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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fwd: Think differently, Mr Finance Minister-CSE's News Bulletin (March 8, 2011)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CSE <cse@equitywatch.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Subject: Think differently, Mr Finance Minister-CSE's News Bulletin (March 8, 2011)
To: cse@lists.csenews.org, csewhatsnew1@lists.csenews.org, csewhatsnew2@lists.csenews.org, csewhatsnew3@lists.csenews.org, csewhatsnew4@lists.csenews.org, csewhatsnew5@lists.csenews.org


===================================================
CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (March 8, 2011)
===================================================
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The paranoia is growing. As nations across northern Africa, middle
east and the orient erupt in protest
against repressive regimes and economic stagnation, governments have
been responding by gagging the
new and novel source of almost all of these conflagarations: the
Internet. Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
China... nations are manipulating the world wide web, with China
barring websites and public forums, and even the US
adopting 'legal' ways of curbing the freedom.

This fortnight, read in Down To Earth the analysis of the steps being
taken by governments to maneuver away from what
does not fit their fancy (http://downtoearth.org.in/taxonomy/term/20345).

We also bring you Sunita Narain's edit on the 2011 budget, and updates
of the action happening in India's forests and forest bureaucracies,
plus lots more. Read on.

Down To Earth is now on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow, share,
comment, and discuss on www.facebook.com/down2earthindia
and stay in constant touch with our reporters on twitter@downtoearthindia.


====================================

FROM DOWN TO EARTH
====================================
>From forest fronts

The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has withdrawn its
latest guidelines for creating Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH).

(http://downtoearth.org.in/content/jairam-ramesh-withdraws-guidelines-violating-fra).
These guidelines, issued by the ministry on February 7, 2011,
were criticised for violating the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and
threatening the interests of the forest dwellers. The details at
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/misguided-rules

In Assam, people are taking to streets against eviction notices and
tiger reserve tag. Read 'Kaziranga simmers on fringes'
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/kaziranga-simmers-fringes

Grassroots victory: FRA emboldens tribals in Dudhwa to demand control over grass
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/grassroots-victory

Also, an infographic on minor forest produce as categorised for the
first time under the Act
(http://downtoearth.org.in/dte/userfiles/infographics/mfp/mfp.htm),
and what happened at CSE's media briefing on FRA,
held in Bhubaneswar in Odisha on March 4-5, 2011
(http://cseindia.org/node/2191).


------------------------------
Industy fights for endosulfan

While the pesticide industry continues to vouch for endosulfan,
Karnataka bans the deadly pesticide. Follow the story at
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/karnataka-bans-endosulfan

In her column 'patently absurd', Latha Jishnu ('New endosulfan ploy)
writes how the industry is sidestepping issues by pitching
the proposed UN ban on endosulfan as a battle between generics and
patented pesticides
(http://downtoearth.org.in/content/new-endosulfan-ploy)

====================================
EDITORIAL
Think differently, Mr Finance Minister (by Sunita Narain)
====================================
As I write this piece, the finance minister has dispatched the Union
Budget 2011. The press is busy reflecting the views of business and
industry lobbies,
as they quibble over duty exemptions, insist on financial stimulus and
other incentives, and cry for big-ticket reform—foreign direct
investment in retail
and insurance. The only other discussion is about the growing fiscal
deficit: will the finance minister give in to populism while extending
the programmes for the poor?
Or will he raise taxes to pay for the growing developmental needs of
the country? The finance minister, it would seem, is caught between
two battles: of
checking the bulge in fiscal irresponsibility and of meeting the need
for delivering governance.

But remember, this budget is coming at a time when the world food
prices are spiraling, this time because of unusual and variable
weather events. Oil prices,
too, are rising, triggering fears of a full-blown crisis in West Asia.
In this age, it is clear that fiscal prudence must take new forms of
balancing books
that are not cooked. The budget must respond to this uncertain future. How?

First, it must get serious about agricultural growth. Indian
agriculture has suffered because of lack of investment. We talk about
infrastructure for
industrial growth, but how many times have budget pundits stopped to
check how farmers irrigate their land. If they do, they would find
that the bulk of
irrigation facilities in the country have been created thro ugh
private investment—dugwells and tubewells provide water to over 60 per
cent of irrigated
crops. Farmers have invested money; borrowed from financial
institutions and paid hefty interests because of the high risks and
lack of benefactors in high
places (unlike many industries, where loan default is astoundingly
high). The budget must reflect the need to invest big time into
building agricultural
security. This is about fiscal prudence.

Second, let's get serious about paying the real price of growing food,
particularly in times of weather uncertainty. The government
expenditure increases as
the cost of food increases, particularly because of high procurement
of food for distribution. In the past, governments have balanced
budgets by squeezing
profit margins of food growers so that government or consumers pay
less for food. But this policy must change, particularly in times when
growing food itself
is becoming risky because of erratic weather. One instance of extreme
cold, heat, rain or drought can wipe out crops, impoverish people and
push them deeper
into debt and despair. We need strategies to keep up with these changes.

This will require doing much more and much differently. Farmers must
be paid higher price for food. The minimum support price must be
raised to the maximum.
It must reflect the ecological cost of food. Crops that use less water
must be paid more and included in government's food procurement
basket. It also
requires investment in ecological regeneration—building soil, forest
and water assets—for coping with adverse weather. Ecological prudence
must be part of
the fiscal responsibility package.

Thirdly, the budget must build the foundations of social security so
that people can cope with uncertainty. We desperately
need to spend more on health, public services and education. No
questions or cuts here.

Fourthly, governance of public-sector spending must also improve;
merely spending is not enough. But how can services be efficiently
delivered to the people?
Impression is created that all will be well once we can identify
people who need the service and give them unique, secure passkeys for
identification. This
may well be important. But in my view it is equally important to fix
the broken systems of governance and delivery in the country. The
budget must emphasise
this and demand accountability.

Fifthly, it is equally important that spending and subsidy are
targeted at the poor, and the rich do not siphon them off. Take
diesel. Its price is kept low
for the poor even in times of high oil prices. But it is being used to
drive the vehicles of the rich. Government's own estimate is that more
diesel is used
in private passenger vehicles (15 per cent) than in agriculture (12
per cent). This, when we know that there is huge under-recovery in the
price of every litre
of diesel sold in the country. We also know that the growing and
deliberate price differential between petrol and diesel is tempting
more Indians to drive fuel-guzzling SUVs.
The use of diesel in private automobiles was never mandated.

Most in government today will accept that this use is wrong. But they
will do nothing. The "reformers" will talk about withdrawing subsidy
on all fuels,
while well aware of the fact that a large number of people in India
cannot even afford the cheap and subsidised kerosene. The poor need
access to subsidised
fuel; its diversion to cars is pilferage. So target its use and ban
its misuse. Budget 2011 can fix this by putting a massive and
crippling tax on private
vehicles running on subsidised fuel. Clearly, budget 2011 must do more
than what's easy and ordinary. This is the age of uncertainty. Small
changes will not do.

Post your comments on this editorial online at
http://downtoearth.org.in/taxonomy/term/20348
====================================

MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH
==================================
- Tram to oblivion: Kolkata witnesses the last days of a non-polluting
and once-efficient mode of transport, while trams make a comeback in
cities around
the world. Sayantan Bera reports at
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/tram-oblivion

Also, a ride down the tram memory lane in 'The last car: A photo
collage on Kolkata trams' at http://downtoearth.org.in/node/389

- Partial ban: New rules ban metalised plastic only in tobacco sachets
(http://downtoearth.org.in/content/partial-ban)

- Mission eclipsed: The National Solar Mission may get derailed as
banks hesitate to give loans for its high-risk projects
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/mission-eclipsed

- Think before you drink: Studies confirm energy drinks like Red Bull
can be unsafe. India yet to limit their caffeine content
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/think-you-drink

- Channels of change: Two villages in Uttar Pradesh have reversed the
trend of migration by digging six km of channels to bring water
to drought-hit farms. Read about them at
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/channels-change

- All about mobile spectrum: India's demand for mobile phones is
almost insatiable. Telecom companies are falling over themselves to
cash
in on it, even if it means resorting to unethical deeds. A report
(http://downtoearth.org.in/content/all-about-mobile-spectrum)

- Jean Dreze, member, National Advisory Council of India says cash
transfer is effective only if basic services are in place ('A
complement,
not a substitute', http://downtoearth.org.in/content/complement-not-substitute)

- Warming behind floods: Studies prove greenhouse gases cause frequent
intense rainfall
http://downtoearth.org.in/content/warming-behind-floods



==================================
In Gobar Times
==================================
Read the views of Pandit Gobar Ganesh at gobar gyan.
http://www.gobartimes.org/20110315/gt_editorial.asp

Get an insight of the entire system of public hearing in 'Story of a
public hearing that wasn't… How to get 'heard' and why?'
http://www.gobartimes.org/20110315/gt_covfeature1.asp

====================================
On India Environment Portal
====================================

- Sub-portal on South Asia and Sustainable Development launched.
Provides in-depth information "critical for policy" through  news,
reports, analysis articles, opinions and events. These are also linked
to other
key institutions, their web-sites etc. A search facility is available
within the sub-portal on keywords pertaining to the subject. You too
can be a
part of this initiative and contribute informative studies, reports,
government rules, regulations, court orders from Nepal, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/indepth/term/9790

- Database on threatened lakes: A special package on action
surrounding the lakes in Karnataka
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/

- Besides these, continue to access the most comprehensive collection
of reports, studies, documents, public hearings, court orders,
judicial proceedings on environment and development at
http://www.environmentportal.in/reports_and_documents_page. You can
also
subscribe to the Daily News Bulletin on environment at
http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/daily-news-bulletin/rss

- Be our partner and contribute to the portal.
Send EIA reports, copies of judgements, videos of public hearing etc
to kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com

- Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/indiaenvportal  and
join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/indiaenvironmentportal/228015872817

- Get linked. List and provide links of your organisation (or your
library's) website to India environment portal as a
"free-to-use" online resource on environment for benefit of your researchers.

For other details, please contact kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com

====================================
LEARNING WITH CSE
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College

====================================
- Urban Rainwater Harvesting
A course for civil engineers, architects, urban planners, environment
consultants and NGOs, students and academicians

Date: March 22-25, 2011

Last Date for Applying: March 10, 2011

Course Module:
- Overview – Water – yesterday, today and tomorrow
- Science of rainwater harvesting
- Technology of rainwater harvesting
- Harvesting the city's water endowment
- Policy framework for rainwater harvesting
- Making water everybody's business: A primer for action

Programme details: http://cseindia.org/content/urban-rainwater-harvesting-1

For more information, contact: Debasis Tudu
Research Associate, Water Programme
Centre for Science and Environment
Phone : 91 (011) 29955124 (Ext. 280)
Mobile : +91 9013338906
Email: debasis@cseindia.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urban transportation reforms for clean and liveable cities
An orientation programme for policy makers

Date: March 22-24, 2011

Course Module:
- Challenges of urbanization – especially air pollution, congestion,
public health impacts, energy and climate impacts of motorization etc.
- Why vehicles are a special challenge?
- Challenges of mobility management
- Strategies to scale up public transport and design multi-modal integration
- Bus sector reforms
- Implementation of bus rapid transit system
- Making cities walkable
- Non-motorised transport
- Parking policy as a congestion reduction strategy
- Funding mechanism for public transport and rationalisation of
transport related taxes to promote public transport usage
- Issues for city mobility plan and the reform agenda under the JNNURM
programme for effective time bound action

Programme details : http://cseindia.org/node/2127

For more information, contact:Priyanka Chandola
Tel: 011 - 29955124
9810414938 (Mobile)
Fax: 011 - 29955879
Email: priyanka@cseindia.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CSE's short-term training programme on social impact assessment
for decision makers, regulators and stakeholders

Date:  April 18-20, 2011

The objective of this programme is to build capacity and create
awareness among regulators, developers, NGOs and academicians to
understand SIA
process—Reconnaissance and Baseline Survey, Land Acquisition Survey
and Plan (LAP) and Preparation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).
The programme
also aims at evaluating the SIA report along with the applicable
legislations in India.

Programme details: http://cseindia.org/node/2208

For details contact: Sujit Kumar Singh
Industry & Environment Unit
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062
Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 281); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879
Mobile: 9899676027
Email: sujit@cseindia.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Agenda for Survival
A month-long summer certificate course on environment and development issues

Date: June 1-30, 2011

Last date for applying: April 15, 2011

Course Module:
- State of India's environment: An overview
- The environmental movement in India
- Poverty and the biomass economy
- Ecological rights & natural resource management
- Land and its use: Agriculture, food security
- Conservation & conflict: wildlife management debate
- Urban growth challenges: Water & waste management, air pollution & mobility
- Sustainable industrialisation & public health concerns
- Climate change & global environmental governance
- A week-long field trip to rural India to explore eco-restoration
efforts at the grassroots level

Course details: cseindia.org/node/1701

For more details contact: Sharmila Sinha
Assistant coordinator
Anil Agarwal Green College
Centre for Science and Environment
Phone : 91 (011) 29955124 (Ext. 270)
Email: sharmila@cseindia.org / cseindiasharmila@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9818482018
====================================

WHAT MORE ARE WE DOING...
Updates from our programme units
====================================
- Kolkata City Dialogue on air quality and transportation challenge:
An agenda for action
March 16, 2011

CSE's Clean air and urban mobility team  is organizing "Kolkata City
Dialogue on Air Quality and Transportation Challenge: An Agenda for
Action"
in joint collaboration with the Kolkata Metropolitan Development
Authority, Kolkata. The objective is to engage with all the relevant
stakeholders
and the citizens of the city to build public and policy awareness on
clean air and urban mobility. This dialogue forum will capture
learning from
initiatives taken in Kolkata and share experiences from Delhi and
other cities to evolve strategies for future policy action.

Citizen participation will help to set the terms of the debate for the
future roadmap in our cities.  For further details, please contact
Vivek Chattopadhyay (vivek@cseindia.org).

http://cseindia.org/node/2198
----------------------------------------------------------------
- City Evaluator Network

CSE's air pollution team invites citizens to play an ardent part in
bringing about change. Write to us to join the City Evaluator Network
(CEN)
which is a countrywide nexus of volunteers. You will help undertake
surveys, track data and information on policy and public action on
clean air,
transportation and mobility in your city and capture local
experiences. Your initiative will provide the crucial grassroots
information for
Rapid City Assessment. It is also your chance to make the change
happen. Get started by filling the form http://cseindia.org/node/2192

Contact Ruchita Bansal (ruchita@cseindia.org) or Arushi Mittal
(arushi@cseindia.org) for further details. City evaluator can be an
interested citizen,
professional, official, civil society group or from any other organization.
------------------------------------------------------------------
- Citizen Perception Survey

What do you think about the air quality and mobility in the city you
live? Do you suffer from regular cough and cold? Do you find the
traffic messy?
Inform us of your experiences to help us take action. Fill the survey
form: http://cseindia.org/node/2190
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- CSE study release: Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya
Shillong and Tura, March 14 and 16, 2011

CSE in collaboration with Samrakshan Trust has done a comprehensive
study on illegal coal and limestone mining and rat hole mines in
Meghalaya. The report
also looks at the legal status of the various private coal mines being
operated in the state. The study will be discussed in a meeting at
Shillong on
March 14th. This will target different stakeholder groups to increase
awareness on the issues around mining in the state. A similar meeting
is also planned
at Tura, Garo Hills on March 16th.

For more details contact Sugandh Juneja at sugandh@cseindia.org

====================================
Work with CSE
====================================
- Regional reporters for Down To Earth

- Senior researcher for Regulatory Training Programme

Email your application with your resume to jgupta@cseindia.org, or post it to
Jagdeep Gupta
Executive Director – Planning & Operations
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
New Delhi – 110062

====================================
Down To Earth magazine – An A-Z Guide on Environment
====================================
If you want to get a better understanding of the environment scene in
India, how and why it affects you (and could impact your future
generations) and what can be done about it, then you should read on.
Environment holds the key to a sustainable and brighter future for all
of us if we understand it better and take necessary corrective actions
right now.

Our popular fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth (DTE), was launched in
1992 and since then has been consistently keeping the subscribers
informed on the latest happenings around the world. It has truly lived
up to its reputation as an easy to understand A-Z guide on
environment, which is topical, trustworthy and comprehensive.

We know you are also concerned about the environmental degradation and
we request you to get more involved in your personal capacity as well
as on behalf of your organization. By subscribing to DTE you would not
only be kept updated about the environment scene but also would
indirectly help in spreading the environment message among your
colleagues and the community, fortnight after fortnight.

Click here to subscribe:http://downtoearth.org.in/node/1117

====================================
About this e-mail
====================================
You are receiving this newsletter because you have asked to be
included in our list, attended a CSE event or requested information.

CSE is an independent, public interest organization that was
established in 1982 by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India's
environmental movement. CSE's mandate is to research, communicate and
promote sustainable
development with equity, participation and democracy.
_______________________________________________

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