Teetotaler

ATTENTION! According to the statistics for 2007, released by the National Criminal Records Bureau, Tamil Nadu had a total cognizable crime rate of 261.7 per one lakh population, while that of Chennai was 256.9.  The crime rate, defined as the number of crime trends as it balances incidence with growth in population. Chennai’s crime rate ensures that the metro is ranked a creditable 24 th among 35 major cities in the country while Coimbatore stands at the 22nd position and Madurai at the 30 th .  However the situation in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru can send a chill of apprehension down anyone’s spine.  Delhi has earned the skeptical distinction of being the most unsafe metro in the country, topping the list of the number of crimes. According to latest government statistics, Delhi accounted for 13.2 per cent of a total of 3,43,749 crimes reported in 35 mega cities across the country in 2009 followed by Bengaluru (9.4 %) and Mumbai (9.1%). Now picturise the following situation: Cha

Today morning while I was leaving for work, a lady asked me to wait for her to enter the lift before closing it as she had to lock the door of her house. However I had already pressed the button to go downstairs and before I knew it I had reached the basement. I felt as though I had snubbed her request and waited till she reached the basement. I thought it was necessary to apologize. When she arrived I quickly told her a sorry and headed outside. She had a puzzled expression on her face and asked” You waited all this while just to say sorry?” I said “Yes, actually I didn’t mean to press the button. “ She said it was alright and that I didn’t have to wait. Her puzzled expression kept me thinking. These days courtesy is taken for granted or rather to say our hectic , super- sonic paced life has made us ignore the importance of being courteous. Nowadays   I feel people feel glad rather than guilty if they cut the line , save a minute or two and complete their task. But honestly speaking

NGO is a very generic term given to something very noble and specific. There is more to it than just non- governmental organization. What are the problems that they face? Their challenges? Is anyone listening to them? There are many NGOs in India working for the poor and needy. They try to enhance the lives of people in many ways. Not many people realize that these NGOs that try to help people also face many problems at various levels. Last week the team from Innovation Alchemy returned from an eighteen day visit to the NGOs in Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan who are the winners of the 2011 Development Marketplace. The visit was made to do needs assessment of the winners that will help them in the long run. Bihar Development Trust( BDT), Saran Renewable Energy(SRE), Nidan  in Bihar; Adhikar, Healing Heritage Producers Company, WOSCA (Women’s Organisation for Socio- Cultural  Awareness) in Orissa; Rangsutra Craft’s India ltd. ,Sadhna, BAIF – Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation are a fe