Off on a spiritual trip.

Dateline 19 Nov

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 9. Lekha had prepared dosas and sambar for breakfast. Sajish picked us up from The Quarterdeck at a half past 9.

Reached the Thrissur Railway Station at a half past 10. Chandran was the porter - they have become fewer and far between - who'd to rush to his mother who was hospitalised suddenly. Preman and Manoj succeeded but it was the latter who helped us board the Vande Ram Express - a special train to Ayodhya and back for 620 of us.

 

The train fetched up at a quarter to 2 and we were in coach A2. Ramachandrettan, Bharathi chechi, Padmakumar, Rema, Mini and us formed our team.

 

It was fun and frolic with the people around and we made friends easily.

 

Everything in the train was orderly :-

 

   * the boarding was smooth

   * hot vegetarian lunch as the train had cast off from Thrissur

   * the bed linen were okay

   * the evening tea

   * dinner at 2000 hrs

   * a comparatively early dinner

India in elite club.

The DRDO has successfully flight-tested the country's first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Orissa.

The test missile was launched from a ground-based mobile launcher positioned at the launching complex-IV of the Integrated Test Range at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island around 1855 hrs on Saturday.

The missile, developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad along with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners, can carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km.

At present, only a few countries like the US, Russia and China have hypersonic missiles. These missiles can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound or roughly around 6,200 kmph). With such extreme speed, maneuverability and the ability to fly at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles are harder to detect and intercept.

It was also for the first time that the DRDO conducted the experimental trial of an indigenously designed  and developed missile after sunset.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10.

Lekha goes to town to fetch some last minute items for the train journey. 

The maid was at work.

The Quarterdeck was shut down systematically after teatime.  

Procurement crisis!

The making of a mega paddy procurement crisis in Punjab!

Total warehouse space                                                        176 lakh metric ton

Covered warehouse space held by government agencies      167 LMT

Share of private players and silos                                             9 LMT

Additional space available in the open                                    70 LMT

(Where only wheat is stocked)

124 LMT of milled rice is expected to arrive in government godowns from the latest kharif crop whose procurement began on 01 Oct but the space available to store them at present is just 25 LMT.

My take

A remedial action needs to be found out pronto. We do not want the AAP and the BJP scoring brownie points, trying to put the blame on the other. Get moving fast to a solution!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter to 5, the chores and was ready by 10.

Spoke to Maman. Later with Indirakkutty and Aniyan.

Wished Sangeeta many happy returns.

Finished our packing for the Ayodhya trip.

A quiet evening.

Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum.

North, South Blocks to be restored in a phased manner.

The repair and restoration of the twin secretarial buildings on the Raisina Hill - North and South Blocks - will be taken up in a phased manner to make way for the proposed museum. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is working on revamping and preserving the North Block in the initial phase. Simultaneously, the culture ministry has also started deliberations to finalise the museum's storyline - themes of the galleries - and exhibits to be displayed.

The proposal for "restoration and comprehensive repairs" of the North Block was scrutinised by the Heritage Conservation Committee in a meeting and the plan has been accepted.

The North and South Blocks are Grade-I notified heritage properties.

The North block used to house the following ministries :-

     * Ministry of Home

     * Ministry of Finance

     * Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

The South Block used to house the following ministries :-

     * Ministry of External Affairs

     * Ministry of Ministry of Defence

     * Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

And then the Central Vista Project happened, to where all these ministries have shifted.

Tailpiece.

Got up at at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10.

The maid was at work.

Renewed my car insurance. A futile trip to Chavakad to find out as to where the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd was sited. In the bargain, Sukesan's sob story was passed on by him.

Cdr Prasanna and her husband, Balachandran aka Balu had dropped by for about an hour with a promise of more visits. 

WHO red flags growing risk of diabetes in South East Asia.

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the WHO has said the outcomes of untreated and uncontrolled diabetes range from heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.

The countries are * Brunei

                           * Cambodia

                           * Indonesia

                           * Laos

                           * Malaysia

                           * Myanmar

                           * Philippines

                           * Singapore

                           * Thailand

                           * Vietnam and of course, India.

60% unaware of illness

More than 60% of people with diabetes in the region are unaware of their illness

Less than 1 in 3 adults with diabetes are on treatment

Only less than 15% have the disease under control

India recorded the highest number of diabetes globally in 2022, accounting for over a quarter of the world's 828 Million cases

Around 212 mn people in India (23.7% of the population) had diabetes in 2022

And about 62% of diabetics in India were not receiving any treatment!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10. 

Lekha had gone to town, first to the Ration Stand, then to a readymade shop for clothes for the Ayodhya trip and Harisree Supermarket for grocery.

I went to Preeti's cyber cafe for browsing and replying to my mail.

Pradeep gets me my laptop after repairs. Phew!

                              

 

Checking Government Efficiency

Musk, Ramaswamy to lead US Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE).

Trump calls it the new Manhattan Project

Will advise his administration on ways to slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies to improve efficiency.

The duo gets Jul 2026 deadline to finish work!

My take

A noble start!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10.

The maid was at work.

Power disruption due to heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning.

The inflation heat!

The spectre of inflation has come back to haunt the economy.

What’s  driving the price rise?

* Vegetables                     42.18%

* Personal Care.               10.99%

* Food and Beverages        9.69%

* Oils and fats                     9.52%

* Fruits                                8.43%q

* Pulses and products          7.43%

* Cereals and products         6.94%

* Egg                                     4.87%

* Snacks and sweets              3.65%

* Meat and Fish                     3.17%

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. 

Went to Dr(Mrs) Sodhi for my throat.

Went to Rajah Hospital for Lekha’s appointment.