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Good news from farmlands The tasks ahead Judges and the poor |
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In the face of terror
Bull run on Sawaal Street
Anxious times for Bangladesh US must show leadership on climate change Biodiversity loss affects livelihoods
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Good news from farmlands IT is heartening to know that agriculture grew at 3.5 per cent — higher than the projected 2.6 per cent —during the last fiscal. Official statistics indicate that agricultural growth is inching closer to the targeted rate of 4 per cent and the national GDP growth to 9 per cent. This year too the monsoon is expected to be “near normal”, which augurs well for the economy in general and agriculture in particular. The country has witnessed a bumper wheat crop and much of it has been procured by official agencies. In the wake of a global food crisis, the country is well equipped and has a sufficient buffer stock to feed the poor at least for 21 months. This means the government will not have to import wheat this year. Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has even hinted at lifting the ban on wheat and rice exports –not necessarily as an answer to George W. Bush who has blamed India for the world food crisis. Senior Cabinet ministers are expected to review the situation soon. However, government worries are far from over. The latest figures reveal inflation has surged to a new high of 8.1 per cent. The prices of essential commodities are still ruling uncomfortably high. Despite record wheat procurement, the prices have not gone down yet. Though the crude prices have retreated from the recent high of $135 a barrel, the government is expected to raise the domestic oil prices any time, which will further push up prices. An increased cash in the hands of farmers, the transfer of funds to the rural poor through the rural employment guarantee scheme and expected wage hikes for the Central and state employees will raise money supply in the economy and demand for various products, resulting in higher inflation. Price rise, therefore, is the biggest challenge before the UPA government. The recent electoral setbacks suffered by the Congress are partly attributed to the government’s defeat on the price front. The government should not be in a hurry to remove export curbs or restore import duties. Let the prices first stablise and benefits felt by the people.
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The tasks ahead WITH the newly elected Constituent Assembly’s abolition of the monarchy and proclamation of Nepal as a republic, the country is firmly set on the road to a new Nepal. The royal flag atop the palace has been brought down and in its place flutters a new flag symbolising new expectations. It also symbolises the onerous tasks beyond flag waving that the Maoists have to accomplish. As they ponder the Leninist question on what is to be done, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) may find comfort in what has been an orderly and peaceful transition towards an altogether different democratic order. The new leadership under CPN(M) chief Prachanda has allowed the former king 15 days to move out of the palace. He can continue to live in Nepal with all the rights of any other ordinary citizen. With that part of the past firmly put behind, Prachanda has to now ensure that his government enjoys the broadest possible support of all the sections represented in the Constituent Assembly. This may require more give than take. The CPN(M) which drove many a hard bargain with the parties earlier in office should now demonstrate similar pragmatism in accommodating the demands of its former allies, namely the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML). In fact, the CPN(M) will have to go further than the NC and UML did in making the parties from the Terai genuine partners in the unfolding democratic process. Such an approach will make all sections feel they have a stake in the development of Nepal and create the political climate necessary as a prerequisite for effective governance. As one of the world’s poorest countries, inclusive economic development must be the foremost priority of the new government. This requires cooperation, assistance and investment from abroad, and the CPN(M) must create the conditions for encouraging these. Having embraced democratic politics, Prachanda must strive for the widest possible consensus on every issue to ensure that new constitution and the policies and programmes flowing from that are guided by the fundamental urge to achieve growth with equity and justice.
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Judges and the poor HAD such an allegation come from anyone else, it might have been regarded as a case of biased reporting, but when a parliamentary panel accuses the judiciary of giving “preference to high-profile corporate disputes” over cases concerning common people leading to long delays of several decades in disposal of cases, it is time to take serious notice. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice is of the view that corporate tussles are taking away a lot of precious time of courts. That is a rather odd spin on the fact that there are nearly 50,000 cases pending in the Supreme Court alone and majority of these cases have been moving through various courts for the past 20 years. If one believes the standing committee, this is happening to a large extent because the appeals by parties unhappy with decisions of tribunals set up through special enactments like SEBI, TRAI, Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal etc are consuming a lot of time of the Supreme Court. The parliamentary panel has also slammed the trend of frivolous public interest litigations filed by big industrial houses to settle scores with their rivals. Surprisingly, the chairman of the committee, Mr E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, has even linked the issue of the appointment of new judges to this so-called imbalance. While examining the government proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 26 to 31, he has said that while the proposal does have some merits, clarity is required why there was a need to have more judges. “If it means that high-profile corporate disputes would get preference, then there is no use of doing it,” he has warned. The committee’s view may not be to the liking of the judiciary, but the remedies that it has in mind are unexceptionable. It may ask the Supreme Court to fix a higher court fee for admitting corporate cases. It may also recommend the setting up of a special corporate Bench in the Supreme Court for deciding such cases. The common aim of all concerned should be that justice is delivered to the rich and the poor alike in the minimum possible time. The Parliamentary panel should not grudge increasing the strength of the Supreme Court to 31 judges. Appointment of more judges will certainly help reduce the backlog of arrears.
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There are two kinds of failures: those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought. — Laurence J. Peter
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In the face of terror THE latest in the series of terrorists violence which has taken place at Jaipur, has yet again confirmed the ability of well-organised terrorists groups to strike at will. Soon after the blasts , which resulted in death and injury to a large number, there has been no dearth of discussion and formulation of theories about the reasons why such violent incidents are recurring. While the Rajasthan police is going about investigating this matter in a thorough manner , political leadership, particularly at the national level has shown paucity of thinking. Without regard to the very serious danger to the country, they seem to be busy in deriving short-term political advantage. The mandatory visits by important political leaders followed by routine and oft-repeated statements have all been gone through. It is unfortunate that no indication has come about how they are going to actually tackle this recurring problem. It is common knowledge by now that India has been inflicted the largest number of casualties (death of persons) by terrorists, next only to Iraq. The Indian public, as was the case in Jaipur, has shown great resilience. This should not by any means divert our attention from the fact that what has happened in Jaipur is part of a continuing series of planned violence. Among the numerous issues that the Jaipur incident has thrown open, there are a few urgent and important issues that need to be addressed with all seriousness. The hand of Pakistan and in the recent times, increasing involvement of Bangladeshi nationals in the spurt of terrorist violence, cannot be overlooked. At the same time, since terrorist violence is taking place within India, we cannot lower our sights in firmly dealing with all those who are involved in violent activities, as an internal problem, whether they are Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian nationals. It is well known for many years that Pakistani and Bangladeshi agents have set up a large number of cells in India obviously with the help of Indian nationals. Therefore, there should be no hesitation in dealing with such people under the Indian laws with firmness and persistence. The Prime Minister of India has, while taking note of involvement of foreign hands in fomenting terrorist violence in India, highlighted the fact that attempts to develop friendly and meaningful relationship with Pakistan is making progress. This should be considered as a good development and the ongoing efforts in this regard deserve to be further strengthened. The same may also be said about the developing Indo-Bangladesh relationship. This kind of development should not, however, deter or restrain our efforts to firmly deal with individuals or groups, including those who may have come from Pakistan or Bangladesh, who are behind violent activities. National security should not be bartered for good relationship. After the Jaipur incident, security experts have drawn attention to the existence of a new terrorist outfit — the “Indian Mujahideen” who have reportedly claimed responsibility for it. This is a very significant development. Till not so long ago, India had rightly prided itself that none of the Indian Muslims has come to notice as taking part in the phenomena of worldwide terrorist activities. The birth of an outfit styled Indian Mujahideen would radically change this complexion. There are two issues which need attention in this regard. One is, for quite sometime now, political parties in power at the Centre are being accused of practising “Reverse Secularism”. This phrase has come into being to describe the alleged protective approach of the Union Government to Indian Muslims some of whom may be taking part in fomenting terrorist violence within India. The birth of the Indian Mujahideen should sound alarm bells in the mind of all those supporting reverse secularism. Unlike “Reverse Swing”, which is a popular term in the field of cricket which helps to deal with the opponent, “Reverse Secularism” may pose a serious threat and danger to the very integrity of the country itself. The other aspect is the large-scale presence within India of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Right from the early days when illegal immigration from Bangladesh came to notice , many political parties, including the Congress, have not only been turning a blind eye but also encouraging such illegal immigration with an eye on vote-bank politics. It would bear more detailed examination to ascertain if some of the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, who have been well settled in India for long, are now emboldened to come up with the new setup of Indian Mujahideen. If this assumption is validated , it would be fair and proper for the Indian Muslim community to help isolate the members of the Indian Mujahideen and help in bringing them to book under the Indian law. The record of dealing with cases of terrorism which have taken place in the course of the last three to four years has become a matter of some controversy. There are serious misgivings about the failure to bring to book terrorists involved in these incidents. While the Government of India has shown concern in dealing with Maoist violence by initiating a number of co-ordinated activities, including convening meetings of Chief Ministers and officials of the various States, there is no evidence of the Union Government taking such an initiative in dealing with terrorist violence in different parts of India. For these reasons , it will be a good starting point if the Union Government came up with a detailed White Paper on terrorist violence in India, clearly indicating the outcome of the investigation of the various cases and the steps they propose to take to contain terrorists activity in the country. It would also help to make clear the role played by the Union Government as the principal custodian of national security in dealing with terrorist violence .This is all the more necessary in the context of external agencies playing a decisive role. Clearly, the Jaipur blasts have brought to focus the dilemma of the Indian citizen. We seem to be unable to restrain foreign sources which are being accused of resorting to repeated terrorist violence within India, while at the same time there seems to be unwillingness to deal with terrorists violence firmly and consistently under the law, whether they are foreigners or Indians. Will this happen before more Jaipurs take
place? The writer is a former Chief of the Border Security Force.
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Bull run on Sawaal Street THE Big Fight. Stock analyst Rohoni smiles beatifically into the TV cameras for this studio debate on the burning issue: Who owns the word Sensex? Pardesai: So, Mr Rohoni, you are claiming a copyright over this term. On what basis? Rohoni pouts his bulbous lips, then shuts them. He’s a man with a cause, and a pause. His lips pucker again, ready for the (sound) byte… Rohoni: You see, I first used the word in my article. At this, the bushy eyebrows of the BSE representative dart northwards, like a bullish Sensex. BSE rep: As per the Articles of our regulations, we have every claim over the copyright. RH (after a pause): But it’s my idea that you copy, right! You… PD (interjects): Par, the BSE insists it was first with the word. RH: How can BSE have the last word? (His hand plunges several notches into the nether regions of his pocket to produce his original article). I have the date…Look, I used it in 1989, the BSE in 1995. I… PD (interjects): So, it’s a clash of date. RH: I coined it as an abbreviation for “sensitive index”. This has the BSE chap climbing up several points on the “insensitive index.” BSE rep: Bull shit! Our bulls and bears inspired it. Now, this gets too much for Rohoni to bear. He turns bullish, disengages from his seat and charges at the BSE bloke. Fearing blood on Sawaal Street, PD hastily puts a break on this bull run. Break ke baad. To contain the volatile conditions, PD ushers in a special guest, ahead of the stipulated time. PD: We have another guest. Please welcome, the gorgeous Sunita Sen… In saunters the sizzling star. Adrenalin stocks begin their rally. The pulse rates of the gentlemen breach the 72-mark. PD: Great to have you on our show, Ms Sen. SS (flashing her dimpled smile): Pleasure’s mine. PD: Ms Sen, you too are staking a claim on this term. What’s a share index got to do with Bollywood? SS: Oh, actors have a share in everything nowadays. Sports to stocks, you name it. PD: Par, what’s your claim? SS: Actually, my mom’s the one who coined it as a nickname for my Sen-suality Index when I was a growing girl. PD: Which date was it? (Impishly) How old were you then? SS: You don’t expect me to rattle off my age! PD: Gentlemen, what do you have to say to this? BSE: I’ll have to refer the matter to SEBI. PD: And you, Mr Rohoni? RH (smitten by Sen, grins coyly): Er…..r, I’ll drop the claim if only…(whispers something in PD’s ears who, in turn, conveys it to the actor. She nods). PD: Great, there’s a breakthrough. The issue’ll be resolved through a mutual fund of understanding. Thanks for being on the show. (Facing the camera, he winks) Hah, looks it was just a question of a
date!
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Anxious times for Bangladesh BANGLADESH is an exercise in politics. It proves the thesis that political parties are born, not founded. Situations or circumstances throw them up or create an environment where they come up. They are not an overnight phenomenon. It takes them time to germinate and sprout. The reason why the party imposed from above does not take roots is the desperation it reflects to assume power. The party does not go through the sweat and toil which grassroots work demands. The fault does not lie with the party which tries to circumvent the age-old process but with those who sow the seed and want to see it grow into a plant the following day. The intelligentsia in Bangladesh had an opportunity to provide the country with an alternative when the two main parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were exposed through the scams to which they had given their blessings, during their regimes, to benefit their relations and themselves. Both leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Khalida Zia, were on the defensive and did not know how to save themselves from the taint of corruption and graft that a special force had dug out. But the intelligentsia, used to calculations on paper and discussions in drawing rooms, wanted to work out the option to the last detail. Changes seldom come that way. Leaders have to jump into the arena to soil their hands and meet people in the countryside to convince them that their new guides would be with them through thick and thin. Apparently, they dithered. They were too cautious, too timid and did not look like a determined lot. But they have done a disservice to the nation because they gave it a false hope of a new party which would release the country from the maelstrom of corruption in which it had got stuck. In fact, the failure of these intellectuals has made another go at the third alternative more difficult. The nation which was looking for a clean start waited and waited when the intelligentsia thought and rethought over the prospect of their success. Such moments come rarely in a country’s history. But when they come they have to be grabbed with both hands. Some have to jump quickly, even unthinkingly, to fill the vacuum that the exposure of entrenched parties creates. Still, what has come out in public in Bangladesh shows how the successive governments looted the country and how even the topmost were not above board. They have been found playing ducks and drakes with public funds. Scams runs into hundreds of crores, money going directly to pockets of those in whom people had reposed their faith. Perhaps the military, which backed the Chief Adviser through the imposition of the emergency since January last year, too, indulged in much wishful thinking. Perhaps it expected the smell of corruption to be so nauseating that the rank and file of the Awami League and the BNP would revolt against the leaders. True, people are horrified over the disclosures, but see no option in a society where corruption has become the way of life. They also find the Bangladeshi leaders only small players compared to the ones in Pakistan. And when they can come back and reoccupy the centre stage, why not Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khalida Zia? This thinking is more due to resignation than love for these leaders. They feel they are stuck with them when nothing viable is on the scene. Religious leaders fulfill their need of sorts. But some of them have also been exposed. Therefore, the nation finds itself in a Catch-22 situation. In any case, they do not want military control to continue. They are liberal and democratic by nature. They do not want to go the Pakistan way where the military has come to acquire a say in governance. No doubt, the weakness of institutions in Bangladesh is responsible for the mess. Both the Awami league and the BNP have used them for their purpose and have left them in a shape where their independence raises questions. Still they have life and can regain their vigour if left alone. The Election Commission is an example. It has updated the electoral rolls showing the type of independence which has come to be recognised. Perhaps the military, even though behind the scenes, has over stayed. It should have left quickly after completing the initial cleansing. But then once the probe started it exposed more and more dirt. The military could not have left things halfway. But the contrary is also true. The longer the military takes time to quit, the greater will be the doubt about its intention. Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed has done well to dispel doubts about the promise that elections will be held in the third week of December. He has also given broad hints that parts of emergency rule would be suspended or relaxed to let political parties take part in electioneering and create a proper context for the polls. Ahmed has stressed that the political parties must not relapse into politics tainted by strikes, blockades or violent street protests. Bangladesh’s chief of army staff is sagacious enough to realise that there is no halfway in democracy. He has said from day one that they have no intention to stay on and that the forces will go back to the barracks once they have done “the job.” One hopes that Bangladesh does not go through the drama enacted in Pakistan. British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury said before going back to London that Britain will never support military intervention or martial law in Bangladesh. Now the US ambassador at Dhaka has warned that Bangladesh should not go the Pakistan way. The outcome at the polls may well determine the role the military adopts. These are anxious times for Bangladesh.
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US must show leadership on climate change THE climate change bill that US senators are to begin debating next week is a hugely important signal of intent on behalf of US legislators. Yes, negotiations could still alter the legislation. But the bill’s core proposition is correct: Unless the US radically reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, along with other major emitters, the damage to the climate will be irreversible. Radical reduction is unlikely to happen through voluntary action alone. Measures in the bill, through a mandatory cap-and-trade scheme, would reduce emissions 70 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. These cuts would be based on a carbon market incentive system that moves with the grain of action around the globe. Over the past few years, the debate on climate change has shifted profoundly. The scientific consensus that human activity is causing global warming has become overwhelming. The effect of unabated climate change is shocking and, as was shown by the report of Sir Nicholas Stern – the first authoritative study of the economics of climate change, commissioned by the British government in 2006 – it is far riskier economically to ignore climate change than to act to abate it. New environmental technologies, in fact, already drive a multibillion-dollar industry. Last year, an estimated $148 billion was invested in clean-energy technologies, companies and projects, a 60 percent increase from 2006. Round the planet, people are developing exciting technologies, changing their behavior and agitating for action so that responsibility on the environment will come in a way that is consistent with necessary economic growth. Meanwhile, fears over energy security create a synergy with the climate debate. With oil above $130 a barrel, there are reasons to act irrespective of concern for the atmosphere. Reducing carbon dependency also goes to the heart of our basic security needs for the future. I have long thought that energy policy is only a small way behind defense in terms of strategic importance to our way of life. Much is happening abroad. Europe has introduced the Emissions Trading System, with over half of emissions now tradable. The system is delivering emissions reductions and sending a clear, market-based signal to companies across the continent. Japan has indicated that it is open to a binding national target. China has already set new energy intensity targets. India is to unveil its first national climate action plan in the next few weeks. Israel recently announced support for a project that aims to add 100,000 electric cars to its roads by the end of 2010, providing tax incentives that will make those cars cheaper than gas-powered cars as a first step toward moving completely to electric. The Group of Eight major industrialised nations will have climate change high on their agenda at their July meeting. At the same time, President Bush will hold the Major Economies Meeting. The Clean Development Mechanism, while also by no means perfect, has established a basis for channeling resources efficiently to finance emissions reduction across the developing world. Clearly, many countries and companies are realising that, far from being a detriment to their economies, acting early to cut emissions can increase productivity and give them a competitive edge. And it’s not just outside the US: A majority of US states have climate action plans, and many American cities are already working toward emissions reductions. Hanging over all of this progress, however, is a political reality: There will be no consequential action on climate change unless there is a global deal. For that to happen, the United States has to lead to ensure that we have an effective agreement in which China and India take part. Science shows that the world must move to a low-carbon economy. America could use its technology and entrepreneurial spirit to drive this revolution. The UN process has produced the formula: There should be common but differentiated obligations for developing and developed nations. A great ambition, but what does it mean? That is the subject of the project I am leading that will produce its first report at the end of June. Without an American commitment, a global deal is impossible. This is an important moment where the United States can show strong leadership. If the United States commits to the 50 percent global target for a reduction in emissions by mid-century and to legislation that mandates action, it will transform the prospects for effective change. The writer was British prime minister (1997-2007). He recently launched the ‘Breaking the Climate Deadlock’ initiative. By arrangement with LA Times-Washington Post
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Biodiversity loss affects livelihoods MASS extinctions of plants and animals could have a severe impact on the living standards of the poorest people on the planet and cost up to £ 40 billion a year, the first major report into the economic impact of biodiversity loss has found. Global GDP could decline by 7 per cent by 2050 if ecosystem decline isn’t tackled, according to the study, unveiled at the United Nations’ talks on biological diversity in Bonn
this week. Scientists say biodiversity is facing its greatest threat in millions of years, with three species dying out every hour. Now, the economic cost of such destruction has been assessed. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity review analyses the financial impact of the loss of natural life. It is hoped that, like the Stern Review of Climate Change, which revolutionised the way countries looked at the economics of global warming, this report will galvanise government support for tackling the problem. The damage to land ecosystems each year is directly responsible for crises such as rocketing food prices. “Urgent remedial action is essential because species loss and ecosystem degradation are inextricably linked to human well-being,” said the report’s author Pavan Sukhdev. The Earth could lose 11 per cent of its natural areas by 2050 if we fail to combat loss of species diversity. Agriculture, the expansion of infrastructure and climate change would all contribute to this decline. “The loss of biodiversity and ecosystems is a threat to the functioning of our planet, our economy and society,” the study, funded by the EU and the German government, warns. Environmentalists welcomed the report’s “Stern-like” recognition of biodiversity. The subject has failed to draw the same funding and interest as climate change despite links between the issues. “Biodiversity is not just a green issue n it is life support, providing food, fuel, fibre, medicines, pollination, soil fertility and water, said Gordon Shepherd, WWF International’s director of international policy. “We have to integrate biodiversity in all policies. The loss of biodiversity is now affecting the economy through the depletion of fish stocks from overfishing and illegal fishing to agricultural activities polluting river basins. The Teeb report recognises the economic value of biodiversity for the millions of people directly dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods.” Over-fishing is one of the key areas explored in the study, which says all of the world’s fisheries are likely to have collapsed within 50 years if current trends are not reversed. For the billion people who rely on fish protein, this would have a devastating impact. Deforestation is another type of species decline with a link to prosperity. It makes the ground less productive for cultivation and fewer trees results in less CO2 being absorbed, aiding global warming.
By arrangement with The Independent
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