“मैं आश्चर्य से भर जाता हूँ” रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर (1930)

“मैं आश्चर्य से भर जाता हूँ”

रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर (हिन्दी अनुवाद: अखिल कुमार)

आखिरकार मैं रूस में हूँ! मैं जिधर भी नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ, आश्चर्य से भर जाता हूँ। किसी भी दूसरे देश में ऐसी स्थिति नहीं है…ऊपर से नीचे तक वे हर किसी को जगा रहे हैं….

यह क्रान्ति लम्बे समय से रूस की दहलीज पर खड़ी अन्दर आने का इन्तज़ार कर रही थी। लम्बे समय से तैयारियाँ चल रही थीं; इसके स्वागत के लिए रूस के अनगिनत ज्ञात और अज्ञात लोगों ने अपने प्राणों की आहुति दी और असहनीय यंत्रणाओं को भोगा।

क्रान्ति का ध्येय व्यापक है, परन्तु शुरुआत में यह दुनिया के कुछ निश्चित हिस्सों में घटित होती है। बिल्कुल वैसे ही जैसे, पूरे शरीर के रक्त के संक्रमित होते हुए भी, कमज़ोर जगहों पर चमड़ी लाल हो जाती है और छाले फूट पड़ते हैं। यह रूस ही था, जहाँ की गरीब और बेसहारा जनता अमीरों और ताकतवर लोगों के हाथों इस कदर ज़ुल्म सह रही थी जिसका वर्णन नहीं किया जा सकता। इसलिए, यह रूस ही है, जहाँ दो पक्षों के बीच की इस अत्यधिक गैर-बराबरी एक रैडिकल समाधान सामने आया है।

….वह क्रान्ति जिसने ज़ार (रूस का बादशाह) के शासन का अन्त कर दिया, 1917 में ही हुई है, यानी अभी 13 वर्ष पहले की ही बात है। इन 13 वर्षों के दौरान उन्हें अपने देश के भीतर और बाहर, दोनों जगह हिंसक विरोधियों के विरुद्ध लड़ना पड़ा। वे अकेले हैं और उन्हें अपने कन्धों पर जर्जर राजनीतिक व्यवस्था का भार उठाना पड़ रहा है। इससे पूर्व के कुशासन का इकट्ठा किया हुआ कचरा उनके पैरों की बेड़ियाँ बन रहा है। गृहयुद्ध के जिस तूफ़ान को पार कर उन्हें नये युग के तट पर पहुँचना था, उसे इंग्लैण्ड और अमरीका की गुप्त और खुली मदद ने प्रचण्ड बना दिया। उनके पास संसाधन कम हैं: विदेशी व्यापारियों से उन्हें कुछ भी उधार नहीं मिल सकता। न ही देश में पर्याप्त उद्योग हैं। सम्पदा के उत्पादकों के रूप में अभी शक्तिहीन हैं। इसलिए, वे इस परीक्षा की घड़ी को पार करने के लिए अपना खुद का भोजन बेचने को मजबूर हैं। इसके साथ ही, उनके लिए राजनीतिक मशीनरी के सबसे अनुत्पादक हिस्से, सेना, को पूरी तरह कायम रखना अत्यावश्यक है, क्योंकि आज की सभी पूँजीवादी ताकतें उनकी दुश्मन हैं और उनके शस्त्रागार हथियारों  से भरे हुए हैं।

मुझे याद है, कैसे सोवियत संघ ने अपने नि:शस्त्रीकरण प्रस्तावों से उन देशों को चौंका दिया था, जो शान्ति-प्रिय होने की बातें करते थे। सोवियत संघ ने ऐसा इसलिए किया था, क्योंकि उनका उद्देश्य राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अपनी ताकत बढ़ाते जाना नहीं है – शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य व्यवस्था और जनता की आजीविका के साधनों को सबसे कुशलता से और व्यापक रूप से विकसित करके अपने आदर्शों को ज़मीन पर उतारना ही उनका मकसद है – उनके इस मकसद के लिए अत्यन्त ज़रूरी है, बाधारहित शान्ति।

(1930)

अक्‍टूबर क्रान्ति शतवार्षिकी विशेषांक

http://www.mazdoorbigul.net/archives/11436

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             New $318 million loan Agreement Signed with World Bank to Support Climate Resilient Agriculture

Capital Market  Last Updated at December 27, 2017 09:16 IST

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/new-318-million-loan-agreement-signed-with-world-bank-to-support-climate-resilient-agriculture-117122700129_1.html

This project will help Tamil Nadu scale up its efforts to unlock the full potential of its agriculture sector. It will support farmers improve the efficiency of water used in farming, diversify into high value crops, and produce crops that are resilient to the increasing threats of climate change. Such efforts will be a win-win for all, leading to better use of scarce water resources and raising household incomes of farmers, said John Blomquist, Program Leader and Acting Country Director, World Bank, India.

Though significant progress has been made during the past decade in crop diversification, still there is scope for achieving a higher level. Paddy is the dominant crop occupying 34 percent of total cropped areas, whereas fruits and vegetables are grown on 11 percent and pulses and oilseeds on 14 percent of total cropped areas. By helping farmers' access modern technologies, linking them to markets, and providing postharvest management support, the project will enable farmers to shift from a mono crop paddy system to mixed cropping including high-value crops (fruits, vegetables, and spices), pulses, oilseeds, and millets.

To enhance the ability of crops to withstand expected adverse impacts of climate change, the project will support smallholder producers adopt new conservation technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Sustainable Sugar Initiative (SSI). They reduce average water usage by 35 percent and increase yields by 22 percent per ha. The project is expected to increase the yield of rice, maize, and pulses by 18-20 percent.

 The project will also coordinate with other World Bank-supported projects in Tamil Nadu and at the national level, including the Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project, National Hydrology Project, and National Groundwater Improvement Project to ensure synergy and enhance long-term project impact.

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Centre wants to dilute environment clearance norms for irrigation projects, mining of 47 minerals

A draft notification issued by the environment ministry this week also proposes to give states greater powers to review projects.

https://scroll.in/article/862355/centre-wants-to-dilute-environment-clearance-norms-for-irrigation-projects-mining-of-47-minerals

The central government wants to dilute environmental clearance regulations for irrigation projects and the mining of 47 minerals, including sand, marble, limestone and brick earth.

In a draft notification issued on December 18, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has proposed that projects irrigating up to 5,000 hectares be exempted from environment clearance. Currently, all projects irrigating over 2,000 hectares require the clearance from the Centre or the state government concerned.

The ministry also wants state governments to get greater responsibility for assessing environmental impact of irrigation projects. Under the proposed norms, state authorities would be able to clear projects irrigating up to 50,000 hectares instead of the current 10,000 hectares. Projects irrigating over 50,000 hectares would require clearance from the Centre.

“This is a major dilution in the environment law,” said the environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta. “Now developers can break their big irrigation projects into several parts of 5,000 hectares culturable command area [the area irrigated by a project] and get away without seeking any environment clearance for them.”

The draft notification also allows states to clear mining projects spanning up to 100 hectares, doubling the limit. This relaxation is for the 47 minerals classified as minor under the Indian mining regulations. The annual value of extracted minor minerals is estimated to be upwards of Rs 50,000 crore. Minor mineral leases above 100 hectares will require clearance from the Centre.

Environmentalists have questioned this move of “shredding the responsibility” by the environment ministry. “There are instances when state environment authorities have cleared 90-100 projects in a day without proper scientific assessment,” said Dutta, explaining that state environment authorities often lack capacity and work under political pressure while clearing the projects. “Allowing projects of this scale to be cleared by states would lead to major environmental threats.”

Senior environment ministry officials in charge of environmental clearances did not respond to Scroll.in’s queries about the proposal. The draft notification has been put out for public comments.

Since taking power in 2014, the Narendra Modi government has diluted several environmental clearance regulations or delegated its powers to review projects to states. Some of these dilutions have been struck down by the judiciary.

On December 8, the National Green Tribunal quashed an environment ministry notification issued in December 2016 that exempted real estate projects of built up area up to 1,50,000 sq km from environment clearance. The tribunal ruled that environmental laws, once framed, “should not be modified to the detriment of environmental protection”.

The tribunal also said the concept that existing environmental laws should not be diluted – globally known as the “Doctrine of Non-regression” – “needs to be brought into play because today environmental law is facing a number of threats such as deregulation, a movement to simplify and at the same time diminish environmental legislation perceived as too complex and an economic climate which favours development at the expense of protection of environment.”

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Attack on secular fabric of Indian Constitution continuing, upsurge in religious attacks dangerous for democracy and harmony December 19, 2017

 Attack on secular fabric of Indian Constitution continuing, upsurge in religious attacks dangerous for democracy and harmony

December 19, 2017

http://www.counterview.in/2017/12/attack-on-secular-fabric-of-indian.html

National Alliance of People's Movement's statement condemning the attack by Hindutva groups on Christians in Madhya Pradesh:

 National Alliance of People’s Movements expresses deep shock at the unprovoked violence against Christian priests and seminarians in Satna in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on the night of December 14, 2017. A group of people hailing from Bajrang Dal attacked a group of 30 Seminarians and two Priests of St. Ephrem’s Theological College as they were conducting a routine Christmas carol singing programme which has been the practice during the Christmas season for the last 30 years.

The group came with lathis and started threatening the Priests and Seminarians. Just then they called the police, who arrived in just 15 minutes and taken all Priests and Seminarians to the police station. It is very shameful that during the celebrations, not even the police restricted them of their freedom of religious celebrations but also tortured them by putting all of them in a room which cannot accommodate even half of them. 

Later when other priests from nearby villages came to enquire, the police allegedly beaten them up and shamelessly acted against the spirit of constitution, leaving Bajrang Dal people untouched and free to do violence inside and outside the police station. They even torched vehicles of priests and beaten up in front of police officials which only proves their involvement in the alleged planned attack and harassment of religious minorities in the garb of prevention from religious conversions.

This is not standalone case but we are seeing this as a trend under the rule of current Government. 

In most of the BJP ruled states, it has seen a rise in the last three years. Only in Madhya Pradesh, a dozen of incidents happened in the past giving a strong indication of religious attacks by Hindutva groups maligning the secular fabric of the country and constitutional rights of citizens of India.

It is worrying that this incident of mobocracy occurs among a host of other incidents around the country. 

The video clipping of the gruesome murder of Mohammad Afrazul, a migrant worker from West Bengal who was hacked with a cleaver and then set on fire by a man in Rajasmand, Rajasthan on the suspicion of being in a relationship with a woman from another religious faith has gone viral and many Hindutva groups are being proud of the act and also unfurled the flag on Udaipur session court. 

Lynchings of more than 32 persons over the last two years almost all from one minority community on the suspicion of killing a cow or possessing beef is creating a fear psychosis among the minorities. These acts of Cow vigilantes do not being credit to our democratic nation with its long tradition of being the model of civilized living and harmonious existence in comparison to some other countries in neighbourhood.

The incident in Satna just a few days before Christmas is shameful and deplorable. Even worse, lynchings, mob attacks and brutal killings of innocent people with culprits often not being found or going unpunished for months are largely blots on our democracy and judiciary.

We condemn the inaction of government and connivance of police forces with the Hindutva groups in this incident. We are deeply concerned and hurt at this religious terrorism. We demand the political leadership at Centre and States to follow the rule of law, respect the Indian Constitution, and to immediately arrest and notify the groups those are continuously acting on the behest of saffron terror groups spreading hatred among different communities. Hate politics cannot take India forward and will only create divisions in the society.

It’s time India has a conversation about ethics of gene editing

http://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/it-s-time-india-has-a-conversation-about-ethics-of-gene-editing/story-ihB3o3DbZEvLeXVGdcYZYN.html

It’s time India has a conversation about ethics of gene editing

It is unclear whether and how much Indian science policy analysts and academies are addressing the grey areas of technical and socio-political implications of gene editing technologies. Discussions, if any, seem confined to closed scientific circles, and are yet to spill into public discourse. Indian research institutions also need to create the required framework for ethically responsible research.

With recent news that doctors in California edited the genes of a patient with Hunters syndrome in what was described as the world’s first experimental attempt at changing faulty genetic material in a human, genome editing is fast moving from the labs to clinics and companies.

India too is readying for genome editing – a technique in which scientists use ‘molecular scissors’ to snip a faulty gene and repair it or replace with a correct one. This opens up possibilities for its use in plant and animal breeding; medicine, public health, and development biology at the practical level; and designer babies and lean or even micro pigs as pets at the exotic. Private companies have entered the fray for its commercial potential to treat inherited genetic disorders, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

But scientists worldwide have also begun to grapple with emerging ethics, regulation, biosafety and biosecurity implications of the technology; and are struggling to draw the fine line between not impeding basic science research and defining what are societally-acceptable applications. The co-creator of gene editing, Jennifer Doudna from University of Berkeley, told a recent conference of science journalists in the US that she did not anticipate the rapidity with which it would spread. Then she had a nightmare – that Hitler wanted to use it – which is when she started looking at the thorny ethical and regulatory issues.

It is unclear whether and how much Indian science policy analysts and academies are addressing the grey areas of technical and socio-political implications of gene editing technologies. Discussions, if any, seem confined to closed scientific circles, and are yet to spill into public discourse. Indian research institutions also need to create the required framework for ethically responsible research.

Most geneticists see it as an extension of previous genetic modification technologies — and posing, at most, issues of technology. The department of biotechnology’s (DBT) 1989 guidelines foresaw genome editing as part of a range of genetic modification technologies. That said, India’s track record in allaying fears over GM crops is not exemplary, nor are its science academies proactive on policy issues. Despite its claims that regulation was in place when GM cotton was first approved for release in India in 2002, GM cotton was reportedly illegally sown in Gujarat even before its approval. India’s own GM mustard may have its merits, but some biotechnologists’ arguments that it should be released because that Indians are, anyway, consuming imported oil from GM canola and rapeseed does not pass muster.

Indian regulators also need to address the capacity of the Indian regulatory system, given the concerns that genome editing could misfire, impacting unintended organisms, or altering the genome of bona-fide targets in unintended ways. There is also potential for misuse by private companies with access to genetic data. There are worries too that citizen scientists and DIY (do it yourself) groups may tinker with the technology.

There are thorny ethical issues – while most support its use in non-reproductive cells (so that changes are limited to one specific organism), there is disagreement over its use in human embryos, and on germline cells which means changes can be passed on to generations.

A 2016 US National Intelligence report described it as a potential ‘dual use technology’ that could be misused by some groups in biowarfare. The report did not specify how or why it is a national security threat, but subsequent reports by other agencies described how gene editing could be misused to manipulate human pathogens, make vaccines ineffective, create neurotoxins or release drug-resistant microbes as part of bio warfare.

Of particular concern are ‘gene drives’ or selection of genes for specific traits, which changes the dynamics of inheritance by favouring one set of genes, and alter ecological balances.

Even as Indian biotechnologists embark on the research, it would be wise to learn from the GM cotton experience and initiate a broader dialogue and foster public trust and understanding. As with all emerging technologies that interface science with society, there is no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

TV Padma is a science journalist based in New Delhi
The views expressed are personal

‘I was banned from the WTO for defending people’s rights’

‘I was banned from the WTO for defending people’s rights’

https://www.ecologise.in/2017/12/14/i-banned-wto-defending-peoples-rights/

Alberto Villarreal writes: Trade deals affect people’s everyday lives from the food we eat to the energy we use, and should not be discussed behind closed doors. And yet, this is exactly what is happening at this year’s upcoming World Trade Organization meeting in Buenos Aires from 10-13 December. Also, Noam Chomsky on the WTO.

Alberto Villarreal, Common Dreams
Trade deals affect people’s everyday lives from the food we eat to the energy we use, and should not be discussed in secret, behind closed doors. Yet sadly, this is exactly what is happening at this year’s upcoming World Trade Organization meeting in Buenos Aires from 10-13 December.
Friends of the Earth International has been advocating for a fair and sustainable trade agenda for over two decades, yet this is the first time we have been banned from participating in the WTO.
In an unprecedented move, the Argentine government revoked our accreditation, together with 60 individuals from a diverse range of trade unions, farmers’ and consumer rights organisations.
The official reason for our ban is that we have “been making explicate calls for violent protests on social media, desiring to create scenes of chaos and intimidation.” Yet this information can be disproved simply by checking our Twitter account, which has never made incitements to violence.

“Locking people out of the WTO will only further undermine its legitimacy.”

At the same time, we do not shy away disagreeing with many of the pro-corporate policies and deals being pushed by the WTO and the Argentine government, which are often stumbling blocks for action on climate change.

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India urges UN to declare 2018 as 'International Year of Millets'

India urges UN to declare 2018 as 'International Year of Millets'

by Vishwa Mohan | Times of India| Nov 22, 2017

NEW DELHI: India has sent a proposal to the United Nations (UN) for declaring the year 2018 as 'International Year of Millets'.

The proposal, if agreed, will raise awareness about millets among consumers, policy makers, industry and R&D sector. Millet is a common term to categorise small-seeded grasses that are often termed nutri-cereals or dryland-cereals. It includes sorghum, pearl millet, ragi, small millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet and other millets.

The country's proposal was sent to the global body recently by the Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh.

"Promotion of production and consumption of millets through conscious efforts at global level is likely to contribute substantially in the fight against targeted hunger and mitigate the effect of climate change in long run. Popularising millets would benefit future generations of farmers as well as consumers," said an official statement.

Eminent agriculture scientist, M S Swaminathan, is learnt to have suggested the central government for this move in order to popularise cultivation and consumption of millets. Nutritionally superior to wheat and rice due to their higher levels of protein with more balanced amino acid profile, crude fiber and minerals such as Iron, Zinc, and Phosphorous, millets can provide nutritional security and act as a shield against nutritional deficiency, especially among children and women.

Swaminathan, popularly known as father of green revolution in India, had even suggested the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for declaring one year in the current decade as International Year of Millets and Underutlised Crops. The FAO is specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

"The anaemia (iron deficiency), B-complex vitamin deficiency, pellagra (niacin deficiency) can be effectively tackled with intake of less expensive but nutritionally rich food grains like millets. Millets can also help tackle health challenges such as obesity, diabetes and lifestyle problems as they are gluten free, have a low glycemic index and are high in dietary fibre and antioxidants", said the statement, issued by the agriculture ministry on Wednesday.

Adapted to harsh environment of the semi-arid tropics, millets are considered backbone for dry land agriculture. Millets are climate resilient crops that have a low carbon and water footprint. These crops can withstand high temperatures and grow on poor soils with little or no external inputs.

"In times of climate change, they are often the last crop standing and, thus, are a good risk management strategy for resource-poor marginal farmers", said the ministry.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-proposes-the-un-to-declare-the-year-2018-as-international-year-of-millets/articleshow/61756112.cms

Two related Documentaries by Dinesh Lakhanpal

• Small Millets for Better Nutrition and Income
  
• Agro-Biodiversity: From Despair to Hope 

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Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI)

Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI)

The proposed FRDI Bill will make the recovery of Indian economy impossible

LINK

December 2, 2017

A Critique of Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017 titled ‘Wrong Diagnosis, Harmful Prescription’ jointly published by AIBOC, NAPM, NTUI and Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) was released at the meeting.

 

Speaking at the occasion legal scholar, Dr Usha Ramanathan said that the major economic decisions are taken without any consultation or public debate. Referring to the mandatory and forced use of UID for all financial transactions she said,  “extraordinary ambitions of the technology makers are putting the monetary system of this country under brutal attack.”

 

Thomas Franco, General Secretary of AIBOC, said that the bill would have an adverse impact on the common people, who deposit money at the Bank to earn interest. Moreover, the bill provides for a cap on the withdrawal as a measure for the banks to increase the spending and bridge the losses caused by faulty lending. 

 

Drawing attention to the recovery rate of the National Company Law Tribunal, he mentioned that in the first case of insolvency, the recovery rate was just six percent. He asked for the need the to fix the accountability of the Bank’s management, RBI representatives, and Finance Ministry representatives in the case of defaults.

 

Economist Meera Nangia drew the attention of the audience on the steep haircuts, which causes loss to the public and the capability of all 22 Asset Reconciliation Companies, which have a capital of Rs 100 crore each as capital. She asked, “How will they deal with the total NPA, which by government’s conservative estimates if of over 8 lakh crore?” 

 

The Public sector as a whole and specifically the banking sector is on the brink of an overhaul, Madhuresh Kumar, National Convenor of NAPM said. He added that the privatisation of banks has been one of the coveted goals of liberalisation policies, but has been resisted by the bank employees and progressive people in general. Despite this, there has been a concerted effort to privatise public sector bank over the decades. This time, the government is using the NPA crisis to further the agenda of privatisation.

 

The proposed Bill seeks to destroy the value of the industries, which are assets of the society and not only of the promoters. Mody said. The Asset Resolution Companies will take away the value of these assets by breaking up the company and selling it in parts. The Bill doesn’t seek to punish the promoters, who followed the wrong policies.

 

Background:

Attempts to privatise the public sector banks have been ongoing since the economic reforms. The current crisis with the rising NPAs in the banking sector is being used as another opportunity to overhaul the banking system. With years of propaganda of an inefficient public sector, a climate of disinvestment is only perfect to liquidate any public sector financial institution! Hence what we are facing today is not just an NPA crisis is a conscious effort to reverse the nationalisation of banks and to end public sector.

 

The combination of merging small banks to create a few ‘lending giants’ along with the introduction of payment banks is a perfect way to end brick and mortar branches. The proposals of ‘haircuts’ (a fancy term for write-offs,) the policy of demonetisation, evergreening of loans, selling bad loans at a pittance to asset reconstruction companies are all measures that would further weaken the public sector banks.  A slew of legislation on banking sector, in the form of, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 and the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017 were introduced in haste and without a debate in order to make the PSBs weak and subservient. Particularly the FRDI puts most of the PSBs under the threat of being liquidated.

 

Banks apart, the entire public sector is facing disinvestment, privatisation, and selling of assets and resources in the name of cutting losses. It is vital for all progressive sections of the society, cutting across political affiliations to come together in building a rock-solid resistance. 

 

Link of Wrong Diagnosis, Harmful Prescription: A Critique of Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017:

 http://www.cenfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FRDI-critique-Draft-Nov-29-2017.pdf 

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Bharatavani portal offers digital dictionaries of vanishing Indian languages

December 02, 2017; The Hindu; link

 The online platform hosted by the Central Institute for Indian Languages, Mysuru, publishes content in 121 Indian languages, and is working towards starting online classes.

The word for sunlight or sunshine in Angami — a language spoken by around 130,000 people in the North East — is niakikezie. In the Ao-language of Nagaland, it is anüpu oranüsangwa. And this reporter in far away Bengaluru could look up these words and many more from several Indian languages, thanks to digital dictionaries available on the Bharatavani website.

Most cities in India have infrastructure to teach many foreign languages . But how many look inwards to tap the domestic cultural motherlode of more than 1,500 Indian languages? It is this question that spurred Bharatavani, an online Indian Languages platform hosted by the Central Institute for Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, to not only publish content in 121 Indian languages, but work towards starting online classes.

Searchable resource

What is particularly causing ripples of excitement among linguists and researchers is the compilation of digitised searchable dictionaries. In a little over a year since its inception, the portal offers 262 unilingual and multilingual dictionaries in 50 Indian languages — all of them in a searchable format on android platforms — which can be accessed on Bharatavani’s free Android app.

The number of languages covered will soon cross a hundred, said Beluru Sudarshana, consultant with CIIL. “Bharatavani is not publishing new works, but we are for the first time digitising available dictionaries in smaller languages, to bring it to a wider audience,” he said. Malto-English-Hindi, Odia-Ho, English-Ao and Lepcha-English are some of the dictionaries on offer — most of them available in a searchable format and not as cumbersome PDF files.

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National Vikalp Sangam, Udaipur: Confluence of alternatives 27-29 November, 2017

National Vikalp Sangam, Udaipur: Confluence of alternatives 

As part of the ongoing series of Vikalp Sangams (Alternatives Confluences), a national Sangam was organised on 27-29 November, 2017, at the beautiful Prakriti Sadhana Kendra of Vidya Bhawan, co-hosted by Shikshantar and Kalpavriksh. A total of about 100 people from various backgrounds, ideologies, and interests came together to share their diverse initiatives, discuss broader issues of development and radical alternatives, and build further collaborations. Ideas for the future of the Sangam process, including holding confluences on Peace in conflict zones including Kashmir and central India, Alternative Media, Community and Alternative Health, Alternative Politics/Democracy and Swaraj, Inclusion and Disability, Alternative Economies, Western Himalaya, and others were planned.

While the discussions sometimes meandered and repeated things that civil society circles have debated for decades, the incredible mix of people made for exciting moments, some scintillating sharing of history of movements and current initiatives, and earthy planning for the future. Deeper questions on ethics within/between civil society organisations, the politics of alternatives, what we even mean by 'alternatives', were flagged, some discussed in detail during (or often between!) sessions, and some kept for later reflection. John D'Souza of CED showed a half-hour film combining the previous 12 Sangams.

Overall, it was an encouraging endorsement of the need and relevance of the Vikalp Sangam process ... v. valuable for the core team at Kalpavriksh that is currently coordinating it. Separately I'll post a note on the Vikalp Sangam Core Group meeting that followed the national Sangam, which was at times difficult but in all, uplifting.

Some images:

The forested ambience was ideal for a Sangam on alternatives, with several bird species adding to the discussion

Anganwadi workers reading Vikalp Sangam posters on alternative initiatives 

Udaipur-based Millets of Mewar had some tasty and healthy biscuits! 

Bamboo grove at Prakriti Sadhana Kendra was ideal for the 3 days of discussions 

Participants out on a nature walk

Prakriti Sadhana Kendra's lovely location! 

Udaipur-based Eco-hut displayed their upcycled and other products 

Gunis (traditional healers) organised by Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti, Udaipur, explaining their practice; some participants even availed of their massaging and other services! 

Participants out on a birding and insecting walk 

Shankar Singh of MKSS regaled participants with his songs and puppetry! 

Kalpavriksh's bookstall was a hit, especially the children's books 

Three days of incredible local food including my favourite, dal-baati!

Source: https://ashishkothari51.blogspot.in/2017/12/national-vikalp-sangam-udaipur.html

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National Vikalp Sangam

27^th November to 29^th November 2017

Dear friend,

Vikalp Sangam is an ongoing process that started in October 2014 with an aim to provide a platform to constructively challenge the current ‘development’ paradigm, bring together practitioners, thinkers, researchers of alternative initiatives to learn from each other, build alliances and collectively evolve alternative futures that are ecologically sustainable and socio-economically equitable (please see the background attached). A website www.vikalpsangam.org has been set up for outreach of such initiatives, and their documentation is taking place in the form of stories, articles, video clips, and other media. An evolving core group of 41 organisations (as of July 2017) has been set up to coordinate the planning of the Sangams. This October it will be three years and 10 Sangams old. We feel that it is time to review and collectively deliberate on the future of the process.

We are proposing a national level Sangam from 27^th to 29^th November at Udaipur, Rajasthan (hosted locally by Swaraj University and other organisations) to mainly focus on the objectives below:

1.      Share key points from the Sangams held in 2014-2017

2.      Review what we have achieved, what we have failed in doing, including exciting moments and results, disappointments, and key lessons from these.

3.      Share thoughts on the next phase of the process ... what to do in 2018-2020, how to do things better, what to change?

4.      Share the experience of linking with other networks through the Sangam of Sangam process, and its objectives of trying to mobilise people for political change.

5.      Consider resourcing for the next phase; any ways to make the process more self-sustaining?

Your participation is recommended by the members of the Vikalp Sangam Core group and we would be delighted to have you with us.

The basic costs of participation will be covered by us. This includes train/bus travel, food and stay at the Swaraj University.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Shrishtee Bajpai (shrishteebajpai@gmail.com) (9198775666), Ashish Kothari (chikikothari@gmail.com) or Manish Jain (manish@swaraj.org) 

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Alternatives Confluences across India

The severe negative impacts of the current model of ‘development’ and ‘globalisation’ include ecological destruction,

displacement of communities, disruption of livelihoods on a mass scale, and growing socio-economic inequities. Various

parts of India are already facing tension and conflicts, and many more are on a powderkeg, as a result of the upheavals

caused by a mindless pursuit of economic growth. Meanwhile all formal sectors of the economy and society are being

oriented towards feeding into this pursuit, whether it is education, R&D, markets and trade, or health.

In the midst of this dismal scenario, there are myriad attempts at generating and practicing alternatives that could not only

challenge the dominant ‘development’ paradigm, but provide viable pathways for human wellbeing that are ecologically

sustainable and socio-economically equitable. These include sustainable farming/pastoralism/fisheries/forestry,

democratic markets and worker-controlled production, community education and health approaches, cross-cultural peace

initiatives, initiatives to further class, caste, religious, racial, and gender equity, urban sustainability, holistic rural

wellbeing, and so on. These are placed within a gathering momentum to participatory (or radical) democracy and political

approaches, which provide access to all citizens to decision-making forums (rather than rely on ‘representatives’ alone),

and bring in essential governance principles like accountability and transparency.

These initiatives are showing that at local and landscape levels, there are indeed viable alternatives. However, a number of

factors severely limit their effect:

1. There is little documentation and public awareness on most of them;
2. They are mostly scattered and unlinked, often very small;
3. They are not threaded together into comprehensive frameworks or visions of an alternative society.
As a consequence, these alternative initiatives do not yet form a ‘critical mass’ capable of changing the dominant
paradigm or even providing it a formidable challenge.

The word alternative or vikalp is being used here for simplicity, while accepting that no single word can accurately and
wholly include the complexity of the concept. We understand that in many cases, these may not have emerged/ been
attempted with a motivation to challenge the dominant paradigm or pose an alternative as such but simply as a way of life
grounded in certain basic principles. Also many of these ideas, concepts and ways of life may have existed for a long
time, while others may be new.

The idea of Vikal Sangams / Alternatives Confluences

It is against this backdrop that regional gatherings of people practicing these alternatives have been initiated; to be

followed at a later stage by thematic and national gatherings. These are being called Vikalp Sangams or Alternatives

Confluences, and will provide a platform to constructively challenge and learn from each other, build alliances, and

collectively evolve alternative futures.

We are aware that there are many networks and initiatives that have brought together movements and groups on various

platforms related to this theme. But most of these are limited to individual themes or kinds of movements, e.g. struggles

against destructive ‘development’ projects, alternative health initiatives, sustainable farming work, etc. There are limited

opportunities and attempts to cut across thematic areas, bringing ecological, education, health, justice, livelihood,

market/trade, governance and other alternatives together to learn from each other. We envisage these gatherings to be such

cross-cutting ones, and to build on rather than replicate the existing/ongoing initiatives.

We also propose that minimum time will be spent at the Vikalp Sangams on the ills of the current economic/ political/

social system. There are plenty of occasions already available for this; these gatherings are predominantly focused on

alternatives. On the other hand we also do not want to fall into the trap of romanticizing these alternatives; both the pros

and cons of such initiatives should be shared.

Structure of the Vikalp Sangams

The Vikalp Sangams are not intended to be academic conferences, but rather a more free-flowing meeting of minds and

hearts. There are a series of small group sessions focused on individual themes, to enable in-depth exchange and learning,

and at least half of the time is devoted to learning across themes and movements. Opportunities to showcase the initiatives

are provided, through exhibitions, films/A-Vs, theatre and other arts, and other media. Spontaneous joint activities like art

and theatre are also attempted. The Sangams are a combination of fun, learning & unlearning, and bonding.

Participants and Venues

The Sangams will bring together practitioners, thinkers, researchers and theorists (these are not necessarily mutually

exclusive categories!) working on the broad theme of alternatives to destructive and inequitable development. The

participation could range from a few dozen to a few hundred people, depending on local situations.

Each of the Sangams will need to be hosted by a regional organization/institution that has the capacity; expenses will need

to be shared by this organization and other co-organisers, and participants. It is doubtful anyone can raise full funding for

an event like this, so costs will have to be distributed widely.

An evolving core group has been set up to coordinate the planning of the Sangams, with the following members (as of

December 2015): Kalpavriksh, Deccan Development Society (DDS), Bhoomi College, Shikshantar, Timbaktu Collective,

Development Alternatives (DA), SOPPECOM, Gene Campaign, BHASHA, Kriti Team, Centre for Equity Studies (CES),

URMUL, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements (NAPM), Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI), Maati, Alliance for

Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), Ekta Parishad, South Asian Dialogue on Ecological Democracy (SADED),

Knowledge in Civil Society (KICS), North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS), ACCORD, Centre

for Education and Documentation, Centre for Environment Education, reStore, ComMutiny: The Youth Collective,

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Ektha, Students’ Environmental and Cultural

Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT), Ladakh Arts and Media

Organisation (LAMO), Local Futures, Sahjeevan, Samvedana, Dharamitra, Video Volunteers, Ideosync, Greenpeace

India, MAKAAM, Sambhaavnaa, Jagori Rural, and Deer Park; and Sushma Iyengar and Dinesh Abrol. The Core Group

will keep evolving with the process.

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बीजों की परंपरागत संस्कृति और खेती पद्धतियों से खाद्य सुरक्षा संभव

देशी बीजों व देशी खेती का जो परंपरागत ज्ञान हैं लोक कथाएं हैं, उनको सहेजना जरुरी है, जिससे नई पीढ़ी में यह ज्ञान हस्तांतरित हो सके. जहां देशी बीज और परम्परागत खेती जिन्दा है, वहां परम्परागत खेती और किसान भी जिन्दा है. स्थानीय मिटटी पानी के अनुकूल देशी बीजों की परम्परागत विविधता की संस्कृति को सामने लाये जाने और ऐसी खेती की पद्धतियों की चर्चा की जाए जो बिना पर्यावरण का नुक्सान किये लोगों की खाद्य सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करें. राजस्थान के गावों में मौजूद खाद्य विकल्पों की संस्कृति को सामने लाता प्रस्तुत आलेख.

download link: 

http://www.vikalpsangam.org/static/media/uploads/Food%20and%20water/babamayaramhindiparamparagatbeej.pdf

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First Vikalap Sangam

Vikalp Sangam at Timbaktu, 

17- 19 October 2014

A Report : link

http://www.vikalpsangam.org/article/all-the-way-to-timbaktu/

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Ecology section: Gaia hypothesis

“Gaia is a tough bitch”: Remembering Lynn Margulis, scientific pioneer

Written by Contributor, 1st December 2017

Biologist Lynn Margulis died on November 22nd, 2011

Lynn Margulis essay here on the significance of symbiosis in evolution:

Gaia is a tough bitch — a system that has worked for over three billion years without people. This planet's surface and its atmosphere and environment will continue to evolve long after people and prejudice are gone. (LINK https://www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/n-Ch.7.html)

Ridiculed when she first proposed it; biologist Lynn Margulis‘ theory of symbiosis in cell evolution is now considered one of the great scientific breakthroughs. A co-developer of the ‘Gaia hypothesis’ and a sharp critic of the Richard Dawkins-led school of Neo-Darwinist biology, Margulis was also a remarkable personality, as this interview with Edge.org clearly demonstrates.

LINK: https://www.ecologise.in/2017/12/01/lynn-margulis-1938-2011-gaia-tough-bitch/

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Gaia Hypothesis:

The Gaia hypothesis, also known as Gaia theory or Gaia principle, proposes that all organisms and their inorganic surroundings on Earth are closely integrated to form a single and self-regulating complex system, maintaining the conditions for life on the planet.

What is the Gaia hypothesis?

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/what-is-the-gaia-hypothesis/article18474984.ece
MAY 17, 2017

Ecology

Propounded by British scientist James Lovelock (who is now 97) in the 1970s, the Gaia hypothesis conceives of the earth as a self-regulating system, much like a single organism. The earth’s living organisms and its physical components (air, water, soil), according to this hypothesis, form a complex system that interacts with each other in such as way as to maintain the conditions essential for the sustenance of life on the planet. This equilibrium, Lovelock argues, is being skewed by heightened human intervention that threatens not just the planet’s biodiversity but the future sustenance of human beings themselves.

Natural selection and evolution :

Lovelock accepts a process of systemic Darwinian evolution for such biological feedback mechanisms: creatures that improve their environment for their survival do better than those that damage their environment. However, some scientists dispute the existence of such mechanisms. In 1981, W. Ford Doolittle, in the CoEvolution Quarterly article "Is Nature Motherly" argued that nothing in the genome of individual organisms could provide the feedback mechanisms Gaia theory proposed, and therefore the Gaia hypothesis was an unscientific theory of a maternal type without any explanatory mechanism. In Richard Dawkins' 1982 book, The Extended Phenotype, he argued that organisms could not act in concert as this would require foresight and planning from them. Like Doolittle he rejected the possibility that feedback loops could stabilize the system. Lynn Margulis, a microbiologist who collaborated with Lovelock in supporting the Gaia hypothesis, argued in 1999, that “Darwin's grand vision was not wrong, only incomplete. In accentuating the direct competition between individuals for resources as the primary selection mechanism, Darwin (and especially his followers) created the impression that the environment was simply a static arena.” She wrote that the composition of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere are regulated around "set points" as in homeostasis, but those set points change with time.She also wrote that there is no special tendency of biospheres to preserve their current inhabitants, and certainly not to make them comfortable. According to her, the Earth is a kind of community of trust that can exist at many discrete levels of integration. All multicellular organisms do not live or die all at once: not all cells in the body die instantaneously, nor are homeostatic "set points" constant through the life of an organism. W. D. Hamilton, one of the greatest evolutionary theorists of the 20th century, called the concept of Gaia Copernican, adding that it would take another Newton to explain how Gaian self-regulation takes place through Darwinian natural selection.

LINK: 

(1)https://courses.seas.harvard.edu/climate/eli/Courses/EPS281r/Sources/Gaia/Gaia-hypothesis-wikipedia.pdf

(2) http://environment-ecology.com/gaia/70-gaia-hypothesis.html

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India for alleged violations of its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan

CEPA 

India for alleged violations of its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan

Exclusive - Nissan sues India over outstanding dues; seeks over $770 million

https://www.msn.com/en-in/autos/news/exclusive-nissan-sues-india-over-outstanding-dues-seeks-over-dollar770-million/ar-BBFZuvx?ocid=sf

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor has begun international arbitration against India to seek more than $770 million in a dispute over unpaid state incentives, according to a person familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by Reuters.

In a legal notice sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, Nissan sought payment of incentives due from the Tamil Nadu government as part of a 2008 agreement to set up a car manufacturing plant in the southern state.

According to the notice, Nissan said repeated requests to state officials for the payment, due in 2015, were overlooked and even a plea by the company's chairman, Carlos Ghosn, to Modi in March of last year seeking federal assistance did not yield any results.

The notice, sent by Nissan's lawyers in July 2016, was followed by more than a dozen meetings between federal and state officials and Nissan executives, said the person familiar with the matter, who did not want to be named as it is not public.

The federal officials, from several ministries, assured Nissan the payment would be made, and it should not bring a legal case. But, in August, Nissan gave India an ultimatum to appoint an arbitrator, the person said, adding the first arbitration hearing will be in mid-December.

A Nissan spokesman said the company was "committed to working with the government of India towards a resolution," but did not elaborate.

A senior Tamil Nadu state official said the government hoped to resolve the dispute without having to go to international arbitration. "There is no discrepancy with regard to the amount due, and we are trying hard to resolve the issue," the official told Reuters.

Modi's office did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The case, brought against India for alleged violations of its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, is the latest in a string of international arbitration proceedings against the country by investors concerned about issues ranging from retrospective taxation to payments disputes.

There are over 20 cases pending against India, among the highest against any single nation.

The dispute between Nissan and the Tamil Nadu government also shows the challenges companies face in India and how local disputes could undermine the Modi government's efforts to attract foreign investment and create new jobs.

GROWING LOSSES

Several automakers, including Ford and Hyundai Motor, have set up production hubs in Tamil Nadu, giving state capital Chennai the nickname; the 'Detroit of South Asia'.

In 2008, when Nissan and its global alliance partner, French carmaker Renault, agreed to invest in setting up a car plant in Chennai, the state government promised several incentives including some tax refunds.

Over seven years, Nissan and Renault invested 61 billion rupees ($946 million) and set up a plant with annual production capacity of 480,000 vehicles, which entitled them to receive the incentives in 2015, according to the legal notice.

In that notice, Nissan's lawyers said the state government's decision to not pay was "arbitrary", and Nissan has "incurred significant and increasing losses".

Nissan did not specify the business impact in the 8-page notice, but said in 2008 that state incentives were critical to the project's viability and sustainability.

The carmaker, in its notice, is claiming 29 billion rupees in unpaid incentives and 21 billion rupees in damages, plus interest and other costs.

Nissan, which has less than a 2 percent share of India's passenger car market, builds and sells the Micra hatchback, Sunny sedan and Terrano sport-utility vehicle. It also sells low-cost cars under its Datsun brand.

The company spokesman said Nissan has created more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in India.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah, with additional reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Euan Rocha and Ian Geoghegan).

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