top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Snake bite kills three minor girls

Three hurt at a school in Gadchiroli run by a Congress leader AI generated image Mumbai: In a horrifying tragedy at the dead of the night, three minor tribal girls were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a venomous snake slithered into their hostel and bit the sleeping students of an aided residential ashram school near Dhanora, officials said. The incident, which has sent shockwaves in tribal belts across the state, occurred around 2 am today at a school linked with a...

Snake bite kills three minor girls

Three hurt at a school in Gadchiroli run by a Congress leader AI generated image Mumbai: In a horrifying tragedy at the dead of the night, three minor tribal girls were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a venomous snake slithered into their hostel and bit the sleeping students of an aided residential ashram school near Dhanora, officials said. The incident, which has sent shockwaves in tribal belts across the state, occurred around 2 am today at a school linked with a former Congress leader Marotrao S. Kowase’s Kupar Lingo Educational & Cultural Development Research Institute (KLECDRI). The school is located in the remote forested village of Japtalai, around 10 kms from the Dhanora taluka headquarters. Officials said at that time, around 80 girls were asleep on the floor when the snake sneaked in and bit at least six of the girls, sparking panic and outcry as the staff members rushed there. Three of the victim girls succumbed to the snake venom, and at least three others are reported to be critical, battling for life at the Gadchiroli District General Hospital – with the tragedy happening just a day after the World Tribal Day (09) celebrations. The deceased minor girls were identified as: Anu Koreti, 8, of Class II; Deepika Lakda, 12 of Class VI and Sushmita Mondal, 14, of Class VIII. Victim to Nagpur Among the injured is Deepa B. Madavi, 11, of Class V who is critical and she was flown in an air-ambulance to Nagpur’s GMC Hospital for advanced medi-care, said Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M. Ramesh. Two other girls who are still in a serious condition are put on anti-venom treatment, and more than a dozen other frightened girls have been kept under observation as a precaution, informed the hospital’s medico Dr. Manish Meshram. Despite repeated attempts by ‘The Perfect Voice’, the head of the KLECDRI, Kowase, a four-time MLA and one-term MP and an ex-MoS for tribal affairs was not available for comments on the mishap at the ashram school. Govt to Probe The incident sparked outrage with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and district Collector Avishyant Panda ordering an inquiry to ascertain how the reptile could have entered the hostel premises, whether protective and preventive measures were in place and if the school authorities had complied with prescribed safety norms. A comprehensive inspection of the safety arrangements at the school will also be undertaken by the local administration and the Tribal Development Department, and if lapses are found action will be taken against those responsible. The hospital has been directed to ensure that there is no deficiency in the treatment of the injured victims, Panda told media-persons. Co-Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, Ashish Jaiswal has asked the district and medical authorities to ensure all necessary support and medical assistance to the students. He said further action would be taken after the TDD submits its probe report into the incident. Wadettiwar Slams Congress Legislature Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar targeted the state government saying it must ensure the cleanliness of the hostel, regular inspections, and snake prevention measures. If this responsibility is not fulfilled, it is not mere negligence, but a serious carelessness that has led to the deaths of three innocent lives. “We don't need festivals, announcements, and speeches in the name of tribals; save their children's lives! Immediately investigate the Japtala incident, take strict action against the guilty, and the government must give an account of the deaths of these three innocent girl students,” demanded Wadettiwar, elected from Brahmapuri assembly seat in the Gadchiroli-Chimur LS constituency. The incident has raised questions about the safety and preparedness at such residential ashram schools intended to protect vulnerable tribal kids, while the grieving families are left wondering how a poisonous snake entered the hostel.

Indian Shipbuilding A Must Win Marathon

Shipbuilding

With a coastline of 7500 KM, it is hard to imagine, that for the first 20 years (1947-1967) India had no ‘shipping ministry’. In 1967 a Shipping ministry “coupled” with ROAD transport was established. Since then, this ministry has been on a name changing ride, not once, not twice but six times. In 2009 the “ROAD Transport and Highways” was de-coupled and ‘Shipping’ ministry was formed. Turning point came in 2015 with a clear maritime vision for 2030 and 2047. Ministry was re-christened, aptly to Ministry of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” in 2020.


Why is Shipbuilding important for a country?

a. A Shipyard becomes an opportunity hub and like a queen bee requires the support of an industrial colony to manufacture machinery and equipment.

b. National Shipyards support fleet renewal needs of the Navy.

c. Contributes to national GDP, increases inflow of FOREX.


Korea shipbuilding is 8% of GDP. Japan’s automobile industry is 2.9% of GDP. India’s shipbuilding a meagre 0.000578% of GDP. In context, India’s pharmaceutical industry, ranked third largest in the world is 1.72% of India’s GDP.


International Shipbuilding Market

The market is estimated to reach around USD 200 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.84%. While India is at bottom with 0.07% of world share, behind Philippines 1.5% and Vietnam 1%, however on the positive side, India has done well in taking care of its defence needs, with 37 of 39 Naval ships being built in India yards. Rear Admiral S Shrikhande researching on maritime as a Fellow at Wollongong University, Australia, says “Shipbuilding in India needs both, serious incentivisation and dogged determination and not harping on being a big ship breaking country. That Garden Reach shipyard has a $54 million order for merchant ships from a German owner, is a good sign.”


Were Shipyards of 20th century in Flight mode?

Prominent shipyards in India were built in the colonial period. Mazagon Dock 1774, Garden reach 1884, Hindustan shipyard 1941 to cater to British navy and merchant fleet needs. Cochin shipyard 1972, Adani Katupalli 2013, Reliance Naval and Engineering, Rajula Gujarat 1997 and others have limited capacity, hence a lot more work to do. Capt. Subhangshu Dutt (Singapore) a mariner and now a shipowner, says “GOI should hold hands in any collaboration till the marriage with the foreign entity is reasonably stable. He also suggests that “new shipbuilding sites should be given to existing successful shipyards since they have decades of experience and talent. Consortium of 3 or more parties may also be good idea”.


Shipbuilding GOLD

As per SPLASH report the demand for LCO2 carriers could reach 2,500 ships by 2050. As per other estimates, 40% of global fleet of ships could have wind propulsion by 2050. A surge in such vessels is due to an unparallel waves of decarbonization in the shipping industry. Demand for ships with ‘carbon neutral’ badges, such as Dual fuel, Wind assisted, Nuclear fuel ships, Hydrogen powered ships, Liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier, is outstripping supply. A must in the ‘bucket list’ of every Shipyard. Pinning down a standard ROI in shipbuilding is not easy, but experts suggest it could range from 4% to 15% for the high demand ‘carbon neutral’ ships. While an LNG new build vessel could cost US$ 250 million upwards.


International collaboration

On China’s shipbuilding success story, Manoj Pandalanghat (Singapore) a mariner and ship owner believes that “China has around 50 active Shipyards. Each have a few large dry docks. In each dock two or more large vessels are built simultaneously. Thus, a single yard is able to roll out 2/3 vessels/month, 36 vessels/year and 50 shipyards roll out 1800 vessels/year”.


China could be a jaldi-5, but India needs a sturdy Mount Fiji. Besides technology, Japanese bring the most important hand baggage of soft-skills and culture, essential for success from keel laying to delivery. Maruti’s is a standing example.


Food for thought for New Delhi

a. Expertise: Hire Naval Architects and shipbuilding experts with current international experience.

b. Government assistance: Land, Financial support, subsidies and timebound clearances.

c. Monitoring: PMO should monitor the first 5 to 10 years till Shipbuilding takes-off on this long-haul flight to destination 2047.


India’s Shipbuilding is expected to grow to $237 billion by year 2047. On a back of the envelope calculations this works out to about 4% of India’s 2047 projected GDP of $ 5 trillion. While cars are driven on roads, however the Ministry of roads and transport has little to do with “Automobile manufacturing”. On a similar note, ‘Shipbuilding’ as an industry has little to do with Ports, Shipping and Waterways, thus it may be worthwhile to consider a separate ‘Ship-building’ wing in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways headed by a dynamic cabinet rank minister. Since 2047 targets are stiff and an uphill task, so in all probabilities, the officials in Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are likely to push beneath the carpet, delays and failures of Shipbuilding with sweet success stories of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” and if this does happen then India will not only miss the Shipbuilding bus of 21st century but a lot more from a national security and strategic perspective.


(The author is a Shipping and Marine consultant. Member Singapore Shipping Association and empaneled with IMO as a specialist consultant. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page