Chalo Taluke - Gujarat Information Bureau

“ Chalo Taluke”
Collective Efforts,
Inclusive Growth
VOL-I, ISSUE-4, October, 2011
thegujaratmagazine@gmail.com

October, 2011
An English Quarterly Magazine
VOL-1, ISSUE-4 October,2011
CHIEF EDITOR
V. Thiruppugazh
MANAGING EDITOR
Arvind Patel
Dy. CHIEF EDITOR
Pulak Trivedi
TEAM CHIEF
V.N. Balakrishna
TEAM 'THE GUJARAT'
Abhisar Gaur
Akshaya Karanth
Ankita Biswas
Indrani Mantripragada
Madhurima Mallik
Mihir Shah
Nitasha Nair
Sahit Chirutapudi
Vasant Iyer
Vineet Kanabar
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Grey Orange Brand Pvt. Ltd.
DISTRIBUTION
Sharad Bumbadiya
Jayesh Dave
______________________
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Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India- 382010
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Message from the CM
Dear readers,
We are proud to bring you the 4th issue of the Gujarat government’s
quarterly English magazine - The Gujarat.
The Cover Story for the current issue is “Chalo Taluka”. We launched the
“Chalo Taluka'' campaign in all 225 talukas of the state from July 22 to
September 10. It was a memorable experience for all of us interacting with local
office-bearers and the people of different talukas. We had already launched the
'Apno Taluko Vibrant Taluko' scheme to rejuvenate taluka level administration
earlier in the state and I am sure that the Chalo Taluka campaign will further
help us to streamline administrative activities at the grassroots.
I cannot help realizing the true spirit of people power when I, my Cabinet
colleagues and senior officials visit talukas to know firsthand what prevails in
places far from the Secretariat. True democracy involves the government
reaching out to the people and knowing their problems as the people do have an
equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.
In the recently concluded quarter , the 9th Kanya Kelavani and Shala
Praveshotsav was launched on June 16 from Bhavnagar district and had an
overwhelming response. The taluka oriented 7th Krishi Mahotsav launched
earlier on the auspicious occasion of 'Akhatrij' on May 6 saw around one lakh
government officers, employees and agricultural scientists accompanying
'krish raths' covering over 18,000 villages in more than 225 talukas under the
scorching sun. We saw how our farmers were doing from the scientific inputs
they were getting from us.
The twin campaigns have given me much hope and resolve that illiteracy
and malnutrition will be eradicated from our beloved state. We pray to the
almighty to bless us with continued success in all our future endeavors at
achieving inclusive growth and streamlining administration across all levels.
Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat, Jai Hind
Narendra Modi
Chief Minister, Gujarat
1

2
Chalo Taluke - 2011
Collective Efforts Inclusive Growth
Page 22 - 27
3 Quick Bytes
Gujarat this Quarter
Government Initiatives
6 Agriculture
Be like Gujarat
8 E Governance
Enabling 360 degree
inclusion in Gujarat
10 BISAG
Index
Bhaskaracharya Institute for
Space Applications and Geo-
Informatics
13 Sadbhavna
Together, Gujarat marches
forward
14 Tribal Development
Livelihood through PPP
model
16 Teacher Recruitment
Creating equal opportunities
Business
18 Business this Quarter
A snapshot of the business
news in Gujarat
20 Automobile
Turning the wheels of fortune
22 Chalo Taluke
Decentralizing Governance
28 Gujarat Luminaries
Eminent personalities
who shaped Gujarat-
Mahatma Gandhi
29 Sardar Sarovar Project on
River Narmada
30 Vaave Gujarat
32 IITE
Cover Story
On a lighter note
Book Review
Environment
Gujarat goes green
In Focus
Teacher training institute
34 Sabarmati Riverfront
Rejuvenating Ahmedabad
Arts & Culture
37 Tarnetar Mela
Celebrating colours of rural
Gujarat
40 Photo Feature
October, 2011
In Conversation With
42 Dharini Pancham’da
A candid chat with Gujarat’s
classical music maestro
Travel
44 Dunni Point
Gujarat's own Marine
Paradise
Special Feature
46 Sabarmati Ashram
Paying homage to the
Mahatma
48 Upcoming Events
The Temple of Mahatma
Page 29

October, 2011
Quick Bytes
Gujarat this quarter
The construction near Sanand begins processing plant begins production
later this year and is expected to be The third milk processing plant of
Peugeot signs pact for Rs.4,000- commissioned by 2013. Banas District Cooperative Milk
crore plant near Sanand Producers Union Ltd, popularly known
Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Ford comes calling with Rs.4,000- as Banas Dairy, was inaugurated by
(PCA) will be setting up an automobile crore plant Chief Minister Narendra Modi on June
manufacturing plant near Sanand at a Ford Motor Company is setting up a 28, 2011. Built by National Dairy
cost of Rs.4,000 crore with an motor vehicle manufacturing and Development Board (NDDB) at an
agreement being signed with the engineering plant near Sanand at a cost estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, the plant
Government of Gujarat (GoG) in the of Rs.4,000-crore. An MoU was signed will process 8 lakh litres per day, 40
presence of Chief Minister Narendra on July 28 between Ford India metric tonnes of liquid milk, 40 metric
Modi on September 1, 2011. President & Managing Director tonne butter per day and manufacture
The fully integrated manufacturing Michael Boneham and Gujarat's 50 kilo litre ice cream per day. The
Industries Principal Secretary M. Sahu liquid milk processing plant, butter
in the presence of Chief Minister manufacturing plant and ice cream
Narendra Modi. “The State is capable manufacturing plants have the best
of becoming a 'global auto hub',” said equipment with fully automated
the chief minister welcoming the entry PLC/DCS control system for safe,
of Ford Motor in Gujarat. The two efficient, reliable operations and
plants to be set up on 460-acre plot are
projected to be the company's biggest
consistent quality.
facility outside America. The 'Robodoc' brand new surgeon at
Government of Gujarat has reserved Civil Hospital
unit will be set up on a 584-acre plot
with cutting edge technology. The
vehicle manufacturing facility will be
integrated with stamping, body paint
and assembly operations with an initial
capacity of 165,000 vehicles per year.
An engine and gearbox plant will also
be added to constitute a full-fledged
modern industrial automotive facility.
Gujarat Industrial Development
Corporation (GIDC) will provide
another 25-acre land for ancillary
industry. PCA envisages exporting 25
per cent of the production paving the
way for Gujarat emerging as an
automobile export hub.
The plant, agreements for which
were signed by Gujarat's Principal
Secretary for Industry Maheshwar
Sahu and Vice President of Emerging
Market Programs & India of Peugeot
Citroen Automobiles Frédéric Fabre,
would provide direct employment to
5,000 and indirect to 25,000 persons.
another 150-acre adjoining land for
ancillary industry. The plants will
provide direct employment to 5,000
and indirect employment to 25,000
people, besides another 6,000 youth
getting jobs in the ancillary engineering
industry, totaling 36,000 jobs.
Ford Motor President Joe Hinrichs
described the investment in Gujarat as
the company's global future policy to
increase its global sales target by 50 per
cent to 8-million vehicles by mid-
2010s. It is because of Gujarat's overall
competence and competitiveness,
industry-friendly environment,
nearness to seaport, availability of
skilled technical personnel and
requisite infrastructure in place, that a
top vehicles manufacturer like Ford has
chosen the state for setting up its plants,
he said. The construction on the two
plants near Sanand is scheduled to
begin this year-end and production by
2014.
B a n a s D a i r y ' s 3 r d m i l k
' R o b o d o c , ' a n e w a g e ,
technologically advanced surgical
instrument costing Rs 10 crore was
unveiled by Health Minister
Jaynarayan Vyas at the Ahmedabad
Civil Hospital on July 15, 2011. "This
instrument, the first-of-its-kind in
India, will carry out surgeries with
precision and accuracy for knee and hip
joint replacements," Vyas said. It will
help doctors in pre-surgical planning,
control of bone movement, robot to CT
registration and the likes in pre, during
and post surgery procedures. "Since a
3

Quick Bytes
October, 2011
three degree misalignment occur when took part in the event. The Gujarat the state. The gifts deposited include
surgeries are carried out manually, chapter of India's Special Olympics silver bracelets, golden and silver
'Robodoc' will help doctors achieve Institute coach talented young mentally statutes and figurines, artistic chariots,
100% alignment thereby leading to a retarded athletes of above 8 years. The watches, mementos and medals,
successful surgery", he said. institute has so far registered 84,562 shawls, turbans, artistic umbrellas,
athletes after talent search. It has 5,232 coins, photo frames, swords, bows and
11 mentally challenged kids win coaches and 441 trainers, backed by arrows, traditional cloths of tribes and
at Special Olympics held in Greece 19,831 volunteers and 16,400 families other communities and more. Some 48
Chief Minister Narendra Modi on of the less privileged children. items among these are of gold and silver
which alone are worth Rs.10-lakh. So
CM deposits 521 gifts in far the Chief Minister has deposited
toshakhana items worth more than Rs. 287.37 lakhs
Chief Minister Narendra Modi in toshakhana.
deposited about 521 valuables, worth
Rs.14 lakhs, as gifts during the current Gujarat plans centre of excellence
year in the government toshakhana Gujarat has roped in Chairman and
(treasury). The proceeds will go to Chief Mentor of Infosys, N R Narayana
Kanya Kelavani Nidhi - a special fund Murthy, to guide a proposed
for financing education of girl child in international centre of excellence near
Ahmedabad.
July 22 honoured 11 mentally The state government has initiated
challenged children from Gujarat, the process of setting up a special
including seven girls, who had won purpose vehicle (SPV) – Gujarat
gold and silver medals in different Foundation for Entrepreneurship
e v e n t s a t S p e c i a l O l y m p i c s Excellence (GFEE) – with a 50:50
International Athletic event held at equity partnership of Rs 5 lakh each
Athens in Greece from June 25 to July between Gujarat Mineral Development
4. Nearly 7,500 children from 180 Corporation Ltd (GMDC) and a private
countries, including 140 from India, company, Gujarat Entrepreneurship
Awards Galore
leadership covering five years. Till June Commerce and Industries (GCCI). The
2006, AMC had just two awards. Under awards for three best MSME units were
AMC gets Nagar Ratna
Municipal commissioner I P
Gautam, in early July, received the 'All
India Institute of Local Self-
Government Nagar Ratna Award for the
Best Performing City' in the country
from President Pratibha Patil when his
transfer orders came as principal
secretary in the urban development and
urban housing department where he
will preside over all municipal
Gautam's tenure the city saw its first
mass rapid transit system in Janmarg's
BRTS built at Rs 981 crore under the
Centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission programme.
Other Nagar Ratna awards went to
Vadodara Municipal Corporation for
basic amenities to urban poor, Rajkot
Municipal Corporation for complaints
redressal system and Surat Municipal
Corporation for innovation.
given to Jyantibhai Ukani – Vasu
Healthcare, Vadodara; Rafi Abdul
Rahim Maniyar – Maniyar group and
corporations and municipalities and
other bodies related to urban affairs,
urban development and urban housing
department. This award was just one
among the 14 national and international
awards that Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation won under Gautam's
CM gives awards to small &
medium industries
Chief Minister Narendra Modi on
Monday gave away GCCI MSME
award to small and medium scale
entrepreneurs at a function organized in
Ahmedabad by Gujarat Chamber of
Bhanuprasad Patel – Omni Lease Ltd.
The 150th birth anniversary year of
Swami Vivekananda will be celebrated
as Yuva Shakti year to provide skill-
development opportunities to the youth
4

October, 2011
Quick Bytes
Venture Promotion Foundation Enterpreneurship and Technology) the world with their barbaric terrorist
(GEVPF) to develop the centre. website during a youth convention at act in America on 9/11. And with icreate
According to government officials, Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on launched on 9/11, Gujarat government
an agreement between the two September 9. desires to give the youth an opportunity
companies has been inked and the SPV 'icreate' is a world-class incubation to carve a new and prosperous future for
will be formed within the next couple of centre taking shape on the outskirts of the world,' Chief Minister Narendra
months. “The formation of this Ahmedabad on a sprawling 34 acres Modi said.
company is aimed at supporting campus to provide a congenial
i n n o v a t i o n a n d i n c u b a t e s environment to young entrepreneurs Kenyans for mutual development
entrepreneurs. A center of excellence coming up with new innovative ideas projects
will be set up near Ahmedabad to A four-member delegation of
facilitate new age innovations, nurture Kenya Parliamentary Committee led by
and protect them. GMDC will take a Dan Mawanzo called on Gujarat Chief
lead role in developing this center Minister Narendra Modi on August 25
expected to come up on 30-32 acre to discuss mutual development
plot,” said V S Gadhvi, IAS, Managing projects, besides the state's long
Director, GMDC. The premium bilateral relations in traditional and
offered to NHAI in year one is Rs 309.6 cultural affairs. The projects included
crore, which will increase by 5% year- power generation, hydel projects,
on-year. The capitalised cost of the petroleum refinery, oil and gas sector,
project is approximately Rs 4,920 crore
CM launches 'icreate' to nurture
young talents
Gujarat has given a new 'creative'
meaning to '9/11' when Chief Minister
Narendra Modi launched the state
government's ambitious project
'icreate' (International Centre for
and products in the skillful use of
technology. The project will be guided
by an advisory board led by the
founder-chairman of Infosys Narayan
Murthy and stalwarts from academia
and industry.
'Swami Vivekananda delivered his
famous speech in America 118 years
back on 9/11. Anti-human forces shook
solar parks, 24x7 Jyoti Gram
uninterrupted power supply in rural
areas, Narmada Canal. Essar Group has
undertaken a refinery project at
Mombassa. Among the present were
Principal Secretary for Energy and
Petroleum D.J. Pandian and Chief
Minister's Additional Principal
Secretary G.C. Murmu.
of Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra teachers giving away awards on Dr said Dr Kamlaji speaking on the
Modi said while speaking on the Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan's 133rd birth occasion.
occasion. anniversary being celebrated as Chief Minister Narendra Modi,
There are about three lakh small and Teacher's Day on September 5 at the congratulating the award winning
medium scale industries in Gujarat, Gandhinagar Town Hall. teachers, said that they have a big role to
employing more than 20 lakh people. play in lending speed to the state's
These industries have become the progress. The Gujarat Government is
growth engine of the state and the ever conscious of its duty of respecting
nation. Former Director of IIM and the entire teaching community and their
jury member for the awards Bakul contribution to the society, he said.
Dholakiya said with a favorable The award ceremony was telecast
atmosphere for business in Gujarat, live and was meant to ensure that one
micro industries are turning into crore people can take part in the
medium scale industries and medium felicitation, the chief minister said
scale ones into large scale industries. adding it will perhaps go down as one of
the world's biggest programmes to
29 best teachers of Gujarat
felicitated on Teachers' Day
Gujarat Governor Dr. Shrimati
Kamlaji and Chief Minister Narendra
Modi felicitated Gujarat's 29 best
A teachers' role is to create curiosity
among the students so that they spend
their lifetime in the pursuit of
knowledge and contribute to the
nation's progress and people's welfare,
inspire people.
5

In the 60 years since 1950,
Indian agriculture has recorded
an average growth rate of 2.7
per cent per year. In the past 30 years, more
the rate has crept slightly above 3 per
cent, well short of the 4 per cent target
set in successive recent Five-Year
Plans. Most analysts infer that only a
great amount of good luck (with
weather) or a sweeping revolution in
policy design and implementation to
achieve and sustain 4per cent growth. Is
that really so?
For a more optimistic answer let's
look at the variation in agricultural
performance across India's 20 largest
states (by population) in the last decade
(see Table). It's striking that agriculture
6
Government Initiatives
October, 2011
Agriculture
be like Gujarat
By Shankar Acharya
honorary professor (Icrier)
former chief economic adviser
(Government of India)
in seven sizeable states (Gujarat, Institute of Management, Ahmedabad,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, professors Ravindra Dholakia and
Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Samar Datta: High Growth Trajectory
Orissa) grew faster than 4 per cent and Structural Changes in Gujarat
between 2000-01 and 2007-08. And Agriculture (Macmillan, 2010).
that fact doesn't change when the Broadly speaking, professors Dholakia,
relatively bad agricultural years of Datta et al (henceforth, DDEA) identify
2008-09 and 2009-10 are included. six factors that were given a concerted
What's more, most of these states are push by the Gujarat government from
water-stressed than average. The 2002-03 onwards:
star performer is semi-arid Gujarat, 1)sustained programme of water
clocking 8 per cent (nearly triple the conservation and management
national average) agricultural growth 2)massive well-coordinated
over the decade. extension effort
So let's dig into the reasons behind 3)successful overhaul of rural
Gujarat's stellar agrarian success, electricity distribution
especially as it comes after the decade 4)strong emphasis on non-food
of the nineties when growth averaged
less than 5 per cent. The story is
persuasively documented in the recent
monograph compiled by Indian
crops like horticulture, Bt cotton, castor

October, 2011
and isabgol
5)sustained and comprehensive
support to livestock development and
6)major revamping of agriculturesupporting
infrastructure, including
roads, electricity and ports.
With only a quarter of its
agricultural land irrigated, efficient
conservation and management of water
have been a continuing challenge for
Gujarat's agriculture. The government
is adding about 100,000 hectares per
year. By 2009, nearly 2,000 projects
covering 2 million hectares had been
completed and another 900,000
hectares were under execution.
Second, the Jal Kranti programme
for constructing check dams,
recharging wells and reviving village
ponds/tanks was vigorously pursued.
By the end of 2008, a total of 113,738
checkdams, 55,917 bori bandhs and
240,199 farm ponds were constructed
by the Water Resources Department.
During 2006 to 2010 nearly 2 lakh
hectares were covered, benefiting a
similar number of farmers.
Unlike in the rest of India, a massive
renewal of agricultural extension
systems was carried out under the
Krishi Mahotsav programme by issuing
soil health cards and kisan credit cards
for each farmer and micro level
planning for each block and village for
profitable alternative crop patterns…”
(page 27, DDEA book). The
programme required a month-long
deployment of about 100,000 personnel
f r o m a c r o s s 1 8 g o v e r n m e n t
departments which is being carried out
each year since 2005. There was also a
Government Initiatives
AGRICULTURE GROWTH (GROSS VALUE ADDED) ACROSS INDIAN STATE
(Percentage)
2000-01-
2007-081
2000-01-
2009-102
Sectoral share of
agriculture in state
GSDP* (2007-08)1
Gujarat 11.7 8.0 16.0
Chhattisgarh 9.4 6.7 17.0
Rajasthan 5.8 3.5 23.9
Maharashtra 5.6 4.0 13.0
Andhra Pradesh 5.6 4.7 22.4
Madhya Pradesh 5.5 6.2 24.2
Orisa 4.6 4.8 23.3
Himachal Pradesh 4.0 1.6 19.4
Jammu and Kashmir 3.6 3.1 24.1
Haryana 3.6 3.4 21.0
Uttarakhand 2.5 2.2 16.1
Tamil Nadu 2.5 2.0 12.2
Panjab 2.4 2.2 31.7
West Bengal 2.1 2.0 18.5
Uttar Pradesh 1.7 1.8 27.3
Bihar 1.5 1.1 23.0
Karnataka 1.2 0.6 15.4
Kerala 0.7 0.9 12.4
Assam 0.5 1.6 24.6
Jharkhand - 0.7 1.1 8.6
(1) Based on national income data at 1999-2000 prices
(2) 1999-2000 prices data up to 2007-08 and 2004-05 base data for growth
in 2008-09 and 2009-10
*Gross state domestic product Source : Central Statistical Organisation
m a j o r b r e a k t h r o u g h i n r u r a l and it was an early and successful population has gradually lessened.
electrification with Jyotigram Yojana, adopter of Bt cotton, which fuelled Besides, cross-border sales have also
launched in 2003, ensuring 100 per cent rapid growth in cotton production. The grown.
electrification of the villages. The production of both fruit and vegetables Can other states replicate Gujarat's
scheme included a crucial component was about four times higher in 2008-09 success story? In preface to their book
of power supply for groundwater compared to 1991-92 and the output of professors Dholakia and Datta claim
management with eight hours a day of spices was almost five times greater. that “this story is certainly replicable by
full voltage power made available on a A g r i c u l t u r a l p o l i c i e s a l s o other states if there is a long-term
pre-announced schedule. encouraged rapid expansion of vision and and political will to pursue
These major initiatives on the livestock sector. During the past market-oriented reforms of policies and
supply side facilitated a robust response decade, milk production grew at 5 per institutions….” Well, in much of
of the agriculture sector as Gujarat's cent per year, egg production at 19 per today's India that doesn't sound too
overall economy grew at double-digit cent and meat output at 10 per cent. “endogenous”; it seems closer to an
rates during the decade. The state With rapidly rising incomes, the mainly “exogenous” miracle!
quickly diversified into non-food crops vegetarian orientation of the state's
7

y Ravi S Saxena,
8
Government Initiatives
ICT Enabling 360º Inclusion in Gujarat
e-Health
October, 2011
In just 60 days we have made requirement of services and meet with
Janseva Kendra operational in all 225 the ever increasing aspirations of the
Talukas for 110 citizen centric services common people. In Gujarat, we have
to be delivered through those. Under strengthened our state backbone –
ATVT, every Taluka in Gujarat is GSWAN (Gujarat State Wide Area
he story of IT & e- empowered and made self sustained to Network) to reach the last person
Governance in Gujarat offer a local platform. Such an effectively.
Addl. Chief Secretary
Department of Science & Technology
e-Governance e-Agriculture
& Environment
ICT
e-Revenue
e-Education
Tinitiated back in 1999. With innovative & unique concept of From only two years back,
continuous improvements and new decentralizing administration up to bandwidth has been increased from 4
experiences throughout the e-journey, taluka level will make governance MBPS to 71 Mbps. Gujarat is the first
Gujarat has rolled out various speedier, effective, transparent and state to go live for the State Data Centre
applications year on year for improving citizen centric. project in Oct 2010 along with 3 mini
administration with a view to achieve We believe that bandwidth is data centre setups. Today data centers
digital inclusion to transform a closely associated with people's lives. act as a convergence point between
common man's life. In recent years, we In the last decade of the ICT revolution open unsecured domain and sensitive
have rolled out various effective in India, we have seen dramatic government environment. Moreover,
projects through ICT for better increase in bandwidth demand & they enable departments to host their
Governance in the state. supply in all segments ranging from services/applications on common
Chief Minister Narendra Modi has a retail to government sector to deliver infrastructure which ensures efficient
vision for e-Governance as he mentions services effectively to the end user. We management and optimum resource
that “e-Governance to me is an easy, are attempting to enhance the utilization.
effective and efficient Government”. bandwidth which can facilitate future Another important initiative is e-
“Effective service delivery to the Gram. It is implemented in 13000+
citizens” has been the focal point of Gram Panchayats equipped with VSAT
every ICT initiatives in Gujarat. On the
occasion of the concluding ceremony of
Swarnim Gujarat, we launched Apno
Taluko, Vibrant Taluko (ATVT) in
order to empower people locally to
guide the growth process through
SWAGAT - State Wide
Attention on Grievances by
Application of Technology is
an innovative concept that
linked personal computers to provide
basic e-services and information
dissemination. The concept of e-Gram
came into existence in year of 2006.In
the absence of a data network footprint
of service providers through all the
Taluka Sarkar – a sub district citizencentric
approach where the unit of
governance and development is shifted
enables direct communication
between the citizens and the
villages in the country, Gujarat decided
to create one of its own through VSAT
technology, and pumped the bandwidth
from the district to the taluka level. directly from a mobile service provider.
chief minister.

October, 2011
Today, Gujarat has been able to create a
strong network and state-of-the-art
infrastructure for ICT spreading across
all its villages through which services
can be delivered right at the doorstep of
the common man in the village, thus
fulfilling the vision of the e-
Governance spelt out by CM Narendra
Modi.
IFMS (Integrated Financial
Management System) provides real
time availability of the State Financial
Position, Comparison of Expenditure
against Budget Estimates and Grant
Distributed with Analytical View.
IFMS is operational in all 25 District
Treasuries, 17 LF Offices and DPPF
Office. Through VATIS (VAT
Information System) more than 85,000
tax payers submitted more than 1
Million e-Returns. The Government of
Gujarat received more than Rs. 6
Billion of e-payments because of
VATIS.
SWAGAT - State Wide Attention on
Grievances by Application of
Technology is an innovative concept
that enables direct communication
between the citizens and the chief
minister.
In Gandhinagar, the fourth
Thursday of every month is a SWAGAT
day wherein the highest office in
administration attends to the grievances
of the common man from any corner of
the State. Grievances are logged in,
transmitted and made available online
to the officers concerned who have to
reply within 3 to 4 hours.
Almost 8500 government offices
have been connected on the network.
The departments concerned then have
to be ready with the replies by noon,
when the Chief Minister holds video
conferences with all the districts
concerned. Applicants are called one by
one and the chief minister examines
each complaint in detail. The
information sent by the department is
also reviewed online in the presence of
t h e c o m p l a i n a n t a n d t h e
Collector/District Development
Officer/Superintendent of Police and
other officials concerned. Attempts are
made to offer a fair and acceptable
solution on the same day and no
Government Initiatives
Video conferencing with
District & sub District
Secretariat Level
Senior Officer
Applicant
Case Information
on screen
Senior Officers and SWAGAT
Administration Team
Hon Chief Minister
Integrated governance : A photo of an IFMS session in progress
depicting various functions
applicant has ever left without any firm facilitates Territorial Mapping of data
reply to his grievance. up to the village and Aanganwari level.
The record is then preserved in the HMIS is a Computer-based medical
'SWAGAT' database and a separate log information system for patient care and
is maintained for each case. Moreover, hospital management. It computerizes
the Government of Gujarat provides financial, administrative, patient care,
unique facility of Video Conferencing activities of hospital & generates
and Web Casting since 2008 which extensive management reports,
enables faster administration and operational statistics. Today it is
quicker solution of pending issues & functioning in 29 Government
cases in a big way. So far more than 350 Hospitals.
such VC/WCs have been carried out. Gujarat with all such recent ICT
Human development has always initiatives in all segments has
been a central focus for Gujarat in all established a unique paradigm for
initiatives. e-Mamta and HMIS Digital Inclusion. The Department of
(Hospital Management Information Science & Technology has committed
System) are major applications in itself to serve all the departments to
Health Sector. e-Mamta – A Mother- actualize the unique potential of ICT
child tracking system provides and explore more opportunities for
management tool which aims at better public service delivery and
providing comprehensive Maternal & reaching maximum digital inclusion of
Child Health services via the unique
feature of name based tracking and
the people of this state.
9

y T P Singh
Director, BISAG
Background:
he applications of space
technologies (satellite
Tcommunication and remote
sensing) and Geo-informatics have
contributed significantly towards
socio-economic development. Taking
cognizance of geo-spatial information
for developmental planning and
management of resources, the
D e p a r t m e n t o f S c i e n c e a n d
Technology, Government of Gujarat
established Bhaskaracharya Institute
for Space Applications and Geo-
informatics (BISAG) (formerly
Remote Sensing and Communication
Centre), an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO
27001:2005 certified institute to utilize
space technology and Geo-informatics
for developmental activities in Gujarat
State.
BISAG which was initially set up to
carryout space technology applications,
has evolved into a Centre of
10
Government Initiatives
October, 2011
BISAG
Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics
(Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat)
Excellence, where research and analytical tools. The activities of this
innovations are combined with the unit are executed by a well trained team
requirements of users and thus acts as a of multi-disciplinary scientists. The
value added service provider, a Government has provided a modern
technology developer and as a infrastructure along with state-of-the-
facilitator for providing direct benefits art hardware and software. To study the
of space technologies to the grass root land transformation and development
level functions/functionaries. over the years, a satellite digital data
library of multiple sensors of last
The Institute:
twenty years has been established and
The Government has established a conventional data sets of departments
well equipped state-of-the-art campus have been co-registered with satellite
of BISAG. The activities are facilitated data.
through four technology groups related The geo-spatial databases have
to satellite communication, geo- been created using conventional maps,
informatics applications, geo- high resolution satellite 2D & 3D
informatics research and training. The imagery and official datasets
unit-wise details are provided below: (attributes). The geo-spatial databases
include terrain characteristics, natural
(i) Centre for Geo-informatics a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s y s t e m s ,
Applications:
agriculture, water resources, city
The objective of this technology survey maps, village maps with survey
group is to provide decision support to numbers, water harvesting structures,
the sectoral stake holders through water supply, irrigation, power,
s c i e n t i f i c a l l y o r g a n i z e d , communications, ports, land utilization
comprehensive, multi-purpose, pattern etc. They also include social
compatible, & large scale (village level) infrastructure like the locations of
geo-spatial databases and supporting schools, health centers, institutions,

October, 2011
anganwadis, local government
infrastructure etc. The geospatial
database of nagar-palikas includes
properties and amenities captured on
city and town planning maps with more
than 100 GIS layers. Similar work for
villages has been initiated as a pilot
project.
The applications of space
technology and Geo-informatics have
become operational in almost all the
developmental sectors of the State.
(ii) Gujarat SATCOM Network
(GUJSAT):
Gujarat SATCOM Network
provides a facility for interactive
distance education, training, awareness
and extension. It operates through
ISRO's Edusat and Training and
D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m u n i c a t i o n
channels (TDCC). The central facility
of modern studios, digital uplink
facility for extended C-band and Ku-
band TV broadcast and two way video
has been established and is operational
since a decade. The receiving network
for one way video and two way audio
has been established by user
departments. This includes educational
institutes, primary, secondary and
higher secondary schools, colleges of
higher education, medical and technical
colleges, ITIs and departmental
networks.
Augmentation in terms of studio,
channels, technology is done on regular
basis to meet with the increasing
demands of the user community.
Government departments, agencies,
organizations are being approached
proactively to enhance the utilization of
SATCOM network. During this period,
channels, out-reach, beneficiaries,
connectivities has increased manifold.
During the current year, there are plans
to take up virtual education up-to
homes through increase in number of
Direct to home Ku band channels.
This has enabled a link between
government and the people. for the
execution of education and extension
programmes which may not have been
conducted due to limited space, time
and money. Experts, Government
functionaries, specialists and
Government Initiatives
Control room : Engineers at work at one of the Labs at BISAG
professionals can conduct their guidance of eminent scientists. Various
programs from a central location and innovative methodologies/models
reach out to remote areas. With the developed through the research process
implementation of return audio channel have helped in development of various
the programme has become interactive applications. There are plans to enhance
and more useful.
(iii) Academy of Geo-informatics
these activities manifold during coming
years.
for Sustainable Development: (iv) Centre of Informatics &
Considering the requirement of Training:
high end research and development in Recognizing the importance and
the areas having relevance of geo- relevance of Institute's activity in IT
informatics technology for sustainable sector and its future potential, the
development, a separate infrastructure Government decided to initiate
has been established for this unit. In research and development in this area
collaboration with different institutes in through a focused research activity
the state as well as in the country, R&D along with simultaneous programme of
activities are being carried out in the human resources development. This
areas of climate change, environment, unit provides in-house developed ERP
disaster management, natural resources solutions on GIS platform by
m a n a g e m e n t , i n f r a s t r u c t u r e integrating various technologies such
development, resources planning, as remote sensing, GIS, MIS, Mobile,
coastal zone studies, etc. under the Web etc. As this product provides,
11

simple, single window IT solutions to launched by discussing its relevance at though integration is achieved.
user community, it has become highly the highest level in government. · Development of indigenous
acceptable to the users, In addition, • Positioning of space data as an software to make the technology widely
various other in-house products are asset available, customizable in local
being developed through this unit on • I n s t i t u t i o n a l i z i n g s p a c e language, low cost and compatible with
regular basis. In the process, this unit is applications through government the existing system of government.
in the process of establishing “Gujarat resolution and directives
Spatial Data Infrastructure” by utilizing • E n s u r ing a c ceptance o f (iii) Promotional strategies (top to
the strength of already established IT stakeholders.
grass root level):
Network infrastructure of the State • Bringing awareness from top
(GSWAN). (ii) Involving Stakeholders in level to bottom level functionaries of
This unit also provides training to applications & innovations:
user departments has led to directives
more than 600 students every year in • Decision support systems from top level being successfully
the field of Geo-informatics to the developed as per stakeholders' implemented.
students from various backgrounds like specifications and requirements • Training courses for middle
Water resources, Urban Planning, t h r o u g h p a r t n e r s h i p s a n d level functionaries of user department,
Computer Engineering, IT, Agriculture collaborations. which led to articulation of their needs
in the areas of Remote sensing, GIS and • Government department's staff and problems.
their applications. trained to use spatial information for • Sharing success stories among
Institutional Mechanism:
Government Initiatives
October, 2011
Power meet : CM Modi with officials at a forum for empowering Sakhi Mandals through Micro-finance
decision-making independently. all departments.
• Creating a pool of trained • Providing solutions through
The Government proactively manpower within government partnerships (ensuring credit to the
decided to utilize this technology for departments. user) and on the job training.
the benefit of the people of Gujarat. For • Creating a sense of ownership in
this purpose, a well defined stakeholders through partnerships. Government is proactively using
i n s t i t u t i o n a l m e c h a n i s m w a s the inputs of space applications for
established, which is depicted in the (III) Process of institutionalization: rational, quicker, transparent decisionenclosed
diagram and briefly described · Initiation of user interaction making on regular basis. These efforts
below: with officials at BISAG. have been recognized and appreciated
· Undertaking a pilot study of a at National and International level.
(i) Creating environment for particular area as per user requirement Government has planned to further
utilization of space applications at in joint collaboration. Thus a enhance and augment these efforts for
large:
standardized solution through Domain the benefit of the people of Gujarat.
• Initiatives for space applications knowledge and Technical expertise
12

October, 2011
Government Initiatives
Sadbhavna
Together, Gujarat marches forward
“We wish to take Sadbhavna amid the thousands flocking to meet example of peace and brotherhood and
spirit to every village ... every
house. Gujarat wants to move
forward. We want to be in service
of India," said Chief Minister
him. The cyber space went abuzz with
scores of people actively participating
in the movement through Facebook and
Twitter.
The fast evoked unprecedented
in charting a path of development.
Today Gujarat is a shining example
of peace and harmony in the decade
gone by for the rest of the country to
follow. Gujarat in the last 10 years has
Narendra Modi as he began his three- support from different quarters seen no curfew because people of
day fast Sadbhavna Mission for "peace including, politicians, spiritual leaders, Gujarat have understood the true value
and communal harmony" on the artists, eminent film personalities and of harmony, peace and unity. “I would
morning of September 17th.
the people all religions. Top party like to say with responsibility seeing the
"We want to move together and leaders and hundreds of dignitaries communal amity of the past decade that
Sadbhavna (harmony) will be our were also present at the occasion. the day is not far when Gujarat's model
strength. Development is our motto. We Speaking on the occasion the Chief of peace and harmony would be
will be a model to the world on how Minister said, Gujarat was devastated discussed across the country and the
development can be achieved with during the 2001 earthquake and many world," Modi said.
peace, harmony and brotherhood," the thought it would never rise again. Even On the evening of the third day, the
chief minister said echoing Gandhiji's the World Bank had said if a nation CM's 72-hour fast concluded with
sentiments “a complete fast being faces disaster like the 2001 earthquake religious leaders of different faiths
complete and literal denial of self and a it would take them at least seven years offering him a glass of juice. He also
truest prayer” addressing the huge to rebuild, but Gujarat did this in three announced a day's fast in each district to
gathering at Gujarat University years which is a big achievement, chief be held soon to give momentum to
convention centre in Ahmedabad, the minister pointed out. Sadbhavna Mission turning it into a
venue of his fast.
In the very next year, Gujarat people's movement. Indeed a new
The first day began amid chants of witnessed communal riots. Yet the state decade of peace has begun in Gujarat.
Allahu Akbar and slokas being recited. managed to overcome its trials and
There were political leaders galore tribulations by setting a shining
13

By Nilesh Shukla
Tribal families still live
outside the circle of
development in many parts
of India. They do not have access to G
basic needs like water, land,
employment, education etc and it
therefore, comes as no surprise that
people inhabiting the tribal regions
14
Government Initiatives
October, 2011
Tribal livelihoods through PPP model
Gujarat shows the path for creating sustainable livelihoods through Integrated
Dairy Development Project via the Public-Private-Partnership model in tribal regions
constitute some of the most tribal population in Gujarat was around
marginalized segments of our society in 15 % of the state's population which is
the country. no small number. The entire tribal
The situation in Gujarat, however, is population in Gujarat is concentrated in
quite different with the efforts of nine districts ranging from Ahwa
u j a r a t G o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h (Dang) to Ambaji (Banaskantha), what
implementing various innovative is commonly described as eastern belt
schemes in tribal regions bearing of Gujarat (Purva Patti). However, the
remarkable results. heavy concentration of the tribal
As per the census report 1991, the population is in districts of Dahod,

October, 2011
Dang, Narmada (carved from
Bharuch), Surat, Valsad and Vadodara.
Though the highest percentage of the
tribal population is in Dang district,
which is around 94 % (Census 1991),
when it comes down to numbers it is not
so high, in the sense, that the entire
population of Dang in 1991 was only
1,44,000. Percentage wise, Dahod
district has very high tribal population
of around 73 % which comes to 16 lakhs
(Census 1991).
In Gujarat, Integrated Dairy
Development Project has become very
popular in tribal regions. With a project
cost of Rs. 656 crore, the scheme is set
to cover 78,616 Scheduled Tribe (ST)
families living below poverty line
(BPL). This project is unique as it is not
only Government funded but the ST
families and district dairy unions are
also active partners in the project. In
many sectors like power, water
harvesting, education, agriculture,
Gujarat's growth and human
development index (HDI) have
produced excellent results through
Public- Private Partnership (PPP). Now
the PPP concept is being successfully
implemented by the State Government
in tribal regions.
Out of total project cost of
Integrated Dairy Development, Rs. 370
crore will be borne by Government,
·
·
·
·
Project Highlights
Every BPL Scheduled Tribe
farmer will get 2 cattle units
worth Rs. 30,000 each and
will have another 2 cattle
through heifer development
by project end.
Monthly income of Rs.700
per cattle guaranteed by
dairies.
Coverage of every perceived
risk, and strengthening of
forward and backward
linkages.
Subsidy component on cattle
reduced.
Government Initiatives
Together we can : A successful implementation of the PPP model
while participating ST families will Development Department envisaged
contribute Rs. 219 crore and the doubling the income of these families
remaining amount will be borne by the and bringing them permanently out of
seven district dairy unions. The seven poverty.
year phased project was launched in Gujarat Tribal Development
2007-08 and 31,600 BPL ST families Corporation has disbursed loans worth
have already been covered. of Rs. 24 crore to ST farmers under
According to studies conducted by project. The recovery rate of loan is
Gujarat Institute for Development nearly 95%. This shows the successful
Research (GIDR) and Tribal Research implementation of the project in the
and Training Institute, Integrated Dairy tribal regions.
Development Project , dairy has Gujarat is perhaps the first state in
become the mainstay of more than half country to have implemented Publicthe
participating families, with P r i v a t e - P a r t n e r s h i p s c h e m e s
Sabarkantha district having as many as successfully for the upliftment of tribal
78% of ST families, most of them families, slowly moving away from the
illiterate, who depend primarily on culture of doling out subsidies.
dairying for their livelihood.
A senior officer from Tribal
Development Department says that
various development initiatives have
hitherto treated animal husbandry and
dairy farming as a part-time and
auxiliary income activity. In majority of
cases, such initiatives have only been
able to facilitate supplementary income
to the poor without making any vital
impact on tribal poverty.
The vision behind the integrated
Dairy Development Project was to
transform dairying into dynamic
income-generating enterprise for BPL
tribal household. The Tribal
15

Creating
by Indrani Mantripragada,
air and Transparent
faculty recruitment in
FGujarat Schools
Government Initiatives
equal opportunities
Employment is a sensitive issue in transparent once we mechanise it.
India. In such a scenario, government Taking advantage of the technological
October, 2011
process of recruiting its teachers as fair department has implemented the
and transparent as possible. Most “Online Vidhyasahayaks Recruitment”
processes become speedier and portal.
Transparent, Speedy & Unbiased
jobs are given to select people causing prowess Gujarat has, its Education The Director of Primary Education,
cases of indiscipline and injustice. The Mr. R.P.Gupta emphasised, “This
recruitment procedures also get recruitment process is aimed to be kept
embroiled in a lot of red tape and
bureaucratic obstacles. Education is
like a Human Development Index for
Moin Musa, a parent from
Godhra said, “I think this is a
extremely transparent and speedy with
no hint of corruption seeping through in
any part.” The merit list is prepared and
countries like India where there are
more people and fewer jobs. In a
scenario where every individual needs
to be educated, the very lesson a teacher
very good system. I am sure my
son will benefit from this. I just
hope and appeal to the
released online, exterminating red-
tape. Also, since the entire process has
been divided into various stages at the
central and district levels, appointments
teaches is the need to be honest and fair.
In this vein, the Education Department
(primary) of the Gujarat Government
has taken an initiative to make the
government that such practices
should be there in every
sphere.”
can be handled efficiently.
More than 13,000 'Vidhyasahayaks'
or teaching assistants (T.A.) are to be
appointed through these online
16
Transparency in teacher recruitments

October, 2011
Government Initiatives
registrations, setting new benchmarks the 16th of August. The process ran up roll number in the site which
in the field of education. The teachers to the 26th of August 2011. Modern automatically retrieves the other details
are being screened and recruited for LED displays kept the waiting (date of birth, name, photograph etc.)
Maths, Science, Gujarati, Hindi, candidates informed about the ongoing which have been entered at the time of
Sanskrit and English. Gujarat has as applying for TET. The online portal
many as 33,000 primary schools. thus benefits both sides by reducing
Around 1.99 lakh teachers are already
working in them and after this year's
recruitment, the numbers will rise
Pragya Patel from Palampur
has 10 years of experience in
paper work and data entry work. The
only details which are to be verified are
the mark sheets and degrees etc.
above the 2 lakh mark. Last year over
10,000 such appointments were granted
through similar registrations. Next
year too, they plan to recruit another 10teaching.
She said, “I did not
apply for a government
position earlier since the
A provisional merit list is published
on the website, which can be seen by
anyone. Each candidate can see his/her
results and fill in or edit some of their
12, 000 T.A.'s. Mr. R.P.Gupta added,
“We may not have such bulk figures but
we will definitely have around 6-7
thousand recruitments every year after
system was not transparent.
But since the inception of this
new system, I think I stand a
personal details and re-check their
grades. They are allowed to select their
preferred district according to their
merit. In cases where the candidates
2012. Moreover, we will also start chance based on my merit.”
have any grievances, there is an online
recruiting for other posts apart from objection form that can be filled and
T.A's” sent. According to Mr. Gupta, a fee of
Teacher's eligibility Test (TET) is
the new addition in the recruitment appointments.
Rs.1000 has been incorporated to rule
out frivolous complaints and
drive this year. It was launched in June
and is an OMR based written test. The
application and the results of this test
are again published on the “Online
Vidhyasahayaks Recruitment”
The recruitment process was
conducted at the Primary Teachers
Training Centre (PTC) office in sector
19, Gandhinagar. Around 2500
candidates were called everyday from
End to end
The candidates first appear for a
TET. The Graduation marks constitute
20 %, BEd marks constitute 25 % and
the TET results constitute 50% of the
final grade awarded to a candidate. The
remaining 5 % is reserved for a Masters
Degree or/and professional experience.
In the second stage of the process, the
objections.
The candidates are called for an
interview according to the merit list, to
the Gandhinagar centre. At this centre,
the applicants are called out as per their
merit roll calls and given acceptance
letters for relevant districts. Though
there is an interview at this stage, it's
only for verification purposes and does
not carry any marks; thus, eliminating
Setting sights : Prospective candidates await recruitment results
candidate just has to enter his/her TET any malpractice by any individual.
The next stage of recruitment takes
place at the respective district where
candidates are allowed to select schools
based on the no. of vacancies and the
candidate's merit. About 8-10 persons
handle the process at the centre each
day. At the district level, each centre
assigns around 4-5 persons to handle
the proceedings. Mr. Gupta remarked
that he is looking forward to many more
such recruitments to make teaching a
viable and attractive career option.
During the launch of this year's
recruitment drive, Education Minister,
Mr. Ramanlal Vora requested all the
teachers and teaching assistants to
provide children with not just
knowledge derived from books but also
inculcate in them, a sense of a value
based system of learning.
17

FMCGs join Auto rush to set up
units in Gujarat's Sanand
Sanand, the emerging auto hub of
Gujarat is all set to get the reputation as
the industrial hub as well with
companies from FMCG, consumer
electronics, electrical equipments and
minerals eyeing their facilities in the
industrial estate coming up over 1,600
acres.
The state industries department has
recently given the nod to the projects of
Colgate Palmolive, Hitachi, Tbea,
Corning, Allied Minerals and Bosch.
These companies will together pump in
Rs 3,000 crore, said officials of state
industries department
Sun Borne Energy pools funds for
Gujarat solar plant
Sun Borne Energy has tied up for
funds to the tune of Rs 140 crore from
domestic banks for its 15 megawatt
(MW) solar photovoltaic plant in
Gujarat. The total project cost is
estimated in the range of Rs 200-240
crore.
State Bank of Patiala, the lead bank,
with three other banks, Export-Import
Bank of India, Canara Bank and State
Bank of Travancore, participated in the
debt program.
CEA eyes Gujarat for second
mega power project
Central Electricity Authority is
likely to decide soon on a second UMPP
in the State, to be set up with the
estimated investment of Rs 20,000
crore.
CEA officials have inspected a few
sites in Gujarat and zeroed in on
Lodhava village in Kodinar taluka of
Junagarh district, but they are yet to
take a final decision.
Gujarat is expected to get 40 per
cent of the power generated at the
UMPP while the rest would be allocated
to other states through the national grid.
Gujarat May See Disneyland-
Style Theme Park
The world's leading theme park
18
Business
&BUSINESS
NEWS
October, 2011
operators—Disney World, Canada's studios, forest villas, beach villas,
Wonderland, Sentosa of Singapore and studio lagoon and apartments and villas
Genting of Malaysia—are in
talks to set up a Disneyland-style
among others.
park in Gujarat that could be bigger than IRB Infra co bags Gujarat NHAI
the Disneylands in California, Paris or project
Tokyo. IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd's
The $2.1 billion project is being wholly-owned subsidiary IRB
d e v e l o p e d b y M u m b a i - b a s e d Ahmedabad Vadodara Super Express
infrastructure and real estate firm Tollway Pvt Ltd has executed the
Atlanta, and has already been cleared concession agreement with NHAI for
by the Gujarat Tourism Department. six-laning of Ahmedabad-Vadodara
Spread over 13 square kilometers, section of NH-8 for a length of 102.3
the site—Suvali Beach— has a 3.3 km km and improvement to the existing
stretch along the Arabian Sea coast. The Ahmedabad- Vadodara Expressway in
beach is located around 20 km from Gujarat for a length of 93.3 km under
Surat and will have five theme parks, Phase V on design, build finance
such as a nature park, amusement park, operate transfer toll basis.The project
water park, beach park, ice skating and has a concession period of 25 years.
skiing dome, restaurants, hotels, Estimated construction cost is

October, 2011
Business
grads. The Ahmedabad Chapter of the
alumni of IIM-A have decided to extend
a helping hand to start-up companies in
Gujarat.
The 500-member strong alumni
association will join hands with IIM-
A's Centre for Innovation Incubation
and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) to lend
their support to the start-up companies.
Learning from Gujarat's port-led
development
Gujarat is taking the initiative in
bringing port-led development to the
state.
Impressed by this Western state's
success story in ports, many coastal
states have also started looking to
Gujarat to help them chalk-out a road
map for port-led growth.
Coastal states including Orissa,
Kerala and Karnataka have already
initiated talks with the Gujarat
government to formulate a maritime
authority for their respective states.
approximately Rs. 3,600 crore and the
construction is to be completed within
Pradesh and Karnataka as a wind farm
developer.
Chemtrols solar plant in Gujarat
Chemtrols Solar, part of the
Mumbai-based Chemtrols group
bagged a turnkey EPC contract for a
one megawatt solar photo-voltaic
power plant in Gujarat, which will be
commissioned by November this year.
The project, part of second phase of the
Gujarat
policy for development of solar
energy, is located in Patdi, 90 km from
Ahmedabad.
three years from the appointed date.
The SPV will get tolling rights on
Ahmedabad Vadodara expressway
from the appointed date and on NH8
post-completion of construction.
Gamesa Wind Turbine forays
into Gujarat
Gamesa Wind Turbine, the Indian
arm of the Spain-based wind turbine
manufacturer Gamesa forays into
Gujarat.
In 2011, the company had planned
an installation capacity of 25 MW in
Gujarat, of which 16 MW has already
Edelweiss-Tokio to invest Rs. 550
crore in Gujarat
Edelweiss-Tokio Life Insurance has
started its operations in Gujarat from
the diamond city of Surat. The
company has plans to invest Rs. 550
crore in the state till 2013 in a phased
manner. They will increase the
investment with respect to the increase
in business in the state.
IIM-A alumni to support
Gujarat's start-ups
Young entrepreneurs in the state
Tata BP Solar bags three solar
projects in Gujarat
Tata BP Solar India Ltd, a joint
venture of Tata Power and BP Solar, has
three solar power projects totalling
more than 30 MW in the state of
Gujarat.
The projects are located in the
Patan, Kutch and Mithapur areas of the
state. Each solar power project will
comprise an array of solar photovoltaic
modules of 230W and above, laid out in
a modular combination to generate
power from solar radiation.
been installed and commissioned. will now get financial support and
Along with this the firm is also tapping mentoring from the Institute of
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) ( Source : iNDEXTb, October 2011 )
19

By Vasant Iyer
Gujarat
Turning the wheels
Turning the wheels
of fortune of fortune through
the Automobile the Automobile sector
he state of Gujarat has in a
short time, become known
Tas an investor-friendly
up of the General Motors plant in Halol
over two decades ago, although it
received widespread acclaim for the
etc. that aid in the easy supply of
components to such automobile
manufacturing majors.
destination. The last decade has been speed with which it allowed for Tata Recently, Ford has announced its
witness to MNCs and corporate Motors's Nano plant to be shifted from plan to invest close to $ 1 billion for a
bigwigs vying for an opportunity to set Singur, West Bengal to Sanand in similar plant as that of Tata Nano but
up their businesses in the state as a Gujarat. The Nano plant was planned at one that also has a massive capacity to
result of specifically customized SEZs, Rs.2,000 crores and is set to generate cater to its demands of exports to Asia
investor friendly government policies, direct and indirect employment to over Pacific and some of Middle East and
human capital as well as speed of 10,000 people. Europe. Maruti has also decided to
project execution. Following the success of the set-up invest in setting up a manufacturing
With over 15,000 factories and commission of the plant within plant in Gujarat to meet its ever
excluding more than 3,45,000 SMEs, record breaking time, more investments increasing demand. Maruti managing
together employing more than a million are now lined up not only in the field of director Shinzo Nakanishi and
strong work force and having a fixed setting up units to manufacture chairman R C Bhargava had met Chief
capital investment of Rs. 1,45,000 Completely Built Units (CBUs) but Minister Narendra Modi in May this
crores, Gujarat contributes over 21% of a l s o t h o s e t o m a n u f a c t u r e year and explored the possibilities of
the national exports. Gujarat allows for complementary products such as setting up a plant in Gujarat.
flexible Foreign Direct Investment bearings, gears, transmission systems Global auto major Hyundai has also
(FDI) under which the engineering expressed interest in setting up a
sector contributes about 15% of the manufacturing facility at Dholera in
total number of foreign technology
transfer approvals. Gujarat is also one
of the top 3 states in terms of the number
of foreign technology transfer
approvals in the country.
With over 15,000 factories
excluding more than 3,45,000
SMEs, together employing more
than a million strong work force
Gujarat. A delegation of about 10
personnel from the company had
visited a site in Dholera last year, to
study feasibility and other factors.
French automobile manufacturer,
Gujarat has always been at the
forefront of creating ecosystems
f a v o r a b l e f o r t e c h n o l o g i c a l
developments in the field of automotive
and having a fixed capital
investment of Rs. 1,45,000 crores,
Gujarat contributes over 21% of
PSA Peugeot Citroen) has also signed
an agreement with the Government of
Gujarat (GoG) to set up an automobile
manufacturing plant near Sanand at a
research and manufacturing with the set the national exports.
cost of Rs.4,000/- Crore in the presence
20
Sector Analysis
October, 2011

October, 2011
of Chief Minister Narendra Modi very
recently. Welcoming Peugeot's entry in
the development of the State the Chief
Minister expressed confidence that
Gujarat is moving towards becoming a
global automobile manufacturing hub.
All these factors and developments
have led to Gujarat earning the
nickname 'The Detroit of India'.
So what is it that makes Gujarat
such a lucrative destination for industry
and auto majors to set up shop? Some of
the factors that draw decision making
positively towards the state are listed
below:
Sector Analysis
STRATEGIC LOCATION: The
state is in close proximity to some new
Gujarat- the new Detroit : CM Modi meets with a delegation to discuss
future automobile prospects in the state
and old ports along the coast line and is
aided by excellent rail networks and
roads.
of overloading laws helps keep the
roads better and to last longer
INCENTIVES: SEZs, SMEs, financial
assistance, 13 SIR (Special Investment
regions, Income tax incentives, 10 year
Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E F O R
MANAGEMENT CADRE-LEVEL
PEOPLE: No extortion threats from
anti social elements, clean and hygienic
standard of living with all modern
amenities
VIBRANT GUJARAT: Over Rs.
42316 crores worth MOUs signed in the
year 2009
S T R O N G B A S E O F
ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES:
Gujarat is home to around 30 clusters of
exemption of electricity duty etc.
STRONG ECONOMY: Highly
industrialized state with more than 38%
of GDP contributed by the secondary
sector, around 22% of Indian exports
contributed by Gujarat
O N LY P O W E R S U R P L U S
STATE: Gujarat is the only state having
'power surplus' status in the country
casting and machine tools, brass parts,
diesel engines, electric motors,
bearings etc. Gujarat Apollo is the
largest producer of earth moving
HUMAN CAPITAL : Availability
of a large pool of high quality human
resource, home to some world
STATE ROAD NETWORK: The equipment in the country.
state road network is about the best in
the country and strict implementation P O L I C Y S U P P O RT A N D
Gearing up : Engineers and workers at the Nano plant at Sanand
renowned institutions of management,
engineering and design
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:
Awarded best state in e-governance
initiatives and employment category in
2008, incentives for environment
protection, international campaigns for
investment promotion across sectors
These and a lot more similar
proactive initiatives by the state
government have ensured that Gujarat
remains at the forefront of innovation
and advancement in the domain of
automotive engineering.
Gujarat is not satisfied at merely
being branded as the 'Detroit of the
country'; it dreams of becoming the new
Detroit of the modern world and is
working steadily towards realizing this
dream.
21

22
Cover Story
October, 2011

October, 2011
or any nation or state to
prosper, it needs to ensure
Fthat the progress includes
every single citizen, irrespective of
their class, caste, age, sex or region. In
order to attain this, it becomes essential
to ensure the effects of good
governance are felt by each and every
citizen. The current government of
Gujarat realized the importance of this
inclusive growth knowing well that it
wouldn't be an easy task to achieve
inclusive growth; even when there is a
pro people government making
policies. There are two major
challenges that present themselves
while aiming to achieve inclusive
growth.
Cover Story
Decentralized Governance
The Next Step to Inclusive Growth
“Chalo Taluke”
By Ankita Biswas
On a grassroot level we say a man can
touch much more than he can grasp
~ Gabriel Marcel, 19th century French philosopher
First, all policies, schemes and avail the benefit, he will go apply at the
benefits that the government needs to local Taluka level office.
reach each and every citizen of the state. From there it would move to the
Like all forms of energy and even district level administration and from
information, even government policies there to the state level. Once the
face loss during transference, directly application is approved at the top, the
proportional to the level of hierarchy benefits will again have to travel all the
(levels of administration here). In case way back to the man. Even when at each
of government initiatives the loss is of level the application is dealt with
efficacy. This brings out a dilemma. efficiently there will be a delay due to
The most marginalized people, the the cumulative time taken, reducing
most deserving of the beneficiaries, are efficacy of the initiative.
likely to face the maximum loss in Second is the fact that, in a country
efficacy due to their separation from the such as ours, even in a single state, there
government by the numerous are various diverse groups of people.
intermediary levels of administration. Blanket initiatives by the government
For any interaction with the are unlikely to be successful. Different
government, a man might have to go groups of people have different kinds of
through multiple levels of governance. n e e d s , h a b i t s a n d e x t e r n a l
For example if he is eligible for some environments and they need to be
government scheme and would like to engaged in dialogue and progress
23

Cover Story
October, 2011
accordingly. A coastal village with its
livelihood dependant for a greater part
on fishing would need different kinds of
attention and help than a village that
The Chalo Taluka Campaign
was launched on July 22, 2011
to initiate the decentralization
his thoughts on the same at the
Gandhinagar Town Hall thus, “All
these talks have happened for a long
time. Unless all this is put into a
bases its livelihood on agriculture. And
there again it would depend on what
kinds of crops are grown.
T h e G o v e r n m e n t , h a v i n g
of governance at taluka levels
across the 225 talukas in the
state
systematic framework, it is useless. The
state does not progress on a base of files
and papers; it happens only through
meticulous planning”.
understood the hurdles it faces on its Thus was launched the Chalo
long road to progress, came up with just Taluka Campaign on July 22, 2011 to
the right solution – decentralized
governance. Instead of all the power
resting with the State Government,
some of it was distributed to the Taluka
level governance making them more
self dependant and autonomous,
thereby acting as a catalyst for the
State's progress. This initiative
endeavours to ensure that the
marginalized and people living in the
interiors are also able take control of
their lifestyle and conditions whilst
getting access to all facilities.
The concept aims to achieve speedy,
effective results and aims to act as a
driving force for the people. It wishes
for people to debate, present their
problems and get an easy solution to
implement from the Government.
While it is a great thing to know the
hurdles in ones path and the means of
overcoming them, it is of little
consequence until actual actions are
taken. The same applies to the
i n t e n t i o n s o f d e c e n t r a l i z e d
Governance. The Government knows
this and CM Narendra Modi expressed
initiate the decentralization of
governance at taluka levels across the
225 talukas in the state. The Campaign
is said to run until September 10, 2011.
During the campaign, Chief Minister
Narendra Modi and his Cabinet
colleagues along with senior officials
will visit each taluka and discuss long-
pending development issues with local
office-bearers and the people.
The first and the most crucial step in
successfully empowering people at a
taluka level is to have proper
background research done. To
Ensuring smiles : Jan Seva kendras have been commissioned across all Talukas of the state
24

October, 2011
understand what gets each of the
talukas frustrated, what gets them
hassled, what are their needs and what
are their wants, surveys were
conducted. These taluka level surveys
have been conducted by the state
government with the help of the
geographic information system based
BISAG. These surveys are intended to
help profiling all villages as well as
garner data for analytical tools that
would enable officials better to come up
with customized plans and frameworks
for each taluka's development
individually. These tools include the
likes of gap analysis and SWOT
analysis to find out each taluka's
s t r e n g t h s , w e a k n e s s e s a n d
requirements. Along with this planning
of management information system for
equal dispersion of information
amongst the people at the grassroots has
also been meticulously done. An ASAT
directory has also been designed.
Having got the plans in place, the
next obvious step is to get in place the
infrastructure. Infrastructure here
would imply to both the physical and
the social. With the likes of e
governance, an award winning
initiative, which has permeated to the
grassroots level, proper equipment
becomes a necessity. Thus, each taluka
has been given adequate numbers of
proper computer systems and other
equipments, along with training the
administrative staff in the use of these.
Further, for ease of accessibility, all
records have been made online.
A l o n g w i t h t h i s , Ta l u k a
Organizational Committees have also
been set up with Jan Seva Kendras set
up all across the state as points of
contact between the citizens and the
administration.
These Jan Seva Kendras were set up
with the aspiration to make all
government services accessible to the
common man in his locality, through
common service delivery outlets and
ensure efficiency, transparency, and
reliability of such services at affordable
costs to help him realize his basic needs.
More new Jan Seva Kendras are being
set up so as to ensure easy accessibility
to even those people without access to
Cover Story
Reaching out : Farmers and labor force have been important
beneficiaries of decentralized governance
the already existing ones. Jan Seva solvency certificates, residence
Kendras have evolved as a centre for certificates, creamy layer certificates
providing over 137 kinds of citizen for OBC and other certificates etc.
services under these three categories, Approximately 40 per cent cases fall
namely the, The 'Tatkal services', the under this category.
'One Day Services' and the 'Non One SMS intimations are sent to the
Day services'. applicant on completion of one-day
The Tatkal services are the 'While- services. For 'Non One-Day Services'
U-Wait' services which usually take the prescribed time limit is from three to
between twenty minutes to two hours to ninety days. Some issues related to land
be completed. Such services include allotment, use of land for non-
issuing of affidavits, ration-card agriculture purposes, arms licenses,
alterations, and land-revenue payments hotel licenses etc, are dealt under this
etc. among other things. Almost 20 per category. For these services, Jan Seva
cent of all applications fall under this Kendras complete all the follow-ups
category of services. The next category with related departments like procuring
of services is the 'One Day Services' No Objection Certificate (NOC) from
which takes around twelve hours to Police, Roads & Buildings department,
complete. These get delivered on the etc, while the applicant does not have to
same day (if submitted before 1 p.m.) or personally visit different offices.
the next day. Such services include Approximately 40 per cent of the cases
caste certificates, income certificates, fall under this category.
birth certificates, death certificates, SMS intimation is automatically
sent to the applicants on completion of
their desired services. Apart from that,
Jan Seva Kendras complete
all the other associated services are also
made available at the Jan Seva Kendra
all the follow-ups with related
departments like procuring No
Objection Certificate (NOC)
e.g. webcam for instant photos, pre-
formatted affidavits of 44 types,
franking machines, photocopiers, coin
phones, attested copies, lamination etc.
from Police, Roads & Buildings
department, etc, while the
applicant does not have to
The immediate effect of such a
transparent system is the changed mind
set of the citizens.
By investing only a marginal
personally visit different offices
amount of money and one hour of one's
25

26
Cover Story
October, 2011
busy schedule usually ensures work operators and other such staff are being comes under the ambit of the regional
getting done at Jan Seva Kendras. The added to the work force under two year head (taluka chief) or the talati, making
same work could earlier take anywhere contracts from outsourced agencies. him the chief administrator. His
between 1-4 days. E governance and The Science and technology functions include ensuring that
M.I.S systems are made available at department is designing the model everything is functioning smoothly and
each department of the Sachivalaya to software for integration of data and it continues to do so. This becomes an
decide the time frame for the other such functions. An IWDMS important task, as for the taluka
implementation of all services. In this system is to be designed for the empowerment initiative, and in fact
manner, Jan Seva Kendras are saving interface etcetera. even any other initiative it is important
more than 500,000 hours per annum of Jan Seva Kendras, in order to be to constantly monitor progress.
manpower as almost 500 people are easily recognizable, have special logos This is where other monitoring
visiting daily. A small service charge of and signs. Clear signages informing the systems also come into place. These
Rs. 20 is payable for every application. various services and the time they will include the cluster committee, the
The revenue department takes care of take are put up. To make the taluka complaint committee and the
the money transactions are presided experiences comfortable, seating common information management
over by the district collector at each arrangements have been put up at the system. The Taluka Chief is expected to
level. 60% fees recovered per request Jan Seva Kendras. give guidance, address grievances and
are meant to be used for outsourcing Once the basic infrastructure has ensure overall smooth functioning of
activities. Rest of the money goes to the been set up, the next thing is the taluka governance. Further, in order to
e-seva society. All necessary hardware commission of governance at the facilitate ease of implementation of
for the Jan Seva Kendras is furnished by grassroots level. The localized schemes, schemes will be converged.
the Revenue department. Data governance at the grassroots level Restructuring of such programs is also
At your service : Citizens availing the services of a Taluka Janseva Kendra centre at Mehsana

October, 2011
• Taluka level surveys by
BISAG
• SWOT and GAP analysis
for different districts
• Customised for each
taluka
Cover Story
on the anvil so that they can be justice committee. These meetings are T h e i n t e n t i o n b e h i n d t h e
customized into aiding the specific set to be monthly. Attendance by pre empowering of Talukas is to make them
needs of the people in the taluka. decided members of the committee has self sufficient, allowing for indigenous
Feedback and redressal also form been made compulsory. A day progress at the grassroots level. As CM
important components in the success of convenient to both the Taluka Narendra Modi envisages, the situation
any initiative. They help figure out if committee and the complaint as gauged by officials sitting in
there is a glitch in the plan's execution committees has been set upon, such as Gandhinagar is hardly ever close to the
or if there are problems with its smooth for example, the third Saturday of every reality. One has to be at the scene to
implementation. Then the problem can month. The agenda at these meetings, know the real conditions. Only by being
be fixed making the system better than made mandatory include various, locally present can one gauge the exact
before. Here, within the fabric of diverse points. problems and the required solution.
grassroots level governance of taluka The first and the foremost action on Also, at a grassroot level, the numbers
sarkar is SWAGAT, an award winning the agenda would be to check on the are lesser, and thus, the attention given
redressal system. SWAGAT in itself progress of decisions taken in the to them can be far greater.
exists at two levels – Taluka SWAGAT previous meeting and see whether they This attention and initiative will
and Gram SWAGAT. have been executed or not, and to what enable greater improvement in general
In further planned initiatives, extent. It is also their responsibility to standards of living over time. The
complaints and resolutions are also to look into disputes that have been Grade C schools will slowly turn to
be taken up on a larger and much more received at the Jan Seva Kendras. Every Grade B schools and from there into
organized scale. Opinion leaders are to department of the Government has its Grade A schools. By bringing
be invited in order to have discussions own schemes, programs and initiatives. governance to a grassroot level more
with the members of the complaint The effective implementation of these people are being made responsible for
committee. These will include MLAs initiatives will also be brought under the state's progress thereby reducing the
from the region, Taluka chiefs and discussion. Further information efforts and increasing the pace. The best
Panchayant heads as well as the social regarding the State Government's part, however, remains the fact, that
various schemes such as Vanbandhu, none of the people will be left behind.
By bringing governance to a
grassroot level more people are
being made responsible for the
state's progress thereby
reducing the efforts and
increasing the pace.
STEPS TO EMPOWER TALUKAS
Setting up
infrastructure
• e governance platforms
set up
• All records made online
• Workers trained to use
new system
• Jan seva Kendras set up
• Regional head or Talati,
the chief administrator
• Reponsible for running of
the Taluka Sarkar
• Other monitoring
systems include the
cluster committee and
taluka complaint
committee
Planning Monitoring
Redressal of
grievances
• SWAGAT acts as the
redressal system at a
grassroot level
• SWAGAT has two
components - Taluka
SWAGAT and Gram
SWAGAT
Shala Praveshotsav, Shala Aarogya, By spreading the onus of
Krushi Mohatsav, Garib Kalyan Mela governance on 225 talukas instead of
and the likes, is decimated here along the 26 districts, development will
with bringing attention to these increase manifolds. The march to
schemes. Going by the adage that progress will quicken pace with every
prevention is better than cure, these citizen included. As the CM puts it,
meetings also put in thought discussing Chalo Taluka will soon translate into
and planning for natural disasters and Taluka Chale and thereby into Taluka
disaster management. Daude.
27

y Nirmish Thaker
Mahatma Gandhi
Born in the port town of Porbandar on
October 2nd 1869, Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi inspired the whole world and demon-
strated the true power of peace and non violence.
Everybody knows him as the Father of the Nation
and as one of the main architects of the Indian
Freedom Struggle. But what is truly great about
this man is the philosophy he developed and
strictly adhered to – the philosophy of peace, non
violence and truth. He lived in a world that was
ravaged by wars and revolution, but his firm
belief in the power of Truth and Non violence
demonstrated to the whole world that wars and
bloodshed are not required to achieve freedom.
We are proud to commemorate this great man in
this issue for teaching the whole world to be
human beings again. We wish you all a Happy
Gandhi Jayanti on the 2nd of October.
28
On a Lighter Note
October, 2011

October, 2011
by V N Bala
Book Review
of Gujarat state, it is documented that
several policy reforms securing the
water future of Gujarat state were
ardar Sarovar Project on considered. Introduction of Gujarat
River Narmada edited by R participatory irrigation management
SP a r t h a s a r t h y a n d R H
act
Sardar Sarovar Project
on River Narmada
(2007) can be considered as a
Dholakia has been written in 3-volumes unique initiative. Further, authors are of
and published by CEPT University the opinion that modernisation of water
Press Ahmedabad in March 2011. infrastructures and public-private
These volumes are culmination of partnership in project cost sharing
papers on Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) could be possible future goals of SSP.
presented during 3-workshops held at Since agriculture will remain a major
Ahmedabad during year's mid-2010 water user, successful strategies and
and early 2011. These papers cover a methods on efficient water use,
long-long journey that the SSP has including field micro-irrigation
undergone during 65 years of project techniques are also being introduced
implementation from project design, slowly.
planning and appraisal (vol 1); to A significant rise in farmer's income
rehabilitation efforts and project has been reported during field based
implementation (vol 2); to socio- surveys with the analysis of parameters
economic impacts for state of Gujarat such as irrigation efficiency and water
(vol 3) so far. This book aims to availability. SSP water is being used for
highlight the economic benefits that the domestic drinking water supply in
SSP has offered till now, learning from ULBs while it still faces challenges in
the mistakes committed and the way the future due to high amount of nonforward
in realizing future potential in revenue water. Public Private
contributing to growth of Gujarat state. Partnership (PPP) model holds future
This book has been written from the potential not only on canal construction
view point on creating awareness but also for water distribution, network
among public and practitioners, laying and operation & maintenance.
documenting innovative engineering Although a few hiccups have been
structures and sharing personal reported, SSP remains an innovative
experiences during various stages of experimental turf to test either the
project implementation. SSP has been a controlled volume concept (CVC) or
mega-project, as is evident with remote monitoring and control system
gigantic engineering structures as well to meet operational requirements.
enormous financial challenges during In spite of its enormous challenges,
implementation. Authors have nicely publication. The R&R aspect, as per my SSP has proved to be a boon to several
described those challenges leading opinion, was dealt much in scientific water scarce areas of Gujarat. This book
t o w a r d s n o t j u s t e c o n o m i c manner. I think it may be first time in is a must read, since it has an economist
liberalisation, but also allowing private India that a compensation principle writing on water issues with a
participation in engineering designs. based on Kaldor-Hicks theory was used management perspective.
The book aims to clarify on some of as basis for R&R of the project affected
the apprehensions that have surrounded people.
some of the R&R issues through this Since SSP is considered the lifeline
29

By Indrani Mantritragada
Gujarat has made its mark in
social forestry by its
sustained and focused
campaigns. It now boasts of a 4.3 % the
tree cover outside a forest spread of the
8,390 sq.km as against India's average
of 2.8%. Tree density outside forest
areas for a traditionally semi-arid
region like Gujarat is ranked second
highest among the Indian states. Trees
have increased by over 2 crores in non-
forest areas (both rural & urban) from
2003-09 and by 2020, an additional 9
crore trees are expected to be added
which shall push up the total tree count
to 35 crore in just one decade.
Gujarat has seen a rapid rise in tree
30
Environment
October, 2011
Vaave Gujarat
Gujarat goes green
forest cover in the last decade and industrial houses have been roped
culminating in Chief Minister Narendra in for the 'Vaave Gujarat' drive. The
Modi launching 'Vaave Gujarat' from campaign is additionally significant
the foothills of the famous Pavagadh- since the United Nations has declared
Champaner world heritage site marking 2011 as the International Year of
62nd Van Mahotsav on July 31, Forestry.
2011. The event had begun well with Gujarat's social forestry campaign
9,660 saplings of 30 varieties of trees had commenced in 1969-70 without
planted near Pavagadh Mahakali external support. From 1980-85
Shaktipeeth and it aims for a massive onwards, the World Bank aided
9.80 crore saplings to be planted on "Community Forestry project" was
13,200 hectares during the current implemented. An Integrated Forestry
monsoon season across the state with Development Project (IFDP) with
saplings to be supplied through more assistance from OECF (Japan) was also
than 5,000 nurseries. Various launched in 1996-97 to 2001-02. But it
government departments, local self- never took to the public and this is why
government bodies, agricultural and “Vaave Gujarat” has been launched.
c o - o p e r a t i v e b o d i e s , s o c i a l 'Van Mahotsav', celebrated annually
organizations, educational institutes for the last 62 years reaches a larger

October, 2011
audience at district, taluka and village
level with a view to spread awareness.
Free seedlings are given to farmers to
promote Green Gujarat and to pursue
viable agrarian business options like
Clone and Tissue culture. The Anand-
Kheda model of agro-forestry
appreciated world over is being
considered for districts with canal
irrigation. Seedlings of trees facing
extinction, for instance deshi mango,
Rayan & Mahuda, are distributed free.
Van Mahotsav pays special attention to
urban areas by increasing tree count as
these areas are hit by rapid
infrastructural expansions and growing
pollution.
School nurseries which instil the
“green-notion” in children have been
set-up. Kisan nurseries and Shibirs
(training camps) are being organised to
inculcate a habit of nurturing plants and
farmers are also encouraged to plant
fruit-bearing-trees. Planting
medicinally valuable plants too has
created awareness of ayurveda and
homeopathy remedies. Additionally,
several Van Chetana Kendras (help
centres) and shibirs (training camps)
have been set for those who wish to
know about plant health, gardening,
Table
Environment
Achievements (cumulative for all the years) Land in Lakh ha.
Strip Plantations 0.96 lakh ha.
Panchayat lands (Village Forests) 1.22 lakh ha.
Private Degrade Lands 1.65 lakh ha.
Seeding Distribution(Van Mahotsav) 443.84 lakh ha.
Source: http://gujenvfor.gswan.gov.in/socialforestry/socialforestry, Forest Environment Department| Social Forestry| Success Stories
agro-farming, etc. increase tree cover in educational
Land allocated for agricultural institutions, government and semi-
purposes cannot be allocated for government organisations and private
forestry. Hence, the concept of Social compounds. Community and cremation
Forestry and Vaave Gujarat motivates grounds are also being developed under
people to plant more trees on low this scheme. Individual schemes, which
productivity land, personal premises benefit farmers and agricultural
and unused land. Many associated labourers, are being facilitated through
schemes have been taken up such as various plantation programmes
Gram Vans (forests in villages) for conducted at various de-forested areas.
development of gauchar (grazing) Chachariya village in Mehsana
lands, grasslands, and lands along district saw a splendid Van Mahotsav
roads, canals, ponds, railways, ravines being celebrated on 26th of August. The
and barren hills. There are several Revenue Minister, Mrs. Anandiben
community benefit schemes as well. Patel was present for the inauguration
Sapling plantation drives seek to of Chachariya's Gram Van – “Anand
Upvan”. Speaking about a clean
Vaave Gujarat : The CM plants the seeds for a greener planet
environment she said, “None of us
wants to live in a soiled house, so we
clean it. So why should it be different
with the environment or the air we
breathe; the first step towards a clean
environment, is planting trees”
Vaave Gujarat indicates the state
government's unrelenting efforts in
ensuring that urbanization and
environment protection takes place
hand-in-hand. The fact that forestation
drives are an absolute imperative for the
overall protection and health of our
planet has been accepted by the state
wholeheartedly and the state
government is leaving no stone
unturned in ensuring its effective
implementation.
It's about time the entire nation joins
hands together and adopts similar
methods and techniques in order to
provide its current and forthcoming
generations with a clean and green
future.
31

In Focus
October, 2011
By Vineet Kanabar disseminators of information stored in the future, recently undertook
textbooks as well as groom students important and relevant initiatives to
with values with an aim to enable them emphasize its efforts in revamping and
ith the turn of the century
now a decade behind us,
Wthe youth of India is
firmly established as the country's
greatest wealth and to nurture the
ambitions of 60 million and more
people into an age of sustained socio-
economic growth and maturity; the role
played by the teacher takes centre-stage
in the development of this vast cultural
capital. The profession teachers has
always been one that requires them to
go beyond the call of duty as the
to successfully conquer the world. In
today's knowledge and informationrich
age, the teacher is the vanguard of
important aspects of holistic education,
namely, value & moral education and
skill-orientation, and can no longer be
confined to the realms of domain
related knowledge.
With these tenets of quality teaching
in mind, the Indian Institute of Teacher
Education was founded in Gandhinagar
by the government. The state of
Gujarat, awake and alert to the needs of
reforming education. In February 2009,
the Gujarat Educational Innovations
Act was passed by the Gujarat
Legislative Assembly; this Act
underlines the necessity of a drastic
change needed in the education system
as a whole as it contributes to the
development of an innovative concept
of education for children, that takes its
final form in the Children's University,
in cognizance of which an Act was
passed by the Gujarat Legislative
Assembly last June. The problems of
32

October, 2011
In Focus
teacher's education are the next steps The curriculum, apart from catering objectives of the institute. These
that have been taken up by the to the technical and domain based needs officers form the core group of staff
Government of Gujarat with the Indian of educators, also incorporates a variety responsible for the facilitation and
Institute of Teacher Education Act of good-living principles. The teachers execution of the programmes that the
passed in March 2010. are expected to realize from the course a institute runs, forming the key interface
Recognising that the need of the solid structure to base their teaching between the various stakeholders of the
hour was to produce en masse a group skills around, including having a desire institute, both internally and externally.
of individuals capable of handling the to continuously learn and improve. The Information about the selection and
responsibilities of nurturing the youth course also concentrates on improving appointment of nurturance officers is
of today in a manner that is wholesome the candidates' general knowledge and available on the IITE website,
as well as focussed, the Indian Institute is aimed at nurturing a contemporary www.iite.ac.in.
of Teacher Education offers a four year global learning outlook among them. In The institute, like the fabled
integrated course consisting of BA/BSc the current day and age where everyday 'gurukuls' in ancient times, lays special
and BEd spread over 8 semesters, and a happenings around the world and in our emphasis on discipline and daily rigour.
six year integrated course comprising country shape the thoughts and actions The day at the institute begins at 6AM,
MA/MSc and Med spread over 12 of students, the teacher is expected to be with the offering of prayers, followed
Semesters. on top of these current affairs and offer by yoga and exercise. Following the
The course for the teachers is aimed a significant perspective about them to 'early to bed, early to rise' tenet, the
at honing their skills in the respective encourage similar learning habits in campus life offers a well designed
domains, with the candidate asked to their students. experience aimed at the creation of
choose from core/content courses Hand in hand with the dual aims of responsible teachers, who will take the
spread over Science & Mathematics, imparting skill and value oriented youth of the future under their wings,
Social Sciences or Humanities & education, the course also encourages aiding in their quest for knowledge and
Languages. Furthermore, they are also the candidates to know and understand a good life. The institute offers its
required to select a 'Professional the important principles of Indian students a rich and intellectually
Course' and a course on 'General culture and its philosophies for stimulating environment to live in,
Studies'. The institute makes it education and life, and inculcating providing them with ample ways and
mandatory for their students to undergo those principles for personal means to constructively spend their
a bridge course in English and Gujarati development and growth. time and energies, with sports and
before the studies of the first semester To help impart the wholesome sports education also playing a
commence, to ensure those studying to nature of training that is the mission of significant role in the curriculum.
be the teachers of tomorrow are well IITE, the institute has created the The Indian Institute of Teacher
equipped to handle the media of position of a 'Nurturance Officer' – a Education has well-meaning trainers &
instruction at the institute. group of individuals committed to the guides and has set out well-equipped to
attain the goals of improving the crop of
Temple of learning : A session in progress at the institute
teachers that don the mantle of
educating the Indian youth in the future.
With 100 students in the first batch
already at the institute and with plans to
increase intake to 200 from the next
batch, the words from the founding Act:
“to promote teachers' development of
integral personality; wide vision of
nationalism and internationalism; and
to fulfil their role as exemplars, as
friends, philosophers, and guides; as
scientists, psychologists, artists and
technologists; and above all as ideal
communicators who can spread
uplifting influence by the processes of
awakening, inspiration and contagious
enthusiasm; also to promote new trends
of syntheses of the East and West and
agents of change from old to the new”,
seem on their way to being fulfilled, on
a journey well begun.
33

Development Project in the heart of region led to urban growth on both sides
Ahmedabad city is a model of such of the river. The river banks became
ambitious planning and vision. The sites for squatter settlements and slums
n ancient times, rivers were vital project seeks to develop the riverfront and the river bed became an outlet for
for transport, trade, and on either side of Sabarmati by the cities overflowing sewage.
by Madhurima Mallik
In Focus
October, 2011
Idefence. Rivers like the Thames constructing embankments and roads, The Ahmedabad Municipal
and Seine in Europe gave the Romans a laying water supply lines and trunk Corporation (AMC) set up the
sheltered inland port with quick access sewers, building pumping stations, and Sabarmati River Front Development
to the open sea. Therefore, people developing gardens and promenades, Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) in
started settling along river banks. These thus reconnecting the city to its river. May 1997 and charged it with the
settlements were the commercial Ahmedabad is the largest city in responsibility of developing the
centres which gradually grew into Gujarat and the eighth largest Sabarmati riverfront. The aim was to
major cities of the world. The rivers, metropolitan area of India. It was transform the river from being an
over time became an integral part of the founded as a walled city on the eastern environmental and social problem into
city and apart from assuming banks of the Sabarmati River in 1411. a city asset. The SRFDCL appointed the
commercial significance also started Today, it is the fastest growing city of Environment Planning Collaborative
playing important cultural roles. But, the country with a metropolitan (EPC), an urban planning consultancy
the dynamic relationship of man with population of approximately 6.58 firm headed by Berkeley-educated
the environment gradually made this million. architect, Bimal Patel to prepare a
absolute necessity for a riverfront In the later part of the nineteenth master plan.
location almost obsolete, in many century about a dozen textile mills were
instances making it unsightly and established in Ahmedabad and the first Flood and Sewer Management
neglected. In an attempt to avoid this span across the Sabarmati River, Ellis T h e S a b a r m a t i R i v e r f r o n t
menace, engineers and architects Bridge, was constructed. By the first D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t i s a n
started bringing about structural half of the Twentieth Century, two more environmental improvement, social
changes which would revive the bridges were constructed across the uplift and urban rejuvenation Project
relationship of cities with their rivers. river and post-Partition in 1947, a huge that will renew the face of Ahmedabad.
The multi-crore Sabarmati Riverfront influx of population from the Sindh Talking about the project Mr. Bimal
The Sabarmati Riverfront Project
34
Rejuvenating Ahmedabad

October, 2011
In Focus
Patel said, “By the end of the 20th
Century the Sabarmati had become
polluted and inaccessible. Untreated
sewage flowed into the river from storm
AMC is giving the beneficiaries
houses with all facilities
including water and electricity.
plants.
Rehabilitation of the Slum
dwellers
water drains. Sewage from slum
pockets on both banks of the river
added to the pollution. This was of
concern because Ahmedabad continued
The societies where the
families are being re-located to
are in places like Vatva, Vasana,
Slum dwellers living previously on
the riverbed, are being relocated and
provided with 'pucca' housing with
secure tenure. On the 25th of August,
to depend on wells dug into the river for
a significant portion of its drinking
water. In spite of a dam up-river (Dharoi
Saraspur, Rakhiyal and Vadaj
among others.
the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Shree Asit
Vohra along with others announced that
Ahmedabad Urban Development
Dam) and a barrage (Vasna Barrage) Authority (AUDA) has sanctioned
down-river, it had become difficult to money for constructing 8000 homes for
manage floods and to retain water in the
river because the river bed was
occupied by the slums.” Therefore, as
the Chief engineer for the project, Mr.
Jagdish Patel reaffirms that the project
is primarily a flood protection project.
The Sabarmati is a 450 km long
river flowing from the Aravallis to
Cambay. Mr. Jagdish Patel told us, “It is
not a perennial river and runs for hardly
four to five days during the monsoons.
The river bed was uneven and
consequently the resistance to flow was
uneven. We studied the last 100 year's
flood data and discovered two peaks in
1925 and 1973. In confirmation with
the findings of the study, the river bed
was given a constant slope so that the
flow could be maintained throughout
the year and the flood-risk would be
reduced to a bare minimum”
For this, the project reclaimed
approximately 200 hectares of land
from the riverbed. Retaining walls were
built on both sides of the river to protect
low lying areas from floods and to
prevent erosion of the river banks.
These walls channelize the water and
rise up to a height above the highest
flood level.
Water can be periodically released
into the river from the Narmada Canal,
which intersects the river up from
Ahmedabad. The Vasna Barrage which
is located downstream can be used to
retain water in the river throughout the
year.
Mr. Jagdish Patel added that, “In
order to keep the river clean, more than
40 outlets for rainwater diversion have
been created.” Two sewage interceptor
lines running along both reclaimed
banks will carry untreated sewage,
which used to flow into the river, to the
Vasana and Pirana sewage treatment
4319 families. These families were
identified as beneficiaries under the
JnNURM policy for rehabilitation of
the slum-dwellers on the banks of the
river. The AMC is giving the
beneficiaries houses with all facilities
including water and electricity. The
societies where the families are being
re-located to are in places like Vatva,
Vasana, Saraspur, Rakhiyal and Vadaj
among others. 3281 families have
already been allotted homes. It is
heartwarming to witness the
contentment in these societies, which
are well- equipped with facilities like a
health center and a primary school
within their premises.
Gangaben Rameshbhai Bhajaniya,
who has been allotted a home in
Saraspur said, “My children get mid-
day meals at the school in the society
.The women and young girls get a
protein-rich dietary supplement
35

In Focus
A peep into the future : An artist’s impression of the proposed river-front
October, 2011
weekly, under the provisions of E- impossible to walk along its length!” the Sunday market which was
Mamata. The government has been exclaimed Mr. Bimal Patel. To better previously held on the riverbed. The
generous and had we been somewhere access the riverfront, a number of promenades will have space for street
else, we might not have been so well- streets leading up to the river are being vendors and hawkers, in order to
taken- care of.” The Sabarmati River planned. Streets running parallel to the preserve the essence of the old city
Front Development Project and the river will weave in and out along the culture.
initiatives for social housing project stretches of reclaimed land on both It is common phenomena that any
bagged two national awards for the banks. These streets will also augment innovation is received with a lot of
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation the cities road network. The project will apprehension; the Sabarmati Riverfront
(AMC). They were given to SRFDCL provide Ahmedabad with 11.5 km long Project has been no different. Referring
in recognition of innovative pedestrian promenades at the water's to the time the project will take for
infrastructure development and AMC edge along both banks of the river. In completion, Mr.Jagdish Patel said,
in recognition of initiatives for social addition to the promenades, many parks “Projects of such magnitude bring
housing project. and gardens will be built on the along great social responsibility and
reclaimed land which will provide the because the scale is so massive, it would
Making the Riverfront a Public city with the much needed green space not be sensible to wrap up the project
Asset and a respite from the sweltering just for the sake of it.” Mr. Bimal Patel
“Earlier, the entire edge of the river summers. Other facilities like cultural further explained that, “It is necessary
was privately owned making it centers, museums, sports facilities, to make the people aware of how the
trade fair grounds and open air markets project would benefit the city to avoid
will also be built on the reclaimed land. tell-tale stories from spreading. Since
While fostering growth, the
cultural significance of the river
has not been tampered with.
The project would provide the
Gandhi Ashram a better edifice
while also providing organised
space for the age old Gurjari
market or the Sunday market
which was previously held on
the riverbed.
36
A small portion of the reclaimed land the project claims to change the
would be sold for private commercial character of the city, people are curious.
and residential development and the It is important that they are kept
money would be used to finance the informed at every stage of the evolution
project. All of these developments of the project.”
would add to Ahmedabad's many To sum it up, as Mr. Narendra Modi
attractions and also renew the center of put it, “The Sabarmati Riverfront
the city. Development Project will transform
While fostering growth, the cultural Ahmedabad's historic but neglected
significance of the river has not been riverfront into a vibrant and vital focus
tampered with. The project would for the city. The research it has spurred
provide the Gandhi Ashram a better will change the Ahmedabad landscape
edifice. It shall also provide organised for many years to come.”
space for the age old Gurjari market or

October, 2011
By Vasant Iyer
Art and culture
highland out of which, over thousands of
years, the land formed from the
surrounding seas gave birth to what is now
n a remote land far away in rural described as a 'Panchali' region. Panchali
Saurashtra, lies a village named is not a widely spread region but it holds
ITrineteshwar. Every year, the immense cultural, historical and
locals of the area gather and organize religious importance. Panchali- in
one of the biggest rural cultural Gujarati means 'Draupadi'.
extravaganzas in Gujarat: The Tarnetar “There are still people here in the
fair, attended by thousands of people over region who believe that the great archer
the course of the usually three days from Arjun won Draupadi's hand in marriage
the first week of September. Legend has it during the legendary 'Swayamvar”
that this fair has been held here performing the difficult task of piercing
A few decades ago, Mansukh
Pandya, a famous Gujarati
author has described the
Tarnetar fair as a symbol of
equality and brotherhood. He
has mentioned that there were
over 15,000 people visiting the
Tarnetar fair even in those days
every year for more than 250 years. the eye of a rotating fish with an arrow of the Tarnetar fair for many years now.
Tarnetar was originally called just by only looking at its reflection in Panchali stands on the bank of a
Trineteshwar- home of the one with 3 eyes the water,” says Ramkubhai Khachar rivulet and opens into a beautiful 'kund'.
(Lord Shiv). Saurashtra was historically a who is associated with the organization It is locally believed that this site used to
Tarne t ar
An annual ethnic fair celebrating
the colours of rural Gujarat
37

e the original course of the Ganga river
at some point in history, so a dip in the
temple tank is considered by pilgrims to
be as auspicious as a swim in the holy
Ganga.
A few decades ago, Mansukh
Pandya, a famous Gujarati author has
described the Tarnetar fair as a symbol
of equality and brotherhood. He has
mentioned that there were over 15,000
people visiting the Tarnetar fair even in
those days with both- men and women
taking baths in the kund, all the while
preserving the sanctity of the area by
automatically choosing different
sections and not interfering.
Such disciplined social and
community behaviour exemplified the
mindsets of the people of Gujarat in
those days itself. Being the most
important fair of Saurashtra, Tarnetar is
now attended by more than 50,000
people. The main castes that have been
participating both traditionally and
recently are the Kolis, Rabaris,
Bharwads, Khants, Kanbis, Kathis,
Charans, the Harijans and the Desh-
rabaris. With its growing reputation,
visitors from rest of India and many
different parts of the world are also seen
38
Art and culture
October, 2011
Helping Hand : The CM presents a cheque at Tarnetar fair, 2011
here. waistcoats and a head-cloth twisted at
The Tarnetar fair is the most famous an angle, and glide Tarnetar with eyein
Gujarat for its myriad hues of colours catching umbrellas, marketing the
that don the festivities. People from all bachelorhood they are eager to
over the state and even beyond the state renounce!
boundaries visit this fair to submerge The fair has been known to teach
themselves in this colourful youngsters the art of bargaining
extravaganza. through trading with customers who
The locals are conspicuous by their flock the fair. Another eye catching
presence due to their attire which characteristic of Tarnetar is the
includes colourful turbans, dhotis and establishment of colourful and circular
locally handcrafted ornaments. Among tents called 'Ravtis'. Within these
the various folk dances that are 'Ravtis', people participate in reciting
performed, the most popular is the chants and 'Bhajans'.
'raas', in which dancers hold sticks to
clack against those of other dancers. As
many as one to two hundred women
perform 'rasadas' in a single circle,
Horse traders and enthusiasts have
while some circles around this could
break into an impulsive 'hudo'.
This year, Gujarat Chief
Minister Mr. Narendra Modi
Rabari women of nearby 'Zalawad' joined a plethora of people in
perform the famous circular folk dance
called 'rahado'. Their marital status is
indicated clearly by their costumes; a
black zimi (skirt) means that a woman
sharing their joy and zest at the
famous Tarnetar fair. He also
t a l k e d a b o u t t h e s t a t e
is married. But if a woman is wearing a
red zimi, it would mean that a suitable
groom is sought. Potential husbands
seeking brides are elegantly dressed in
colourful dhotis, artistically designed
government's novel initiative of
c r e a t i n g s p e c i a l t y p e o f
woodlands along the pilgrim
places of the state

October, 2011
Art and culture
come to be a common sight and one of and government officials of the region While handing out prizes to the
the major draws at the Tarnetar fair. A to improve the standards of the fair and winners of various competitions and
community of people called the 'Kathi organize well planned and people greeting the artists of the cultural
Darbars' are known to take immense centric steps in order to make the fair programmes held during the course of
pride in displaying their thoroughbreds more accessible to the common man. three days of the fair, he described the
to the world. The state animal welfare This year, Gujarat Chief Minister rural Olympics which are being
department initiated animal exhibitions Mr. Narendra Modi joined the people in organized every year at Tarnetar fair as
and competitions in the year 2008. This their joy and zest at the famous Tarnetar the 'Rural Khel Mahakumbh'.
led to people attaining knowledge of fair while offering prayers to Lord These are only some of the reasons
hybrid variety of cattle and information Trinetreshwar. Greeting people due to which Tarnetar is now an
on raising cattle in order to obtain the gathered at the place he said that in folk- internationally recognized fair of
best possible remuneration from cattle culture, every fair has its own unique culture, animal livestock and
produce. message behind it. “These fairs give us craftsmanship.
Such self motivated initiatives from the glimpses of social oneness and the If you think you are prepared to
the state government have led to a stage strength of people. And, in addition to walk out of the everyday mundane
where even common people now strive this, if the rain-god bestows his experience of live and dive freely into a
and aspire to own cattle of the highest blessings during the times of fair, we whirlwind of colours, romance and
pedigree and hence an overall can see an overflowing of life among music, then head for the Tarnetar Fair. It
improvement in the quality of livestock the people”, he said. is the only place in the country where
offspring is easily noticeable. The Chief Minister also talked such vivid hues of folk and ethnic
As the fair obtained mainstream about the state government's novel culture combine to give one an
prominence, the influx of foreign initiative of creating special type of experience of a lifetime.
tourists and attained prominence. It was woodlands along the pilgrim places of
then decided by the district collector the state.
39

Photo Feature
Independence Day
Celebration
40
October, 2011

October, 2011
Photo Feature
Tarnetar mela
41

In Conversation with
October, 2011
Dharini Pancham' Da
ith four Guinness World Records in her kitty, Ahmadabad's Dharini Prabhakar Bhatt aka Swaradhika Dhari
Pancham'Da is the first woman in the world to have achieved the longest singing Marathon. She stunned the
Wworld with 101 hours of non-stop classical singing breaking her own previous records of 62 and 82 hours.
She also achieved the longest Santoor playing marathon for a record time of 26 hours and 26 mins. She currently teaches
music at the Pancham Music Academy in Ahmedabad where Madhurima Mallik met her for an exclusive tête-à-tête.
Congratulations! You have done long hours? Were you put on a vegetable juices, soups, tea and coffee. I
your state and your people extremely specific diet?
had swelling in my vocal chords during
proud. When did you decide to take It does not happen in a day. I sang the performance and the doctor asked
up Indian Classical Music?
for four hours at first, then six and then me to sing at a low pitch.
Thank you so much. I liked Indian gradually went up to 101 hours. You
classical music since childhood though need a lot of stamina. I do yoga on a Do you plan to do playback
music in any form appealed to me. I regular basis. Six months prior to the singing in the future?
used to sing for college events; but it performances, I had to do yoga every No. Never! Gandharvas used
was only eleven years back, in 2000, hour. I was put on a liquid diet during Margiya Sangeet for worship and sang
that I started training. I was immensely the performance. I was advised to have Desi Sangeet for the audience. Like,
inspired by my Guruji Shree Bhupendra Swami Haridas was totally devoted to
Pandit and came to the Academy for Margiya Sangeet and Tansen used to
learning Santoor. My grandfather sing Desi Sangeet for an audience. I
wanted me to record the Narmada have dedicated my life to Margiya
Ashtakam for him, and this is when Sangeet. I try and make classical music
Guruji advised me to take up singing non-boring for the audience, because
seriously. you do not get an audience for classical
music everywhere. For instance, in
You must have had to undergo
rigorous training. What does one
have to do in order to sustain for such
Vadnagar, two of my most famous
42

October, 2011
'Bhajans' Om Namo Bhagate
Vasudevaye and Sur ke ghungroo were
based on classical ragas, but I modified
them a little to make them appealing to
the public.
Isn't it ironical then, that your
pseudonym is Pancham'Da?
Oh it has got nothing to do with Shri
R.D Burman. Since my Guruji's
academy is called Pancham Music
Academy, I was named after it by
Guruji. Guruji used to call me Dhari and
when he heard me sing for the first time
he named me Dhari Pancham'Da
(laughs)
In Conversation with
Are there any records yet to be
set? What next?
Hall of fame : Dharini’s glittering showcase of her record breaking feats
H'ble Chief Minister Shri Narendra
Modi told me that people in Vadnagar
have no exposure to classical music. I
am training 109 girls, so that they can
perform at the Tana Riri festival in the
coming years. Since the village became
very dear to me I took it up as a
challenge to train girls from the village
who showed a serious interest in music.
I want to make sure that they are trained
in Margiya Classical Sangeet and they
perform for at least 20 mins at the Tana
Riri festival. Also, the record of 109
ragas that I sung are scheduled to be
released in two months.
We have heard that you are the
pioneer of music therapy in Gujarat.
I offer a certificate course in Music
Therapy which is a beautiful blend of
science and art. Indian Classical music
and its ragas have the potential to
connect to the heart and the soul and be
a particular kind of yogasan. Music
sharpens the brain and relieves it of
tension and fatigue.
The effects of music therapy could
be slow or temporary because there are
a lot of intricacies involved like the
subject, the state of mind and the
selection of music which is supposed to
Give us a peek into a day in Dhari
Panchamda's life.
I get up at 3.30 in the morning, the
Brahma Mahurat. I believe that this is
the best time for offering prayers. I pray
for 2 hours and then I do Riaz. I finish
Riaz by 7.30 because my classes start at
8.30 and go on till 12.30. Then I go
home, carry out the chores and get back
by 4.30 again for classes which go on
till 7.30 After that, till 8.30 I do Riaz,
then I like to read books on music and
music therapy and on Sundays and
other holidays, I treat my patients at the
yield the desired results. Music therapy Academy.
H e r l o n g e s t s i n g i n g
marathon which lasted for 101
is largely dependent on the personal
needs and interests of an individual.
Scientific knowledge of rhythm and
This speaks volumes about your
commitment! What motivates you?
hours and 23 minutes was ragas is required to be able to use music My Guruji is to be given more than
achieved at Vadnagar in
Gujarat, dedicated to the
Swarnim Tana Riri Mahotsav
of November 2010 .According
to legend, the great musical duo
as therapy. Each raga has its own
individual nature. It is not possible to
assign any particular raga to any
ailment.
First world nations have already
recognised the positive effects of music
half of the credit for my achievements.
He encouraged me at every step and
motivated me to take up the toughest of
challenges. Also, I feel lucky to be a
Gujarati, the state's cultural heritage
inspired me at every step of my life,
of the 16th century of sisters as therapy, but people in our country people here appreciate art and the
Tana and Riri who refused to
sing at Emperor Akbar's court,
took Jal Samadhi in Vadnagar
.The Government has built a
huge amphitheatre to honour
have not fully woken up to the positive
effects of music as therapy because of
w h i c h t h e r e a r e s t i l l s o m e
apprehensions that exist regarding the
adoption of this technique. Thus, I want
to educate people on the advantages of
Government supported me financially
and otherwise in all my endeavours.
The Government of Gujarat
funded her performance at Vadnagar
and also supported her during her
the memory of the two sisters this process. I also want the degree that marathon playing the Santoor, in
and each year a musical festival
is organised here.
I give to be recognised by the
Government so that it has more
credibility.
Ahmedabad.
43

44
Travel
October, 2011

October, 2011
Travel
Dunni Point
Gujarat's own Marine Paradise
Explore the fascinating marine life at Dunni Point at Gujarat's doorstep without the hassles of
passports and visas in going to far off Australia and New Zealand. All you have to do is pack your bag and go!
by Tushar Prabune
dventurous and free- winged beauties, i.e migratory birds authorities as per their resources. Even
spirited Gujaratis travel all that can be seen in the area. smaller groups and families are
Around the globe to get a S u n d a r v a n ' s n a t u r e c a m p s entertained at special rates.
slice of life. Little do they know that emphasize and promote environmental With the help of such camps any one
right under their noses, there are lots of education through field activities. It can explore depths of the fascinating
small islands tucked away in the coastal provides practical experience in living marine without the hassles of passports
areas of their own state waiting to be in natural surroundings and promotes and visas and in going to far off places
explored. One such place is Dunni interaction with elemental nature. like Australia and New Zealand. All
Point, an ideal tourist destination in The maximum number of campers you have to do is pack your bag and go!
search of marine life. is 50, which is adjudged by the
No Indian is new to the holy place
called Dwarka. Just round the old
Dwarka's archaeological site lies Dunni
Point, Sundarvan's marine camp.
The camp is for a duration of three
nights and four days and is ideal for a
tourist who wants to live in the heart of
nature and experience the wonders of
marine life. The campers have jute
shelters for accommodation and
explore the beaches and marine pools
for corals and aquatic life. A few lucky
ones have even had glimpses of
dolphins gambolling in the high seas.
The sea surrounding the campsite
itself has rich algal beds where over a
hundred species of algae have been
recorded. Red algae are spotted the
most. The other aquatic life that can be
spotted during the camp is sponges,
jelly fish, sea feathers, sea anemone,
bristle worms, corals, molluscs,
barnacles, crabs, starfish, sea
cucumbers, marine turtles, sea snakes
and of course dolphins. An added
attraction in winters is the influx of
Coastal beauty : Dunni Point marked out on Gujarat’s map
Dunni Point
D
45

Special Feature
October, 2011
By Mihir Shah
On his return to India, Gandhiji of Dandi along with his companions in
sought to revive the cottage industry of what came to be one of the most
ight in the heart of
Ahmedabad, Gujarat's
Rhistoric city and financial
hand spinning and chose Ahmedabad,
an ancient centre of handloom weaving.
Along with it, he also wanted to try
farming and other such experiments
important historic moments in the
world- the 'Dandi March'. Here, he
revolted against the draconian British
laws by picking up a pinch of salt.
capital, lies a place which still and hence wanted to set base away from Over the course of India's
embodies the spirit of one of the the city. The site of the Ashram on the independence struggle, the ashram
greatest human beings to have walked banks of the River Sabarmati was apt continued to play an important part and
this land, a man whose words and deeds for this purpose and on his first visit to served as a platform to bring together a
changed the course of world history and the place he said, “This is the right place group of workers committed to nonwhose
actions till date continue to for our activities to carry on the search violence to help secure freedom for
inspire countless nations, movements for Truth and develop Fearlessness- for India. The ashram did not lose its
and individuals across the world. on one side, are the iron bolts of the spiritual focus either and continued to
Mahatma Gandhi is undoubtedly one of foreigners, and on the other, lay emphasis on carrying on a search for
the greatest leaders the world has ever thunderbolts of Mother Nature.” Over a truth.
seen and the Sabarmati Ashram is an period of time, he learnt the art of Today, the ashram no longer
integral part of his rich legacy. spinning and weaving in the ashram, functions as a working ashram but as a
In today's times of global terror and and soon the ashram began to buzz with museum and an institution. The ashram
uncertainty, Sabarmati Ashram is a the word 'khadi'. has retained its simplicity and paints a
beacon of light to the world as it stands Embodying the spirit of the freedom picture of the times gone by. A peek at
testament to the way Mahatma Gandhi struggle, the ashram was also an the entrance from outside the gate,
lived his life, spread the message of important centre and spiritual home of where a giant replica of the charkha is
peace and harmony and guided India to one of the greatest non violent placed, aptly sets the mood for what one
complete independence from the movements that history has ever seen. can expect from a visit to this historical
British. It was also here that Gandhiji In 1930, Gandhiji initiated the Salt place.
made the journey from Mohandas to Satyagraha from the Sabarmati Ashram Replete with artifacts and
Mahatma. and marched towards the small village memorabilia, a walk around the campus
46
Sabarmati
Ashram
Be the change you want
to see in the world
– Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

October, 2011
Special Feature
is both an enthralling and enriching
experience. The Gandhian spirit is still
deeply rooted in the ethos of the ashram
and is especially seen in the people who
run the institution with utmost
dedication and facilitate visitors to
imbibe the teachings of Mahatma
Gandhi.
Upon entering the ashram premises,
one can witness history unfolding in
front of one’s eyes as one wanders
through a museum containing pictorial
and written documentation on the
Mahatma's life. A library is also
dedicated to Gandhian literature and
paintings while an excellent and
spellbinding archive of letters written
by Gandhiji is maintained alongside.
The archives contain a mindboggling
collection of 34,066 letters by Gandhiji,
manuscripts of his 8,633 articles,
negatives of 6,367 photographs, 134
reels of microfilm of his writings and
210 films on Gandhiji and the freedom
struggle. Also on display, are works of
various artists who have paid a tribute
to the Mahatma and his contribution to
A letter to humanity : The Mahatma’s letter at an exhibit in Sabarmati Ashram
humanity in their own special way.
The ashram also houses Hridaykunj
(Gandhiji's sparse living quarters),
Vinoba-Mira Kutir, where Vinoba and
Mira each stayed on separate visits,
Prarthana Bhumi (prayer grounds),
Nandini ( guest house) and Udyog
Mandir (training center for small
industries), all preserved as part of the
museum. Behind Udyog Mandir stands
the non-profit organization Manav
Sadhna, which exemplifies the essence
of Gandhiji's teachings and works with
people from the margins of the society.
Gandhiji's house, Hridaykunj, is a
virtue of minimalism and openness.
Amongst the priceless items kept here,
is a charkha (the spinning wheel) with
which he used to weave khadi and the
writing table he used to write letters.
The charkha, symbolizing a spirit of
self entrepreneurship, inspired
thousands to join the Indian freedom
struggle against the British. Hridaykunj
serves as an inspiration to today's
generation and reminds us to be simple,
self sufficient and strive to lead a
meaningful life.
The Sabarmati Ashram is just one
amongst a series of indelible footprints
that Mahatma Gandhi has left on
Gujarat's landscape. Today, it is easy to
rewind back to those times and
memories and immerse oneself in
Gandhiji's philosophies, values and
teachings by taking a trip through the
Gandhi Circuit and visiting other places
in Gujarat such as Porbandar, Dandi,
Bardoli, etc. as well.
Over the years, the Sabarmati
Ashram has continued to attract hordes
of followers and tourists who come in
search of exploring the concepts of
truth, non violence, tolerance and
equality and leave feeling stimulated
and enlightened.
Sabarmati Ashram is and will
continue to be a guiding light for future
generations who wish to tread the path
of holistic development, the Gandhian
way.
47

At a Glance
Upcoming Events
48
October, 2011
Khel Mahakumbh
hief Minister Narendra Modi will flag off a baton rally of state's second sports carnival 'Khel Mahakumbh' on November
11, 2011. The rally will cover 2,550 km moving around in all the 26 districts of the state and will end on November 21,
C2011 with the handing over of the baton to the Chief Minister who will then announce the beginning of the Khel
Mahakumbh–2011.
Various competitions of village to state level will be held with separate competitions for the boys and girls below age 16,
male and female groups above 16 and for people in the age group of 45 to 60. Separate competitions for the male and females of the
age above 60 and for differently-abled will also be held.
Chief Minister said that
Khel Mahakubh has become
instrumental in making Indian
games popular among youth.
Considering that, new games
such as seaside volleyball,
shuttle ball and others will be
added along with regular
games. Competitions will be
held between November 23 to
2 8 a t p a n c h a y a t a n d
municipality ward level and
f r o m N o v e m b e r 3 0 t o
December 3 at taluka level.
District-level competitions
will be held during November
23 to December 12. Semifinals
will be on December 16 to 21
while finals on December 22
and 23.
Rann Utsav
ome December, a cornucopia of colours, culture and heritage is let
loose in the Kutch District of Gujarat as it plays host to the Rann
CUtsav. A three to four day carnival organized across various locales
within Kutch, the Rann Utsav takes one around the natural grandiose while
introducing the visitor to the indigenous cultural and ethnical flavor of the
people. The semi parched Grasslands of the Banni is known to host the most
magnificent display of vernacular architecture as the exhibition platform for
the varied range of arts and crafts of the region, while an array of folk music
and dance performances organized in the shimmering moonlit landscape
provides the most enchanting experience. Colourful fairs held near the beach
or the banks of a lake inspire in one the spirit of festivity, fervour and
flamboyancy. The Rann Utsav this year will be held from December 9, 2011 to
January 8, 2012. For more information or bookings do log on to
http://www.gujarattourism.com

Explore & Experience Gujarat’s
Spectacular Wildlife
World
Wildlife
Week
2011
(October 1-7)

Book packet containing printed books only
Our Dreams.
Our State. Our Country.
Gujarat, Where Dreams are Realized
Commissionerate of Information, Block No. 7/2, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Gandhinagar-382010
To,