Cleanliness is Godliness: Building Toilets as against Temples ...to the plastic bottles. (The Wire, 29.05.14 & DesignBoom, 18.05.14) ICU under Your Roof As a part of the new healthcare

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I N S I D E

! Portrait of Modern Britain

! Trial of Man-made Blood

! Cellphones to Exceed People

! �Trust� in Health

! Metro Updates

The last time I went to the Loharu School to attend to their AnnualDay celebrations the leitmotif was that �Cleanliness is Godliness�,

which was an apt message to convey to the toddlers. But they are notignorant about it because we Indians are known for being so concernedabout our own hygiene. However, where they are at fault is for thesheer negligence and callousness about what happens in our environs.Even if they are taught not to throw out the banana skin from themoving car, they do it, because they see so many of us doing it. Consequently, everywherewe see dirt and filth other than people desecrating our surroundings nonchalantly.

Perhaps we will see a new thrust in ensuring higher cleanliness in our environs withthe new Narendra Modi Government in the saddle for few years, at least. A campaignwill be launched on promoting cleanliness and sanitation in our cities. Even the issue ofcleaning the Ganga will be taken to higher action levels, which is witnessed by theappointment of Uma Bharati as a Cabinet Minister for Water Resources and cleaningthe Ganga. Reportedly, over M20,000 crores have been spent to clean the Ganga, butthe money has flown down to the Bay of Bengal where Ganga ends.

Cleanliness can be best promoted by people�s involvement and participation. Oneway is by naming and shaming the miscreants. At a village near Bhopal, the people putup a hoarding showing people and dogs crapping together on the roads. The hoardingwas pulled down after much protest as many felt offended to be compared to dogs, butthe impact was felt and people started behaving better.

In Delhi, I have seen posters on noise pollution showing that if dogs don�t barkunless provoked, why do drivers blow their horns unnecessarily. These posters havenot met with any criticism but the message has hardly gone home. Surprisingly, even inpoor countries that I have travelled to, people do not use horns unless absolutelyrequired. In Jaipur, drivers are so callous that they keep their fingers pressed on theirhorns for long as if it is their birthright. There is just no education or peer pressure onthem to desist from such awful activities.

Alas! Our villages and city slums do not have public toilets and people defecate onthe roads or public grounds. In the villages, more than half the population go to thefields for defecation. But there are temples dotting round all over our country and newones being built every day. No wonder the former Rural Development Minister, JairamRamesh and even Narendra Modi has said that we build more temples than toilets.How many of our philanthropists donate for building toilets; they are more than willingto donate to build temples.

Another act of shaming or embarrassing people peeing on the roads is being handledvery cleverly. In some cities, water tankers have been equipped with water cannonsand they use them on people who are found pissing on roads, as they do to controlprotesting crowds.

Cleanliness is Godliness:Building Toilets as against Temples

Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General

www.google.com

www.google.com

www.google.com

Business Standard

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Portrait of Modern BritainIndians in the UK are the most

prosperous among all minority groups,according to a new report called the�Portrait of a Modern Britain�. Almost allother minority groups haveunemployment rates that are doublethan the national average.

The �Portrait of Modern Britain� hasrevealed that almost one in three peoplein Britain will be from an ethnic minorityby 2050. Non-white people will makeup between 20 to 30 percent of thepopulation by 2050.

The report reveals that while the faceof Britain is becoming multi-racial, peoplefrom ethnic minorities have a strongerassociation with being British than thewhites. (ToI, 07.05.14)

Banking on the WifeBhartiya Mahila Bank, India�s first

women-focused bank, is flooded withrequests for loans, since its launch a fewmonths ago. Ironically, however, very fewof the loan seekers are women.

The bank has been receiving severalcalls from men asking for loans for theirwives and when the bank staff asks themwhat they will do with the money, thestock answer is, �She will do something,we have not decided yet. You give theloan first�.

Naturally, the bank staff is spendinga good part of its time explaining to thecustomers that a women�s bank does notmean interest free loans or loans withoutpurpose. (BS, 22.04.14)

Printed Food and Edible WaterIn Germany, companies are doing

some incredible things with 3D printing.They are using it to make food. One ofthe more successful projects is �Biozoon�s

Smoothfood�, which was developed toprint food for senior citizens having needfor such food. Smoothfood creates melt-in-your-mouth food from freshingredients using a 3D printer.

The food puree is injected into theprinter as �ink�, and out comes the finalproduct. The printer is controlled by asoftware that determines the shape andyou can set the shape to match the food.

In an another development, adesigner has created a jelly-fish like,tasteless edible water, the �Ooho Water�.�Ooho� harnesses a technique calledsphereification, which encircles the waterin a membrane of algae. It is an innovativepackaging that proposes an alternativeto the plastic bottles.

(The Wire, 29.05.14 & DesignBoom, 18.05.14)

ICU under Your RoofAs a part of the new healthcare

concept, a room at home can now beconverted into a dedicated and fully

functional Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Itcan also perform dialysis andchemotherapy for cancer patients.

After foraying into Delhi andChandigarh, Health Care at Home(HCAH), a UK based healthcare firm, hascome up with the new facility that offershealthcare services at your doorsteps.

For this, a team of HCAH will contacta patient�s doctor and provide adequatetreatment needed for him at home. Ifrequired, it can also set up an ICU withinsix hours at home for serious patients.

(DNA, 10.06.14)

City under Water for 25 yearsIn 1920, a tourist village named Villa

Epequen was established in Argentinaon the banks of the Villa Epeqen Lake.After Dead Sea, maximum salt was foundin this lake. It was almost 10 times morethan the other lakes. In the beginning ofthe 19th Century, people started settlingin this city and soon it became afavourite tourist destination.

By the year 1960, the number oftourists reached 25,000, in a year. Therewere more than 300 hotels, spas andmuseums in the city.

In the year 1985, the level of waterstarted increasing and the place startedsinking and by 1993, the city sank about10 metres below water. After 25 years,the city again started coming on thesurface. Presently, there are no peopleliving and it is deserted. (DB, 24.05.14)

Mobiles Revolutionise ReadingUnited Nations Education Scientific

and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)is pointing to a �mobile readingrevolution� in developing countries, aftera year long study found that adults andchildren are increasingly reading multiplebooks and stories on their mobiles.

Nearly 5,000 people in sevencountries � Ethopia, Ghana, India, Kenya,Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe � tookpart in the research, the largest study ofits kind to date, which found that 62percent of the respondents were readingmore on their mobile phones.

The key conclusion from the studywas that �mobile devices can help peopledevelop, sustain and enhance theirliteracy skills�. (TH, 25.04.14)

Action Movies Bad for Heart?A study from University College

London and Guy�s and St. Thomas�sHospital suggests those with weakenedhearts could be negatively affected bywatching a stressful film.

Researchers found that the bloodpressure increased, the pace of breathingbecame faster and the heart�s naturalrhythm began to shift during viewing ofa clip from 2000 action thriller �VerticalLimit� depicting a shocking rock climbingaccident.

The study saw 19 people monitoredvia electrodes detecting activity in theventricles of the heart. It is believed tobe the first recorded instance ofbiological effects of mental and emotionalstress on healthy conscious patients.The changes in the heart pattern arelinked to the autonomic nervous system,which operates below the level ofconsciousness. (TH, 18.05.14)

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Trial of Man-made BloodArtificial blood created from stem

cells could be tested on the Britonswithin two years. The scientists believeit will transform transfusions bypreventing hospital shortages and savethousands of lives on battlefields and atthe scene of car crashes.

The �holy grail� of blood research, theman-made blood would be free ofinfections that have lighted naturalsupplies and could be given to almosteveryone regardless of blood group.The hope comes from Edinburgh andBristol University researchers who have,for the first time, made thousands ofmillions of red blood cells from stemcells � �master cells� seen as a repairkit for the body � taken from bonemarrow.

It is predicted that in two to threeyears, they will be ready to inject ateaspoon of man-made blood intohealthy volunteers, in the first Britishtrial of blood from stem cells.

(FT, 15.04.14 & Mail Online, 26.06.14)

Bridge Use BarredResidents of a village in Bihar�s

Darbhanga constituency have barredrepresentatives from using a bridge they

built with their own donations.Villagers of Kamalpur Brahmtar Ghat, avillage, under the Pirri panchayat blockin Darbhanga, have announced a boycottof Lok Sabha polls for failure of thepeople�s representatives to fulfill theirdemand for a concrete bridge, over theKamla river.

According to a villager, the bridgewas open for public, but not to thepoliticians. In the last five months, not asingle legislator has dared to cross thebridge.

The bridge has provided connectivityto dozens of nearby villages also. Earlier,the villagers used to travel across theriver through a bridge, which used to

get washed away during monsoon dueto river�s flooding.

(Indo Asian News Service, 20.04.14)

A Big Step of Apple on Earth�s DayApple Inc. has announced that it

would allow the customers to recycleiPhones and iPads with the company andreceive gift cards in exchange.

Previously, iPhone trade-ins wouldonly get a credit on a new iPhone � thatwas no longer the case. Simply goingonline and answering to questions aboutthe device and Apple will send thecustomer a shipping label and packagingmaterials.

Once the company receives thedevice it will release gift cards to thecustomers within a month. If the deviceis too old to trade-in, one can simply goto the closest Apple store and thecompany will recycle him a device freeof charge.

Moreover, the company also plans toallow customers to recycle othercompanies� products for free on a coupleof occasions in the current year.

(RP, 23,04.14)

Data Centre Nuclear BunkerA Data Centre built in cold war era

Nuclear Bunker located in Stockholm,the ISP Bahnhof gained notoriety whenit hosted WikiLeaks� sensitive materials.Built into the Pionen Mountains, theCentre took two years to retrofit thecaves with enough space for their serverracks and backup generators.

This underground data centre hasgreenhouses, waterfalls, Germansubmarine engines, simulated daylightand can withstand a hit from a hydrogenbomb. It is a newly opened high-securitydata centre run by one of Sweden�slargest Internet Service Provider (ISPs).

This was located in an old nuclearbunker, deep below the bedrock ofStockholm city and sealed off from the

world by entrance doors 40 cm thick.For a pleasant working environment, thedata centre has simulated daylight,greenhouses, waterfalls and a huge2600-litre salt water fish tank.

(DB, 15.04.14)

Cellphones to Exceed PeopleBy early 2015, there will be more

cellphones than the world�s population,said Swedish technology giant �Ericsson�.According to the report, of the 6.8billion global mobile subscriptions, in thefirst quarter of 2014, 790 million werein India.

The global figures included theaddition of 120 million new subscriptionsduring the first quarter: India led theglobal growth with 28 million newsubscriptions, during this period.

The report projects mobilesubscriptions will hit 7 billion by the endof 2014 and overtake the world�spopulation of 7.2 billion in early 2015.

(HT, 04.06.14)

Health HoroscopeMarriage in India is often based on

matching of astrological horoscope(Janam Kundli) before deciding on the lifepartner.

However, in order to build arelationship on the foundation of goodhealth for the would-be-couples andtheir future generation, Health Minister,Rajendra Rathore, Rajasthan, hasadvocated for �Health Horoscope�.

According to Rathore, beforemarriage, the girl and boy should makea �Health Kundli� after undergoing bloodtests as it would give informationregarding diseases like Hepatitis B, C andHIV too.

People do not pay attention tomedical tests before marriage. But suchtest is really important for healthy lifeafter marriage, pointed another healthexpert. (ToI, 12.05.14)

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�MyCity� for Local Self GovernanceTo engage the citizens in urban local governance, community meetings

and interface meetings are being organised, under the MyCity Project, aCUTS endeavour for improving the quality of Urban Service Delivery inJaipur. To review the progress of MyCity Phase II Project, Mandakini DevasherSurie, Senior Programme Officer, The Asia Foundation, New Delhi, visitedCUTS on April 24, 2014 to discuss the ongoing activities of MyCity Project.

Mandakini also took part in a community meeting organised by theMaulik Foundation at Ward 64. She along with the Project team visitedJaipur City Mayor, Jyoti Khandelwal to discuss the issues related to localself-governance, under the Project. The Mayor appreciated the efforts made,under the Project to engage citizens in the urban area. She mentioned thatCUTS� focused approach in selected wards of Jaipur city is helping in raisinggeneral awareness about civic issues in public.

Marriage Gardens DemolishedJaipur Development Authority

(JDA) had demolished two allegedlyillegal marriage gardens operatingfrom the premises of Rambagh PalaceHotel. More than the demolition, theswiftness with which the civic bodyacted against the private operators� in less than two hours after theirappeals were turned down by atribunal � later raised severaleyebrows on the authorities� action.

The gardens were issued noticesfor failing to provide parking facilitiesinside the hotel premises thatultimately caused traffic jams on theroads. Moreover, the hotels did nottake the Jaipur MunicipalCorporation�s (JMC) permission to runthe marriage gardens.

However, later the Rajasthan HighCourt granted the permission toorganise celebrations andCeremonies on the premises. Thecourt also directed the hotel officialsthat no vehicle should be parked onthe service lane and the roads thatblocks the traffic.

(ToI, 22.05.14 & DNA, 31.05.14)

�Trust� in HealthThe Chairman of Tata Trusts, Ratan

Tata has expressed his interest incollaborating with the StateGovernment to work on social issueswith specific focus on health. Tataasserted that his trust is willing toenhance people�s standards� of livingin the state.

According to Rajendra Rathore,the next step will be to chalk out astrategy to initiate welfareprogrammes. Rajasthan having one ofthe highest maternal and mortalityrate and infant mortality rate in thecountry. Tata desired to makeRajasthan a model state in �motherand child health� care.

In an another Health Ministry�smove a separate emergency medicalunit will be set up in all government-run hospitals attached to medicalcolleges to strengthen the emergencyservices in the state.

(ToI, 05.06.14 & 03.06.14)

Road Safety and Traffic ControlThe civic bodies and traffic

department have decided to installtraffic signals at 58 places at a cost ofM9.91 crore. A high number of

vehicles plying on city roads hasnecessitated the need for installationof traffic lights at these spots.

With the number of vehiclesregistering a growth of 8.96 percentin the past one year, a proper trafficmanagement plan is required for thecity.

The Rajasthan Police Academy(RPA) is conducting a three-dayrefresher course for traffic policepersonnel on prevention of roadaccidents and traffic management. Thepolice will not only examine thecauses of accidents but will alsoanalyse the technical aspects of theroad accidents, construction of theroad, the turns, geographical positionof the crossings.

(ToI, 21.05.14 & HT, 06.05.14)

Security @ MMMMM1To control the increasing crimes

in the state, the city police hasplanned a �Community Policing�scheme. This is a public participationprogramme involving Municipal

New Government to Check InflationFamilies of the middle income

group adopted a different take inshowing their resentment over pricerise of commodities in the last 10years. Prices of essentialcommodities have risen sky high inthe past 10 years.

People have voted for changewith a hope that things would be

better in future. Women, especially thehousewives, were also vocal on therising prices and said the sky-rocketing prices have brought themto the polling booths.

If the Government is changed inDelhi, it would certainly bring somechanges in the lives of the middleclass, according to a respondent.

(ToI, 18.04.14)

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaignfunds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.

�Oscar Ameringer, �the Mark Twain of American Socialism�.

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Commercial Operations from AugustJaipur Metro would most likely start its

commercial operations in the Pink City by the endof August in 2014, according to official sources.

The trial run of Jaipur Metro will most probablybegin in July on its first-phase route fromMansarovar to Chandpole, which is 10kms, andthe commercial operations for commuters by theend of August, Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation(JMRC) Chief Managing Director N C Goyal said.

After receiving JMRC�s completion report onthe first phase and plan for trial run and commercialoperation, the Commissioner of Metro RailwaySafety will soon issue clearance in view of themetro�s speed certificate, he said, adding it mighttake 15 to 30 days for Commissioner of MetroRail Safety (CMRS�s) approval. (ToI, 13.05.14)

M969 Crore ADB FundingThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) will

provide $176mn (M969-crore) loan to constructJaipur Metro�s phase-I (B) Project proposed fromBadi Chaupar to Chandpole area and anagreement was signed by the State Governmentalong with the Centre and Jaipur Metro RailCorporation (JMRC) with the bank in New Delhi.

N C Goel said, �It�s a very positive sign for thestate. The project cost of the proposedunderground metro corridor (phase-1, B) isM1,126 crore. The deal will give financial backingto the Project and work can be done at rapidpace�. (ToI, 30.05.14)

Centre�s Assistance Not RequiredThe State Government might not take the

financial assistance of Central Government for theJaipur Metro Phase-I project. With this the decisionof the previous Government to sign memorandum

of understanding (MoU) for the joint venture is expectedto be shelved.

A senior official source said, �The total project cost forPhase-I is M3,149 crore. The previous State Governmenthad sanctioned M1,802. Recently, the BJP-led Government,too, has sanctioned M500 crore for the same.

The Central Government had sanctioned M627 crorefor the project. Moreover, the Asian Development Bank(ADB) had recently given in principle approval to providea loan of M969 crore. The bank is willing to release thefunds but it is held by the lack of progress in the project.

(ToI, 01.04.14)

Mess with the MetroAny misunderstanding in the Jaipur Metro has results

ranging from fines to life imprisonment and even capitalpunishment depending on the gravity of the particularoffence.

JMRC released a list of offences and penalties, underthe Metro Railway (Operation and Maintainence) Act 2002.There are 22 such clauses, which could put you into troublefor causing offense while travelling by the Metro.

Even for unlawfully entering or remaining in the traineven when requested to leave, there is a provision ofimprisonment for up to three months or fine up to M250or both. (ToI, 09.06.14)

Corporation, traffic departmentand officials of the otherdepartments also. Until now thepolice has advised the people in afew selected areas to keep awatchman for every lane, at therate of M30 in a month.

For the security of women, anelectronic personal safety system(EPSS) has been introduced, on asingle button press of which thepolice can reach to the personseeking help. This safety device hasto be registered in the policecontrol room.

(RP, 21.04.14 & DB, 10.04.14)

Metro Updates

Self Service SystemIndian Oil Corporation (IOC) as

the country�s largest state owned oilretailer, IOC, has just thrown openIndia first self-service system atBais Godam in Jaipur. This concept,which is almost de rigeur in manycountries across the world eliminatesthe need for an attendant to fill fuelinto a customer�s car.

Many a times, petrol pumpattendants operate in teams of two, aperson who dispenses fuel andanother who collects money todistract the customer getting the fuelfilled. By employing distraction tactics,

these dishonest attendants fill lesser fuelthan billed for, thus blatantly cheatingthe customer.

This menace will also come to anend once the customer is able to fill fuelher/himself through self service system.On the whole, this new initiative by IOCis indeed a laudable one. (DB, 18.06.14)

CityMattersCityMattersCityMattersCityMattersCityMatters is a quarterly newsletter published by Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), D-217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur 302016, India,Phone: 91.141.2282821, Fax: 91.141.2282485 Email: [email protected], Web site: www.cuts-international.org, and printed by Jaipur Printers P. Ltd., Jaipur, India.

CUTS offices also at Kolkata, Chittorgarh and New Delhi (India); Lusaka (Zambia); Nairobi (Kenya); Accra (Ghana); Hanoi (Vietnam); and Geneva (Switzerland).

Sources: BS: Business Standard; DB: Dainik Bhaskar; DNA: Daily News Analysis; FT: Financial Times;HT: Hindustan Times; RP: Rajasthan Patrika; TH: ;The Hindu; ToI: Times of India

OpinionOpinionOpinionOpinionOpinion

Night Bazaar and Night Tourism: New Identity of the City

Founded way back in the year 1727 by Maharaja SawaiJai Singh-II, Jaipur has grown by leaps and bounds since

and is the home to more than 5 million residents at present.The �Pink City� edging to become a metropolitan also takespride of being perhaps the first ever planned city of India.Its huge palatial buildings, palaces and wonderfularchitecture add much to its glory.

The emerging �new� Jaipur is an exclusive city � vibrant,with booming markets, food joints, religious places, mallsand multiplexes. The upcoming concept of night bazaar/night tourism will make it more distinct. Jaipur has a vibrantand unique nightlife, which is worth experiencing. As thecity goes into the lap of darkness, the streets start to glowwith the lights and the activities assume a different flow.

Night tourism can not only open ample touristopportunities but also provide employment prospects tothe people. Moreover, it can solve the problem of excessivetraffic and parking as this will distribute the load of trafficon the roads. Quite often, the tourists coming to the pinkcity have to go disheartened as there are no alternativesfor visiting and entertainment during the late evening hours.Besides, the extreme hot climate restricts the tourists tovisit the heritage city but the idea of �night bazaar/tourism�can give a new identity to the city. If night bazaar getsencouragement then automatically �Night Tourism� will alsobe boosted. Markets all over the city, particularly the walledcity are fascinating, colourful places and provide a greatsense of nearly every aspect of the culture, whether it bethe degree of religious devotion, the styles of dress andadornment or the gastronomical delight.

Earlier, in 2005, during the previous tenure ofVasundhra Raje as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan also onthe occasion of Rajasthan Diwas, a 10 day night bazaar wasorganised, which got a good response but had someshortcomings as well. Some of the eminent politicians andindustrialists provided their valuable suggestions on thetheme of night bazaar/tourism.

Narpat Singh Rajvi, Legislator, Vidyadhar Nagar, opinedthat night tourism can be started in the walled city keepingin mind the city�s rich heritage and economic feasibility.

According to Arun Tyagi, Vice President, RajasthanTourism Guide Association, night bazaar should be startedkeeping into consideration the needs and convenience ofthe tourists and the local people. There should be adequatesecurity, cleanliness, parking space and light facilities.

Karan Singh Kachhawa, General Secretary, JaipurWorking Guide Association pointed out that night bazaaris the need of the hour and it should be developed in away, which can provide the visitors healthy recreation alongwith the glimpses of rich Rajasthani art and culture.

Assistant Sales Manager, Sumit Katiyaar of Hotel�Country Inn� recommended that open areas can be suitablefor night bazaar and keeping the aspirations of the middleclasss into consideration there should be handicraft items,music food courts etc.

Seena Sethi, National Convener of Confederation ofAll India Traders (CAIT) Women Entrepreneurs�Organisation, night bazaar should offer recreational avenueslike cultural programmes, classical music, dramas alongwith stalls of delicious food. Dusherra Ground in AdarshNagar can be a good place for the same.

However, to implement the concept of night bazaar/tourism an extensive survey of the various places that canbe ideal venues for night bazaar should be done. Theconcept also demands effective advertising and marketing.Besides, it also requires strong will of the Government,adequate security measures and of course a well organisedplan.

Giving shape to the city�s dreams, Vasundhra Raje hasrecently inaugurated the Barkat Nagar- Adarsh Bazaar (idealmarket), which is being developed as the �second pink city�.She assured that the Government will leave no stoneunturned in making a new Rajasthan in the next five years.The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has already spentM2.5 crores on colouring the market pink, constructingdrains, footpaths, roads and other development works.

Thus Night Tourism can turn out to be a marvelloustheme, which will credibly add more charm to thefascinating city and can turn it into a favourite touristdestination.