Cricket diplomacy

“Manmohan Singh’s initiative to call Yousuf Raza Gilani to Mohali ICC semifinals to discuss the prospects of healing wounds and restoring peaceful relations between their two countries is good intentionally but is a stark contrast to the spirit of the game. The patriotic fervor that runs rampant is thanks to the Indo Pak rivalry, on and off the field. Now getting the men on top to use that as a platform to build ties is so unthinkable. They may have had their share of talks but ask any proud Indian or Pakistani watching the match what he had in mind! Only time will show how much these talks were fruitful but I strongly feel, unless terrorism stops being exported from Pakistan’s soil to India, peace in that region is highly unlikely.
- Shreyas Patil, New Jersey

Rising number of Asians in US

The nation’s Asian population became the fastest growing race over the past decade, experiencing a 43 percent increase from 2000 to 2010, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asian population grew from 10.2 million in 2000 to 14.7 million in 2010, gaining the most in the share of the total population, growing from 4 percent to about 5 percent over the last decade.

According to the Census Bureau, most people in the 2010 Census reported only one race. Of these individuals, about 14.7 million people – or about 5 percent of all respondents – identified their race as Asian alone. The smallest major race group was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (0.5 million), which represented 0.2 percent of the total population. Given the fact that so many South Asians are on so many prominent positions across the board, we must come together and understand what these changes in our country’s demographics mean for public policy. There are still many pockets of this community who are in great need of basic protections and services. Vibhakar Diwanji, West Virginia

Indian population growth slows down

India’s population growth rate has decelerated to 17.64 per cent in the decade 2001-11, the slowest rate of growth this past century, according to the first results of Census 2011 put out by the registrar-general of census in India. India’s population in 2011 is estimated to be 1.21 billion, comprising 624 million males and 587 million females. While the gender imbalance in population remains, the preliminary census figures show that India’s female population grew by 18.12 per cent over the past decade. India’s population accounts for the world’s 17.5 per cent, second only to China that constitutes 19.4 per cent. The country’s headcount is almost equal to the combined population of the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan, put together. The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during 2001- 11. This is the first decade which has actually added less population compared to the previous decade. But a disturbing figure reported by the census is that male preference persists among newly born, with the child sex ratio at 914, the lowest since Independence. And this is a matter of grave concern. While the world counts the number of men in a population of 1000 females to determine sex ratio, India looks at the number of women per 1000 males as it assumes the numbers to be less.
- Shraddha Kapoor, Chicago

Startup Visas?

High time! Two senior senators have introduced a bipartisan legislation aimed at slowing down the outflow of skilled talent and boost entrepreneurship in the US 'to drive job creation and increase America's global competitiveness'. Introduced by John Kerry, Democratic chairman, and Richard Lugar, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the bill adds provisions to last year's draft Startup Visa Act to allow foreign students in US universities and workers on H-1B visas to start companies in the US. The StartUp Visa Act of 2011 will allow an immigrant entrepreneur to receive a two year visa if he or she can show that a qualified US investor is willing to invest in the immigrant's startup venture. Under the updated version, the pool of eligible immigrants would now also include holders of H-1B visas and entrepreneurs living outside the US with a market presence in the country. Despite a series of conditions laid down this visa has immense potential of creating jobs here itself. Of late thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs, who have been here for studies, otherwise returned to their home countries like India and China due to the archaic Green Card system which compels them to remain stuck with an employer for years together. Definitely it has been a big gain to the booming economies which offer immense opportunities and major markets conducive for success of bright ideas. Unless the US doesn’t implement similar systems, it may be left behind in this highly competitive race for talent and investment.
- N Prabhakaran, California

Cash, laptops, grains for vote

Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK Chief Jayalalitha, after filing her nomination from Srirangam town for the Assembly elections next month, announced that she will distribute 20 kg of rice free for those having ration card. The AIADMK manifesto also includes laptops for students above 11th standard, four grams of gold free for poor women, mineral water for the people, who come under the category of Below Poverty Line. The minister has indeed found the best way to lure the voters. Moreover, free mixer grinders, fans and other domestic appliances have been distributed to the poor, which also includes cable connections at lower rates. AIADMK has also promised that if the party, based in Chennai, India, came in power then the government will offer free bus passes for all citizens above the age of 58. This happens only in India, I guess!!
-Mamta S Kumar