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A major
reform Protecting
the wrong |
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Women
victimised twice
Growing
clout of non-whites in US
‘Careful
driving’ times
Stay
ahead, but with non-toxic grain
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Protecting the wrong
Investigations
into the Ponty-Hardeep Chadha shooting episode have also brought incidental attention on the provision of security by the Punjab Police to various people facing threat in and outside the state. The state DGP has said that security given to those not authorised would be withdrawn. This is a prompt response, but a tad surprising in that the police had given the impression soon after the SAD-BJP government was sworn in that a comprehensive exercise to withdraw such unauthorised or unwarranted security had already been undertaken. The police chief faces an unenviable task. Given the ceaseless pulls and pressures that work on the system, and the confounding circles of connections across party lines, it is near impossible to ‘withdraw’ the unauthorised security altogether. At best, what happens is a reallotment. The particular case also reveals how fine the lines are that separate politics, business and crime. Ponty aide Sukhdev Singh Namdhari — among those being questioned in connection with the shooting — had an arms licence issued to him on a wrong address in Mohali. This should not be surprising as getting an arms licence for a man of Namdhari’s description is not a challenge. A couple of phone calls can get such jobs done. It is not just the specific individuals who issued the licence who are to blame, but the entire system based on nepotism, which is responsible in the first place for many officials being in the position they are in. Allocation of security is supposed to be based on the threat perception for the particular individual. This can best be assessed by those handling security matters, in this case the police. But one factor that also needs to be taken into account is the cause of the threat. There are many criminals whose life is under threat, and then there are people in public or national service who also face a threat because of their roles. Deciding on these two categories is simple; it is the ones who fall in between, or those using muscle power for political or material gain, that are the challenge. That is where a government’s discretion is tested.
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Women victimised twice
Crimes
against women — involving rape or murder — often find the focus of investigation shifted from gruesomeness of the crime and the culprit to the ‘character’ of the victim. Medical reports released to the Press last Friday, following investigation in the brutal murder case of a young B. Ed. student, toe the predictable line. Even though the sexual history of a victim comes to the fore in a medical examination, the way it is released for public consumption diverts attention from the crime to the juicy details of a victim’s sexual life. The police as well as medical personnel are well aware of the delicate position of women in society. Had women been secure, they would not be at the receiving end of violence. The young woman’s mutilated body was found in Panchkula, with both her ears chopped off and her head brutally smashed. When alive she was treated brutally, in death her ‘character’ comes under scrutiny and these lend a kind of licence of legitimacy to her violent end, overshadowing the heinous crime. The fact that such crimes are also about the vacuum in the law, lack of security, lack of gender justice, lack of fear of the law, police and judicial apathy and the complete lack of awareness that men and women have the right to enjoy exactly the same kind of sexual freedom, lead to such a mindset. It is sad that in so many cases where the police goofed up because it wasted time establishing the sexual history of the victim rather than looking for the culprit, many cases of crime against women remain unsolved. One has not forgotten how major leads were lost in the famous Arushi murder case. In Kolkata’s Park Street rape case, too, the fixation of the police to prove that the victim was ‘loose’ in character spoilt a clear-cut rape case. It is time the police concentrated more on the crime rather than on describing the character of rape and murder victims as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
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There is only one success — to be able to spend your life in your own way. — Christopher Morley
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Growing clout of non-whites in US
The
US Presidential race this year turned out to be an edge-of-the-seat experience with more or less equal chances for both candidates till the very last hours. The cut-throat competition between the incumbent President Barack Obama and the Republican challenger Mitt Romney made the journey to the polling day a bitter and exhausting experience. But, in the end, Obama’s sustained lead in the electoral college served him well and won him back the White House with a clear majority. Performing beyond expectations, Obama secured victories in eight of the nine swing states — Florida, Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Virginia, Colorado and Nevada — losing only in North Carolina. As the polling figures came out, it became obvious that Obama’s zone of supporters had stood behind him. Though Obama got lesser popular votes compared to 2008, African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, women and young voters, this time too, invested enough belief in the first African-American president to steer the country to economic recovery. Clearly, America is undergoing a significant demographic change with an increasing non-White population that is slowly altering polling statistics in the country. President Barack Obama himself symbolises this changing complexion of the United States. The political ascendancy of the minorities in the United States is being significantly felt for the first time and, as America becomes “less White”, political leaders and party campaigns will increasingly depend on the so-called “rainbow-coalition” of diverse voters. The American people have given Obama an enviable yet daunting task of overcoming many domestic challenges: the most critical of these is the one of setting right the American economy in a situation where the two parties hold diametrically opposite views on some of the most pressing national issues — tax reform, social entitlements, abortion, same-sex marriage or Obama’s healthcare plan. The ‘fiscal cliff’ looms large over the American economy. At the end of this year, the Bush-era tax cuts will expire and across the board spending cuts will set in, calling for an urgent reform of America’s fiscal management. And, with the Republicans retaining control of the House of Representatives, a policy gridlock is almost certain. This is an important juncture in Obama’s career that will test his political skills of reaching across the aisle and striking consensus with a group of politicians from the rival party who till now have been singularly focused on defeating his social restructuring plans in the Congress. The President of the United States, more than that of any other country, also unavoidably faces foreign policy challenges, some anticipated and some not. There have been enough analyses and polls to show that foreign policy issues do not matter much in US elections, though during this year’s campaign, differences between the policies of the two candidates towards China, Iran, the Arab world and the Israeli-Palestinian issue did attract attention. These and other unanticipated problems will acquire importance and test Obama’s vision and skills. Equally, they will give the President, who has had a strong foreign policy record, the opportunity to solidify his position to build a lasting legacy. Counter-terrorism post-Osama Bin Laden, US response to Iran’s nuclear aspirations, America’s equation with Israel and policy challenges accruing out of revolutionary changes in the Middle East and North Africa will be important markers of Obama’s foreign policy. The drawdown of US forces in Afghanistan, America’s relations with Russia and its Asia policy amidst China’s undeniable rise will also require the administration’s equally close attention. Though India did not figure in the US election debates, it did make some guest appearances during electoral rhetoric on outsourcing. But that should not be a cause for concern: demands of business and profit will take care of issues of this kind. While Indians generally favoured the re-election of President Obama, there was also a calm confidence that Indo-US relations would see an upward trend no matter who occupied the Oval Office. However, there does not seem to be much room for a dramatic breakthrough in Obama’s second term except, perhaps, in scientific and high-tech exchanges and cooperation in the modernisation of India’s military. Incremental progress should be expected in ironing out bottlenecks in cooperation in areas such as civilian nuclear energy and climate change. US concern over Iran’s nuclear aspirations need not be a test case for India-US relationship. No doubt, Iran will continue to hog the limelight among US policymakers. India too does not want Iran to go nuclear and if US-Iran tensions heighten, New Delhi will be hard-pressed to find new narratives to take forward its relations with Tehran without jeopardising its emerging convergence with Washington. Our policy makers should try to find a role for New Delhi in bringing about a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran. As the drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan in 2014 nears, a somewhat enhanced role for India in Afghanistan should not be ruled out. Pakistan, like a conjoined twin, is linked to the genesis and also to the solutions of the problems in Afghanistan. We need to reassure Pakistan of India’s recognition of this reality and explore ways of India-Pakistan-US cooperation in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. America’s re-balancing strategy towards Asia-Pacific (the so-called ‘Asia Pivot’) is bound to become a major item in the agenda of both New Delhi and Washington; for the United States considers its burgeoning defence relationship with India as the lynchpin of this strategy. In the face of a rising China, early indication of US policy point towards reaffirming America’s old alliances with countries like Australia, Japan and South Korea and cementing new relationships with emerging countries like India, Indonesia and other Asian countries wary of China’s aggressive posture in the region. Obama’s first foreign policy visit after re-election to Cambodia, Thailand and especially Myanmar, which is undergoing a sensitive transition, will reinforce this trend. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the US have positive views on India’s growth story and its implications for the region and beyond. The United States seems confident that India’s re-energised ‘Look East Policy’ is good for regional stability and, to a large extent, is congruent with America’s policy vision and interests in the region. Four more years of the Obama administration are expected to lend certainty, continuity and stability to the positive trajectory of Indo-US relations. Strengthening of this relationship is vital for America’s role in Asia and for India’s regional and global
aspirations. The writer, associated with the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, specialises in US studies.
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‘Careful driving’ times GT Road
always invites and incites me to press hard on the pedal. The other day I was driving at 120 plus when a flash light blinded me for a split second. It was my daughter sitting in the rear. ‘I have caught a picture of the speedometer,’ she told me, ‘will use it somewhere.’ ‘But you had almost killed me. Don’t try a blinding flash again on anyone driving,’ I replied back. ‘Slow down then,’ she fumed, ‘what’s the hurry?’ And I did. Next day, there was news of the death of a politician of Punjab in the newspapers. The speedometer was stuck at 110. That’s rash driving, the news said. I cursed myself. No doubt, speed thrilled but killed. ‘I must be careful next time,’ I thought. A few days later, another heart-rending news appeared in the paper. A person from Nayagaon was reversing his car when his one-and-a-half-year-old son was run over by it. He couldn’t see the toddler standing near the rear wheel. And the man was taking out his car only to leave for a thanksgiving trip to some religious place for having been blessed with a son. The child couldn’t be saved. A permanent darkness dawned on the lives of the family members. While reversing, most of the sedans don’t allow you to see the ground behind. Smaller cars like Maruti 800, Zen and Fiat posed no difficulty during reversing. Mid-sized and bigger lots of cars allow no access to the background. Lots of guesswork is involved. Here lies the danger. Before reversing, there is no harm in getting down and checking the back scene for a child or an animal or a scooter parked there. We are living in ‘Be Careful’ times. Plenty of cars that surge ahead on touching the pedal are swarming Indian roads. Restricted space, no knowledge of traffic rules and the ego of bigger car drivers touching the sky if a smaller car overtakes them compound the problem. And you never know when a truck’s tyre bursts, an axle breaks down or an animal springs up from nowhere in front of your fast moving vehicle. ‘Safety saves’ is one rule that has found its real expression today. Above all, the mobiles are adding fuel to the fire. Every person, while driving and talking on the mobile, thinks that he is driving in a perfect manner, without realising that all the vehicle drivers behind him are cursing him for his slow and erratic driving. A strict law needs to be enforced against the use of mobile phones while driving. My daughter sent the photograph she had captured to my son in Gurgaon. He held out a strange threat, ‘The day I come to know that your speedometer needle had crossed 90, I’ll drive my bike at the same speed on Gurgaon roads. Thereafter, you are the pay master for all the challans!’ His threat has its effect. I stand
tamed.
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Stay ahead, but with non-toxic grain The
concept of clean agriculture has caught the imagination of farmers in certain countries and is being promoted by small, well-organised groups, but it is yet to draw the attention of the farm community in India. Over the years, farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana have been concentrating on mass production of foodgrain and other farm products, by and large ignoring their quality and other related aspects. Bulk production was the need of our extensively foodgrain-deficit country some decades ago, when it depended on developed countries and imported foodgrain. All efforts were focused on enhancing productivity. How it began
Grain export
Export reject About 40 per cent wheat samples drawn from various stocks in Punjab failed recently. In some samples, Karnal bunt (fungal infection) was found while in some of the other samples
unacceptable levels of chemicals were detected. These stocks were rejected for export.
What can be done PAU recommends
US residue norms Eight chemicals were identified in the basmati rejected by the US. Among these were traces of pesticides such as isoprothiolane, tricyclazole and bavistan. It should not have been beyond 0.01 parts per million (PPM). Some pesticides allowed in other countries are banned in the US.
Insecticides commonly found in food Aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, dicofol, endosulfan, fenitrothion, lindane, monocrotophos, tridemorph and lufenuron
The use of pesticides was negligible in Punjab before the ’60s. After the green revolution, pesticides became an integral part of the farm sector. Extensive use of pesticides, weedicides and insecticides began in the ’80s and touched its peak in the mid-90s. Experts blame the cotton crop for the wide use of pesticides. In the ’80s, the cotton crop saw repeated attack of American bollworm. Desperate, farmers used all types of pesticides. There were repeated cotton crop failures in the ’80s due to bollworm. This led to a large number of suicides by farmers. In the ’70s, most “desi” varieties were replaced with hybrid varieties. In the ’80s, major pesticide companies had set up home in Punjab and launched campaigns in support of pesticides use. After cotton, farmers started using pesticides on other crops such as paddy, wheat and sugarcane. Earlier, farmers used to remove weeds manually, but in the ’80s, they started using weedicides. Export rejects The need of the fast-changing times is quality, clean foods within safe parameters fixed by various authorities for use of chemicals, especially in Punjab and Haryana, which have become foodgrain-surplus states. The international as well as the domestic market have become conscious of the (mal)practices, particularly excessive use of pesticides and other chemicals, being used to produce foodgrain, fruits and vegetables. Even the poorest of the poor countries have framed strict quality control parameters and introduced measures to check the standard of food items. It is an era where the brand determines the price. The best brands fetch the best prices. Quality plays the most crucial role in building the brand of a product that may be clothes, shoes or food products. Undoubtedly, farmers need to be educated in this regard. About 20 lakh tonne wheat is being exported from Punjab during the current financial year. In the recent past, rice consignments from North India were rejected by the US because these had traces of pesticides. This was not the first case of rejection. Some exporters feel international politics could be behind such rejections. Companies exporting rice have argued that they aren’t responsible for the quality of foodgrain. They have put the ball in the court of farmers, producers and the state government concerned. Failing samples It is a fact that chemicals are used by farmers to enhance productivity. To fight various types of pest attacks and diseases, farmers use pesticides, some times more than required. This is reflected at the time of testing of their samples. Excessive use of pesticides on vegetables and fruit crops has become a major concern. Failure of milk samples has also become a routine affair. As per figures of the Punjab agriculture department, the consumption of pesticides and insecticides in the state had jumped from 3,200 tonnes in 1980-81 to 7,200 tonnes in 1995-96. It came down to 6,000 tonnes in 2011-12. Pesticides are also used by government procurement agencies and private companies to save their stocks of foodgrain from pest attacks and diseases in warehouses. Bulk buyers of fruit often use highly toxic chemical to quicken the process of ripening. Blaming the farmer alone for the poor quality of foodgrain is unfair. Vijay Setia, former president of the Rice Exporters Association of India, says there should be a three-month crash course for a person given the licence to sell pesticides and other toxic chemicals for use in the farm sector. Basic knowledge about pesticides and their use should be provided to the licensee. Likewise, there should be a course for “arthiyas” (commission agents) to educate them on the quality aspect of foodgrain. Some weeks ago, wheat samples were drawn from various stocks in Punjab and about 40 per cent failed. In some samples, Karnal bunt, a fungal infection, was found while in others chemicals were detected. These stocks were rejected for export. Monitoring cells In the past, certain varieties of rice, with an excellent yield record, have been rejected in the market because these failed to meet even the parameters fixed in the domestic market. It will be wrong to suggest that our institutions are not checking the quality of foodgrain and other produce, but they are not working at a fast pace. There is an urgent need to gear up monitoring and set up special cells at the state-government level to sensitise farmers. The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice-Chancellor, Baldev Singh Dhillon, says the university is doing its best to guide farmers with regard to the judicial use of toxic chemicals and fertilisers. “We are focusing on promoting good agricultural practices in our farm extension services,” he says. Dr Balwinder Singh, Professor and head of the department of entomology, says: “The most serious problem resulting from the unregulated use of pesticides is the presence of residues in the food chain and other components of environment.” An encouraging sign is that the level of pesticide residue in food commodities has started declining. “Between 1997 and 2011, the PAU analysed 4,156 samples of various commodities. The contamination level was down 18 per cent as against 62 per cent during 1976-1996. The residue of pesticides was found in excess only in 4 per cent samples whereas during the 1976-96 period, it was found in 29 per cent samples,” he says. The propagation of the integrated pest management (IPM) approach has reduced pesticide application, especially on cotton and basmati rice. The PAU has launched a special monitoring project on the use of pesticides on basmati in 150 villages of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts, where high quality basmati is grown for export. The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority is also involved. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has not only fixed parameters for various eatables, but is also actively monitoring the quality. But the efforts being made by various institutions are far short of the desired goal. Keeping in view the vastness of the country, a sustained campaign is needed. States like Punjab, “lazy” on this front, should play a proactive role, since it is hoping to bring about diversification in agriculture. Dwelling on food quality and safety aspects, Dr SS Marwaha, Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (state-of-the-art quality testing lab in the country), says: “Food habits of consumers are changing fast the world over. In the emerging scenario, quality and safety aspects of raw and processed foods produced by using conventional and innovative techniques, including biotechnological tools, must be the focus. With increasing levels of competition in the food export market and awareness of consumers, the significance of quality has become paramount.”
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