Why cant bloggers become news reporters ? Why cant everyone "Leak" ? Why cant the average Joe expose the monumental criminality that overwhelms India ?
Because, the moment you report something controversial and name somebody, you will be slapped with Defamation and Libel cases.
Defamation cases in India are medieval torture tools- The come with (non-bailable ?) warrants of arrest. They are filed in remote courts to harass the editor/publisher. The cases drag on for years and the task of fighting the case kills any enthusiasm or motivation to continue reporting. Large media companies employ batteries of lawyers and the roster of cases being fought are often a badge of honor for editors/reporters/publishers. Often over 200-300 live cases would be pending at leading news companies. Often media companies nominate fall guys to act as publishers so that the real movers and shakers are spared the agony of making appearances in courts in Siliguri or Srinagar or Ballia
Then there are cases of bloggers and media independents whose embarrassing disclosures have led to tragic consequences for their writers.
So if you are contemplating the new Wiki Leaks in India or want to become a Huffington Post or Politico. Think twice. And make sure you have a million bucks as a Legal Fund plus a top notch criminal lawyer in tow, before exposing the corrupt Politician/Businessman/Bureacrat/Media Star...........
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Mumbai Viewpoint- The Water Hyacinth Menace at Powai Lake
Mumbai is where I am based and Mumbai Viewpoint looks at things that could be better in this rocking city
The Powai Lake- A beautiful water-body that is fighting for its survival.Little known is the fact that its home to at least 5 crocodiles. And one of them recently made a meal of an unfortunate soul who tried some fishing.
Surrounded on all sides by a huge urban sprawl, the lake is gasping for survival. Civic bodies are more interested in converting it into a recreation spot ,replete with concrete promenades and water fountains.
Drive past the Lake and one sees a huge invasion of Water Hyacinth Weeds. Imported from Brazil in the late 19th century, this weed rapidly chokes Rivers and lakes, slowly destroying the water-body and its ecosystem.
The Hyacinth has now invaded a large part of the shoreline starting from the Promenade going all the way beyond Rennaissance hotel and probably beyond.... Small groups of the weed are now seen growing in the center of the lake as well. Its only a matter of time before the weed overwhelms the entire lake.
The culprit is unchecked flow of organic waste from sewers and nullahs. Its not supposed to happen, but no one seems to be doing anything.
Before its too late, the civic body concerned must quickly de-weed the lake. There seems to be a Hyacinth eating bug that is being used elsewhere to control the weed . An article from the Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/30/stories/2010123060070200.htm ) has more on this.. spread the word and maybe someone somewhere may be moved into action
The Powai Lake- A beautiful water-body that is fighting for its survival.Little known is the fact that its home to at least 5 crocodiles. And one of them recently made a meal of an unfortunate soul who tried some fishing.
Surrounded on all sides by a huge urban sprawl, the lake is gasping for survival. Civic bodies are more interested in converting it into a recreation spot ,replete with concrete promenades and water fountains.
Drive past the Lake and one sees a huge invasion of Water Hyacinth Weeds. Imported from Brazil in the late 19th century, this weed rapidly chokes Rivers and lakes, slowly destroying the water-body and its ecosystem.
The Hyacinth has now invaded a large part of the shoreline starting from the Promenade going all the way beyond Rennaissance hotel and probably beyond.... Small groups of the weed are now seen growing in the center of the lake as well. Its only a matter of time before the weed overwhelms the entire lake.
The culprit is unchecked flow of organic waste from sewers and nullahs. Its not supposed to happen, but no one seems to be doing anything.
Before its too late, the civic body concerned must quickly de-weed the lake. There seems to be a Hyacinth eating bug that is being used elsewhere to control the weed . An article from the Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/30/stories/2010123060070200.htm ) has more on this.. spread the word and maybe someone somewhere may be moved into action
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Eat That - Onions to Learn Addition
Cheap Onion prices, or any other agricultural produce, are no longer governed by ripping off the poor farmer alone.
Now there is a longer value chain that eats into the cost of agro produce.It adds a series of Pluses to the farmers selling price of Onions(or whatever)
Here is my (layman/naive?) take on this new math............................
1. Land prices are shooting thru the roof. Speculators are buying land at astronomical prices. Last year I was scouting for agro land in Karjat ( a scenic, water rich region sandwiched between Mumbai and the Western Ghats) . Rich fertile agro land was going at 2.5 lacs to 10 lacs per acre. Vast tracts of fertile, irrigated rice paddies were lying idle ! And good properties were just not be had. Earlier this year I drove thru the ultra fertlie Thanjavur Delta in Tamil Nadu, the rice bowl of that State. Lush green paddies extended as far as the eye could see. But along the main roads, land was being converted into Housing plots and Engineering colleges(Why does TN have one Engg college every km , thats another mystery)
So imagine you are a farmer- You are tilling an asset worth Rs.2-10 lacs per acre and expecting a return of what ? Rs.25000 per acre ? or maybe 1 lac if you are lucky ! So why should you sell your onions cheap ? Add 2 pluses to the Farmers selling price of Onion ++
2.Input prices have shot thru the roof- Everything that a farmer need to produce your Onion costs hugely more-Fertlizer, Input seeds, power , diesel, pestiscide and then, his daily cost of living is anyway trebled over what it was a few years back. So that is at least 4 pluses to your onion cost ++++
3.And then there is MNREGS- Farmers now have to compete with the famous NREGA in paying for Agricultural labor. Being in a sellers market, Farm Labor now costs at least double of what it did earlier
Add that to your Onion cost . +++++
4. The unpredictable weather- Crops are a complete waste when rain pours more than needed (this is far more dangerous for the farmer than marginal drought ! ) A crop wipeout is a 100% loss. So add 6 pluses to your onion cost ++++++++++
5.The Hoarder-Politician nexus- We are once again the glorious 60's and 70's when Bollywood movies would figure an oily trader hoarding foodstuff and the valorous hero bashing them up and opening the Godown for the Aam Admi.
Only now there are no heroes to the rescue- The various politicians and their minions are freely participating in the hoard. There are dangerous murmurs of how UPA Minister (s) are behind the hoarding of Onions in Lasalgaon, the Onion marketplace in Western Maharashtra.
Add 20 pluses to this.
Now there is a longer value chain that eats into the cost of agro produce.It adds a series of Pluses to the farmers selling price of Onions(or whatever)
Here is my (layman/naive?) take on this new math............................
1. Land prices are shooting thru the roof. Speculators are buying land at astronomical prices. Last year I was scouting for agro land in Karjat ( a scenic, water rich region sandwiched between Mumbai and the Western Ghats) . Rich fertile agro land was going at 2.5 lacs to 10 lacs per acre. Vast tracts of fertile, irrigated rice paddies were lying idle ! And good properties were just not be had. Earlier this year I drove thru the ultra fertlie Thanjavur Delta in Tamil Nadu, the rice bowl of that State. Lush green paddies extended as far as the eye could see. But along the main roads, land was being converted into Housing plots and Engineering colleges(Why does TN have one Engg college every km , thats another mystery)
So imagine you are a farmer- You are tilling an asset worth Rs.2-10 lacs per acre and expecting a return of what ? Rs.25000 per acre ? or maybe 1 lac if you are lucky ! So why should you sell your onions cheap ? Add 2 pluses to the Farmers selling price of Onion ++
2.Input prices have shot thru the roof- Everything that a farmer need to produce your Onion costs hugely more-Fertlizer, Input seeds, power , diesel, pestiscide and then, his daily cost of living is anyway trebled over what it was a few years back. So that is at least 4 pluses to your onion cost ++++
3.And then there is MNREGS- Farmers now have to compete with the famous NREGA in paying for Agricultural labor. Being in a sellers market, Farm Labor now costs at least double of what it did earlier
Add that to your Onion cost . +++++
4. The unpredictable weather- Crops are a complete waste when rain pours more than needed (this is far more dangerous for the farmer than marginal drought ! ) A crop wipeout is a 100% loss. So add 6 pluses to your onion cost ++++++++++
5.The Hoarder-Politician nexus- We are once again the glorious 60's and 70's when Bollywood movies would figure an oily trader hoarding foodstuff and the valorous hero bashing them up and opening the Godown for the Aam Admi.
Only now there are no heroes to the rescue- The various politicians and their minions are freely participating in the hoard. There are dangerous murmurs of how UPA Minister (s) are behind the hoarding of Onions in Lasalgaon, the Onion marketplace in Western Maharashtra.
Add 20 pluses to this.
So we end up with Onion prices being Rs.10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EAT THAT !!
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