India is an emerging economy. But when it comes to the health care in the country, it is far below many other countries. Taking similarly growing economies, like in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries, India is at the bottom line.This is as per the report furnished by the World Bank.

While Brazil spends 2.83% of its GDP on health care, S.Africa 2.73%, Russia 2.68% and China 1.55% India is far behind with only 0.93% of the GDP. If you take the developed countries, US spends 15% and UK 8.5% of its GDP for the health care.

The worst condition of health systems in the lakhs of villages and the juggis in the cities are well-known to the ruling classes and the governments. But nothing worthwhile is done to improve the situation. Take the case of toilets. There are no toilets for crores of poor people in the country who, including women, are compelled to use open spaces without any privacy for the same. A recent survey has stated that there are far less toilets than mobiles in the country. Death rate for children has decreased, but it is much more than in many countries. Sufficient food stuffs are not available for a majority of people in the country. Unless a time bound fast-track programme is implemented with determination, the situation is not going to improve.

But, sorry to state, it is not a matter of priority for the UPA government or most of the state governments. Without a massive campaign as in the case of against corruption, nothing is going to happen. This should be treated as a priority.

In between the busy days, today I took myself the indulgence of taking a holiday and sight-seeing. Com. M.Balasubramanian and his wife Roja had come to Delhi and they will be leaving for Agra, Jaipur etc. tomorrow. As such my wife and myself thought that we will visit the Akshardham Temple today.

We went by metro from R.K.Ashram station to the Akkshardham station. Since it was only about 0900 hours and being the election day in Delhi, there was not much rush. For about three hours we went in and around the temple and saw the fine construction and arrangements. There were exhibitions and also a boat journey. The boat was going through an artificial canal on both sides of which images were constructed and exhibited about the growth of the civilisation in India and about the earlier sages, armies, medical achievements etc. Later we had our lunch in the restaurant in the temple premises itself.

The visit was interesting.

The severe earthquake in Indonesia at 8.6 Reichter scale reminded all about the earlier tsunami which caused loss of thousands of lives and massive destruction. The earthquake was felt even in Kerala and the east coast. Immediate alert was given to all places and preparations to evacuate people, if necessary. But it seems that by this time,  fortunately tsunami may not be there. The time for the waves to reach Andamans is already over and it is reported that there was only 45 cm waves. I spoke to both Com. Kalirajan, Circle Secretary and Com. Ratnambal, Asst. Circle Secretary, A&N Islands and they stated that the danger seemed to be over. The TV reports also indicates that the danger is mostly over. It is fortunate that the danger is over at present. But such things can happen any time. The thing is that the government and the people will have to be on alert.

At this time we remember the loss of lives and destruction that last tsunami  brought on many nations and people. In Andamans and Nicobar, I have seen many paddy-fields even then completely full of sea water, which can not flow back to the sea because of the low level of the field. Many trees are lying unrooted. The ground floor of the telephone Exchange in Bamboo Island, where Ratnambal worked is still merged in mud and earth and only the first floor is visible. The port was completely destroyed, but it has been restored without delay. But lives lost can not be brought back. The case in the eastern and western coastal areas was not different.

The nature has its own way of reacting to the destruction of nature by man. Man has to be careful with nature.

I have left Calicut for New Delhi in 1991 joining the CHQ of All India Telecom Employees Union as its President having been elected in a stiff contest at Bhopal Conference after defeating O.P.Gupta group. I have gone from Calicut along with my wife and other comrades to attend the AIC and to return to Calicut after the conference. But I could not return to Calicut as I was compelled to stay at Delhi and my wife and other comrades returned without me. I could not even intimate my relations, comrades, friends and colleagues at Calicut about my shift to Delhi. It wa all of a sudden. I had to leave Calicut which was my area of work for a long thirty years..

Now I am at Calicut for some days in connection with the Party Congress of the CPI(M). During the last three days I have met a lot of comrades and friends whom I have not met for years. They were happy as also me. They have not forgotten me. It was surprising that a lot of young comrades also came to ne and greeted telling they know me from press reports and photos. Many took photos with me. At the exhibition, Seminars, dining room, meeting place, a lot of old friends and comrades are greeting and enquiring about health etc. I am overwhelmed.

I had thought that comrades have forgotten since I was away for a long period. No. Neither I have forgotten, nor they. There is no time bar nor barrier. Comrades are comrades, friends are friends. The bond is so strong not to be broken by time.

Thank you Comrades, I am happy.

Today,  again I visited the History exhibition near the Town Hall premises along with Coms. Dipankar Mukherjee and Dr. Hemalatha, both secretaries of the CITU in the morning and with Cuban Ambassador in the evening. Com.A.K.Ramesh, Convener, Exhibition Committee  and M.Kunhikrishnan,Vice-President, AIIEA were also there. Com. Ramesh explained every thing effectivelly.

Yes, the exhibition is very effective and I appreciated it very much. It is the joint effort of so many comrades. My congratulations to all of them

The summit meeting of the heads of the five countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and S.Africa (BRICS) held in New Delhi in the last two days has been watched by the world over. These five countries are some of the major developed and developing countries and their co-operation in the field of economy, trade etc. will have important results. The developed countries like US and Euro takes this as an alternate grouping which may not be to their benefit.

One of the major decision is that despite the embargo for Iran, India, Brazil and S.Africa will continue to buy oil from Iran. Secondly they have called to US etc. to have talks with Iran on the nuclear issue. There were bilateral discussions between India and the heads of the participating nations.Thiese bilateral agreements will be beneficial to India. My congratulations to the leaders of the BRICS!