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Water Conservation Day By Dr Arvind Kumar The recent decision of Union Ministry of Water Resources to observe 19 November, the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, as Water Conservation Day to create awareness about the need to conserve water is a laudable move. The urgency for water conservation in Indian context assumes immense significance in view of the fast depletion of groundwater resources, pollution of surface water resources and rapid pace of melting of Himalayan glaciers. Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water. Using less water also puts less pressure on our sewage treatment facilities, and uses less energy for water heating. Saving water also saves energy. Water conservation is an important tool for reducing water demand, and limiting water use should be an everyday practice for people and businesses. In many instances, water is wasted by old habits, like leaving the water r...

World Sanitation (Toilet) Day By Dr Arvind Kumar About 2.6 billion people - 40% of world's population do not have access to adequate sanitation and this will become worse with the fast growing population, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas. To raise awareness and to help break the taboo subject of toilets and those things associated with it, the World Toilet Organization has declared 19 November to be World Toilet Day (WTD), which is marked and promoted globally. Lack of sanitation is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the developing world. About 2.2 million children under the age of 5 die annually from diarrhoea. Provision of sanitation is, therefore, important for the prevention of illness, and saves huge costs of medical treatment. Absence of basic sanitation amenities force the people to urinate and defecate into open which exposes them to ridicule, shame, and, for women and girls, the risk of physical attack, marginalisation and stigmatisatio...

Happy ‘Diwali’ ‘Diwali’ or the festival of lights sets in motion the entire nation brimming with enthusiasm and joyful spirits Celebrations of festivals, especially Deepawali, have become more ritualistic and its sanctity and piety is being eroded gradually getting eroded in the din of pomp and show of the day thereby creating unbearable burden of pollution of air and natural water bodies. buying the firecrackers. This means a huge business for the apparel industry, firecracker, paint and household items and for sweets and gifts. According to broad estimates, the budget of corporate “gift” alone exceeds Rs 3,200 crore, and the sale of firecrackers to above Rs 500 crore. In all, India spends over 5000 crore rupees for the celebration of this annual event. Judicious use of electrical consumption should be made and earthen lamps or diyas be lit to keep the festive spirits. Old clothes, utensils and other products can be donated to poor persons, instead of throwing them in the du...

Transforming Railways Dr Arvind Kumar Railways have been the spine of Indian transport system as well as economy. In the days of yore, it was the harbinger of national integration, though unknowingly, when people of all castes and religions travelled in the same compartment. It served as the building block of Indian nationhood linking east to west and north to south, Kamrup to Kutch and Kashmir (or at least Jammu) to Kanyakumari. With the changing times, those ideas and that idealism have seemingly become a passe mainly due to derailment of the objectives that this instutution should strive for. Still a major transporter of passengers and carrier of freight, it is fast losing its monopoly. It transports 30 million passengers every day, which is only 10 percent of India’s long-distance or suburban passenger traffic. When it comes to moving freight, the 2.65 million tonnes it transports every day seems dramatic — but is only 30 percent of the freight traffic in India. ...