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

Wed Jul 4 21:12:21 PDT 2007

That's exactly what I wanted to say.One can't do away with the problem of
flood,but one can alleviate the sufferings of affected ones to the minimum
by taking timely and appropriate measures.

As I wrote earlier,setting up of engineering colleges in round numbers is
okay,but building up of infrastructure is a sine-qua-non of economic
development.By infrastructure,I mean to refer to the social overhead
facilities,relating to
power,roads,railways,banking,communication,education,health etc.*WITHOUT
THESE FACILITIES ON HAND,TO INSIST ON BUILDING BUNCH OF ENGINEERING COLLEGES
IS ANALOGOUS TO A CHILD WHO WANTS TO RUN BEFORE BEING ABLE TO WALK !!!!!*

Allow me to furnish an example.Out of some 22 thousand villages,more than
8000 villages ( I may be  little off in citing these figures ) have still
remain unconnected with all-weather roads.How costly are their
production,consumption and trade can be easily imagined.*The bottom line is
this---one can build new engineering colleges as many as he or she wants
to,but that is not going to cast a magic spell in the economic development
of Assam unless sincere efforts are made to put those basic facilities into
proper place.*

KJD

On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Yes,yes--we have to live with it ( I mean,flood ),but can we live with
> >it using some intelligence ?
>
> KJD,
>
> We really DO NOT have to live with it Or 'learn to live and dance with
> floods' like Sarat Singha (I think) said.
> While it is inevitable, the Stafected oneste Govt. can play a major role
> in minimizing the affects, loss of life and destruction of crops/cattle.
>
> About also thinking about engg. colleges, C'da is correct. This state
> Govt. does not have to be flood control centric.
> The govt. ought to be able to cope and prepare for floods (on an annual
> basis), think also about lessening the blow (floods) for the long term, but
> also of other things like education, engg. colleges, and general development
> of areas not developed.
>
> The people should  expect the Govt. (their elected representatives) to be
> able to handle all this and more - that is the test the govt. ought to able
> to pass. (IMHO)
>
> --Ram
>
>
> On 7/4/07, kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com > wrote:
> >
> > Yes,yes--we have to live with it ( I mean,flood ),but can we live with
> > it using some intelligence ? Consider this---here is a state,where flood
> > control department ( flood that brings misery to the people ) is considered
> > a prize posting, while education department (education, which is concerned
> > with the upliftment of a society ) is seen as a punishment posting !!!! And
> > this tells you the chunk of the story.
> >
> > I can write an scholarly essay as to why one should lay stress on the
> > improvement of other areas instead of emphasizing on setting up new
> > engineering colleges at this time.Chandanda has already touched on those
> > points and I am in total agreement with him.
> >
> > KJD
> >
> >
> > On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com > 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.Unlessthese 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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