India as a nation is facing a new roadblock concerning its welfare of children - The emergence of children as soldiers in strife - This phenomena is most common in the under developed and torn states of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. Children are getting drawn into fighting both with rebel groups as well as security forces. What was considered a problem in African countries of Sudan, Sierra Leone and other countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal has become a reality for India too. And, this problem has the potential to magnify itself gigantically unless some rectification steps are taken.
According to human right activists, the actual number of children recruited by state or non state groups as soldiers in India is not as obvious as in other countries but we know there is an increasing number of children being drawn into active combat.These children exposed to war and conflict, are one of the most vulnerable groups often forced to witness or perpetrate combat atrocities. They are scarred for life, their childhood shattered.
A UNICEF estimate says about 2.50 lakhs children have been recruited as soldiers in various capacities worldwide. In India no such studies have been done to document the life of these child soldiers. The main reasons the children take to guns being extreme poverty and they see rebels leading well-off lives. To them joining the rebels seems like an opportunity to get out of their misery. When the child soldier learns the tricks of the trade and starts getting money, the parents also enjoy a better life style. While the government doesn't give enough support and compensation for victims, rebel groups step in to act as guardians.
According to the government officials there is no government policy or official guideline about what to do with child soldiers picked up during raids or encounters. Though they are returned to their parents there is no guarantee they will not be picked up by the rebels again. There is no direction for their rehabilitation.
The NGO workers believe the government needs to network with village bodies and activists for holistic development that reaches the interiors. Development of traditional skills and emphasis on natural resource management is essential with improved infrastructure like roads etc.
This situation needs anything except ignorance from the part of the people concerned, our policy makers, administration.... Hence, it is our prerogative to rise and do someting worthwhile to create awareness among the uneducated. For the presevation of our generations to come, our nation, our culture.....
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
BBC Country profile: The Philippines
More than 7,000 islands make up the Philippines, but the bulk of its fast-growing population lives on just 11 of them.
Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms.
Two presidents of the Philippines were forced from office by "people power" in the space of 15 years.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos stepped down after mass demonstrations accompanied allegations of electoral manipulation.
In January 2001 President Joseph Estrada relinquished power following months of protests. He was charged with plundering the economy for his own benefit, found guilty of massive corruption and jailed for life in September 2007. He won a presidential pardon.
On the southern island of Mindanao, rebels have been fighting for a separate Islamic state within the mainly-Catholic country. The decades-long conflict has claimed more than 120,000 lives. Sporadic violence has continued despite a 2003 ceasefire and peace talks.
Other Muslim separatists, the Abu Sayyaf group on Jolo, have a history of violence towards hostages, and the government has declared all-out war on the rebels.
Though it once boasted one of the region's best-performing economies, the Philippines is saddled with a large national debt and tens of millions of people live in poverty. The economy is heavily dependent on the billions of dollars sent home each year by the huge Filipino overseas workforce.
The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia, and forecasters say the population could double within three decades.
Governments generally avoid taking strong measures to curb the birth rate, not wishing to antagonise the Catholic Church, which opposes artificial methods of contraception.
The Philippines - a Spanish colony for more than three centuries - is named after a 16th century Spanish king. The territory was administered by the US in the early 20th century. Western and Asian influences have shaped Filipino culture.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
Full name: Republic of the Philippines
Population: 88 million (UN, 2007)
Capital: Manila
Area: 300,000 sq km (115,831 sq miles)
Major languages: Filipino, English (both official)
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN, 2007)
Monetary unit: 1 Philippine peso = 100 centavos
Main exports: Electrical machinery, clothing, food and live animals, chemicals, timber products
GNI per capita: US $1,300 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .ph
International dialling code: +63
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
President: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Gloria Arroyo's efforts to tackle corruption and to focus on economic reform have been undermined by a string of scandals.
The president won a second six-year term in June 2004, defeating her main rival, the film star Fernando Poe Junior.
But a year later her popularity rating had fallen to a record low amid opposition claims that she cheated in the 2004 elections. Opponents also levelled corruption allegations against her husband and other family members.
She apologised to the nation for talking to an election official about her hopes for victory in the run-up to the 2004 poll, but denied any wrongdoing. Two subsequent attempts to impeach her have failed.
Mrs Arroyo faces the challenge of delivering on her promises to create jobs and to improve living standards. Social and economic reforms introduced during her first term did little to ease poverty and the country's debt burden.
She advocates constitutional reform, proposing to swap the country's US-style presidential system for a parliamentary government.
She has taken a strong line on law and order and has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty. She has allied herself closely to US President George W Bush's "war on terror".
Gloria Arroyo comes from the political elite in the Philippines. She is a trained economist, whose father was president in the early 1960s.
She was elevated from vice president to president in 2001 after protests led to the ousting of her predecessor, Joseph Estrada. In 2003 she survived an attempt by military mutineers to unseat her.
She is keen to emphasise her Christian faith. Observers contrasted her approach with the hard-drinking lifestyle favoured by President Estrada.
The Philippines has a two-house legislature - the Congress - which comprises a House of Representatives, with up to 250 members, and a 24-member Senate.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
Powerful commercial interests control or influence much of the media.
The lively TV scene is dominated by the free-to-air networks ABS-CBN and GMA, which attract the lion's share of viewing. Some Manila-based networks broadcast in local languages. The country has a well-developed cable TV system.
Films, comedies and entertainment programmes attract the largest audiences. Many TV broadcasters also operate radio networks. There are more than 700 FM and mediumwave (AM) radio stations, most of them commercial.
Press freedom is guaranteed under the 1987 constitution. The private press is vigorous, with tabloid newspapers being prone to sensationalism.
However, the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the Philippines was on a par with Afghanistan as Asia's "deadliest nation for reporters" in 2006. Officials have set up a task force to tackle violence against journalists.
The press
Philippine Star - private daily
The Daily Tribune - private daily
Philippine Daily Inquirer - private daily
Malaya - private daily
Manila Bulletin - mass-circulation daily
Manila Times - private daily
Business World - private daily
Television
ABS-CBN - commercial
GMA Network - commercial
IBC (Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp) - government-owned
Radio
ABS-CBN - operates stations nationally
GMA Network - operates stations nationally
Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) - operates stations nationally
Radio Mindanao Network - operates more than 50 stations nationwide
Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) - government-run, operates 31 stations nationwide with emphasis on news, public affairs
News agency
Philippines News Agency - government-run
Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms.
Two presidents of the Philippines were forced from office by "people power" in the space of 15 years.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos stepped down after mass demonstrations accompanied allegations of electoral manipulation.
In January 2001 President Joseph Estrada relinquished power following months of protests. He was charged with plundering the economy for his own benefit, found guilty of massive corruption and jailed for life in September 2007. He won a presidential pardon.
On the southern island of Mindanao, rebels have been fighting for a separate Islamic state within the mainly-Catholic country. The decades-long conflict has claimed more than 120,000 lives. Sporadic violence has continued despite a 2003 ceasefire and peace talks.
Other Muslim separatists, the Abu Sayyaf group on Jolo, have a history of violence towards hostages, and the government has declared all-out war on the rebels.
Though it once boasted one of the region's best-performing economies, the Philippines is saddled with a large national debt and tens of millions of people live in poverty. The economy is heavily dependent on the billions of dollars sent home each year by the huge Filipino overseas workforce.
The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia, and forecasters say the population could double within three decades.
Governments generally avoid taking strong measures to curb the birth rate, not wishing to antagonise the Catholic Church, which opposes artificial methods of contraception.
The Philippines - a Spanish colony for more than three centuries - is named after a 16th century Spanish king. The territory was administered by the US in the early 20th century. Western and Asian influences have shaped Filipino culture.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
Full name: Republic of the Philippines
Population: 88 million (UN, 2007)
Capital: Manila
Area: 300,000 sq km (115,831 sq miles)
Major languages: Filipino, English (both official)
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN, 2007)
Monetary unit: 1 Philippine peso = 100 centavos
Main exports: Electrical machinery, clothing, food and live animals, chemicals, timber products
GNI per capita: US $1,300 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .ph
International dialling code: +63
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
President: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Gloria Arroyo's efforts to tackle corruption and to focus on economic reform have been undermined by a string of scandals.
The president won a second six-year term in June 2004, defeating her main rival, the film star Fernando Poe Junior.
But a year later her popularity rating had fallen to a record low amid opposition claims that she cheated in the 2004 elections. Opponents also levelled corruption allegations against her husband and other family members.
She apologised to the nation for talking to an election official about her hopes for victory in the run-up to the 2004 poll, but denied any wrongdoing. Two subsequent attempts to impeach her have failed.
Mrs Arroyo faces the challenge of delivering on her promises to create jobs and to improve living standards. Social and economic reforms introduced during her first term did little to ease poverty and the country's debt burden.
She advocates constitutional reform, proposing to swap the country's US-style presidential system for a parliamentary government.
She has taken a strong line on law and order and has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty. She has allied herself closely to US President George W Bush's "war on terror".
Gloria Arroyo comes from the political elite in the Philippines. She is a trained economist, whose father was president in the early 1960s.
She was elevated from vice president to president in 2001 after protests led to the ousting of her predecessor, Joseph Estrada. In 2003 she survived an attempt by military mutineers to unseat her.
She is keen to emphasise her Christian faith. Observers contrasted her approach with the hard-drinking lifestyle favoured by President Estrada.
The Philippines has a two-house legislature - the Congress - which comprises a House of Representatives, with up to 250 members, and a 24-member Senate.
OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA
Powerful commercial interests control or influence much of the media.
The lively TV scene is dominated by the free-to-air networks ABS-CBN and GMA, which attract the lion's share of viewing. Some Manila-based networks broadcast in local languages. The country has a well-developed cable TV system.
Films, comedies and entertainment programmes attract the largest audiences. Many TV broadcasters also operate radio networks. There are more than 700 FM and mediumwave (AM) radio stations, most of them commercial.
Press freedom is guaranteed under the 1987 constitution. The private press is vigorous, with tabloid newspapers being prone to sensationalism.
However, the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the Philippines was on a par with Afghanistan as Asia's "deadliest nation for reporters" in 2006. Officials have set up a task force to tackle violence against journalists.
The press
Philippine Star - private daily
The Daily Tribune - private daily
Philippine Daily Inquirer - private daily
Malaya - private daily
Manila Bulletin - mass-circulation daily
Manila Times - private daily
Business World - private daily
Television
ABS-CBN - commercial
GMA Network - commercial
IBC (Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp) - government-owned
Radio
ABS-CBN - operates stations nationally
GMA Network - operates stations nationally
Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) - operates stations nationally
Radio Mindanao Network - operates more than 50 stations nationwide
Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) - government-run, operates 31 stations nationwide with emphasis on news, public affairs
News agency
Philippines News Agency - government-run
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Indianity - A Phenomenon
The diversity of our country is truly exemplary. I truly believe that the diversity you witness living and traveling in India will be an unique experience. We can travel different countries to see the extremes of cultures and lifestyles, but the spectrum of variance one can experience in India is incomparable.
Let’s begin with the extreme northern part of the country, the resemblance of a Kashmiri and an Afghan (appearance) is not difficult to identify. Similarly, the inhabitants of the state Punjab across both sides of the border are not different. Along the east, I dont find any linguistic or cultural differences between the residents of the West Bengal and East Bengal (Bangladesh), except for the spiritual belief. Reach the North east of the country and one cannot differentiate an Indian to a Chinese, Infact Arunanchal remains to be a disputable issue till date. As we move down towards the south, we can identify the cultural transition in a manner that amazes me to a very great extent. A very simple example of this transition is that the languages Bengali and Oriya are sound similar while the script is entirely different. Now, if Telugu and Oriya is compared, one can observe an similarity in script while it sounds entirely different. Is this transition not amazing? I had experienced this during one of my long distance train journeys. Now, as we move further south, Can one distinguish a Sri Lankan national to a one belonging to Tamil Nadu? Probably very rare.
This demographic variance of our country is the most amazing and unique to India. However, this is not the only example of variance. Economically also, we are the nation which shelters the worlds poorest as well as the richest. Its not rare to witness a case where, a Mercedes Benz zooms past you on the 8 lane Mumbai-Pune highway constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) where an old lady sits haplessly on the glittering side track with a broken aluminum bowl begging for a square meal. This is truly a slap on the face of development, but again its diversity. Its also worth a mention that things are improving. Slowly but surely.....
The same phenomenon can be witnessed on the political front too. The coalition UPA, constitutes of members who are pre-liberalization and global integration, while it also constitutes of members who fail to recognize whether they belong to India or China. (that’s my opinion)
Given the above facts, it’s not foolish to ask how India bonds together.
The answer to this comes from more than thousand years of history behind us, Our secular paradigm, Our ability to adapt to circumstances, Our pride in diversity, The meticulous policy framework of the independent India and Democracy.
Its of course a very simplified justification of terms, but again the scope is very limited.
Let’s begin with the extreme northern part of the country, the resemblance of a Kashmiri and an Afghan (appearance) is not difficult to identify. Similarly, the inhabitants of the state Punjab across both sides of the border are not different. Along the east, I dont find any linguistic or cultural differences between the residents of the West Bengal and East Bengal (Bangladesh), except for the spiritual belief. Reach the North east of the country and one cannot differentiate an Indian to a Chinese, Infact Arunanchal remains to be a disputable issue till date. As we move down towards the south, we can identify the cultural transition in a manner that amazes me to a very great extent. A very simple example of this transition is that the languages Bengali and Oriya are sound similar while the script is entirely different. Now, if Telugu and Oriya is compared, one can observe an similarity in script while it sounds entirely different. Is this transition not amazing? I had experienced this during one of my long distance train journeys. Now, as we move further south, Can one distinguish a Sri Lankan national to a one belonging to Tamil Nadu? Probably very rare.
This demographic variance of our country is the most amazing and unique to India. However, this is not the only example of variance. Economically also, we are the nation which shelters the worlds poorest as well as the richest. Its not rare to witness a case where, a Mercedes Benz zooms past you on the 8 lane Mumbai-Pune highway constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) where an old lady sits haplessly on the glittering side track with a broken aluminum bowl begging for a square meal. This is truly a slap on the face of development, but again its diversity. Its also worth a mention that things are improving. Slowly but surely.....
The same phenomenon can be witnessed on the political front too. The coalition UPA, constitutes of members who are pre-liberalization and global integration, while it also constitutes of members who fail to recognize whether they belong to India or China. (that’s my opinion)
Given the above facts, it’s not foolish to ask how India bonds together.
The answer to this comes from more than thousand years of history behind us, Our secular paradigm, Our ability to adapt to circumstances, Our pride in diversity, The meticulous policy framework of the independent India and Democracy.
Its of course a very simplified justification of terms, but again the scope is very limited.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Congratulations!
Words are insufficient to express the satisfaction that came along with this subject line mail from Asian Institute of Management, Manila Representative Office in Mumbai, India.
The mail was intended to convey the confirmation of my admission to the Class of 2008-09, starting September 08. The feeling was unimaginable in terms of the magnitude of emotions that went thru my mind. It was awesome!! It is simply unbelievable for me to realize that I’ll need to leave Bangalore to pursue my management education..... It was a dream for me since long... and finally... still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping things to sail smoothly.
The sense of accomplishment is magnified given the fact that I was the youngest in my group and my group discussion and interview experience was also very moderate. Nothing much to boast and unpredictable too....
For now, I’m waiting for the hard copies to reach my permanent address in Kolkata. Also, I’m in process of identifying and searching lucrative and reasonable educational financing options. I just hope to find something worthwhile soon!!
Shubhobrato Ghosh shall keep writing on the latest developments!!! [:)]
The mail was intended to convey the confirmation of my admission to the Class of 2008-09, starting September 08. The feeling was unimaginable in terms of the magnitude of emotions that went thru my mind. It was awesome!! It is simply unbelievable for me to realize that I’ll need to leave Bangalore to pursue my management education..... It was a dream for me since long... and finally... still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping things to sail smoothly.
The sense of accomplishment is magnified given the fact that I was the youngest in my group and my group discussion and interview experience was also very moderate. Nothing much to boast and unpredictable too....
For now, I’m waiting for the hard copies to reach my permanent address in Kolkata. Also, I’m in process of identifying and searching lucrative and reasonable educational financing options. I just hope to find something worthwhile soon!!
Shubhobrato Ghosh shall keep writing on the latest developments!!! [:)]
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