PLANNING FOR AN EXCURSION

           We were a group of excited youths. After a lot of discussions, we decided to go to Darjeeling, the queen of hills. Our purpose of the excursion was to enjoy picture-postcard perfect scenery of the Himalayas. We chalked out a plan to complete our excursion in a fortnight. We shall first go to Siliguri by the Darjeeling Mail. After that, we shall start for Darjeeling the next day. A car or a bus will serve our purpose for that. We thought of The difficulties that might spoil our excitement. That is why, we loaded ourselves with warm clothes, dry food and a guide book to overcome them.

YOUR DUTIES AS A CITIZEN

            A citizen is one who dwells in a city. While the citizens have rights to enjoy, they also have some duties to perform. Thus, rights are counter-balanced with duties. First duty of a citizen is to be an ideal citizen; that is, he should possess all the essential qualities of a citizen. Tb make the society a happy place to live in, he must abide by the laws of the country. He should also cooperate with others to create a healthy atmosphere of the society. The duty of an ideal citizen is to render voluntary service to the country. It must be remembered that the prosperity of a country depends on ideal citizens who contribute much to make a country better than the best.

ENERGY CRISIS

          Modern civilization cannot run without energy We cook food, light lamps, run cars, use pumps and do many other things. For these we need energy. For energy we depend on nature. Thus, we get wood, coal, oil, gas, petroleum, electricity etc. from nature. The fact is that the demand of energy is increasing day by day. But, it is not unlimited. Thus, this has become short in supply. Yet, we have to move on. Otherwise, our progress will stop. To tide over the crisis, solar energy is being used in India for different purposes. Bio-gas from cow dung is also widely used in the rural areas. Energy is vital. So, this should be used judiciously. Otherwise, human civilization will come to a halt one day.

SARBA SIKSHA MISSION (Education for All)

          Sarba Siksha Mission has been introduced by the government of India. The aim of this mission is to bring every child in the age group of 6 - 14 years to school. So while the one mission is to draw more students to schools the other is to eradicate illiteracy from India. The plan of the programme, as announced by the Supreme Court of India, is that all children will complete five years of education by 2007. After that they will complete three yes of elementary education by 2010. A committee has also been set up to review the programme. It is a happy sign to note that the number of students in the schools has increased. The success of the plan depends on the teachers and the community as a whole.

RAGGING

Ragging means testing and playing cruel jokes on someone. Nowadays ragging has reached an alarming situation. Students staying at the hostels of specially medical and engineering colleges become the victims of ragging. Generally the senior students rag the fresher’s. They claim that they thus test the fresher’s physical and mental capabilities. But, all these are lame excuses. Ragging, to speak the truth, has become the name of media evil barbarism. Ragging takes the form of physical and mental torture. And after effects of these are horrible indeed. The victims often become permanently injured and some even die. Ragging has been condemned by all right-thinking people. Hence, it should be nipped in the bud.

TERRORISM IN INDIA

           Terrorism means use of violence, especially for political purposes. At present, it has become the headlines of the dailies. Terrorist activities have spread almost all over India mostly in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorists are well-organised and well trained. They have a link all over the world. Causes behind terrorism are many. But, terrorist activities cannot be supported, as they cause social unrest and hampers economic development. So, terrorism needs to be curbed. If the Government is too soft with the terrorists they will be encouraged to increase their demands. So, strict laws should be enacted. Even slightest allowances cannot be given to them in any way.

MOBILE PHONE— ITS USES AND ABUSES

           A mobile phone is a type of telephone. As we can carry it with us, we call it mobile phone. A mobile phone is small in shape and size. It is used without any wire. It has become very popular in these days. Life has become complex and busy. So, it has become very helpful for the busy business men and V.I.P’s. Again, doctors, policemen, hospitals, nursing- homes, fire-services can be contacted, if required, through such phones. A person, away from home, can contact with his near and dear ones. However, it has some abuses too. Excessive use of mobile phones has some harmful effects. Hence, such a wonderful gift of science and technology should be used carefully.