(அ - ஃ) வாழ்ந்திடு

அன்பாய் அமைதியாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஆனந்தமாய் ஆதரவாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

இந்நாளை இனிமையாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஈரமுடன்  ஈன்று வாழ்ந்திடு 

உண்மையாய் உழைத்து வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஊறுதியாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

எல்லோருடன் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஏணியாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஐயமுடன் ஐயமில்லாமல் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஒழுக்கமாய் வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஓதி வாழ்ந்திடு 

ஔவை சொல்போல் வாழ்ந்திடு 

- இராமகுரு 

மனம் - வருமா வருமா

வருமா வருமா விடியல்  வருமா

ஒருநாள்ஒருநாள் விடியல்  வருமா

வருமா வருமா ஒருநாள் வருமா

விடியல் விடியல் ஒருநாள் வருமா

காலத்தினால் வந்த மாற்றத்தினால் 

முயற்சியினால் வரும் மாற்றத்தினால் 

வருமா வருமா விடியல்  வருமா

ஒருநாள்ஒருநாள் விடியல்  வருமா

வருமா வருமா ஒருநாள் வருமா

விடியல் விடியல் ஒருநாள் வருமா

உன் மனம் என்றுமே அரிதானது

அதை புரியாதது பெரும் பிழையானது

உன் மனம் போலவே 

உன் வாழ்வும் மாறி விடுமே ! 

மனதோடு என்றும் ஆற்றல் உள்ளது 

மனதார செய்தால் மாற்றம் உள்ளது

முடியும் முடியும் உன்னால் முடியும்

மனதால் நினைத்தால் எல்லாம் முடியும்

வந்தால் வந்தால் விடியல் வந்தால் 

உலகம் முழுதும் உந்தன் பின்னால்

விடியும் முன்னே விழித்திடு நீ !

விடியலுக்காக உழைத்திடு நீ !

வருமே வருமே விடியல் வருமே 

ஒருநாள் ஒருநாள் நிஜமாய் வருமே

வருமே வருமே விடியல் வருமே 

நிஜமாய்  நிஜமாய் ஒருநாள் வருமே

வருமே :) 

- இராமகுரு

Clean the city

This Environmental Day, Our Team in Mettupalayam decided to do something that is not new to few of us at least, we have done City cleaning, Campus Cleaning as part of our Nature Club activity during college days on many occasions.

But one realization, Nature Club of KCT did to me is "Nothing can happen in one day. Consistent doing of the act is what most needed". Thanks to Nature Club :) Keeping the Golden Rule in mind, thought not just to clean the place, but take necessary steps to make people aware and put things in place, so the place shall remain clean.

All these running in my mind. We did our cleaning activities for three days covering residential areas where there are schools and religious places. As known already things like overflowing dustbins, dustbins placed where it shouldn't be and no dustbins where it is most needed was not surprising. On other hand few things were very surprising and shocking like bio-medical wastes road side, "No partition inside the Municipal or Corporation dustbins, but Degradable Waste and Non-Degradable Wastes written both the sides of the bin in bold letters.

I would like to share few challenges ahead, from the experience I gained from cleaning activities done in Vadavalli for Kovai Vizha, Campus Cleaning in 2010 and 2011 in KCT till this Environmental day cleaning drive.

Challenge ahead of us: 

(Challenges listed here are what is faced throughout India. Images are only for educational purpose. It does not limit only to that place or locality)

No Proper Infrastructure In-place for Waste Collection and Segregation

The current system in place is where a municipal employee comes door-to-door collecting wastes. The small collection boxes are differentiated with two colors Red and Green. I believe the red for "Non Degradable Waste" and Green for "Degradable Wastes".

Even when we segregate the wastes and drop them separately. The final destination these wastes reaches is the massive dustbins placed either at the corner of the streets (if it is placed) or waste mountains. If it is the massive dustbins, the unknown truth to many is, only we have text written outside. There is no actual partition inside the bins.

Recently, I was in Germany, just like to share the waste collection methodology followed there only for information purpose, not to compare meaning anything else. 

Every house in Germany will have multicoloured dustbins where the wastes are segregated during the use by house-holds. Once in a week or two weeks, the collection vehicle will come and collect these wastes at every house. If they find that waste are not segregated properly then there is a chance that they may not collect the same or collect it with a penalty. We can dump the waste in Road side or any other place.

I don't see any difficulty in implementing similar method here. We already have a similar mechanism, but modification are needed after a thorough study.

Below picture shows dustbins placed in front of school (top and bottom right corner images), despite that wastes are dumped aside school (main image). Also no dustbin in-front of Temple, which is completely a residential area.

Even I noticed many dustbins are filled up completely, but may be since the corporation or municipality does not empty them on-time, leading people dumped the waste outside or burn the wastes by firing them inside the bin.

Handling of Bio-Medical Wastes and E-Wastes

Apart the plastics and food wastes scattered on the road side. We were able to recover some Medical wastes like used injections, sanitary napkin, etc. and E-Waste like used battery, cell, bulbs, copper wires.

Here it is the duty of the Medical Institutions and regulations from the local authorities only can make the handling better. Though we have Bio-Medical Waste Rules - 1998 - 
http://www.mppcb.nic.in/bio-medical_waste.htm,  still some gaps are to be filled.

"Turning waste management into resource management" is possible in India. Germany and other European countries consider "Waste as a source of raw materials.". We can try to recycle the food waste at home.

Two methods from http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/node/6043 website might help people interested :

• The first, In-vessel composting, involves mixing food waste with garden waste, shredding it and composting it in a tunnel or container for around two to four weeks. Temperatures of up to 70 degrees C speed up the process and kill any harmful microbes. It is then left for a further 1-3 months with regular turning and checks to ensure quality, before going on to be used as soil conditioner.
• The second method, Anaerobic Digestion, uses micro-organisms called 'methanogens' to break down food waste, animal manures and energy crops in the absence of oxygen, inside an enclosed tank. As it breaks down, it gives off 'bio-gas' that is collected and used to generate electricity, heat or transport fuels. It also creates biofertiliser, which can be used in farming and land regeneration.

Stop Plastic Bags - Use Paper Bags

Government should take necessary actions to ban the usage of plastics and we citizens should stand by stop using Plastics Bags. We can use paper bags or cloth bags.

At this juncture, I would like to thank the Team worked for the Cleanliness Drive organised for Environmental Day 2014

1. Prabhu R
2. Jayaraj Kumar R
3. Saravanan V
4. Praveen Kumar 
5. Gowtham S
6. Prasanna Kumar
7. Sunny Thomas

Last but an important point from my side is "Clean MTP or Clean Kovai or Clean India" should not be the term. Then people would continue the act, so someone will Clean.

It should be "Keep India Clean" 

Right to Information Act

I found that many of us are not just aware of RTI (or) if we know RTI, many of us do not know how to file an RTI ! So this mail is just to share whatever I know J

 

“The Right to Information Act (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens" and replaces the erstwhile Freedom of information Act, 2002. The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except Jammu & Kashmir. Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days.”

 

RTI Guide : http://rti.gov.in/RTICorner/Guide_2013-issue.pdf

 

Tamil Version : http://www.tn.gov.in/rti/proactive/guidebook_rtiact.pdf

 

Steps to file an RTI :

 

1. There is no specified Format for filing an RTI.
   
   You can seek the required information in a Plain Paper addressed to PIO* of the concerned Public Authority or you can address it to PIO at Collectorate, it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other authority within 5 working days of the receipt of RTI.  The applicant is required to disclose his name and contact particulars (so that the applicant get the requested information mailed back) but not any other reasons or justification for seeking the information.
   
   Court Fee Stamp for Rs.10 should be pasted or enclosed with the letter as a Fee ! I have attached RTI filed by me for your reference

 

 

English Version :

 

<< File: RTI_Sample_English.docx >>

 

Tamil Version :

 

<< File: தகவல் பெரும் உரிமைச்சட்ட விண்ணப்பம் -  தமிழ்  .doc >>

 

2. There is a online version too https://rtionline.gov.in/ (Refer the image )

 

<< OLE Object: Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) >>

 

 

3. Time limits for replying to the request :

a . If the request has been made to the PIO, the reply is to be given within 30 days of receipt.

b. If the request has been made to an APIO**, the reply is to be given within 35 days of receipt.

c. If the PIO transfers the request to another public authority (better concerned with the information requested), the time allowed to reply is 30 days but computed from the day after it is received by the PIO of the transferee authority.

d. Information concerning corruption and Human Rights violations by scheduled Security agencies (those listed in the Second Schedule to the Act) is to be provided within 45 days but with the prior approval of the Central Information Commission.

e. If life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is expected to reply within 48 hours.

*PIO : Public Information Officer**APIO : Asst. Public Information Officer

In all cases only PIO is responsible for providing the required info. J

 

4. Incase if your RTI request is not answered within this period, it is treated as deemed refusal. Refusal with or without reasons may be ground for appeal or complaint. Further, information not provided in the times prescribed is to be provided free of charge. Appeal processes are also defined. (Refer the Guide for more info)

 

5. Please note that there are certain public authorities / information which are excluded from RTI ambit.

 

Central Intelligence and Security agencies specified in the Second Schedule like IB,Directorate General of Income tax(Investigation), RAW, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Enforcement, Narcotics Control Bureau, Aviation Research Centre, Special Frontier Force, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles, Special Service Bureau, Special Branch (CID), Andaman and Nicobar, The Crime Branch-CID-CB, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Special Branch, Lakshadweep Police. Agencies specified by the State Governments through a Notification will also be excluded.

 

The exclusion, however, is not absolute and these organizations have an obligation to provide information pertaining to allegations of corruption and human rights violations. Further, information relating to allegations of human rights violation could be given but only with the approval of the Central or State Information Commission.

 

I have already received a response for one of my RTI (Sorry it is in Tamil L)!

 

 

<< File: Response.jpg >>

If you think you know RTI, then give a try with these RTI Quiz :

http://rti.gov.in/raq.asp

http://rti.gov.in/rtiquiz2.html

http://rti.gov.in/rtiquiz3.html

 

Use this powerful tool of our Democracy to KNOW your rights and GET those rights ! J

Reality - Helping

All the incidents below are infact real, but characters referred does not point any one in particular. It is combined characteristic of people I have heard, perceived, observed, met.

It is my parents and my school which introduced me to the HABIT called Helping. Yes, for some  helping is an act. But for few helping is an Habit. I was a volunteer in couple of clubs during my college days and was active observer of the happenings in and around me.

From then some of the incidents which I came across are still fresh in my mind:

1. (Mostly) A student or some one suffer from one of the below and is in need of financial support
a. Cancer (Blood, Lung, Breast,....)
b. Liver Disorder
c. Kidney Failure
d. Road Accident

e. rarely any other medical complications,....

2. Financial Support for a student to continue studies
etc....

We then as students at some instance helped by collecting money within college & friends and supported to an extent we can.In all these observations and participation, I understood that Helping is something Nice, Satisfactory,Fulfilling and Joyful. Be it in donating blood or volunteering in medical camps or awareness on social or Environmental issues or some financial support.

Even during my college days I wanted to start my own organization to support the society, with supports and prayers from many,  we started our own NGO to support education.If you give someone money or food today. He may need the same again tomorrow. We planned to  can give someone Education, which would last for Life.

After entering into a company like Bosch, I got a better chance to help people through the experience gained from College. Thanks to Nature Club, NSS and other forums. Volunteering in CSR. With the experience and observations made in the past 2.8 years, we still get the same kind of request for support, which I pointed out earlier.Lot of blood requests and financial support request.

I am not trying to say people are selfish and all sorts. I have seen lot of people who were readily available for donating blood, who were ready to be a scribe even at the cost of their work, ready to volunteer for a rally, ready to support financially or at least ask how is the person for whom we have sent a support request.  I always wanted to know the line of thinking of people who say "I am not in a position to help"  and slowly I could understand from observing those people

Many a times, a question comes to mind, How many of you have got the same !

What is Help ?

(we have a separate chapter in Thirukural to HELP us understand what HELP is !!! :P )

Help is something I feel cannot be measured, but an act done when it is in need,

Example : 1. Offering someone a glass of water since you feel he might be thirsty
                  2. Offering water when someone is THIRSTY

For me second act is more of a Help. Even in the first case, if you dont offer nothing is lost, whereas in second case the person has a impact

I feel the present generation have or made to have below line of thinking :

Thought 1. I can help only when I start to Earn
My Opinion : My Friend, helping is not just donating your hard earned money. It also covers sharing and using your Knowledge, technical, Co-curricular skills for spreading awareness and betterment of society.

Thought 2. How can I donate 50 Rupees, what others will think of me ?
My Opinion : Donating or the thought to help by itself is a wonderful gesture.  I just wanted to them to read this

காலத்தி னால்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிது.

பயன் தூக்கார் செய்த உதவி நயன் தூக்கின்
நன்மை கடலிற் பெரிது.

Thought 3. I can / will start to help others when I Settle down

My Opinion : When we are in College, settling down might mean get placed in an MNC. After college, when we are working, Life runs like a machine, many people dont find time to know what is happening around them.  Keep working like a machine for promotion, appraisal, XX, YY, ZZ.... the list never ends. I feel one can never settle down, unless he/she satisfied from inner sense ! As a tamil saying goes "போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து"

There many be many others, but I feel these are important and many have one or all of these three line of thinking.

To be Continued !