Google has launched the India Elections Center, for voters in the upcoming general elections. Google launched similar election tools for the Australia and US in the past, but has added a number of new features to this iteration and added a stronger focus on localized information. The election center enables citizens to get information about their local polling center, confirm their registration status, access election news and view key statistics for their local constituency. Voters can also get information on the background and parliamentary performance of the candidates for this year’s elections as well as their current representative in the Parliament. A post on the official Google blog explains the motivation behind launching this web page,

At Google, we believe information is fundamentally empowering. While all of our technologies demonstrate a commitment to this guiding principle, information is especially important when a society comes together to participate in democratic elections.

We’re hopeful not only that the elections centre will further a culture that seeks access to information, but that it will also yield positive changes in voting patterns during the upcoming polls.

Google has partnered with a number of organizations on this iniative including, the Association for Democratic Reforms, HT Media Limited, Indicus Analytics, the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, the Liberty Institute, and PRS Legislative Services.

Yahoo! India also recently launched a webpage for the Indian general elections. While Yahoo provides fewer localized tools, their site includes many interactive features. For example, voters can build their own election manifesto and vote on the issues that are most important for them. The site also provides information on election dates and locations on a state-by-state basis.

Thinking of an incredible way to spend your summer this year?  Last year, I helped coordinate InSPIRE College, and the five week journey for 18-24 year olds was full of eye openers, interesting discussions, deep reflections, and lasting relationships.  From Ahmedabad to Kempty, we visited NGOs, spoke with leaders of social movements, gave back through service activities, and explored another side of Inida.

This year, InSPIRE Young Professional is also launching. For those of you between 25 and 35, the two week trip is a great way to spend your vacation days from work, and to step back and refocus on life.

Applications for this year’s trips are now open, and I highly encourage you to apply.

www.inspire-now.org

What are you doing this summer? How about doing something meaningful in India?
Applications are due soon! Download yours today.

InSPIRE
India Service Program Inspiring Reflective Exploration

QUESTION assumptions.
EXPLORE your values.
CONNECT to your roots.
RELATE to humanity.
LIVE what you believe.

InSPIRE College is a 5-week long summer program in India for South Asians between the ages of 18 and 24, who are genuinely interested in exploring themselves and India.
Program Dates:    June 26 to August 2, 2009

InSPIRE Young Professional is a 2-week long program in India for South Asians between the ages of 25 and 35, who are looking to re-evaluate their aspirations and find meaningful ways to interact with India.

Program Dates:    July 3 to July 17, 2009

See our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZj9BNrn90

Join the Facebook group for the latest updates: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=639910410&k=65EUPZW6PXXMZKCCU132X

Applications are due in March. Download yours today at www.InSPIRE-Now.org.

For more information, please email us at info@inspire-now.org.

Here is what looks to be an amazing opportunity to work for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Here is the description:

Independent Consultant: South Asia
Agricultural Development Department, Market Access Team
Global Development Program

We are searching for a full time consulting resource to help us shape our strategic approach to  India and assist our grant development activities and serve as an important point of contact and interface for our South Asian partners, both potential and current grantees. The ideal candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit and excellent problem solving, analytical and communication skills. Specific responsibilities will include:

* Provide ongoing research, background information, and analytical support to seize new  opportunities and develop strategies in South Asia (India and Bangladesh) in the agricultural development/ market access area
- Create analytic frameworks and execute analysis in priority areas
- Develop, execute and manage external partnerships and contracts for landscaping and other analytical work
- Identify and engage qualified subject thought leaders, technical experts, and consultants in priority areas for meetings, technical consult review, and other program activities
- Prepare regular reports and presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences

* Summarize key activities, progress, and issues around our strategies

* Identify and cultivate opportunities for the development of strategic alliances and contribute to the development of grants, strategies, programs, and partnerships

* Facilitate, coordinate and manage a range of projects and activities related to evaluating, developing, preparing and monitoring specific grants

* Organize and facilitate meetings and convenings with high level experts and decision makers in South Asia, incl. preparing the ackground analysis and documents

* Travel as necessary throughout South Asia and to foundation headquarters in Seattle, Washington

Qualifications

* A Bachelor’s Degree and professional experience which includes experience in a similar role requiring the application of research and writing skills to enhance decision-making and strategy development. An advanced degree in economics, or an agriculture- related field would be ideal.
* Experience working with agriculture or other related development issues in South Asia
* Experience in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple and competing demands and establish priorities, while providing continual attention to detail in proofing materials, tracking projects and grants.
* Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills
* Experience in a role requiring collaboration within an organization, as well as a demonstrated ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a team effort.

Tjada D’Oyen McKenna
Program Officer, Agricultural Development
Global Development
V 206.709.3488
C 206.499.5972
E tjada.mckenna@ gatesfoundation. org
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
www.gatesfoundation.org

Source: IPEGR

• State weakness report: Brookings Institute ranks India 67th out of 141 states in their new report that measures state weakness based on the criteria of economic, political, security and social welfare.
• Technology: Google released today Voice Search in Hyderbad which enables users to find business, restaurants, etc. by speaking the query into their mobile. In a similar act of tailoring products to the Indian subcontinent, Yahoo! released local language maps with directions.
• Telecom revisited: Building off of the momentum of the story in the Midday Newsfeed about the telecom spectrum, we are reporting here that the big three mobile GSM providers have been hit with a notice of enquiry for acting as a cartel and distorting prices.
• Travel: Pakistan is considering dropping the visa requirement for Indian travelers.

• There is currently an ideological debate brewing in Bombay regarding the preservation of ancient structures versus urban modernization.  The building in question is the 139-year Crawford Market in Bombay, which is facing the threat of demolition by RNA Corp., a leading Bombay construction firm that hopes to replace the building with a high-rise.
• The Supreme Court of Delhi has established a five-person special investigation team (SIT) to re-investigate the post-Godhra communal riots.  The re-investigation was spurred by the National Human Rights Commission after newfound knowledge from the Tehelka sting operation, which alleged that state functionaries such as Narendra Modi abetted the post-Godhra riots. 
• Yahoo! Inc. and Computational Research Laboratories (CRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Limited, are partnering up to support cloud computing research.  According to the article, “this effort is the first of its kind in terms of the size and scale of the machine, and the first in making available a supercomputer to academic institutions in India.”
• According to a recently released WHO report, India houses 20% of the world’s multiple drug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) patients.  The report also reveals that India carries over one-third of the burden of TB globally.  Source: Howrah News Service

Headlines: 

•  Shrinking Job Market Gives Government the Shivers

The Manmohan Singh government, which is battling inflation, has another worry at hand: a shrinking job market. While the government at the Centre has not been able to rein in prices, it has admitted that rupee appreciation against dollar has resulted in the loss of about 20 lakh jobs.

• Rural Electricity: Sops for Solar Power

In an effort to provide electricity to every rural household in the country the ministry of new and renewable energy has decided to provide a generation-based incentive of Rs 12 per kilo watt hour for electricity generated from solar photovoltaic and a maximum of Rs 10 per kWh for electricity generated through solar thermal power plants and fed to the grid from a grid interactive solar power plant of 1 mega watt and above.

• Progress Slows in Detection of New TB Cases

Progress in detecting new cases of tuberculosis is slowing, threatening to increase the risks of transmitting drug-resistant strains, the World Health Organization said Monday.  India, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria rank as the top five countries in terms of absolute numbers of tuberculosis cases.  The W.H.O. said there was a shortfall of $2.5 billion of the $4.8 billion needed this year for overall tuberculosis control in low- and middle-income countries.

• Green News: New Pedal Powered Grain Crusher!

A professor, a team of students led by Beena Sukumaran, and an environmental engineering have made new pedal-powered grain crusher that promises to become an effective and cheap food processor unit for the economically disadvantaged communities of the world.  It could help generate income for individuals traveling from village to village.

• Rural Supply Chain MokshaYug Access Gets $2 Million Funding from Unitus

A rural supply chain firm MokshaYug Access (MYA) has received funding of Rs 8.35 crore ($2 million) from Unitus Equity Fund L P (UEF), an Unitus supported organisation to fund microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Asia and Latin America. The amount will go towards building supply chain and infrastructure for dairy farming and healthcare centers, expand its microfinance arm and setting up of branch offices for microfinance services, soil and water quality testing and agriculture and rural infrastructure support services.

• Markets Recover in Late Morning Trade Despite Weak Asian Cues

The stock markets showed signs of stability at lower levels as the Sensex recovered by 109 points in late morning deals after yesterday’s heavy sell-off, despite weakness in Asian indices. Taking a cue from weak Asian markets, the Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer opened lower at 14,725 and dropped to 14,677.

•  “Fixing” the Vidarbha BPL List

Around 250,000 families have protested against the rigging of the below poverty line (BPL) lists in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha districts, which are in the grip of a severe agricultural crisis, and where inclusion in the list is essential for the poor to access their entitlements.

• WSSCC Launches Global Sanitation Fund

The UN’s Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) launched the Global Sanitation Fund on March 14 in Geneva, seeking to raise funds and contribute to country-specific sanitation, water and hygiene programs in poor communities around the world. Drawing further attention to the problem, the WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and WSSCC are inviting water and sanitation advocates to gather at the U.N. Palace in Geneva to celebrate World Water Day 2008. A sister event is being organized to take place in New York City’s Central Park.

Headlines:

• Mumbai’s Quantum Equity Advisors Launch $500 Million Infrastructure Fund

Mumbai based investment firm Quantum Equity Advisors has launched a $500 million private equity fund focused on infrastructure in India. The fund christened – Q India Fund – will focus on investments in infrastructure projects and companies in India. The country needs about $500 billion up to fiscal year 2011-12 to upgrade its infrastructure, and a 30 per cent of the total spending is expected to come from private firms.

• Tata BP Solar raises $78 million for further investments in solar energy

Tata BP Solar today announced that they had signed an agreement with Calyon Bank (Credit Agricole CIB) and BNP Paribas and among others, to raise 78 million dollar to fund its 128MW Solar Cell Expansion Project, which is in the advanced stages of implementation, eventually totaling 180MW solar cell manufacturing capacity.

• Kidney Racket Busted in Mohali

Indicating how deep illegal kidney trade has penetrated into the country, Amritsar police on Monday claimed to have busted another racket with the arrest of six people.

• Farmers Waging a Four-Fold Battle

The situation in Kuttanad where thousands of acres of paddy fields were submerged by summer rain over the last few days is turning out to be worse than expected. While initial estimates by the district administration pegged the loss at around Rs.5 crore, unofficial estimates point towards a loss of at least Rs.10 crore.

As mentioned in a previous post entitled, “Treating More than Diarrhea,” the condition of  India’s mentally and physically disabled population, in terms of the provision of basic amenities or medical services, is dismal.  As per official data, India has 21 million disabled people, but non-government agencies are less conservative in their estimate, and place the figure at 60 million.  Even though the rights of the disabled are protected by the Persons with Disabilities Act (1995), India lags behind in providing such services as, for example, wheelchair-friendly buildings.    

In an effort to ameliorate this problem, the Indian government has recently launched a groundbreaking national interactive disability web portal.  The site is named Punarbhava, which means “renewed being”, and has the aim of serving as an information/resource platform for people with disabilities, as well as those who work with them.  According to an article posted on Yahoo, the website features the following:

 The portal is categorized mainly into three segments: the first segment will be a National Disability Register that will give statistical information on the disabled population in India. The second segment of the portal covers the resources, which include available online courses, catalogues knowledge repository of audio, video and Braille files in Indian languages, books related to disability and news magazine. The third segment is proposed to have Grievance Redressal mechanism through Web Court. In future, this will redress the complaints related to Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, National Trust, and Rehabilitation Council of India . It also proposes to provide transaction assistance. 

Even though Puranbhava is only the first step, the provision of services through the government potentially has the effect of ushering in a more “inclusive” era of rights, services, and provisions for the disabled population.  The hope is that through official, government-sponsored programs, cultural and social norms regarding disabilities will also begin to change.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram announced a debt waiver in the amount of Rs. 600 billion for small farmers this past week. As per the proposal, farm loan cancellations will be offered to small farmers with less than 2 hectacres of land. The offer follows more than a decade of farmer suicides resulting from rising prices for pesticides, seeds, and fertilizer that have trapped small farmers in a cycle of poverty and debt. To date, more than 166,00 farmers have committed suicide in rural India. The current government, led by the Congress Party, is expected to lose control over the Upper House in early April, and is struggling to win the votes of poor, rural voters through what is perceived as an increasingly populist government agenda. The trend appears to be a larger one, as per the OneWorld South Asia:

The move is a centrepiece of India’s latest budget, with the government also increasing education spending by 20% and health funding by 15%. Chidambaram also announced higher spending on rural infrastructure and highways.

Critics contend that the proposal will not alleviate debt incurred through private, informal entities, often at high interest rates. It is estimated that 57.7% of the outstanding loan amount was borrowed from institutional lenders, and the balance of the loans were sources from private channels – moneylenders, traders, relatives, and friends. Small farmers also contend that the debt cancellation does not address the root of the problem – rising prices for hybrid seeds and pesticide, resulting in low quality/quantity yields. For example:

This is at best a temporary and political solution. There should be permanent solutions to save the farmers from the greedy moneylenders. The solutions include better irrigation facilities and supplying better quality fertilisers and pesticides, which will ensure enhanced yield from even small farm holdings, Guhagarh, [a small farmer from the Konkan region] said.

Jagdish Pradhan, president of the Sahabhagi Vikash Abhiyan, a farmers’ group in Orissa, said the government should have chalked out a plan to identify the deserving farmers and provide them with some special schemes instead of writing off the loans.

“It is not a good sign for the agricultural economy. It is also not good for the government,” Pradhan said in Bhubaneswar. “The farmers need a good market to get remunerative prices for their products and not doles like this.

The government has yet to specify in detail how the proposal will be implemented. For more information regarding farmers’ suicides in rural India, go here.