E-Waste: Environmental Nuisance!!!

With increase of earnings, the consumerism is increased leading to change in life style. One can see television even in slums, mobile telephone with every one including the maid who works in your house, vegetable vendors etc, every one might be having refrigerators, DVD players and computers in their homes. With increase of banks giving personal loans and consumer loans, many people are changing consumer durables frequently to purchase new models. They may not be knowing how much e-waste they are creating.

Then, what will happen to the old electronic good? Which is otherwise called e-waste.

Some facts

•There are 20 million computer in the country, the number is expected to grow 75 million

•Country will have 3000 million mobiles by 2010

•50 % of e waste is not counted, refrigerators, washing machines, electronic toys , ovens, hot water geysers are part of e waste

•Computer monitors, keyboards, speakers, mice, worn-out cables, computer peripherals and consumables all go to make up e-waste in Bangalore, estimated at 5,000 to 8,000 tonnes a year.

•Toxics Link studied the e-waste pattern across the country and found that while Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore top the list of e-waste generators, cities like Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad, have become dumping grounds for e-waste. Ahmedabad had 3,287 tonnes of e-waste during the period 2004-05.

•Each computer contains at least 50 highly toxic metals and compounds.

•E waste contains toxic materials like lead and mercury which causes cancer. Many developed countries are dumping e- waste to developing and under developing countries. Basel convention international convention to reduce movement of hazardous waste between nation especially to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed country to developing country does not address radioactive came into effect may 5, 1992. E-waste became nuisance all over world there is no specific laws in management, disassembling, reuse and disposal of e-waste.

This became big environmental problem.

Some solution

•There should be proper rules to deal with e-waste not clubbing with the recycling of other wastes.

•Individual should also see lesser consumerism to save the environment

•Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) the manufacturing company can take back its product back after its useful life and reuse and recycle to prevent environmental damage. This should be implemented in India.

POP KING MICHAEL JACKSON IS EVER GREEN HERO
The pop king Michael Joseph Jackson is no more. He has made impact with his pop music in all age groups of people all over world. For his legions of fans, he was the peter pan of pop. In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller—widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist and entertainer. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his début onto the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Jackson was referred to as the "King of Pop"in subsequent years; his 1982 album Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time and four other solo studio albums are also among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995). Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged.

The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s and conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, aged 50. Before his death, Jackson had announced a 50-date sell-out This Is It comeback tour, in London, England.

Even though he is no more, he lives in every heart of his fans. The pop king Michael Joseph Jackson is ever green hero.

STRESS AND SLOW DOWN

Stress is double edged knife. According to studies if it is with in limits the productivity is increased, if it reaches peak it has negative effect on health and productivity of individual and ultimately the companies will suffer its productivity. If it is taken care of by exercise and meditation stress can be controlled but unfortunately many people resort towards smoking and alcohol and go to pubs and discos. The recent slow down has a ramification on employees stress level because of fear of pink slips, overload of work, financial problems and not coping up with office and house problems.
A national-level Corporate Wellness survey, conducted by the Apollo Hospitals group in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has revealed that the slowdown-induced stress levels have hit 50.52 per cent of the employees. The sample survey is not a small one. As many as 2.29 lakh employees across 581 corporates, spanning both manufacturing and services sectors, in about 32 cities and towns were covered in the survey for 2008-09. Apollo hospital had done a similar study a decade ago, covering 100 corporates and 15,000 executives in the six metros.
While ‘overall stress’ level had gone up to 50.52 per cent from 39 per cent in 1998-99, work stress shot up to 20.19 per cent (3.40 per cent), home stress to 19.33 per cent (1.62 per cent) and daily pressures from 8.84 per cent to 16.71 per cent.
The survey found that 48.46 per cent of all the employees were ‘physically unfit’ (which reflected their inability to carry out certain physical activities they were expected to do in their age group).Though alarming still, the figure marked an improvement over the 54.80 per cent registered in the earlier study. Those in the ‘overweight’ category came down to 32.52 per cent from 70.98 per cent. In 2008-09, about 41 per cent of employees admitted that they did not do any physical exercise

“The good news is that there is a marked increase in physical fitness. But the bad news is that stress levels have gone up to alarming levels,” Prof Adrian Kennedy of Lifetime Wellness Rx International Ltd, an Apollo Hospitals initiative, “The stress levels have gone up as a result of the global slowdown and business competitiveness. The methods of relaxation too are changing more in favor of avenues like pubs,” he said.
The response from the corporate world is lukewarm. About 70 per cent of organisations do not provide for wellness facilities. Only 30 per cent offer medical checks to their staff,” Prof Kennedy

What are answers?
Companies should provide fitness facilities to the staff, so that they can relax, yoga and meditation and physical exercise is most important.
There should be time gap for relaxation.
Companies should not overburden the staff with work.
People should be motivated and counseling should be down.
In the world of competition, people should prepare for “rainy days” so that they can not over stress their financial limitations.
Save money for difficult days.
Listen spiritual discourses.

LALU PRASAD YADAV,CEO,RAILWAYS: MANAGEMENT GURU
Ever one remembers Sri Lalu Prasad Yadav with Fodder scam and poor administered Bihar. He is remembered for his wit and brushing his teeth with “neem stick” and milking the cow on the backyard of his house. But he is one of the ministers every management institute knows all over the world. The CEO of Railways Lalu has done wonders to the railways. The white elephant become profit making golden goose, the railway stations are clean and many amenities were provided to the Passengers. When Yadav took over, the Indian Railways was a loss-making organization. In the 4 years under his leadership, a cumulative total profit of Rs. 25,000 crore (US$ 5.2 billion dollars) has been reported
Ironically, the Rakesh Mohan Committee in 2001 (headed by Rakesh Mohan, secretary, department of economic affairs) had termed The Railways a 'white elephant' and predicted that it would suffer a Rs 61,000 crore (US$15.4 billion dollars) loss possibly ending in bankruptcy by 2015.
Yadav is now credited with engineering the financial turnaround of Indian Railways that was on the verge of bankruptcy before his appointment to the office. He left passenger fares untouched and found several other profitable sources of revenue for the Railways. He also improved on his first year's performance by stating a profit of 14,000 crores with decreased freight and unchanged passenger fares in 2006. Then, in the 2007 budget, he increased the profit level to 20,000 crores with the introduction of cushion seats in all unreserved compartments. In 2008, profits were 25000 crore (equals $ 6.25 billion @ $1~Rs.40). This confidence is not only due to the rising trend of performance, but also due to the significant growth in the past two years. These two years coincided with Mr. Lalu Prasad being at the helm of affairs of the IR, having moved into his position on 23rd May, 2004.
Every one in the world appreciated Lalu and many Management institutions started beeline to hear his management mantra. IIM Ahemadabad has done special study ‘Turnaround’ of Indian Railways: A Critical Appraisal of Strategies and Processes” during 2007 it mentioned in the paper that “The operationalisation of the various strategies over the past two years depended significantly on the leadership style of Mr Lalu Prasad. It was a common sense based approach, showing an astute understanding of the market reality, the asset base of the IR and the expertise and capability of the IR’s management and systems. Consequently, he followed this up with the principles of leveraging the assets (“milk the cow fully”) and empowerment and delegation. With whatever has been achieved in the ‘turnaround,’ Mr Lalu Prasad has demonstrated that good economics is good politics. “Mr Lalu Prasad is a non-interfering, yet aware MR, who sets the goals and expects results.” was stated by most of the ex-Members and the current Members of the Board. “This has given him a position of strength to build organizational alignment to see through fundamental initiatives.”

To build alignment for execution, the Lalu periodically communicated to the GMs, setting and reinforcing Mr Lalu Prasad had a positive approach in dealing with the staff and unions. Given the financial performance of the IR, the unions wanted a doubling of the contribution to the staff welfare fund. He offered them more. When he saw that gangmen who had to walk on the stone ballast were not provided footwear as part of their equipment, he ensured the same.

What is the management mantra of Lalu? He has not gone to any premier management institute and born to poor family in village. His management mantra is “common sense and human approach to the problem” which made wonders to Indian Railways
He has plugged the loop holes where revenue is leaking.
Decentralization of administration and non interference.
Human touch to the problems of staff and rewarding the staff who has done good work to railways.
Providing amenities to passengers and decreasing freight charges
Speech of Shri Lalu Prasad, introducing the Railway Budget 2008-2009, on 26 February 2008
“I present the Railway Budget for the year 2008-09 with a sense of deep pride and satisfaction. Each year we have progressively raised the bar based on our own successes. The cash surplus of the Railways rose steadily from Rs 9000 cr in 2005 to Rs 14000 cr in 2006 to Rs 20000 cr in 2007. The august House would be happy to know that in 2007-08, we will create history once again by turning in a cash surplus before Dividend of Rs. 25000 cr. Our operating ratio has also improved to 76%. Indian Railways is a Government Department. However, we take pride in the fact that our achievement, on the benchmark of net surplus before Dividend, makes us better than most of the Fortune 500 companies in the world...”

Ever one should learn the example of Lalu for better management of public sector undertaking and other government institutions