmental management. Instead of working to regenerate the natural capital for inclusive growth, we have increasingly framed action as development versus environment. We have disconnected environmental management from development. Management of natural resources—swinging between extraction and conservation—is leaving out of its wake millions who live on the resources. These people cannot afford either the degradation of resources or pure conservation. They need to utilise natural resources for their livelihood and economic growth. In this way, the environmental movement is in danger of making enemies of the very people whose interest it is working to protect.

We need to move beyond conservation to sustainable management of natural resources. Environment must become India’s development agenda again. This is imperative.

Secondly, the debate on environmental issues is increasingly polarised and seen as obstructionist. In real life we need to go beyond absolute positions so that there is some resolution and some movement forward. In an ideal world, there should be enough trust and confidence that once we begin to move ahead, there can be reviews, assessments and course correction. This is difficult in the current scenario where the world is unevenly divided between those with the polluters, mining companies and dam builders, and the rest. Institutions that can help resolve conflicts have been weakened. Trust is lost all around, so the worst defence plays out.

But playing defensive does not work in the long run. The environmental movement is able to stall, but not stop, environmentally disastrous projects. Worse, since there is no space for the middle ground that can allow discussion on how a project should function if allowed, there is no improvement in the situation on the ground once the project is sanctioned. The entire energy is invested in blocking projects and once a project is cleared the mission is lost. There is no emphasis, or even capacity in many cases, to look at the alternative that would mitigate environmental damage.

Thirdly, environmental struggles are increasingly about not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY). This is understandable but the problem in a highly iniquitous country like India is that NIMBY can simply mean that people do not want something in their backyard, but it can move to the backyard of someone else who is less powerful.

We must realise that even as middle-class environmentalism will grow, which is important, it will not be enough to bring improvement or change. This is because solutions for environmental management require inclusive growth. Otherwise, at best, we will have more “gated” and “green” homes and colonies, but not green neighbourhoods, rivers, cities or country.

Fourthly, and most critically, one has to look for solutions and not just pose problems. The search for technologies and approaches to environmental management will have to recognise the need to do things differently so that sustainable growth is affordable to all. One must also recognise that strengthening the institutions is vital; we cannot improve performance without investment in boots on the ground.

This demands a new way of environmentalism to embrace ideas without dogma but with idealism and purpose. This environmentalism will have to move beyond the problems of today and yesterday. And for that we better imbibe the politics that will deliver this.

Rural technology park promotes indigenous technologies

Government of India is setting up such parks in five African countries

Not many would be aware that the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad has a well established Rural Technology Park (RTP). Here, several relevant and user-friendly technologies are showcased which are useful for improving rural livelihoods.

Training is given to interested budding entrepreneurs for their skill up-gradation. After training, they are also assisted, so that they can start their enterprises.

The Institute has adopted more than 100 villages across the country where innovative ideas are implemented.

Current focus

“We are also focusing on “Make in India” theme. The idea is to identify critical gaps and address them by enhancing the quality and marketability of the products having an eye on market demand.

“As the Indian market itself is so huge, rural producers can tap it and in the process, create enormous value for their enterprises. This is a very important step, especially in creating opportunities for the rural youth across the country and also addressing the current unemployment scenario,” says Dr. M.V.Rao, Director General, NIRD.

For example, the Institute is promoting the concept of harnessing solar energy at a big level. Solar street lights have become very popular in all the villages adopted by the Institute.

Lights have been installed in all these villages with community involvement.

“Earlier a solar street light used to cost more than Rs.20,000, but thanks to innovative designs, the cost is now reduced to less than Rs.4,000 and several such lights have been installed in remote villages in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra,” says Dr. Rao.

Preserving food stuff

Tee Wave, a technology partner with the Institute is working on this concept for preserving vegetables, fruits and fish.

Unlike traditional motors and appliances which run on high electricity, these appliances run on very low power DC motors. Hence, these are very useful in remote areas where electricity is a problem. For crops like soya, Saraswathi Mahila Gruha Udyog, a sort of self help group, has been created which is manufacturing a lot of products like soya milk, papad and soya powder.

Honey bee

Those interested in honey bee rearing can visit the honey house to learn how to set up bee boxes, honey extraction and value addition. NIRD has been training hundreds of entrepreneurs in bee-keeping as well as honey collection and preservation.

Another component is the training programmes in bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. This is fast finding a lot of popularity among the farmers from several states.

Emphasis is placed on how to manufacture bio inputs because sourcing inputs is a big problem for growers on time.

The institute conducts training on neem based enterprises and vermi-composting as these are eco-friendly and are preferred in organic farming.

Cooking gas is not available easily in villages. Rural women need to go to nearby forest areas to collect firewood for cooking.

The institute has developed various models and efficient technologies for cooking. These include models developed by Centre for Science & Villages (CSV), Wardha and Appropriate Rural Technologies Institute, Maharashtra.

Cooking stove

NIRD has tied up with both these organisations to popularise these cooking stoves and various innovative models so that cooking happens faster with fuel efficiency. In some of these models, as a by-product, cooking coal is also produced. This is used again as fuel.

“We invite farmers, rural youth, women self help groups and NGOs across the country to come and visit our technology park so that they can get a better idea as to how it can help them,” says Dr. Rao.

Success

The success of the technology park has encouraged the Government of India to commit setting up such parks in five African countries including Malawi and Zimbabwe to start with, as part of India-Africa partnership.

For more information interested readers can contact Dr. M.V. Rao, Director General, National institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, email : mvraoforindia@gmail.com, Mobile : 09703440004.

Keywords: National Institute of Rural Development, agricultural technology

Recognise emerging global trends, Pranab tells VCs

Says Central universities have the responsibility to lead the transformative processes of India’s higher education system.

Central universities have the responsibility to lead the transformative processes of India’s higher education system, said President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday as he addressed a Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities (CUs) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Mr. Mukherjee said in addition to international rankings, the universities should attempt ratings on a National Ranking Framework which needs to be expeditiously developed.

He urged the Vice Chancellors to recognise emerging global trends which are likely to bring sweeping changes in higher education worldwide.

The President said students passing out from the Indian higher education system will have to compete with the best in the world, therefore, there is a need to imbue young minds with competitive spirit and a sense of pride in their alma mater.

He expressed concern over the vacancy position in Central Universities, which he said remains alarmingly high - in terms of percentage, vacancies have increased from 37.3 percent as on March 31, 2013 to only 38.4 percent as on December 1, 2014.

The President said the problem of non-availability of a Visitor’s nominees in the selection committee of faculty has been addressed; each Central University will now have a panel of five names of nominees who can be called as per extant instructions.

Pointing out that only four universities have so far established centres of excellence while another five are working towards these, the President stressed on the need to encourage engagement of central universities with industry and alumni. He also said there is an urgent need to put ICT Networks to effective use.

The President said because of the diversities in evaluation systems, students have suffered in the acceptance of their credentials across the university system and in accessing employment opportunities. The initiative of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) will ensure seamless mobility of students across higher education institutions in the country as well as abroad. The credits earned by students can be transferred and would be of great value to them in the event of their seeking migration from one institution to the other. 23 central universities have already implemented CBCS. He urged remaining universities to consider implementing this system from next academic year, he pointed out.

Mr. Mukherjee said the university is a role-model for society at large and its persuasive power extends beyond the classroom and teaching, therefore, its influence must be tapped for greater good and called upon Central Universities to start working with at least five villages each under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to transform them into model villages.

The President said particular emphasis has to be provided by our higher learning institutions on the inculcation of core values in our students. 'Our civilization has championed patriotism, pluralism, tolerance, honesty and discipline. Our democracy has thrived on these values. The next generation must learn to recognize our diversity, inclusiveness and assimilative capacities as inherent sources of strength' he said.

Keywords: Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities, Pranab Mukherjee, Central University Vice Chancellors, National Ranking Framework, Central Universitites

Odds of escaping poverty in India, U.S. same: World Bank

A World Bank report has challenged the conventional understanding of India’s inequality. The report, “Addressing inequality in South Asia,” has found that the probability of a poor person moving out of poverty in India in 2014 was as good as that in the U.S.

“There is good news — India is no longer the land of extremes and there are some bright spots,” said Martin Rama, one of the authors of the report and World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia.

The report has found that sons from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households are no longer stuck in the jobs done by their fathers. Across generations, mobility of occupational profiles among Muslims has been similar to that of higher caste Hindus, whereas mobility among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes has become higher than that of upper caste Hindus over time.

The report shows that one of the main drivers of upward mobility is the increase in number of non-farm jobs in rural India.

Urbanisation reducing inequality: World Bank report

A World Bank report has found that between 2004-05 and 2009-10, 15 per cent of India’s population, or 40 per cent of the poor, moved above the poverty line. In the same period, a sizeable portion of the poor and the vulnerable — over 9 per cent of the total population or about 11 per cent of the poor and vulnerable — moved into the middle class.

However, over 9 per cent of the total population, or about 14 per cent of the non-poor group, slipped back into poverty, revealing the greater risks faced by the vulnerable and even the middle class than in other countries, the report, “Addressing inequality in South Asia,” said.

The third finding of the report that challenges the conventional understanding of inequality in India, said Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director in India, is that urbanisation is reducing inequality, not increasing it.

Mr. Ruhl said the policy takeaways from the report for Prime Minister Narendra Modi included “strive for universal health and sanitation; leverage the opportunity for urbanisation; and create jobs for all and build skills not just through technical training but also with servicing the population with primary and secondary education and nutrition.”

Keywords: World Bank report, poverty alleviation, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia, Martin Rama, Make in India

ONE-WEEK ORIENTATION PROGRAMME IN SOCIALSCIENCE RESEARCH

for Research Scholars and Teachers belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Marginalised Groups

Dates: March 02–07, 2015.
Last Date: 2nd February 2015. 


Organiser/Venue: Institutefor Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi.
Objective of the course: The Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) will be organising a one-week ‘Orientation Programme’ during March 02–07, 2015 for research scholars and teachers from colleges and universities belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Marginalised Groups. The programme is sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi. 

The objective of the programme is to build research capacities with a special focus on marginalised groups in India. The programme is multi-disciplinary in nature that seeks to help the participants in three specific areas: i) to refresh their theoretical knowledge and contemporary issues of research on social exclusion and discrimination; ii) to equip them with advanced research methods and appropriate data to undertake research in social science; and iii) to impart knowledge of modern technology (ICT) in social science research and to disseminate their work effectively. The week-long programme will consist of lectures, policy debates, group discussions, exposure to databases and research methods along with hands-on exercises. Reputed academicians working on the problems related to education, skill development, health, employment, poverty, gender issues etc. with a specific focus on social exclusion will be invited to deliver lectures.

Target Group and Selection Process: The young social science researchers and teachers from colleges/universities belonging to any of the above social groups and interested in pursuing research related to social exclusion would constitute the target audience of this programme. A batch consisting of 25–30 participants will be selected based on their suitability on all India basis. The participants will get free boarding and lodging facility in the campus guest house on twin-sharing basis. Three-tier AC train fare by the shortest route will be reimbursed.

Desirous candidates may send their CVs along with a write-up of about 250 words, giving their area of research interest, through e-mail to trainprog@isid.org.in on or before 2nd February 2015. Selected candidates will be intimated by February 7, 2015. Further details and programme updates can be found at:http://isid.org.in/trainprog.html 
Contact Detail: Dr Shailender Kumar Hooda, Assistant Professor & Programme Coordinator, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, A sponsored institution of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), 4, Institutional Area Phase II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110070 INDIA.
Phone: +91 11 2676 4600
Fax: +91 11 2612 2448
Email: trainprog@isid.org.in