Millennium Development Goals

Madurai was host to a symposium on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recently. The Initiative had to come in from a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) working in the Field of Development, though this is very much the responsibility of the Government Establishment.

In the year 2000, the World Nations including India have jointly adopted Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) – A set of time bend and quantified Targets for Social Development to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs comprised of the following goals;
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

The talk of development is ironically attributed as the ‘Business of the NGOs’, since it is perceived that the Government has other serious business to take care off. One would wonder as to what the serious business amounts to? Even the Madurai Symposium had its share of abject neglect by the Government Authorities, as the Important Government officials listed to participate in this program were not present on the occasion, deputing someone else to represent them.

Social Development is a much clichéd word today in public domain, that Everyone speaks of Social Development in whatever forum that they manage to get hold off, but actual impact of the work that they have done is yet to see the light of the day, except for few committed and Dedicated Individuals and NGOs.

As a Social Work Professional engaged in the Field of Developmental Administration, I should be honest to say that I am anxious to see the concept of ‘Social Development’ become a ‘People’s Movement’, so that it could percolate right down to the bottom ends of the community life where the issues that are listed under the MDGs come in play at various levels. The message that this is something all people should be involved in, particularly the Youth Population, so that the results are far more progressive, vibrant and quantifiable.

Unless this happens, we have to accept the fact that there is truth in the statement that we often hear from various quarters ‘Indians are Individually Rich’….and ‘Socially Very Poor’!

Food Joint in Madurai

A well known place for ‘Traditional Home Made Food Delicacies’ is probably one of the Tags that the ancient City of Madurai has to its credit.
Any visitor to the city would most certainly be paraded along many such places where good quality food is available. The highlight of these places is that food items are made by people who have earned a reputation for themselves as being best in the business. The City never goes to sleep, with many such food joints kept open late into the night to cater to their regular stream of loyal customers, who throng the places to have their platter full.
One such food joint is ‘Bharma Ediyaappa Shop’ on the South Veli Street bang opposite to the Mission Hospital, where you get hot steaming a food item made out of rice which is steamed. This is one such joint where the Rich and the Poor stand in equal terms to buy and eat the same. Though the same Ediyappam is sold almost in all hotels and food places in and around the city, the ever constant demand by the people of Madurai to have it from this shop is to be seen to be believed. They work in such a professional manner that they could deliver the same quality day after day, week after week and so on for so many years.
This small shop has really made giant progress to reach the hearts of the people of Madurai not only through the stomach, but also by not making the pockets drained with the cost.
Their mantra is Low Cost and High Quality…..to the people with Loyalty!!!

Teachers Day

India as a Nation is Celebrating the Teacher’s Day, today on 5th September 2009. The day is celebrated to commemorate the Birthday of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was started his career as a Teacher and ended up being the President of India itself.
It is a day on which the Teachers are Greeted by the Students and appreciated by their managements, for their selfless role in educating the Students at Schools and Colleges. There is no denying fact that the Teachers are important catalyst to Educational, Scientific, Economic, Social and Cultural Development of the Society. They are involved in a process of ‘Moulding Minds’ right from a Tender age itself and late on go on to be Mentors for their students.
The Society has to be more generous in taking up opportunities to recognize the role of the Teachers. The Government Teachers are well paid, The Lecturers are heavily paid, it is only that the Teachers in the Private Un - aided Schools and Private Colleges that are exploited with paltry salary. The workload and working conditions are also matters of concern.
India, they say is a Land of Complexities…………is this reason for the Teachers and the Teaching Community to live in a highly Complex and Competitive World?.

‘A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.’ - Author Unknown

Flowers & Life

The Life of a Flower which stands out as a Natural process of Beauty seem to throw light on some basic values that can also be applied to human lives as well.

As we all know, Flowers are a Gift of Nature………some may have a fragrance and some may not have. Yet, all the Flowers are colourful.

The Blossoming of a Flower from a tiny bud to whatever size they finally grow, is a divine sight to behold. The very many colours with which the Flowers are identified in it petals and the leaves are the outcome of a natural process created by God himself. All ‘Natural’ things go on to become ‘Beautiful’.

A Flower may just live for a day in a Plant or a Tree, but the Colours with which they live seem to have a lasting impact on us. It is important for all of us, human beings to remember in order to become beautiful people, we need to be natural. Natural to our own Self and to our Environment……. Natural in our Thoughts and deeds!

The Life of a Flower and the Lesson that it could propagate to Mankind is that, it is not so important to add ‘Years to our Life’, But we all should earnestly try to work to add ‘Life to our Years’.

Human Development In India

The average Indian Citizen would be aware of many listings, like the Stock Market Listings; New Release of Films Listing, Cricket One Day / Test Listings, Favourite TV Program Listings etc.

Honestly, if any one is asked about the Human Development Index of our Nation. The Instant reply would be ' Who Cares for Such a Listing?'

India is growing to be a Super Power.....No Doubt. But it is also languishing with a 'Super Poverty Syndrome', with a considerable percentage of our people starving for Food, lacking Basic Social Living Conditions.

The Photo featured here was taken by me at the Taluk Office in Tiruchirappalli, where a poor man lives on the street and sleeps on the road. Ironically, this is a place where the Government Officials and the Public are seen to be moving heavily during the day. No one can escape by saying a reason that this scene has never caught their attention.

Having stated this Startling Fact, now probably common people would agree that ....Yes! Some people in our Country are starving even for a Meal for many days at a stretch. But what can I do about it? I have my life to care for....who cares for someone who is living without food. If I waste my time thinking about the Hungry People in India, then a day will come when I will be forced to starve like them.

Friends, The Passing the Buck Game will continue to be played for many more years to come. Yet, the Human Development Index in India will remain to be very bad.

I wonder what impact the Millennium Development Goals would look like if this is going to be the state of affairs in our Over Populous Conuntry.

Mera Bharat Mahan !!!