Bangalore garbage problem - IITian appointed to handle the Solid Waste Management issues

The problem of garbage in Bangalore is reaching unmanageable proportions. After the recent demonstrations by villages in Mandur etc, the government has finally sat up and taking notice. 

A lot of action seems to be happening and one of it to appoint an IIT-ian, Mr. Darpan Jain as the special commissioner for Solid waste management in Bangalore. 

Hope he will come up with innovative ideas and ensure their implementations to solve the problem - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Garbage-crisis-IITian-is-ready-for-the-challenge/articleshow/37274277.cms

Here, we need to understand - We cannot just put our hands up and push ALL the responsibility to the government. 

The waste is being generated in Our homes, Our restaurants, Our hotels, Our hospitals, Our offices, 

Our residential complexes, and Our factories!. We need to make efforts to segregate and help towards a cleaner Bangalore and a cleaner India. It is not just enough to discuss, but action needs to be done. 

Simple thing to start at homes would be to keep a separate bin for degradeable (kitchen waste) Vs non-degradeable items in other words Wet vs Dry items. 

At commercial establishments, it is much easier to segregate different qualities of dry waste and even get some money for them.

Most of the industries are well equipped and well versed in taking recycleable inputs and hence are eager to pay a price for them. The minimum we can do is to make it easy recycleable inputs since they are off the landfills!

India, Cigarette packets warnings to cover 85% of space and on both sides - only one regret

Cigarette smoking is injurious to health!

Not that you need to hear it from me, but just recently I went and met the father of my friend, a jovial, active  and energetic person, who is now suffering from severe COPD, and is severely restricted in movements due to the oxygen tube that he needs to use almost for 24 hours a day.

About four of my friends/associates are into smoking and all are well educated, (graduates and double graduates), intelligent and able to defend their actions in rational or irrational arguments.

As the link between smoking and various illnesses and ailments are becoming more and more clear and published, I hope this crazy habit will see its end soon.

The companies are squeezing life out of every smoker and filling the coffers. I don't know what logic or justification they have to continue to sell this slow poison.

So, it is with happy feeling that I welcome a very good step in one of the many steps towards reducing Cigarette smoking in India. I hope and wish that the government does not stop here and continue the many steps towards reducing Cigaratte smoking in India. Just like Polio eradication and TB eradication, I think we need a tobacco eradication program for India.

Here is the link to the article that talks about the government move - http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-16/news/55107234_1_pictorial-warnings-health-warnings-proposed-warnings

1. To increasing the pictorial warning to 85% of the package. - 60% picture and 25% text. I would say a picture speaks a 1000 words, 85% picture would've been good.
2. Further it also moves the companies towards removing the glossy packaging and making them plain - to reduce the attraction for youth. 
3. The warnings are to be done on both sides of the packet.  

The health minister Harsh Vardhan, has said that they have made a Number of suggestions on curbing tobacco consumption and this is just one of them. Good! 

The only regret in this the date of implementation is fixed as Apr 1, 2015. There is a saying "Subhasha seekram" - If it is a good thing, do it fast. Would've been good if the implementation date is earlier. 

Anyway, Kudos to the Health ministry and to the government in thinking and implementing these steps. 

If you do know of any organization(s) that are helping smokers quit or fighting against smoking, please add as comment or email me. I will update the post.

Social Evil - 1 of 3. Drug usage on the rise among India's youth

When I studied my Engineering about 20 years back in Chennai, we used to hear about drugs on-and-off. Mainly there used to be rumors that certain group(s) of students would do drugs on special occasions (college day celebrations) in some forsaken place.

But, recently it seems the drug usage among youth/teens/college and even schools students is heavily on the rise.

Too many news items of late. Just a 5 minute search on google throws up so much
Woman arrested with 21kg marijuana
Drug addiction among students on the rise

Here is a Sting by NDTV on how easy to get drugs in front of Bangalore colleges

if you think only Bangalore has a problem, check out Pune - Here and here  and about Chandigarh - Chandigarh youth turn slave to drugs and 27 Kgs of Heroin seized!

A combination of factors seem to be fanning the fire!

More money in the hands of the youth, More exposure and hence confusions on rights and wrongs, Confusions over rights and responsibilities, Terrible pressure - Peer pressure, pressure from Media, pressure from competitions for everything - from college seats to sweetheart's hearts.

On the other hand, seems the crooks have gotten brazen, the hierarchy and levels of playing fields extend to the gates of schools and houses, Greed has taken over good and common sense with some of the enforcers also taking part in the crime.

It is a killer for our future generation, they being harmed mentally and physically. Just read this story about a eighteen year old girl who got addicted to drugs even before her 10th standard and how it consumed her.

Once they get into the habit, sadly they don't realize the effects it has on their physique , their minds and their family members.

With such a mushrooming of the problem, it is very good timing that Prime minister Narendra Modi has started a debate/discussion on this and is planning to talk about it on his next Mann Ki Baath. 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-narendra-modi-invites-views-experiences-on-dealing-with-menace-of-drugs-2031979. Please check the links and place your views to save the youth of India

Here is a prayer for those victims - To get a better frame of mind, Understand the implications and Be able to resist the temptations and live their lives to the fullest.