My Blogs : Nuclear Issues ; Radiation Protection Issues ; My Voice

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Why pick on nuclear industry?

Over the last 4 decades, 150 fatalities reported due to radiation exposures. Compared to this, millions and millions of people world-wide are dying on the roads, other industrial accidents, natural calamities, tobacco, pollution, diseases lie AIDS, TB and hunger. On the cigarette pack, it is clearly written that “Tobacco causes caner” or “Tobacco kills”, but still consumption of tobacco is increasing!

Why pick on nuclear? Let media be educated first! The Tsunami which killed over 13,000 thousand people and resulted in 14,000 people missing is almost forgotten and the nuclear leak in Fukushima plant in Japan, which may cause cancer to some of exposed people after 10 to 20 years is making front-page news and breaking news day-after-day! Why? Why people can not see the risks and benefits in proper perspective? The unnecessary media publicity will “kill” the nuclear industry!

One good reason I can think of is lack of awareness about the radiation, its hazard and benefits amongst the general public, the media, politicians and bureaucrats. Even the so-called well-educated people lack the awareness about radiation. The explosions of the two Atom Bombs over Japan in 1945 have made very bad impact on the perception of anything nuclear in the minds of people. Governments, world-over are simply not able to convince the public about the need of accepting nuclear energy, without any bias, for the benefits in the areas of medicine, industry for power production and agriculture. Definitely, we need nuclear power which is clean and safer than other options.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Indian census – child sex ratio is pathetic

The latest, 2011 India census data has pegged India’s population to 1.21 billion which is 17.6% more than the last decade.

The data also paints a grim picture of child sex ratio which has gone down to 914:1000, the lowest since 1947. The two earlier census, i.e., in 1991 and 2001 has shown sex ratios of 927:1000 and 933:1000 respectively in the Indian population. The child sex ratio was 976:1000 in the census of 1961. Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males. It is an important and useful indicator to assess relative excess of deficit of men or women in a given population at that point of time.

Incidentally, Haryana State in India has developed districts such as Gurgoan and Sonipet with low child sex ratios of 853:1000 and 861:1000 respectively. The lowest sex ratio in the state is 774:1000 in Jhajjar. It is pathetic to say the least! Sex ratio is found to be better among backward classes and the poor.

Sex differentials can be due to difference in mortality rate, migration, sex selective abortion, etc. This is of grave concern as the country is already grappling with gender discrimination and female foeticide/infanticide issues.

The outcome of such a terrible imbalanced situation can be increased number of rapes, increased prostitution, increase in the sexually transmitted diseases, increased number of divorces and for a common man: increased difficulty in finding girls for marriages. Ladki Kanhase Ayegi?