State of Families in India After 65 Years of Independence: Is Country Shining?

The Federal Home Ministry has recently released the final figures of the first phase of Census 2011 known as Houselisting and Housing Census in New Delhi. The latest Census has thrown up figures that would shock country planners. Despite significant improvement in living standards over the last census of 2001, the 2011 figures show a picture that is far from respectable for a country aiming to be on the global high-table of decision making.
According to the present Census, these and many other contrasting facts of life have come out in Census 2011. The data casts new light on a country in the throes of a complex transition, where millions have access to state-of-the-art technologies and consumer goods — but a larger number lacks access to the most rudimentary facilities.
The data states that India is now overwhelmingly made up of nuclear families — a dramatic change from just a generation ago, where joint families were the norm. Seventy per cent of the households consist of only one couple. Indian families are overwhelmingly likely — 86.6 per cent of them — to live in their own houses, but 37.1 per cent live in a single room.
Bold Paradox
Sample this: In nuclear India capable of routinely sending satellites into space, 31 per cent - 10 crore - out of 33 crore households across the country use kerosene for lighting homes. Approximately 7 per cent of the urban houses (presumably slums) use kerosene while 43 per cent rural homes use the fuel, indicating that they either do not have power supply or cannot afford it. This figure is an improvement over 2001 when 42 per cent households used kerosene for lighting purposes.
If you thought that almost everybody in India was rushing to buy a car, just sample this: Only 5 per cent - some 1.65 crore -- families in the country own a personal four wheeler. Only 9.7 per cent - some 1 crore -- of the 11 crore urban families have a four wheeler.
Rapid Economic Growth
Despite India’s rapid economic growth, nearly 15 per cent families live in houses that have roofs made of grass, thatch, bamboo, wood, mud etc. Ten years ago, the figure was 21. 9 per cent.
The Census says only 32 per cent households use tap water for drinking from a treated (filtration plant) source. Only 47 per cent families have source of water (tap, well, etc) within the houses, while 18 per cent fetch drinking water from a source located more than 500 meters (villages) and 100 meters (urban) from their homes. In urban areas, 70 pc homes have tapped water supply, while just 30 pc enjoy the facility in the rural areas.
The data shows 61 per cent families across the country have kitchen for cooking. Approximately 79 per cent urban homes have it, while the figure is 53 per cent in villages. Surprisingly, 67 per cent of families use firewood, crop residue, cow dung and coal as fuel to cook. Only 29 per cent homes across the country have access to LPG, electricity or bio-gas as fuel for cooking purposes. In the urban areas, 65 per cent of homes have access to LPG while 20. 1 per cent use firewood and 7. 5 per cent kerosene for cooking.
Cellphone Versus Toilets
It noted that 49.8 per cent Indian households defecate in the open but, in sharp contrast, 63.2 per cent households own a telephone connection, 53.2 per cent of them a cell phone. The data also shows that computers with Internet facilities have penetrated just 3.1 per cent of the population.
The data on toilets has reflected the recent concerns raised by Federal Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, whose remark that women demand cell phones but not toilets had created a controversy. Open defecation continues to be a big concern for the country as almost half the population (49.8 per cent) do it. Cultural and traditional reasons and lack of education were the prime reasons for this unhygienic practice.
The figures show that 3.2 per cent people use public toilets. Jharkhand tops the list with 77 per cent households without toilet facilities, followed by 76.6 per cent in Orissa and 75.8 per cent in Bihar.
Need of the Hour
People without latrines especially women as told Prime Ministyer Manmohan Singh in a statement is a shame for the country. This Census proves that issue is serious and demands attention of the federal and provincial levels.
The government should take note of the issue and ensure functioning of sewage treatment plants in local urban bodies to protect the masses from cancer like ailments in India. Pedestrians and cyclists are most vulnerable to accidents their movement on the roads is at mercy of the fast moving vehicle owners as there no cycle tracks on the roads.
After 65 years of independence, it is a national shame that around 50 per cent of the population ease themselves in the open, and a large majority of the rest have access to latrines with no running water or use public toilets which seldom are useable. As far as the government is concerned, it is a regret that it could not fetch to the citizens the basics like toilets, water and hygiene and for the citizens it's a matter of rejoice that they have earned enough penny to make technology touch the ground in the face of cell phones and televisions. With corrupt politicians and industrialists will India ever be able to solve its toilet problem which is getting worse with each passing day. In other words, profit-seeking companies can do a much better job than the government, the way it is working, in providing services in the country.

People's Sentiments Over Jaitapur Issue

It seems a strange state of affairs that a Federal Minister Jairam Ramesh says, "To make a reality of the Jaitapur power plant we will have to take into confidence the people of that area." Meanwhile, the police firing, as is their wont, is giving a blow to that confidence. The question that arises is, why do police go berserk at the slightest provocation? Is there just one chapter in the police manual that teaches crowd management?

People's Sentiments

The Maharashtra Government is ordering a probe into the firing of that incident at Jaitapur, but does not consider a probe into the police firing. Is it not strange that Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil always favors police incident and does not take into consideration people's sentiments?

There is no denying the fact that the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) try and make as much political capital from these incidents as possible. But the state government is no less than them in such matters. Why is it giving these parties to take advantage of such issues and play it up as far as possible in its own inimitable style by jumping into the fray so that it is gasping for breath and gets one more chance to revive and get a life? Just what is the reason that a democratic government is sitting immobilized and instead of giving the problem in hand some cool thinking and look for a solution to it, it resorts to police firing, fanning the flames?

Studying Plant

What should have been done is that the government, keeping people's feelings in mind, should have stopped the Jaitapur plant and in this duration made a new feasibility report of the plant's validity. But it is a pity that this did not take place. Ramesh has definitely spoken about studying the plant from the very beginning again, but along with it he talked about many other progressive projects for the country. This goes to show that he is adamant to go ahead with the plant, which he has mentioned to the public at many occasions.

The biggest reason for the people against the Jaitapur nuclear plant is the disaster that has taken place in Japan's Fukishama plant and its aftermath, which has got the whole world worried and not only people in India. If all problems of the world are looked at from human viewpoint, the first issue that should be studied is people's sentiments.

Catastrophe in Japan: A Matter of Concern

Mankind may make tall claims of scientific and materialistic progress, but if providence gets annoyed and gives mankind even a slightest jolt, all claims of progress and development come crumbling down like a house of cards. Man's tall claims appear hollow and baseless. Facing the wrath of the Almighty, man realizes that all his hard toil to protect himself from an emergency situation is of no use. Luxuries of life, scientific inventions, all are fragile and incompetent to ward off destruction. He is forced to ponder how helpless mankind is in the face of the nature's fury.

Man usually forgets it while competing in the race of scientific and materialistic progress that in the system of the universe, as designed by nature, he is nothing more than a grain of sand and dust. If man attempts to tinker with rules of nature and strives to cause damage to it, he would have to bear the consequences in the form of huge devastation and destruction.

Motivating Factor
Although earthquakes, typhoons floods, tsunami, cloudburst, draught, famine endemic and epidemic diseases, and other natural disasters usually motivate us to turn to Almighty God, the creator of the universe, they also make man realize that these are admonishment from the Almighty to mend our ways. The gigantic tsunami rising to the skies, blasts and fire in nuclear reactors, and leakage of nuclear radiation in Japan have caused heavy damage. At the same time, it teaches a lesson those in love with nuclear energy and scientific and materialistic progress.

It is indeed a time to ponder seriously whether they should continue to depend on nuclear energy, or should give it up. Reportedly, some developed nations have, in view of the devastation in Japan, decided to give up their plans and designs for nuclear energy, or have decided to close down present nuclear plants.

Current Situation
The current situation is that Japan not only continues to jolt under earthquakes, the number of those killed in the quake or tsunami is on the rise. Leakage of nuclear radiation continues unabated there. Since 11 March, more than 200 jolts of the magnitude of 5 or less on the Richter scale have been recorded in north and central Japan.

The people living in the capital Tokyo have had to face several aftershocks of the magnitude of 6 or more. Meanwhile, snowfall since 15 March in the quake and tsunami-affected areas has made life difficult for people. It has further escalated the threat of spread of nuclear radiation. Nuclear experts maintain that last efforts are on in the nuclear complex to avert the worst ever-industrial calamity.

The French Nuclear Safety Authority has warned that the next 48 hours would be decisive, as all attempts to address the problem have proved futile so far. According to a British newspaper, The Mail, France has even claimed that the Japan's Government has lost control of administration, and Japan is striving to hide the seriousness of the situation from the world. Latest details reveal that nuclear leakage from the Fukushima nuclear plant has reached even the Russian city of Vladivostok.

Apprehension in India
Senior environmentalists and scientists in India have assured people that the country faces no threat from nuclear radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant. They have added that there is no apprehension either that radiation may reach India through rain or air. Minister for Science and Technology Ashwini Kumar has also reiterated that India faces no threat from the leakage of nuclear radiation from Japan, as radiation is heading toward the eastern region and that there is a huge distance between India and Japan's ill-fated nuclear plant.

Meanwhile, people of Jaitapur in Maharashtra, where a nuclear energy plant of 9,900 MW capacity is to be set up, have intensified their protest against it. It may be recalled that the Jaitapur area falls under the third category seismic zone.

Measures To Be Adopted
According to statistics of the Geological Survey of India, between 1985 and 2005, there have been 92 earthquakes there. The quake that jolted Jaitapur in 1993 was of 6.2 intensity. Geologists and social workers believe that land in Jaitapur is not stable and should an earthquake occur, it cannot be guaranteed that measures to be adopted by the government for safety of the proposed plant and people there would be able to protect them, and the sensitive Konkani coastal area from a possible nuclear disaster. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said the government was seriously considering to initiate some more environmental and protective measures for the proposed nuclear plant at Jaitapur, as well as nuclear plants in other parts of the country.

It must be borne in mind that 40 percent of the world's population lives within a radius of 100-km from the coast, and the population there continues to rise. In India also, 23 percent of our population resides within a 100-km radius of seacoast, while 35 percent of Indian population resides and lives within a radius of 200-km from seacoast.

BT Brinjal in Sharp Controversy

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee has given the green signal to the country's first genetically modified food commodity. Brinjal that once used to be considered a minor vegetable would be the first in the list of genetic engineering. Since the matter is controversial, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh organized debates around the country. But how would people debate when they have not been made aware of the pros and cons of this Brinjal?

Wearing and Export
Supporters of BT Brinjal say that as BT cotton improved the lot of farmers, this BT Brinjal would also make farmers rich. Those against it argue that cotton is for wearing and export, but Brinjal is to be eaten, and what happens if it proves to be toxic in the long run?
They also say that fiddling with the food chain is a conspiracy by multinational companies and the world's most-loved enemy, the United States, is said to be behind it. The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the government as to why extensive trials were not carried out from the safety viewpoint.

Major Brinjal-Producing Areas
One of the top names in genetic engineering, Pushpamitra Bhargav, himself is against BT Brinjal. The chief ministers of Bihar, Bengal, Orissa (where 60 percent of all Brinjal is produced), Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh have rejected it outright. Karnataka and Gujarat are silent for the moment. The central government is silent on what effect it would have on more than 1,000 varieties of Brinjal. Farmers of Gujarat benefited a lot from BT cotton, but those opposed to it say that production of this new cotton is continuously reducing. The pests to prevent which genetic engineering was done are coming back.
Amid arguments and counterarguments, the biggest question remains unanswered: Why Brinjal? There is neither shortage of Brinjal in the country, nor are its prices shooting up through the roof. Brinjal does not enjoy as much respect in our kitchen that there should be fighting over it. Has Brinjal been chosen because it is the easiest way of entry for BT into India's food chain?

Technique of Genetic Engineering
There is uproar over Brinjal also because those who are supporters of living in harmony with nature are more aware now. The world, which is suffering from results of science flirting with nature in the form of global warming, is not against science, but opposed to science fiddling with natural balance.
The debate will not be meaningful as long as the government does not educate people about the technique of genetic engineering and its benefits.