Kashmir’s vote for grassroots democracy

The New Indian Express

First Published : 18 Apr 2011 11:34:00 PM IST

Last Updated : 19 Apr 2011 01:05:10 AM IST

The massive turnout of voters in the on-going panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir is in defiance of separatists who have asked for a boycott. On the second day of polling on Sunday, 81.62 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the 16-phase elections which will conclude on June 18. This proves that the murder of Haseena Begum, a candidate, two days after the first round of polling on April 16, when 77 per cent voting was recorded, had no deterrent effect on the voters. The areas covered by the polling so far are representative of the regional characteristics of the state.Equally important, people from all walks of life have come forward to contest the elections being held after 10 years. The people know that most of their local problems, like lack of roads, wells and public hydrants, can be solved locally by the civic bodies. They also know that funds for many centrally-sponsored programmes are now routed through such bodies. By not holding elections for the last five years, they realise that they have only lost and not gained. That is why they have defied the boycott call given by separatists like Syed Ali Shah Gilani. Whatever be the outcome of the polls, it will be a victory for grassroots democracy.

PSLV C 16 stands ready for tomorrow's launch 

April 19, 2011 PTI  chennai

PSLV C - 16

All is set for the launch of the country's latest remote sensing satellite Resourcesat-2 and two mini spacecraft on board PSLV-C16 tomorrow from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, over 90 km from here. 

"The countdown is smooth. There are some sequences which are in progress. The weather is perfectly fine. With all this in place, we should be able to lift-off on schedule at 10.12 am tomorrow," ISRO spokesperson S Sathish said. 

ISRO's workhorse PSLV has an impressive track record of 16 successful missions out of 17 attempts and has launched 44 satellites, including 25 payloads from abroad, since 1994. 

The launch vehicle will place in polar sun synchronous orbit the 1206-kg Resourcesat-2, 92-kg Youthsat and 106-kg X-sat satellites 822 km above Earth. The mission's primary satellite, ISRO built Resourcesat-2, is an advanced remote sensing spacecraft to facilitate study and management of natural resources. 

It will replace Resourcesat-1 launched in 2003 and provide data with enhanced multi-spectral and spatial coverage on natural resources. Resourcesat-2 with a five year space life will also carry an additional payload from COMDEV, Canada that will provide information on ship surveillance by making 14 orbits per day, ISRO said. 

Youthsat, a joint Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies will study the relationship between solar variability and thermosphere-ionosphere changes. The satellite with two-year life will carry two Indian and one Russian payload. 

PSLV will also launch Singapore's first satellite X-SAT, a mini satellite that intends to demonstrate technologies related to satellite based remote sensing and onboard image processing.

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