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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081229/jsp/calcutta/story_10309149.jsp
Space research funds
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has sanctioned Rs 1 crore to Calcutta University (CU) for space research.
“As part of a scheme to strengthen space research in the country, Isro has decided to provide funds to five universities in the country. CU has been selected as one of the universities,” said Tapan Mukherjee, the CU pro vice-chancellor (finance).
The radio physics department of CU will take up the research projects.
Nine institutes were shortlisted by Isro for the grant. Five institutes were selected after a final screening in Bangalore in May. The institutes that made the cut include the University of Pune, University of Hyderabad and Benaras Hindu University.
Four Isro-sponsored projects are in progress at CU. The quantum of grant varies between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 65 lakh. The new grant will enable advanced space research, said a teacher of the department. The first instalment of Rs 5 lakh has been released.
“The new projects will soon be underway,” said CU vice-chancellor Suranjan Das. The decision to start work was approved by the university syndicate last Tuesday. There is no deadline for the projects.
Five teaching posts will be created under the programme. Isro will pay the salaries for five years. “We will urge Isro to provide funds for continuing the posts after five years. But we may also have to approach the state government,” said a university official.
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http://www.odishatoday.com/orissa/Private_hospitals_should_take_leadership_291208-5421794803.html
Private hospitals and research centres should take leadership role for cancer detection: Guv
By Dipti Ranjan Kanungo
Last updated: 12/29/2008 10:40:36
Orissa Governer Murali Chandrakanta Bhandare speaking at the 3rd anniversary of Hemalata Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Bhubaneswar ( Orissa): Orissa Governer Murali Chandakanta Bhandare called for more awareness of cancer and its early detection.
Speaking at the 3rd Anniversary celebration of Hemalata Hospitals and Research Centre here on Saturday the Governor said even Private hospitals and research centres must take leadership role in organizing cancer detection camps, public awareness programmes in the rural areas and continuing medical education (CMEs) for Doctors serving in peripherial pockets.
He also urged the primary level physicians to update their knowledge base in cancer, so they can detect the disease progression in an early stage.
On this occasion former Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and President of World Federation of Surgical Oncology, Prof. Hari Shankar Shukla said tobacco quitting can reduce 30 to 40 percent cancer cases in the Country.
He also warned that stale and infectious food can also lead towards stomach and esophagus cancer. So everyone must be aware of their consumption and must not ignore wounds which are not healing in due course of time as they could also lead to cancerous proportion in the body, he added.
Chief Managing Director of Hemalata Hospitals and Research Centre Dr. A. K. Rath said there are 8 percent cancer patients in the country and it will go up to 12 percent by the year 2030.
Till date total 3,125 cancer cases have been registered in the centre, out of which 1,235 cases has been chemotherapy, 755 cases surgery and 1728 cases total body CT scan effected.
Director Hospital Service of the Centre Dr. J. C. Mohanty was present on this occasion.
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a) IIT Bhubaneswar to come up at Aragul
http://www.indiaedunews.net/IIT/IIT%5FBhubaneswar%5Fto%5Fcome%5Fup%5Fat%5FAragul%5F6989/
b) PM: 20 new IITs, 7 IIMs, 30 Central varsities on cards
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122052230500.htm
(Chronicle note: Read 20 new IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology) instead of IITs)
c) IT firms give IIT campuses a miss
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/it-firms-give-iit-campusesmiss/00/12/344822/
d) IIT may come up in Jaipur with French aid
e) Acquisition of land for IIT Indore almost complete
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20081216/1612102.htm
f) IIT Bhubaneswar to run from the city from July
g) First IIT Batch In Himachal To Start In 2009-10 - Dhumal
h) Educationists pitch for IIT in Karnataka
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Educationists_pitch_for_IIT_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3915560.cms
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(Dr. P K Mishra)
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Mishra is a Reader in Chemical Engineering Department at Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. His area of interest includes, Separation Process, Ind. Poll. & Control, Process Devevelopment & Design, Fluidization, Petroleum Refining.
Profile on department website: http://www.itbhu.ac.in/che/index.php/people/69.html
He can be contacted at: pkmishra.che@itbhu.ac.in
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Natural dyes being developed in Uttar Pradesh
15 Dec 2008, 1613 hrs IST, ANI
VARANASI: Eco-friendly natural dyes are being developed at a university in Uttar Pradesh to meet the increasing demand in the west.
These dyes are made using naturally available materials like onion peels, pomegranate seeds and pulp and rose petal.
Techniques used for extraction of the natural dyes are solvent extraction technology, enzymatic extraction technology and ultra sonic technology.
Raw material used for making these dyes is first broken down into smaller pieces, in order to control the moisture. This material is dried and after drying powder is first made out of them.
Then the raw material is put in water for 24 hours and mixed with enzymes. The enzyme breaks the cell walls and drains the colours out of the material.
Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Professor of chemical engineering at Banaras Hindu University said that merely extracting the natural dyes was not enough. What is more important was how strongly the dye held on to the fabric.
"It is not important to merely extract the colours but what is more important is that these colours should hold on to the dyed material so when a sari, carpet or any other textile is dyed with these colours the colour should stick to the material and not fade away. Their brightness should be maintained," said Mishra.
Arun Kumar Aggarwal, an exporter expressed his satisfaction over the dyes being developed as the textiles dyed naturally were most sought after in the west.
"Some years ago, the buyers from London and other western countries refused the textiles dyed with benzene. They believed that these textiles caused skin cancer. So, the buyers preferred textiles with no benzene. So these eco-friendly colours are welcome," said Aggarwal.
Though a bit expensive compared to synthetic colours, the popularity of herbal dyes is growing.
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About Dr. Anil Bhardwaj
(Dr. Anil Bhardwaj)
Dr. Anil Bhardwaj is the recipient of 2007 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award for excellence in science. He did his doctorate in Applied Physics (Space and Planetary Science) from IT-BHU in 1992. Currently he is working with ISRO and posted at Space Physics Laboratory of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Trivandrum.
Dr. Bhardwaj did his B.Sc. in Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics from Lucknow University in 1985; B.Sc. Honours in Physics (1986) and M. Sc. Special in Physics, with specialization in Electronics and X-rays, also from Lucknow University in 1987.
Later, he joined the Dept. of Applied Physics, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and worked under the guidance of Prof. R. P. Singhal in the area of Planetary and Space Sciences. He was awarded Ph.D. in Applied Physics by BHU in 1992 on his thesis “Aurora and Airglow Processes on Outer Planets and Comets”.
While on deputation to NASA, he discovered crucial findings that we could use giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn as remote-sensing tools. The result has important implication – in studying the Sun, i.e., X-rays from Jupiter and Saturn can be used to study flaring from solar hemisphere that is otherwise invisible to Earth-orbiting satellites. Also such observations can be used as well to derive solar soft (0.2-2 keV) X-ray fluxes: the energy regime in which there is a dearth of measurements.
NASA and ESA have come out with press releases on these breakthrough researches.
He was awarded Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for the year 2007 in the discipline “Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary”, for pioneering contributions in the field of Planetary Sciences, in particular in the area of Planetary X-ray astronomy and international collaborative research programs. Specifically the CSIR has cited him “for his fundamental contributions and creative ideas to elucidate X-ray emissions from planetary bodies, including aurorae, and advancing its subsequent enrichment, and futuristic potential by attracting international collaboration.”
On December 20, 2008 he was invited to New Delhi along with other awardees of 2007 Bhatnagar Award, and presented with the award by our Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
He can be contacted at: anil_bhardwaj@vssc.gov.in
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Additional link:
1) Interview with Dr. Anil Bhardwaj in Chronicle Sept. 2007 issue:
http://www.itbhuglobal.org/chronicle/archives/2007/09/
2) Saturn reflects X-rays from Sun....Ringed Protector of Earth
http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20050525105244793
3) Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Anil Bhardwaj
http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2007/docs/cv_bhardwaj.pdf
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http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45971
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today gave away the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards for the Year 2007 and 2008 at a function in New Delhi. The list of the awardees is as follows:
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for the year 2007
Earth Sciences:
Dr Anil Bhardwaj of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram for his fundamental contributions and creative ideas to elucidate X-Ray emissions from planetary bodies including auroras and advancing its subsequent enrichment and futuristic potential by attracting international collaboration.
(Photo courtesy: http://www.pib.nic.in/release/phsmall.asp?phid=21266)
(The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh giving away the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology 2007 to Dr. Anil Bhardwaj of Thiruvananthapuram for his outstanding contribution in Earth, Atmosphere. Ocean and Planetary Sciences, in New Delhi on December 20, 2008. The Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal is also seen.)
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(Chronicle note: IT-BHU participates in TEQUIP program.)
World Bank's Rs 14000-cr largess for Indian tech institutes
19 Dec 2008, 1459 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: The technical educational institutes in the country are set for massive upgrade in infrastructure and software facilities with World Bank assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) entering the second phase this year.
The Ministry of HRD has signed an MoU with the World Bank for the second phase of the project which will be implemented for another three years.
"The engineering institutions will be provided assistance to upgrade their infrastructure and software facilities. Besides, faculty development will be a focused area under the second phase of the project," a senior ministry official told PTI.
As per the agreement, World Bank will provide Rs 14,000 crore, while HRD Ministry will contribute Rs 500 crore for the project. The states will have a share in the project.
"Forty per cent of the amount will be spent on infrastructure," he said.
However, the government is yet to finalise the institutes to be provided with the benefits.
The World Bank is understood to have objected to the idea of providing assistance on the criteria of backwardness of the area where the institute is located.
It is not yet decided whether quality or backwardness would be criteria for providing the assistance.
The TEQIP project was first launched in 2002, aiming to up-scale and support ongoing efforts in improving quality of technical education and enhancing existing capacities of the institutes to become demand-driven, quality conscious, efficient and responsive to rapid economic and technological developments both at national and international levels.
In the first phase, the total cost of the project was Rs 1,550 crore. About 127 institutes, including 18 Centrally funded and 109 state institutions, participated in first phase of TEQIP.
The state Institutes were from 13 States -- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
The 18 Central institutes include 17 NITs and NIFFT, Ranchi. The 109 state institutions included 90 engineering colleges and 19 polytechnics.
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http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45702
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Setting up of World Class Universities _____________________________________________________________________________
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Heftier_pay_packets_for_academics/articleshow/3847606.cms
Heftier pay packets for academics
16 Dec 2008, 2130 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: In a new-year gift to university and college teachers, the government has revised their pay scales, offering hefty hikes effective from January 1, 2006.
Making an announcement in this regard, Minister of State for HRD D Purandeswari said in the Lok Sabha that there will be three positions — Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors in universities and colleges.
In place of "Grade Pay" as applicable to Central Government employees, the term "Academic Grade Pay" (AGP) shall be used for the teachers and equivalent positions. Different Grade Pays of Rs 6000, Rs 7000, Rs 8000, Rs 9000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 have been approved as AGP for teachers and equivalent positions.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the revised pay scales for the teachers. Earlier, the UGC had set up a committee headed by Prof G K Chadha to suggest the revised pay package for the academics.
The announcement came as a relief to the academics who are on strike in various universities demanding early implementation of the Chadha committee report.
While the revision of pay scales will come into effect from January 1, 2006, the allowances (except DA) and advance increments etc would come into effect from September 1, 2008.
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http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45747
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Revision of Pay-Scales of Teacher under the Purview of the university Grants Commission
STATEMENT BY MOS (HRD) IN THE LOK SABHA
16:0 IST
Following is the text of the statement made by Smt. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, regarding Revision of Pay Scales of Teachers in Universities and Colleges, in Lok Sabha today:
“Sir, this august House has expressed its concern, from time to time, for the need to strengthen the quality of higher education in the country. One of the critical factors affecting the quality of universities and institutions imparting higher education, is our inability to attract and retain young and talented persons to the teaching profession, leading over a period of time to shortage of teachers in central as well as state universities and other higher educational institutions. It is estimated that in Central Universities and constituent colleges thereof, approximately twenty-five percent of posts of teachers are lying vacant. Vacancies in teaching posts in State level institutions are known to be even higher.
As a sequel to the 6th Central Pay Commission, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had constituted a Pay Review Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. G.K.Chadha, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister on 6th September, 2007 for recommending, among other things, the ways and means of attracting and retaining talented persons in the teaching profession and furtherance of research in the University system. The Committee submitted its report to the University Grants Commission on 3rd October, 2008 and the UGC furnished its recommendations on 10th October, 2008. An Empowered Committee was constituted on 10th October, 2008 and based on its recommendations, the proposals formulated by the Ministry were considered by a Committee of Secretaries in its meeting held on 5th December, 2008. I am happy to inform the House that Ministry’s proposals have since been approved by the Cabinet on 15th December, 2008. I also take this opportunity to share the important features of the revised pay scales and service conditions for teachers in Universities and Colleges as approved by the Government:
(i) There shall be only three designations in respect of teachers in universities and colleges, namely, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors.
(ii) No one shall be eligible to be appointed, promoted or designated as Professor, unless he or she possesses a Ph.D. and satisfies other academic conditions, as laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This shall, however, not affect those who are already designated as ‘Professor’.
(iii) In place of “Grade Pay” as applicable to Central Government employees, the term “Academic Grade Pay” (AGP) shall be used for the teachers and equivalent positions. Different Grade Pays of Rs. 6000, Rs.7000, Rs. 8000, Rs.9000, Rs.10000 and Rs.12000 have been approved as AGP for teachers and equivalent positions.
(iv) Higher Academic Grade Pay of Rs. 6000 has been recommended for all Assistant Professors at the entry level so as to make it more attractive compared to the entry level Grade Pay for the Civil Services and other professionals under the 6th Central Pay Commission.
(v) Five non-compoundable advance increments shall be given (as against 4 at present) at entry as Assistant Professor for the degree of Ph.D. obtained in the relevant discipline and if the same is from a university complying with the process prescribed by the UGC in respect of enrolment, course-work and evaluation of the degree of Ph.D. At entry level, teachers possessing M.Phil or post graduate degrees such as M. Tech/LL.M etc., in the relevant professional courses as approved by the relevant statutory councils shall be given 2 non-compounded advance increments. Those who acquire these degrees in the relevant discipline while being in service shall be allowed three non-compounded advance increments for Ph.Ds and one increment for M. Phil or post graduate degree acquired in the relevant professional course such as M. Tech/ LL.M. etc.
(vi) For the first time ever, posts of Professors shall be introduced in both under-graduate and post-graduate colleges. The number of posts of Professors in UG Colleges shall be 10 percent of the number of posts of Associate Professors. There shall be as many posts of Professors in PG Colleges as the number of Departments.
(vii) 10% of the posts of Professors in universities shall be in higher Academic Grade Pay of Rs. 12000 with prescribed eligibility conditions.
(viii) NET shall be compulsory for appointment at the entry level of Assistant Professor, subject to the exemptions to Ph.Ds in respect of those persons obtaining the award through a registration, course-work and evaluation process, as have been/ or may be laid down by the UGC through its regulations, and so adopted by the University. NET shall not be required for such Masters’ programmes for which NET is not available.
(ix) Those who are presently working as Lecturer (Selection Grade) or Reader shall continue to be so designated till they become eligible for the post of Associate Professor.
(x) Parity between teachers and the Librarians/Directors of Physical Education shall be maintained, except for the age of superannuation, which for Librarians/Physical Education personnel shall continue to be 62 years.
(xi) Though the posts of Registrars, Finance Officer, Controller of Examinations, Deputy Registrars and their equivalent posts were not within the purview of the Pay Review Committee of UGC, their pay scales have also been decided by the Cabinet.
(xii) According to the past practice, financial assistance will be provided by the Central Government to the State Governments which may opt for these revised pay scales, to the extent of 80% of the additional expenditure involved in the implementation of the revision for the duration from 1.1.2006 to 31.3.2010, subject to the condition that the entire pay revision/ pay scales package scheme, together with all the conditions laid down in this regard by the UGC by way of Regulations, and other reform measures are implemented by the State Governments as a composite scheme. However, the State Governments shall be free to implement revised scales of pay from a date later than 1.1.2006 and also to prescribe higher scales of pay, depending on their local conditions. However, the Central Assistance shall be limited to the UGC scales of pay and only for the period ending on 31.3.2010.
(xiii) While the revision of pay will take effect from 1.1.2006, the allowances (except DA) and advance increments etc. shall take effect from 1.9.2008.
(xiv) All prescribed requirements of Selection other than those mentioned above shall continue to be applicable.
Under the revised Scheme, Assistant Professors have been placed in the Pay Band of Rs. 15600-39100 entering at the AGP of Rs. 6000. A teacher with a Ph.D.degree can move from the post of Assistant Professor to Associate Professor after completion of 12 years of service as Assistant Professor, spending 4 years at the AGP of Rs. 6000, 5 years at the AGP of Rs. 7000 and 3 years at the AGP of Rs. 8000. Teachers with M.Phil and those with a post graduate degree in a professional course entering as Assistant Professors can become Associate Professor after 13 years of service. Those with neither Ph.D. nor M.Phil. etc. shall qualify to become Associate Professor after 14 years of service as Assistant Professor.
The Associate Professors have been placed in the Pay Band of Rs. 37,400-67,000 with Grade Pay of Rs. 9,000. While, under the existing scheme, teachers without Ph.D. could rise up to the post of Lecturer (Selection Grade), they can now go up to the level of Associate Professor, based on the prescribed selection process.
As against a period of 17 years for a teacher possessing Ph.D. at the entry level to be eligible to become Professor through selection, the present decision of the Government would enable them to be selected as Professor after 15 years.
A teacher with 10 years as Professor would be eligible to be considered against 10 percent of the posts in the higher Academic Grade Pay of Rs. 12000.
Sir, we have begun a process of restoring the dignity and pride in being associated with the teaching profession. This decision to improve pay and other emoluments and to provide more attractive service conditions to the teachers is only one of the several steps required to attain the broader objective of improving the quality of higher education. This august House would, I hope, agree that this is a significant step towards that goal. I place on record my gratitude for permitting me to make this statement amidst important business before the House.”
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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081213/jsp/nation/story_10246804.jsp
Go-ahead to science think tank |
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT |
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CNR Rao: ‘Delighted’ |
New Delhi, Dec. 12: The Lok Sabha today passed a bill to create India's first autonomous agency to fund science and engineering research, taking closer to reality an idea first proposed by science policy makers more than two decades ago.
The bill for a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which will also have to be passed by the Rajya Sabha, seeks to build a new agency with an independent budget to plan and fund research in academic institutions and other organisations.
"I'm delighted. This is the greatest thing that's happened to Indian science," said C N R Rao, the head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
"We first started working on this in 1985-86," Rao told The Telegraph . Despite attempts in the 1980s and again in the 1990s to initiate the process, it was only in 2005 that the Council pitched the idea of the SERB to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who agreed.
It will have "greater autonomy" than existing government science funding agencies and is expected to work with an annual budget of about Rs 1000 crore, Rao said.
"This will be India's big think tank for science and engineering," said Maharaj Kishan Bhan, secretary, department of biotechnology. "It'll look at the big picture, the long-term, plan for mega-projects as well as guide reform in scientific research in universities."
But some top university scientists have already cautioned that the proposed constitution of the SERB puts a question mark on the level of its true autonomy.
The secretaries of several government departments -- including science and technology, biotechnology, earth sciences and health research -- will be members of the SERB. Other members will be drawn from academic institutions, research laboratories, and experienced scientists -- all appointed by the central government.
"We don't know how this mechanism will be different from any of the multiple funding mechanisms India already has," said a senior scientist at the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, who requested anonymity.
"Autonomy is an interesting notion. All our universities and higher educational institutions are supposed to be autonomous, but we all know what the reality is," the scientist said.
Most scientists agree India needs to reform the way science is funded. "There's virtually no coordination between existing science funding agencies. Funds are sometimes doled out without accountability," said Kasturi Lal Chopra, former director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
"But high level of government influence on the Board may only mean more inefficiency and less autonomy" Chopra said.
One researcher expressed concern about the control of funding by SERB. "There's been a trend in India where fewer and fewer people control large amounts of science funding. The SERB may accentuate that trend," said Nandula Raghuram, a biologist at the Indraprastha University, New Delhi.
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http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46081
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Science and Engineering Research Board ___________________________________________________________________________
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(Dr. Pradeep Ahuja)
View his profile on the department website:
http://www.itbhu.ac.in/che/index.php/people/73.html
PRADEEP AHUJA, Ph.D., is Reader in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He has published several research papers in national and international journals. Dr. Ahuja is a recipient of the AICTE Career Award for Young Teachers and is a life member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE).
Pradeep Ahuja did his B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering from IT-BHU in 1991, M. Tech. in Energy Studies from IIT-Delhi in 1992 and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from IT-BHU in 1996. Before joining IT-BHU as Lecturer in 1997 he was Lecturer at D.J. Sanghvi College of Engineering, Vile Parle, Mumbai. He is presently Reader in the Department of Chemical Engineering, IT-BHU. His academic and research interests are: Computational Fluid Dynamics, Modelling and Simulation, Thermodynamics and Kinetics, and Energy and Polymer Technology.
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About the book:
Dr. Pradeep Ahuja has written a book on Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics for B. Tech. Chemical Engineering Students. It is published by PHI Learning, New Delhi. The book consists of 720 pages and a solution manual of 185 pages is there for faculty members.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS
AHUJA, PRADEEP
Pages: 720
ISBN: 978-81-203-3637-7
Price: 450.00
http://www.phindia.com/bookdetail_forth.php?isbn=978-81-203-3637-7
This book offers a full account of thermodynamic systems in chemical engineering. It provides a solid understanding of the basic concepts of the laws of thermodynamics as well as their applications with a thorough discussion of phase and chemical reaction equilibria.
At the outset the text explains the various key terms of thermodynamics with suitable examples and then thoroughly deals with the virial and cubic equations of state by showing the P-V-T (pressure, molar volume and temperature) relation of fluids. It elaborates on the first and second laws of thermodynamics and their applications with the help of numerous engineering examples. The text further discusses the concepts of energy, standard property changes of chemical reactions, thermodynamic property relations and fugacity. The book also includes detailed discussions on residual and excess properties of mixtures, various activity coefficient models, local composition models, and group contribution methods. In addition, the text focuses on vapour-liquid and other phase equilibrium calculations, and analyzes chemical reaction equilibria and adiabatic reaction temperature for systems with complete and incomplete conversion of reactants.
Key Features:
· Includes a large number of fully worked-out examples to help students master the concepts discussed.
· Provides well-graded problems with answers at the end of each chapter to test and foster students’ conceptual understanding of the subject. The total number of solved examples and end-chapter exercises in the book are over 600.
· Contains chapter summaries that review the major concepts covered.
The book is primarily designed for the undergraduate students of chemical engineering and its related disciplines such as petroleum engineering and polymer engineering. It can also be useful to professionals.
The Solution Manual containing the complete worked-out solutions to chapter-end exercises and problems is available for instructors.
Published by:
PHI Learning Private Limited
Reg. Office: M-97, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001, INDIA
Patparganj office: 'Rimjhim House', 111, Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi-110092
E-mail: phi@phindia.com
Website: http://www.phindia.com/index.php
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Table of Contents | |
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http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45190
By Bharat Dogra
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VARANASI, Dec 22 (IPS) - Legend has it that India’s famed handloom silk industry began around 300 A.D. after a Chinese princess smuggled out the eggs of the silkworm moth and the seeds of the mulberry tree in her headdress.
More than 1,700 years later, China is threatening to swamp the artisanal industry -- through dumping, cheap imitations and a proliferation of automated looms.
India has several centres associated with silk weaving, but nowhere is the threat felt more than in this holy city on the banks of the Ganges river, where for centuries artisans have woven the intricate, multi-hued ‘Banarsi sari’ that is an essential part of every Hindu bride’s trousseau.
Row after row of handlooms sit idle in the city’s Pili Kothi area and the inactivity is punctuated only by the occasional whirr and click of a stray weaver still struggling to execute an order for the nine-yard length of shimmering silk that is often edged with gold thread.
Rajnikant, director of the Human Welfare Association, a voluntary organisation working with weavers in Varanasi, explains that until a decade ago the silk weaving industry provided livelihoods for about 700,000 people in this city. This has now been reduced to less than 250,000 people struggling on with vastly reduced incomes.
A significant reason for is attributed to indiscriminate imports and mechanisation. According to the Planning Commission of India, in 2006-07 around 9,258 tonnes of silk worth over Rs six billion (120 million US dollars) was imported from China.
As a result, cocoon prices crashed and nearly 49,000 hectares of mulberry crop had to be uprooted from farms in southern Karnataka state.
In mid-2005, the Indian government moved to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese raw silk, but imports including contraband began to flood in through third countries like Bangladesh and Nepal with traders taking advantage of the fact that India imposes no import curbs on these impoverished neighbouring countries. And then the duties did not cover silk fabrics.
"When the government finally imposed an anti-dumping duty on silk yarn, imports of bulk silk fabrics from China increased but no anti-dumping duty was placed on this. It became easy for unscrupulous local manufacturers to convert this imported fabric into cheap imitations of Banarsi saris,’’ said Rajnikant.
Customer preferences for the fine but vastly cheaper, machine-woven Chinese crepes that started flooding the Indian market sounded the death knell of the traditional handloom Banarsi sari. Only a handful of discerning buyers could tell the difference or were prepared to pay high prices for the genuine item.
Unfortunately for the weavers, the import surge took place at a time when handlooms were already facing a threat from power looms whose owners were using computers to closely copy traditional handloom designs, right down to the flaws, and pass them off as handloom products on unsuspecting customers.
Also, around the same time, embroidery machines began to be imported from China, making the women engaged in embroidery lose their livelihood as manufacturers and traders sold machine-embroidered cloth as hand embroidery.
But worst of all, imitation Banarsi silk saris began appearing out of China. It was soon discovered that enterprising Chinese manufacturers were actually hiring weavers from Varanasi to advise them on the intricacies of design and colour.
India with its labour problems and power shortages and lack of subsidies was simply no match for the production skills and marketing savvy of China.
And, Rajnikant explained, the Indian weavers did not have subsidies or other support of their government as did the Chinese.
Weavers were left with little choice but to abandon their centuries-old profession in droves, although many said they were happy to leave behind an exploitative structure in which they could not ever win.
Aminuddin, an activist who lives in Nakhighat area of Varanasi, says: "Rates given to weavers were so low that they couldn’t survive. Most government funds also reach only those in the trade and who are already prosperous. Official committees and delegates never bother to meet poor weavers."
According to Mohammed Sharif Ansari, a weaver, at least 47 members of the community were known to have committed suicide over the past year in and around Varanasi but no official ever bothered to visit the families or offer compensation. ‘’Visiting officials listen only to the views of rich traders and exporters."
Razia Begum, a member of the weavers’ community in Lohta village, says that women, who made an important contribution to the industry suffered the most. ‘’The working conditions of weavers have deteriorated so much that when they complete a sari they do not know whether they'll be able to get enough to meet the minimum needs of the family and also start work on a new piece.’’
Ainul Haq, a weaver who need medical care and has small children to support told IPS said he spent time trying to avail grants from the government. ‘’I did not get any money even though some grants were approved.’’
According to Jaya Jaitly, politician and New Delhi-based expert on handicrafts, efforts to protect silk weavers and their craft needed to focus on several fronts. "Demand for the quality products of handloom weavers certainly exists, but we've to find ways to link this demand to protecting the livelihood of handloom weavers,’’ she told IPS.
"There is widespread recognition, here and in export markets, about the superior craft of handlooms. However, buyers need to be more assertive in demanding that the product they are buying is a genuine handloom product. It will help to introduce a handloom market certifying genuineness of product,’’ said Rajnikant.
In the view of Kumar Gautam, a researcher with the Delhi-based Centre for Trade and Development, what will really help at this point is a ‘’geographical indication status for the Banarsi sari’’.
‘’The real tragedy,’’ said Aminuddin, ‘’is that there are so many government schemes begun in the name of helping weavers but none of them actually benefits them.’’
According to the chairman of the government’s Central Silk Board (CSB), H. Hanumanthappa, the situation was a complex one and involved many interests. For example, the anti-dumping duty, whose main purpose was to safeguard the interests of sericulture farmers and weavers, has affected the competitiveness of India’s silk exporters.
The CSB has moved to get the anti-dumping duty on raw silk extended for five more years after it expires in December 2008 although the duty has not helped improve overall silk production.
According to Hanumanthappa prospects for exporters in the near term were dim anyway because of reduced demand from the United States and Europe, as result of the global financial meltdown. The industry, he said, is faced with a situation where it will have to axe between 500,000 to one million jobs over the next few years.
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Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005, UP