Many regular readers of GoodNewsIndia [GNI] have wondered why this site has not been updated since 2006. The simple answer is this: the one-man team, that is me, D V Sridharan that publishes GNI is busy with a land restoration project christened, pointReturn . It will need my undivided time and attention at least till 2010; that leaves me with little time or energy to travel and do stories for GNI as I have done since 2000. So work on the site is temporarily suspended.
That is the reason. But there is a connecting story behind how I came to undertake pointReturn. In case you are interested, do pull up a chair and listen. It's a long one, and I must caution, somewhat opinionated. ⇒⇒
Sep 28, 2006
Since GoodNewsIndia ran this storyin 2000, baby Palak Muchal has grown to be a little lady of 14. The number of children’s heart surgeries she has sponsored so far, through her singing talent, stands at 225 now.
Palak gives away all the money she receives from her popular concerts, for getting heart surgeries done on children in need. She then coordinates with helpful surgeons and hospitals for reduced prices. There is a backlog of 400 children now waiting for surgeries. And Palak is determined to stay the course. [Based on an update in Businessline today]
Random picks:
India’s big IT companies are bigger than you think
Oct 19, 2005:SciencesAn Indian scientist explains why the feared pandemic killing a hundred million will not come about. Is it scare mongering then, by commercial interests pushing drugs?
Dec 19, 2003:Memory SpeaksCrowds frequently stopped the train he was on and would not let it pass until he had given his darshan.
Jan 12, 2004:InnovationA quick composting technique and a plant recycling TetraPak cartons
Apr 14, 2006:ActivismGlobalisation that spawns much evil, has also created many tools and resources for grassroots activists
Mar 29, 2004:InnovationIn a world that has been drugged to believe that computing is not possible without Microsoft products, these four Indians are pointing to an enticing road ahead.
Apr 05, 2004:ElsewhereIt is the transcript of plain words spoken by a no-nonsense, hands-on man given to ‘doing it’ rather than talking about it.
Jan 09, 2004:Economy“I think India’s progress is far more impressive than China’s.”
Aug 20, 2006:ActivismGovernment’s decision to not amend the RTI Act ‘for now’ is only an interim victory, but the campaign to gain it, is a landmark triumph of citizens’ collective action.
Feb 20, 2003:Newsclip“We owe this tremendous success to college girls and rural women.”
Nov 28, 2002:ReformsOn Nov 26,2002, the Parliament passed the Securitisation Bill
Jan 16, 2007:ReformsThe Supreme Court has settled once and for all, that the Parliament’s freedom to legislate is not unfettered but subject to provisions of the Constitution
Jun 15, 2006:EconomyThe Indian Railways is no longer the perennial loss maker of yore, but an engine of innovation and profit
Jul 05, 2003:NewsclipBhardwaj slugged it out and endeared himself to the Australians that met him and “he was a fantastic Ambassador to your country”
Nov 30, 2003:ReformsOfficers from road transport corporations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal are making a beeline to Guwahati to study the miracle
Jun 03, 2004:EnergyEventually a total of half a million megawatts are to be produced by nuclear reactors.
May 21, 2003:Ideas For IndiaThe Van Ooetegham discovery seems precisely targeted at India.
Nov 09, 2003:EconomyTata Motors, Pune, “do all the paint work for Mercedes and it holds the highest quality ratings for that work outside Germany”.
Oct 23, 2002:TrendRight now, there is a market opportunity for India
Dec 17, 2003:ProfileWe could be looking at some action with teeth to it...what can ‘you’ do?
Jan 10, 2003:EnvironmentFly ash is a very usable resource
Jan 19, 2004:SpringsIt was built on faith-- and a conviction that money can always be found for a good cause
Dec 25, 2003:Energy“The coming crisis will no doubt affectt India badly, but it also presents us an opportunity to implement a holistic response.”
Nov 19, 2002:EnergyThe implication of this move is enormous for India
Feb 10, 2003:InnovationThe idea has been well thought through— from the sea bed to the supermarket shelves
May 14, 2003:ActivismCommentators say it bodes well for the rule of law
Jun 10, 2003:Ideas For IndiaAlready in India milk is cheaper than bottled water. Soon petroleum maybe too.
Mar 20, 2003:InnovationIndia generates 5600 tonnes of plastic waste daily. That is bound to grow
Feb 20, 2005:ActivismSchools, community groups and villagers have joined in scientific testing and spreading awareness of Ganga’s sickness.
May 13, 2006:Ideas For IndiaHere are some promising paths that lead away from fossil fuel dependance, towards a sustainable energy future
Jun 05, 2003:TrendBihar is the ancient home to India’s divine heroes, kings, strategists, teachers, scholars, patriots, artists and administrators.
Dec 25, 2002:NewsclipDelhi Metro had taken barely four years to execute
Nov 26, 2003:Memory Speaks“We wouldn’t return home till we had done the rounds of at least 20-30 homes”
Dec 02, 2002:InitiativeDatabase of volunteers throughout India, who are willing to donate blood
Jan 04, 2003:EnergyRs.150 crores would be shaved from their annual fuel bill
Jul 05, 2004:Ideas For IndiaAn ox driven desalination plant is capable of producing 600 to 700 litres of potable water per hour
Sep 21, 2002:NewsclipThe areas of his work may mystify the best of us but let us try
Apr 03, 2003:TrendAn Indian maybe unlettered and poor but she is not dumb
Jun 01, 2004:UpdateThe new compact biogas system is just as large as a household refrigerator
Feb 05, 2004:Memory SpeaksKhalid Chacha had decided that only Mummy could get him to study, so Umar would live with us.