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

Thu Jul 5 21:06:53 PDT 2007

Kamal-da,

MyMumbai roommate has to wade thru neck deep water at times -as he told me --- there are floods in Mumbai also ---so why is Guwahati not like Mumbai.  

Why do all the engineering colleges have to be in areas where there are floods -- why not near tea gardens in hill regions??  Why always the excuse of floods?

Umesh

kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote: Umesh,

 You need not worry about my faith in the Assamese youth.Rest assured--it's intact.However,I am more concerned about their having to wade through waist-deep flood water,trying to reach to these engineering colleges that you are dreaming of !!! 

 It is a case of Mary Antoinette saying " give them cake",when the masses were shouting in hunger for bread.Who is having Utopian dream here,I wonder ?

 One can't draw parallel between Bangalore and Assam.Had that been the case,Bangalore would not have been the hub of IT or Silicon valley of India.One has to live in Assam for few years to realize the shortcomings of the government for which the state has been lagging behind so much as far as basic infrastructure is concerned. 

 By the way,I would have refused to become the ' mouth organ ' or ' mouth piece ' of a community about whom I have scant knowledge.

 Regards,

 KJD

 On 7/5/07, umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com > wrote:  Kamal-da,

It is utopian to think that only after ALL infrastructure is in place the engineering colleges should be built. Even now in Bangalore there is utter disregard for transporttation issues - etc -- traffic jams etc -but  ......you get the point I am sure. Ofcourse you need infrastructure for the colleges -- I am sure local high schools can rise to the occasion.  

A Boro from remote Kokrajhar district of Assam (as he told me) Utpal-da Brahma (IIT, IIM , NDA select) was a graduate of Kokrajhar Govt High School and studied for IIT entrance from correspondence/distance education Agrawal clases and Brilliant Tutorials. Have faith in Assamese youth Kamal-da!!  

Umesh 

kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote:   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.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/ 

---------------------------------
 New Yahoo! Mail is the ultimate force in competitive emailing. Find out more at the  Yahoo! Mail Championships. Plus: play games and win prizes.  

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org  
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org  
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org  
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org 

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
 assam at assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org  

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org
 http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org 

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/

---------------------------------
 Which email service gives you  unlimited storage?  

 _______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

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/

---------------------------------
Try Yahoo! Mail now with Unlimited Storage and see the difference.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.assamnet.org/pipermail/assam-assamnet.org/attachments/20070705/4b7e4867/attachment.htm>