Resolutions for the New year

Well that's quick isn't it? 

It’s been 5 years since I published my resolutions for2012. The best part is that I achieved most of the goals of that year even beyond my planning and actions.

So, I do believe now that writing down your goals, does help.

So here goes another set of goals and activities for this year

·                     Improve my Business and take it to next step

• Open new geography - Get at-least 5 Indian customers. 
• First year to make 1Mil USD!
• Start branding exercises, Partnership exercises.

• Publish Two books

·                     Learn public communication

·                     Help someone to further in career/life

·                     Start Exercising regularly

Activities
·                     Weekends

• Benign media
• Sudh Labh – Promote actively
• Hydrophonics?
• Volunteering

·                     Give more time and attention to Elders, Youngsters, All

·                     Read more books that inspire, expand and teach

·                     Stop watching T.V

·                     Seek out habits that help overcome fear or inertia. Do more here! (Credit Seth's Tip #6 here)

·                     Focus on quality than quantity. Be right is better than being fast

·                     Think first and then Act

·                     Keep in touch with Friends & Well wishers qualitatively

·                     Meditate daily

·                     Perform Regular cleaning. Reduce old junk (files, docs, items, clothes…)

·                     Thank God for Small Mercies (and large ones)

·                     Learn a Martial art

·                     One vacation w/o Tasks and Todos

·                     Pilgrimage/trek to one of the man 'mala's - Tirumala, Sabarimala, Pazhani...... 

Soul food for Sundays - Volunteer in Chennai

Like many, I have been "looking" to do volunteering work for some time now. I started checking out a few years back, found a place and then got caught up in the churn of daily routines.

Finally, last month, I started checking out again and found a few options for volunteering in Chennai.

1. http://chennaivolunteers.org/ - Lists a lot of options, nicely consolidated website
2. Reading sessions at Padma Seshadri Bala Bavan School [PSBB], Habibulla Road, T Nagar,

As I had checked the 2nd one earlier, thought of exploring it further and sent an email to Shankar about whether it is still on. Got a nice email with a blog post and FAQ about reading for Visually challenged students in PSBB, T. Nagar.
The place is near Valluvar kottam and provides a chance to read to Visually challenged students in Tamil & English.

Reading for Visually challenged , PSBB, T. Nagar

So, I want on sunday, 26th Oct. Reached there early by about 9.45 and a Sai Bhajan was going on. By 10.30, there was a bunch of students and the organizers started calling out "Tamil", "English" etc. You step in, get assigned and start.

I guess, nothing can be made easier than this - No signup,s fuss, formalities. Just show up and help.

I got to read for a student studying Phd in "Social conciousness in Tamil literature", and that day he wanted to go over a few poems of Kaviarasu kannadasan. Got as chance to read a few wonderful poems of Kannadasan (First time for me).

It was an excellent experience to see about 50 students full of Energy, Happiness, and Hope. They are not sorry. They were never worried. They are not helpless. They never talk about what they don't have. Each one is having plans about future - Studies, Job, Marriage and what not.
It was an amazing feeling. They have friends and there was so much bon-homie and laughter. There were Phd students, BEd students, PG, UG students, those who are working/training as teachers etc. Their self confidence is amazing.

I was very comfortable. The organizers/organization was focussed. No unnecessary formalities. Job simply getting done. It was very gratifying to also see the set of volunteers made up of a good mix of youth, middle-aged as well as senior citizens of both genders.

I thank them for the wonderful opportunity to utilize myself for something useful. Not to forget the Coffee, Biscuits and the lunch we had that day - simple and tasty to wrap up a very satisfying sunday morning.

Address is Padma Seshadri Bala Bavan School [PSBB], Habibulla Road, T Nagar, Chennai
Timings - Sunday mornings 10.30 to 12.30
Check out the article and Frequently asked questions - http://scribes-readers.blogspot.in/2007/08/reading-session-for-visually-challenged.html
Check out some pictures  - http://picasaweb.google.com/scopeon2002/SundayReadingSessionAtTNagarChennai#

They are in need of people, both for Tamil and English. Check out or walk in on Sunday mornings. The schedule is very nice - like IPL session about 2-3 hours max.

Some soul food is good for Sundays. 

Bangalore garbage problem - IITian appointed to handle the Solid Waste Management issues

The problem of garbage in Bangalore is reaching unmanageable proportions. After the recent demonstrations by villages in Mandur etc, the government has finally sat up and taking notice. 

A lot of action seems to be happening and one of it to appoint an IIT-ian, Mr. Darpan Jain as the special commissioner for Solid waste management in Bangalore. 

Hope he will come up with innovative ideas and ensure their implementations to solve the problem - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Garbage-crisis-IITian-is-ready-for-the-challenge/articleshow/37274277.cms

Here, we need to understand - We cannot just put our hands up and push ALL the responsibility to the government. 

The waste is being generated in Our homes, Our restaurants, Our hotels, Our hospitals, Our offices, 

Our residential complexes, and Our factories!. We need to make efforts to segregate and help towards a cleaner Bangalore and a cleaner India. It is not just enough to discuss, but action needs to be done. 

Simple thing to start at homes would be to keep a separate bin for degradeable (kitchen waste) Vs non-degradeable items in other words Wet vs Dry items. 

At commercial establishments, it is much easier to segregate different qualities of dry waste and even get some money for them.

Most of the industries are well equipped and well versed in taking recycleable inputs and hence are eager to pay a price for them. The minimum we can do is to make it easy recycleable inputs since they are off the landfills!

India, Cigarette packets warnings to cover 85% of space and on both sides - only one regret

Cigarette smoking is injurious to health!

Not that you need to hear it from me, but just recently I went and met the father of my friend, a jovial, active  and energetic person, who is now suffering from severe COPD, and is severely restricted in movements due to the oxygen tube that he needs to use almost for 24 hours a day.

About four of my friends/associates are into smoking and all are well educated, (graduates and double graduates), intelligent and able to defend their actions in rational or irrational arguments.

As the link between smoking and various illnesses and ailments are becoming more and more clear and published, I hope this crazy habit will see its end soon.

The companies are squeezing life out of every smoker and filling the coffers. I don't know what logic or justification they have to continue to sell this slow poison.

So, it is with happy feeling that I welcome a very good step in one of the many steps towards reducing Cigarette smoking in India. I hope and wish that the government does not stop here and continue the many steps towards reducing Cigaratte smoking in India. Just like Polio eradication and TB eradication, I think we need a tobacco eradication program for India.

Here is the link to the article that talks about the government move - http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-16/news/55107234_1_pictorial-warnings-health-warnings-proposed-warnings

1. To increasing the pictorial warning to 85% of the package. - 60% picture and 25% text. I would say a picture speaks a 1000 words, 85% picture would've been good.
2. Further it also moves the companies towards removing the glossy packaging and making them plain - to reduce the attraction for youth. 
3. The warnings are to be done on both sides of the packet.  

The health minister Harsh Vardhan, has said that they have made a Number of suggestions on curbing tobacco consumption and this is just one of them. Good! 

The only regret in this the date of implementation is fixed as Apr 1, 2015. There is a saying "Subhasha seekram" - If it is a good thing, do it fast. Would've been good if the implementation date is earlier. 

Anyway, Kudos to the Health ministry and to the government in thinking and implementing these steps. 

If you do know of any organization(s) that are helping smokers quit or fighting against smoking, please add as comment or email me. I will update the post.

Social Evil - 1 of 3. Drug usage on the rise among India's youth

When I studied my Engineering about 20 years back in Chennai, we used to hear about drugs on-and-off. Mainly there used to be rumors that certain group(s) of students would do drugs on special occasions (college day celebrations) in some forsaken place.

But, recently it seems the drug usage among youth/teens/college and even schools students is heavily on the rise.

Too many news items of late. Just a 5 minute search on google throws up so much
Woman arrested with 21kg marijuana
Drug addiction among students on the rise

Here is a Sting by NDTV on how easy to get drugs in front of Bangalore colleges

if you think only Bangalore has a problem, check out Pune - Here and here  and about Chandigarh - Chandigarh youth turn slave to drugs and 27 Kgs of Heroin seized!

A combination of factors seem to be fanning the fire!

More money in the hands of the youth, More exposure and hence confusions on rights and wrongs, Confusions over rights and responsibilities, Terrible pressure - Peer pressure, pressure from Media, pressure from competitions for everything - from college seats to sweetheart's hearts.

On the other hand, seems the crooks have gotten brazen, the hierarchy and levels of playing fields extend to the gates of schools and houses, Greed has taken over good and common sense with some of the enforcers also taking part in the crime.

It is a killer for our future generation, they being harmed mentally and physically. Just read this story about a eighteen year old girl who got addicted to drugs even before her 10th standard and how it consumed her.

Once they get into the habit, sadly they don't realize the effects it has on their physique , their minds and their family members.

With such a mushrooming of the problem, it is very good timing that Prime minister Narendra Modi has started a debate/discussion on this and is planning to talk about it on his next Mann Ki Baath. 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-narendra-modi-invites-views-experiences-on-dealing-with-menace-of-drugs-2031979. Please check the links and place your views to save the youth of India

Here is a prayer for those victims - To get a better frame of mind, Understand the implications and Be able to resist the temptations and live their lives to the fullest.

Good news today - Kerela High court upholds liquor ban

Picture By Sreejithk2000

The Kerala high court has upheld the liquor ban by the kerala state government, as a first step towards prohibition in the state. About 600+ bars will be shut from tomorrow.

For more info check http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-120363.html

Hope that this starts a first step towards the long road towards prohibition

Transparency in the Indian Central government

The new government seems to be taking serious steps towards transparency and clean goveranance. The list of assets and liabilities of all ministers in the Union council is listed in pmindia.gov.in.

Good job!