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Unbecoming to Governor Leaking system |
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Smoking is killing
Manifestos full of rhetoric
“If I say 3 is 2, then 2 it shall be”
Punjab needs to empower women Surjeet: a master of incredible coalitions
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Unbecoming to Governor DETAILS of the speech Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand made at a rally of Dalits on Ambedkar Jayanti that appear in a section of the Press show that his guilt is not confined to exhorting people to "strengthen Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee's hands" in these elections. The Governor is reported to have taken the plea that he is unable to recall his exact words as the audio tape of the speech is inaudible. But if what is audible is anything to go by, he has forfeited his right to hold the gubernatorial post. He has not merely interfered in the process of elections but has questioned some of the fundamentals of civil society and the constitutional system. The Governor poked fun at secularism by saying that “today one who calls it India is labelled as secular and those who call it Bharat are called sectarian”. Worse, he made disparaging remarks about some communities when he said, “Ambedkar said you be Indians first but what's happening today? A Muslim calls himself a Muslim first and then a Hindustani. Then a Sikh says he's a Sikh first”. He has singled out two minority communities to highlight divisions in India without making any mention of the majority community. He also questions the claims of many people to the post of Prime Minister little realizing that the Constitution empowers every citizen of “India that is Bharat” to aspire for the highest post in the country. Needless to say, such comments are not expected from a person who holds a constitutional post and is considered a father figure. Whatever may be a governor’s personal political beliefs, he is not expected to air them so long as he holds the post which is apolitical in nature. The President of India was so distressed by the reports of his speech that he is learnt to have asked for a report from the Home Ministry. While the contents of the report sent to the President on the basis of the Governor's reply are not known, there is no doubt that Babu Parmanand's conduct was unbecoming to the post he holds. If the contents of the tape are indeed true, he should quit the Governor's post to uphold the principle that it should be above all political controversies. |
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Leaking system CAUGHT accepting bribe? Don't panic; just bribe your way out! That home-grown advice is treated as a working principle by many, it seems. An extreme example came to light the other day when the Delhi Police officer probing the CBSE PMT paper leak case was arrested for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from the father of a person whose name figured in the case. Sub-Inspector Sanjay Gupta, the investigating officer, had allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh from the principal accused's family and ultimately reached a deal for Rs 6.5 lakh. The Rs 2 lakh that the accused had been forced to shell out was the first instalment of this settlement. Many interesting details have come out. One, the accused's family was approached by a constable to pay up. Two, Sub-Inspector Sanjay Gupta, who is with the Crime Branch, allegedly threatened them that he would implicate other members of the family if they failed to pay him off. The taped conversation also says that Gupta was trying to extort Rs 20 crore from another accused in the case. The case is symptomatic of the rot that has set in. The leakage of the paper was in itself a slur on the face of the system. The way those who are supposed to bring the guilty to book went about demanding money from them made it twice as reprehensible. Supposing a deal had actually been struck, the criminals might have even got scot-free. The alarming thing is that even the second line of defence against corruption seems to be crumbling. If the interrogating officers themselves join the dirty brigade, there is no chance of criminals fearing the law. That is why the common man thinks a police enquiry is nothing more than an extortion racket. The PMT case has, unfortunately, strengthened this belief. |
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Smoking is killing THE ban on smoking at public places, effective from May 1 as India implements WHO’s Framework on Tobacco Control, will impact public health only in the long run. Right now it will be life as usual. Defying a ban has the effect of an intoxicant on many Indians. Despite a Supreme Court ruling, smoking at public places in the metropolitan cities continues unchecked. The administrative machinery is just not geared to implement the ban in the metros, leave aside extend it countrywide. An open violation of a ban contributes to the general habit of violation of rules and laws. Their sanctity is lost. Nevertheless, the concern for public health is valid as some eight lakh Indians die annually due to tobacco use. Millions more suffer from tobacco-related diseases. And the nation spends heavily on their treatment. The immediate fallout of the ban is the winding up of the Rs 250 crore tobacco advertisement industry. The tobacco companies will no longer be able to sponsor sports or beauty shows and advertise scholarships or offer prizes. Hotels will have to demarcate smoking areas. Such discomforts are a small price to pay for the greater good. Unless social aversion to smoking asserts itself, the ban would remain only on paper. The campaign to spread awareness about the harms of smoking will have to be stepped up. Social groups, NGOs, corporates and youth can be mobilised to carry the message to every doorstep. Teenagers’ role models like film and sports stars would do society much good if they quit smoking, at least on screen and in public. The state can, meanwhile, make tobacco use a luxury by sharply raising the excise duty. The money thus raised from cigarette and other tobacco manufacturers, sellers and buyers can be ploughed back into providing better healthcare to citizens. |
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I can endure my own despair, But not another’s hope. — William Walsh |
Manifestos full of rhetoric ALL the major political parties and alliances have released their election manifestos and vision statements. Shorn of election-eve rhetoric and compulsive posturing, clearly, for the first time, a broad national consensus has emerged on major foreign policy, national security and economic issues. Barring a few discordant notes, which are natural in a democracy, this is a welcome development that reflects rare political maturity on issues having a bearing on India’s vital interests. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) manifesto, in particular, concentrates mainly on pursuing economic reforms and development issues. It claims that the national security situation has “improved considerably” under the NDA government, free and fair elections have been held in Jammu and Kashmir and that separatist groups have begun talks with the Centre. It makes a special mention of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s peace initiatives with Pakistan and his “sincere efforts” to resolve the Kashmir problem. The manifesto promises to continue the dialogue process with Pakistan “for a lasting solution to all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.” The document also says that the NDA will “continue the dialogue process with China to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of the boundary issue…” With the United States (US), the NDA wishes to “broaden and deepen our multiple-dimensional relations.” Interestingly, the much bandied about term “strategic partnership” is conspicuous by its absence in the manifestos, except that the NDA has used it while referring to India’s relations with Japan and Russia. Perhaps the broadest agreement is on foreign policy issues, including India’s policies towards China, Pakistan and the US. The Congress has charged the NDA government with lack of “clarity, consistency and conviction” in its policy towards Pakistan and “lack of transparency” in its US policy. However, it is in favour of continuing the dialogue process with Pakistan on all issues, including Kashmir. It also favours cooperation with the US in the “scientific, technological, strategic and commercial” fields. The Congress favours the expansion of trade and investment relations with China and says it would move forward “purposively to resolving the boundary issue with China in a practical manner, by systematic and continuous negotiations.” The CPM and the CPI also favour the pursuance of a serious dialogue with Pakistan but “without US intervention” and recommend special attention to fostering close ties with China. The CPM is critical of the NDA government’s “pro-imperialist foreign policy” and opposes superpower unilateralism and the expansion of NATO. The CPI has made out a case for the immediate withdrawal of “occupation” forces from Afghanistan and Iraq. While the left parties are in favour of reviving the non-aligned movement, the Congress has taken the nuanced position that the country’s foreign policy should be independent and should be rooted in the basic principles of non-alignment. The major opposition parties are sharply critical of the NDA government’s handling of the policy towards Pakistan which the Congress finds “full of contradictory extremisms and ambiguities” and “lacking in clarity, consistency and conviction.” Almost all the opposition parties have also criticised the government’s claims of a “paradigm shift” in India’s relation with the US in view of the recent US declaration of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA). While the NDA manifesto is silent on India’s nuclear policy and doctrine, for the first time since the Pokhran nuclear tests in May 1998, the Congress has taken a categorical stand on the nuclear issue. It now accepts the centrality of maintaining a “credible nuclear weapons programme” and it says it will “evolve demonstrable and verifiable confidence-building measures with its nuclear neighbours.” However, the left parties have re-stated their categorical opposition to nuclear weapons and reiterated their policy of employing nuclear energy only for peaceful purposes. They recommend a moratorium on further nuclear tests and talks with Pakistan for a denuclearised environment in South Asia. The Congress party released a separate 12-page agenda on “Security, Defence and Foreign Policy”. On defence the Congress has suggested a 10-point agenda for implementation. It recommends a participatory role for serving armed forces officers in the formulation of defence policy and the management of national defence. It wishes to take steps to integrate the Ministry of Defence with the three Services headquarters and promises to fine-tune the system for the higher command of India’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Charging the ruling coalition with having made only cosmetic changes after the Kargil conflict, the Congress says it will institutionalise regular meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security and interaction between the National Security Adviser, the SPG and the NSAB. The promise of the Congress to pay special attention to the resettlement and welfare of armed forces ex-servicemen can only be classified as rhetoric as no political party has ever taken any action on this issue despite repeated election-eve promises. The BJP “vision document” commits the party to accelerating the pace of economic reforms. The Congress pledges to “widen and deepen” the reform processes to attain an eight to 10 per cent annual growth rate. The NDA favours continuation of the “process of disinvestment” while the Congress will “approach privatisation selectively” and the CPM is against the sale of public sector units because it results in the “transfer of public resources to private hands.” The only real divergence of views on the economic front emanates from the stable of the erstwhile Lohiaite socialists. The Samajwadi Party has taken an anti-reform stance despite hobnobbing with corporate czars of various hues. If its manifesto is implemented, India will slip several steps back into the dark ages of the so-called Hindu rate of growth of about 3 per cent and the Indian economy will find itself out of synch with a globalising world. It is encouraging to note that on important national issues the major political parties are now talking almost in unison. The near unanimity in making peace with China and Pakistan is indeed remarkable. The turnaround of the Congress party on the nuclear issue is particularly heartening as it is crucial for national security and the quality of India’s deterrence to ensure that there is no dissent across the political spectrum. It is also noteworthy that the need to adopt a bipartisan approach to major foreign policy and national security issues of the day, as well as their long-term implications on India’s development as a mature and responsible regional power, has at last been realised despite disagreements on various political issues. In case this consensual approach on paper is reflected in the proceedings of the new Parliament after the elections, it will go a long way in synergising the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign and defence policies and in taking the next few steps towards pragmatic economic reforms. The writer is Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation |
“If I say 3 is 2, then 2 it shall be” THIS is an ancient story showing how arrogance, combined with obstinacy in ample measure, of persons with a bureaucratic bent of mind has a long history behind it. Many years ago three youngmen, two Hindus and one Muslim (named shall we say A-B, P-Q and X-Y respectively?) were along with others appointed to the now-extinct ICS. They were informed by the government that they would have to proceed to England for a one-year probation at some British university. They were also informed that passage had been booked for them for the journey and they should board a particular ship from Bombay a week later. They went to Bombay accordingly and started their voyage as instructed. The journey had no surprises until they were half the way up the Red Sea via Aden, and then WWII was declared. The ship received orders to return to Aden and thereafter to proceed to England via the Cape of Good Hope. The reason presumably was that there was serious danger to shipping from German submarines which might be lurking in the Mediterranean. When the ship reached Aden on the way back, more telegraphic instructions were received by it to the effect that the ICS probationers “A-B, P-Q, X-Y” should disembark at Aden and return to India by the first available ship and await further orders there. (This meant that the telegram contained all the three names but through a mistake in transmission the last two names had got joined up). So the probationers contacted the purser of the ship, explained the mix-up of the names, and asked for arrangements to be made for their disembarking at Aden. The purser (an Englishman) apparently believed that the “letter” alone of the telegram, as he saw it, must override every other consideration and, of course, Indian names, Hindu or Muslim, meant nothing to him. “Sir,” he said, “this telegram contains only two names (A-B and P-Q-X-Y) and therefore only two persons can get off the ship and no more”. It was explained to him that ‘P-Q-X-Y’ in the telegram was not one name but two names, belonging to two different persons who were carrying two separate passports, and thus the telegram referred to three names in all and not only two. But the purser was adamant. “I am sorry but for me the telegram contains two names and two only and so covers just two persons. The third person among you must continue to remain on the ship and travel with it to England via the Cape”. Seeing that a dead end had been reached so far as the ship staff was concerned and no argument, however incontrovertible, would count with them, it occurred to the young men that someone in official authority, at Aden might be able to help them. So they asked to be allowed to contact the Chief Secretary there. A little reluctantly the purser agreed after a word with the captain, and a row boat, the only means of communication with Aden, was arranged for the trip. Fortunately, the Chief Secretary readily understood the correct position and went over to the ship and explained to the staff that Government of India’s intention obviously was that all the three probationers should get down at Aden to return to India and action should be taken accordingly. It was then that the nightmare of the three ended and they were able to leave that ship for good. There is a famous quotation which runs: ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow”. Let there be no mistake in this case parting from the ship was without any trace of sorrow: instead it was all pure
sweetness.
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Punjab needs to empower women
GENDER disparities in literacy continue in the country. The situation varies from state to state, even within a state from one district to another and also from one community to another. The female literacy in Punjab (63.55 per cent) is lower than Himachal Pradesh’s (68.08). Punjab has to take appropriate measures for checking the female dropout rate at different levels of education. Preference for the male child’s education, a negative attitude towards the female child’s education and the rising cost of education are among the many factors promoting dropout, stagnation and non-enrolment of girl children in the formal system of education. Women's economic empowerment customarily means their work participation in economically productive activities, their access to savings and credits and their control over income and other productive assets such as land, business and industries. The work participation rate for women (1999) in Punjab is 28.8 per cent above the national average of 26 per cent. Another good feature of women’s economic empowerment is the higher effective wage rate. The wages of a woman at Rs 26.2 are above the Indian average of Rs 16.9. In neighboring Haryana women are enjoying the highest wage rate 38.3 in India. According to the NFHS II (1998-99), in Punjab 78 per cent of women have an access to money for spending and it increases with the increase in education of women. In sports, Punjab women are doing well. However, the economically developed Punjab has to do a lot to improve the health status of women. Despite a good health network with a doctor
available at the village level, only 31.7 per cent of women are completely immunised (NFHS, 1989-99). Further 41 per cent of women suffer from nutritional anemia. Another gloomy feature is the female child infant morality rate. In Punjab girls have a much higher mortality risks than boys. All infant and child mortality rates are higher for girls than for boys. Notably, the post-neonatal morality rate is almost twice as high for girls as for boys and the child morality rate is four times as high for girls as for boys. The infant mortality in Kerala is 16.6 per cent and for Punjab it is 65.2. The higher girl infant and child mortality rate and sex-selective foeticide are keeping with the very low sex ratio of the population 0-6 in Punjab. Moreover, clandestine and illegal abortions by untrained personnel have caused many reproductive problems among women, including infertility. As far as security of women is concerned, according to the Crime Bureau Report (2001), Punjab has the lowest crime against women 35.81 (per million) in the country. The state also has the lowest female child labour in the country, nine in rural and four in urban areas per 1000 female children. In the state, the social and economic empowerment of women is being promoted with the opening of mahila mandals and SHGs for women and these groups play a positive role in the prevention of drug abuse in the rural areas. As far as political empowerment of women is concerned, the 13th Lok Sabha had two MPs. The state is behind Haryana and Rajasthan. The current state legislature has six MLAs, that means 5.13 per cent of the total seats. Because of the 33 per cent of reservation of seats in different panchayati raj institutions, a large number of women have been elected to these bodies in Punjab. There are 93 women in the Zilla Parishads and 828 as Block Samiti members. At the village level, the number of women sarpanches and panches is 4,173 and 26,633 respectively. The women empowerment index calculated for 16 states in the Himachal Pradesh Development Report by CRRID for the National Planning Commission, Punjab ranked second, Kerala being the first. However, Punjab has not to be complacent of its position but rather try to take appropriate measures for gender empowerment, particularly to improve the health and education status of women. The decline in the sex-ratio in the 0-6 year age group is one the most lugubrious features of the gender status in Punjab. The community-level organisations such as panchayats, youth clubs, mahila mandals, SHGs etc. and health related functionaries working at the grassroots level require to be re-oriented on gender issues with a particular emphasis on the decline in the sex ratio. The strict implementation of the PNDT ACT and inculcation of family life education to both in and out-of school adolescent girls will go a long way in restricting the decline in the sex ratio in the state. It is observed that dowry is the single most leading reason creating a negative attitude towards the girl child inside and outside the womb. The educational and economic empowerment of women will overcome the hurdle of dowry. In the rural areas, the government has to take initiatives for creating an enabling environment for women members of panchayats and improve their decision-making power by allowing them to independently handle village problems at panchayat meetings and also in gram sabhas independently without the interferences of their husbands and relatives. Society needs to have a positive attitude towards women’s participation in politics. Considering the success of women in politics, it is suggested that unlike Haryana, Punjab could leave 33 per cent of the seats for women voluntarily, unless and until reservation is made for them by passing the relevant Bill. Self-employment and income-generating activities need to be given a boost for rural women. The gender gap in literacy and literacy among the Scheduled Castes girls need to be promoted through monitoring by local women’s organisations and panchayat members. Moreover, the government has to provide a better deal for the aged, separated and single women in the state. Measures have to be taken by the Punjab Government to appoint more and more women at executive and judiciary positions. |
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Surjeet: a master of incredible coalitions
In the steaming pot of Indian politics where no mix is unpalatable, the 88-year-old bearded Marxist veteran is the master chef who stirs, blends and coaxes to produce a cocktail. As India is on the verge of completing national elections to pick a new Lok Sabha, forecasts of a hung House have renewed the spotlight on the grand old negotiator, who has helped form two coalition governments in the past. Even at this great age and in intermittently poor health, Surjeet is travelling to various states, visiting party offices and constantly touching base with politicians for what he hopes would result in an alternative to the BJP-led NDA. In his unusual passion to unite a badly splintered opposition and see someone not belonging to the BJP become Prime Minister, Surjeet has spent sleepless nights and travelled much more than anyone even a fourth of his age could. The razor-sharp mind worked against the Congress two decades ago but is now pooling all resources against the "greater evil", the BJP. Surjeet redoubled his efforts after exit polls following three rounds of balloting in half the 543 parliamentary constituencies held out the possibility of the BJP-led ruling coalition falling short of a clear majority. He has been in touch with the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and all possible constituents in an anti-BJP combine. With some of these parties already squabbling among themselves and with one another and a prime ministerial candidate yet to be decided, the soon-to-be-90-year-old has a tough job in his hands. This wise dealmaker was the same teenager who in 1932, during India's struggle for freedom from British rule, tore out a Union Jack from the Deputy Commissioner's office in Punjab and calmly planted the flag of the Indian National Congress. It was a rash act; the 15-year-old was shot at twice. This incident in Hoshiarpur initiated the future kingmaker to the tempestuous world of Indian politics. A member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha founded by martyr Bhagat Singh, Surjeet went to prison many times. When arrested for the flag episode, he impudently told the court his name was "London Tod Singh". Surjeet is among the last of the team that founded the CPI-M in 1964. His moment of reckoning came when he was able to cobble the short-lived 1996-97 centre-left United Front government of H.D. Deve Gowda. First, Surjeet tried to persuade the CPM to allow Jyoti Basu to become Prime Minister. But when the party nixed it, Surjeet went for Gowda. This established Surjeet's amazing power and influence in New Delhi despite representing the marginal Left. Perhaps Surjeet's specialty work has had to start sooner than expected, with a hung Parliament envisaged even before the elections are over.
— IANS |
By repeating God’s name, I live; by forgetting it, I die. Repeating the name of the true one is quite hard; but he who hungers for it and partakes of it, all his woes whither away. — Guru Nanak He who recognises the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy, and its cessation, has fathomed the four noble truths. He will walk in the right path. — The Buddha Feed the hungry and visit the sick, and free the captive, if he be unjustly confined. Assist any person who is oppressed whether Muslim or non-Muslim. — Prophet Muhammad The soul is the begetter of both happiness and sorrow, it is its own friend when it treads the path of righteousness and its own enemy when it treads the forbidden path. — Lord Mahavir |
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CPM General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet is a man driven by the lust for power — not his own, but everyone else's.