Dadaji's Green Corp

The idea of developing holistic solutions for problems that plague the developing world is certainly challenging. These are solutions that have positive 'spin offs' in a multiplicity of areas, while conjuring solutions to address a specific problem.

In the developing world, we are akin to Apollo 13 stranded in outer space – low on power. We are all shouting "Houston we have a problem!" – in desperation, trying to achieve an elusive comeback with systems approaching "shut down".

The question is, how do we pull off a 'comeback' with some wire and duct tape solutions?

The solutions I advocate are 'green' - not the liquid and explosive kind from science-fiction films - those that address the issue of WASTE. My definition of waste is unwanted, undesired, unutilised and underutilised resources - which we call trash, garbage junk, rubbish etc, simply because we remain clueless what to do with it.

Such resources are not just what we throw into two bins called 'organic' and 'inorganic' but include humans like senior citizens in old-age homes, children in orphanages and juvenile homes – both in need appreciation- technology like cell phones and even time.

The inspiration for seeking 'green' solutions originated with the extra-terrestrial. SETI@home (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) is an extremely popular volunteer computing project launched by the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Internet connected computers - when in idle mode - search the skies for life by analysing radio telescope data.

Over five million users in 200 countries – including this writer- contribute over 19 billion hours of computer processing time with an average throughput of 387 Teraflops, equivalent to the second fastest computer on earth.

Of what relevance is SETI to resolving civic problems? The answer is apparent. Like SETI, we have to use existing @Home resources.

We have millions of retired senior citizens - with billions of man-hours of experience – going to waste. We also have millions of school-going children, glue sniffing street-children, who must be instilled with a civic awareness to prevent them from becoming violators of the future.

Many of our youth are already in organisations like the Scouts and Guides and NCC who can contribute to public service with their leadership abilities.

Our senior citizens could command teams of neighbourhood children, christened 'Dadaji's Green Corp'. Armed with cell phones - with cameras ofcourse – they take date-stamped photographs of civic offenders and traffic violators, inflagrante delicto (caught in the act) and instantly file transfer to Police HQ. Imagine the revenues to be earned from wrong parking, committing public nuisance, dumping garbage, and jumping traffic lights!

While we treat the traffic policeman with utter contempt and condescension we might be more circumspect about being caught jumping the red light by Dad, Dad’s friend, son or son’s friend - which ought to prove an efficacious moral deterrent.

Millions of cell-phones could be employed for public service saving millions of dollars on CCTV systems - monitoring public thoroughfares - serving the same purpose as 'big brothers'. Moreover, when a juvenile has a cell phone –and is earning money off it, he has less reason to steal one.

Dadaji’s Green Corp could earn a percentage from every fine that could be ploughed into neighbourhood civic development.

Besides, it is a legitimate way, for Dadaji and son to earn some pocket money off Papa - if he and his SUV find themselves on the wrong side of the law.