Political

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pleased to announce the 2011 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) for India. The Borlaug Fellowship Program promotes food security and economic growth by increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity. The Program offers training and collaborative opportunities in agricultural research, international agricultural economics, leadership and policy to Indian researchers. Competitively selected fellows will work one-on-one with a U.S. mentor who will coordinate the Fellow’s training. After completion of the 6-12 week fellowship, the mentor will visit the fellow’s home institution for up to 10 days to continue collaboration on the research topic. The USDA will select U.S. host institutions and mentors for each Fellow. The 2011 Borlaug Fellowship Program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Targeted Research Areas:

• Food Security and Nutrition
  
  1. Advancing agricultural production through biotechnology
  2. Technical and policy research and development

Organizer: Vanastree Collective

Venue: Golden Beads School, 157, Richmond Road, Bangalore

A copy of the revised composition order is enclosed.

Organizer:  National Institute of Hydrology

Venue: National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee

Topics:

• Basics of lake hydrology
• Evaporation and water balance of lakes
• Water quality and eutrophication

Tanks are rainwater harvesting techniques which capture water during monsoons for later use. Mention of tanks in colonial texts is made and the authors infer from ancient texts like Tamil Purananuru on the importance of tanks and the locations for their construction, as well detailing their geographical spread.

This paper presents the ancient water and soil conservation eco-systems of Sri Lanka, based on ancient texts and their modern interpretations, and highlights the use of these water systems  in ancient Sri Lanka and their present condition.

The state government's investments in supplying potable water under the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) scheme which envisaged a no tanker supply' end to the scheme is critiqued. The authors note that the project mainly concentrated on asset creation, neglecting operation and maintenance resulting in limited improvement in villages, with respect to water supply.

The city of Aurangabad has benefited from the construction of  aqueducts and canals by its earlier rulers. According to the authors  between 1617 and 1803, a number of aqueducts and canals were constructed.

There is mention of the importance of water in daily life in various prayers in the Rigveda. The author states that the earliest evidence of water conservation goes back to 3000 B. C. when Gabarbands were built in Baluchisthan. The Harappans built tanks and wells and were pioneers of well-digging technology.

Content Courtesy: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India

Press release: Indian event at Cancun re-emphasises importance of equity, 7th December 2010

India hosted a major event at the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference at Cancun, where the critical issue of equity and equitable access to carbon space was emphasised. 

India's Minister for Environment and Forests and Head of Delegation, Shri Jairam Ramesh personally chaired the side event that had presentations by Prof. T. Jayaraman, Tata Inst. Of Social Sciences, India, Mr. Martin Khor, Executive Dir., South Centre, Geneva and Dr. Harald, ERC & Univ. Of Cape Town, South Africa.

Download the entire press release here.