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Andhra Pradesh
The cost of the stigma
The stigma attached to AIDS affected is taking its toll on the socio-economy of the nation. According to Dean of College Development Council of Arts College in Andhra University, G. Ramachandrudu, AIDS children are not allowed in schools and in case they are admitted, they are ill-treated. The young workforce is shrinking.
AIDS spread from urban to rural areas and the decline in agricultural labour in African countries like Tanzania due to AIDS has resulted in a three per cent decrease in output of grains.
Novel idea
Having suffered a loss of Rs.37.5 crores during 2006-07 in Vizianagaram zone comprising four North Andhra districts, the APSRTC has hit upon a novel idea. Offering cash incentive and merit certificates to conductors and drivers to raise the occupancy ratio has been doing wonders with the first quarter of current fiscal fetching the corporation a profit of Rs.10 crores.
“Now some conductors and drivers are getting Rs.2,000 to Rs.5,000 as incentive every month which is very good by any yardstick” says APSRTC Executive Director S. Dharma Reddy.
A tempting honeymoon!
Sixty years is too small in the life of a nation. India has achieved in the last 60 years after Independence more than what it had achieved during the 1,600 years preceding it.
However, that shouldn’t mean we should sit back and rest on our laurels.
“The advances made in space, missile technology, nano and biotechnologies can be cited as an example. The development and use of future technologies can be faster than we can imagine”, said Director of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory V. Bhujanga Rao at a lecture series on “India at sixty” organised by the Centre for Policy Studies (Gayatri Vidya Parishad).
“The concept of permanent, self-sufficient human habitations outside planet earth could become a reality in the next century. The colonies in outer space are comparatively safer,” he said.
“Space elevators could soon become a reality and our grandchildren may, perhaps, spend their honeymoon on an outer planet,” he said evoking laughter from the gathering.
Prabhakkar Sharma, Santosh Patnaik and
B. Madhu Gopal
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