THΣ HIΠDU ΣDITΩRIΔL WORDS-13th Dec 2017*

1. Hiatus (noun): (A pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity.) (अंतराल/अभाव)

Synonyms: Pause, Break, Interval, Interruption, Suspension, Intermission, Interlude, Gap, Lacuna.

Antonyms: Continuity, Juncture.

Example: My doctor suggests I take a hiatus from my job while I am recovering from knee surgery.

Origin: from Latin hiare ‘gape’.
2. Spar (verb): (Argue with someone without marked hostility.) (तकरार करना)

Synonyms: Argue, Row, Disagree, Differ, Be At Odds, Be At Variance, Dispute

Antonyms: Agree, Give Consent, Concur

Example: N. Korea and America continue to spar each other over several issues.

Verb forms: Spar, Sparred, Sparred
3. Equivocate (verb): (Use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.) (स्पष्ट बात न करना/गोलमोल बात कहना)

Synonyms: Prevaricate, Be vague, Be ambiguous, Evade/Dodge the issue, Beat about the bush.

Antonyms: Speak Clearly.

Example: The crooked salesman went out of his way to equivocatethe sales terms to the elderly couple.

Verb forms: Equivocate, Equivocated, Equivocated.

Related words:

Equivocate (noun) - Falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language
4.Hopscotch (verb): (Travel from place to place.) (यात्रा करना/भ्रमण करना)

Synonyms: Wander, Stroll, Saunter, Amble, Ramble, Roam.

Antonyms: Stay.

Example: A wanderlust generally hopscotches of most of his life.

Verb forms: Hopscotch, Hopscotched, Hopscotched.

5.Atrocious (adjective): (Of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant (घोर/बहुत बुरा)

Synonyms: Appalling, Dreadful, Terrible, Very Bad, Unpleasant, Lamentable, Woeful

Antonyms: Good, Magnificent, Wonderful, Inoffensive

Example: After receivingatrocious reviews, the play closed the day after opening.

Related words:

Atrociously (adverb) - बेकार ढंग से

Origin: from Latin atrox 



 

6. Smugness (noun): Exhibiting or feeling great satisfaction with oneself or with one's situation.  (आत्मसंतुष्टि)

Synonyms: Complacency, Self-Satisfaction, Self-Approval, Self-Approbation

Antonyms: Humility, Modesty.

Example: Gregory was smug after he easily eliminated his rival during the kickboxing competition.

Related words:

Smug (adjective) -  Marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction



 

7. Run the gauntlet (phrase):(To endure a series of problems/ To be exposed to or forced to endure a series of threats, dangers, criticism, or other problems.) (आलोचना का विषय होना)

Synonyms: To be a target, Come to grips with, Face criticism, Go through fire and water.

Example: The director has beenrunning the gauntlet of fans' outrage following the release of his latest film.



 

8. Wuss (noun): (A weak or ineffectual person) (अक्षम/कमजोर)

Synonyms: Impotent, Inadequate, Unfit, Lame, Feeble, Weak.

Antonyms: Healthy, Strong, Sturdy.

Example: John’ s friends teased him for being a wuss when he failed the push-up test in gym class

Verb forms: Wuss, Wussed, Wussed.

Related words:

Wuss (verb) - Fail to do or complete something as a result of fear or lack of confidence.



 

9. Sneer (verb): (Smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner.) (व्यंग्यात्मक ढंग से मुस्कुराना / अवहेलना दिखाना)

Synonyms: Smile Disparagingly, Smile Contemptuously, Smile Smugly, Smile Conceitedly, Deride, Jeer.

Antonyms: Compliment, Praise.

Example: There is no way you will get the job if you sit at the interview with a sneer on your face.

Verb forms: Sneer, Sneered, Sneered.

Related words:

Sneer (noun) - A contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.



 

10. Lad (noun): (A boy or young man) (नौजवान)

Synonyms: Boy, Youth, Youngster, Juvenile, Stripling, Young fellow.

Antonyms: Old man.

Example: When he was just a small lad, the scientist decided that he wanted to make a career out of research.

THΣ HIΠDU ΣDITΩRIΔL WORDS-11th Dec 2017*

1. Shot in the arm (idiom):(A boost or act of encouragement.) (प्रोत्साह/बढ़ावा)

Synonyms: Encouragement, Stimulus, Succor, Inspiritment. 

Antonyms: Handicap, Harm, Hindrance, Hurt.

Example: The good score in mock tests was a shot in the arm for Gary before final examinations.
2. Folly (noun): Lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight. (मूर्खता)

Synonyms: Foolishness, Stupidity, Idiocy, Imbecility, Silliness, Inanity, Lunacy

Antonyms: Prudence, Sagaciousness, Sapience, Sensibleness, Wisdom

Example: The folly that got Jim arrested was hanging out with the gang of robbers.

Origin:  from French fol ‘fool, foolish’.
3.Concomitant (adjective):(Naturally accompanying or associated/ The trait of being naturally accompanies or follows something.) (सहवर्ती/जुड़ा हुआ)

Synonyms: Accompanying, Associated, Collateral, Related, Connected, Linked

Antonyms: Unrelated, Separate, Distinct

Example: Puberty is the stage of life where adolescents begin to experience concomitant changes in their bodies and their emotions.  

Related words:

Concomitance (noun) - Occurrence or existence together or in connection with one another

Origin: from Latin concomitant- ‘accompanying’
4. Impediment (noun): A hindrance or obstruction in doing something. (अवरोध/बाधा)

Synonyms: Barrier, Interruption, Hindrance, Obstruction, Block,  Restriction, Deterrence

Antonyms: Aid, Assistance, Clearance, Blessing, Boon, Freedom

Example: In most romantic movies, there is always some sort of impediment that temporarily stops the guy from getting his dream girl.  

Verb forms: Impede, Impeded, Impeded

Related words:

Impede (verb) - बाधा डालना
5.Proactive (adjective): ((Of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened (अग्रसक्रिय)

Synonyms: Prudent, Wise, Heedful, Cautious

Antonyms: Improvident, Heedless, Careless, Incautious

Example: Emergency procedures are proactive measures to ensure everyone’s safety.

6. Trickle (verb): (Come or go slowly or gradually/ cause (a liquid) to flow in a small stream.) (रिसना/धीरे-धीरे जाना)

Synonyms: Crawl, Dribble, Ooze, Drizzle.

Antonyms: Pour, Gush.

Example: Before it began to gush, the roof leak started off as atrickle.

Verb forms: Trickle, Trickled, Trickled.

Related words:

Trickle (noun): (Something moving or changing slowly)  
7. Acquaintance (noun):(Knowledge or experience of something.) (परिचय//जानकारी)

Synonyms: Familiarity, Knowledge, Experience, Awareness, Understanding Of, Comprehension Of.  Cognizance.

Antonyms: Ignorance, Unfamiliarity.

Example: After two years of practice, he developed a goodacquaintance with guitar.

Verb forms: Acquaint, Acquainted, Acquainted.

Related words:

Acquaintance (noun) - A person one knows slightly but not well

Origin: from French acointier ‘make known
8.Midget (adjective): (Very small/ so small as to be insignificant.) (छोटा/लघु)

Synonyms: Tiny, Minute, Micro, Diminutive, Miniature, Lilliputian.

Antonyms: Enormous, Vast, Immense, Massive, Gigantic, Huge.

Example: Compared to the large supercomputers of the 1970’s, laptops are really Midget in size.

Related words:

Midget (noun) - A very small person or thing.
9. Club (verb): (Combine with others for a particular purpose.) (एक हो जाना/इक्कठा करना)

Synonyms: Join Forces, Make A Joint Contribution, Join Up, Come Together, Pull Together, Collaborate, Ally.

Antonyms: Divide, Separate.

Example: Friends and colleaguesclubbed together to buy him a present on his birthday.  

Verb forms: Club, Clubbed, Clubbed.



 

10. Slumber (noun): (Sleep/ to be in a torpid, slothful, or negligent state) (नींद/उपेक्षा/ढिलाई)

Synonyms: Sleep, Dormancy, Stupor, Inactivity, Repose.

Antonyms: Consciousness, Activity, Energy, Awakening.

Example: Everyone’s life should have a balance: work and play, activity and slumber.

Verb forms: Slumber, Slumbered, Slumbered.

Related words:

Slumber (verb) – To sleep.

Story 10

Once upon a time, Amarasakti ruled the city-state of Mahilaropyam in the south of India. He had three witless(stupid,मूर्ख) sons who became a matter of endless perturbation(worry,चिंता) for him. Realizing that his sons had no interest in learning, the king summoned(call, बुलाना) his ministers and said:

“You know I am not exhilarated(happy,खुश) with my sons. According to men of learning an unborn son and a stillborn son are better than a son who is a dimwit(stupid, मूर्ख). What good is a barren cow? A son who is stupid will bring opprobrium(dishonour,अपमान) to his father. How can I make them fit to be my successors? I turn to you for advice.“

One of the ministers suggested the name of Vishnu Sharman, a eminent(great,महान) savant(scholar,विद्ववान) enjoying the veneration(respect,आदर) of hundreds of his disciples. “He is the most adroit(competent,सक्षम) person to tutor your children. Entrust them to his care and very soon you will see the change.“

The king summoned Vishnu Sharman and pleaded with him “Oh, venerable scholar, take pity on me and please train my sons into great scholars and I will make you the lord of hundred villages.“

Vishnu Sharman said “Oh, king, listen to my pledge. Hundred villages do not tempt me to vend learning. Count six months from today. If I do not make your children great scholars, you can ask me to change my name.“

The king promptly(immediately,तुरंत)called his sons and handed them to the care of the learned man. Sharman took them to his monastery where he started teaching them the five strategies (Panchatantra). Keeping his word, he finished the task the king entrusted him in six months. Since then, Panchatantra became popular all over the world as children‘s guide in solving problems of life.

Click here for story 9

Ubiquitous

The Wooden Bowl story 3

A frail(weak,कमज़ोर) old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled(shiver,कांपना), his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered(stagger,लडखडाना). The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather arduous(difficult,कठिन). Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about grandfather,” said the son. I’ve had adequate(enough,पर्याप्त) of his spilled milk, clamorous(noisy,शोर) eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a minuscule(small,छोटा) table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather’s direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were acute(sharp,तेज़) admonitions(warning,चेतावनी) when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in taciturn(silence,चुप्पी).



One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears commenced(started,शुरू) to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably discerning(perceptive,विवेकी. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they imbibe(absorb,सोखना). If they see us imperturbably(patiently,धीरता से) provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will emulate(imitate,नक़ल) that attitude for the rest of their lives. The sagacious(wise,बुद्धिमान) parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child’s future.

Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, … and those you love, … today, and everyday!

Click here for story 2

PONDEROUS

 Ponderous (Adj):- having great mass and weight and unwieldiness, dull ,boring

Synonyms: heavy, lumber

ing Uses:- Her face took on a ponderous look again. - Because I like creative articles, I find reading a newspaper to be a ponderous task.
 

know your english

What is the meaning of ‘moxie’? (K Rajesh, Delhi)

First, let us deal with the pronunciation of this word. The first syllable rhymes with ‘box’, ‘fox’ and ‘pox’, and the ‘ie’ in the second sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘sit’ and ‘hit’. It is pronounced ‘MOK-si’ with the stress on the first syllable. The word is mostly used in informal contexts to mean determined. A person with moxie is a fighter; he does not give up easily - no matter how often he is knocked down, he gets up. He is courageous in adversity.

Suraj showed a lot of moxie when he questioned some of the CEO’s decisions.

The girl has a lot of moxie in her. There’s no way she’s going to give up now.

The word comes from the name of a soft drink that was quite popular in the States in the early twentieth century. The advertisements claimed that the drink would ‘build up your nerve’. It is possible to buy a can of Moxie even today.

What is the difference between ‘terrified’ and ‘petrified’? (V Radhika, Madurai)

Both words suggest that you are extremely scared or frightened of something or someone; you are in a state of panic. When you are ‘terrified of’ something, you may choose to run or you may stand still because you are too scared to move. When you are petrified, you become paralysed; you stand there like a stone. You are too scared to move. The word ‘petrified’ comes from the Latin ‘petra’ meaning ‘stone’.

When they saw the tiger, the terrified villagers ran into their houses.

When the villager saw the tiger, he was petrified.

What is the meaning of ‘in the groove’? (Ajit Kumar, Vizag)

The ‘oove’ in ‘groove’ rhymes with the ‘ove’ in ‘prove’ and ‘move’. A ‘groove’ is a long, thin cut on a hard surface. For example, sliding doors and windows have grooves cut into them. They make it possible for a person to slide the door/window easily. When you say that you are ‘in the groove’, what you are suggesting is that you are doing something quite easily, without any real effort.

When Federer returns in 2017, it’ll probably take him time to get in the groove.

Anand didn’t like being a Manager at first; but now, he’s getting in the groove.

When you are bored of doing something over and over again, you say you are ‘stuck in a groove’. You have been doing the same thing for a long time and have become very set in your ways.

Anita’s job no longer excites her. She’s stuck in a groove.

Is it okay to say, ‘It’s high time you clean the motorcycle’? (M Priya, Chennai)

No, it is not. It should be ‘cleaned’ and not ‘clean’. The expression ‘high time’ is mostly used in informal contexts to mean that it is time to do something that should have been done a long time ago. In other words, you have unnecessarily delayed doing something. It’s high time Laxman bought a new car.

It’s high time that the children went to bed.

courtesy:the hindu

download monthly pdf of august

know your english

“Tell me, how is the word m..e..t..e pronounced?”

“It’s pronounced like the word ‘meet’. Nowadays, this rather formal word is mostly used in the expression ‘mete out’. It means to punish someone. You...”

“So, are you the one ordering or giving the harsh punishment? Are you...”

“It could be anyone. It could be you or someone else. For example, the students were highly critical of the treatment meted out to the workers.”

“How about this example? Judges are reluctant(unwilling,अनिच्छुक) to mete out harsh sentences against crooked politicians. I think they should.”

“Sounds good. Even today, there are many teachers in our country who believe it’s okay to mete out punishment to little children.”

“I certainly don’t! In fact, I feel that we should .......”

“Please, you need to lighten up. You have a tendency to.....”

“Lighten up? Are you telling me that I have put on weight and that I need to....”

“No, I don’t want you to go on a diet. When you tell someone that he should lighten up, what you’re suggesting is that the individual should learn to relax.”

“You want him to stop taking everything that is being said very seriously.”

“That’s right. The new teacher is very serious in class. She needs to lighten up.”

“Shreya had been tense all morning. But once she heard she’d got the promotion, she lightened up.”

“Revathi lightened up during our trip to Hyderabad. I’ve never...”

“Oh yes, you went to Hyderabad, didn’t you? How was the seminar?”

“It was okay. Nobody had anything new to say. But I did manage to see quite a few places in Hyderabad.”

“Did you go to the Salar Jung Museum? They say it’s great.”

“It is, actually. I wanted to spend at least half a day there. But unfortunately, my boss’ brother-in-law had tagged along with us and he...”

“Tagged along? Does it mean he went along with you?”

“You could say that. When someone tags along with you, he accompanies you even though you haven’t asked him to.”

“In other words, he’s like an uninvited guest. He forces himself on you.”

“Exactly! Whenever Raman took Laxmi to a movie, her brother tagged along with them.”

“That couldn’t have been fun. When I went out with my friends, I made it very clear http://editorialwithvocab.blogspot.in/2016/09/download-monthly-pdf-of-august.htmlto my parents that I didn’t want my younger brother tagging along with us.”

“The puppy tagged along wherever we went. Despite being...”

“Tell me, is there a difference between ‘despite’ and ‘in spite’? I mean is....”

“In terms of meaning, there is not much of a difference. You can use the two words interchangeably in most contexts. Just remember that ‘in spite’ is always followed by ‘of’ and ‘despite’ is not. The children continued to play in spite of/despite the rain.”

“In spite of/Despite his brilliant performance in the league matches, Rahul wasn’t selected for the State team.”

“That’s politics for you. I’ve got to go to the supermarket. I need...”

“Mind if I tag along?”

courtesy:the hindu

download monthly pdf of august

An uneasy buzz

“That which bends up” is what the word “Chikungunya” means in Kimakonde, an African language. It’s quite an apt word considering the effect this infection has on those affected by it!

Chikungunya is a fever spread by a virus that is transmitted by the female mosquito. Female mosquitoes need proteins from mammalian blood for their eggs to develop, which is why they bite humans. Certain viruses like the dengue and chikungunya viruses collectively called arboviruses (ARthropod BOrne viruses) make use of this requirement of the mosquitoes to ensure their own survival. These viruses were originally present only in the forest areas infecting primarily monkey species. Humans were just incidental hosts. But now due to the impact of industrialisation and loss of forest cover, these viruses have made humans as their permanent hosts. The virus cannot spread from one human to another but can spread only by mosquitoes which get infected while biting an infected individual, thereafter transmitting the virus by biting an uninfected individual.

So, how does chikungunya virus spread and act on the body? Once a mosquito bites, the virus spreads through the epidermal cells of the skin and reaches the inside of the body through the blood stream. The virus primarily targets muscle, joint and skin fibroblasts where the maximum damage occurs. This is the reason why patients experience intense joint pain and swelling along with rashes and acute(intense,तीक्ष्ण) fever. Apart from the tissues, a person’s immunity-mediated response is another important factor that dictates the severity of the disease. This explains why immune-compromised individuals such as very young children and elderly persons are more severely affected by this virus. This is also the reason why individuals with other underlying health complications such as like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases experience have more drastic effects due to the infection. It has to be emphasised at this point thatwhile chikungunya results in extreme morbidity(illness,रुग्णता) and a prolonged(long,लम्बा) phase of physical disability, it is not a fatal disease.

Patient management

A primary concern with respect to chikungunya treatment is effective diagnosis. At present there are no virus-specific detection methods and we have to resort to employing antibody-specific testing which delays diagnosis by a great extent. A study conducted by our group and our collaborators at Nair Hospital in Mumbai showed that almost 10 per cent of dengue patients were co-infected with the chikungunya virus but they were not even treated for the disease. This is a big blow to patient management and disease management. While we were able to detect these co-infections because we employed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect both the viruses, this is not practical in a hospital setting with a huge patient load and the lack of trained personnel. One may argue that dengue is more dangerous than chikungunya due to the complications of dengue as opposed to the non-fatal condition of chikungunya. But one must remember that patient management is quite different for both these infections and has several implications on disease prevention.

The vector plays an extremely important role in the spread of the chikungunya virus. When chikungunya struck in 2005, the reason it was such a huge pandemic was because the virus had mutatedtransform,रूपांतरित) its outside coat protein by a single amino acid that allowed it to replicate faster in another species of Aedes. This allowed the vector to transmit the virus more effectively. In the 2010 outbreak, virus strains sampled from different parts of the country were found to contain mutations on precisely(clearly,स्पस्थ्तया) three sites on their genomes. Sequencing the genome of the virus associated with the current outbreak in North India may reveal new information as to why the outbreak has been so explosive this time. Has the virus mutated again to become more virulent(poisonous,विषैला)?

Control the key

Whatever be the nature of the virus, the only effective method to control this hugely debilitating(weak,दुर्बल) infection is intense vector control and public health awareness programmes. The Mosquitoes serve as reservoirs for these viruses where the viruses survive in low amounts until they can infect a population. Having said this, we are talking of multiple issues here — the number of mosquitoes in nature at a given point in time and the amount of chikungunya virus within these mosquitoes. We recently conducted a survey where we addressed both these issues. We observed that the Aedes mosquitoes were present in small numbers even during the dry season and the viruses were present in these mosquitoes through generations. A single heavy shower was enough for the mosquito population to explode and along with it the virus populations within the mosquitoes. Every time it is a disaster waiting to happen. When the mosquito and the virus population reach a critical number, it results in outbreaks. Therefore, the only way to prevent this by is curbing(control,नियंत्रण) the mosquito population before the monsoon starts.

We face multiple issues with respect to chikungunya disease control in our country. A lack of sensitive virus-specific diagnostic tools, an absence of drugs/vaccine, poor vector control measures and public awareness contribute tremendously in escalating the problem. It is no surprise then that India is considered as the hub for chikungunya spread across the globe.

 courtesy:the hindu

click here for official link

download monthly pdf of august

Forced out by a funds squeeze

It isn’t the fever and chikungunya symptoms that perturb(anxious,चिंतित) Ompal Singh so much. Resting in his one-room flat in a nondescript colony in Mandoli, north-east Delhi, the 50-year-old agonises(worry,व्याकुल) more about his persistent(continuous,निरंतर) cough and weight loss. He has lost seven kilograms in just two months and his immunity levels are dropping — alarming given his condition.

Meanwhile, his wife, Anita Kumari (48), has become addicted to painkillers. She cannot straighten her back or stretch her arms. She knows it is the big lump on her back causing all the pain and doctors have advised her surgery. But the doctors keep referring her to other hospitals, she says.

Both Mr. Singh and Ms. Kumari tested HIV positive in 2006 — after she contracted(reduce,संकुचित) the virus during a premature delivery-linked blood transfusion — but it is now that they have started feeling its pinch. Especially with their jobs snatched away. “Our diet is not the same and even treatment is suffering,” rues Mr. Singh.

Disclosure and discrimination(unfair treatment,भेदभाव)

In 2008, when the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) launched the Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission Programme (PPCT), the husband-wife duo enlisted with an NGO as outreach workers for the HIV awareness initiative along with 13 others. Their job was to help HIV-positive pregnant women with their medication and monitor newborn babies. “We have seen discrimination in hospitals against HIV-positive women from such close quarters. Doctors would refuse to carry out C-section, nurses hurl abuses even while the woman is crying in pain,” says Ms. Kumari. “Our role was to help such women.”

However, in December last year, the scheme was abruptly(suddenly,अचानक) ended citing(mentioning,उल्लेखित) lack of funds, rendering(give,देना) the outreach workers jobless. This, when all 15 workers are themselves HIV-positive and on antiretroviral therapy. In order to effectively carry out their roles as outreach workers, these individuals were asked to disclose their condition to the community and their families at the risk of social marginalisation. With people around them knowing about their HIV status, these workers are now not only struggling to get alternative employment but have had to move house. “Earlier, we were staying in different colonies in east Delhi. But with no money and neighbours boycotting us, eight of us are now living in the same locality to help each other,” says Rajesh Kumari, another outreach worker, who has been working as a maid for the past three months.

In the lurch

The outreach workers have tried it all to have their voices heard — from writing letters to the Health Ministry to protesting at Jantar Mantar. The PPCT scheme was halted in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab at the same time but Punjab restarted the scheme in June. “When Punjab can, why can’t Delhi and Himachal Pradesh,” asks Anjali Singh, showing a dossier of letters written to Ministers, officials and protest clippings.

“Budget cuts started in 2013 under the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) regime; the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government may end it completely in their term. Whatever was achieved in all these years is being undone,” says Ganesh Acharya of Mumbai AIDS Forum.

On August 16, these workers met Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal for help. The commission subsequently(after,बाद में) wrote to the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) and was informed that the latter had no NACO funding to support these persons. “This forced me to write to Health Minister J.P Nadda about the issue,” says Ms. Maliwal. Mr. Nadda replied stating that he will personally look into the matter.

“He should do something, or else give us permission to kill ourselves,” says Kanhaiya Kumar, one of the affected. It’s fingers crossed for the group of 15, for now.

courtesy:the hindu

click here for official link

download monthly pdf of august

From Plate to Plough: Connecting the drops

Till June end this year, the government was worried about how to cope with back-to-back drought. But by the second half of August, the scene changed dramatically and several states were in the spate of floods. In Bihar, more than five million people have been affected and 6,50,000 displaced from their homes; in Assam 1.8 million people were affected with 2,40,000 displaced, and in UP 8,70,000 were affected. Floods also occurred in areas that were earlier not considered flood prone, such as the cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and the southern districts of arid Rajasthan. Even in Madhya Pradesh, 300,000 people were affected.

There is a growing concern that floods cause large-scale damage to crops, cattle, property and even human lives, and this trend is increasing over time. As per the estimates of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the cumulative damage from floods during the period 2000-2013, converted at 2014-15 constant prices, stood at a whopping Rs 2,63,848 crore. While in 2003 alone the damage was Rs 23,045 crore, the same escalated(increase,बढ़कर)to Rs 46,802 crore in the 2009 floods (both at 2014-15 prices).

Most of the floods in India occur in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Barak basin as the distance between the world’s highest peaks in the Himalayas and the outlet at the Bay of Bengal is short and the contributing tributaries like Kosi, Gandak, Ghaghara and others disgorge large volumes and devastate(destroy,विनाश) the fertile plains of eastern Uttar Pradesh, northern Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. For these states, flood control is a developmental as well as humanitarian issue. The options are limited but need to be given a fair trial with adequate(enough,पर्याप्त) resources.

×

The key question, therefore, is: How best can the problem of floods and droughts be addressed so that the losses are minimal and the system becomes more resilient? In this context, one important point that needs to be noted is that India gets “too much” water (about 75 per cent of annual precipitation) during 120 days of the monsoon season (June to September) and “too little” for the remaining 245 days. This skewed water availability has to be managed and regulated for its consumption throughout the year. No wonder, leaders of independent India quickly embarked(entered,प्रवेश) upon a number of large multi-purpose river valley projects such as Bhakra-Nangal, Hirakud, Nagarjuna Sagar, Rihand etc to store water for smoothening its supplies throughout the year. But, unfortunately, they lost interest in further developing such river valley projects very soon, partly due to changed priorities towards heavy industrialisation since 1956 and partly due to widespread inefficiencies and corruption in large irrigation projects. Later on, the issue of resettlement of displaced people became a rallying point for many NGOs to oppose these projects, leading to drying up of funds from the World Bank.

As a result, in 2015, India’s per capita water storage capacity through dams was abysmally(depressing,निराशाजनक) low at 194 cubic metre (m3). In contrast, China’s per capita water storage capacity was three times that of India at 590 m3 (2013). Amongst other BRICS countries, Brazil was at 3,370 m3, Russia at 5,587 m3 , and South Africa at 569 m3, all in 2015 (FAO). Further, USA was at 2,254 m3 and Australia at 3,395 m3 (see chart). So, it is amply(sufficiently,पर्याप्तता) clear that India is way below in storing water when it falls in abundance(excessive,बहुतायत), resulting in floods during monsoons and deficiency of water later. This also lowers cropping intensity (less than 140), meaning less than 40 per cent of India’s farm land is double cropped.

So, what are the policy options now? Nitish Kumar, in his meeting with the prime minister on the flood situation in Bihar, asked for de-silting of the Ganga and removal of the Farakka barrage, as it was causing accumulation of silt flowing from the Himalayan rivers and making the flood situation in Bihar grim. He had a point, but this seems to be only a partial and temporary solution.

The more lasting solution lies in a “buffer stocking of water” during the monsoon months and releasing it during lean seasons. This “buffer stocking of water” can be done over ground through dams, or underground, by recharging aquifers. Recent studies by the World Bank indicate that about 18 per cent of the peak flood volumes can be safely stored in the existing and planned dams along the Indo-Nepal border. A holistic approach at basin level, encompassing credible resettlement policy for displaced people, and supported by pro-active hydro-diplomacy amongst riparian(onshore,तटवर्ती) countries can render(give,देना) rich dividends.

The time is also ripe to crank up the Ganges Water Machine through Underground Taming of Floods for Irrigation (UTFI), where surplus flood water is directed to aquifers through well-designed structures placed in ponds and other depression areas and evacuated through large-scale pump irrigation during the dry season. Flood control strategies also need to include the use of smart geo-spatial techniques for flood forecasting and construction and strengthening of embankments at critical locations. The Modi government is also talking of inter-linking of rivers. A beginning can be made at intra-state level, particularly within Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Further, on the demand side, there is a need to promote flood-tolerant “scuba rice”, sugarcane, jute and high-value aquatic crops in this region; access to affordable crop, livestock and asset insurance products; and education and preparedness to live with the floods. Finally, with increasing urbanisation, agriculture will have to shed its current share of 78 per cent in water to, say, 70 per cent by 2030. This calls for focus on “more crop per drop”. Research indicates that rainfed areas covering pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals can give high productivity if they get even two irrigations.

Cascading(flow,व्यापक) check dams, drips and sprinkler irrigation can help. PM’s Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) talks of all this, but with paltry(small.तुच्छ) resources (Rs 5,767 crore), one wonders how many years one will have to wait to see the objectives of “har khet ko paani” being met.

 courtesy:indian express

click here for official link

download monthly pdf of august

For power to reach all, it will need a multi-pronged strategy, collaboration between Centre and states

That the government of India’s recent initiatives in the power sector have started bearing fruit is undeniable(unquestioned,निर्विवाद). It is for this reason that the ministry of power and renewable energy (RE) has been graded as one of the most performing ministries at the Centre.

With the increasing availability of power in the country resulting in a fall in prices and the gradual easing of transmission constraints, it is clear that the milestone of 24×7 supply to all parts of the country is around the corner. The big question, however, is to ensure supply of power, even if it is not 24×7, to all and here, the objective of “power for all” set by policymakers comes under scrutiny(examine,जाँच).

Both Central and state governments have recently been applauding their rural electrification programme. As per government of India estimates, out of 5,87,464 villages in the country, only 18,542 were not electrified at the beginning 2015-16. Of these 14,813 were to be electrified through the grid while 3,639 were to be electrified off-grid through RE sources. Till March 2016, 6,479 villages have already been electrified and the rest are to be electrified by December.

×

In the states, this figure stands between 95 to 100 per cent with the exceptions of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. States like Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are already claiming 100 per cent electrification. Even states like Bihar, UP and Rajasthan claim to be touching 99 per cent. The glaring issue in the light of these figures is that by the Centre’s own admission, the number of households without electricity in the country stands at a staggering seven to eight crore. In UP, this figure is about two crore.

This contradiction(opposition,विरोधाभाश) comes from the definition of electrified villages adopted by the government of India. According to the rural electrification policy guidelines of 2004, a village is classified as electrified if basic infrastructure like distribution transformers, poles and distribution lines are provided in the locality, including one “Dalit basti”, and if electricity is provided in one of the public places like schools, panchayat offices, health centres etc and the number of households electrified are 10 per cent of the total number of households in the village.

Prior to October1997, the definition was that a village should be classified as electrified if electricity is being used within its revenue area for any purpose. After October 1997 and till the arrival of the present policy in 2004, a village was deemed to be electrified if the electricity is used in any of the inhabited localities, within the revenue boundary of the village, for any purpose. Thus, even though a village may appear in the electrified list of villages, the actual number of households getting power may be a mere 10 per cent.

The recent controversy over whether Nagla Fatela village in Hathras district, now famous because of its mention by the prime minister in his Independence Day speech, was electrified in 1985 or 2015, is, in a way, an outcome of this bureaucratic juggling.

Further, as per the existing practices of the electricity supply code applicable in different states, all households within 40 metres of an electrical pole are supposed to take their connection from the pole. This leaves a colossal(large,बड़ा) chunk of the population located within the “electrified village” but outside this 40-metre limit. Coupled with this is the problem that even in electrified hamlets, not all the households within 40 meters of the distribution lines/poles, take the connection.

Thus there is a situation where people wanting to take connections cannot get it because they are situated more than 40 meters away and those within the area refuse to take connections and instead use what is commonly known as “katia” to take clandestine(illegal,अवैध) connections. This results in double the trouble: First, the revenue of discoms does not increase and second, the dissatisfaction among the villagers grows.

If you look into the numbers as per the census, there were 22.66 crore households in the country out of which only 16.58 crore had connections. Of these, 30-40 per cent are unmetered. Those with unmetered connections get electricity at very cheap or subsidised rates as they are billed either on a per connection basis or a per kilowatt basis. The discoms, it is widely believed, use this as an opportunity to load most of the stolen electricity into the consumption of this category. This is also the cause for the poor financial health of several discoms.

A three-pronged strategy is required to tackle this problem: One, people who fall within 40 metres of the poles should be persuaded to take the connections. Apart from persuasion(encouragement,प्रोत्साहन), a legislative approach could be to charge the households within the 40 meters an electricity cess, as is done in the case of water provided by the municipal corporations.

Two, power department officials should ensure that people within the 40 metres range take connections. One impediment(barrier,बाधा) to taking these connections is their cost, which should be reduced and charged in instalments, especially from low-income applicants. Three, an extensive assessment of how much investment is required to let the electricity network go up to all the households. This investment should be made on priority basis, as it would bring more revenue to the discoms and it may reduce the tariff burden on existing consumers.

If the investment on expanding the network to each household is too high, governments may consider encouraging private micro-grids and mini-grids. In several states, off-grid micro and mini-grids are a reality. In UP and Bihar, where the grid coverage is poor, 70-80 such projects have already come up. Many other states are following suit.

Simultaneously, the Central government has come up with a draft mini-grid policy which should give a big boost to them in the country. The need is to have a coordinated plan to extend the existing grid and to set up more mini-grids in remote villages. This would require not just coordination but active collaboration among the states and the Centre. Only this can turn the dream of “power for all” into a reality.

 courtesy:indian express

click here for official link

download monthly pdf of august

Transit at Gojadanga

It had stopped raining when I reached the Gojadanga Border Security Force (BSF) border observation point (BOP) at night along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. A robust(strong,मजबूत) figure, handcuffed and accompanied by two border personnel, emerged from the dense haze and walked towards the BOP.

It was Mohammad Ehsan (name changed), a Bangladeshi national, who was apprehended(arrested,गिरफ्तार) by BSF personnel late in the evening for crossing the border. He had fake documents which had been prepared by a tout from Bangladesh. Ehsan told me that he was from Satkhira district in Bangladesh and had entered Gojadanga with help from the same tout, to seek medical treatment for his chronic back pain. He didn’t seem ill going by his inconsistent statements and robust appearance.

Migrant smuggling from Bangladesh is a critical issue along the Gojadanga border. Article 3 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, defines migrant smuggling as “the procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of the illegal entry of a person into a state party of which the person is not a national”.

Gojadanga is an obscure(unclear,अस्पस्थ) zero line village and shares the border with Bhomra village in Satkhira district of Bangladesh. Gojadanga is manned by the BSF while the Bhomra border is looked after by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). A BSF official said, “The Indo-Bangladesh land border along the Gojadanga village, which stretches 3 km, is completely unfenced, with habitation up to zero line on both sides of the border. This makes it extremely vulnerable(weak,कमज़ोर) to illegal migration from Bangladesh.” The key reasons for illegal migration include job opportunities, medical treatment and visits to families on the Indian side of the border.

When I tried to probe further on trafficking in persons, drugs, cattle and fake currency, he asserted, “Hardly any cases of human trafficking have been detected in the past few years.”

He continued, “a few years back, cattle smuggling was rampant(uncontrolled,अनियंत्रित) along the border. However, due to the efforts of the current government, it has drastically reduced. And trafficking in drugs and fake currency is not an issue along the Gojadanga border.”

But a local source told me that smuggling of Phensedyl cough syrup does take place from India to Bangladesh.

Dynamics behind trafficking

As far as human trafficking is concerned, it is extremely difficult for the BSF to detect it along the border. First, the illegal migrant who was apprehended by the BSF can remain in its custody for not more than 24 hours. Thereafter, the migrant is usually sent to the police station from where the case proceeds. Second, migrants from Bangladesh are often unaware that they are being trafficked. They may cross the border with help from a tout who promises them job opportunities in India and on entering West Bengal or other parts of India from West Bengal, he sells them into prostitution or forced labour. Here it may become difficult for the BSF to make a distinction(difference,भेद) between migrant smuggling and human trafficking. A State official told me that there have also been cases where BSF personnel have been complicit in helping Bangladeshis cross the border.

Once the Bangladeshi victim of trafficking and the migrant smuggler or trafficker are apprehended by border personnel, they are most often sent to the police station. They are usually charged under the Foreigners Act, 1946, for illegally entering India. The act states that if an offender is a foreigner, he/she should be punished under this act and deported. The cross-national touts/migrant smugglers are set free after a sentence of few months. However, the victim is mostly sent to a shelter home in West Bengal till the time the he or she can be repatriated to Bangladesh.

Indian laws barely penalise traffickers adequately(sufficiently,पर्याप्तता). The trafficker can be charged under Section 366B of the Indian Penal Code, which states that importation of a girl below the age of 21 years is a punishable offence. However, this provision is rarely implemented since police officers are usually unaware of it.

Vulnerable stretch

Gojadanga is divided into Uttarpada and Dakshinpada. While Dakshinpada’s population is entirely Hindu, Uttarpada is Muslim-dominated. Large-scale poverty and unemployment in the village has driven some of its residents to engage in murky and illegal activities. A local said, “Due to poverty some villagers have made migrant smuggling their profession.”

A State official added, “The touts of Bangladesh and India are part of a larger network. They have made bases in the bordering villages taking advantage of a similar cultural, religious and linguistic character.” Moreover, “some panchayat members are directly or indirectly involved in migrant smuggling; some of them are ex-smugglers and ex-touts.”

According to a BSF official, “Fencing along the Gojadanga border may help reduce illegal migration and other illegal activities; work towards building the fence along the border is ongoing.”

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime notes, “Migrant smuggling affects countries of origin, transit and destination”. Thus, it “requires the collaborative response of all” and strong multi-agency cooperation. It further requires a multi-dimensional and comprehensive response, which focusses on addressing the socioeconomic root causes of irregular migration, and the prosecution of those who commit smuggling-related crimes.

courtesy:the hindu

click here for official link

download monthly pdf of august