Need For Nuclear Power In INDIA

     INDIA is growing rapidly. In recent years its economy has increased at more than 7 percent per year, and many analysts believe that India will grow even faster in the coming decade. India is presently ascending the ladder of development. India is a still a ‘Developing’ country and a lot is to be done before India has to become a ‘Developed’ country. There is a relation between the Energy consumption of a country and the Development of that country. Every step into progress comes with the increase in demand for the energy. So ‘Energy’ is the most needed for the development of the country. Once the country reaches a relative degree of development, then the demand for energy becomes more stable.

  Many developed nations consume larger quantity of energy. In USA, the per capita energy consumption is 15 times that in India. In this sense India needs to increase its energy production at the earliest. The main way to improve its energy production is with nuclear power generation.

  Many are of conclusion that nuclear power generation is dangerous as they think it has adverse effects on environment and people living in the vicinity of the nuclear plant. Now let us see some details about thermal plant in India - India is spending about $100 billion annually on import of coal and petroleum, besides this huge amount of spending we are indirectly importing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These gases are hazardous to the environment and the human health. If we rely only on thermal production of energy then it is estimated that the import of coal and petroleum will increase exponentially, thus leading to more spending of money as well as causing the reason for the hazardous effects caused by the greenhouse gases. According to WHO the pollution caused by thermal power generations and climatic changes associated with it are directly or indirectly responsible for death of about a million of people every year across the world. Moreover the fossil fuels are depleting at a faster rate and they are in scarcity. So it is meaningless to completely depend on coal and petroleum as a source for energy production.

  Nuclear power is superior in its energy density and economic benefits. The energy that can be generated by 10000 tonnes of coal can be generated by using 500 kg of uranium. Now let us see the comparison between a Coal plant and a Nuclear plant -

 In the past some nuclear accidents have taken place, but the major accidents were only four- the Kyshtym accident in 1957, the Three Mile Island meltdown, the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and the most recent Fukushima incident (Japan) in 2011.

If we examine the reasons for these accidents then, the first incident was due to lack of technology and the next two are due to more of human error. But the Fukushima incident is due to natural forces in action- earthquake and tsunami. The above incidents show that the technology has to be better and the plant design has to be more stable. But a failure of four plants in six decades should not be viewed as a complete ban on nuclear power. Instead we should learn from the past and evolve to minimize such accidents in the future – ‘Improvement should be our next step and not Escapism’.

Now let’s see some good and bad about Nuclear power-

How is nuclear energy good?
1. Fission is the most energy for the least fuel with current technology.
2. Less fuel means less waste, and the waste is all accounted for, not released into the atmosphere to become someone else's problem.
3. Uranium is readily available, very common in the earth's crust.

4. Economical - operating cost about the same as coal, fuel cost is a much    smaller percentage of the total, therefore less susceptible to price fluctuations.
5. Reliable - Nuclear power plants have very high capacity factors.
6. No combustion, no Co, CO2 or SO2 released.
7. Creates high paying, skilled jobs.
8. Reduce dependence on foreign oil/ fuel.
9. High temperature reactors could produce Hydrogen as well as electricity.

How is it bad?
1. Irrational fear of all things nuclear.
2. High cost to build and license, large initial investment for long term pay        back.
3. Publicly accepted high level storage facility not domestically available.
4. Reprocessing facility not domestically available.
5. Security concerns

So, whether the Nuclear Power is safe are not? This statement is debatable, but one thing is sure, with the ‘present day technology’ the risks arising from nuclear accidents can be minimized to a greater extent. And also as a need for more Energy in the country, India should go for Nuclear Power Generation as it has left with no alternatives that can replace the nuclear power completely.

MY Experince In Delhi

[I m writing this just to share my experience in Delhi and from this it might not be considered that as I m against North :) {If you are from North India(Mainly Delhi) better not read this !!}  :)  ]

   I have completed 42 days in Delhi by today. I want to share some of my experience in this Great City, the capital city of our nation.

 

   One might have heard about this city and the facilities and infrastructure which are luxurious. Also some of you might want to be in Delhi and experience the life here in this metropolitan city. But living here in Delhi is not so easy, particularly if you are from South India.

   When I planned to come to Delhi, I had many expectations about this place and people here. The places and facilities here were more than my expectations, but people were not. As far I have seen the people in Delhi lack hospitality, there way of interacting with people is not withstandable(But still Girls are superb to see!! Just to see!! :) )

It will be highly difficult to stay in Delhi without knowing Hindi. I m thankfull to Abhinav, my B.E. roommate who helped me to learn Hindi. I would also like to thank Varun Gupta, Akshay Malhotra, Ankit Jaiswal and others who are part of my learning of Hindi.

  As I mentioned the people of Delhi lack hospitality, they also lack culture and they lack the basic humane behaviour. There is a High school some 400 feet from my room, and I have seen students(Maximum 10th class) drinking beer and smoking cigarettes during their break. In Delhi it is common that you can see a girl smoking in public near colleges and shopping malls as it is in case of boys in Bangalore. Even if you go to a hotel, they won’t treat you as you are treated in Bangalore. All the people here are 'Business Minded'.

  My friend(Dipak) in Bangalore used to say that 'it was not the outer beauty that has to be considered but the inner beauty i.e,character'(He had a reason to say this, that's secondary !!). I felt that it was true to a greater extent when I saw people here. They seem to be good by seeing, but once you interact with them you will be able to know their inner character.

 It is meaningful to state-"Sirf naam ke liye Dilli hai, lekin kisi ke paas Dil tho hai nahi" i.e, "Delhi(Dilli) is just in name, but no one has the heart(Dil)".

 Now let me share some instances that took place in Delhi:

  

  (1) My friend(Dipak), his sister and his parents came from Bangalore to Delhi during their North India trip amid this Diwali week. They went to a Hotel(not to name the hotel) for lunch, they were shocked to see the prices of items in the menu(Coffee-Rs.60, Nan-Rs.100, Gravy-Rs.600). They then decided to go to another hotel and were about to go out from there, then something amazing happened! The waiter gave them another menu which was identical with the previous one but the prices in this new menu were reduced to 25% of the previous prices.(Coffee now came to Rs.15 from Rs.60!). Dipak was astonished to experience this 'Dual Menu Act' and even me when I heard this! This was the first time that I heard something like this-'Dual Menu'!

   (2) My laptop was to be serviced due to some display problem(My laptop needs regular interval diagnosis!). I took it to an authorised hp service centre. They checked it and I was told that there was some problem with display chip and it needed a replacement and the charge would be Rs.6000. I was shocked to hear it, because some 6 months back there was same problem and I gaot it replaced for Rs.2800 and for my benefit the bill of that was there in my bag only, I showed them the bill and argued with them but still I had to pay Rs.4000.

  (3) Lastly I would like to tell about my room owner. I stay in a single room in IARI campus. If someone comes to my room, she raises 100 questions. She tells not to use more water, not to go out of room after 10PM and compels many more restrictions.(So planning  to change the room!)

  These are just some of my experiences in Delhi over a little period of just 42 days. Similar to these there are many experiences. But I m helpless to myself, I have to be here. I wish I would complete my work here and go back to Bangalore at the earliest. I want to go to Bangalore at the earliest as I m missing my parents, brother, sister and mainly MY FRIENDS. 

 (To inform again, I m not against Delhi or its people :) )

G20

     G20 is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major economies-19 countries plus the European Union established in 1999. The G20 economies comprise more than 80% of the world's GDP, 80% of world trade and 65% of the world population. G20 has a high degree of representativeness and legitimacy on account of its geographical composition (members are drawn from all continents) and its large share of global population (two-thirds) and world GDP.

   The G20 first meeting was held in Berlin on December 15-16, 1999.

   The members of G20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America.

   

  






    To ensure global economic institutions work together, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the President of the World Bank, plus the chairs of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank, also participate in G20 meetings on an ex-officio basis. The G20 thus brings together important industrial and emerging-market countries from all regions of the world. The G20's economic weight and broad membership gives it a high degree of legitimacy and influence over the management of the global economy and financial system.

    G20 was set up to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The G20 is the forum for our international economic development that promotes open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging-market countries on key issues related to global economic stability. G20 helps to support growth and development across the globe by contributing to the strengthening of the international financial architecture and providing opportunities for discussions on national policies, international co-operation, and international financial institutions.

   According to a report released by Asian Development Bank, Asia will play a more important role in the process of global economic governance reform through G20.

  The achievements of G20 so far are rememberable. The G20 has decided on many issues since 1999, including agreement about policies for growth, reducing abuse of the financial system, dealing with financial crisis and combating terrorist financing. In 2004, G20 countries committed to new higher standards of transparency and exchange of information on tax matters.

    The scope of financial regulation has been largely broadened and strengthened. There was also great progress in policy coordination, thanks to the creation of the framework for a strong, sustainable and balanced growth among the G20 members and therefore to mitigate the impact of the crisis. Finally, global governance has dramatically improved due to the role and the needs of emerging of developing countries, especially through the ambitious reforms of the governance of the IMF and the World Bank.

(Official site of G20: www.g20.org )

'Education in INDIA'

Here are some sayings about 'EDUCATION'.
1: Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which which neither freedom nor justice can be maintained - James A. Garfield

2: Upon the education of the people of this country, the fate of this country depends - Benjamin Disraeli

   INDIA has the history of oldest university system of education in the world. The Nalanda University was the oldest University of the world. Western education came to India with the advent of Europeans to India.

   In India education is provided both by public sector and private sector and its control is under both central and state govt. India has made progress in terms of increasing primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population. India's improved education system is often considered as one of the main contributors to the economic rise of India.

  In India Right to Education is a Fundamental Right under Article 21A. India passed Right of Children to Free and Compulsary Education Act(2009) and it came into effect from 1st April, 2010. Thus all the children of 6-14 years of age are entitled to get free education.
Also Article 51A(k) says that it is the Fundamental Duty of all parents or guardians to send their children to school. The Indian government has also banned child labour in order to ensure that the children do not enter unsafe working conditions. However, both free education and the ban on child labour are difficult to enforce due to economic disparity and social conditions.The current scheme for Universalization of Education for All is the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan'(SSA) which is one of the largest education initiatives in the world. Many initiatives have been take under SSA to enhance the Universalisation of Education for All.
 ( The initiatives taken by the govt in elementary education can be seen in the following link: http://education.nic.in/Elementary/el_initiatives.asp )
  
   Merely universalisation of primary education is not sufficient, universalisation of secondary education is also essential. In order to achieve this 'Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan'(RMSA) was started in 2009-10. Its objective was to achieve enrolment ratio of 75% and to improve the quality of secondary education. It also aim to remove gender inequality and to give preference to SC/ST/Minority students.

  Higher education or Tertiary education is the highest level of education. It comprises of undergraduate, postgraduate and research. The technical educational institutes play a vital role in human resource development by creating skilled manpower which enhances the industrial productivity and thereby improving the quality of life.
 
  For better contribution of education to the Indian economy, some steps are needed to be taken by the central or state govt, viz:
1: The expenditure on education should be increased to provide various academic and infrastructural facilities.
2: The dropouts from elementary and secondary education should be removed through mass awareness campaigns and making curriculam more student friendly.
3: There should be shift from literature type education to job-oriented education in higher education as required by public and private sectors.
4: The gender gap in education must be minimized. According to 2011 census, 74% of total population in India is literate which include 82% of males and 65% of females.Thus the gap is 17%, this gap should be minimized at the earliest.

  In order to become a prosperous global economy, India has to strengthen its education qualitatively, especially higher and technical education. The education must act as a catalyst in bringing the positive economic change by providing skilled manpower.

(For more details about education in India visit http://education.nic.in/)

PPP - Public Private Partnership

HI,

      ( This is my FIRST attempt to write something on my own. So PLZ if you find any minor mistakes, cooperate :) ! )


Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a way of project development in which the public and private sectors cooperate and partner with each other to create infrastructure and/or provide services to users.


     Many people today think that the remedy for poor governance is just to hand over the govt activities to the private sector, which will do the job more efficiently than a public sector. But the reality is that the govt has an important role and that they will play their role in the future by collaboration with the private sector. The root causes for poor governance by the public sector are lack of appropriate technical,management and financial resources with the public sector. To overcome these deficiencies the govt has initiated to access to private sector for these resources and thereby ensuring the efficient public service delivery.


Significance of PPP

 Govt is the institution which can make planning and policies. The policies made by the govt have direct impact on public. The govt should closely interact with the private sector and promote the sense of partnership for achieving national goals. The PPP should be seen as a sustainable financing and managing policy to fill the infrastructure gap.

 PPPs helps to attract private capital investment and to increase the efficiency and use of available resources more effectively. Apartfrom attracting private capital, the PPP projects also deliver better outputs due to efficient use of resources, availability of mdern technology, better project implementation and improved operations which are not mostly used in public sector. Thus it can be concluded that PPPs result in improved delivery of public services and promote public sector reforms.

(COMMENTS are welcome)