Gujarat Tribal Development Department (TDD) is all set to increase the command area of project Sunshine. It is an ambitious Venture to increase agriculture productivity in the tribal belt with the help of genetically modified (GM) crop manufacturers- Monsanto and Gujarat Narmada valley Fertilisers Corporation (GNFC). But this year, the old project does not even have an Environment Assessment Report (EAR),which the TDD officials consider as sacrosanct for implementation of any projects involving large-scale use of GM crops.
Under Project Sunshine in 2008, Panchmahal and Dahod districts, consisting of 720 villages, were selected by the TDD to implement the project in a 72,000- acre area. In each villages in these two districts, a minimum of 100 acres were planted with Dekalb corn hybrid seeds. As per the project proposal, for 612 metric tonnes of seeds, the fertiliser requirement was shown as 12,000 metric tonnes.
Meanwhile,officials of the Gujarat Rural Institute for Socio-Economic Reconstruction, Vadodara said that in Dahod, in which the organisation was made a part of the project, the results have been successful. "Previously, only 600 kg of corn could be produced from an acre, but 1,800 kg of corn was realised in the last cropping season in the district," said an official.
The Indian Express,5 May 2009
Sunshine to have expanded reach without environment clearance
Importance of eco industrial parks highlighted in Gujarat conference
Recognising the obligation for sustainable Development in the state and to attract government's attention towards the same, various stakeholders of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Gujarat State Council (GSC) and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) have advocated the concept of "Eco Industrial Parks' in Gujarat.
The stakeholders, who deliberated on 'Eco Industrial Parks- Planning and Management,' also included the Indo-German Institute of Advanced TEchnology, Vishakhapatnam and the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC). S K.Nanda, principal Secratary, Environment and Forests, Government of Gujarat, who delivered the keynote address, stressed upon the reuse and recycling of industrial waste and mentioned the forthcoming biofuel policy of the state.
The Indian Express, May 4,2009
From BPL to BPO tribal youths break all stereotypes to enter urban jobs
seventy two tribal youths,all from below poverty line(BPL)families, are all set to take up commercial back office and customer care jobs after being trained for a year at a business process outsourcing (BPO) unit. A total of 88 tribal youths from Chhota Udepur mastered various data entry software such as content Management System (CMS) and Microsoft Outlook.What's more they also learnt globally accepted Spoken English in a short time.
Now, this first tribal BPO is handing business operations for Panchmahals Dairy, Sabarkantha DAiry and Baroda Dairy. The brainchild of Tribal Development Department
(TDD) and the Vadodara based Shroff foundation, the BPO has trainees who come from far-flung areas covering distances of up to 40 km. some even walk for 2-3 km to reach the training center at 9 am everyday and swipe their identity cards on an attendance device, just like their affluent counterparts in the metros.
Akhileshwar Singh, Manager (operations) said: " WE started with100 trainees from various areas. But some of them opted out because of family issues or
transportation hassles.But with a sense of discipline while keeping tribal sensibilities in mind, we have been able to handle our first pilot project with Panchmahal Dairy, which we finished successfully in April this year.
The Indian Express,May 13,2009
'Greener' industry will help economy prosper
For a sustained economic and industrial growth,ecological development is imperative. This was the consensus reached upon by the experts at a one-day awareness workshop titled ' Eco Industrial Park - Planning and Management', organised by the Federation if Indian Chambers of commerce and Industry (Fcci) in collaboration with Getz on May 4th 2009.
SK Nanda, principal secretary of the forest and environment department of the government of Gujarat, said that human beings are trustees of land, water and air and that their purity and sustainability must be maintained through the use of new technologies like the post pollution management technology.
The shift must be from ecology in industry to industry of ecology,said Nanda. " we should adopt clean development mechanism and cleaner processes," he added. HE urged industrialists to cover the open spaces around the factories with more plants and trees to counter the effects of carbon emission.Trees not only absorb the carbon dioxide, reducing the pollution level, but also help bring down temperature.
DNA,May 5,2009
Rajkot academician plans mini revolution in villages
Soon, a thousant remote villages in Gujarat will have a small library each with a set of 365 books, thanks to Rajkot-based academician Gijubhai Bharad. He plans to weigh Muktanand Bapu, his inspiration, against a pile of books in what is called as 'Gyantula', and donate them to these mini libraries.
Muktanand Bapu runs a residential school for children orphaned by the 2001 earthquake
at Chaprda in Junagadh.He weighs 90 kg. So, Bharad has written and complied 365 books,each having around 100 pages, on various subjects covering science, mathematics, technology, languages, literature, religion and general knowledge, which together weigh 90 kg. " The villagers will have a book for every single day of the year in the mini library and we hope they will read them. I don't expect any revolution to happen, but this project aims to provide a direction," said Bharad.
A group of youngsters will be entrusted with the responsibility to run the library from some public building in their respective villages. A team from Limca Book of Records will remain present at the event, as Bharad has published the highest number of books as an individual.
The Indian Express, May 5,2009
Land distribution efforts bring hope for marginalised, landless farmers
Finally there comes hope for the state's marginalised and landless farmers.It took some time, but land distribution efforts in Gujarat have shown the positive results.
The case in question is the 500 acres of land in Undavi village of Bhavnagar district. This land, which was distributed among 250 beneficiaries under the Zameen Santhani Scheme was cleared last week and made fit for cultivation.The beneficiaries, including 127 ex-serviceman, can now hope to have a sustainable livelihood from their pieces of land.
It all started way back in the 1960s when efforts were initiated throughout the country to redistribute land as a poverty alleviation method. But nothing of much significance happened in Gujarat. TO add to it, the state government on May 17,2005, came out with a Government Resolution(GR), stating that about 19.80lakh hectors of land in the state, fit for agriculture, is suffering due to lack of advanced technology.The GR further stated that in order to the maximum of 2,000 acres will be distributed to big industrial houses and 'efficient' farmers.
This sheer neglect of landless farmers in favor of industrial houses proved to be a final nail in the coffin and evoked sharp criticism throughout the state, forcing the Department of Revenue, Gujarat Government,to issue a circular directing collectors in the state to expedite the land distribution under the Zameen Santhani Scheme. The end result is that, as of now, about 20,000 acres of land has been distributed to nearly 7,ooo beneficiaries in 19 districts.
Chuni Vaidya, president, Gujarat Lok Samiti(GLS), the organisation that helped the farmers in clearing up the land in Undavi, while appreciating the scheme, said," The land distribution to marginalised farmers is not sufficient as there is no clear-cut survey of land, which in any case is full of bushes. Moreover,just distributing the land without water, electricity, fertilisers and seeds doesn't serve the purpose".
The Indian Express,23 April,09
Awareness on city's heritage by GenNext
The larger number of people in India are Young.And the GenNext is ready to take up their responsibility.In Ahmedabad a bunch of youngsters will take onus to create awareness about city's heritage among locals to adopting traffic junctions in city among their other city centric development projects.
All these projects are part of the 'Youth Leadership Course'(YLC) conducted by Ahmedabad based youth organization 'Volunteer Ahmedabad' (VA). Coordinator,YLC,VA Vijay Ramchandani,says our idea is to encourage civic responsibility and to do something constructive.
Times of India,26 April 2009
Book lauds Women leaders in microfinance sector
'Indian school of micro finance for women' Ahmedabad organised a book launch ceremony at 'center for Environmental Education' (CEE).The book titled 'Learning from Women Leaders in micro finance' features 10 women leaders from different women leaders from different parts of country.It was launched by Institute chairperson and 'SEWA' founder Elaben Bhatt.
Times of India,17 april 09
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Gusty Duo from Gujarat wins bravery award
Two brave hearts from Gujarat have been honoured by 'Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards' committee for outstanding achievement in 2008.The duo Atul kumar singh and Parmaben Sava were given Rs.50,000 cash reward along with a certificate of honour.
The Bravery Award is given to deserving candidates every year in four categories of physical courage, social act,mind of steel and life devoted to cause.
Atul kumar singh,a native of Lalpura 30km from Anand saved two persons from drowning in Mahisagar River.Parmaben Sava,a native of Gamadia village,around 22km from Khavda in kutch worked extensively in the interiors of Kutch as a midwife where no medical facility is available till date.Sava has also traveled to Canada pursuing another passion handicraft. Affiliated with 'Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan',she is among the pioneers in expanding traditional Kutchi artwork on clothes.
Times of India, 17apr09
Do plantation, reduce carbon and earn crores of rupees
- Ajay Rami, Gandhinagar
Companies or big industries have many ways to earn money. Among these carbon credit is also a mean to get crores of rupees.
Not only companies, even if government encourages groups at local level for solar energy and biogas plants and if can prove that it reduces pollution and carbon from environment, then big companies of America and Europe can give lakhs and crores of rupees for purchasing carbon credit. In exchange of this credit a company of Gujarat get 10 crore rupees every year.
This scheme is not only for companies, but also for any group who can give successful results in reducing carbon. According to guidelines, if any joint forest management group or any other group do plantation in huge area and prove that their efforts resulted in reduction of carbon then amount of carbon credit is verified and estimated by UNFCCC – third party assessment. Later on plenty of money can be earned by selling this carbon credit.
Carbon credit can also be earned by solar energy and biogas plant. If government encourages groups working in the area of solar energy and biogas plant, then employment generation and earning money both are possible with reduced pollution. According to Environmental engineer Mahesh Pandya, if government makes a documentation of these groups and help them for third party assessment, then plantation in large area can be possible and for this one can also get carbon credit.
Presently in Gujarat 18 Companies are earning crores of rupees and saving the environment. Other then this, 75 companies are also working in this area and evaluation of their work is going on.
What is Carbon Credit?
Because of global warming and increase in temperature, a demand of prohibition on green house gas is raised internationally. According to Kyoto protocol, companies will get carbon credit if it is proved that they have reduced carbon gas by modifying its fuel consumption pattern or machinery. It is verified by third party assessment. Burning and using coal increases pollution, so gas can be used in reduction of carbon.
(Divya Bhaskar daily, Ahmedabad)
