A Gujarati village that puts metros to shame

                       A Gujarati village that puts metros to shame!

AHMEDABAD: Think of an Indian village and what comes to mind are images of mooing cows, open drains and children playing ants and frog games. But, Punsari, a motley village in Himmatnagar, talks about wi-fi and optical fiber broadband network, its children spend best of their times in air-conditioned classrooms with CCTV cameras. The village also boasts of its own mini-bus transport system and there are 25-odd CCTVs located on important junctions to spot litterbugs.

If you think this village is drenched in NRI funds, think again. Not a single rupee has come from across the seven seas, instead the village managed its funds over the last five years that it received from central and state sponsored developmental schemes.

"The village panchayat pays an annual premium of Rs 25 lakh against insurance for each of the 6,000 villagers who have a cover of Rs 1 lakh and a mediclaim policy of Rs 25,000. Our schools have zero dropout rates, CCTV cameras in classrooms help us keep watch on teachers in classrooms. Our reverse osmosis plant supplies 20-litre cans to houses for a token cost of Rs 4. These are bare essentials for a standard life today and why should our village be behind," claims the village sarpanch Hemant Patel, 29.

The village panchayat had a capital of Rs 25,000 five years ago. Today, the deposits have soared to Rs 75 lakh. "The turn-around happened when we sold part of our grazing land as plotted schemes to various communities. The money is deposited in government coffers," says Patel. The village received rewards from the central government and the state governments recently.

District development officer Ravi Arora told TOI, "There is not a single family in Punsari which has an NRI family member. The village has just managed its accounts well and villagers here agreed on a co-operative approach to development."

Source : TOI :

Assam innovator

Assam innovator "Uddhab Bharali" has been shortlisted for the prestigious NASA Technology Award:

Assam innovator "Uddhab Bharali" has been shortlisted for the prestigious NASA Technology Award:

The US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shortlisted Assamese innovator Uddhab Bharali for its prestigious NASA Technology Award.

Bharali has also been nominated for the World Technology Award 2012 given by World Technology Network.

Based in North Lakhimpur town in north-eastern Assam, Bharali has 39 universal patents to his name. But the 45-year-old innovator is best known for his mini pomegranate de-seeder.

"I am among the 26 innovators from across the globe to have qualified for the NASA award," Bharali said from his hometown.
"I have qualified for developing the mini pomegranate de-seeder, which has become very popular in the United States."

The machine, exported to the US and Turkey, separates the outer cover and thin inner membrane of a pomegranate without damaging the seeds. It has a capacity of de-seeding 50-55 kg of pomegranates per hour.

Bharali said NASA briefed him about the system involved in deciding the winners.

"Out of the 26 who have qualified, 10 would be given the award through online voting. Getting requisite votes is secondary; qualifying for the award is recognition as an international innovator," he added.

The nomination for the World Technology Award, on the other hand, is for the mini CTC tea plant that Bharali had designed.

Small enough to be set up in a 14ft by 20ft space, his tea plant follows all established procedures of massive tea producing machines and can produce up to 100kg of tea per day with a power intake of only 2KW.

Bharali began innovating in 1988, and his first device was a polythene filmmaking unit. He has since innovated 98 engineering devices.

Things NOT to Do in Mumbai.

1.        Get into a Virar train if you are going to Borivali

2.     Avoid Taxis outside Dadar & Kurla stations all are chors.

3.     Eat Bhel at Kailash Parbat

4.     Call a cop ‘Pandu’

5.     Argue with a Koli Fisherwoman

6.     Get a 11 Rupee massage at Girgaum Chowpatty

7.     Call a BEST bus driver ‘Bablia’

8.     Buy enhancement medicines from Van – Travelling Hakims who are the desi versions of the flying doctors

9.     Look smart while visiting Chor Bazaar

10.  Avoid asking the Sandwich wallah on Dalal Street for market tips

11.  Stand in front of Amitabh/shahrukh/salmaan’s house — u look stupid and its waste of time

12.  Baba Bengalis are neither Baba’s or Bengalis they are all perverts and thugs

13.  Visit sleazy Video Parlours and get caught in a raid

14.  Get excited and start jumping when someone offers you Paanch ka Dollar, it’s just a tiny 5 Rupee coin

15.  Go for a Shiv Sena rally in hope for a Free Vada Pav and Shiv Sena Banian

16.  Stare at Koli Women in Gorai and Make fun of Kolis in their Kasti

17.  While commuting don’t tease people shitting near the tracks, they throw stones back at the train

18.  Hang outside the train, Poles might hit you before the crowds will.

19.  Tease a Hijra.

20.  Bribe a Porter to grab a seat in V.T, chances are he might run off with your money and even beat you.

21.  Get conned at Fountain from Guys selling cheap Mobiles, they mesmerize and wrap soap bars.

22.  Avoid pimps behinds Mondegar & Pasta Lanes.

23.  Donate money to the Crying Cab driver, he has conned thousands.

24.  Invite Brass Polishwalas into your house

25.  Sit for more than 20 mins extra at an Irani Café, the Bawa owner might shout some sister abuses.

26.  Drink Neera at 5 pm at Dadar Station

27.  Have lassi outside Dadar Station (west), they add Tissue Paper while preparing it

28.  Throw stones at monkeys in Borivali National Park

29.  Loiter around in Shivaji Park on Dec 6th.

30.  Ask for a bargain at the Maharastrian Cloth store in Dadar.

31.  Call up 26407383 Beanbags thinking it’s an escort service.

32.  Call a Maharastrian guy Bhaiya, no matter how respectful you mean.

33.  Go to Mondegar and ask for a Jain Pav Bhaji

34.  Look straight and walk, We have open Manholes, flicked by Druggies.

35.  Wear Brown Khakis shirts, People will mistake you for BMC staff.

36.  Ask for Warranty & Guarantee from the Mallu Electronic stalls in Fountain area.

37.  Search for the Kala Ghoda in Kala Ghoda.

38.  Ask why statues in Bombay have one finger pointed like Umpires.

39.  Apply Rai ka Tel on your head and travel by public transport.

40.  Go to Chor Bazaar in your Car or Bike.

41.  Wear nice footwear to SiddiVinayak or Mahalakshmi Temple

42.  Go to Haji Ali during high tides

43.  Go to work when a Shiv Sena bandh is on.

44.  Dial 100 for fun, Cops will put your entire family behind bars and use bars.

45.  Buy water & tea for Chai-Pani, Old Monk should work.

46.  Fall asleep on the Harbour Line, Thieves will strip you of everything.

47.  Eat Missal / Ussal Pav before going to work.

48.  Board a fast train in Dadar to go to Bandra. Opposite platforms and a very horrible crowd

49.  Go for midnight mass thinking you can patao chicks

50.  give money to bhikari (he is the same guy who is @siddhivinayak on Tuesday, @mahim church wed, @mahim dargah on Thursday, and @hajiali on Friday, @mount mary on Sunday)

51.  Go to an Orchestra Bar, its nothing but the local banjo party guys in better clothes

52.  Talk to a Gujju for more than 10 mins, he will start playing garba with you

53.  Go to Versova beach, its full of shit and methi plants

54.  Join any friendship club, its like inviting blackmailers.

55.  Go to Bhagwathi hospital in Borivali

56.  Pronounce Sandhurst correctly, Sandas Rd makes more sense.

57.  Ask where is the Chinch in Chinchpokli or Chincholi

58.  Trouble naughty couples in the A/c Buses

59.  Go for morning show in sidey theatre expecting sleazy action, you might encounter  khudkushi action around you.

60.  Travel from Andheri to Ghatkopar by Bus, the bus is full of pickpockets.

61.  Travel ticketless  on Friday, If you are caught Anadi court is a big torture.

62.  Wear a Red tie or red handkerchief and stand near Gateway or Radio Club, its a gigolo symbol

63.  Give 100 bucks to a conductor and expect him to give you change, he will sadistically torment you till the last stop.

64.  Buy cheap booze in Churchgate Subway and get caught by cops for not having permits

65.  Buy Crackers from Essabhai, Crawford Market and travel in train

66.  Go to National park with your GF/Wife and take the jungle route Robbers & Adivasis might loot you.

67.  Ask for free Chakna in bars, its history since Aug 2, 2008

68.  Go to Voodoo’s on Saturday, its the only Gay bar between Istanbul and Bangkok

69.  Go to Navy Nagar and think you can buy booze for cheap.

70.  Try to play all the instruments at Furtado’s in Dhobi Talao

71.  Stand close to the platform when the Rajdhani is passing, a sonic and nuclear blast of fart, shit and farsan will hit you.

72.  Ask for extra chutney and sambhar in Udupi hotels.

73.  Visit Ganga Jamuna in Tardeo thinking its a holy place.

74.  Assume that booksellers in Fountains are dumbo’s, they know their Pulitzers and Bookers more than us.

75.  Take the driving test, paying 300 bucks makes more sense.

76.  Do a court marriage in Bandra court.

77.  Count the numbers of floors of Oberoi towers just because Amitabh did.

78.  Bet against India in a game, Australia is the safest option.

79.  Get scared and not gamble in the McDowell Derby at Mahalaksmi Race Course.

80.  Note down prices or take Photos at Alfa in Irla

81.  Buy 100 bucks Windcheaters from Churchgate, they are all the ones recycled by the Bhandiwalis

82.  Search for Tigers in Borivali National Park, It’s the other way Tigers & Panthers will find you

83.  Search the roads & gutters of Chira Bazaar & Opera House hoping to find diamonds just because the newspapers claim so.

84.  argue with someone on Monday, they are going to office might be they unnecessary hit you

85  All the things mentioned are NOT to be DONE in Mumbai