Lessons to be learnt from Kerala Floods

It is worst of the floods in the century. We all should provide whole-hearted support to people of Kerala at this juncture without wasting any time. But we also analyse the reasons of such disasters. We have a habit of forgetting easily and keep the problems to mound, once life is normal.

The situation has worsened after massive release of waters from the dam. It is high time, we start thinking about the efficacy of dams itself. We have learnt that dams are constructed to regulate the flow of river, keeping the excess water during rains in reservoirs and utilising the reserved water during lean season. If the recent history of floods across the country is analysed that dams generally release water during excessive rains. This only aggravates the crisis. Why does the dams have inadequate storing capacity? Do they really provide water during drought?

It is high time, a team of independent technical personnel drawn from various institutes like IISc, IIT, IIM is entrusted the task of efficacy of these dams.

Meanwhile, massive desilting operations be taken up increase the water holding capacity of these reservoirs. Following suggestions coming from several experts in this area may also be considered:

• Massive afforestation in hills and banks of river. Large trees can absorb significant part of rainfall and release it through roots improving the ground water.
• Building small ponds surrounded by trees in upstream of the river to conserve rainwater.
• Building small water-bodies in the hinterland. This will help in keeping temperatures cool in summer season apart from preserving the rainwater.
• Plantation of trees on roadside and banks of water-bodies will help prevent landslide.
• Maintenance of proper sewerage, specially in hilly regions to help easy pass through for water to flow down instead of breaking the road.

These are only suggestions and experts should provide the opinion. We must be open to all the ideas coming various quarters instead of following just the time-tested one. We must realise that silt of stagnant water in reservoirs built near dams tend to settle down, which reduces the depth of the reservoirs. Further, the dust in the wind also settle down on the wet bed of the river downstream as there is little flow during the lean season. The effect on the carrying capacity of rivers and reservoirs due to dams must be considered by the experts. Hence the suggestion for independent experts away from the administration.

Why NGO for education?

There is a general talk from various quarters is the need of NGO for education purposes, when basic education is free after enactment of Right to Education Act and provision of mid-day meals in schools. The answer can be derived from a single question, Why middle class and upper class is not sending their children to schools, where education is free and mid-day meals provided?

Plain-speak, they are not doing any charity or doing favor to anybody, but are wary of quality of education provided in these free schools. Even those responsible for running these schools do not send their children to these schools. 

This dual education system is biggest hindrance to take benefit of the great demographic advantage, we are enjoying now. We are nowhere near the growth rates of China for more than a decade, when they are best placed in way of demographic advantage. Demographic advantage is higher population in the bracket of 18-60 compared to those who are dependent on them like senior citizens and children.

Due to dual education system, majority of children of better placed middle class and upper class qualify for higher education. This is due to different quality of education imparted to separate sets of children.

This has prompted Govt. to withdraw or reduce subsidies to premier institutes like IITs and IIMs as children from mainly elite society (or those who can afford) quality for these institutions. Though there is loan facilities available, but it will be difficult for anybody from low income group to get it.

One of the arguments moving around in social circles is that the IITians  contribute little for India as good number of them settle abroad and strengthen the economy of those countries after getting subsidy from common tax payer.

The answer to these arguments is large software exports, which would not have been possible, if Indians had not proven their worth on foreign soil. These software not only bring major foreign exchange to the country, but provide employment to large number of youths with good remuneration.

Some figures collected from RBI Report on balance of payments for consumption of readers:

Period:                                      Oct-Dec 2017

Current Account Deficit:         $ 13b

Merchandise Deficit:               $ 44b

Services Surplus:                     $ 30b

Services Surplus is made up of $18b software exports and $16b remittances from private sources. There is deficit of $3b from investment income. This is more due to building up of reserves from capital flows.

This is tip of the iceberg. We can repeat the story of software in medical and education sectors. Our healthcare sector has shortage of qualified doctors, qualified medical attendants, qualified nurses. It is real irony that when there is battery of large unemployed youth ready for agitation on any issue, we have to hire nurses from countries like Thailand. This is due to lack of nursing institutes and high tuition fee in most of such colleges.

NGO for education is needed to provide children studying in Govt. Schools the right atmosphere to qualify themselves for higher studies.

NGO for education can impart information on various courses available for career enhancements apart educating them of need to use technology and digital platforms to enhance their capabilities. It can also help in building entrepreneurship.

NGO for education can also build necessary infrastructure in higher education institutes, which provide low cost education to improve their intake.

NGO for education can help the country in various ways to earn more foreign exchange. Above all, we need better neighborhood.