[Assam] Day2: Assam 2007: Pt2; engg colleges, NRAs & C

Wed Jul 4 12:09:48 PDT 2007

I wouldn't know who used the phrase "negative reception" at Laurel, MD - whether it was the CM himself or someone else. It is important to know the source because that has a bearing on what I am about to say. 

  If the CM used those words, it was because he felt uncomfortable answering some of the direct questions on infrastructure in Assam that were asked in the Boston town hall meeting (that's what it was called). The questions came from all sections of the audience including several second generation Assamese-Americans. I could see the pain these young people feel for their grand parents and relatives in Assam when they asked about measures being taken to alleviate water logging of streets in Guwahati and annual flooding of the state from the Brahmaputra. No direct answers were given. 

  There were questions on water retention ponds - why they are not made a part of any development in a major town/city in Assam. The answer was standard - for Guwahati, it is part of the master plan.

  There wasn't any formal presentation or speech except for one by a GOA official, Mr. Sachan. The core of the speech by Mr. Sachan was on investment in Assam, including details on tax deferment for investors. I think the CM was expecting questions on investment in the town hall open meeting that he did not get. During the reception after the meeting, I noticed several would-be-investors talked to the CM on an one to one basis. Since they were private discussions, I wouldn't know what they talked about.

  During the reception, someone passed on an idea in a lighter vein that Guwahati has the potential of being the "Venice of the East". Since the streets get water logged anyway, just dig them deep, retain and circulate the water, ply Assam style boats for transportation and call Guwahati the "Venice of the East". Open shopping malls on the two banks and invite the tourists. How is that for an investment idea? :-)
  Dilip
  ===================================================

Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
        >  IMHO, the annual floods are are going to happen every year. I don't think we can increase/or decrease floods by human action.  The river will find the weakest embankments to crest, and will do so.   

  *** Yes, you are off base here Ram :-).

  There is an enormous  amount that could be done and not a moment too soon.

  BTW, Guwahati flooding is entirely a man-made phenomenon.  It is the Indian style of non-planning, uneducated citizenry and dysfunctional govt. bodies that has caused it. To resolve the problem, much that was done to desecrate the city has to be undone. And it will need foresight, political will and resources. The last could be generated. The first is widely available. But the the one in the middle is the weak link.

  At 11:40 AM -0600 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
  Hi KJD,     >In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the most >menacing natural calamity,experienced by the state every year >particularly since the great earthquake of 1950     I agree, this is a much bigger and affecting more people than Engg. colleges. And this is a problem that happens every year.     Yes, Umesh did report "after the negative reception he received at Boston conference ". Don't know exactly what that means - but will just leave it at that,     Regarding the annual floods: Here are thoughts (and I could be totally off base in my assumptions)     IMHO, the annual floods are are going to happen every year. I don't think we can increase/or decrease floods by human action.  The river will find the weakest embankments to crest, and will do so.     So, what exactly can the state do?  It can be ready for it every year by taking evasive actions.  Can be ready with large scale evacuvation plans including livestock  Can identify Highly flood prone areas,
 and advice settlers of the dangers.  Be prepared with medical facilities  Rescue operation readiness  Help farmers get back on their feet with seed/fertilizer supplies etc.  Help farmers acquire flood insurance - the state can mandate insurance companies that they must offer reduced rates for farmers. The state govt. can help farmers with the bulk of the premiums.     The list can go on.     --Ram        

   On 7/4/07, kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote:
  Hi RS,  My attention was drawn to the following remark,made by Umesh Sarma.He wrote and I quote " after the negative reception he received at Boston conference where he was only questioned about annual flooding "     In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the most menacing natural calamity,experienced by the state every year particularly since the great earthquake of 1950.The stagnancy of economy of the state owes much to this recurrent menace.For example,in the course of last ten years,the total damage caused by floods to crops,habitation of people and lives of cattle is estimated at over Rs.1000 crores.     The dream of setting up of 111 engineering colleges in Assam is okay ( how many medical colleges will be needed to look after the ailments of these folks,I wonder ?).But then,one must remember that 76% of Assam's population is rural-based,who eke out a living from their poor surroundings and where facilities in the area of power,basic education ,health care
 benefits,roads/communication/transport etc.are non-existent.Unless these areas are taken care of by the government,economic prosperity is impossible,even if you build thousands of engineering colleges.     KJD

   On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com > wrote:
  Thank you, Umesh for providing an exhaustive account of Assam 2007.   any mecal colleges  --Ram da

   On 7/3/07, umesh sharma < jaipurschool at yahoo.com > wrote:

  Hi,

In the Day 2 of the meeting (on Sunday July 1st, 2007) we arrived just in time to have the lunch (got value for money - the $110 we had paid each for the Assam 2007) - I was able to identify the dish with the shrimp (and avoided a painful alergy outbreak ) .  
At the same time meeting of Assam Society was going on - I could make out the sentences in English which were focused on non-profit work and fund-raising (of about $2,500 only) and projects been sponsored and monitored in Assam.

 Later Partha-da Gogoi presented a passionate presentation for the self-help groups and business initiative and mentoring for engineering students etc  http://www.nepif.weblet.in/   North East Professional Institutes Forum

under the leadership of Assam Institute of Management http://www.aimguwahati.com/ -- which was later shown in front of the Chief Minister --

alongwith a presentation slideshow of http://www.pearllifeline.com/ funded and spearheaded by an NRI/NRA http://www.assamtribune.com/may0507/Photo4.html who advised US President George Bush on medical stuff.

http://www.posoowa.org/2007/06/30/a-need-for-expanding-engineering-education-facilities-in-assam-for-economic-growth-and-human-development/
After that was the persuasive presentation for promoting engineering college by Jugal-da Kalita based on research by Jugal-da (IIT , Phd UPenn - Ivy League Univ, Prof Computer Science, Colorado) , Umesh-da Tabildar (IIT , NASA, USA ), Jukti-da Kalita (IIT, IIM, PhD Columbia) , Mantu-da Bhaishya ( BITS, Pilani ) , Ganesh-a Bora (PhD Kansas - Agriculture engineering)  , Durba-da Bhattacharya (Prof Computer science - Tejpur Univ, Assam)

--- with comments on it by  Gautom Barua (Director IIT- Guwahati Computer Science) and other IIT profs and Dipankar-da Medhi (Prof Computer Science at Kansas and AssamNet Co-founder)

The Chief Minster was in a state of bliss --- especially after the negative reception  he received at Boston conference where he was only questioned about the annual flooding of Guwahati (he later spoke of Global Warming which might lead initail floods by melting of glaciers followed by drought - when no more glaciers). He said that he is so pleased with these presentation which have a positive note and aim to improve the situation of Assam.

Main Points of the engineering college presentation -- Orissa has 13,000 employed by Infosys for computer work -- even though has much worse travel connection than Assam. Gautam Barua (IIT - G director) was told by Infosys Chief (Nilekani is IIT batchmate of Gautam-da ) that Assam only produces 750 engg grads compared to 13,000 by Orissa - and Infosys wants 80% of its employees to be local -atleast.

Second, Assam has 2.5% of India's population but only 0.2% of its engineering colleges and only 0.17% of its engineering graduates. I agreed with Jugal-da that engineering education might act as a "pull" in improving basic education (at school level) .

 Later during lunch Jugal-da, Partha-da and others were having lively discussion with the CM. The CM had declared that his govt had declared already that the year 2007 was the Year of Education and passed a Bill (confirmed by his ADC later to  me) to open privately run engineering colleges etc. Jugal-da however, told me that he was not able to lay hands on any such Bill being passed by Assam govt - but may have been introduced.

I was within one feet of the CM and  even made eye contact but I conceded to the stalwarts waiting to talk to him - who could have more immediate impact or synergy.

Partha-da in his very professional approach  showed that it was possible to  have business outreach delegations to US  -- since backward states like Jharkhand and  Uttranchal have been  making waves in US. Utpal-da Brahma  (IIT, IIM  and  National Defense  Academy  selected  ) was of the opinion that  first  local Indian companies need to  be invited to Assam and  based on their  performance MNCs would  get attracted to  invest  (FDI) in Assam. 

There are more than one way to skin a cat , however!!!!

Jugal-da and Partha-da rightly noted that NRAs have yet to get involved with entrepreneurial ventures and thus, professional education is the key to economic development of Assam -- a fact whole heartedly agreed  to by Assam Chief Minister.  He did say the Assam's economy was growing at 3% before his tenure and now is at 6% and want it to go up to 8-9%  to catch up with rest of India - and negated my question (anonymous) that corruption was on the rise otherwise how could current growth be possible.

(My comment - Indian embassy in DC has now opened doors for anyone seeking corroption of any other info - under RTI - Right To Info Act)

Any comments?

Umesh

Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C.

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)

www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )

http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

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