New Year Greetings

ISROfef wishes all its associates and well-wishers a

Very Happy and Prosperous New Year

നവ വത്സരാശംസകൾ

നവ വത്സരാശംസകൾ

Being Mortal

Oh...on this nice Sunday, I've an unpleasant topic for you to think about. Though unpleasant, everyone of us have to climb that ladder, and so better be aware !

Are you aware that our medical system is  so cruel that ….

Surgeons  compel patients and their  relatives to perform surgeries/operations, with the full  knowledge  that it is not going to cure or improve the  condition in any way ! ?

People are dying in hospitals in the hands of strangers !?

People spend their last days going through operations , in ICUs, or on ventilators,  experiencing an expensive medicalised end .  This  is doing harm than good !?

Newer medicines are introduced as part of treatment  (you are a genuia pig ! ) , which may extend life but not quality !?

At your terminal, do you want to be on a machine, being unable to talk, having a feeding tube, not being at  home ?   

No, the system must change !

If you are confused and worried over this issue, please read the book “Being Mortal” by Dr. Atul Gawande,  an American-Indian surgeon.  And there is the excerpts of an interview with him in BusinessLine (dt-27 Dec), which I’ve reproduced below.

M100 Vs Angara

M100  rockets... The rugged  yet simple rocket , Russian, launched every Wednesday evening for MET application, for many years from TERLS !  
Atleast some of the ex-ISROites would recall their experiences  and love of  M100s !

But it's not that ! Now I want to tell you a news item from Russia. Russia test-launched a new rocket. Surprising ? Yes... After the collapse of Soviet Union, many things collapsed in that part of the world ! Rocketry is one. Now, Russia is rebuilding their rockets. And thus now came the "ANGARA", a heavy class rocket , capable of handling manned-missions.

Let's wish Russia, all the best in their efforts !!

Dr. Radhakrishnan in NATURE's list

Dr. Radhakrishnan., Chairman, ISRO is one among the ten people who mattered this year, chosen by NATURE magazine.
Here is the full article reproduced from NATURE

KOPPILLIL RADHAKRISHNAN: Rocket launcher

India's space chief led the country's charge to Mars.
By T. V. Padma

Arun Sankar K/AP/Press Association Images

Koppillil Radhakrishnan knew the odds were against him when India's Mangalyaan space probe closed in on Mars this year. As head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), he was well aware that half of all attempts to reach Mars have ended in failure.
But the ISRO had taken lessons from other countries' mistakes, and it set modest aims for its first interplanetary mission, which it billed as a technology demonstration. When Mangalyaan settled successfully into Mars orbit on 24 September, India joined the elite group of nations with the ambition and technical capability to explore the Solar System.
In his 43 years as an engineer and manager at the ISRO, Radhakrishnan has led a diverse set of projects, from developing remote-sensing satellites to setting up India's tsunami-warning system. The Mars mission was a gamble, but it caused less heartache than the ISRO's work on a cryogenic rocket engine that had failed during a launch in 2010 and finally succeeded this year. “The Mars mission was a slightly more joyous occasion,” he says, while playing down his own role. “I was like a conductor of an orchestra.”
The Mars mission has put the spotlight on Asia's space ambitions. India plans in the next three years to launch its second Moon mission, and China aims to bring lunar samples back to Earth by 2017.
India's success this year drew widespread applause. “This is good for India and its economy, demonstrating the ability to develop and implement high-technology enterprises,” says Raymond Arvidson, a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Radhakrishnan says that India's space plans should not be judged against those of other countries: “We are not racing with anyone. We are only racing with ourselves.” But he will soon leave the race. Radhakrishnan will retire at the end of the year, leaving him free to pursue his love for classical South Indian singing and dancing. He has not had much time for that during the ISRO's hectic pursuit of Mars.


Read the article in NATURE.COM   Clich here

 

Writing off One Lakh Crore ! ?

Did you read last day's news item regarding "PSBs write off  One Lakh Crore in 5 years" ?

You have read it and took it very light ?  Is it ?  No, this should be an eye opener for you to think, and respond !
Public Sector Banks are Government's . That is, our Government is writing off One Lakh crore !  Do you know for whose sake ?  For all rich and fraudulant people. Those people took loans from the PSBs and never bothered to pay back. Now, the Govt is writing off these loans !  Such huge amounts !

On the other side, Govt refuses to pay pension elements to the Senior Citizens.  Govt is playing hide and seek in  implementing OROP for the Armed Forces. And they have totally ignored OROP for other Central staff.  They need only a fraction of the 'written off' money to implent justice to the Pensioners.

Condolenses

Mr. S B Jayaram is no more. ISROfef records the heart-felt condolenses to the bereaved family.
May his soul rest in peace.
 

Christmas Greetings

ISROfef  wishes a very Happy Christmas

to all associates and well-wishers

ISRO Vs Others

Having lauched the GSLV-Mk III successfully, media made an analysis of ISRO's  stuff with that of other nations. Here is a table/report making a comparitive analysis.

(From BUSINESS LINE )

Congratulations ISRO

Congratulations ISRO  !

(Picture rom BUSINESS LINE )

The turning point

ISRO, we all wish you all the best !  We, former ISROites  know very well that today’s GSLV launch is  very very critical for ISRO. Why ISRO alone, for our Nation  itself  !

But, when we think of GSLV,  we are certainly not that happy.   We are not  near the Nation’s plans and expectations .  How are we going to pick up ? The answer lies in today’s launch result.  That’s how this flight becomes very very critical.

Refering  to  reports by the Press,  ISRO could not  meet the targets of 12 th Plan programmes.  12^th plan target of  25 flights ; ISRO did only  8 PSLVs and 2 GSLVs  in the first three years.  For the year 2015, ISRO plans to launch  5 PSLVs and one  GSLV. That tells us that  ISRO is slipping, and that the immediate future  does not  appear very bright.

But, ISRO shines well in INDIA  and the WORLD !  Happy launches ISRO !!

And about today's launching, here is an intersting and informative graphic (from  Business Line )

GSLV MkIII flight

GSLV Mark III  flight - Countdown started today, for Launch tommorrow. Read more .... Click below

GSLV Mk III  Launch

ISROfef  wishes a grand success !!!

A reminder of Tax Rates

Here is a reminder of Tax Rates for FY 2014-15 (A Y 2015-16 ) !  For all Senior Citizens (60 to 80 years of age)

No Tax upto 3 Lakhs
10 %  for 3 to 5 Lakhs
20 %  for 5 to 10 Lakhs
30 % for Above 10 Lakhs

Surcharge of 10 % of Income Tax , where taxable income is more ta 1 Crore.

Education Cess of 3 % of  total income tax and surcharge.

Tax rebate of 2000/- for every person who has income of 2.5 to 5 Lakh.

Pension without Tension !

This is about the Digital Life Certificate (all pensioners are to submit in the month of November).
Here is an interesting graphic (from Outlook Money, Dec 2014 issue)  showing what you do about this.

ISRO watch

A prized possession of  ex-ISROites !!

Do ypu have it with you ?

Scientific temper - whose is it anyway ?

Last day, The hindu carried an article titled "Tampering with Scientific temper" written by one Peter Ronald deSouza.  He writes on JawaharLal Nehru's scientific temper, and later he writes about  Mangalyaan. The relevant part of the article is rproduced below.

deSouza's problem is that Chairman, ISRO had been to Tirupathi on the previous day of launch of Mangalyaan !

Later, Dr. Radhakrishnan, in an interview  said  that he don’t want to leave it to chances (in a technical context).   This author  quotes him out of context and says that “chance is resolved by Tirupathi ? “.

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s visit to Tirupathi is his personal need and preference. It’s not ISRO’s. Why do you Mr. deSouza go to Church on Sunday mornings ?  And call Jesus before writing such  stock ? Is it not purely your personal beliefs?

Please leave  Dr. Radhakrishnan off, and don’t attempt to relate his (ISRO’s ) scientific temper with his temple visit.  Talking on ‘scientific temper ‘ should have common sense . This deSouza lacks such senses.

Unmanned Crew Module in GSLV Mk III

( From The Hindu )

GSLV Mk III launch on December 18

GSLV Mk III  launch on December 18
Preparations are in full stretch for the launch from SHAR.  ISROfef wishes a Great Flight !!

The Hindu today carries an Editorial on the successful launching of  GSAT-16.  A must read !

'Pride of Kerala': Justice VR Krishna Iyer Dies at 100

V. R. Krishna Iyer
Justice 
Justice Vaidyanathapura Rama Krishna Iyer was a distinguished judge of the Supreme Court of India who reformed the criminal justice system by standing up for the poor and the underprivileged as a judge, ... Wikipedia 
Born: November 15, 1914, Kerala 
Died: December 4, 2014, Kochi 
Spouse: Sarada Krishna Iyer (m. 1945–1974) 
Books: Wandering in Many Worlds: An Autobiography, more 
Children: Paramesh Iyer, Ramesh Iyer 
Awards: Padma Vibhushan

DA increase for those pensioners opted for 5CPC rates

DA increase for those pensioners opted for 5CPC rates

Loan from SBI - new terms

The new terms of Loan from S B I  are given here :

(Copied from Pensioners Link )

Pensioners Day 2014

“Pensioners’  Day”  .   All Pensioner s’  associations/forums  are celebrating this DAY !  Why don’t you do it personally  too  ?

But celebrating it alone ? You may ask me.  Yes, do it alone too. What you can do is think  over on “how a pensioner can contribute to the wellness of  self and people around you, and for the might of our Nation !”

If you are not convinced of the  above topic of thought, then please think how you can make your life more pleasant !

But before that, please read more about this day below !!
 

PENSIONERS DAY

SENIOR CITIZENS DAY

NAKARA’s CENTENARY BIRTH DAY CELEBRATION

CELEBRATE IN A BEFITTING MANNER ON 17-12-2014  

Chief Justice Chandrachud who delivered the 17-12-1982 historical judgment

D.S.Nakara who fought heroically after his retirement for justice to all pensioners

Pensioners can never forget 17^th December. It was on this day in the year 1982 that the historic judgment by the constitutional bench headed by the Chief Justice Chandrachud in the famous case filed by Nakara was delivered to up hold the fundamental right of pension by the Pensioners.

The judgment had categorically ruled that “ (i) that pension is neither a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer and that it create a vested right subject to 1972 rules which are statutory in character because they are enacted in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Art.309 and clause (5) of Art.148 of the constitution; (ii) that pension is not an ex-gratia payment but it is a payment for the past service rendered and (iii) it is a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in lurch ’’

Nakara was born in the year 1914 and joined Government Service in the year 1937 and retired in the year 1972. He went to Court and fought heroically for ten long years to get the above historic judgment in the year 1982 had passed away in the year 2009 at his age of 96. This year being the centenary year of his birth, it is appropriate to celebrate his centenary of birth along with the Pensioners Day on 17-12-2014 as the Day of “ Pensioners Day – Senior Citizens Day – and Centenary year of Birth of Nakara”.

Observe 17-12-2014 as:

Pensioners Day

Senior Citizens Day

Centenary of Nakara’s Birth