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Destination peace Taj corridor case |
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A small step for mankind
The politics of aid
Shooting priest
Punjab should stick to wheat, paddy Delhi Durbar
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Destination peace THE agreement External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri have reached on starting a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad from April 7 marks a new milestone in India-Pakistan relations. Both sides showed considerable flexibility on what kind of travel documents the passengers should possess in resuming the bus service that was suspended in the wake of Partition. The enthusiasm with which people on both sides of the divide have welcomed the decision justifies the humanitarian grounds on which India relented on its insistence that the passengers should carry visa-stamped passports. There are divided families who have not met one another ever since Pakistan forcibly occupied one-third of Kashmir. It is they who will lap up the resumption of the bus service, which will reduce the cost and time of travel. Though the Lahore-Delhi bus service is quite popular, it does not serve the needs of the people of Punjab, who have to go all the way to Delhi to catch the bus. For them the starting of a bus service between Amritsar and Lahore as and when it happens will be a godsend. For the pilgrims who visit Nankana Sahib, a direct bus service between this religious centre and Amritsar will be of immense benefit. The resumption of rail service on the Munabao- Khokhrapur route is dependent on how quickly Pakistan completes the work on laying the rails in its area. Once these services become functional, there will be greater interaction between the people of the two countries, who will realise that it is better to live in peace than indulge in competitive nationalism. The two countries have also reached an understanding on several issues like laying a pipeline through Pakistan and taking each other into confidence on missile tests, maritime movements and fishermen arrested by the coast guards. Further official-level talks will be necessary to give this understanding a concrete shape. How quickly such bilateral issues are sorted out depends, of course, on the political will shown by the two states. What’s more important is that all these decisions mark a step forward in normalising their bilateral relations and they should, therefore, be welcomed. |
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Taj corridor case The Supreme Court has rightly questioned the propriety of the Central Bureau of Investigation in recommending the peremptory closure of the Taj corridor case in which former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, her erstwhile ministerial colleague and six senior IAS officers are reportedly involved. The abrupt decision, purported to have been taken following the advice of Attorney-General Milon Banerjee, has given rise to apprehensions that the CBI was trying to bail out the Bahujan Samaj Party leader in this case in lieu of her 19 MPs’ possible support to the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress party’s political strategy in Uttar Pradesh. Whatever may be the design of the Centre and the Congress leadership, the CBI is on the mat for acting in a hurry. The apex court has rightly stepped in and reopened the case as it involved serious irregularities and malpractices. Clearly, the Taj corridor case needs to be probed thoroughly as some of the details that emerged while the CBI was investigating the case were shocking. They pointed towards a complete disregard for established norms, rules and procedures while clearing the project, a shoddy plan to doctor the files, and a collaborative attempt to suppress the truth. The CBI needs to ferret out the truth, especially how a Rs 175-crore project that involved the construction of a string of shopping malls and entertainment parks behind the Taj Mahal could have been initiated without the former Chief Minister’s knowledge, leave alone her approval. It also needs to find out how the project was sanctioned without adherence to basic environmental regulations. The Supreme Court has been closely monitoring the case from the beginning. It directed the CBI to probe the lapses, grill all those involved in it, including Ms Mayawati, and report back. Instead of following the orders, the CBI chose to seek the Attorney-General’s opinion and close down the case unilaterally. This indeed is baffling and gives rise to doubts about the premier investigating agency’s professed intentions. The apex court has rightly ordered the CBI to explain its conduct before it on the basis of the “evidence” available rather than seeking “opinion” from others. |
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A small step for mankind The erratic weather patterns are there for all to see and scientists ascribe these to the increasing greenhouse emissions or heat-trapping gases that are produced when fossil fuels like oil and gas are burnt. The Kyoto Protocol has set targets for cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases, and its very coming into effect now is a minor triumph. This is because the US, which has 5 per cent of the world’s population but lets out more than 25 per cent of the carbon dioxide in the world, had adopted a particularly negative attitude. So much so that it almost derailed the effort of the over 140 nations to act responsibly for the future of the planet. It is a sign of maturity on the part of the Bush Administration that has now joined the protocol, but it is not yet playing the leadership role that should have been its. Russia, on the other hand, joined the protocol last year and kickstarted the stalled process after the US withdrawal. In general, industrialised nations burn a disproportionately large amount of fossil fuels, and are most crucial in any strategy to reduce the emissions. Thus, there has been disquiet from nations such as the UK, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, which exceed the emission targets. Cutting emissions would cost in the short term, but the long-term gains are tremendous. India and China, the two emerging industrial giants, have been exempt from the first phase of the treaty till 2012, as a “special and different” treatment, but this should not be a cause for procrastination. One of the most visible effects of global warming in India is in the Sunderban islands, a world heritage site, where steadily rising water levels have engulfed land and even threatened their existence. There is also a danger that transnational companies and emissions traders would use India as a playground for clean development mechanism projects which would need close scrutiny. Environmental safety has been of low concern in the world. It now needs to be constantly in focus so as to ensure a better future for the coming generations. The Kyoto Protocol is just one small step for mankind. |
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The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope.
— Norman Cousins |
The politics of aid The growing strain on the Earth’s environment caused by global warming or the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the developing world pose a great threat to humanity. HIV alone in South Africa affects more than four million people, and 8,200 succumb to it daily around the world.
International cooperation is thrown to the wind and the UN relegated into a moribund and redundant body that is irrelevant to the pre-emptive militarism of the US. Costly military enterprises do not impinge on the conscience of the leaders who, like Donald Rumsfeld, are of the view that the war on terrorism will carry on for the next 40 years, a prognosis that highly pleases the defence industry and the military establishment of the west. The enormity of violence and the death of thousands are of no consequence. One can see unambiguous lethargy and tight-fistedness in the initial gestures of George Bush towards the unprecedented devastation caused by the tsunami onslaught. This single calamity of worldwide dimension must indisputably drive home one lesson to the western nations, who undoubtedly have now come forward with more aid than was necessary: climate change, natural calamities, diseases such as AIDS, malaria and diarrhoea as well as poverty are far more serious issues that should concern western governments whose aid programmes must not ignore the repercussions of these visible ailments effecting more than two-thirds of humanity. The African and Asian continents are particularly susceptible to the impact of climate change because the ability to adapt is inhibited by a lack of economic recourses as also by deficiency in science and technology. In addition, these areas cover a wide array of climatic types, which are intricate and not sufficiently understood. Noticeably, there are gaps in the basic understanding required to plan for immediate effects of climate variability or natural disasters in the Third World, which, like the tsunami, are beyond any scientific and administrative handling in the wake of a crisis. The current mood around the world after the tsunami disaster provides an opportunity to the rich nations to identify and concentrate on key human issues in order to initiate international negotiations and exchange of not only economic resources but valuable scientific knowhow that can lead to precautionary measures before the onset of calamity, and to dexterous handling and care in the aftermath. International talks on global warming and the Kyoto protocol, or the rampant hunger in the developing nations will go a long way in gauging the vital issues facing us today. War and the fight against terrorism can take the back seat. As Hans Blix argues in a recent lecture at St Antony’s College, Oxford: “Terrorists do not live on clouds, but must have their feet on the territory of states, and thus governments have a duty to ensure that terrorists are not allowed to use their territory as a base for their activities.” The funding of 60 billion-missile defence system that the Senate earmarked after the 9/11 debacle could very well be diverted to the international AIDS epidemic or any other area which needs attention. The tragic reality still remains that rich nations like the US continue to disproportionately spend on their military adventures. In comparison, they make almost a negligible contribution towards various pressing problems around the world unless of course leaders like Bush are shamed into increasing the initial pledge from $15 million to $350 million. Nations remain at war and civilisation trembles in the balance. If humanity has to survive, rich nations should take decisive action to provide care and treatment of various diseases and calamities around the world. The elimination of poverty and the preservation of biodiversity are vital objectives that world powers must not ignore. We all are stakeholders in the management of natural resources and in making useful contribution to crisis management in the wake of any calamity more out of altruism and less out of an economic or political agenda. Increased greenhouse gases indisputably has a vicious effect not only on ecology, but also on natural disasters such as the tsunami. Preservation of urban green spaces and the life of the flora and fauna is an urgent consideration. Why should American consumers benefit by the manipulation of the global economy? Unilateral coercive economic measures in the form of sanctions have been imposed on 120 occasions in the last 80 years. In 1998 alone, there were sanctions against 75 countries. When it comes to giving aid, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) the US donated merely $6 billion between 1995 and 1999 whereas Japan gave almost $15 billion in the same period. The OECD further ranks US at 22nd out of the 22 rich nations. Jimmy Carte is not wrong in maintaining that the US is “the stingiest nation of all.” This was clear from the initial aid announced by Bush for the tsunami victims. America wants to rule the world but will do little to solve the world’s environmental problems especially the control over carbon dioxide emissions. The Kyoto protocol is almost dead because of President Bush’s reluctance to cut emissions, which would apparently hit the US industry. It is reasoned by the American leadership that the American stand is legitimate because it suits the American economy; electricity cost in California takes precedence over global warming and the disappearance of the polar ice caps. And significantly enough, the US has no desire to support International support systems such as the UNDP. On the other hand the IMF and the WTO are fully controlled by the US to exploit and control the economies of the Third World. The presence of 15000 American marines in the Indian Ocean and the increase in aid for the tsunami victims after the initial stinginess by Bush are suspect philanthropic actions; one is not sure if they are inherently part of the American geopolitics of attaining the supremacist stature in world politics or another subterranean military agenda for strategic presence in this part of the world. Or possibly, the huge aid programme announced by Bush in the post-tsunami week is eyewash for redeeming its already battered image of a military swashbuckler in West Asia. The politics of aid remain two-faced. In the case of the US, it has always been a drive for military or economic gain. In the case of India, there has been a transparent phoney stance in her snub to western aid. If a deprived victim gets a penny through aid, why not ensure that he gets two. Pride is a fraudulent posture, and refusal to accept aid or remain complacent will only impede the various schemes for the
uplift of the poor. Your tongue hangs out when pleading for military aid, but when it comes to aid for a national disaster you decline. A seat in the Security Council could be one of the motivating factors behind the refusal signifying self-reliance, but this comes at the cost of unrelenting misery for millions. Hegemony in South Asia could be another reason behind India’s hefty assistance to Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. On the other hand, the proselytising ambitions of US-based missionary groups like World Help or Samaritan’s Purse with their ambiguous aid programmes are very clear. Unquestionably, altruism is hard to come by behind aid
programmes. |
Shooting priest
PUT down the Bible and pick up the gun” said one of the dacoits to the late Fr Thomas Chakalakkal when he was in their custody somewhere in the jungles of West Champaran in Bihar. By then the Jesuit priest had become close to his kidnappers, who realised that they could easily kill him but not extract even a penny from his family or the order to which he belonged. Because of the extensive coverage the now defunct The Searchlight and the Malayala Manorama were giving to his kidnapping and the political pressure mounted on Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister Chandra Shekhar Singh, the dacoits found it pointless to keep him in prolonged captivity. The priest, who lived like a villager at Ratanpurva near Bettiah, became so friendly with the dacoits that they gave him the best portion of the chicken they cooked. They were as curious about the ordinariness of his life as he was about the dangerousness of theirs. It was while discussing his “mission” that they made bold to suggest that he pick up a gun and join their ranks. He just laughed away their suggestion. I recalled Fr Chakalakkal’s abjuration of the gun when about a year ago, a tall, bearded, fair-skinned person came to meet me at The Tribune. He introduced himself as Fr Mark Barns. What brought him to the office was a report we had carried about an incident in which a Subdivisional Magistrate was arrested for killing the national bird. He said the story had certain inaccuracies. How did he know? He was with the SDM that day, though he was not caught by the forest guards. From the conversation it transpired that he was an erstwhile English Capuchin priest, who now belonged to the Jalandhar diocese as a diocesan priest. He was Canadian in origin and had his upbringing at Ajmer in Rajasthan. He had chosen Gumtala at Ajnala in Amritsar district as his karmabhoomi. He could stay in the village for over four decades because he cared two hoots for transfers and postings issued by his superiors. A sharpshooter, he was a great hunter too. Small wonder that the local people called him “shikari padri”. It was the first time I had come across a priest, who hunted, rather than “fished”, to use a Biblical expression. I could not resist asking him why he associated himself with “poachers” and “hunters”. He did not seem to take the question seriously and went away, nonetheless, thanking me for giving him a patient hearing. It was only after he left that I came to know a lot more about this colourful sprightly septuagenarian, who was on first-name terms with Captain Amarinder Singh. Stories abound about his bravery and chivalry. Once he drove a rugged Land Rover all the way from England to Punjab. On the way, an armed group tried to rob him of his belongings. After they were beaten black and blue, they wondered whether the blue-eyed man was James Bond in disguise. For the people of Gumtala, he was a Jim Corbett whom they adored as much for his simple living as for his love for the gun. As providence would have it, on Tuesday he succumbed to the injuries he suffered when a cartridge he was making exploded at his home. It was a measure of the respect he commanded that the people of Gumtala insisted on having his body buried in the village, rather than in a cemetery as is the custom in the Catholic Church. In the process, he was denied the last rites that befitted an ordained person. Very truly it is said “those that live by the sword, die by it”.
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Punjab should stick to wheat, paddy Punjab farmers, however, are sticking to wheat and paddy cultivation and are in no mood to abandon these two crops. The Central Government had also not approved the proposal for a massive reduction in the area under wheat and paddy in Punjab. Confusion over the desirable cropping pattern for Punjab has, thus, thickened. To clear this confusion, the economics of wheat and paddy cultivation in Punjab needs to be examined in a holistic political economy framework. An exercise on these lines clearly suggests that the salvation of Punjab lies in sticking to wheat and paddy cultivation. There are ten solid reasons why Punjab should stick to wheat and paddy cultivation. Wheat and paddy are the only crops that can sustain the present income levels of Punjab farmers. None of the alternative crops can ensure even half the income being earned by farmers from wheat and paddy cultivation; shifting out of these two crops, therefore, will result in a big fall in farm incomes. Secondly, the stability of wheat and paddy yields is not matched by any other crop. These two crops almost never fail; even in the worst years the fall in wheat and paddy yields is only marginal. Further, wheat and paddy cultivation in Punjab has a high degree of complementarity with the Central Government’s food security concerns. Owing to its own food security compulsions the Central Government is willing to go a long way to sustain the cultivation of these two crops in Punjab; but that cannot be expected in the case of alternative crops being recommended to replace wheat and paddy. The existing system of Minimum Support Prices and Assured Purchase (MSPAP) of wheat and paddy is quite compatible with the WTO stipulations; the subsidies being given under this programme are within the WTO permitted norms and limits. But a similar minimum support price system cannot be now created for any other crop; the fiscal crisis and budgetary compulsions of the Central Government and WTO pressure rule that out. But without a minimum support price programme no new crop can succeed. It is much easier to ensure the continuation of the existing tradition sanctified and the WTO compatible MSPAP of wheat and paddy, then to get a new one created for any other crop that may replace wheat and paddy. Punjab has a clear competitive advantage in wheat and rice production in the South Asian market. Punjab wheat and rice can compete even in the international market if farm subsidies are withdrawn by developed countries. Moreover, production efficiency and competitiveness of these two crops can be improved considerably by suitable investments in research, extension, transport and storage infrastructure. Even under the new WTO dispensation, the government is permitted to make such investments in agricultural infrastructure. Further, the wheat and rice markets are very thick and stable whereas markets for alternative crops being recommended are extremely thin and get saturated easily. The domestic demand for wheat and rice is growing steadily because of the population growth and rising per capita incomes. Even the prospects for export of foodgrains to the neighbouring countries are good. The whole of Africa, West and Central Asia is a food deficit zone; Pakistan alone is importing 20 to 50 lakh tonnes of wheat every year. Punjab farmers have acquired a high degree of expertise in wheat and paddy culture, which is difficult to replicate in any new crop. Shifting to new crops is not that simple and easy as some economists think. Learning a new crop culture is a long and unpleasant task. When the new crops are not even more profitable, who will undergo such an unpleasant task? Further, all the necessary paraphernalia for the cultivation of wheat and paddy is already in place and will go waste if a major shift out of these two crops is made. Creating a similar infrastructure for the new crops will require huge investments which farmers are not in a position to make due to their strained financial position and indebtedness. From the long-term perspective of structural transformation of Punjab agriculture, there is no alternative to wheat and paddy. At the present levels of agricultural productivity no more than 20 per cent of Punjab labour should be in agriculture. The withdrawal of labour from Punjab agriculture has been delayed and is overdue. Wheat and paddy are the ideal crops for large-scale mechanised farming and for speedy withdrawal of labour from agriculture. In fact, most of the operations in these two crops have already been mechanised; only the excess labour lingering on Punjab farms needs to be taken out. The alternative crops being recommended are highly labour intensive and will trap majority of Punjab’s labour in farming for many more decades to come. The introduction of these new crops will abort the process of structural transformation of Punjab agriculture. Lastly, the seriousness of peripheral problems of falling watertable and environmental degradation has been blown up out of all proportion. The watertable and environmental situation is not as alarming as the doomsayers are projecting. A mere fall in the watertable in itself does not indicate anything; only with reference to the optimal level of the watertable it conveys whether or not the situation is
worsening. However, no one knows what is the optimal water-table level for different regions of Punjab; it is yet to be worked out. Moreover, problems of the falling watertable and environmental stress should be directly tackled through suitable legislation and not by engineering a massive fall in farm incomes. There are thus sufficient and sound reasons for continuing with wheat and paddy. A massive reduction in the area under wheat and paddy is neither desirable nor feasible. The best course is to freeze the wheat and paddy production at the current levels through a quota assigned to each farmer, and then induce farmers to reduce the area under these crops slowly. This strategy will not only prevent any fall, but will also ensure a slow and steady rise in farm incomes. —
The writer is a Professor of Economics at Panjab University |
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Delhi
Durbar Traditionally, Budget preparation is the prerogative of the Finance Minister, but this time the proposed Budget by Finance Minister is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr Chidambaram has even been asked to send his Budget speech to the PMO while the budgetary proposals are to be vetted by Chief Economic Adviser C.Rangarajan. Although Dr Manmohan Singh, Planning Commission chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia and economist C. Rangarajan had held extensive discussions with Mr Chidambaram over the proposed Budget, the PM does not want to take any chances. With the Left parties constantly attacking the UPA government’s economic policies, Dr Singh wants to play it safe.
Left parties’
expectations
The Left parties suspect the proposed Budget will be “pro-capitalist”, pushing the reforms agenda. Faced with the assembly poll in Kerala and West Bengal, the Left parties are banking on the Union Budget to launch yet another onslaught on the government, both inside and outside Parliament. It is now a matter of conjecture how far Finance Minister P Chidambaram will oblige his comrade friends.
Congress CMs’ meet
When the Congress was in opposition, it periodically organised meetings of its Chief Ministers to review the implementation of the party’s election promises. But no such conclave has been held ever since the Congress came to power at the Centre last May. Now that the UPA government has settled down, the Congress leadership is planning to organise such a meeting. Though it might not be possible till after the Budget session, discussions on the possible venue for the proposed conclave are keeping Congressmen quite busy. There is one suggestion that it be held in Goa, now that the Congress has managed to form a government there.But given the shaky nature of this dispensation, it is also being suggested that the Congress should not lose any time in hosting the meet here.
Educating Rahul
Having confined himself to his Lok Sabha constituency, Amethi, till now, the Congress party’s heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi, is now set to spread his wings. He had his first interaction with potential youth leaders of Uttar Pradesh at a two-day “chintan shivir” held recently at Chitrakoot. Since then, Rahul Gandhi has been enthusiastic about playing a more proactive role in party organisational affairs in UP. At the same time, he has embarked on a course in “political education” as he has spent time learning about issues like Dalit politics from
experts. He has also been visiting universities in the North-East and down South for special interactive sessions with youth. His next stop is Aligarh Muslim — Contributed by Girija Shankar Kaura, R Suryamurthi and Anita Katyal |
The Brahmin’s duty is to look after the sanitation of the soul, the bhangi’s that of the body of society. — Mahatma Gandhi It is necessary to surrender to a Satguru (true Guru) for guidance and instruction in order to attain God-realisation. — Guru Nanak All men are standing at the river of life. Most spend their time running up and down one shore, talking, shouting, gesticulating madly. Only the serene cross the river and arrive at the other shore. — The Buddha When his clothes become old and worn, man changes them for new ones. As the body becomes old, tries and worn, the soul leaves it and goes to another that is new. Those who grieve over death do not understand this. They feel that the soul must have died along with the body. — The Bhagavadgita Your suffering is a great means of love, if you make use of it, especially if you offer it peace in the world. — Mother Teresa  |
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Confusion over reduction in the area under wheat and paddy continues. There is continuous refrain from some economists for a massive shift of area from wheat and paddy to alternative crops. The Punjab Government has also adopted this “crop-adjustment programme” as a major plank of its agricultural policy.