Making Community, Owner of its own facilities

Posted on September 30, 2011 by SRRF

MCD is using Bhagidari scheme to involve community in maintenance of colony parks. Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) are allowed to adopt parks belonging to MCD and get plants, fertilizers and funds to recruit gardeners for the maintenance of their neighborhood parks. MCD pays Rs 6,000 per month for every acre of land adopted. Since then 800 parks have been adopted by RWAs across the Capital.

Officials also acknowledge the impact that the scheme has brought. Earlier the parks were being used for car parking, functions and generally had become eyesores as people used it as dustbins. Now the greenery has enhanced, people participation in maintenance of gardens has also increased. Although scheme is not foolproof, there are glitches like delay in receiving payments; adopting the parks itself may take time, etc. Some RWAs also are not so effective, however considering ‘more’ parks (out of the parks alloted to RWAs) are now better maintained, perhaps Government needs to scale up this scheme to other services too.

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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)/span>
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Urban Governance | 1 Comment

Decongesting our cities

Posted on September 27, 2011 by SRRF

In a recent move by NDMC in Delhi, it decided to charge parking costs at the Khan Market to discourage use of vehicles at the instance of Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), however the traders took the civic agency to the court demanding that the agency withdraw these charges, and keep the parking free, which the court has decided in favour of the traders on the basis that traders would pay a fixed rent to NDMC. However the principles that were advocated by the EPCA seem to have been paperd over.

With increasing urbanization congestion of the cities has become a major concern, since congestion brings additional pressure on already burdened civic agencies, particularly on the roads, where everyone jostles for space – rickshaws, cycles, pedestrians, vendor carts, misc peddlers, encroaching shops, beggars and of course ever increasing number of vehicles. Then often contractors undertaking routine repair works for various civic agencies always do the same only during peak traffic times. Is it any wonder that tension and stress such an environment creates is taking its own toll on the urban dwellers?

Many cities around the world are increasingly resorting to congestion pricing (where if a vehicle enters in specified areas at a particular time, than special tariffs are charged – London, Stockholm, Milan, etc.) to decongest vehicles at a particular time. On similar principles, special charges are imposed on passengers taking flights at particular time of the day, so as to use price as a factor to influence the demand.

Perhaps in Delhi we the urban dwellers are still not ready to be taxed for creating an improved environment.
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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Social Issues | 3 Comments

Huge demand for primary teachers

Posted on September 22, 2011 by SRRF

India’s RTE act has brought new challenges. The Act which requires the pupil-teacher ratio to 30:1, the governments across the country need to recruit a large number of teachers.

As per the Govt. estimates there is a requirement of 5.1 lakh additional teachers over next three years. For example UP requires (3.9 lakh) teachers, Bihar (2.2 lakh), Bengal (1 lakh) and Assam will need between 0.1-2 lakh teachers.

India is one of the few countries which has made Right to Education as a fundamental right under its constitution for 6-14 years with about 12.9 lakh elementary schools.

To improve quality of teachers, the central Government made a uniform policy for their recruitment. The policy requires that teachers will be eligible for selection only after they have passed a Teachers’ Eligibility Test. The requirement  to take test for candidates are Class XII pass and a two-year diploma in teachers’ education. Till now some states like West Bengal appoint teachers who are even X pass.

With new norms and the scarcity of teachers in schools most states face a tough challenge in recruitment of the teachers. To meet the need, the central govt. may have to relax these norms.

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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)/span>
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in
Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Dealing with Solid Waste

Posted on September 21, 2011 by SRRF

A new Power Plant, using Private Public Partnership model, is being set up in Okhla in New Delhi which will generate power from solid waste. Once completed, the plant will produce 16 MW of electricity, enough to serve six lakh homes, from about 2,050 tonnes of solid waste, which is 25 % of the waste generated in Delhi every day.

This is a new initiative, which will not only provide additional electricity to Delhites, but also deal with a large amount of waste. Presently NCT produces around 7000 tonnes of solid waste every day, which if not managed has a potential to rise to 17000 to 21000 MT per day.

The solid waste is the new problem that the society has to deal with, it not only costs lost of money in disposal but also creates filth and squalor. Huge piles of solid waste all over Delhi chokes drains and makes city unhygienic. It transmits diseases. Let us not forget clean cities attract not just people but also investments.

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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in
Posted in Environment | Comments Off on Dealing with Solid Waste

Railways continue to use Manual Scavengers despite a Ban

Posted on September 19, 2011 by SRRF

Most of us would have seen scavengers manually removing human waste from railway tracks, despite Manual Scavenging being declared illegal way back in 1993 vide Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993.

The Railway board either denied of hiring manual scavengers anymore or claimed that those cleaning the tracks at railway stations do not come under the Act.

In the wake of a PIL filed by the Safai Karamchari Andolan, a federation of state-level organizations of manual scavengers across the country, Delhi HC asked Railway board to install bio-toilets in the trains and rehabilitate the scavengers engaged in the menial jobs.

The bench also expressed its displeasure over delay in their introduction and directed railway authorities to also provide protective gears to the people engaged in cleaning toilets in railway coaches.

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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Social Issues | Comments Off on Railways continue to use Manual Scavengers despite a Ban

Manual Scavenging – Govt. to work in a timebound manner

Posted on September 19, 2011 by SRRF

Despite the practice of manual scavenging and construction of dry latrines being prohibited since 1993*  the practice still continues in several states. As common till date no one has been punished under the Act. As with many laudable legislations implementation has fallen between the intentions and the implementation machinery. The Act though adopted by almost 20 states/UTs, except for UP no state has registered a case till date. The only exception being the state of UP where almost 20,000 cases have been registered, however even here not a single prosecution has been initiated.

While central govt. has been spending good amount on rehabilitation package, as per a release Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment states that numbers of manual scavengers has come down from 7.7 lakh in 1992 to 1.18 lakhs in 2011.

However the figures are doubtful and National Advisory Council in a recent meeting passed a resolution that the Govt. works with vigour to end this practice. The Ministry has now decided to conduct a fresh survey to ascertain the exact numbers.

* Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993

________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in
 

Posted in Social Issues | Comments Off on Manual Scavenging – Govt. to work in a timebound manner

Census 2011 – Sex Ratio – 12 worst districts

Posted on September 17, 2011 by SRRF

Continuing with the series of sharing Census data, today’s post highlights some of the worst districts regarding Sex Ratio.

For example, while Arunachal Pradesh overall has a sex ratio of 920 but the ratio for Tawang is as bad as 701. Similarly, even while NCT sex ratio is 866, New Delhi (one of the highly educated district) has a sex ratio of 811.

The state and Union Territories showing a negative trend in Census 2011 are:

Serial No. District District Sex Ratio State Sex Ratio State
1 Daman 533 618 Daman & Diu
2 Leh 583 882 J&K
3 Tawang 701 920 Arunachal Pradesh
4 West Kamang 755 920 Arunachal Pradesh
5 North Dist. 769 889 Sikkim
6 Kargil 775 882 J&K
7 Dadar & Nagar Haveli 775 775 Dadra & Nagar Haveli
8 Surat 788 918 Gujarat
9 Anjaw 805 920 Arunachal Pradesh
10 Dibang 808 920 Arunachal Pradesh
11 New Delhi 811 866 NCT of Delhi
12 Chandigarh 817 817 Chandigarh UT

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Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

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Census 2011- Child Sex Ratio

Posted on September 16, 2011 by SRRF

Last few posts indicated the good news of Slow down of population increase and Marginal improvement in sex ratio. However today’s post shows a deeply disturbing set of statistics, i.e., a steep fall in the child sex ratio, which ultimately is likely to affect the Country’s Gender balance.

Census 2011 reveals the shocking data of child sex ratio has declined from 927 females against 1000 males in 2001 to 914 in 2011.

The best child sex ratios are indicated by the following states, mainly being from North East & Andaman Nicobar islands

     

  • Mizoram                                  971 girls per 1000 boys
  • Meghalaya                              970 girls per 1000 boys
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands  966 girls per 1000 boys

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Kerala is close with 959.

Bottom three States for child sex ratio are

     

  • Haryana                   830 girls per 1000 boys
  • Punjab                     846 girls per 1000 boys
  • J & K                        859 girls per 1000 boys

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State-wise details are also given  below:

Posted in Census | 3 Comments

Significant boost in the literacy rate – Census 2011

Posted on September 16, 2011 by SRRF

Some good tidings on the literacy front, as it have increased from 64.8 % in the past decade to touch 74 % in 2011.

Significantly, the female literacy level saw a noteworthy jump as compared to males. The female literacy in 2001 was 53.7 % and it has gone up to 65.5 % in 2011. The male literacy, in comparison rose from 75.3 % to 82.1 %. The Gap between male and female literacy levels has come down from 21.6 % points in 2001 to 16.7%.

Ten States and Union Territories, including Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Tripura, Goa, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands achieved a literacy rate of above 85 %.

Whereas, Bihar, is at the bottom with 63.8 % literacy rate.

____________________________________

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Census | 4 Comments

Census 2011- Improvement in Sex Ratio

Posted on September 16, 2011 by SRRF

The good news of marginal improvement of 0.75% in the sex ratio from 933 (in 2001) to 940 (in 2011) is marred with the unpleasant news of severe decline in the child sex ratio.

However first the good news and that is there are more women in the Indian population than earlier. The best states which have helped this good news are the urban states/UTs, i.e. NCT and Chandigarh have improved their sex ratio by more than 5% over 2001. Considering urban dwellings have been leading the decline in sex ratio, this is good news. Even states like Punjab & Haryana which are notorious in disregard to Gender equality have improved their sex ratios even if marginally. States at the bottom of the pile are J&K, Bihar & Gujarat and some smaller UTs.

On declining Child Sex ratio to follow in the next post.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Census | 2 Comments