Halloween Costume ideas 2015
May 2014
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2:09 PM
Dr. K Parameswaran

Renowned Gyanpeeth award winner from Kerala Shri S K Pottekat once wrote in his famous travelogue to London about a sign board he had seen in the city. It read – “impatience to cross roads creates in - patients in hospitals”! This applies to crossing railway lines at unmanned level crossings also. At the height of our hurry to cross the level crossing just before the speeding trains pass by, we forget the elementary fact that trains, which travel at a speed of about 100 kms per hour, hardly take a minute to traverse 1.7 kms! Thus, it is just for a gain of less than a minute that we try to cross a railway track when the speeding train is visible afar!
            The Indian Railways and the Railway Safety Organization is jointly organizing a campaign to highlight the safety aspect of using railways, especially to highlight the dangers of impatience when it comes to crossing level crossings.
            The International Union of Railways (UIC) observes one day every year as the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD). This year the day falls on June 3rd. Indian Railways will also be participating in this global campaign to sensitize road users and to increase safety at unmanned level crossings. The ILCAD focuses on educational measures and the promotion of safe behavior at and around level crossings. It is built on existing national events which will be held jointly at various locations in every participating country on June 3rd, 2014.
            The Madurai Railway Division will also be observing International Unmanned Level Crossing Awareness day on next Tuesday (June 3, 2014). Officials of the division will visit unmanned railway crossings and interact with the public to make them aware about the dangers of impatience while crossing unmanned railway crossings. The exercise will be held on all days from June 2nd to June 6th.
They will also distribute awareness materials like posters, pamphlets etc on the occasion. Performance of street plays, exhibition of videos etc, are also planned as part of the propaganda. A set of specially made hand fans, with safety motto emblazoned across it, pens and pencils with safety measures written boldly across them etc are also being distributed to villagers, school students etc.
Shri A K Rastogi, Divisional Railway Manager, Madurai division said that about 40% of the 31254 level crossings on Indiian railways – this comes to about 12500 level crossings -  are unmanned. These level crossings contribute to about 40% of train accidents, of which as high as 66% result in the loss of human lives. He observed that the accidents at level crossings are largely man made and can be avoided.
            He revealed that a train, which is running at a speed of about 100 km per hour, will take hardly a minute to cross a distance of about 1.7 kms. Additionally, loco pilots have been instructed to blow the engine whistle from a distance of 600 metres while approaching a level crossing.
Railways have also provided four kinds of sign boards, warning road users about the presence of unmanned railway crossings at distances of 200, 120, and five metres from the actual crossing. The first board features a railway engine and two strips and the second one an engine and one strip. The third board is a speed breaker warning and the fourth one will carry, in broad letters, the legend “Stop, Listen and Proceed”.
The railways are constantly requesting passengers to be careful while negotiating level crossings. Playing car radios at high volume, trying to cross the level crossings when the train is in sight, talking on mobile phones while driving, are all direct invitations to accidents with possible loss of lives.
Another recurrent theme of railway safety messages is that your life is precious and that your family is awaiting you at home. Rash and hasty driving will only lead to accidents.
The Railway safety Organization has stressed the importance of following the guide lines while crossing unmanned level crossings. The organization has, time and again, requested car and bus passengers, to stop the vehicle, get down and look out for any approaching train from both directions and then only cross the railway line if no trains are approaching!
Next time when approaching a level crossing, please remember this - a wait of less than a minute will lead to a gain of a whole life time. For this waiting of just one minute, what you may have to forgo could well be a healthy, joyous, fruitful lifetime!

*International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) is being observed on June 3rd 2014.

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2:53 PM

NEW DELHI -- The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan addressed the commemorative function to mark the World No Tobacco Day, here. He released highlights of a report on the “Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India” and unveiled a print advertisement featuring Shri Rahul Dravid, India’s Brand Ambassador for Tobacco Control. 


Speaking at the function, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that Tobacco consumption is a menace and a strong social movement is needed to address and tackle its growing use in India. This needs a redefining of the strategy, he stated, which will need to see engagement of all sections of people. We need to convince tobacco users of the grave ill effects of its consumption, the Health Minister said. He stated that children can become the strongest messengers of positive health including giving up Tobacco use. It is children, he stated, who can convince, motivate and educate the elders to give up the use of tobacco and tobacco products. 

The Health Minister said that for him every day is an anti-tobacco day, where he tries to convince people about the effect its use has on their health. 

The report on “Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India”, supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and the WHO Country Office for India, was developed by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). The report estimates direct and indirect costs from all diseases caused due to tobacco use and four specific diseases namely, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. 

The report also highlights that tobacco use and the associated costs are creating an enormous burden for the nation. The total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in the year 2011 amounted to a staggering Rs. 1,04,500 crores. Looking through GDP lens this is 1.16 percent of GDP and 12 percent more than the combined state and central government expenditure on health care in 2011. According to the report, massive direct medical costs of tobacco attributable diseases amount to Rs.16,800 crore and associated indirect morbidity cost of Rs. 14,700 crore. The cost from premature mortality is Rs. 73,000 crores, indicating a substantial productive loss to the nation, the report states. 
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3:00 PM
An illuminated sign of the Google logo. File photoGoogle is building a car without a steering wheel.
Sergey Brin, co-founder of the technology titan, told a Southern California technology conference on  evening that Google will make 100 prototype cars that drive themselves and therefore do not need a wheel. Or brake and gas pedals.
Instead, there are buttons for go and stop.
A combination of sensors and computing power takes the driving from there.
To date, Google has driven hundreds of thousands of miles on public roads with Lexus SUVs and Toyota Priuses outfitted with the special equipment.
This prototype is the first Google will have built for itself.
It won’t be for sale, and Google is unlikely to go deeply into auto manufacturing. In a blog post, the company emphasised partnering with other firms.
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11:27 AM
NEW DELHI -- The Vice President of India  M. Hamid Ansari presented the ‘Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow National leadership Awards-2012’ at a function here . Addressing on the occasion, he said that the importance of the three categories for which the awards are given viz. “Award for Business; Award for Science and Technology; and Award for Community Service & Social Upliftment”, cannot be underestimated. They are essential pillars in our nation’s quest for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. 

He said that a vibrant business sector is a necessity for sustained economic growth and employment generation. Science and technology are indispensable for addressing major contemporary challenges of economic growth and social transformation of societies. Similarly, community service and social upliftment is unquestionably required to address the special needs of the poor and marginalized sections of our society, who run the risk of getting left out of the economic growth process, due to extraneous social and economic factors that militate against them. 

The Vice President said that by selecting these three categories for the awards, IIM Lucknow and the JK Organisation have shown great foresight. 

The awards are given in three categories – Award for Business; Award for Science and Technology; and Award for Community Service & Social Upliftment. A Trophy and Citation Scroll was presented to the awardees by the Vice President. 

“I am happy to have been invited for this ceremony to present the ‘Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow National Leadership Awards 2012’ to six distinguished individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and attained excellence in their respective area of work. 

I take this opportunity to salute the memory of Shri Lakshmipat Singhania, a visionary business leader. Shri Singhania was a fine example of a successful entrepreneur who remained committed to his social responsibility for the welfare of the deprived and marginalized section of our society, especially through spread of education. The JK Organization and Shri Hari Shankar Singhania have most ably carried forward the rich legacy of Lakshmipat ji. 

The importance of the three categories for which the awards are given cannot be underestimated. They are essential pillars in our nation’s quest for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. 

A vibrant business sector is a necessity for sustained economic growth and employment generation. 

Science and technology are indispensable for addressing major contemporary challenges of economic growth and social transformation of societies. 

Similarly, community service and social upliftment is unquestionably required to address the special needs of the poor and marginalized sections of our society, who run the risk of getting left out of the economic growth process, due to extraneous social and economic factors that militate against them. 

By selecting these three categories for the awards, IIM Lucknow and the JK Organisation have shown great foresight. 

It has been said by a famous statesman ‘if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’. I am confident that all the six awardees fulfill these criteria of leadership. Their recognition today by conferment of this award would surely inspire others to follow their path. 

I extend my heartiest felicitations to the awardees for their achievements and their services to the nation. I also wish them all success in the future. I thank the organizers for having invited me.” 
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11:22 AM
Pooja P. Vardhan

It is said that “A people's relationship to their heritage is the same as the relationship of a child to its mother”. Our heritage is our pride and we all have some responsibility to save and preserve it for our future generation. The Constitution of India under Article under   51A (f) imposes duty on every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been instrumental for this sacred cause.  Different branches of ASI having technical expertise in different disciplines, work together in perfect coordination to accomplish this stupendous task. Science Branch of Archaeological of Survey of India is one of the oldest branches of ASI and was established in 1917 with an objective to share the responsibility of preserving monuments of the country in a scientific manner utilizing the best available traditional and modern methods of conservation. The main objective of providing scientific treatment to monument is to improve the aesthetic appeal of the monument, Remove all deleterious accretions and deposits, Neutralize harmful residues and prepare the surface for final preservative treatments.
There are different natural and manmade factors which are generally considered responsible for different conservation problems and cause damage to the building materials of a monument. Geological and mineralogical defects which develop during the genesis of rocks may be responsible for different conservation problems and consequent damage to the monuments. This is due to inherent weakness of the building materials.
There are certain biological factors such as Growth of Moss, Lichen, Algae, Fungi and higher plants on a monument. They not only impart a ugly look to the monument but also cause physical & chemical damaged to the building material. Bat’s and bird’s droppings/excreta cause damage particularly to fine stone works and paintings. Deposit of Bat’s excreta on stone structures in Ajanta Caves caused chemical damages to the structures. 
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and other chemically active pollutant species along with dust results in disfiguring of the monument. Similarly variation in climatic conditions, moisture and intense solar radiation are also responsible for the decay of specific building materials.
Conservation problems are different for different geographical areas. For example the monuments at high altitude like monasteries of Leh and Ladakh face a different type of conservation problems which are generally related to specific clay based (adobe) structures and variable climatic conditions. Similarly the monuments of coastal areas face the problem of salt efflorescence. Crystallization of soluble salts in the matrix of stone, plaster, mortar etc. is a major cause of damage to the monument. This disrupts the pore structures of the stone and slowly damages the core of the building material which is difficult to be repaired. Burning of oil lamps and ingredients used for offering puja in the temples also cause damage to the monuments.

Further acts of human vandalism also invite many conservation problems. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act – 2010 provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments, archeological sites, and remains of national importance and also provides penalty against acts of human vandalism.

Science Branch of Archaeological Survey of India study the physical and chemical characteristics of building materials or the substrate (stone, rock mortar, plaster etc.). After proper diagnosis of conservation problems, an appropriate methodology is developed by experienced archaeological chemists using suitable chemicals, solvents and materials.
In order to conserve and preserve the monuments different conservation measures are planned and executed in a systematic manner to achieve best possible results. General cleaning of monuments, mud pack cleaning, removal of calcareous deposits and accretions, bio-cide treatment, consolidation and water repellent treatment, are some of them.  Very dilute mixture of ammonia solution and a non ionic detergent is used for the easy removal of accretions and biological growth with mild brushing. Bleaching powder slurry in aqueous medium is used to remove micro-vegetation from lime plastered surface.  Mud Pack Cleaning is used for the cleaning of plain and decorated marble surface in order to remove such accretions which generally do not respond to normal cleaning process. The pack is prepared using Bentonite clay to which some chemicals in a fixed ratio are added to improve the working of the pack which is based on the principle of adsorption. This method is being used successfully for the conservation of Taj Mahal and other marble structures.
Besides calcareous deposits, the deposits of carbon black/soot, stains of oil, red ocher, paints etc. also need cleaning for which suitable formulations are prepared and used as per requirements. Biocide treatment helps to retard or check the recurrence of micro-vegetation growth on the monuments. After cleaning 2-3% aqueous solution/suspension of Sodium Penta Chloro Phenate is being used for this purpose. The efficacy of this treatment is further improved with water repellent treatment which is given to the monument just after this treatment on the dried surface. The Science branch laboratory of Archaeological of Survey of India at Dehradun works in collaboration with specialized scientific institutions so that appropriate bio-cide may be evaluated and selected for specific problems related to bio-deterioration of monuments.
The Taj Mahal, Kutab Minar, Caves of Ajanta, Meenakshi Temple, Rock shelters at Bhimbhetika, temples of Khajraho, Badal gate at Chanderi, Great Stupa of Sanchi, Jahaz mahal of Mandu, and many other heritage buildings reflects our impressive composite culture. Besides providing scientific treatment to the monuments of historical and social importance, there is a need to imbibe good conservation practices for protection of our heritage.

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