WHO FIGHTING FOR ITS EXISTENCE: WILL IT TRIGGER NEW ERA OF CONFLICT?

Politics and lust for power are not endemic of India only. They are pandemics like COVID. The WHO, which came into existence on 7th April 1948 amidst the second World War, now has to fight for its own existence.The Americans are broadly divided into two halves. One group opines that WHO and China are, to great extent, responsible for the large scale deaths and widespread infections of covid whereas; other group feels that Trump administration failed considerably to cope up with the pandemic threats in early period and has not handled the situation, the manner it should have been done. The ensuing presidential election in America has perturbed Trump to an unprecedented scale and in desperate attempt to shift the focus, he has threatened to cut the funding and quitting the membership of WHO as well.

India is not an exception. The politicians have started the dirty blame game and amidst the woes of countless migrant workers , the nasty war of politics goes unabated. The media is doing its job of complying with their boss's command. The vertical split of media has left the citizenry at a loss. Either you would hear that everything what a particular government is doing is absolutely" right" or you would watch anchor spitting venom against it.

The seemingly unending exodus of migrant workers towards BIMARU states, reminds us the severity of pains which our forefathers had experienced during partition of the nation in 1947. Nothing seems changed except the color of the photographs. In 1947, it was black and white while now it is colored. The untold pains of suffering of laborers has shattered all the tall claims that we have been making over a decade or so. The three trillion economy for these people is just a mockery.

Cutting across all the prejudices, the opinion is gaining ground that an independent inquiry should be conducted into the whole gamut of issues relating to Wuhan laboratory and its role in leakage of this demon into the world. Chinese have been very closed as far as sharing its information to the world community is concerned. One thing is sure that this virus has originated from China (PRC) which is taking heavy toll of lives across the globe, therefore an independent but fair inquiry must be conducted.

The question arises that whether WHO which is itself fighting for its existence and now getting billions of dollars from China, would be bold enough to order for the same?

Falling turnover of Amway India some suggestions to cope with it

Amway stands for- FAMILY,HOPE,FREEDOM AND REWARD

DEAR WILLIAM S PICKNEY

1.  I would like to bring to your notice the falling turnover trend of Amway Business in India which has fallen from 2388 Crore in FY 12-13 up to December 2012 to 1900 crore in FY 13-14 up to December,2013. I along with host of Amway Distributors across the nation must be worried as to what is happening with Amway India these years especially in view of the fact that even during the worst days of recession, company made robust growth. The company’s top brass here in India as well as in HQ at Ada must be worried about this. We have chosen this business as career and therefore it is startling and agonizing for me as well to see this downward trend happening. Last fiscal also when the company had set the target turnover to 2500 crore, we could not achieve it and could finish at 2388 crore only.

2.  Over a decade I had been analyzing the facts and figures related to Amway India and if I remember correctly, never before this, the Amway’s turnover has witnessed such huge downslide trend. Everyone including me is worried and anxious to know as to why is this happening and what has gone wrong with the Company. We tend to guess that perhaps Kerala episode may be one reason. But it is hard to believe that this may the only reason because with the issuance of statements by the concerned ministry at centre, things became amply clear. As a matter of fact we never encountered any problem while showing sale & marketing plans to the prospects. I personally believe that majority of the people outside Amwayites world never knew what had happened in Kerala.  I had gone through two very good books on Amway last couple of months. One is “Promise to keep” by Charles Paul Con and other one is ‘Amway forever’ by Catherine A Jones. These books have nicely depicted company’s ups and downs in terms of business challenges across the globe. In fact, it mentions that there are three phases in the life of any corporation around the world. One is ‘discovery phase’, 2^nd is the ‘downslide phase’ and last one is ‘balanced phase’. It says that when any company, in this case Amway, enters any country, people take it very positively because there is nothing negative to discuss. But after a decade or so when company makes its presence felt, some people, especially those who fail, talk negative about the company. This is downslide phase. But the book says, the turnover goes up in this phase also. Downslide phase is termed due to its negative image amongst few or many people in that country. India, according to this analysis, might be passing through this phase but surprisingly the turnover should have not gone down. This is a downslide phase with difference.

3.  Recently, company has made certain changes in terms of joining, renewal, bonus structures rules etc. Firstly, renewal fees were set flat to 480 Rs irrespective month of joining. This resulted in large steep fall in number of joining in the month of August, because large number of people feel that why should he/she pay 480 Rs in September even if they join in the month of August so better to join in September instead of August. I am sure if there is any statistics with the company they can throw it in the amwayite’s domain that what % fall the company has been witnessing in the month of August after the introduction of this new rule.

4.  From February, 2014, another new rule related to joining came into being. Now you have to submit cancelled cheque, photocopy of banks account in case the cheque does not bear accounts holders name, ID and address proof at the time of joining itself. Even on web joining one has to upload these documents and wait for some time/hrs because in the back end, these documents have to be ‘so called verified’, I have been told, by other third party. This technical glitch has hindered the earlier smooth process of joining resulting therein huge and steep fall in number of joining across the nation. The company must throw the data also amongst us so that we can also analyze the downward trend of joining in our respective groups. If web joining is done in the evening or night, the distributor has to wait for the next day for getting his order processed because this third party would approve the uploaded documents only on the next day. It seems that the rule is made not to facilitate the process but to stalemate or hinder it.

5.  One rule related to 10% discount directly going to distributors account is widely appreciated and I also appreciate this move. This has helped in curbing, to a large extent, the shop selling practice by many/some ABOs.

6.  Coming to office and state specific problems, I have sent innumerable emails to officials at Patna PUC as well as Kolkata regional development officers like Mr Chandra Chakravorty, Arindam Banerjee, Alok deep, GS Cheema, Sudipto, Bikash kumar and host of others regarding malfunctioning of PUC at Patna and other ATPs in Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur. I don’t want to repeat or rewrite them for the sake of time. Just by going into these offices one cannot get the flavor of MNCs work culture or ambience. It seems that perhaps Amway in Bihar has been nationalized and offices are being run by ‘government babus’. One can taste the flavor of redtapism which has surprisingly disappeared from government offices also, thanks to new era of liberalization. In amway forever book, the writer writes, if I remember correctly, that in China there are as many as 139 ADCs in 137 cities. In fact this was one of the Chinese government’s instructions also that Amway has to open outlets so that people many touch and feel the products. But here in Bihar there is only one touch and feel PUC where also one can hardly touch products and services, thanks to rude, unfriendly, undemocratic, unpolished, lack of etiquettes, non professional behavior of most of the staffs barring a few. Most of the staffs sitting on the desk are more interested in refusing and rejecting the documents rather than helping them understand and making them through. Security personnel’s presence in large number gives impression that whether this is a business venture or intelligence and security establishments. These issues are not unheard, unnoticed and unreported to the Amway officials both in Patna and Kolkata. But this is disgusting to say that nothing remarkable in terms of improvement could be done. This is perhaps why the turnover in Bihar is meager as compare to south. We are still to find a good ADC or Brand experience centre in Patna and some more PUCs in other cities of Bihar.  

7.  Coming to national scenario, the direct selling industries in India is expected to reach Rs 34,000 crore in 2019-20 where as Amway’s turnover which was projected in Melbourne ALS by none other than William. S. Pickney to 5,000 crore will grow up to 3000 crore by 2020 according to Picney who has been quoted by the Times of India, Kokata dated 13^th Feb, 2014. Is it reversal or revision of goal or strategic retreat? In fact in morning when I came across this news, I got panicked and perturbed. My career is at stake because as I said that I have chosen this business as career.

8.  According to PHD report total number of distributors in direct selling business is about 60 lacs in India in 2012-13 out of which Amway’s share is hardly 6 lacs whereas this is the biggest direct selling company. Sometimes it seems and it is true also that people at large don’t have problem or negativity from Amway products, they are actually frustrated with the system it runs. Quitters are vociferous in negative propaganda. In fact John A Catherine in Amway forever book has mentioned it very nicely. Does it not sound not good that every year large number of ABOs quit due to this flat renewal fees rule and other unnecessary formalities. As a lay man, we feel that every company should expand its consumer base therefore how one can afford to let them off? Amway must re think over it.

9.  Some suggestions- (a) kindly do away with some cumbersome rules and facilitate the process of joining.

(b) Remove renewal fees and replace with some other criterion like doing 50 pv mandatorily in month of Sept-Oct to get ABOs renewed.

(c)  Increase the number of pick up centers across the nation and in Bihar also. Make the ambience ABOs friendly and not staff friendly only.

(d) Retrieve similar suggestions from ABOs. Although similar exercise were made by Amway in which on line suggestions and feedbacks were asked, but it seems it is more a rhetoric that a serious exercise. Make it fruitful and useful.

(e) Expand the distribution networks to ensure that rural areas also come under delivery zone. It is very important for Amway to reach out to rural areas to keep growth moving upward. 

(f) Number of products which could cater to the needs of rural people with moderate income should also be introduced.

Needless to say that Amway needs face lift and revamping so that we grow and fulfill our dreams. The principle of Hope, Family, Freedom and Reward is still inculcated to our hearts, let it be intact

Thanks

Sincerely

Sarita Yadav ,Patna 

            

BRING THE LAWYERS TO LAW

Who will bring the lawyers to law?

The unprecedented acts of hooliganism and vandalism done by the lawyers of the Madras High court has raised the issue that as Policing the Police is becoming gradually difficult, similarly bringing lawyers to the law is becoming an arduous task.

The lawyers were protesting against an attempt by the police to arrest some accused in connection with a complaint lodged by Subramanyam Swami. The lawyers turned violent and started attacking the police. They set ablaze some vehicles parked in the campus. Subsequently the Police also resorted to lathi charge and beat lawyers mercilessly.

The lawyers went on strike and demanded action against what they call the brutal action of the police. The repeated request by the Supreme Court to the lawyers to call off their strike went unheeded.

The apex court appointed one man panel to probe into this episode headed by retired SC Judge B.N.Srikrishna. The panel submitted its 22 page report to the court and was read out in the court by some senior advocates.

The report has deplored the incident which took place on 19^th February in the court premises of Madras HC. Srikrishna has termed the action and behaviour of the advocates as ‘hooligans and miscreants’

It is shame on our judicial system. Lawyers are the part and parcel of the entire criminal justice system and the courts cannot function without the participation of the advocates.

In recent times, a section of lawyers have formed an idea that they can take law in their hands and will go unscathed because they are under illusion that they are running the courts and the courts will not take action or allow any action to be taken against them.  The report has rightly indicted the acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court because his infirm and indecisive attitude allowed the situation to go from bad to worse. 

Few days ago, similar incident, though of smaller magnitude and intensity took place inside the court room at Patna High Court.  The Judge Mr. D.D. Jha was force to withdraw his order of making arrest of a lawyer for his act of contempt of the court.  The said advocate shouted at the highest pitch and called all his companion lawyers. They started slogans inside the court room before the Judge and the Judge could not nothing accept left the chair helplessly and withdrew his order.  Only few days before this incident, a section of lawyers and lawyer’s clerk raised slogans against the Chief Justice because the Chief Justice had issued one direction which necessitated the lawyers or the lawyers clerks to verify the stamps, they are furnishing with.  This order was made in view of detection of a racket which had been using fake stamps inside the court itself.  In this scam, the police said that the involvement of some advocates was allegedly possible.  Any way the entire stalemate could only be resolved when this order was withdrawn. 

Such types of infirm and indecisive attitudes of the court have emboldened the lawyers who have started taking law in their hands. 

 The report of Justice Shri Krishna has rightly sought the intervention of the apex court. The panel has also suggested framing of certain guide lines for the bar.  In fact there is no rule whatsoever in this matter and it is the bar council which regulates the activities of the advocates in India.  Of course there is one advocates Act, 1971, which gives certain broader guide lines for the lawyers, but it is becoming ineffective. 

The Parliament should, now come up to take up and tackle this dangerous trends which is spreading like a pandemic contagion in Indian Judiciary.  The time has come to frame a strict, elaborate and comprehensive   law in order to ensure that such ailment is cured, and cured forever. 

BIHAR LAND POLICY ON ANVIL

BIHAR WATER POLICY ON ANVIL

Bihar is a land of paradoxes. The northern part of the state is flooded with both under and surface water whereas; the southern and central part of the province not so lucky and richly endowed with this resources. But at the same time the north Bihar bears almost invariably every year the brunt of rivers like Kosi, Adhwara groups, Bagmati, Kamal balan etc. the districts falling under this region experience wrath of the virulent and furious rivers every year leaving hundreds dead and extensive damages. This year also, the state is marked by this dichotomy and paradox. The 26 districts of central and north Bihar have been declared drought hit whereas about 6-7 districts have been facing wraths of flood fury. The people of Bihar have accepted this state of affairs as nature’s injustice to them, but government, this time, seems determined to fight to finish this natural calamity once for all.

It is therefore and under this backdrop, the Government of Bihar is coming out with a comprehensive water policy very soon.  A draft has already been prepared by the Water Resource Department (WRD) and put to website for inviting suggestion from across the board and people at large. In fact, during the last year’s unprecedented flood in North Bihar caused by Kosi River, which devastated the socio-economic fabric of almost entire northern region of the state, necessitated the government to evolve such policy with respect to water management and flood control. The extensive damage caused by this flood, which according to many was nothing short of a catastrophe, had evoked public debate in the media and in government circles also. Many experts suggested that merely doing some anti-erosion and embankment strengthening would not work. A plethora of suggestions in forms of articles, columns and seminars were put into public domain regarding flood control and disaster management. It was during this period the details of steps suggested by the engineers and civil servants during British government also came up for discussion. Only few months ago, Rajendra Singh and Sandip Pandey, both Magsaysay award winner came to Bihar and delivered speech. They suggested ways to conserve and manage water resources. They were particularly averse to the idea of taming rivers by way of construction of dams and embankments. The duo was in favour of allowing the rivers to flow their natural courses.    

The ‘Saharsa Gazetteer’ a valuable document, which entails details about the flood control, safety of embankment of rivers etc, also drew government’s attention. Many engineers and experts are of the opinion that the government’s apathy and neglect towards these old but precious documents, which according to them are as valuable as anything and adoption of strategies on adhoc basis has allowed the situation to go from bad to worse.    

Taking cue from all such documents and suggestions, the govt has decided to formulate a comprehensive water policy of the state so that strategies to tackle the problems related to rivers are evolved. The objectives of this proposed policy are

·       Irrigation and flood management so that flood devastation is mitigated

·       To evolve water drainage system in the affected areas

·       Development of river basin system and transfer of river basin from excessive water availability area to scanty water availability area. The idea is to transfer water from north to south region of the state

·       Strengthening river embankment to tame the fury of river

·       Interlinking river on lines of river linking mega project of national government.

·       Deepening of river and de-siltation of rivers

·       To treat north and south Bihar rivers on different footing and evolve different strategies for these rivers.

·       Recycling of underground water and evolve and formulate rain water harvesting rules and laws. The excessive exploitation of underground water especially by commercial enterprise are sought to be regulated and the government is determined to enact law related to it also.

·       Evolve multi-sectoral approach  etc

Officials connected with the WRD say that the CM is committed to give final shape to this policy very soon and like to announce it on republic day celebration on 26^th January, 2009.

Indian Space programme got another further in its cap following successfully launch of seven satellites by rocket, the PSLV on Wednesday from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Out of the seven satellites launched, six belonged to foreign countries, meaning thereby that India’s share in multi-billion dollar international space market has been on increase. This is the first space venture by India after failure of Chandrayan- I, a setback which many called a fiasco. This success is being viewed as a major breakthrough and confidence building event because the failure of Chandrayan-I had stigmatised Indian space programme in eyes of cynical elements.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a seven storeys and 230 tonne rocket and this launch was the 16^th mission by PSLV for India. The credibility of this satellite Launch vehicle has immensely increased because now more and foreign countries are showing confidence in this vehicle for launch of their satellites.

The 21^st century is era of space and satellites, and commercial launch vehicle can earn huge revenues in space market. Therefore India should augment its space programme and can further improve upon PSLV so that we can earn huge resources to finance our future space and defence programme.         

WATER ON MOON; CHANDRAYAN I PIONEERED THE WORLD

Chandrayan I, the maiden lunar mission of India had detected the existence of water on the surface of Moon much before its demise just previous month. The instrument of NASA called Moon Mineralogy Mapper i.e. MMM or M3 onboard Chandrayan-I has sent data and images which confirm existence of water on Moon ending four decades of speculation. Speculation had been rife and ideas had been vacillating ever since Apollo astronauts brought some sample rocks from the Moon in a box which got contaminated because the box leaked. The scientists therefore could not draw any inference on the basis of these contaminated rocks.

What is MMM or M3- Moon Mineralogy Mapper or triple M, popularly known as M3 is one of the two instruments which NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) had fitted on Chandrayan-I to collect images and gather data from the Moon. Chandrayan was fitted with 10 more other equipments apart from this M3. This instrument is led by Principal investigator Carle Pieters of Brown University and was managed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA. This instrument is manufactured and designed to the state of the art imagining spectrometer which can provide high resolution spatial and spectral map of the surface of Moon.  M3 is a discovery Program, a series of low cost instruments which focuses on scientific space missions. M3 is one such instrument which was installed into Chandrayan-I and sent some information. The instrument picked up electromagnetic radiations from the rocks of the lunar surface.

BASIS OF CLAIM- Scientists have drawn preliminary inference that water could have been formed due to interaction of Oxygen and Hydrogen. The Oxygen might have been present in the rocks and soil present on the lunar surface and Hydrogen might have come due to nuclear fusion taking place in the sun. In fact, due to ongoing nuclear fusion in the sun, the photons are emitted which contain hydrogen. The interaction of Oxygen and Hydrogen (O+H2= H20) forms water and this calculation is the basis on which it is being said that lunar surface has water.

M3 instrument analysed that how the sun light reflected from the surface of moon and mapped electromagnetically the presence of water on the surface. The wavelengths of received from M3 could be easily analysed because each matter gas or liquid has a different wavelength of electromagnetic image.

FINDING OF CENTURY- it is a being termed as the finding of century which brought to an end the four decades of speculation. Although the available water is not in abundant or in pool and is in form of moistures in rocks and soils, it is a big leap in scientific exploration. The NASA has also confirmed this findings with a sense of gratitude towards ISRO and Chandrayan-I.  

CLAMOUR FOR CLAIM- the findings has now been confirmed by NASA and subsequently it has been put to online edition of Science journal. With the completion of these formalities, the exploration is confirmed and the scientific communities have accepted the findings of M3. Although NASA has thanked ISRO for making this discovery possible, quarrel is likely to begin as to who is the real taker of credit, NASA or ISRO. The world and especially west would not like to accept this claim very easily due to inherent societal and scientific temperament whereas the Indian scientist community will leave no stone unturned to stake the claim in its accounts. Director of NASA Jim Green said ‘water ice on the moon has been something of a holy grail for lunar scientists for a very long time’. Commending the discovery, Carle Pieters, Principal Investigator said ‘for silicate bodes, such features are typically attributed to water and hydroxyl-bearing materials’. Downplaying excessive euphoria, she said that evidence of water on the Moon does not mean that it is in lakes and oceans or even puddles, it is in molecules and embedded in rocks.

There is no doubt about the fact that it is a big leap and discovery is made by an instrument which was built and installed by NASA, the association of Chandrayan-I with it can never be ruled out and name of India and ISRO have permanently been associated with this historic scientific event which will pass into the pages of history.

IPS resigned to robe uniform again?

I.P.S. OFFICER TO ROBE UNIFORM AFTER QUITTING?

The bureaucratic circle in the Bihar Government is facing a peculiar type of administrative procedural wrangle and web. Gupteshwar Pandey, an IPS of 1987 batch Bihar cadre officer took voluntary retirement (VR) on the eve of last Parliamentary election in the hope of getting ticket of a National Party. His VR application was processed and accepted after completing all necessary formalities well before beginning of the last parliamentary elections which took place in May 2009. In fact the notification to this effect was also issued after President of India’s approval as required under Article 311 of Indian Constitution. Pandey was ducked by the party and he could not get the ticket.

                 Now after a gap of nearly 6 months, Mr Pandey has filed a petition before the government praying therein to allow his VR application to be withdrawn. Pandey has reported to have quoted ‘personal reasons’ for this prayer. In other words he has requested the government to re-instate him to the post he resigned. This is a peculiar situation and perhaps the first of this kind. The state government has never faced such a typical constitutional and legal issue.

                  Leaving aside the political nature of this issue, this matter has raised some vital legal and constitutional issues which needed to be settled before taking any final decision.

1)     Article 311 and 312 of Indian Constitution are relevant with respect to government servant including All India Services to which Mr Pandey belonged. The former Article suggests that a government servant cannot be removed except in the manner and procedure laid down under the law enacted and rules framed.   But this Article is silent as to what will happen if the officer has resigned voluntarily and subsequently seeks his re-instatement after the acceptance of his VR application.

2)     Article 312 provides for creation of All India Service and under this Article, the IAS, IPS and host of All India Services have been created and rules framed to regulate them.

3)     In order to regulate, control and provide professionalism to these services, several Rules have been framed in this connection. The All India Services (conduct) Rules 1968 and The All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969 are of special relevance in this case.

PROVISIONS WHICH GOES AGAINST THIS RE-INSTATEMENT- Rule 5 of The All India Services (conduct) Rules, 1968 says that no member of the Service shall be a member of, or be otherwise associated with, any political party or any organization which takes part in politics, nor shall he take part in, or subscribe in aid of, or assist in any other manner, any political movement or political subscribing in aid of or assisting in any other manner, activity.

               The Sub Rule-2 further clarifies that It shall be the duty of every member of the Service to endeavour to prevent any member of his family from taking part in or any movement of, activity which is, or  tends directly or indirectly to be subversive of the Government as by law established, and where a member of the Service is unable to prevent member of his family from taking part in or subscribing in aid of, or assisting in any other manner, any such movement of activity, he shall make a report to that effect to the Government.

In the case of Mr Pandey, his political affiliation has been established as he wanted to fight election on the ticket of a National Political Party (needless to mention name of party). Thus his partisan approach, which is the essence of this service, has been tattered and on principle he can never be supposed to act in a non discriminatory manner or impartial way.

                  To check such practises and tendencies and also prevent politicisation of bureaucracy, the State government had issued a circular bearing no-5/m/5048/85 pers-10578 on dated 28 August 1985 stating therein that if any government servant resigns for fighting election and subsequently files petition seeking withdrawal of resignation, such applications should be out-rightly rejected. This circular further instructs that if any government servant fights or participates in elections without tendering resignation; his or her services should be terminated. Message is clear; the government employees must remain non-political. But in this case, Pandey’s intensions have been more than clear therefore legally speaking his application ought to be rejected.

OPTIONS BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT- If the government decides to allow Pandey to withdraw his resignation and pave way for his re-inclusion into the service, it has to withdraw this circular first and then issue a fresh instruction as required under article 309 and 162 of Indian Constitution. It has to recommend to the MHA also because Pandey happened to be a member of All India Service and President of India is the appointing authority under Article 312 of the Constitution. Ministry of Personnel, Public grievance and Pension will have to either repeal All India Services (conduct) Rules, 1968 and All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 or amend them accordingly because the provisions under these Rules are against such re-instatement in letter and spirit. Moreover, the aforesaid Articles would have also to be put to review.

If Pandey is re-instated into the service, it will have a far reaching ramification in the administrative and bureaucratic history of this country, because it will unleash a trend in which more and more government servants would flex their muscles in the political fields and will seek re-instatement after losing the battle. Now everyone here is sitting fingers crossed waiting for the government to take a final decision in this regard.        

       

Nepal's cabinet meet at highest altitude

SAVE IT TO BE SAVED

                    Government of Nepal today held a meeting of its cabinet at an altitude of 5,250 meters on a place called Kalapathar, i.e. black rock in order to draw global attention of world community on the gravity of climatic change. Similar cabinet meeting was held by Maldivian Government in the month of October, 2009, when the entire cabinet of Mohammad Nasheed held meeting under the ocean. It was first such attempt and exercise to draw international attention.

                  Madhav Kumar Nepal, the PM of Nepal, the Himalayan tiny nascent democracy, along with all the 21 members of his cabinet assembled at Kalapathar, a flat area at 5250 meters altitude next to Mt Everest, and signed a document aimed at drawing global attention on climate change just a couple of days ahead of Copenhagen Summit . All the ministers were equipped with necessary things like thick jackets, wind proof gears and woolen hats. They were first taken to Lukla, a place some 2800 meters above the sea level to acclimatize them to higher altitude by helicopter.

            Many people called it as a gimmick and wastage of public money. The ongoing media hype owing to ensuing Copenhagen summit has come as business opportunity for many and arranging such trips by private agencies are being seen as a publicity stunts and nothing more than that.  Nonetheless, the media hype and environmentalists repeated warnings on climate change and global warming have helped awareness towards climate change permeate into the minds and heats of common people also, who hitherto were least informed and less concerned about all such problems.