Chennai Times

A press report on Sunday Times of India states that the health in-charge who is supposed to check the imported food at the Chennai Port has been accepting a bribe of Rs. 6000/- per container and has given clean certificate for the food being imported.  "The CFTRI test report takes a minimum of two weeks and holding the consignment for such a long period affects our business. We have to shell out a minimum of Rs 4,500 per day as holding charges in the port. So we prefer to pay up and get consignments released on the day of its arrival," a city-based importer told The Times of India.  Babu, the port health officer, is supposed to collect samples from all imported food consignment and test them before giving clearance. While packaged food items can be checked at King's Institute, Guindy, fruits have to be sent to CFTRI, Mysore for tests including that of residual pesticides.  Importers, to whom TOI spoke, said corrupt officials collect the samples, but don't sent the...

Shiva works for the government health department attending to the issues related to leprosy. He has been working with this department for over two decades. With the fall in new leprosy cases, this department became a easy posting for quite a few people and many ventured to do other business in the side. Shiva realized some of the issues that could not be addressed within the then government schemes, particularly with respect to rehabilitating LAPs with severe physical damages. Being a staunch Hindu, he approached a major Hindu organization to work in this area, only to find them not willing to work in this area. When he spoke of the need to work on this area to the then President of the Chennai Ramakrishna Math, he readily agreed but cautioned that there may not be too many volunteers and the onus will rest with Shiva to ensure that any such work is continued. The Swami gave a small sum from his personal kitty to start off Shiva's work. That was 20 years back. Today thanks ...

UN-Habitat Report: State of World's Cities Report, 2008 has been released...it finds Indian cities '... becoming more unequal as a direct result of economic liberalisation and globalisation' and '...when inequalities are perceived as the result of unfair processes or the unequal distribution of opportunities, people are less likely to accept them. Indeed such perceptions can nurture high crime rates, social unrest or even conflict. There is no doubt that social unrest and insecurity reduce incentives for investment and force governments to increase the amount of public resources devoted to internal security – resources that might have otherwise been spent on more productive sectors of the economy or on social services and infrastructure. Inequalities take various forms, ranging from different levels of human capabilities and opportunities, participation in political life, consumption, and income, to disparities in living standards and access to resources, basic service...

As someone who walks the Chennai main roads and by lanes often and as part of day to day life, I am normally skeptical about any media event for a walk (or the much hyped marathon). But, today's event sounds different as it seems to bring some people who actually want to regain walking spaces for themselves. See the Link Last week, while at the Adayar Poonga I also came across another similar initiative by a high profile political entity for cyclers. When I suggested that there should be some move to bring those who cycle to work as a group that can voice its concerns, this gent said that it was way off for now. Currently he seems to want to promote cycling as a cheaper energy transport. So, while he cycled back from the meeting to his house, his car was driven back home by his driver!! Like the idea ad. says, 'What an idea sirji!?' Afterwards: Looks like there were about 300 people. I couldn't make it thought very much wanted to. The partner did and she reports that ...

Madras University was started like a few other universities in the country by the Britishers to impart education that would shape and reduce Indians to be good slave citizens. Faithful to the rulers of the State is a dictat of all slave institutions and the university is no exception. To celebrate its 150 years, it has decided to give Doctorates to the rulers. So, we have not one but three doctorates being honorarily conferred on the CM, PM and the power behind the PM.  God and everyone else except the University authorities know that none of these three need it. The PM has been conferred a Doctorate by the British Universities themselves, he even told them that if they were 'to come in again (as colonial rulers) they would get a better reception' when he spoke accepting the Doctorate. After exhibiting such loyalty to the British and being conferred something by them, nothing can add value to him further.  Karunanidhi must have been given doctorates by every University in...

' The city of Chennai, erstwhile Madras, is all set to celebrate its 369th birthday on August 22, 2008. For, it was on this day in 1639 that a sliver of land where Fort St George is located, was handed over by the local Nayak rulers to the East India Company.' says a news item.  I get confused, I thought we have become Chennai now, why do we want to celebrate being Madras then? There is some nostalgia attached with the colonial past that it needs to be 'celebrated' at some point in time. we are not at all deprived for celebration in this city.   The traditional festivals from different parts of tamilnadu have all become part of the chennai culture.  every tamil daily sheet calender provides three different date, month and year. the hindu calender (even under this we have further divisions of tamil and telugu calender as telugus are a dominant community in tamilnadu), the muslim calender and the tamil tiruvalluvar calender apart from the Gregorian calender.  we ...

Samanvaya News Room: 23rd Aug 2008: Memorial for Mosanabu Fukuoka : Organic Farmer Mosanabu Fukuoka of Japan is a major inspiration for organic farmers from all over the world. His 'One Straw Revolution' was one of the books on natural farming that has been read and re-read by many who have since then embarked on natural farming themselves. Fukuoka died at the age of 95 on 16th August 2008. A short memorial will be held in his honour at the Samanvaya office on saturday the 23rd evening between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. Farmers, Friends and Fans of Fukuoka are invited for this gathering.