Celebrating Independence

In the 63rd year of independence , within the hullabaloo surrounding the 15th of August, I wonder what this really means for us.

Higher GDP, the final kick start to the N-deal, newer Ambanis and Tatas to join the golden bandwagon, the next World super power, or the 37.2 % BPL, mass starvation or the most corrupt nation. The dichotomies are infinite and so is the Big Development issue.

Freedom means being able to think, express, move and associate freely. It means being able to choose between what is right and what could have been. Just as we come to think of our independence day, it does not seem to allow us spaces to commit to activities we would like to indulge in. Hence, on this one if I be the P.M of India, I would like to cancel all compulsory celebrations are restricted road spaces for the common man. I would want every individual to be given that one day in doing whatever that one person wished to, (within the legal framework of the constitution). I would allow that single day to be able to celebrate the spirit of independence in the country.

Health and Family Planning

A nationwide program called the Janani Sahayogi Yojana was launched by the government to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates especially in the rural sector. It seeks to promote institutional deliveries which would involve safer medical methods during childbirth. A larger portion of the country still depends on inadequate and unhealthy methods of domicile maternal care , which turns out to be the primary reason for deaths during childbirths. However under this program the government provides financial aid to assure that expectant mothers who are unable to afford institutional maternity care, post and prior to child birth.

A recent report said that the Madhya Pradesh government is planning to include women below poverty line in this scheme. A huge amount is sanctioned starting from pre-natal checkups, to sonography , to C-section. This was published in the centralchronicle.com.

http://centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=3976

Agricultural Extension in India

Ruffling through the documents, magazines, newspapers, websites and what not, it would be appropriate to conclude that agriculture does not fall under any major national or economic interests.

The term agricultural extension , is widely used to describe any scientific development in the field of agriculture through farmer education.It also includes disseminating information regarding communication, business or research to inculcate productive growth. Our country which still sustains primarily on agriculture , lacks extensive development in terms of higher productivity for the farmers.

These issues are also fairly sidelined by the media. Rural reporting often restricts to the dire wretched plight faced by 'them'. The only visible reportage comes in terms of feature stories of  suicides by poverty stricken farmers.Barely any private media organisation works with the agricultural sector of the country. It is as if their condition is legitimate.Hence, it does not fail to appall me that the occupation that sustains 58.4% of our population , contributes only 17.2% towards the GDP of the entire economy.

 Most extension schemes have failed to prosper as an alternative to sustain agriculture as a dependable occupation. Most immigrant seasonal laborers are a result of this phenomenon. The reason for failure of these programs is usually lack of infrastructure, qualified personnels to educate them.

Besides that , no other widespread programs have helped agriculture overall.Such slackened efforts are usually the result of the sidelined group of a society who are not well-equipped to support themselves. Nor are the essential means to uplift them are practiced.

Not only has the government failed to integrate agriculture to sustain and provide decent livelihood through it, we have successfully ignored their importance into our social system. Instead of seeing agriculture as a defunct in the hierarchy, if we see it as a part of our country's development structure, we will be assured of a steadier and a more uniform growth.