SLEEP WELL TO DEVELOP WELL

                                                                  - MILAN K SINHA
The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to. - F. Scott Fitzgerald.

24x7 our life does move in consonance with mother earth's movement round the Energy God, Sun. Morning to noon to evening to finally night, the day long activities are positioned accordingly.

But, with the advent of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization) in India too, the natural character of our daily routine underwent changes, more for the worse and that too for the urban population. 

The age old saying, "Early to Bed and Early to Rise Makes a Man, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise" is no longer considered worth practicing by many. 

The reasons may also be many, but the fact remains as William Shakespeare writes in Macbeth: "Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care. The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath. Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life's feast."

Doctors and medical researchers are of the firm view that a good sleep at night is as essential for proper health, as food and exercise. 

Studies have shown that adults sleeping for 7-8 hours every night have experienced lesser chances of contracting diabetes in the long run, than those who sleep for fewer hours. The science behind it claims that sleep calms the brain and facilitates the normal hormone secretion. 

It has also been medically proved beyond any doubt that much of our body's regeneration processes take place during those sleeping hours. Obviously, lack of sleep, more so of quality sleep, upsets the normal hormonal balance which may be the cause of several diseases.

In fact, sleep deprivation is one such casualty of today's fast life which has great negative physiological and neurobehavioral consequences. 

Sleep deprivation can put the body into a state of high alert, increasing the production of stress hormones and pushing up blood pressure which may further lead to many health complications. 

It is also found that due to inadequate rest, levels of the hormone responsible for stimulating appetite increase, and the hormone that regulates fullness drops, which could lead to weight gain. 

A study from Columbia University reported a correlation between adults who do not get enough sleep and their tendency to gain weight and become obese. 

Not only this, sleep disorder and/or poor habits that block this progression create a situation of sleep debt. Feeling tired and listless follow from not getting enough sleep or by experiencing poor sleep quality.

Changing the natural course of life at will, doctors opine, affects not only our health but also the health of our family since it has multi-dimensional impact on our life. Routine and disciplined life having a well-drawn balance among all necessary activities including sleep has several benefits for the family as a whole.

So, it is incorrect to think (and worse even to practise) that night sleep is a luxury and not a necessity. John Steinbeck puts it this way: "It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it."

 # Published on Patna Daily dated 27.07.2013
 * Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

                     Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

BANKS - IMPROVE TO STAY HEALTHY

                                                            -  MILAN K SINHA

Only a few days back from today - the 44th anniversary of the most momentous event in Indian Banking - Bank Nationalisation of 14 major Banks on 19th July, 1969 by the then Union Govt. headed by Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) penalized some known big public sector banks like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and United Bank of India for violating KYC/AML (Anti-Money Laundering) norms.

Earlier, following a probe into charges leveled by an online portal Cobrapost, RBI had imposed fines on top three private sector Banks namely Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. This definitely tells a lot about the present health of and challenges before the Indian banks at large.

It may be noted that a few months back, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor K. C. Chakrabarty cautioned the banks against charging high and discriminatory prices on products and also against non- adherence of established norms and procedures.

We all know that the Central Govt. and RBI granted lots of autonomy and discretion after the onset of policy of liberalization in Indian Economy to empower the banks to take important decisions in order to implement customer friendly initiatives and give a natural boost to its overall business in an efficient and profitable manner.

As a result, during the last two decades, the banking in the country effected some changes in its operational model with state of art technology as the major game changer. But, the core issues like pricing of both deposit as well as credit products together with various charges, hidden and un-hidden both, have not been or couldn't be addressed in a sincere and genuine manner to make the banking operations really inclusive and customer friendly.

No doubt, the cost of operation in our banking is still reasonably high for multiple reasons, both controllable and non-controllable. In February this year while speaking to the SBI brass at the headquarters of the country's largest lender during his visit to Mumbai, the Union Finance Minister did stress this point by saying that banks can attempt to improve their operating efficiency, reducing costs, and pass on the benefit to borrowers through lower interest rates.

If one goes through the expenditure items in profit and loss account of Indian banks, the areas of wasteful and avoidable expenses can very well be observed and hence can urgently be taken care of. The issue of NPA management has been a perennially serious concern area which has deteriorated further with more severity during the last few quarters. Consequently, the NIM (Net Interest Margin) has been under increasing pressure in case of majority of banks in the country. These factors naturally have a definite bearing on the pricing of products.

The time is ripe for the Govt. to revisit its policy of Priority Sector Lending (PSL) by Indian Banking Sector to make it more inclusive and effective for ensuring sizable contribution of Agriculture and MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to overall GDP growth of the economy in coming years. Dwindling growth of Agriculture over the last couple of years is a real cause of concern not only for the food security of the country but also for the well-being of majority of our population that is still dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Similarly, lending under MSME segment must be augmented well to sustain and further improve its growth rate as it is very necessary for employment generation as well as balanced growth of our economy which is passing through a rough weather for quite some time.

Constant monitoring of PSL figures of Banks by RBI at least on month to month basis together with its discreet checking and analysis to ensure data integrity and correctness is a must for directing individual Banks for achievement of set targets suitably. NPAs in PSL can very well be contained by need based lending with prudence and transparency. The Govt. machinery must also come forward to help disburse the farm loan etc. by granting various certificates quickly and genuinely wherever required and also lend active support in the recovery efforts of lending institutions. Moreover, as a ground reality, it is easier to recover loans in rural areas as the rural people are still comparatively honest in repaying their loan dues

In fact, the Central Govt. and RBI have enough room for addressing the grey areas in our banking system which is, otherwise too, urgently needed in order to improve the overall health of banking and also the economy of the country.
                        Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna Daily.com on 19th July,2013 

                                                       

* Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

WHY POOR STATE OF SANITATION IN MAJOR STATES?

                                                                                -By Milan K Sinha

The value of Indian currency has touched a new low, current account deficit is posing grave problem, the food security ordinance by the congress led  UPA-II central government has created lots of political uproar before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and the latest terrorist attack on Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, the place where Lord Buddha got enlightenment - all these issues have been engaging the attention of Indian public for the last few weeks. Nevertheless, the power that be , whether at the center or in the states did try to  convince the countrymen that necessary measures are being taken to address all these issues. Amid these promises, the common man who has been  bearing the brunt of these decisions in the name of reforms is still living in an age for which every policy maker/planner and the ruling political class should be thoroughly ashamed of.

Prima facie, it is really hard to  believe that  60% people of India defecate in the open even after more than 60 years   of planning process ; a state like Bihar which has been registering an average  state GDP growth of more than 10% for the last seven years, is still known as a state where  about 67 percent of rural population does not have access to basic sanitation facilities.

The next few minutes would take you through   some revealing facts  about the basic sanitation scenario still prevailing in this second most populous  country - a country having a GDP size of two trillion dollar and whose GDP growth rate has been better than that of many well off countries at least during last one decade.

It is  interesting  to note that  "Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan"  - Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) was launched way back in 1999-2000 which aimed at motivating rural households to build toilets and encouraging their use to finally achieve an ODF (Open Defecation Free) environment and also make the rural people realize the need for good sanitation practices. The main strategy for implementation of this nation-wide program has been ‘community led’ and ‘people centered’.

But, even after more than a decade, the sordid fact remains. India is termed as the world's capital of open defecation. 53% Indian population lack sanitation facilities, where as it is  only 7%  in case of Bangladesh  and Brazil. More than 60% of households in Uttrakhand, Orissa, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are without toilets. Only  28,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) are declared as "Nirmal Gram" under  TSC   program  out of 2.4 lac GPs in the country.

  

By any scale of analysis and judgment, this can be said to be  absolutely disgraceful and completely unacceptable. Even Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development, did term it as a matter of shame and sorrow, anguish and anger while asserting, ‘Gandhiji gave ‘Quit India’ call in Sevagram for freedom struggle and today I appeal to all of you to make villages open defecation free because it’s an issue of country’s pride.’

In all probability, as  a follow up action, the union minister initiated  few commendable measures including spearheading an emotive and eye catching awareness campaign where in one can see the Bollywood blockbuster film 'Dirty Picture'  and ‘Kahaani’ fame actress, Vidya Balan in a nicely shot social advertisement stressing the need of having a toilet for each family in rural India.

No doubt, a few states have taken encouraging initiatives in this direction. Sikkim is one of them and it has earned the honor of becoming the first state in the country which is Open-Defecation Free. Kerala and Himachal Pradesh will soon be in that bracket.

But, what  about states like Bihar and UP, to name only major ones? Jan Willem Rosenboom of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) says, "Of all the people in the world who defecate in open, most live in India. To address this global issue, progress is needed to be made in India, and for that to happen, this issue needs to be addressed in states like Bihar." Will the government in Bihar led by a known follower of great socialist leader, Ram Manohar Lohia address this issue of basic sanitation particularly defecation in the open on highest priority?

                                                     Will meet again with Open Mind. All The Best.

# Published in Bihar Times.com

* Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

                                                      

PROMPT YOUR CHILD FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

                                                                                          -By Milan K Sinha

It is a common knowledge that this vast country named India is diverse in many respects - be it language, caste, religion, festivals, food habits etc., but surprisingly the perception even among the opinion makers about ensuring proper development of its huge pool of child and youth force is also found to be equally diverse across the country for inexplicable reasons.

Yes, few good education institutions do believe in what old proverb testify, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' and hence do their bit to involve all children, the future citizens of the country, in extracurricular activities for balanced development of their mind and body both. But what is the status of millions of other children?

Truly speaking, in today's parent-teacher as well as a system-sponsored maddening race that put excessive pressure on our innocent young population for scoring marks in curriculum by keeping other activities on hold, has started showing its negative effects on various aspects of our family and social life too.

May the following few lines of the Great Indian Monk, Thinker and Founder of Ram Krishna Mission, Swami Vivekananda compel us to re-visit this social and cultural issue for taking immediate corrective measures for our own benefit. Swamiji says, "First of all, our young men must be strong; religion will come afterwards. Be strong, my young friends; that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to the heaven through football than through the study of Gita."

This is an open fact that extracurricular activities are great learning as well as self-fulfilling experience in itself. It greatly helps develop many leadership qualities - from time management to relationship building to discovering one's own latent potential and inherent strengths and what not, which are the vital prerequisites for all round upbringing - emotionally, socially, morally, intellectually and physically, of our youths. Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, puts it in these words, 'The extracurricular activity in which I was most engaged - helped shape my interest in public policy.'

All great minds of the world appreciate this aspect of life and hence stress this point in one way or the other for obvious reasons. Mary E. Gore, American author and photographer thus asserts, "I have long recognized a link between fitness and mental health and I think we need to encourage young people to take part in sports and team activities because we know it has such positive results."

Finally, before signing off, why not engage ourselves in enjoying and interpreting the following lines of popular poet and lyricist, Nida Fazli:

धूप  में  निकलो,  घटाओं  में  नहा कर देखो
जिन्दगी क्या है, किताबों को हटा कर देखो।

                                             Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.
# Published in Patna Daily.com

* Do visit my site : milanksinha.com