The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Gold duty hike
Move to moderate imports

The tax on gold has been hiked, second in 10 months, from 4 to 6 per cent to discourage its demand and imports. In the last Union budget the import duty on gold was doubled. The then Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, had also imposed 1 per cent tax on unbranded jewellery, proposed tax collection at source and made the permanent account number (PAN) mandatory while purchasing jewellery worth more than Rs 2 lakh. This was a laudable step meant to curb black money. But following countrywide protests by jewellers, he relented and rolled back the tax on unbranded jewellery but stuck to the doubling of the import duty.

India is the world’s largest consumer and importer of gold. After oil, gold accounts for the largest outflow of cash and weakens the rupee against the dollar. People buy it for weddings and investment. A steady rise in its price has ensured good returns for investors in the last couple of years, fuelling demand. In the first nine months of this fiscal India imported gold worth $38 billion. Duty hikes do suppress demand but also open channels for illegal imports, especially through some of the neighbouring countries where taxes are lower. Large-scale gold imports have widened the country’s current account deficit (the difference between imports and exports). In the July-September quarter the current-account gap rose to 5.4 per cent of the GDP.

To discourage gold imports, the government also proposes to allow exchange-traded funds investing in gold to deposit part of their gold holdings with banks so that more gold comes into the market. There is a move to make individuals’ gold and jewellery deposits with banks more attractive by reducing the minimum tenure for such deposits from three years to six months. These changes and the duty hike are steps in the right direction as investment flowing into gold needs to be diverted to more productive areas like infrastructure building.

Cancer survey
Head count done, now for action

Punjab has completed the first phase of a “cancer awareness and symptom-based early detection state-wide campaign”. This is the first such exercise to collect primary data on the deadly disease and identify people suffering from it as well as the suspected cases. In itself, it is a very good starting point to plan and execute any corrective measures or provide treatment. Even as the raw data collected is yet being analysed, initial figures suggest the overall incidence of the disease in Punjab may be less than the national average. But that is not the full story. The alarm over cancer in Punjab has been largely regarding a few southern districts, which have seen high pesticide uses owing to cotton cultivation. And these districts have reported higher incidence of the disease.

One point the Punjab Government as well as commentators of all hues must be clear about is this is not a political issue. What Punjab is witnessing is a socio-medical situation, most likely the result of the changing agri-economy over the years. Facts have to be recognised as they are, so that issues of concern are not brushed under the carpet just to avoid anyone ‘embarrassment’ over the data. All information and expert views should be freely publicised. Solutions cannot be found till the problem is first identified, and then also accepted. There have been many conjectures thus far on the extent and causes of cancer in Punjab, but nothing conclusive. Here is the first chance towards achieving that.

The survey provides the government an opportunity to construct an informed plan to provide treatment to cancer patients. Once the area-wise statistics on extent, type of cancer and economic profile of patients is known, a targeted response can be worked out. In the end, the government cannot escape the investment required to provide cancer diagnosis and treatment infrastructure under the public health system in nearly every district. The rush at a radiotherapy unit set up in Faridkot is an indicator to what people need. As intended in the survey, it would prove to be of real use only if all patients identified are also provided treatment.

Thought for the Day

If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god. —Napoleon Bonaparte

ARTICLE

Significance of military advice
Political leadership must give serious thought to it
by Gen V P Malik (retd)

The government’s reaction after the recent violation of a ceasefire agreement and barbaric behaviour of Pakistan Army personnel in the Mendhar sector has highlighted two inter-related issues: lack of security inputs in India’s Pakistan policy and the delayed reaction in handling sensitive incidents on the Line of Control or borders.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control on November 26, 2003. A month and a half later, on January 6, 2004, Pakistan pledged that it will not allow its territory, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, to be used by terrorists to carry out activities against India. The ceasefire held without major incidents and there were not many violations till 2010. However, ceasefire violations since then have increased substantially. As compared to 57 in 2010, there were 117 violations in 2012.

Till date, Pakistan has taken no action to remove Kashmiri militants’ training camps and launch pads that exist across the Line of Control, alongside its regular army deployment. Generally, these violations are initiated by the Pakistani forces to facilitate terrorists’ infiltration across the Line of Control or the International Border. While Indian troops do retaliate in such situations to stop and deter intrusions, the rules of engagement do not allow them to cross the Line of Control. Despite a multi-pronged approach to contain infiltration, which included strengthening of border management and multi-tiered and multi-modal deployment along the Line of Control/International Border and infiltration routes, construction of border fencing, improved surveillance technology and weapons and equipment for deployed troops, over 235 Pakistan-based terrorists attempted to infiltrate in 2011. According to intelligence reports, 121 terrorists managed to infiltrate in 2012 as compared to 52 in 2011. This should also be linked to the recent increase in the terrorists’ activities and assassination of panches and sarpanches in J&K.

It is also well known that Pakistan has resiled from taking action against 26/11 perpetrators. The mastermind, Hafiz Sayeed, and his organisation, though banned by the UN and the US, continue to spew anti-India venom.

Beheading and mutilation of dead bodies of soldiers are extremely sensitive issues, particularly during peace time. These are not only barbaric but also extremely provocative when troops are in an eyeball-to-eyeball deployment. The anger and humiliation among the troops can easily spill over: it has to be handled sensitively and tactfully by military leaders. As revealed by the Army Chief, this is the second incident in the past two years. With more details now available, it is clear that the last incident was planned and executed by regular Pakistan Army personnel. Indian troops deployed on the Line of Control can be expected to respond suitably at a time and place of their choosing.

In recent months, Pakistanis have also begun to lay landmines on the foot tracks between Indian posts. It shows that the situation along the LoC is definitely not ‘as usual’. Pakistan wants progress on talks but has not changed its agenda on terrorism or violence and destabilisation in Kashmir. It has backtracked from promises made earlier. Apparently, in our efforts to improve political, social and economic relations with Pakistan, security issues have taken a back seat.

Let us now see how we reacted to the last incident wherein Pakistani soldiers violated the LoC ambushed an Indian patrol, beheaded a dead soldier and mutilated another.

As details of this incident got known through the media, there was visible anger and resentment in public and within the Army. None of our political leaders or district officials went to see the shocked and distressed families of the jawans till they learnt that some members had stopped taking food. That is when tragedy-driven rhetoric overtook rational decision-making and responses.

We went through a bureaucratic routine initially. The Defence and External Affairs Ministers made feeble statements to the media. Pakistan’s High Commissioner was given a demarche. The National Security Adviser and the Defence Secretary — not the Army Chief who would know the situation on the ground and its impact on the morale of his personnel better than anyone else — briefed the Prime Minister. Two Service Chiefs, however, made known their response in a straightforward style. To many, it appeared that the government and the armed forces were not on the same page. The electronic and social media, meanwhile, intensified public agitation.

Some attempts were made to diffuse the situation through defence journalists who wrote in the newspapers that such ‘beheadings’ had been common and done in the past also — a specious argument. The public feelings among the young Indian generation on such matters today cannot be compared with that of the past. We seem to have drawn no lessons from Nirbhaya’s tragic rape and murder case. Nor did we consider the feelings within the Army, ex servicemen and all the villages, towns and cities who send their children to the Army.

I am not suggesting that we should escalate the military situation, or even make a U-turn in the course of our grand strategy. The point I wish to make is that in the current fast-moving strategic and security environment, it is essential to keep the military leadership in the security and strategic decision-making loop. We must have a direct politico-military interface for quick appraisal of the situations and military advice as it exists in all democratic nations. We must institutionalise the attendance of Service Chiefs in all meetings of the Prime Minister or the Cabinet Committee on Security pertaining to such defence issues.

The writer is a former Chief of Army Staff

MIDDLE

Palmistry without tears
by Raj Kanwar

LET me confess at the outset that my acquaintance with palmistry was zilch. Yet, I had acquired in my younger days an impeccable reputation as a palmist. At every party, I was a hit and almost every guest, especially ladies, spread their palms before me, "Mr Kanwar, please tell me about my fate." Truthfully, this pastime initially began a long time ago as an unintended response to a sudden question by a college beauty who once asked me if I could read her hand. I was just about 20 and one of the most popular students, while she would have been "Miss College" if beauty contests were held those days. I desperately wanted to hold her hand on one pretext or another. Though I knew nothing about palmistry, I promised her that I would read her palm the following day.

The first thing I did that day was to buy a popular primer on palmistry and spent hours on just understanding the basics. I carefully studied the drawing of the spread-out palm in the book which looked more like the Congress election symbol "Haath" of today and memorised the various lines and their locations on a palm. I also picked up some mumbo-jumbo like the names of the mounts such as Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Neptune, Venus, etc.

And I was ready to play the palmist the next day. My friend promptly accosted and reminded me of my yesterday's promise. I nodded and invited her to come to the library. We sat in a quiet corner and took her right palm in my hand and opened it fully. My first comment was, "Oh! What a lovely hand! I have never seen a hand like this." This, of course, was literally true since no two hands were alike. A crimson shade appeared on her cheeks, and I felt her hand slightly tremble. Then I ran my index finger on her heart line, tickling her in the process. "Look, you are very large-hearted, generous to a fault. You are also very sensitive and easily prone to emotional upheavals." She quietly acquiesced in and looked convinced of my palm-reading ability. Continuing further, I told her that she was very gullible and naïve; her friends took undue advantage of her good nature. She nodded her head in agreement. So far, I seemed to be performing to perfection my role as a palmist.

My palmistry skills became talk of the college the following day and every other student looked at me with some curiosity. Some of the girls known to me asked if I would read their hands. I obliged a few of them just to keep intact my reputation as a palmist.

Over the next three-four decades, I continued with this charade of being a palmist and often was cynosure of all eyes at parties during my frequent visits to the US where both NRIs and white Americans were equally gullible. The women, in particular, wore their curiosity on their blouses, and their transparency was so easy to read. Once I told an American woman in early 40s that she had had two failed marriages and she was now contemplating a third one. It was a sheer guess and turned out to be absolutely true. The lady in question was really astounded.

All in all, playing the role of a palmist was a big fun and I made many friends both in India and abroad. Most of my forecasts were based more on my knowledge of psychology than palmistry. You too could read the palms without tears like I did in my younger avatar.

OPED SOCIETY

Making Punjab safe for women
A woman of any age can fall prey to sexual predators. She is unsafe in her home and on the road. Unfortunately, it is a low-priority crime for the police, treated as eve-teasing and not sexual harassment, until the media highlights a particular case
Kiranjot Kaur

A protest by college students in Amritsar: The trauma, agony and pain of the Delhi gang-rape victim have been felt by the nation. Photo: Vishal Kumar

In a patriarchal society the worth of a woman is centred around her sexuality. Virginity is her biggest asset and loss of virginity a reason to kill her. Throughout history the victor army raped women of the defeated nation to demoralise it further. In civilized modern India Sikh women were raped in Delhi in 1984 and Muslim women in Gujarat post-Godhra incident in recent history to 'teach them (their community) a lesson'.

Women are subjugated with sexual violence and they become victims and culprits at the same time! Innumerable children, girls and women are raped everyday and the news is tucked away in the folds of a newspaper in a column or two depending upon the sensation it can create. There is generally no public reaction. But the brutal and savage gang-rape in Delhi has brought the issue to the country's focus.

A disturbing mindset

The trauma, agony and pain of the Delhi gang-rape victim have been felt by the nation. The aam aadmi has been shaken out of inertia and is demanding safety and security for women in their family and stricter punishment for the criminals. In this hour of crisis the reaction of some political and religious leaders has shown a disturbing 'she-asked-for-it' mindset deeply embedded in the psyche of Indian men towards rape that desperately needs to change.

The self-proclaimed protectors of Indian culture and heritage warn women not to cross the 'lakshman rekha', threatening Ravan as a consequence but offering no suggestion to tame the Ravan. Even more bizarre is explaining rape as a consequence of westernisation of India and denial of rape in Bharat! 'A woman's place is in the home' and a godman offers an even simpler solution: Had the victim made one of the rapists her brother, this would not have happened!

Then how would the godman explain the rape of a three-year-old or a six-year-old child? A girl child is subjected to abuse even within the 'safe' four walls of a home. A woman may face physical and sexual assault from her close relatives, including father and brother. It is a social reality that one cannot close one's eyes to. Unfortunately, incest and child sexual abuse are not even acknowledged, punishment is a far off thing.

Reacting to the rise in rape crimes, the statement of the Jathedar of Akal Takht and then Baba Dhumma, head of Sant Samaj, exhorting women to wear traditional and culturally acceptable clothes show men just do not realise sexual harassment of young girls happens right under their nose! Even in religious places when there is a huge rush of devotees and young women wearing traditional clothes with their head covered stand in queues for darshan, a stray hand snakes up to pinch a bottom. Or someone will make body contact under the guise of the crowd pushing. While going to school or college it is common place to have stalkers following girls, sometimes to their homes. The difference today is that stalkers have become aggressive and violent to the point of criminality. A 'no' invites an acid attack.

Private world too unsafe

It is not just the outside world that needs to be made safe for a woman but their private world also needs to be taken care of. Most of the cases that came to the Punjab State Women Commission seeking divorce had a common refrain… 'can't take any more physical assault'! To make Punjab safe for a woman a three-pronged approach should be followed. First an amendment to the existing laws and making new ones in the changed circumstances, second create a mechanism to ensure implementation of the gender laws and third create an environment to deter crime.

At the moment there is no law that specifically addresses the problem of 'eve-teasing' -- a euphemism for street sexual harassment and stalking. These are perceived as minor offences and not taken seriously. It is almost accepted as normal part of being a woman. When minor offences against women are left unaddressed, they grow to bigger crimes. Delhi and Tamil Nadu have taken a lead in passing a Prohibition of Eve Teasing Act 1988 and 1998 respectively. In Tamil Nadu it is a non-bailable offence with the maximum punishment being a rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine of 50,000 rupees. Maharashtra is deliberating on it. Punjab should also pass an Act to prohibit eve-teasing and make it a non-bailable offence with different intensity of punishment for various types of molestation. It is important to recognise a woman as a person with basic right to privacy and safety from unwanted advances. That it is a crime to force oneself on a woman.

Citizens also need to be made responsible in bringing the culprit to justice. The Delhi victim lay on the road naked and bleeding on a cold winter night and passers-by were just spectators… nobody wants to get involved in court-kacheri ka chakkar. There should be a law that the statement of an eyewitness be recorded in not more than two hearings. The common man should not feel harassed in helping a victim. Professional eyewitnesses outside courts have to be done away with.

Role of women commissions

As a measure to empower women State Women Commissions were notified. Unfortunately in Punjab it has been on the government's lowest priority. At the moment it is just a department under the Social Security and Woman Welfare Ministry and absolutely toothless. Constitutionally, it is a statutory body with a scope to be the watchdog for women's interests and a platform for gender sensitisation of government machinery. Since its inception the commission has helped women in their individual life but has not done anything for womankind. The commission has to move beyond family and property disputes which reach it after exhausting panchayat, women cell and police options. The Punjab State Women Commission needs to be empowered and adequate finance should be made available to make it functional.

The Protection Against Domestic Violence Act 2005 has finally recognised crimes against women which have cultural acceptance. Wife-beating, threats to throw her out of the marital home, emotional and psychological stress on her for various reasons, etc do not even raise an eyebrow. This Act can make the life of a woman much more bearable if implemented in its true spirit in Punjab. Infrastructure to implement the Act needs to be created. The government needs to appoint protection officers accessible to women right up to the village level and create awareness about the help available to women as their right.

Recently trained young policewomen should be given active policing duty related to crime against women. Policewomen should also man PCR vans which should be available on call to young women being molested on roadside. Routine checkups of vehicles outside schools and colleges will deter the troublemakers.

Rape crisis centres

Rape is the most traumatic crime against a woman which needs to be handled sensitively. For rape cases the government should create a rape crisis centre. A victim should report straight to a rape crisis centre, which should be equipped with a rape test kit, staff for forensic test, personnel to help in filing an FIR and help with psychological counselling of the victim. There should be a provision for an immediate physical examination of the victim when she reports the crime. Lodging an FIR report can take place later. The victim could be guided about their rights and the legal recourse they can take to punish the guilty. This centre could be a part of the government hospital and a must in every hospital connected to a medical college to begin with.

Last but not the least is to create an environment where the crime rate goes down. In a study by the UN it has been reported that crime against women increase when the consumption of alcohol increases. In recent times the Punjab Government's policy has increased consumption of liquor manifold. Innumerable shops have opened in Punjab and liquor is within easy reach. Teenagers have taken to drinking and there is a sharp increase in crime committed by teenagers.

The National Crime Records Bureau shows an increase in crime by juveniles in 14 to 18 years age group by a whopping 188 per cent. Liquor shops should be discouraged. Punjab does not need distilleries. If Gujarat can grow without income from alcohol, why does Punjab need to depend on income from alcohol sale? Drugs are destroying youth and the social fabric. It is an open secret that police-politician-drug pedlar nexus exists. The government should break this nexus in earnest and ensure a safe and vibrant Punjab.

This is the land where our brave heroes snatched back cartloads of young girls from invaders and escorted them safely home. How come the same land has young men grabbing and groping women? Let us restore Punjab back to its glory as the land of the Gurus.

The writer is a former General Secretary of the SGPC and a former member of the Punjab State Women Commission