Re: [Assam] Two rhinos killed
That is really, really sad. Someone was telling me the other day that official figures of the number of tigers and rhinos is way over-blown. The actualy numbers are far fewer. Hopefully, this is taken very, very seriously. With each rhino killed, the state and people are hit with tremendous loss. Maybe there are lessons from places like Kruger National Park, South Africa. On 8/6/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Have anyone seen a dead rhino, after the poachers took away it horn, ear > etc?? > Click the following to access the sent link: > http://www.assamtimes.org/index.php?news=313 > ___ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Two rhinos killed
Have anyone seen a dead rhino, after the poachers took away it horn, ear etc?? Click the following to access the sent link:http://www.assamtimes.org/index.php?news=313 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Kaziranga may be converted into tiger reserve
Kaziranga may be converted into tiger reserve >From Our Spl Correspondent NEW DELHI, Aug 6 Home to one-horned rhino, Kaziranga National Park is among eight wildlife sanctuaries identified for possible conversion into tiger reserve. Alarmed by dwindling tiger population, Government of India has drawn plans to designate selected wildlife sanctuaries into tiger reserves. The Ministry of Environment and Forest after hectic rounds of discussions has zeroed down on eight such wildlife parks, including KNP. The Government of India has approved in principle the upcoming new tiger reserves, the names of which are likely to be announced later, sources said. The eight wildlife sanctuaries and national parks which have been so identified includes the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala, Udanti and Sita Nadi Wildlife Sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh, Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa, Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary in Chattisgarh, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park in Karnataka, Sanjay National Park and Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The proposal is to depute teams comprising researchers and scientists to assist the State Governments in conserving the tigers. The core and buffer areas would be identified and the boundaries marked by milestones on the periphery of the core, before tigers are transferred, sources said. A recent study by the WWF has revealed that during the past 80 years, 26 percent of the tiger area has been lost in 80 districts within the country. During this period, the human population has increased from 2384 million to 10274 million. Tiger conservation in India is going through a time of crisis. As estimations of actual numbers are on a decline, conservationists are concerned that and unless efforts for protection are substantially stepped up, this decline will lead to criticality, the WWF said this month. The predicament of continuous reduction of tiger habitat and fragmentation due to development projects, human habitation on forestland and encroachments, rail lines, roads, canals, is gaining momentum without sufficient care for the environment. This is leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts, the isolation of tiger population and their prey base, it said. The WWF has recommended that efforts should be concentrated towards enhancing source tiger population, especially in areas outside the protected ones (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) - the WWF tiger estimation study is indicative that the major decline of tigers are from areas which lie outside these protected areas. There is an urgent need to connect habitats to allow dispersal of tigers and other wildlife, which can be particularly helpful in repopulating habitats where the population has gone down, it suggested. The WWF has recommended that State Governments need to be supported to strengthen their enforcement machinery, with a special grant on the lines of the Police Modernisation Programmes for insurgency and other civil unrest affected areas. KNP covers an area of 430 Sq Km along the river Brahmaputra on the North and the Karbi Anglong hills on the South. The National Park is home to about 15 species of Indias threatened mammals including tigers. Currently, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is under Project Tiger, besides Pakhu-Nameri (Assam-Arunachal Pradesh) and Dampha in Mizoram. - Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Annual floods!
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=188179 Like clockwork, the floods are back again with the usual lack of sheer helplessness & hand-wringing from every quarter. This year it also looks like the floods have come with a vengence. This is also the first time, one reads in the papers that affected people fighting over food (being distributed) - shades of Somalia, Bangladesh? And every year, we ask the same questions: Can the flood problem ever be mitigated? Will the State officials from the CM all the way to the district level flood management officials ever take this yearly phenomenon seriously? Why does the Govt. allow people to inhabit flood-prone areas? Is there a science to controlling floods? Why on earth is the flood situation, "political" What happens to funds allocated to the flood situation every year? Is there some accountability? Why are Sonia Gandhi and others visiting the state? Post-mortem? But one really can't blame this or that govt. There were floods in Sarat Singha's administration, and much, much before that, and predictably there will be floods for ever - if the status quo is maintained. This is a situation, that anyone with half a brain can predict with 100% certainity. And yet, no govt., no entity, the public, actually no one is ever prepared. We are totally oblivious. It seems very strange, that we seem to be taken by absloute surprise every year by floods. If it isn't a surprise, why are we never prepared for the floods? Why do many of us suddenly get serious about floods every year - but obviously forget about it later? Possibly in the hopes that it won't happen this year. All this is really depressing. I think, I will go back to the hand-wringing, and re-post this post again in time for next year's floods, and find some scapegoat or the other to blame for this year's floods! :) >From the reports - 1400 have died and millions displaced. I am not sure if we 'collectively' care --Ram ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] A smart path  that isn't 'college '
Dilip-da, Ofcourse Indian polytechnics are for high school graduates. Even in US I had a roommate in DC (from Bollywood) - now staying in Hollywood - who still has a Mumbai polytechnic diploma - plus some years work ex. - now on US skilled worker visa. Umesh . I had missed this part of your post: *** Netters, We are looking at a project to link "US high schools for career" to technical education in Assam, kind of sister school association. The graduates of such schools will not be engineers but technicians. We believe technicians have a bigger role to play in assam as entrepreneurs than engineers. I do have a few questions. Do polytechnics take in high school graduates? Or Is a polytechnic diploma the same as a high school diploma? How about the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI)? Are the entering students high school graduates? If a well meaning netter could send the syllabuses for polytechnic education and ITI education, it would help us to compare against what successful high schools in USA are doing. Any information we can get will help in aligning the programs. Thanks, Dilip Deka Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Is there anyone in Assamnet who is directly involved in vocational training whether in Assam or anywhere else? Please email me - we may have some serious business to talk about. Dilip Deka === A smart path  that isn't 'college' By Ben Brown If we're so big on measuring results in education, isn't it time to get serious about an approach that links knowledge and training with good-paying jobs? The time is ripe. Hardly a week goes by without another warning from a business or education-reform group that too many of our students graduate without the skills to compete in a global marketplace. And when the nation's governors meet in February for a National Education Summit, high on the agenda is a discussion of new strategies for helping students "build bridges between high school, college and work." The trouble is, if you try to bring vocational education into the discussion, the first thing that enters many folks' minds are the guys in last-period shop class, the ones who seemto know their way around an engine block, but not algebra II. Fonzie in Happy Days, the 1970s sitcom set in the 1950s, was a voc-ed guy  cool, but not what parents hold up as a career role model. Everybody knew Fonzie wasn't headed to college. And college is the one sure path to the good life, right? A skewed view of college Well, yes and no. Yes, if you're willing to morph your concept of college to include other post-secondary educational opportunities, from community colleges to tech schools to professional- certification and workplace-training programs. Occupational certification has increased by 50% during the past decade, according to a recent study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. No, if you're talking about only four-year institutions, where a third of students don't qualify for degrees in six years. "The last thing we need is another college dropout, saddled with student loans and looking for a job without a marketable skill," says Gerry Hogan, a volunteer advocate for vocational education and the chairman of Endurance Business Media. Clide Cassity, director of Pinellas Technical Education Centers in Florida, adds, "Yet somehow we've gotten ourselves in the situation where we believe that college is all that counts, that nothing else matters." Even though good jobs increasingly require what used to be college-level training, most still don't demand four-year degrees. Of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates of the fastest-growing occupations between 2002 and 2012, the top 10 don't require bachelor's degrees. And many non-degree occupations crying out for workers are career fields with salaries that can support healthy families  provided employees have higher level skills. Kay Martin, CEO of the Francis Tuttle Oklahoma Technology Center in Oklahoma City, says students who graduate in Tuttle's automotive program "after a few years can earn $100,000." And there are similar career opportunities in health technology, the construction trades and public safety. In an era of outsourcing, here's more good news: These high-skill jobs aren't going anywhere. You're not going to call someone in India to fix your car or your plumbing. And if your house is on fire in Ohio, help is not coming from Mexico. A' real-world' advantage Career and technical education  the term voc-ed pros have adopted to avoid the Fonzie factor  has the advantage of relevance. For many students, "academics suddenly make sense," says Robin White, president of the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development in Cincinnati. "Geometry makes more sense in construction technology than just drawing circles and squa
[Assam] Sonia relief for Dhemaji (The Tele graph,07.08.2007)
Sonia relief for Dhemaji - Assembly drowns in chaos RIPUNJOY DAS Two Mising women sail through a flooded neighbourhood in Lakhimpur district on Monday in search of drinking water. Picture by Eastern Projections Dhemaji, Aug. 6: After the rains, a shower of leaders. Sonia Gandhi and a bevy of political powerhouses from Lalu Prasad and Shivraj Patil to Ram Vilas Paswan and Digvijay Singh will arrive tomorrow armed with words of comfort and promises to wash away the woes of this flood-ravaged district. Assams showcase for monsoon misery may have heard it all before, but the mood in Dhemaji today was upbeat for the first time in a month. The focus of the administration shifted from flood relief to arrangements for the VIP delegation at Dhemaji Circuit House, never mind the fact that Sonia and the rest of the delegation will be here only for an hour. The Congress president and UPA chairperson is scheduled to arrive around 10am. She will be interacting with flood victims. She is very keen to get a first-hand account of what Dhemaji has gone through, a source in the PCC said. The district administration has taken the bold step of not allowing parallel relief operations by NGOs and associations with which politicians, including some MLAs from the ruling party, are involved. That has minimised anomalies, Nabin Payeng, a resident of the district, said. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi will brief Sonia after she completes an aerial survey and make a presentation on the proposed rehabilitation of families who lost all their belongings in the floods. In Guwahati, the Assembly drowned in pandemonium on the first day of the August session because the Speaker refused to suspend Question Hour for a discussion on anomalies in flood relief operations, adds a staff reporter. Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai adjourned the House four times and withdrew an AGP member for unruly behaviour. As soon as the House assembled for the day, placard-wielding Opposition members shouted slogans demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss the alleged anomalies in distribution of relief materials in all flood-affected districts. The Speaker turned down the demand and said discussions could be initiated only after Question Hour. He adjourned the House for 10 minutes when the AGP, BJP and AUDF members almost came to blows with ruling party legislators. The hubbub continued when the House reassembled. The Congress objected to the manner in which AGP member Liaqat Ali rushed at revenue minister Bhumidhar Barman. They said the minister would have been manhandled had some colleagues not stopped Ali. The Speaker barred Ali from the Assembly for the day. (The Telegraph,07.08.2007) - DELETE button is history. Unlimited mail storage is just a click away.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] interview: USAID should help Assamese media?
http://www.ijnet.org/?P=Article&ID=306561&LID=1 Interview conducted by my current roommate ex UNI media reporter ex Univ of Utah Umesh Sharma Washington D.C. 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ - Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your freeaccount today.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] reply to chan mahanta: The search for a solution
>Why I ask is that in spite of the enormous amount of Assamese tears shed >over the print media and the internet on this matter, I am yet to read a >single report on how the problem could or should be resolved, coming out >either from Assam or from India. Not to suggest that none such exist. Please forgive me for my misdemeanour. I should not have dared, where angels fear to tread. I should not have barged in when the exchanges were between two persons who have given profound thought to the problem, or so it seems to me. Does the problem really have any solution at all? No, I am not saying about pogroms, ethnic cleansing, blood bath etc. Such things do not really solve a problem, else North East India would not have been the cauldron of problems that it has been for so long. Why is the hope that a solution exists? Is there any historical parellel? To my limited information, I am yet to find an example of resolution such an issue . In fact, similar problems seems to be on the rise around the world, despite the increase in the number of sharp brains in tandem with the population and the democracy of the net. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Mr. Goswami, It was good to hear back from you. I am glad we are common ground on the point of who is responsible for border protection and immigration controls. Ordinarily it should not at be an issue of contention at all. As we say here, it is a 'no-brainer' . But it has become one because we have seen numerous instances of editorials from what is considered 'respectable journals' of Assam, columns from 'respected journalists', heart-rending letters to editors of leading newspapers; luminaries and intellectuals, real or so labeled; leaders of cultural/literary organizations and 'probaxi-oxomiyas' like members of our own assamnet; who have written and debated passionately how ULFA has let Assam down in its time of need from the hordes of the lungi-menace, and thus are traitors to Assam. In fact some have argued how ULFA is in cahoots with that most dreaded of Indian enemies, ISI, to help the B'deshis overrun Assam and gift-wrap it over to the Islamists ; all the time without a single word about who really ought to be responsible for border protection, immigration controls, detection and deportation or even finding ways to stem the flow and help assimilate those who are unlikely to be sent back -- ever! Now that we, you and I, agree on where the real responsibility lies and who have the authority and the resources to dispense their duties , would you be kind enough to share your views on exactly WHO have WHAT responsibility on the matter of unchecked B'deshi migration into Assam and HOW they should be tackling the issue? Why I ask is that in spite of the enormous amount of Assamese tears shed over the print media and the internet on this matter, I am yet to read a single report on how the problem could or should be resolved, coming out either from Assam or from India. Not to suggest that none such exist. Just that I have not been exposed to them yet. And from the sounds of it, nor have most of our friends here in assamnet. So YOUR input will be extremely valuable in educating ourselves here. Now for a lighter-weight matter: Them 'self-appointed guardians of Assam' and their 'self-imposed silence' on the invasion of the lungi-menace. *** I understand how those of you, who believe they are the true representatives of Assam, would be outraged by the pretenses of 'self-appointed guardians of Assam' . I would be too, if I had such legitimacy myself. But are you sure their silence is 'self-imposed ' though? Anyway, one might think that the thing for the righteously outraged to do will be to lay bare the pretenses of the self-appointed ' lot by showing the people how they differ from their true and dependable representatives. And it is quite easily done if you asked me. Just inform them of what their real, democratically elected ', if not divinely authorized 'guardians' or masters are saying about it or doing about it. One might hope they have not been asleep at the wheel, or lost their voices. And if they have , even at the risk of being seen as patronizing, I would like to suggest that those of you who are more intelligent and are not handicapped by narrow political self-interests ought to delineate what should be done and how to go about getting it done. Wouldn't you agree? After all, this democracy thing is about utilizing the collective wisdom of the entire people for the common good. And the job of the watchdogs of democracy, people like yourselves, owe it to the people to hold their government's feet to the fire and demand action and accountability, lest you all be considered mere lapdogs of vested interests. And the best part of this is that it does not even require standing up to bullets or bullying from the self-appointed ' lot. All it takes is a bit of professional integrity
[Assam] US History: some snippets: Asiatic, Civil War, Mythical currency? etc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Exclusion_League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indophobia (some might find it useful to brush up facts -even if they seem ancient) I have joined Yahoogroups called Indo-Eurasian Research run by Harvard's Michael Witzel and Steve Farmer - if you cannot win them (fom outside ) join them and start "informed dialogue" as my Harvard prof Fernando Reimers says and wrote a book by that name. Indo-Eurasian_research @ yahoogroups.com More are welcome to see how myths are created in current times. Ofcourse these guys would say that US curency is a mythical text -- which has written on it "One nation under God" - which person can do experiments on something called God - must be a myth -some Westerners would say. Welcome to join Indo-Eurasian_research @ yahoogroups.com Umesh PS: Just 200 yards from my current home at Fairfax Circle, Faifax city, VA is a plaque - down the road which reads " here lies the first casualty of US Civil War from Confederates side " or something like this. http://www.visitfairfax.org/civil_war_attract How can some white guys fight each other to give freedom to some non-whites. In India are any large number of upper-caste Hindus ready to shed blood to allow Dalits to become temple priests? " Capt. John Quincy MARR C.S.A. ABT 1820 - 1 Jun 1861 ID Number: I104977 TITLE: Capt. OCCUPATION: CSA Warrenton Rifles, first Southern soldier killed in the war; VMI (Class of 1846). KIA 1861. RESIDENCE: Warrenton, VA BIRTH: ABT 1820 DEATH: 1 Jun 1861, near Fairfax Circle, Virginia RESOURCES: See: notes http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mysouthernfamily/myff/d0077/g046.html#I104977 http://www.fairfaxrifles.org/marr.html Umesh Sharma Washington D.C. 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ - Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your freeaccount today.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] More on Minneapolis Collapse
of> > it. > Like how many American bridges fail out of how> > > many, compared to in India.> > > Unfortunately, I > could not find any Indian bridge> which had such > catastrophic collapse in less then 50> years of > building. Probably you can help.> And BTW, if you > want to compare Apples to Apples,> you will also > need to consider the traffic on any> Indian bridge > to that of US bridge, the amount spent> in > constructing a bridge in India v/s that in US etc.> > > While I am into this, wanted to cover one more > point> > > >>>*** Indian social stigma . You are > going to be a> plumber? > Horror of horrors. Oh, his > son> is JUST an electrician. What a shame. That is > all he> became > with a first division at HS> and > two letters!> > > *** Refusal to compensate > adequately for such> services. An > engineer, by > social status> ( not by skill now) will always be > paid a far higher > compensation than an electrician > or> a mechanic.> > > > So the problem is PUBLIC > POLICY! Governmental policy.> And > social/cultural > attitudes.> >>>>>> > 1) I can understand the > social/cultural attitude (and> sure it need to > change) but I fail to understand HOW> the > Governmental Policy comes into picture here?> > 2) > As for compensation, you have Absolutely NO> > knowledge of Today's India. A good Plumber, > > Electrician or Mechanic often makes more money then > an> average Engineer at least in Mumbai. Even > in> Guwahati, I had the opportunity to closely > observe a> couple of Electronic Mechanics (fixing TV > etc) and> many of them make much more then your > imagination.> > Before I conclude, another example > of how "checks and> balances" fails miserably .> > http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070806/ts_nm/mine_utah_dc_6> > > The link also describes earlier accidents> > Rgds> > > Krishnendu> > > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:> > > > Hi K:> > > > > > >C'da your comments on this will > be highly> > appreciated> > --- first because it was > designed by some Very> > Bright> > and Very Creative > American Engineer whose Math> > >foundation is very > strong (unlike some Desi idiot)> > > > > > *** I was > hoping to be able to answer your question> > > intelligently. But the premise of your questions> > > left me completely bewildered.> > > > Did *I* make > those assertions about the> > qualifications or even > implied them about who> > might have designed the > bridge, or how good they> > were in math? How do you > know who> > designed it? What if it was designed by > some very> > creative East Pakistani structural > engineer> > trained at BE college, like Fazlur Khan, > who> > developed the structural system for the> > > Sears Towers? What then?> > > > I thought you are an > engineer. But from the> > comments you make and the > questions === message truncated === Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] More on Minneapolis Collapse
,> > but by > 'designers', who are vocational tech. school> > graduates with high school > degrees,> > It was you who mentioned that Creative American> Engineers > contribute to Nation Building and Indian> Engineers have zero contribution in > Nation Building.> > By Nation Building , I thought building infrastructure> > which includes Bridges, Roads, Power Plants etc. Let> me know what exactly > you mean by Nation Building.> Do you mean that these structural engineers who > are> vocational tech school graduates are incompetent or> not Bright and > Creative enough ??> > > > *** Can these be compared? Not if anyone is even> > > remotely familiar with the issues. An Indian> > structural engineer could be > a math genius and could> > mentally analyze the stress of a rocket ships > nose> > cone at re-entry. But its usefulness in the Indian> > context is zip, > zero, nada.> > Was it you or some American Engineer who built the> Bridges > and skyscrappers in India ? Sorry did not> know that .. > > But anyway I > can say from my field. I am working for> a 100% Indian IT company and our > company has a Banking> Software which is Number 1 Banking Software in World> > for 4 consecutive years . and all these developed> by "not so creative" > Indian Engineers. I can vouch> that we did not take help from Chandan Mahanta > or some> "Bright Creative American Engineer".> > > An IIT PhD in structural > engineering could design> > US skyscrapers with ease, but won't be able to> > > design a temporary bridge using bamboo and timber if> > their life depended > on it. Why? Because the building> > materials, their quality standards and > installed> > elements' quality can be and are tested and> > trustworthy in > the USA. But the quality of > > An IIT PhD can (and I am sure has) also > designed> Indian Skyscrapers and Bridges which does not collapse> in less > then 50 years.> Coming to the point of Bamboo bridge etc, can a MIT> > electronic Engineer fix a TV set or Radio ?> No .. Every > training/teaching has its boundaries. > > In US (also in India), every > company, even in IT> sector has something called HelpDesk which helps them> > in setting up PC, installing software, networking etc.> Most of these people > are diploma engineers. Why do> you think the Bright Creative Engineers cannot > setup> their own PC, install their own software or setup> their network? > > > > *** Again, there is no way to compare this for India> > vs USA. India's > circumstances are far different> > from the USA's. But the bottom line could > be gauged> > by the PERCENTAGE of failures, or the frequency of> > it. Like > how many American bridges fail out of how> > many, compared to in India.> > > > Unfortunately, I could not find any Indian bridge> which had such > catastrophic collapse in less then 50> years of building. Probably you can > help.> And BTW, if you want to compare Apples to Apples,> you will also need > to consider the traffic on any> Indian bridge to that of US bridge, the > amount spent> in constructing a bridge in India v/s that in US etc.> > While > I am into this, wanted to cover one more point> > > >>>*** Indian social > stigma . You are going to be a> plumber? > Horror of horrors. Oh, his son> is > JUST an electrician. What a shame. That is all he> became > with a first > division at HS> and two letters!> > > *** Refusal to compensate adequately > for such> services. An > engineer, by social status> ( not by skill now) will > always be paid a far higher > compensation than an electrician or> a > mechanic.> > > > So the problem is PUBLIC POLICY! Governmental policy.> And > > social/cultural attitudes.> >>>>>> > 1) I can understand the social/cultural > attitude (and> sure it need to change) but I fail to understand HOW> the > Governmental Policy comes into picture here?> > 2) As for compensation, you > have Absolutely NO> knowledge of Today's India. A good Plumber, > Electrician > or Mechanic often makes more money then an> average Engineer at least in > Mumbai. Even in> Guwahati, I had the opportunity to closely observe a> couple > of Electronic Mechanics (fixing TV etc) and> many of them make much more then > your imagination.> > Before I conclude, another example of how "checks and> > balances" fails miserably
[Assam] Mail of Biswajeet Saikia
Dilip-da Trying to answer your questions . However, I do not fully understand the US concepts of High School etc so trying an Indian explanation 1. Do polytechnics take in high school graduates? --- For Polytechnic, you need to complete 10th standard board exam. 2. Or Is a polytechnic diploma the same as a high school diploma? Polytechnic is a 3 year course after 10th. On completion you can directly get to 2nd year of a 4 year Engineering course 3. How about the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI)? For ITI, you need to be complete 8th standard. Also, after completing ITI you can get into Poly. 4. Are the entering students high school graduates? Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Mail of Biswajeet Saikia
You can read the mail of Biswajeet Saikia. biswajeet saikia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi, As part of the National skill development policy initiatives, presently we are comparing German duel system, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea and China where different types of skill development education and training are provided. Infect, independently, World Bank, ADB, CII, FICCI, Planning Commission for 11th FY plan, Knowledge commission and Ministry of labour also preparing skill development policies for creating a huge skilled workforce by 2015. Anyone could look these documents. Secondly, part of these policy initiatives that, there are suggestion for setting up total 500 universities, 1 ITIs and 2000 IIT, NIT, engineering college and polytechnics by year 2015 so we could be well developed by 2020 to compete with China. (Pl dont compare with China now, they have huge infrastructure) I am wishing to set up minimum 10 engineering college in Assam along with 50 ITI and polytechnics. Once policies are prepared for setting up at least 1 Engineering College for each district, it will be a matter of time to see it. But my fear is that being already 26% urban unemployment, if sufficient industry along with local entrepreneurship will not developed at appropriate time, north east particularly Assam will face acute unemployment situation. Regards Biswajeet Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Netters, We are looking at a project to link "US high schools for career" to technical education in Assam, kind of sister school association. The graduates of such schools will not be engineers but technicians. We believe technicians have a bigger role to play in assam as entrepreneurs than engineers. I do have a few questions. 1. Do polytechnics take in high school graduates? 2. Or Is a polytechnic diploma the same as a high school diploma? 3. How about the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI)? 4. Are the entering students high school graduates? If a well meaning netter could send the syllabuses for polytechnic education and ITI education, it would help us to compare against what successful high schools in USA are doing. Any information we can get will help in aligning the programs. Thanks, Dilip Deka Shantikam Hazarika <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Diphu is reopening, not opening. - Original Message - From: Buljit Buragohain To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 3:39 PM Subject: [asom] New Engineering College and Medical College in Assam Dear All, Today(05.08.2007), I have read the news about the opening of Diphu Polytechnic by Education Minister Ripun Bora on 04.08.2007. In AJIR DANIK BATORY has written the news that there will be 3 (three) new Engineering college and 1(one) Medical Collegein Assam as announced by Education minister. But,in ADINOR SAMBAD paper has written the news that there will be 1(one) new Engineering College and 3(three) new Medical College as announced by Education minister. Can anybody tell me which news is correct? Thanking You Buljit Buragohain __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (0) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 10 New Members Visit Your Group SPONSORED LINKS High res High res photos Assam Assam tea Bodum assam Y! Messenger Instant hello Chat in real-time with your friends. Yahoo! Mail Get it all! With the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta HDTV Support The official Samsung Y! Group for HDTVs and devices. . __,_._,___ - Once upon a time there was 1 GB storage in your inbox. Click here for happy ending.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] More on Minneapolis Collapse
g up PC, installing software, networking etc. Most of these people are diploma engineers. Why do you think the Bright Creative Engineers cannot setup their own PC, install their own software or setup their network? > *** Again, there is no way to compare this for India > vs USA. India's circumstances are far different > from the USA's. But the bottom line could be gauged > by the PERCENTAGE of failures, or the frequency of > it. Like how many American bridges fail out of how > many, compared to in India. Unfortunately, I could not find any Indian bridge which had such catastrophic collapse in less then 50 years of building. Probably you can help. And BTW, if you want to compare Apples to Apples, you will also need to consider the traffic on any Indian bridge to that of US bridge, the amount spent in constructing a bridge in India v/s that in US etc. While I am into this, wanted to cover one more point >>>*** Indian social stigma . You are going to be a plumber? Horror of horrors. Oh, his son is JUST an electrician. What a shame. That is all he became with a first division at HS and two letters! *** Refusal to compensate adequately for such services. An engineer, by social status ( not by skill now) will always be paid a far higher compensation than an electrician or a mechanic. So the problem is PUBLIC POLICY! Governmental policy. And social/cultural attitudes. >>>>> 1) I can understand the social/cultural attitude (and sure it need to change) but I fail to understand HOW the Governmental Policy comes into picture here? 2) As for compensation, you have Absolutely NO knowledge of Today's India. A good Plumber, Electrician or Mechanic often makes more money then an average Engineer at least in Mumbai. Even in Guwahati, I had the opportunity to closely observe a couple of Electronic Mechanics (fixing TV etc) and many of them make much more then your imagination. Before I conclude, another example of how "checks and balances" fails miserably . http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070806/ts_nm/mine_utah_dc_6 The link also describes earlier accidents Rgds Krishnendu --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hi K: > > > >C'da your comments on this will be highly > appreciated > --- first because it was designed by some Very > Bright > and Very Creative American Engineer whose Math > >foundation is very strong (unlike some Desi idiot) > > > *** I was hoping to be able to answer your question > intelligently. But the premise of your questions > left me completely bewildered. > > Did *I* make those assertions about the > qualifications or even implied them about who > might have designed the bridge, or how good they > were in math? How do you know who > designed it? What if it was designed by some very > creative East Pakistani structural engineer > trained at BE college, like Fazlur Khan, who > developed the structural system for the > Sears Towers? What then? > > I thought you are an engineer. But from the > comments you make and the questions you ask, I must > have been wrong. Anyway, a bridge's integrity is > not the function of just its design alone. The math > skills of the designer hardly enter the equation. > Most structural elements fail not because of design, > but > for a variety of other factors, most notably due to > poor construction practices , which is a result of > incompetent management, human failures, sometimes > corruption--as in India, and sometimes just because > of the laws of probability playing out: if something > could go wrong, it would, sooner or later. > > The Boston Tunnel concrete panel failures were > determined to be a result of using quick-setting > epoxy bolts, instead of the specified standard > setting epoxy, which develop their full strength > slowly, over about 48 hours, but remain strong > thereafter. On the other hand the quick setting > epoxy develops strength within minutes, but do not > retain it over time. Investigators found, that the > right material was ordered by the installers, but > was furnished the wrong product by the supplier . It > appears as though someone in the shipping warehouse > packed the wrong stuff. Here it is a case of a > human failure, that no amount engineering acumen or > management expertise could have prevented. > > The Minneapolis failure seems to have been > precipitated by huge amounts of dead weight piled on > the bridge deck from rock sent for the repairs. This > is a management failure. Whoever was overseeing the > logistics of the material delivery either did not > have any knowledge of structures and load bearing > capacity of a structure or was asleep at
[Assam] [HBSWK] E-mail a Friend: High Hills, Deep Poverty: Explaining Civil War in Nepal
Mukul Mahant has sent you an article Those whowould like to go deeper into the causes of Conflict. Good material from Unbiased Researchers mm High Hills, Deep Poverty: Explaining Civil War in Nepal http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5689.html Nepal, the home of Mount Everest, has been gripped in recent years by civil war. A new paper by Harvard Business School professor Lakshmi Iyer and Quy-Toan Do of the World Bank looked at the roots of Nepal's conflict from a variety of angles. For the future, investing in poverty reduction strategies is a key for peace, Iyer says. Not an HBS Working Knowledge subscriber? Sign up for our weekly free e-mail. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] More on Minneapolis Collapse
Hi K: >C'da your comments on this will be highly appreciated --- first because it was designed by some Very Bright and Very Creative American Engineer whose Math >foundation is very strong (unlike some Desi idiot) *** I was hoping to be able to answer your question intelligently. But the premise of your questions left me completely bewildered. Did *I* make those assertions about the qualifications or even implied them about who might have designed the bridge, or how good they were in math? How do you know who designed it? What if it was designed by some very creative East Pakistani structural engineer trained at BE college, like Fazlur Khan, who developed the structural system for the Sears Towers? What then? I thought you are an engineer. But from the comments you make and the questions you ask, I must have been wrong. Anyway, a bridge's integrity is not the function of just its design alone. The math skills of the designer hardly enter the equation. Most structural elements fail not because of design, but for a variety of other factors, most notably due to poor construction practices , which is a result of incompetent management, human failures, sometimes corruption--as in India, and sometimes just because of the laws of probability playing out: if something could go wrong, it would, sooner or later. The Boston Tunnel concrete panel failures were determined to be a result of using quick-setting epoxy bolts, instead of the specified standard setting epoxy, which develop their full strength slowly, over about 48 hours, but remain strong thereafter. On the other hand the quick setting epoxy develops strength within minutes, but do not retain it over time. Investigators found, that the right material was ordered by the installers, but was furnished the wrong product by the supplier . It appears as though someone in the shipping warehouse packed the wrong stuff. Here it is a case of a human failure, that no amount engineering acumen or management expertise could have prevented. The Minneapolis failure seems to have been precipitated by huge amounts of dead weight piled on the bridge deck from rock sent for the repairs. This is a management failure. Whoever was overseeing the logistics of the material delivery either did not have any knowledge of structures and load bearing capacity of a structure or was asleep at the wheel. There could be other factors: Such as non-inclusion of the redundancy principle of design. This was a political issue, of managing the cost and funding. Or defective welding. Fifty years back welding technology was not as sophisticated as it is today. Today we have ultrasonic testing done, before welded structural members of critical components. In my last major project, I had to reject a number of large span bowstring trusses, which were shop welded, but installed without ultrasonic testing. The installers installed the trusses, but when asked for certificates of testing, could not produce them. On site testing showed that a number of joints were unacceptable. The result was a very expensive on site correction of the joints that cost the steel fabricators big time. By the end of the job, the fabricator was going out of business. Apparently it had other problems elsewhere as well. They got our job, because they were the lowest bidders, and not necessarily because they were also good fabricators. The public bidding requirements in this case was a contributing factor-- by allowing a fabricator of questionable skills or management abilities to get the work. The point I am trying to make here is that DESIGN is only a small factor in these cases. At any event, MOST structural design is not a result of creative engineering: they are dictated by standards and codes and budgets. Most day-to-day structural engineering in the USA is done not by highly skilled engineers, but by 'designers', who are vocational tech. school graduates with high school degrees, who are familiar with codes and standards and know how to look up standard tables and size structural elements. Us vs India: *** Can these be compared? Not if anyone is even remotely familiar with the issues. An Indian structural engineer could be a math genius and could mentally analyze the stress of a rocket ships nose cone at re-entry. But its usefulness in the Indian context is zip, zero, nada. An IIT PhD in structural engineering could design US skyscrapers with ease, but won't be able to design a temporary bridge using bamboo and timber if their life depended on it. Why? Because the building materials, their quality standards and installed elements' quality can be and are tested and trustworthy in the USA. But the quality of a welded joint or the strength of on-site, hand-mixed batches of concrete in India cannot be. So this engineering whiz from IIT will be stumped, wouldn't know what to do. The experienced but uneducated Biha
Re: [Assam] reply to chan mahanta
Hello Mr. Goswami, It was good to hear back from you. I am glad we are common ground on the point of who is responsible for border protection and immigration controls. Ordinarily it should not at be an issue of contention at all. As we say here, it is a 'no-brainer' . But it has become one because we have seen numerous instances of editorials from what is considered 'respectable journals' of Assam, columns from 'respected journalists', heart-rending letters to editors of leading newspapers; luminaries and intellectuals, real or so labeled; leaders of cultural/literary organizations and 'probaxi-oxomiyas' like members of our own assamnet; who have written and debated passionately how ULFA has let Assam down in its time of need from the hordes of the lungi-menace, and thus are traitors to Assam. In fact some have argued how ULFA is in cahoots with that most dreaded of Indian enemies, ISI, to help the B'deshis overrun Assam and gift-wrap it over to the Islamists ; all the time without a single word about who really ought to be responsible for border protection, immigration controls, detection and deportation or even finding ways to stem the flow and help assimilate those who are unlikely to be sent back -- ever! Now that we, you and I, agree on where the real responsibility lies and who have the authority and the resources to dispense their duties , would you be kind enough to share your views on exactly WHO have WHAT responsibility on the matter of unchecked B'deshi migration into Assam and HOW they should be tackling the issue? Why I ask is that in spite of the enormous amount of Assamese tears shed over the print media and the internet on this matter, I am yet to read a single report on how the problem could or should be resolved, coming out either from Assam or from India. Not to suggest that none such exist. Just that I have not been exposed to them yet. And from the sounds of it, nor have most of our friends here in assamnet. So YOUR input will be extremely valuable in educating ourselves here. Now for a lighter-weight matter: Them 'self-appointed guardians of Assam' and their 'self-imposed silence' on the invasion of the lungi-menace. *** I understand how those of you, who believe they are the true representatives of Assam, would be outraged by the pretenses of 'self-appointed guardians of Assam' . I would be too, if I had such legitimacy myself. But are you sure their silence is 'self-imposed ' though? Anyway, one might think that the thing for the righteously outraged to do will be to lay bare the pretenses of the self-appointed ' lot by showing the people how they differ from their true and dependable representatives. And it is quite easily done if you asked me. Just inform them of what their real, democratically elected ', if not divinely authorized 'guardians' or masters are saying about it or doing about it. One might hope they have not been asleep at the wheel, or lost their voices. And if they have , even at the risk of being seen as patronizing, I would like to suggest that those of you who are more intelligent and are not handicapped by narrow political self-interests ought to delineate what should be done and how to go about getting it done. Wouldn't you agree? After all, this democracy thing is about utilizing the collective wisdom of the entire people for the common good. And the job of the watchdogs of democracy, people like yourselves, owe it to the people to hold their government's feet to the fire and demand action and accountability, lest you all be considered mere lapdogs of vested interests. And the best part of this is that it does not even require standing up to bullets or bullying from the self-appointed ' lot. All it takes is a bit of professional integrity and intellectual honesty. >Its echo can be heard in Assamnet. *** Actually, Mr. G, what you hear in assmanet is hardly an echo. Assamnetters have been at the forefront of bearing the torch of this dishonest discourse. >Agreed for ULFA, they are foreigners. But what about the Bangladeshis (or East >Pakistanis from 1947 to 1971)? Even without saying so, by its behaviour, Ulfa has made >it clear who are foreigners and who are not. It maybe its way of expressing gratitude to >Bangladesh for the shelter Dhaka has extended to it. *** Maybe so. I wouldn't be the one to question your judgement here. After all they are bad folks. You couldn't expect much from the self -appointed lot. They must follow the ethos of 'jaar nimokh kham, taar gun gaam' ( I will scratch the back of those who scratch mine). But what about the ethos of those who are the true representatives of Assam? What is their s
[Assam] CV--MMS our PM
Kindly go through scrolling systemetically, dont jump down: RESUME:-EDUCATION /Qualification:Stood first in BA (Hons), Economics, Panjab University, Chandigarh,1952; Stood first in MA (Economics), Panjab University, Chandigarh,1954; Wright's Prize for distinguished performance at St John's College,Cambridge, 1955 and 1957; Wrenbury scholar, University of Cambridge,1957; DPhil (Oxford), DLitt (Honoris Causa); PhD thesis on India'sexport competitivenessOCCUPATION /Teaching Experience:Professor (Senior lecturer, Economics, 1957-59;Reader, Economics, 1959-63;Professor, Economics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1963-65; Professor,International Trade, DelhiSchoolof Economics,Universityof Delhi,1969-71; Honorary professor, JawaharlalNehruUniversity,New Delhi,1976 and DelhiSchoolof Economics, Universityof Delhi,1996 and CivilServantWorking Experience/ POSITIONS:1971-72: Economic advisor, ministry of foreign trade1972-76: Chief economic advisor, ministry of finance1976-80: Director, Reserve Bank of India; Director, IndustrialDevelopment Bank of India; Alternate governor for India, Board ofgovernors, Asian Development Bank; Alternate governor for India, Boardof governors, IBRDNovember 1976 - April 1980: Secretary, ministry of finance (Departmentof economic affairs); Member, finance, Atomic Energy Commission; Member,finance, Space CommissionApril 1980 - September 15, 1982: Member-secretary, Planning Commission1980-83: Chairman, IndiaCommittee of the Indo-Japan joint studycommittee September 16, 1982- January 14, 1985: Governor, Reserve Bankof India1982-85: Alternate Governor for India, Board of governors,International Monetary Fund1983-84: Member, economic advisory council to the Prime Minister1985: President, Indian Economic AssociationJanuary 15, 1985- July 31, 1987: Deputy Chairman, Planning CommissionAugust 1, 1987- November 10, 1990: Secretary-general and commissioner,south commission, GenevaDecember 10, 1990- March 14, 1991: Advisor to the Prime Minister oneconomic affairsMarch 15, 1991- June 20, 1991: Chairman, UGCJune 21, 1991- May 15, 1996: Union finance ministerOctober 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha from Assamon Congress ticketJune 1995: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha1996 onwards: Member, Consultative Committee for the ministry of financeAugust 1, 1996- December 4, 1997: Chairman, Parliamentary standingcommittee on commerceMarch 21, 1998onwards: Leader of the Opposition, Rajya SabhaJune 5, 1998onwards: Member, committee on financeAugust 13, 1998onwards: Member, committee on rulesAug 1998-2001: Member, committee of privileges 2000 onwards: Member,executive committee, Indian parliamentary groupJune 2001: Re-elected to Rajya SabhaAug 2001 onwards: Member, general purposes committeeBOOKS:India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth -ClarendonPress, OxfordUniversity, 1964; also published a large number ofarticles in various economic journals.OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:Adam Smith Prize, Universityof Cambridge, 1956Padma Vibhushan, 1987Euro money Award, Finance Minister of the Year, 1993;Asiamoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year for Asia, 1993 and 1994INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:1966: Economic Affairs Officer1966-69: Chief, financing for trade section, UNCTAD1972-74: Deputy for Indiain IMF Committee of Twenty on InternationalMonetary Reform1977-79: Indian delegation to Aid-India Consortium Meetings1980-82: Indo-Soviet joint planning group meeting1982: Indo-Soviet monitoring group meeting1993: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Cyprus1993: HumanRights World Conference, ViennaRECREATION:Gymkhana Club, New Delhi; Life Member, IndiaInternational Centre, NewDelhiName: Dr Manmohan SinghDOB: September 26, 1932Place of Birth: Gah (West Punjab)Father: S. Gurmukh SinghMother: Mrs Amrit KaurMarried on: September 14, 1958Wife: Mrs Gursharan KaurChildren: Three daughtersOur Prime Minister seems to be the most qualified and successful PM all over the world. _ Palate Teasers: Straight from Master Chef! http://content.msn.co.in/Lifestyle/Moreonlifestyle/LifestylePT_101106_1530.htm___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] 3rd engineering college (The Sentinel,06.08.2007)
3rd engineering college GUWAHATI:Asom Education Minister Ripun Bora today said that the State Government would set up the third engineering college in the State.Talking at a function at the Assam Engineering Institute ground at Chandmari in the city today, Bora said the site of the college will be selected as soon as the site selection committee submits its reports. He added that the construction of the college building would start this year.Staff Reporter (The Sentinel,06.08.2007) - DELETE button is history. Unlimited mail storage is just a click away.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
