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TN rejects Jaya Jail for Mantriji |
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Pitroda’s advice Quota can’t be at the cost of merit THE National Knowledge Commission headed by Mr Sam Pitroda has rightly opposed Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh’s proposal for reservations for OBCs in higher educational institutions like the IIMs and IITs.
Narmada vs Narmada
Viva Voce
The babu and the jawan Benefits of large dams: the Bhakra example Delhi Durbar
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TN rejects Jaya OF the elections to five assemblies, perhaps, it is the outcome in Tamil Nadu that marks a significant departure. The political complexion of the state is in the throes of a change with far-reaching implications for not only the AIADMK and the DMK, but also the two national parties – the Congress and the BJP. Nearly 40 years since the Congress was put out of office in Tamil Nadu on the DMK’s slogan of “Autonomy in the states, coalition at the Centre”, the situation has evolved well beyond these aspirations. Today, the Congress leads a coalition at the Centre and there is greater functional state autonomy, thanks to political shifts and economic reforms. So, it is paradoxical that the DMK’s main ally is the Congress party, which has put up a better-than-expected showing as part of the Democratic Progressive Alliance; and the Congress would be part of the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu. However, this may be a bit of consolation for the Congress, which like the other national party – the BJP – had been nowhere in the reckoning for several years. In the past, the Congress chose which of the two regional parties – DMK or AIADMK – on which it could ride piggy-back, except when it was unwanted by both. And, in such an alliance the Congress called the shots and got to contest two-thirds of the Lok Sabha seats in return for accepting one-third of the assembly seats. In this election, the Congress was not a major ally, but part of a larger alliance that included the PMK, the CPM and the CPI. In fact, had Mr Vaiko’s MDMK not ditched the DMK-led alliance to plump for Ms J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK, chances are that Mr M Karunanidhi would not have given away so many seats to others in the DPA, precluding a majority for the DMK on its own. Ms Jayalalithaa’s defeat is a surprise in an election that was too close to call until the last days of the campaign. This only goes to show that her government’s authoritarian and anti-people policies and actions, though reversed in the aftermath of her debacle in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, did not fool the people into voting for the AIADMK. The Tamil Nadu electorate, which had always voted decisively in favour of a single party, has given a radically different verdict this time, and that includes electing a more powerful opposition in the AIADMK, which also is a break from the past.
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Jail for Mantriji JUST because they make laws, some leaders seem to think that they have the right to break them too. We are not only talking about the criminals in the legislatures who continue to behave like ruffians even after becoming law-makers. Even those who are otherwise decent at times tend to flout rules with impunity. The judiciary has had enough of it and is now following a “zero-tolerance” policy. To make an example of it, it has sentenced Mr Swarup Singh Naik, a Maharashtra minister, and Mr Ashok Khot, Additional Chief Secretary, to one-month imprisonment for violating its orders. What they did is a classic case of cocking a snook at rulebooks. They not only allowed six sawmills to operate in the vicinity of a reserved forest in Thane in violation of two orders by the Supreme Court, but also tampered with evidence when caught. Perhaps they were so cocky in the belief that the high and mighty are beyond the arms of the law. But this time, they have been proved wrong. Such infringements have been taking place only because those with power and pelf have been wriggling out of the legal net. Let the minister and the senior IAS officer cool their heels in jail and the message will go out loud and clear to others of their ilk that even they are very much vulnerable. That will be the best bulwark against increasing lawlessness. A government is an entity which by very definition is a follower of rules. When even ministers and top bureaucrats go astray, it sends a signal to all others down the line to follow suit. Honest citizens are thus officially made to look foolish. Perhaps that is one reason why we see law being violated, often with impunity. The quantum of the punishment is less important as a deterrent than the certainty that nobody will escape justice, howsoever rich, powerful or well placed he or she may be.
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Pitroda’s advice THE National Knowledge Commission (NKC) headed by Mr Sam Pitroda has rightly opposed Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh’s proposal for reservations for OBCs in higher educational institutions like the IIMs and IITs. The fact that six out of the eight members of the NKC have voted against the proposal at their Bangalore meeting suggests their concern about reservations. The NKC members met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday to convey to him their viewpoint. The NKC, a high power body, was appointed by the Prime Minister last year to advice him on how India can promote excellence in the education system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st century. It consists of members who are reputed for their expertise and knowledge in such diverse fields as political science, economics and information technology. Few would disagree with what the NKC members have told the Prime Minister. Mr Pitroda, for instance, said that the question of reservations should be reviewed in its totality, for their relevance for the 21st century. “We cannot go back to what it was. We have to think about what it ought to be tomorrow”, he said. It would be in the fitness of things if the UPA Government — and Parliament as a whole — refrained from going ahead with Mr Arjun Singh’s proposal. This is not to make out a case against the socially and educationally disadvantaged sections. Six decades of experience have proved that reservations have failed to improve the condition of the disadvantaged sections. The need of the hour is to empower them with all the facilities, skills and incentives necessary so that they would be able to come up on a par with the advanced sections within a reasonable timeframe. As far as professional institutions like the IIMs and the IITs and super-speciality courses in engineering and medicine are concerned, merit should be the sole criterion for admissions. The country can march forward only if all the students compete with one another on merit and not with the help of caste-based quotas.
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Logic must take care of itself. — Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Narmada vs Narmada THE Supreme Court has reiterated its earlier decision to permit the Sardar Sarovar dam to be raised from 111m to 122 m. The matter will be reviewed on July 7 on the basis of a detailed field appraisal of R&R promised by the Prime Minister that is to be conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation under the supervision of a task force set up under the former Auditor and Comptroller-General, Mr Shungloo. Critics have cried foul. Ms Medha Patkar has reviled a “gutless” court for its “anti-poor perspective” and chastised the Prime Minister for naming the SSP task force without consulting the NBA! If there are lags and lapses, they must certainly be put right. But to bring everything to a standstill is to do gross injustice to far many more millions waiting for succour and opportunity from want and deprivation. The state has a responsibility towards all its citizens, not only to some. However, any sacrifice the latter are called upon to bear must not go unrequited. Development and social justice must march together. The argument that by July 7 the dam will have risen to its full height, with only the gates to be erected above the 122 m wall, cannot be a sufficient reason to stop work once more, as in the past for years on end. Delay has introduced new players and circumstances and aggravated old problems. The additional storage and electricity produced promise great benefit in a situation of acute shortage, mounting demand and uncertainty on account of climate change. Critics rightly decry hardships and hold governments accountable for failure to deliver. But they fail to make the connection between such exhortations and specific efforts to correct them. It is a common fallacy that it costs nothing – socially, economically, environmentally and in terms of human rights – to do nothing. Non-decision constitutes a major decision. Governments are elected to decide and deliver, and this is the meaning of governance. It is do-nothing governments that fail the people and are typically rejected at the polls. Critics of the SSP inveigh against anything less than land-for-land and endorse two hectares as a minimum economic holding. But what is the median holding in India? It is nearer one hectare, if that, and shrinking. Yes, there are large holdings in arid zones like Kutch and Rajasthan; but they are uncultivable without water. So jibes about how small a part of Saurashtra or Kutch will be irrigated by SSP show a poor understanding of Indian agricultural realities. However, none of this absolves the SSP and state governments from completing all works expeditiously and efficiently so that benefits are not delayed and the project’s economics does not go awry. Displacement is emotionally wrenching, especially for simple people, tribal or otherwise. So R&R must be informed by care and compassion, even generosity. But land for land is an outworn and impractical promise. The (arable) land-man ratio in India is becoming increasingly adverse and unsustainable. So partitioning marginal holdings into yet more uneconomic holdings is unmitigated folly and a totally fraudulent premise. In another 30 years, a majority of Indians will be urban dwellers and those working on the land will shrink dramatically. Chanting a thoroughly bogus “rehabilitation” mantra is to invite endless trouble and charges of bad faith. The focus must be on gainful employment, not land – except where land is available. India’s population has tripled and will only stabilise at 1600 m plus. Every day, thousands are displaced by growing numbers and the demands they make for more farm produce, housing, urbanisation, infrastructure, industry, recreational spaces and the rest. Displacement (taken with mobility and relocation) is a fact of life. It cannot be avoided. It must be done well. That is the challenge. Rather than assist in this process, some would cling to an untenable and, for many, unhappy status quo. Millions live in a no-choice situation and the well heeled among us would deny them the very choices we clamour for ourselves. We want progress. For them romanticised degradation! Large projects, especially dams, displace considerable numbers. For many parasites, they represent a honey-pot. It is perhaps not widely known that all manner of false claimants, “relatives”, racketeers and touts muster strong, clamouring for a share. They are prone righteously to encourage and even instigate those genuinely displaced to hold out for more. This is not to denigrate the dedicated NGOs whose presence is of great value in providing real aid and comfort to those in need. However, there are also ideologues who suffer from a gnawing fear of redundancy should their cause succeed. These are all matters to ponder. Another thought. The mega Indira Sagar high dam (ISP) on the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh started later than the SSP but has reached its full height. Some 40,000 PAFs have been relocated and resettled, barring about 300 families who await final resettlement, which is in the process of being worked out. The old Harsud township is under water but New Harsud is bustling. The Special Rehabilitation Package (cash compensation for lands purchased by individual farmers) for ISP is Rs 70,000 and Rs 55,000 per acre for irrigated and unirrigated land respectively, as against Rs 1.60 lakh per acre in the case of the SSP. The project is moving to completion without raucous confrontation or melodrama. The Narmada Bachao Andolan is absent in ISP. This too is something to
ponder.
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Viva Voce THE Haryana Government has lifted with immediate effect the ban on recruitment of staff in essential services and the State Road Transport Corporation (HSRTC) has set in motion the stupendous task of interviewing some 50,000 candidates for the posts of conductors. As conductors play a key role in the scheme of things, let’s sit in on the selection committee as it interviews a shortlisted candidate. “Come in and please sit down. We intend to examine you closely to see if you’re a suitable candidate for the arduous duties of an HSRTC conductor. Before your bus leaves on a journey, what preparations will you make??” “Well, sir I’ll ensure that the aisles are littered with groundnut shells and half-smoked cigarettes, the bell rope has been removed and the railings used to board the buses are dangerously loose and foam rubber has been ripped out of all the seats.” “If you see men nonchalantly occupying the seats reserved for women, what’ ll you do?” “ I’ll walk out to the women and politely but firmly ask them to vacate their seats so that more men can occupy them.” “If you see a passenger putting a cigarette into his mouth despite the ‘No Smoking’ warning, what’ll you do?” “I’ll walk up to the offender, chat him up as a long lost friend and offer to light up the fag for him.” “If your bus is practically empty as it approaches a crowded bus stop and people start running after it helter skelter, what’ll you do?” “I’ll lean out of the window and bawl out, ‘No stop here. Going to the depot,’ although, in fact, I’ll be going on a scheduled trip to Ambala”. “If young school-going children, bent pitifully under the weight of heavy bags and lunch boxes, start running after your bus on a slushy, rainy afternoon, what’ll you do?” “I’ll wait helpfully till the youngsters have almost made it to the bus and then blow my whistle with panache and elan leaving the youngsters stranded in the middle of the road.” “Your succinct answers show that you’ve all the makings of a competent HSRTC conductor, but to continue, what are you expected to do when your bus reaches its destinations?” “I’ll be expected to stand near the door and politely collect the tickets from the alighting passengers so that I can re-issue them and pocket the fares.” “We’ve to interview the remaining 49, 999 candidates who are milling around in the corridor outside and we’re hard-pressed for time and to conclude this interview, a few questions of a general nature. Quick now, what’s saliva?” “It’s handy liquid useful for moistening tickets before they’re issued to finicky, health conscious passengers.” “Ah. that’s the answer we wanted and you’re hereby selected for the post of a HSRTC conductor. Here’s your appointment order and you can choose any lucrative route you like and best of
luck.”
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The babu and the jawan THE reasons for the young men of today shunning a career in the armed forces are not far to seek. The booming economy and hefty initial and annual increases in pay packets by the corporate sector are in stark contrast to the low pay structure in the army combined with physical and psychological discomfort not only to the officer, but also to his family, which plays a vital role in choosing a career. To bring home the hardships of army life, I want to cite two cases of my own relatives. First is officer ‘A’, who joined the EME Corps after a civil BE degree. Only six months of his entire peace tenure was in a station in Punjab. He went on a three months course, then was deployed during ‘Op Parakaram’ for 11 months from where he was posted out to the Kashmir valley. After over 2 years he was posted to a large station where it took one year to get proper family accommodation. The officer could not be present with his wife even when she had caesarean deliveries both in 2001 and 2004. The second officer ‘B’, in the infantry, did a complete tenure in the Kashmir valley, after which his battalion was stationed at Udhampur for peace time duties. The officer brought his wife and little daughter to their first military station. Not long after they had set up home, the officer was moved along with the unit to the LoC in Jammu region. The family had no option but to return to her parents’ house till the unit moved to a city in UP, after two years. Even over there, because of shortage of officers and frequent moves on courses and training exercises, family life was anything but peaceful. No surprise that the officer opted out of permanent service in the army. These two cases are more of a rule than the exception as far as hardships and disturbances are concerned. Add to that a strict code of discipline under the Army Act and quick retribution in case of any acts of omission or commission. Because of the officer shortage, one hardly notices any serving officer in the club, golf course or other social events which were the hallmark of service life earlier. (Unless it is compulsory to be present as in case of unit functions.) No surprise that many service officers no longer send their children to the armed forces. The officer cadre is bound by the oath they take while passing out from IMA stating that, ‘The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes first, always and every time. The welfare and comfort of the men you command come next while the comfort and safety of yourself comes last, always and every time’. However the present day milieu in society unfortunately makes some of the officers fall prey to easy money. The present pay structure and other benefits in the case of officers are just about sufficient to make both ends meet. When it comes to any customary social obligation, they suffer from an inferiority complex as they cannot contribute as much as their civilian relations. When we joined service we were told that as officers we must feel superior to others as only then can one win over an enemy. For that one had to have officer like qualities of honesty and integrity. In order to maintain our status we were told to travel only 1st class, (there was no 2nd AC), go by taxi and frequent only high class restaurants and cinemas. Even travel by bus was taboo. Today all this has changed and many officers travel while on private visits in modes not commensurate with their status. Going to a five star hotel for meals is just out of question. A very valid point in this contest is the relative state of IAS, IPS and other services. It is a known fact that not only is there no shortage in these services, most of the states have more officers than their authorized cadre. These officers continue to serve in districts till they reach commissioner/IG/ADG level after which they have no other place except state capitals (very few go on deputation to centre). Staying in state capitals for long years, they continue going up the ladder. The only change they have is shifts to different departments. These officers wield all the power and authority but call upon service officers when they fail to provide relief in natural disasters or stop riots and other disturbances. Their failure is dealt only with a transfer to other appointments They have almost complete immunity from any punitive action (permission is needed from the central government, even in very serious lapses of duty or moral turpitude. One has only heard of a transfer or suspension (later reinstated with all benefits) in these services. So what needs to be done to attract young men to the services? As aspects like code of discipline, deployment and other hardships of service life cannot be altered, the most glaring issue of financial equation vis-a-vis civil avenues need to be addressed. A substantial increase in pay packets (even doubling the present scales) won’t be a far fetched idea. If this is not feasible (because of linkup with other services) a hefty revision in rank pay (Rs 5,000/- to 20,000 rankwise), disturbance allowance (Rs 5,000/-), separation allowance (Rs 10,000/-), counter insurgency allowance (Rs 10,000/-) is the minimum required. A transfer grant of Rs 1 Lac also needs to be considered. The emoluments of officers as well as pensioners should be exempted from income tax. In addition to monetary increases providing better working conditions (air conditioned offices in peacetime) and other add-ons like air travel for all officers and a house after 20 years of services at subsidized cost, do require consideration. The above increases may cost the exchequer a few hundred crores but these are worth their value keeping in mind the safety, honour and welfare of the nation which must continue to come first, always, and
everytime.
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Benefits of large dams: the Bhakra example LARGE dams are being targeted every now and then by self styled environmentalists and NGOs. A vortex of controversy is generated against them by diluting their multiple benefits and magnifying their few drawbacks, especially with regard to PAF (Project Affected Families). The Sardar Sarovar Project is now under fire from the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). In 2005, Shripad Dharma Dhikari’s publication “Unravelling Bhakra” cast serious aspersions on the Bhakra dam. “Bhakra fails to deliver! Bhakra - an ordinary dam! Limited gains from Bhakra!” were the slogans. This belittling exerted a lot of stress and strain on its admirers, particularly its engineers. Rebuttals and counters were fired. Such a Kurukshetra on Bhakra was never heard before. Bhakra is neither a mere irrigation project nor an ordinary dam. It was executed as a multipurpose river valley project comprising multiple benefits with regard to irrigation, power, flood control, tourism, pisciculture and the like.. It has performed extremely well and is now the lifeline of the region. Issues regarding water logging due to extensive irrigation have to be taken up at the user level. It can be handled suitably by the beneficiary States. The internationally famous Bhakra is not an ordinary structure but stands as a monument, to the will, capacity and determination of Indians to march forward towards economic well being immediately after Independence. The late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister, described it as “something tremendous; something stupendous; the modern temple of a re-surgent India.” Today this modern temple is a must on the itinerary of devotees and visitors coming for prayers at Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib and the Naina Devi Temple. More than 3.5 lakh visitors come to have glimpse of this Engineering Monument every year. 740 feet high, the Bhakra Dam is the highest in Asia and second in the world. It has hosted prominent Heads of States and foreign dignitaries. Bhakra exceeded its benefit estimates and has also served as a technical university. It produced a highly trained band of 300 engineers and 13000 skilled workers and technicians during the course of its construction. This confident and experienced construction force subsequently executed the Beas Project, Theni Dam and other hydro projects successfully. It is the grandfather of new generation projects like the Tehri and Narmada dams, as their engineers visit here to learn lessons in operation and maintenance benchmarks, documentation and other allied systems. It is a fountainhead of motivation and inspiration for the hydro engineers and their visit to Bhakra is a pilgrimage. It is a symbol of India’s progress. It is a reservoir of many prizes, surprises and firsts. It is the pride possession of Indians. It is hoped that good sense prevails on all concerned. Issues pertaining to oustees must be sorted out on priority and with compassion. Concerted efforts must be made to accomplish the Narmada Project so that its Ganga of prosperity benefits the needy people.
***** The writer is a retired Chief Engineer on the Bhakra and Beas dam projects.
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Delhi Durbar SCHOLAR politician Karan Singh, who is presently the Chairman of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, is regretful that biographies as a genre is neglected in this country. Recently, the suave Singh released the biography of General Thimayya. Singh had a personal relationship with General Thimayya as the former was the regent of Kashmir when the latter was commanding the division that sent the Pakistanis packing from the Valley. Singh wondered why politicians were somewhat wary of getting their biographies written. Mangoes for Dubya US President George Bush had expressed his keenness to taste Indian mangoes during his visit to this country in March. Bush had told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he was looking forward to eating Indian mangoes. He may finally get these on his table. Sources say the Ratnagiri variety rather than the much touted Alphonso might be the mango of choice. The US Agency for International Development has facilitated direct purchase of mangoes from farmers by a leading retail chain. Indian Left in Nepal CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury has become quite an icon in neighbouring Nepal, having championed the cause of multi-party democracy in that country. He seems to have brought round the Maoists who refused to bow to the diktat of King Gyanendra. He was present in Kathmandu when the reinstated Parliament met for its first session in four years. The CPI preferred to remain low key and out of the limelight. CPI’s Atul Anjan reached Kathmandu a day before Yechury and NCP’s D P Tripathi landed there. Sources reveal that it was CPI’s D Raja who was actively involved in the peace process and inexplicably steered clear of being in Kathmandu. Hooda skips Israel visit Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has deputed his agriculture minister to accompany union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar during his upcoming visit to Israel. Hooda’s last minute change of plans was necessitated because of a wedding in Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi’s family. Dwivedi’s daughter is getting married and Hooda wants to make his presence felt at this wedding. It is no secret that Dwivedi is close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the importance of his being the Congress General Secretary in charge of Haryana cannot be lost sight of. Letter writing spree BJP Cultural Cell Chief D.P. Sinha, who was nominated to the governing body of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations during the Vajpayee government, keeps himself busy these days writing letters. After the defeat of the NDA government Sinha was asked politely to demit his office at the ICCR but he chose to stick to his post which provides him a steno-typist and stationary. Surprisingly, the letters are against the ICCR itself and his comrade in arms in this mission is a former ICCR employee who was thrown out of his job for absenteeism. Sinha has befriended the erstwhile ICCR employee which has not been liked in Sangh circles.
***** Contributed by R Suryamurthy, Prashant Sood, S Satyanarayanan and Satish Misra. |
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From the pages of Pre-censorship order
(Served by Punjab Government on the editor and publishers of The
Tribune) “Whereas the Provincial Government is satisfied in respect of The Tribune” (Lahore) of which you are the printer, publisher and editor, that for the purpose of preventing it from publishing unauthorised matter connected with the communal agitation following the resignation tendered by the Punjab Coalition Ministry, it is necessary to take action. Now, therefore, the Governor of the Punjab is hereby pleaded to direct that you shall not for a period of fifteen days, print or publish in any of the issues (including supplements) of the said “Tribune” or any other newspaper of which you may be printer, publisher or editor any comment (including headlines thereto) any statement or report which is not official, any photograph, any correspondence or article concerned with or bearing on the communal agitation, without its previous submission for scrutiny.
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The universe came into being by God’s will. — Guru Nanak Rivers lose their identity by submerging in the ocean. Men lose their differences by submerging in him. — The Upanishads You should restrain your anger and be forgiving towards mankind — The Koran
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