Thursday, October 18, 2007
demand, and not supply is the issue in biodiesel
http://www.indiatodaygroup.com/btoday/20051106/trends4.html
BUSINESS TODAY, 6 Nov 2005
Agreed that biodiesel is the need of the hour. But the Union Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar's diktat to public sector oil companies to start buying biodiesel to blend with their regular diesel (in a 5:95 ratio) has left them in a bind. "Even if we were to blend only 5 per cent of biodiesel, we will need more than 20 lakh tonnes per annum," says a senior executive in an oil company. India has an installed biodiesel capacity of 50 tonnes a day. But Leena Mehendale, Joint Secretary, Petroleum Ministry and Executive Director of Petroleum Conservation Research Association, says that demand, and not supply is the issue. "Once the oil companies start buying (biodiesel) on a regular basis, the capacities will be increased," she says. Quality is another issue. If biodiesel were to be sourced from disparate sources around the country, monitoring and ensuring quality will be near impossible. "Oil companies will have to install the equipment to check the standard of supplies," says Mehendale. There's hope for the biodiesel advocates yet. There's a lot of global interest in the sector. The UK's d1 Oils, for instance, plans to set up an 8,000-tonnes-a-year biodiesel refinery near Chennai by next year.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Implementation Report on CEDAW
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000215/nation.htm
Tuesday, February 15, 2000,
Chandigarh, India
The Tribune, Chandigarh
NEW DELHI, Feb 14 — Over 20 women organisations which deliberated on the government’s implementation report on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have suggested that they be taken into confidence by the government.
After going through the report presented by the government delegation during the recently concluded session of CEDAW in New York, the groups suggested that the government’s replies to the 76 questions posed by the UN committee were vague and incomplete.
The three-member delegation which attended the week-long session in January comprised the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, (DWCD) Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the NCW, Mrs Leena Mehendale and the Deputy Secretary in the department, Ms Rashmi Chaudhary.
The questions raised by the 23-member UN Committee on CEDAW pertained to the representation of women in the Supreme Court of India, the role of the NCW, dowry cases, property rights of women, gender sensitivasation of police officers and civil servants and the status of CEDAW in the Indian legal system.
The committee also raised questions on women policy makers in mass media, representation of women in Parliament, the fate of the Constitutional Amendment Bill for reservation for women, views of educated women on caste, bonded labour, gender bias in family planning programmes and polygamy.
Apart from this, 11 NGOs invited to the session also submitted a report.
Invited to the discussion by the NCW, participants felt that their views were not reflected in the government’s replies.
The women organisations have urged the NCW to forward a report on Monday’s deliberations to the government through the DWCD. They have said that the government should hold discussions with the NCW and the NGOs before the session on the status of women scheduled in March and another preparatory meeting in May on the Beijing Platform for Action.
Prominent women organisations represented at the meeting were the National Alliance of Women Organisations, the Joint Women’s Programme and the Guild of Service.
Tuesday, February 15, 2000,
Chandigarh, India
The Tribune, Chandigarh
NEW DELHI, Feb 14 — Over 20 women organisations which deliberated on the government’s implementation report on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have suggested that they be taken into confidence by the government.
After going through the report presented by the government delegation during the recently concluded session of CEDAW in New York, the groups suggested that the government’s replies to the 76 questions posed by the UN committee were vague and incomplete.
The three-member delegation which attended the week-long session in January comprised the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, (DWCD) Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the NCW, Mrs Leena Mehendale and the Deputy Secretary in the department, Ms Rashmi Chaudhary.
The questions raised by the 23-member UN Committee on CEDAW pertained to the representation of women in the Supreme Court of India, the role of the NCW, dowry cases, property rights of women, gender sensitivasation of police officers and civil servants and the status of CEDAW in the Indian legal system.
The committee also raised questions on women policy makers in mass media, representation of women in Parliament, the fate of the Constitutional Amendment Bill for reservation for women, views of educated women on caste, bonded labour, gender bias in family planning programmes and polygamy.
Apart from this, 11 NGOs invited to the session also submitted a report.
Invited to the discussion by the NCW, participants felt that their views were not reflected in the government’s replies.
The women organisations have urged the NCW to forward a report on Monday’s deliberations to the government through the DWCD. They have said that the government should hold discussions with the NCW and the NGOs before the session on the status of women scheduled in March and another preparatory meeting in May on the Beijing Platform for Action.
Prominent women organisations represented at the meeting were the National Alliance of Women Organisations, the Joint Women’s Programme and the Guild of Service.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
soap opera aims to stop farmer suicides
http://agrariancrisis.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/soap-opera-aims-to-stop-farmer-suicides-2/
March 26, 2007 at 8:52 am · Filed under Debt burden, Farmers Suicides, Second Green Revolution, Vidharba Crisis
Ashling O¿Connor in Bombay
* March 26, 2007
Burdened by crop failures and unmanageable debts, thousands of desperate farmers are killing themselves every year despite the announcement of sizeable subsidies that were supposed to improve their lot.
There have been more than 200 suicides this year in the western state of Maharashtra alone, adding to 1,452 in the region last year. Official estimates put the death toll since 2001 on India’s western and southern farming plateaus at more than 5,000; unofficial surveys suggest that the number could be near double.
Faced with these alarming statistics, state officials have produced a docu-soap as a way of engaging with increasingly depressed and disenfranchised farmers.
The half-hour programme will run for three months initially on Sahyadri, the Marathi language channel belonging to Doordarshan, the state-owned national television network.
The concept is part enactment and part reality TV. A handful of professional actors would be required for some storylines but the central creative thread is that the farmers are the stars of the show.
The aim is to educate farmers on emerging cultivation methods, diversification options, available subsidies and loans as well as offer tips and counselling for dealing with a harsh and unwanted existence.
A popular quip among the 650-million-strong agricultural workforce is that, given the choice, they would rather be reborn a European cow than an Indian farmer.
Government officials are discussing deals with two production companies and hope to release the programme on June 6, World Environment Day.
“Television is a very important medium. It has a far reach, which means we can address their problems directly,” Leena Mehendale, principal secretary of Maharashtra’s animal husbandry department, said.
“One farmer can watch the serial and be entertained while another may pick up tips or good practices. The success of the programme will be judged on whether farmers have felt the need to participate and have felt that it will help them.”
The problem of farmer suicides has dogged a Congress-led administration aware that it must include agriculture in the Indian success story if the wider economy is to continue growing at 9 per cent a year and social frictions are to be avoided.
Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, toured the worst-affected area of Vidarbha last July to assure farmers that their need for a fairer system of credit and improved irrigation facilities would be addressed.
His 37.5 billion rupee (£440 million) relief package has yet to make a real difference. After visits by more than 16 government committees, farmers in Vidarbha continue to borrow from loan sharks charging 60 per cent interest.
Nearly 2.8 million of the 3.2 million cotton farmers are defaulters and for every 100 rupees they borrow, about 80 rupees goes into servicing old loans, according to the Planning Commission. Meanwhile, only 3.5 per cent of the land is irrigated in a region that receives more than 800mm (30in) of average rainfall annually.
The docu-soap idea has emerged as pure monetary measures fail to stem the suicide rate. The Roman Catholic Church in India is thinking along similar lines. It recently began a counselling programme involving street plays, songs and art exhibitions to cheer farmers.
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the so-called hugging saint, has also announced a two billion rupee programme focused on farmers’ psychological, emotional and spiritual needs.
March 26, 2007 at 8:52 am · Filed under Debt burden, Farmers Suicides, Second Green Revolution, Vidharba Crisis
Ashling O¿Connor in Bombay
* March 26, 2007
Burdened by crop failures and unmanageable debts, thousands of desperate farmers are killing themselves every year despite the announcement of sizeable subsidies that were supposed to improve their lot.
There have been more than 200 suicides this year in the western state of Maharashtra alone, adding to 1,452 in the region last year. Official estimates put the death toll since 2001 on India’s western and southern farming plateaus at more than 5,000; unofficial surveys suggest that the number could be near double.
Faced with these alarming statistics, state officials have produced a docu-soap as a way of engaging with increasingly depressed and disenfranchised farmers.
The half-hour programme will run for three months initially on Sahyadri, the Marathi language channel belonging to Doordarshan, the state-owned national television network.
The concept is part enactment and part reality TV. A handful of professional actors would be required for some storylines but the central creative thread is that the farmers are the stars of the show.
The aim is to educate farmers on emerging cultivation methods, diversification options, available subsidies and loans as well as offer tips and counselling for dealing with a harsh and unwanted existence.
A popular quip among the 650-million-strong agricultural workforce is that, given the choice, they would rather be reborn a European cow than an Indian farmer.
Government officials are discussing deals with two production companies and hope to release the programme on June 6, World Environment Day.
“Television is a very important medium. It has a far reach, which means we can address their problems directly,” Leena Mehendale, principal secretary of Maharashtra’s animal husbandry department, said.
“One farmer can watch the serial and be entertained while another may pick up tips or good practices. The success of the programme will be judged on whether farmers have felt the need to participate and have felt that it will help them.”
The problem of farmer suicides has dogged a Congress-led administration aware that it must include agriculture in the Indian success story if the wider economy is to continue growing at 9 per cent a year and social frictions are to be avoided.
Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, toured the worst-affected area of Vidarbha last July to assure farmers that their need for a fairer system of credit and improved irrigation facilities would be addressed.
His 37.5 billion rupee (£440 million) relief package has yet to make a real difference. After visits by more than 16 government committees, farmers in Vidarbha continue to borrow from loan sharks charging 60 per cent interest.
Nearly 2.8 million of the 3.2 million cotton farmers are defaulters and for every 100 rupees they borrow, about 80 rupees goes into servicing old loans, according to the Planning Commission. Meanwhile, only 3.5 per cent of the land is irrigated in a region that receives more than 800mm (30in) of average rainfall annually.
The docu-soap idea has emerged as pure monetary measures fail to stem the suicide rate. The Roman Catholic Church in India is thinking along similar lines. It recently began a counselling programme involving street plays, songs and art exhibitions to cheer farmers.
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the so-called hugging saint, has also announced a two billion rupee programme focused on farmers’ psychological, emotional and spiritual needs.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Maitrin : a unique scheme for rural girl child
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=86919
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Close this window
Nation
Girls to gain a lot from goats in Maharashtra
Agencies
Pune, May 22: Young girls in rural households of Maharashtra will soon have a four-legged friend to promote their health and well being.
Sounds a bit strange. But the state Animal Husbandry Commissioner Leena Mehendale, who has conceived the unique project 'Maitrin' (girl friend) to hand over a she-goat to the families having a girl child, is confident of getting a nod from the state Cabinet, the first of its kind in the country.
Under the scheme, currently awaiting formal clearance from Finance ministry, the Animal Husbandry Department will provide a she-goat to those families in rural areas of the state having girls aged between 8 to 18 years.
Explaining to logic behind the measure to be implemented from coming financial year, Mehendale said that the goat was expected to serve as a means to increase income of the rural families resulting in better nutrition ‘for the traditionally neglected girl child’.
The beneficiary family heads will be told to test the hemoglobin percentage of the girls after a period of one year at government hospitals to know whether they were being looked after well.
"If we find that hemoglobin count has gone up after one year, the concerned family will be given one more female goat as an incentive of sorts," Mehendale said.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Close this window
Nation
Girls to gain a lot from goats in Maharashtra
Agencies
Pune, May 22: Young girls in rural households of Maharashtra will soon have a four-legged friend to promote their health and well being.
Sounds a bit strange. But the state Animal Husbandry Commissioner Leena Mehendale, who has conceived the unique project 'Maitrin' (girl friend) to hand over a she-goat to the families having a girl child, is confident of getting a nod from the state Cabinet, the first of its kind in the country.
Under the scheme, currently awaiting formal clearance from Finance ministry, the Animal Husbandry Department will provide a she-goat to those families in rural areas of the state having girls aged between 8 to 18 years.
Explaining to logic behind the measure to be implemented from coming financial year, Mehendale said that the goat was expected to serve as a means to increase income of the rural families resulting in better nutrition ‘for the traditionally neglected girl child’.
The beneficiary family heads will be told to test the hemoglobin percentage of the girls after a period of one year at government hospitals to know whether they were being looked after well.
"If we find that hemoglobin count has gone up after one year, the concerned family will be given one more female goat as an incentive of sorts," Mehendale said.
A Small Step Towards Modern Waste Management
http://www.irastimes.org/Platinum_Jubilee/Mumbai_Seminar/Souvenir/Souvenir_Aug_2005_Articles.pdf
An experiment by DRM Hyderabad in which myself and PCRA are proud to be partners.
Waste Management is not a dirty word anymore, in
fact, it subscribes to the adage ‘ Cleanliness is next to
Godliness’.
Like all Government sectors, the Indian Railways
too, provide housing facilities to its staff and the colonies
are huge. These colonies, provided with Health and
Conservancy components, are indeed, a legacy of the
British Raj. This legacy also includes an abundant
heritage of greenery in all the Railway colonies and
offices. Waste Management in Railway colonies is very
traditional and clockwork-like, in so far that the sanctity
of cleanliness is still maintained intact and is not
influenced by the civic & municipal element.
Waste Management of today calls for state of art
technology, with derivatives like ‘power generation’,
‘cooking gas’, ‘recycled water’ (clear and potable)
‘recycled paper’, ‘bio- composting’, and the likes. And
there are insurmountable hurdles as well, like for
example, not knowing what to do with the non biodegradable
plastic waste that has not been picked out
by the ‘Rag-pickers’, who are logically the ‘tongue in
cheek’ of the Modern Waste Management. The plastic
waste is one of the pollutants of our environment, simply,
because it refuses to be bio-degradable.
Sitaphalmandi Railway Colony, at Secunderabad,
is a small colony of about eighty residential units built in
multi-storied complexes. The colony was most eligible
to experiment with the concept of Bio-composting as
propogated by PCRA with the help of bio-enzymes
developed by the Bhavalkar Institute and marketed by
Samrudhhi.
The genesis of the experiment lay in the officials of
PCRA surveying and appraising the garbage disposal
method as existing at Secunderabad and counseling all
Officers and concerned Health staff of Hyderabad
Division with the help of video, about the concept and
practice of Bio-composting. This concept advocates
conversion of only bio-degradable garbage into compost
in specially constructed bins wherein the garbage is
treated with enzymes.
The actual experiment took off when I counseled
the residents ‘en mass’ in their community hall with the
help of video footage loaned by PCRA, about
segregating garbage into bio-degradable, (organic
wastes that slowly decompose into elements of nature)
which had to be collected in green baskets and non
bio-degradable, (polythene bags, synthetic clothes,
etc.), which had to be collected in blue baskets. The
residents were counseled to sell the waste paper to
the Kabadiwala.
A significant counseling to them was not to accept
non bio-degradable, polythene and plastic carry bags
from vendors to the extent possible, to thus prevent
environmental pollution.
A masonry garbage bin was constructed in the
colony itself, as per specifications of PCRA and
collection of garbage in the bin was started in right
earnest. To give impetus to the project, Health staff
were cajoled into collecting the segregated garbage
from each household and to dump the bio-degradable
waste into the bin. The non bio-degradable waste was
to disposed in the routine manner. Specified dosage of
bio-catalyst and bio-sanitizer were sprinkled on the
garbage in the bin and covering the same with stone
powder/dust
The saying that what is ‘well begun is half done’ is
not so true in all cases. A couple of days later, I inspected
the bin and was aghast to see some polythene bags
containing bio-degradable waste dumped into the bin.
The basic point of the project had not gone home. Was
it communication gap? Was it language problem?
I did a house to house counseling all over again,
armed with pamphlets citing the DOs and DON’Ts in
English and Telugu (the local language), physically
demonstrating the segregation of household garbage
A Small Step Towards
Modern Waste Management
Ms. Vandana Singhal (IRAS ‘76)
31
into bio-degradable and non bio-degradable and also
advising them not to dump bio-degradable waste in
POLYTHENE BAGS! (for God’s sake!). The polythene
bag is NON BIO-DEGRADBLE! My voice had turned
hoarse and my legs were aching by the time I completed
the counseling. To make matters worse, it was raining!
But my efforts paid off.
The process and reaction in the garbage bin, due to
addition of the Bio-enzymes did not emit any foul odour
nor attract flies and the residents have accepted the
location of the garbage bin in their vicinity. They have
been promised that the bio-compost (manure) that
eventually will be the product, could be shared amongst
them to nurture their garden and kitchen plants. The
garbage generated by the colony comprising of biodegradable
waste is being consumed by the bin and
the experiment has brought about savings in
transportation costs.
By chance Smt. Leena Mehendale, Joint Secretary
& Executive Director of PCRA read my article in ‘Chetna’,
PCRA’s publication and made a surprise visit to
Hyderabad. She was very much impressed by the
project and arranged for docu-filming of the same. Within
a month, the documentary was shot. It was premiered
at ICF, Chennai, on 27th May, 2005. The documentary
will be telecast on select channels.
After the success of the experiment at Sitafalmandi,
the project was extended to Moula-Ali and Kacheguda
Railway Colonies and as of now, there are 19 healthy
bins located in various railway colonies in the Twin Cities
and also at Nizamabad, catering to the garbage
generated by families living in 3800 residential quarters.
To be modest, the ghost of comparison has always
haunted me whenever I have undertaken colonies for
the project, and has brought to the fore, aspects that
are a revelation.
As an evolutionary step in handling of the project,
the five ‘day to day’ steps, that are the daily routine
measures, have been painted on the bins in 3 languages
to ensure, educate and keep the process alive. They
are:
1. Spread bio-waste
2. Spray bio-sanitized water
3. Sprinkle rock dust/sand
4. Spread horticulture waste, and
5. Spray bio-sanitized water
Memories of the Learning Experience
It was time to go to bed and I get this call on the
phone “Madam” the caller says, “we live opposite to the
BCP Bin No.2 and for the past two nights, cockroaches
are coming into our house. I told my husband to find
out, he’s just returned with his torch light, he says they
are all coming out of the bin and the bin is smelling
horrible”. My heart skipped a beat. “OK I said”. “I will
send my inspector across, the first thing in the morning.
It will be taken care of”.
I told the Health Inspector to be more careful with
the Bin. Bio-sanitized water was sprayed twice a day
but the problem persisted even after 3 days.
The Investigation
I personally went to the project site and checked
up the large water container into which Bio-sanitizer
crystals had been deposited. I had a hunch that if the
water in the container was not sanitizing the bin,
something should have gone wrong with the Biosanitizer.
I made my men search for the crystals; finally
I got all the water emptied through a strainer to get the
crystals. The crystals were missing. The Bio-sanitizer
crystals do not get depleted nor dissolve in water; the
loss weighed heavily on my mind. They were probably
lost during cleaning of the container or should have been
taken along with the water gushing into the spraying
can. Depositing the Bio-sanitizer in the water container
was risky, as the crystals are small and are likely to be
lost or gushed away while spraying in the composting
bin.
The Panacea
After some probes and tinkering, I found a simple
solution. I made a small cloth pouch, deposited a fresh
dose of Bio-sanitizer crystals inside, sealed the pouch
with stitches and with the help of a twine, hung it inside
the water container. The pouch is always kept dipped
in the water. Sanitization is achieved and the Biosanitizer
is safe and secure! This practice is now
followed at all the projects. As for the cockroaches and
foul odour, the menace ceased after just 3 days.
32
The Fond Farewell at Nizamabad Station
This is an amusing anecdote. The ‘mass counselling’
for the residents of the Railway colonies at Nizamabad
was in session with the help of power point presentation.
For convenience, the General Waiting Hall on Platform
No.1 had been chosen as the venue. As the counselling
progressed, passengers started crowding outside the
Waiting hall, just to know what was happening. I was
aware, a while later, Passenger Train No.564 bound for
Secunderabad had rolled in and halted on PF-1. The
Guard blew the whistle and the train started moving.
On instinct, I dashed towards the crowd of passengers
outside and asked them what was the train that they
intended to catch. They said they were to catch Train
No.564. I shouted, indicating that their train had started
moving. They all realized their folly and rushed towards
the train. I had to shout to the Guard to stop for the sake
of the passengers. I was surprised that five ladies
emerged with their luggage from among the audience
in the hall and rushed towards the train. The participants
were all over, helping them. I asked them that they were
passengers and not supposed to attend the counselling.
“You were speaking so nicely” they said, “ the programme
was so informative and good that we forgot that we were
here to catch the train!”. Soon, a laughter riot broke out
amidst all this commotion and I couldn’t go on with the
counselling.
I did not want any passenger to miss any train on
DRM’s account!
Some Revelations
1. Wherever this project has been implemented,
there is a 50% savings in manpower &
transportation costs, as the organic garbage,
the generation of which is more at colonies gets
consumed at the composting bin.
2. Mind-set plays a very important part in the
success of the project. Wherever residents were
with incorrigible mindset, the success rate of
the project took a dip.
3. Houses with children, particularly with
adolescents, contributed primarily to the
success of the project.
4. The expectancy of the residents towards
redressal of their maintenance problems is
100% and they weigh their participation on such
a comparative plank.
5. Leaders of all sorts crop up out of thin air, and
when they are told to take up responsibilities,
they vanish into the same thin air!
vvvvv
An experiment by DRM Hyderabad in which myself and PCRA are proud to be partners.
Waste Management is not a dirty word anymore, in
fact, it subscribes to the adage ‘ Cleanliness is next to
Godliness’.
Like all Government sectors, the Indian Railways
too, provide housing facilities to its staff and the colonies
are huge. These colonies, provided with Health and
Conservancy components, are indeed, a legacy of the
British Raj. This legacy also includes an abundant
heritage of greenery in all the Railway colonies and
offices. Waste Management in Railway colonies is very
traditional and clockwork-like, in so far that the sanctity
of cleanliness is still maintained intact and is not
influenced by the civic & municipal element.
Waste Management of today calls for state of art
technology, with derivatives like ‘power generation’,
‘cooking gas’, ‘recycled water’ (clear and potable)
‘recycled paper’, ‘bio- composting’, and the likes. And
there are insurmountable hurdles as well, like for
example, not knowing what to do with the non biodegradable
plastic waste that has not been picked out
by the ‘Rag-pickers’, who are logically the ‘tongue in
cheek’ of the Modern Waste Management. The plastic
waste is one of the pollutants of our environment, simply,
because it refuses to be bio-degradable.
Sitaphalmandi Railway Colony, at Secunderabad,
is a small colony of about eighty residential units built in
multi-storied complexes. The colony was most eligible
to experiment with the concept of Bio-composting as
propogated by PCRA with the help of bio-enzymes
developed by the Bhavalkar Institute and marketed by
Samrudhhi.
The genesis of the experiment lay in the officials of
PCRA surveying and appraising the garbage disposal
method as existing at Secunderabad and counseling all
Officers and concerned Health staff of Hyderabad
Division with the help of video, about the concept and
practice of Bio-composting. This concept advocates
conversion of only bio-degradable garbage into compost
in specially constructed bins wherein the garbage is
treated with enzymes.
The actual experiment took off when I counseled
the residents ‘en mass’ in their community hall with the
help of video footage loaned by PCRA, about
segregating garbage into bio-degradable, (organic
wastes that slowly decompose into elements of nature)
which had to be collected in green baskets and non
bio-degradable, (polythene bags, synthetic clothes,
etc.), which had to be collected in blue baskets. The
residents were counseled to sell the waste paper to
the Kabadiwala.
A significant counseling to them was not to accept
non bio-degradable, polythene and plastic carry bags
from vendors to the extent possible, to thus prevent
environmental pollution.
A masonry garbage bin was constructed in the
colony itself, as per specifications of PCRA and
collection of garbage in the bin was started in right
earnest. To give impetus to the project, Health staff
were cajoled into collecting the segregated garbage
from each household and to dump the bio-degradable
waste into the bin. The non bio-degradable waste was
to disposed in the routine manner. Specified dosage of
bio-catalyst and bio-sanitizer were sprinkled on the
garbage in the bin and covering the same with stone
powder/dust
The saying that what is ‘well begun is half done’ is
not so true in all cases. A couple of days later, I inspected
the bin and was aghast to see some polythene bags
containing bio-degradable waste dumped into the bin.
The basic point of the project had not gone home. Was
it communication gap? Was it language problem?
I did a house to house counseling all over again,
armed with pamphlets citing the DOs and DON’Ts in
English and Telugu (the local language), physically
demonstrating the segregation of household garbage
A Small Step Towards
Modern Waste Management
Ms. Vandana Singhal (IRAS ‘76)
31
into bio-degradable and non bio-degradable and also
advising them not to dump bio-degradable waste in
POLYTHENE BAGS! (for God’s sake!). The polythene
bag is NON BIO-DEGRADBLE! My voice had turned
hoarse and my legs were aching by the time I completed
the counseling. To make matters worse, it was raining!
But my efforts paid off.
The process and reaction in the garbage bin, due to
addition of the Bio-enzymes did not emit any foul odour
nor attract flies and the residents have accepted the
location of the garbage bin in their vicinity. They have
been promised that the bio-compost (manure) that
eventually will be the product, could be shared amongst
them to nurture their garden and kitchen plants. The
garbage generated by the colony comprising of biodegradable
waste is being consumed by the bin and
the experiment has brought about savings in
transportation costs.
By chance Smt. Leena Mehendale, Joint Secretary
& Executive Director of PCRA read my article in ‘Chetna’,
PCRA’s publication and made a surprise visit to
Hyderabad. She was very much impressed by the
project and arranged for docu-filming of the same. Within
a month, the documentary was shot. It was premiered
at ICF, Chennai, on 27th May, 2005. The documentary
will be telecast on select channels.
After the success of the experiment at Sitafalmandi,
the project was extended to Moula-Ali and Kacheguda
Railway Colonies and as of now, there are 19 healthy
bins located in various railway colonies in the Twin Cities
and also at Nizamabad, catering to the garbage
generated by families living in 3800 residential quarters.
To be modest, the ghost of comparison has always
haunted me whenever I have undertaken colonies for
the project, and has brought to the fore, aspects that
are a revelation.
As an evolutionary step in handling of the project,
the five ‘day to day’ steps, that are the daily routine
measures, have been painted on the bins in 3 languages
to ensure, educate and keep the process alive. They
are:
1. Spread bio-waste
2. Spray bio-sanitized water
3. Sprinkle rock dust/sand
4. Spread horticulture waste, and
5. Spray bio-sanitized water
Memories of the Learning Experience
It was time to go to bed and I get this call on the
phone “Madam” the caller says, “we live opposite to the
BCP Bin No.2 and for the past two nights, cockroaches
are coming into our house. I told my husband to find
out, he’s just returned with his torch light, he says they
are all coming out of the bin and the bin is smelling
horrible”. My heart skipped a beat. “OK I said”. “I will
send my inspector across, the first thing in the morning.
It will be taken care of”.
I told the Health Inspector to be more careful with
the Bin. Bio-sanitized water was sprayed twice a day
but the problem persisted even after 3 days.
The Investigation
I personally went to the project site and checked
up the large water container into which Bio-sanitizer
crystals had been deposited. I had a hunch that if the
water in the container was not sanitizing the bin,
something should have gone wrong with the Biosanitizer.
I made my men search for the crystals; finally
I got all the water emptied through a strainer to get the
crystals. The crystals were missing. The Bio-sanitizer
crystals do not get depleted nor dissolve in water; the
loss weighed heavily on my mind. They were probably
lost during cleaning of the container or should have been
taken along with the water gushing into the spraying
can. Depositing the Bio-sanitizer in the water container
was risky, as the crystals are small and are likely to be
lost or gushed away while spraying in the composting
bin.
The Panacea
After some probes and tinkering, I found a simple
solution. I made a small cloth pouch, deposited a fresh
dose of Bio-sanitizer crystals inside, sealed the pouch
with stitches and with the help of a twine, hung it inside
the water container. The pouch is always kept dipped
in the water. Sanitization is achieved and the Biosanitizer
is safe and secure! This practice is now
followed at all the projects. As for the cockroaches and
foul odour, the menace ceased after just 3 days.
32
The Fond Farewell at Nizamabad Station
This is an amusing anecdote. The ‘mass counselling’
for the residents of the Railway colonies at Nizamabad
was in session with the help of power point presentation.
For convenience, the General Waiting Hall on Platform
No.1 had been chosen as the venue. As the counselling
progressed, passengers started crowding outside the
Waiting hall, just to know what was happening. I was
aware, a while later, Passenger Train No.564 bound for
Secunderabad had rolled in and halted on PF-1. The
Guard blew the whistle and the train started moving.
On instinct, I dashed towards the crowd of passengers
outside and asked them what was the train that they
intended to catch. They said they were to catch Train
No.564. I shouted, indicating that their train had started
moving. They all realized their folly and rushed towards
the train. I had to shout to the Guard to stop for the sake
of the passengers. I was surprised that five ladies
emerged with their luggage from among the audience
in the hall and rushed towards the train. The participants
were all over, helping them. I asked them that they were
passengers and not supposed to attend the counselling.
“You were speaking so nicely” they said, “ the programme
was so informative and good that we forgot that we were
here to catch the train!”. Soon, a laughter riot broke out
amidst all this commotion and I couldn’t go on with the
counselling.
I did not want any passenger to miss any train on
DRM’s account!
Some Revelations
1. Wherever this project has been implemented,
there is a 50% savings in manpower &
transportation costs, as the organic garbage,
the generation of which is more at colonies gets
consumed at the composting bin.
2. Mind-set plays a very important part in the
success of the project. Wherever residents were
with incorrigible mindset, the success rate of
the project took a dip.
3. Houses with children, particularly with
adolescents, contributed primarily to the
success of the project.
4. The expectancy of the residents towards
redressal of their maintenance problems is
100% and they weigh their participation on such
a comparative plank.
5. Leaders of all sorts crop up out of thin air, and
when they are told to take up responsibilities,
they vanish into the same thin air!
vvvvv
Fuel saving should be part of school, college syllabii
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/38791560.cms
Fuel saving to be part of school, college syllabii
27 Feb 2003, 2147 hrs IST,Siddhartha D. Kashyap,TNN
PUNE: What is a fuel? What is energy? What are the current reserves of exhaustible energy? What is the need for fuel conservation...
These are just some of the issues that secondary school students as well as graduates, irrespective of their disciplines (art, science or commerce), will soon be addressing in their classrooms. For, under a central government initiative, a course in energy conservation is being designed for ninth standard and second-year bachelors' degree students.
"Given the rising oil prices in the global market and the declining oil reserves, the best alternative is to educate youngsters in the judicious use of all energy sources," explained, Leena Mehendale, as joint secretary and executive director of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA),which comes under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
The initial directive to this effect came from the human resources development ministry, said Mehendale, a Maharashtra civil servant, on deputation to the ministry.
While a committee, comprising Sujata Phadke from the SNDT university; L. Chandrashekaran, manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd; agricultural scientist Rajesh Urkude; and A. Kaushik from PCRA, are working on the syllabus, a workshop will be held in April for course writers. "The idea is to invite maximum participation from all corners of the country," said Mehendale, who is on a visit to the city.
The PCRA has also decided to involve school students from across the country to conduct surveys, mostly in rural areas, on energy usage and conservation -- both in agriculture and domestic purposes, Mehendale said.
Fuel saving to be part of school, college syllabii
27 Feb 2003, 2147 hrs IST,Siddhartha D. Kashyap,TNN
PUNE: What is a fuel? What is energy? What are the current reserves of exhaustible energy? What is the need for fuel conservation...
These are just some of the issues that secondary school students as well as graduates, irrespective of their disciplines (art, science or commerce), will soon be addressing in their classrooms. For, under a central government initiative, a course in energy conservation is being designed for ninth standard and second-year bachelors' degree students.
"Given the rising oil prices in the global market and the declining oil reserves, the best alternative is to educate youngsters in the judicious use of all energy sources," explained, Leena Mehendale, as joint secretary and executive director of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA),which comes under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
The initial directive to this effect came from the human resources development ministry, said Mehendale, a Maharashtra civil servant, on deputation to the ministry.
While a committee, comprising Sujata Phadke from the SNDT university; L. Chandrashekaran, manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd; agricultural scientist Rajesh Urkude; and A. Kaushik from PCRA, are working on the syllabus, a workshop will be held in April for course writers. "The idea is to invite maximum participation from all corners of the country," said Mehendale, who is on a visit to the city.
The PCRA has also decided to involve school students from across the country to conduct surveys, mostly in rural areas, on energy usage and conservation -- both in agriculture and domestic purposes, Mehendale said.
CONFERENCE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
http://www.bee-india.nic.in/sidelinks/Useful%20Downloads/Presentation%20seminars/EECE2004/session_details.pdfpdf
CONFERENCE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS held on 29 June, 2004
SESSION II POLICY AND REGULATION FOR COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Chairman: Ms Leena Mehendale, Executive Director, PCRAA
CONFERENCE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS held on 29 June, 2004
SESSION II POLICY AND REGULATION FOR COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Chairman: Ms Leena Mehendale, Executive Director, PCRAA
Les biocarburants liquides
http://www.riaed.net/spip.php?article943
Report of the GEF - STAP Workshop on Liquid Biofuels chaired by Leena Mehendale on 30 Aug 2005
Report of the GEF - STAP Workshop on Liquid Biofuels chaired by Leena Mehendale on 30 Aug 2005
Seminar on Bio-Diesel" at Nashik
http://iasrd.org
Exerpt from the home page of IASRD
As a follow up of the first Seminar held on 7th March 2006 at New Delhi and the initiative of Hon'ble Ms. Leena Mehendale, Principle Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, the Institute organized the "2nd Seminar on Bio-Diesel" at Nashik (Maharashtra) on 24th & 25th Feb 2007 in association with the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GOI, at Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) Campus. The purpose of organizing the Seminar was to generate awareness among the masses, organize various stake holders to identify the wasteland for plantation of Jagtropha. Hon'ble, Dr. Rajan M Vellukar, Vice-Chancellor, YCMOU inaugurated the Seminar. The event was sponsored/Co-sponsored by M/s Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Min. of Petroleum & Natural Resources, GOI and M/s Mohindra & Mohindra, Nashik. Eminent speakers from Govt. of Maharashtra, IOC, Railways, PCRA, HPCL, M/s Mohindra & Mohindra, among others addressed the participants. At the Seminar, Western Railways invited IASRD to undertake planation of Jatroha along the railway tracks to be specified by Western Railways on pilot basis.
Exerpt from the home page of IASRD
As a follow up of the first Seminar held on 7th March 2006 at New Delhi and the initiative of Hon'ble Ms. Leena Mehendale, Principle Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, the Institute organized the "2nd Seminar on Bio-Diesel" at Nashik (Maharashtra) on 24th & 25th Feb 2007 in association with the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GOI, at Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) Campus. The purpose of organizing the Seminar was to generate awareness among the masses, organize various stake holders to identify the wasteland for plantation of Jagtropha. Hon'ble, Dr. Rajan M Vellukar, Vice-Chancellor, YCMOU inaugurated the Seminar. The event was sponsored/Co-sponsored by M/s Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Min. of Petroleum & Natural Resources, GOI and M/s Mohindra & Mohindra, Nashik. Eminent speakers from Govt. of Maharashtra, IOC, Railways, PCRA, HPCL, M/s Mohindra & Mohindra, among others addressed the participants. At the Seminar, Western Railways invited IASRD to undertake planation of Jatroha along the railway tracks to be specified by Western Railways on pilot basis.
A special event ... Mahila Sahitya Sammelan
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990423/ile23137.html
Voice of the women
How often have women writers felt sidelined during literary meets? In response to that rather rhetorical question, the Suvarna Jyoti organisation has organised a women's literary meet (Mahila Sahitya Sammelan). To be inaugurated at the Balgandharva Rangmandir by Vasant Bapat, president, Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the meet will be convened by Vandana Chavan and presided by Shantatai Kirloskar.
Various poetry recitals, kavi sammelans, live interviews and solo performances are on the agenda. On the discussion panels are Leena Mehendale, Neela Khandge, Dnyanda Naik, Tej Nivlikar amongst others. Here's to the word of the woman!
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Voice of the women
How often have women writers felt sidelined during literary meets? In response to that rather rhetorical question, the Suvarna Jyoti organisation has organised a women's literary meet (Mahila Sahitya Sammelan). To be inaugurated at the Balgandharva Rangmandir by Vasant Bapat, president, Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the meet will be convened by Vandana Chavan and presided by Shantatai Kirloskar.
Various poetry recitals, kavi sammelans, live interviews and solo performances are on the agenda. On the discussion panels are Leena Mehendale, Neela Khandge, Dnyanda Naik, Tej Nivlikar amongst others. Here's to the word of the woman!
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Oil Conservation message in AIZWAL
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
***
Dated Aizawl, the 31st January, 2005
TUIALHTHEI RENCHEM TURA MIPUITE FUIH THIN TURIN MEDIA UNIT ZAWNG ZAWNGTE
I & B MINISTER IN A NGEN
Pu Jaipal Reddy, Information & Broadcasting Minister chuan a Ministry chhunga thuthar thehdarhtu pawl hrang hrang, Doordarshan leh All India Radio te tuialhthei leh eirawngbawlna gas renchem tura mipuite fuih thin turin a chah a, Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight (OGF) kharna a renchem kawnga thawk tha chungchuangte hnena lawmman sem pahin he thu hi a sawi a ni. Heng tuialhthei leh gas te hlutzia leh ren taka hman a tulzia mipuite hrilh turin thuthar thehdarhtute hi an pawimawh takzet a, a bik takin Doordarshan leh All India Radio te phei chu ram hmun kiltina an inzar pharh avangin an chanvo a pawimawh zual hle niin a hria. Energy renchem hi khawlkhawm nen a intluk tlan reng avangin hei hi kan India ram laka kan bat mai ni lovin kan khawvel laka kan bat a ni takmeuh a ni, Minister chuan a ti bawk.
Petroleum thilte kan mamawh em em rual hian thawhchhuah lamah erawh kan pachhe hle mai a, kum 15 lo awm tur chhovah phei khi chuan tuna kan hmanral ang reng renga luanraltir kan nih chuan 85% teh meuhvin kan mamawhna te hi a la invawrh chhoh a rinawm hle mai a, chuvang chuan theih ang tawka kan inrenchem hi kan chanvo pawimawh em em a chu a ni ta a ni. Tun hnai maiah khan hei hi mitthla reng chungin Sawrkar chuan NELP round 5-na a huaihawt a. Petroleum Secretary, Pu T.C. Tripathi-a chuan khami hunah khan OGCF hun chhunga campaign ringawt hi a tawk lova, nasa zawka mipuite lama inrenchem tura campaign kan thlak takzet a tul thu a lo sawi ve bawk a ni. Petroleum hmangtu sector zawng zawngte hian Japan mite tihdan hi kan entawn a tha hle a, anni ram khian kum 1974 oil shock harsatna an tawh hnu khan an theihtawp chhuahin tan an lo khawh tawh a nih kha. Hemi avangin PCRA pawhin Japan ram institution te nena thawkdunin energy renchemna kawng hrang hrang ngaihtuah sela tha a ti hle a ni. Hemi tur hian oil sector pualin Rs. vbc 400.00 khawlkhawmin a awm mek nghe nghe a, hetih laiin tuialhthei leh gas renchem tih hian hman tlem kher beiseilo ta ila, amaherawhchu ram ropui siam tura a tangkai thei ang bera kan hman erawh a tul dawn a ni, Pu Tipathi-a chuan a ti. PCRA Executive Director, Pi Leena Mehendale pawhin energy renchem hi duhthlanna mai ni lova kan tih makmawh a a ngaih thu a sawi bawk.
Kum tin Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) chuan Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight hi a hmang thin a, training, seminar, workshop, clinic, media campaign te, hmeichhe puala two wheeler rally, naupang puala painting leh essay competition te buatsaihin a hmang thin a, OGCF-2005 chhung ringawt hian thil tihpui nuai khat vel lai neih a ni nghe nghe.
31.1.05
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
***
Dated Aizawl, the 31st January, 2005
TUIALHTHEI RENCHEM TURA MIPUITE FUIH THIN TURIN MEDIA UNIT ZAWNG ZAWNGTE
I & B MINISTER IN A NGEN
Pu Jaipal Reddy, Information & Broadcasting Minister chuan a Ministry chhunga thuthar thehdarhtu pawl hrang hrang, Doordarshan leh All India Radio te tuialhthei leh eirawngbawlna gas renchem tura mipuite fuih thin turin a chah a, Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight (OGF) kharna a renchem kawnga thawk tha chungchuangte hnena lawmman sem pahin he thu hi a sawi a ni. Heng tuialhthei leh gas te hlutzia leh ren taka hman a tulzia mipuite hrilh turin thuthar thehdarhtute hi an pawimawh takzet a, a bik takin Doordarshan leh All India Radio te phei chu ram hmun kiltina an inzar pharh avangin an chanvo a pawimawh zual hle niin a hria. Energy renchem hi khawlkhawm nen a intluk tlan reng avangin hei hi kan India ram laka kan bat mai ni lovin kan khawvel laka kan bat a ni takmeuh a ni, Minister chuan a ti bawk.
Petroleum thilte kan mamawh em em rual hian thawhchhuah lamah erawh kan pachhe hle mai a, kum 15 lo awm tur chhovah phei khi chuan tuna kan hmanral ang reng renga luanraltir kan nih chuan 85% teh meuhvin kan mamawhna te hi a la invawrh chhoh a rinawm hle mai a, chuvang chuan theih ang tawka kan inrenchem hi kan chanvo pawimawh em em a chu a ni ta a ni. Tun hnai maiah khan hei hi mitthla reng chungin Sawrkar chuan NELP round 5-na a huaihawt a. Petroleum Secretary, Pu T.C. Tripathi-a chuan khami hunah khan OGCF hun chhunga campaign ringawt hi a tawk lova, nasa zawka mipuite lama inrenchem tura campaign kan thlak takzet a tul thu a lo sawi ve bawk a ni. Petroleum hmangtu sector zawng zawngte hian Japan mite tihdan hi kan entawn a tha hle a, anni ram khian kum 1974 oil shock harsatna an tawh hnu khan an theihtawp chhuahin tan an lo khawh tawh a nih kha. Hemi avangin PCRA pawhin Japan ram institution te nena thawkdunin energy renchemna kawng hrang hrang ngaihtuah sela tha a ti hle a ni. Hemi tur hian oil sector pualin Rs. vbc 400.00 khawlkhawmin a awm mek nghe nghe a, hetih laiin tuialhthei leh gas renchem tih hian hman tlem kher beiseilo ta ila, amaherawhchu ram ropui siam tura a tangkai thei ang bera kan hman erawh a tul dawn a ni, Pu Tipathi-a chuan a ti. PCRA Executive Director, Pi Leena Mehendale pawhin energy renchem hi duhthlanna mai ni lova kan tih makmawh a a ngaih thu a sawi bawk.
Kum tin Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) chuan Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight hi a hmang thin a, training, seminar, workshop, clinic, media campaign te, hmeichhe puala two wheeler rally, naupang puala painting leh essay competition te buatsaihin a hmang thin a, OGCF-2005 chhung ringawt hian thil tihpui nuai khat vel lai neih a ni nghe nghe.
31.1.05
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
publication in Yojana and Mainstream
Title : Crime against women.
Author :MEHENDALE, Leena
Annotation :Analyses the report of NCRB on crime against women during the years 1995, 96 and 97.
Publication :Yojana, Vol.46,, Feb.2002, pp.33-36 Magzines & Periodicals
Title : Inlaws, outlaws and the rule of law.
Author :MEHENDALE, Leena
Annotation :Analyses the report of National Crime Records Bureau on crime against women during the year 1995-1997.
Publication :Mainstream, Annual Number,, 2001, pp.105-110 Magzines & Periodicals
Author :MEHENDALE, Leena
Annotation :Analyses the report of NCRB on crime against women during the years 1995, 96 and 97.
Publication :Yojana, Vol.46,, Feb.2002, pp.33-36 Magzines & Periodicals
Title : Inlaws, outlaws and the rule of law.
Author :MEHENDALE, Leena
Annotation :Analyses the report of National Crime Records Bureau on crime against women during the year 1995-1997.
Publication :Mainstream, Annual Number,, 2001, pp.105-110 Magzines & Periodicals
Fuel_Does_Grow_on_Trees
http://www.frienvis.nic.in/NewDigest/July.htm#Fuel%20Does%20Grow%20on%20Trees
">
The above article on Jatropha for Bio - diesel was published in Times Of India on 1st July 2005
">
The above article on Jatropha for Bio - diesel was published in Times Of India on 1st July 2005
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