Who is Afraid of Lok Pal Bill?

Critique ferozepur Chapter and Philosophical Society, a student’s discussion forum of the Dev Samaj College for Women organized a seminar on the theme “Who is Afraid of Lok Pal Bill?” Around four hundred students of the college actively participated and discussed at length the burning questions on the current Lok Pal Bill Debate. In the session chaired by college principal Dr. Madhu Prashar and Kamaljit Kaur of class B.A. first year, Swati, Deepali, Amrit, Richa and Cheenu expressed their solidarity with the Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi team demanding a strong Lok Pal Bill at the centre. Swati speaking on the issue said that corruption is rampant in every domain, public or private. Largely there is no transparency and effective check at the work places which makes the things worse. Deepali informed the participants that “Seventy-seven per cent of Indians -- about 836 million people -- live on less than half a dollar a day in one of the world's hottest economies. She held corruption responsible for the current state. Richa and Cheenu also underlined various cases of corruption rampant in the country. Richa raised the case of Justice Nirmal Yadav and said that the trust of common people is broken if cases of corruption is reported in the higher judiciary. It is high time when an effective lok pal bill should be introduced and passed. Cheenu said that Prashant Bhushan and many others are constantly fighting for justice and transparency and with Anna Hazare leading the voices a strong Lok Pal Bill will get introduced. Amrit said that right to information is an effective tool against corruption but Lok Pal will add more power and check towards the problem. On the occasion Amandeep, Jagpreet, Ambuj Sharma, Rashpinder Singh and many others raised important questions.

Genetic Revolution and Human Rights: Exploring Moral and Social Aspects (28.03.2011)

The Biotechnological or the Genetic Revolution provides enormous possibilities to human development (nutrition, medicine, industry), while at the same time, creates social-ethical apprehensions due to the dangers to Human Rights that an improper use could generate. In this respect, Department of Philosophy organized a national seminar on ‘Genetic Revolution and Human Rights: Exploring Moral and Social Aspects’ sponsored by College Development Council, Panjab university. the seminars discussed and explore the nature of Human Rights and its various issues associated with the genetic revolution and beyond. Among the resource persons Umendra Dutt, Executive Director, KHETI VIRASAT MISSION JAITU, District-Faridkot, Punjab, Professor Shalina Mehta, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Mr. C.H. Premani, Scientist F, Computer Technology, Institute of microbial Technology, Chandigarh. Dr Meena Dhanda, Reader in Philosophy and Cultural Politics, Leverhulme Research Fellow, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, U.K., Lallan Singh Baghel, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh., shared their wisdom with the facuty, students of the college and other participants from Faridkot, Muktsar area. Umendra Dutt presenting the Keynote address cautioned the participants about the hazards of inorganic farming and the increasing amount of the seeds of various crops which is leading to a competition and resulting in the exploitation of poor farmers and subsequently the people of the country. Professor Shalina Mehta very interestingly brought the issue of Cloning and its politics. Professor Meena Dhanda gave a multimedia presentation and raised the ethical and legal issues of Surrogate mother in the west and India. She discussed the issue at length underlining the impact of technology on Human life other human conditions and laws. Lallan Singh Baghel presented his paper on Cloning People: Rights and Beyond he tried to probe the limits of genetic engineering and its multiple implications for constructing a discourse of technology and its instrumentality thesis. He said that it revolves around 'power' and it has been used to reduce human freedom and manufactured a language of consensus about the very nature of science. He also gave a Greek Philosophic account of ‘Techne’ Technology from Platos Republic to illustrate the questions of the goals of technology. In the seminar many questions were raised by the faculty and students of the college particularly Amandeep Kaur of B.A. I year. Vote of thanks was extended by the coordinator of the Seminar, Dr. Ambuj Sharma.