Senior Citizen's Bill, a question on its significance

This monsoon session of the parliament will be witness to one of the momentous bills, The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007. But, the issue is, in a society, which is emotionally frail, will such a bill be noteworthy.

The country will soon be witness to a landmark bill being passed during the monsoon session of the Parliament. The bill if cleared will seek to provide a life of dignity for those in the twilight of their lives.

Fast paced lives coupled with an urge to make money instantly for a luxurious living have left little space for many of the urban city dwellers to follow the values of joint family system that India had once boasted of.

A ghastly incident, which made headlines in all the national dailies recently, of a 75-year-old woman dumped in a garbage, must have shackled many.

Chinnammal Palaniappan, paralyzed was found lying in a heap of rotting garbage by a couple in Erode in Tamil Nadu. Palaniappan alleged that her youngest daughter and her grandsons decided to do away with her as they no more wanted to take the burden of the old lady.

Home for the elderly and senior citizens are coming up in every nook and cranes of the country as present generation finds it difficult to bear the responsibility of their elderly parents. There are also many instances where aged parents are used for taking care of their grandchildren and other household chores.

The bill, which is soon to be passed, will penalize the guilty with a jail term of three months or a fine of Rs 5,000 or both for children who refuse to ensure a life of dignity for their elders.

The Bill, piloted by social justice ministry, provides for an inexpensive and speedy system where old persons can plead the administration to seek maintenance from their offspring.

Senior citizens however are divided on the issue as to how significantly will the bill address such issues.

According to Sudarshan Arora, a senior citizen activist, there will be a considerable amount of change… at least in a scenario where though people talk of Indian values, instances are there where children beat up their parents.

“The bill will bring about 25 per cent change in the scenario at least as I see. I have seen the worst of scenario in Delhi itself, where parents are beaten up by the children for not signing off the property in their children’s name. Many of these children do keep their parents with them but in very deplorable conditions. We had to seek the help of police in one such case to rescue an elderly couple in our area. So I am positive that this bill will bring about a difference,” said Sudarshan Arora, a senior citizen herself who is fighting for the cause of the senior citizens in the national capital.

But many elderly citizens feel, no parents will go to the court complaining about their own child, whatever worse situation they may be going through.

“See yes, there will certainly be a difference with the enactment of the bill, there is no doubt about that but tell me one thing in the Indian context which parent would want his/her children to be penalized? First of all very few people will seek the help of law in such cases as no one would like to see their children imprisoned. The parents would prefer to keep living at dire situations rather than knocking at the door of the law,” said P K Roy, a senior citizen.

A cursory collection of views from across the country revealed that elderly citizens here could be divided into three categories.

Firstly, those who have made or inherited enough wealth for themselves and their children sending or not sending money is of no worry to them. The second group comprises of people who fall in the “happy” category where the children take up the responsibility of their parents. The third category again comprises of those individuals who are from the middle or lower income group and are equally unfortunate as they are left behind by their progeny to fend for themselves at such a ripe age.

In the above context, the significance of the bill will have to be re-looked into as those who ought to seek justice in the court of law are so tired of taking care of their day-to-day activities that they will have very little stamina left to fight for their right.

The need of the hour is increased awareness, sensitivity and change of attitude among today’s youth. Apart from taking pride and studying the routine chapters in school on Indian values, what requires to be inculcated among the students is practical implementation of such values.

Highlights of the Bill to be passed soon (courtesy: Helpage India)

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007 seeks to make it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens. It also permits state governments to establish old age homes in every district.

Senior citizens who are unable to maintain themselves shall have the right to apply to a maintenance tribunal seeking a monthly allowance from their children or heirs.

State governments may set up maintenance tribunals in every sub-division to decide the level of maintenance. Appellate tribunals may be established at the district level.

State governments shall set the maximum monthly maintenance allowance. The Bill caps the maximum monthly allowance at Rs 10,000 per month.

Punishment for not paying the required monthly allowance shall be Rs 5,000 or up to three months imprisonment or both.

Drawbacks of the bill:

The bill nowhere mentions of any clause on the maintenance or tribunal of a childless couple or senior citizens who are unmarried.

The bill does not address the needs of those parents who do not possess any property.

Perk story: CEOs and MPs gain at education’s loss!

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s view to cap the salaries of CEOs has drawn much flak, one needs to understand the underlying reason. The government needs to divert money for education sector to fill the void rather than filling the MPs stomach.

INDIAN PRIME MINISTER had some time back raised a storm among the Indian Inc for advising lower remuneration to top CEOs and pulling them up for their ostentatious spending.

No doubt Singh’s suggestions did draw applause from the masses in the country, at the same time raising a series of debates on the issue.

While many feel that capping the salaries of the company heads will shackle the private enterprises, others say it is wrong to limit the freedom of enterprises arguing that the market being democratic should not be restrained.

Keeping the uphill salaries of the CEOs aside, let us sneak a look into the pay packets and concessions received by the Members of the Parliament.

According to a study conducted by rediff.com the monthly salary of an MP is Rs 144,000 per year (about $3,200), which works out to just Rs 12,000 (about $266) per month. Rs 14,000 (about $311) for office expenses every month, which includes Rs 3,000 for stationary items, Rs 1,000 on franking of letters, Rs 10,000 for secretariat services and a monthly constituency allowance of Rs 10,000.

Adding to that a daily allowance of Rs 500 when Parliament is in session. Parliament has three sessions every year, the Budget Session (February to May), Monsoon session (July to September), and Winter session (November and December). Apart from that a daily travel allowance of Rs 8 per kilometer is also given to the MPs.

Each MP and his spouse or companion is entitled to unlimited, free, first class railway travel anywhere in the country. They can also travel anywhere in India -- with a spouse or companion -- 40 times by air free of cost every year, business class.

An MP gets a sprawling bungalow in the heart of New Delhi for which he pays a rent of just Rs 2,000 (about $44) per month. Each MP gets near-free electricity of 50,000 units every year. And free water. The MP's bungalow is furnished with air conditioners, refrigerators and television sets free of cost. Maintenance of the house including washing of sofa covers and curtains is done free of cost by the government. MPs are entitled to three phone lines and 170,000 free local calls every year.

When an MP travels abroad officially, he is entitled to free business class air tickets. He is also paid a daily travelling allowance, which varies depending upon the country being visited.

Most medical expenses of MPs are taken care of by the Contributory Health Service Scheme of the Union government. Each MP also gets Rs 20 million (about $434,782) each year from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Fund. But the MP does not get the money directly. Instead, it is transferred to respective district headquarters where projects are being implemented.

As we know, if according to the Prime Minister, the CEOs or the people with white collar jobs are getting highly paid, it is because of the demand in talent and dearth in supply of people who can shoulder such responsibilities.

But what are our politicians, the regular visitors to the Parliament doing? Reaping the results of their campaign or making hay while the sun shines for their future?

While we ponder on the above points, it is essential our Prime Minister realize that the government should emphasize on upgrading the education system of our country.

If we have to work towards economic growth, which is a necessity, we need to tap people with white-collar jobs in this competitive global market.

The need of the hour is to re-evaluate the education system so that we have better and educated society groomed for such purpose rather than just literate citizens. Reforming the education system in the country can only do this. As we approach progressively in the global scenario, we should realise that we equip the future citizens with all the necessary weapons that are necessary for such jobs.

Educational Institutions run by the government should emphasize on English language rather than Hindi or any vernacular language… because it is English language that is in demand and is saleable in the global scenario.

Most of the government schools are in a state of apathy. Better infrastructure in government schools coupled with enhanced execution and regular attendance by the students will definitely bring about the desired results. Apart from the schools, it should be emphasized that higher education also should be reformed. Instead of becoming citizens with mere degrees, they should be well equipped to face the rapidly changing market.

And this can only happen when the so-called leaders of our country arise, awake and work towards the goal.

But this does not mean that the government alone is responsible for developing the society or the nation. A considerable percentage of the onus lies with the private sectors too.

There is something called Corporate Social Responsibility.

Companies like Sony have set examples by adopting whole villages in Japan in the early seventies and eighties. They took up the responsibility of educating to providing employment to the children of the village. As a result 18 to 20 yrs later when these children attained the capacity to earn their own livelihood bought Sony products for themselves. Few of them managed a job with the company itself.

In India too we have some examples where companies are involved in such CSR activities. Tata, Reliance, Birla, Mahindra, ITC are a few to name.

But with large number of companies floating in the Indian market and generating profitable amount of revenue, a modest responsibility shown by these companies towards the upliftment of the people and the nation in general will go a long way in pronouncing a developed society.

Lastly, it needs to be mentioned that last month (June 6, 2007) the United Nations have called for proactive promotion of corporate social responsibility by the world's business schools in their teaching programs. At their meeting in Geneva, members of the UN Global Compact Leaders' Summit called on business academics to incorporate what they called "universal values" in their teaching and research.

Global Warming: Isn’t it hot enough to act?

The world is witnessing a global climate change which is resulting in rise in sea levels and chaotic weather patterns. If requisite action is not taken we will soon find ourselves bereft of natural resources that form the very basis of our existence.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

May 6: While there is a rise in international concern and initiatives on the issue, it is time for India too, to take requisite steps and fight its battle against global warming.

Causes of Global Warming:

Carbon dioxide and other air pollutants, which are being emitted into the atmosphere, are trapping the sun’s heat, thereby causing the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest source of carbon dioxide pollution - they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, emit nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually.

Deforestation is another significant source of greenhouse gases, because fewer trees mean less carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen. During the past 150 years of the industrial age, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31 per cent in the atmosphere. The level of atmospheric methane also has gone up by 151 per cent.

Consequences of Global Warming:

Home to a number of natural wonders like the Himalays, which feeds seven of the great rivers of Asia, the sunderbans – the world largest mangrove forest which harbours wild species, unique only to the region, will soon find themselves in the pages of the history books if no immediate action is taken.

A study also revealed that the sea is rising at 3.14mm a year in the Sunderbans against a global average of 2mm. Global Warming would also hit Bangladesh hard as 17 per cent of the land will go under water in the coming years if sea level continues to rise.

Himalayan glacier will melt by 2030 and an island like Maldives will totally disappear by 2050. Other wonders of nature at risk are the Amazonian rain forests and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, according to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in its latest report titled 'Saving the World's Natural Wonders from Climate Change'.

Latest UN Report on Global Warming:

A United Nations panel released its most comprehensive strategy to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming in Bangkok on Monday, May 4, 2007.

The report said that charging polluters for their emissions - up to $100 a ton by the year 2030 - would spur trillions of dollars in investment which is needed to improve energy efficiency and develop alternatives to fossil fuels. It offered several scenarios for stabilizing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases.

Only one, however, would avoid global warming's worst effects - dangerous sea level rise, frequent drought and widespread extinctions. It requires emissions to peak in 15 years and fall to 50 per cent of current levels by mid-century, limiting temperature increase to 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

The concentration of greenhouse gases would be stabilized below 490 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalents. The current concentration is about 430 parts per million.

Action taken by India:

India seems to have woken up to the crisis with the Parliament deciding to hold a full-day debate on the issue on May 8.

Discussions will be on to take drastic steps to shift from fuels like coal and oil, which emit global warming gases upon burning, in order to avert a global crisis.

Female foeticide: Unabated in modern India

Sex ratio in India is getting more and more disproportionate over the years. Unfortunately the educated and the elite still seem to consider their male child a status symbol, and thereby partake in creating an imbalance in the male-female sex ratio.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

May 2: Female Infanticide is one of the issues that is gaining much prominence from all quarters these days, but a recent report in one of the leading national dailies about a baby girl abandoned in a dustbin came as a shock…yet again.

One tends to question, what effect do the media awareness programmes and different initiatives taken by the government and non-government organizations really have? Are they really effective in bringing about any change in the outlook of the society?

If not, where lies the loophole?

A baby girl tied in polythene bag and dumped in a public dustbin left to be torn away by wild stray dogs. An incident that took place nowhere else but in the very capital of our country.

To cite a couple of more examples, of many, the recovery of pieces of bones of newly born female fetuses from a hospital backyard in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh in February this year. And bodies of more than 100 fetuses found outside an abortion clinic in Pattran town in Punjab in August last year were both deplorable.

Case histories like these should make us think a hundred times before we call ourselves citizens of a developed progressive nation of the 21st century trying to live with the illusion that we are at par with the developed giants of the world.

We have developed technologically, no doubt, but are we putting these technological developments in proper use?

Portable machines are taken to remote villages by motorcycle. As a consequence, infanticide has given way to foeticide.

Reasons for selective abortions are many, from carrying the family name forward, lighting the funeral pyre to hoping for a male breadwinner in the family. But the reason, which tops the list, is dowry - a price paid by the parents to marry off their daughters.

“The laws are not being followed, I will say the agencies, the NGOs and the people are not at all aware on the issue. The root cause needs to be eliminated and that is the dowry system has to be done away with. Though Dowry Laws prevail, they are not being implemented properly,” said Manju S Hembrom, Member, National Commission for Women.

Dowry though illegal in India, but the law is almost universally ignored. For poor and middle class families it is a burden, which they are forced to bear.

“The police department specifically should be dealt with strictly and made corruption free. At times when the FIRs are filed by the girl’s family against her husband and in-laws for dowry related atrocities, the groom’s family manages to bribe the police and make an easy escape,” she added.

A 2001 government census revealed that there were 795 women for every 1000 men in Punjab but the numbers were no better in the posh neighborhoods of South Delhi.

Despite a law banning sex selective abortion is in force for a decade, as many as half a million female foetuses are aborted each year in the country.

Hundreds of clinics in the lanes and by-lanes of the capital carry out sex determination tests illegally though a board outside the clinic reads “No Sex determination tests done here”.

“The problem is that most of the clinics carry out such tests undercover. No one comes forward and complains in this regard. So until and unless the doctors stop adhering to such practices, things are not going to change,” Hembrom further added.

However, a handful of gynecologists, like Dr Archana Sinha who are into the mission of spreading awareness say they try every aspect to counsel each and every couple that comes for sex determination tests.

“There is a rise in awareness among people these days but there are many again who come to us for sex determination tests, we try all possible means to counsel them. Many understand but again there are people who insist and that is the time we have to warn them about the laws saying they might end up in jail. They do go back, but find out other means to abort their child. Most of the doctors are doing their best in this aspect, we might be able to see the outcome in the next 10 years,” said Dr Sinha.

According to Dr Nita Mathur, Reader, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, India is a patriarchal society where there is preference for boys as they are considered a status symbol of the family. Another reason is that, a would be mother would like to have a kind of social security for her daughter, which is as good as non-existent in our country and due to that she prefers to go for abortion.

Dr Mathur advocates that only education or money does not necessarily bring about a change in the mindset of the society. It is the people particularly the men or the decision makers of a family who should be sensitized.

“It is men who have to be sensitized because in several families, it is men who take the decision. The education curriculum should be more gender sensitive,” said Dr Mathur.

Delhi ’s sex ratio began showing a sharp decline with the 1991 census figure of 827. The last two years have been the worst yet for the capital, with figures dropping steadily. A healthy ratio, according to world standards, is considered to be 952 females for every 1,000 males.

Gita Aravamudan's book on ‘Disappearing Daughters: The Tragedy of Female Foeticide’ presents a chilling and in-depth account of the growing practice of female foeticide in the country.

The author has collected accounts of foeticide and infanticide from across the country. A midwife from a remote village in Tamil Nadu narrates how the practice has moved on from feeding paddy husk and poisoned milk to stifling the newborn with a cloth or a pillow.

According to the writer, though India has a history of skewed female sex ratio, what the country is witnessing today is the systematic extermination of the female child, with the ultrasound machine serving as an instrument of murder.

The book also makes it clear that if the macabre practice continues, it would spell doom for both sons and daughters and will have a disastrous impact on the future generations.

It is a shame that in a country like India where we worship ‘Shakti’ or the female form the very existence of the females is being threatened.

Smoking issues: Is it political gains vs. health?

The recent ruling of the Delhi government to withdraw tax on hookah tobacco has raised many eyebrows. Experts from the medical fraternity argue that the recent decision has been made for mere political gains.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 27: The recent startling decision of the Delhi government to withdraw tax on hookah tobacco has compelled many aware citizens of the country to question the motive behind such an act.

It is an established fact that smoking tobacco in any form is harmful for human beings.

It may be mentioned that the decision to withdraw the 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was taken after a group of people from Delhi villages, led by two Congress MLAs, Surinder Kumar and Balram Tanwar, recently met Finance Minister A.K. Walia and argued that smoking hookahs was part of the traditional culture of villages.

Dr. A B Dey, Senior Consultant, All India Institute of Medical Sciences argues the very possibility of its traditional use saying, “tobacco was brought to India by the Portuguese. These are all political decisions. After all the tobacco industry survives for political gains. Politicians are only doing lip service where anti-tobacco campaign is concerned.”

Dr. Dey lashed out at the government, saying the recent ruling of the government shows how serious it is about the health of its people. He said that the ill effects of tobacco and tobacco products are facts proven the world over.

Meanwhile flourishing owners of the Hookah Bar Restaurants in the capital and its outskirts feel that the decision seems to be encouraging smokers and might act as a boon for their business.

“You see all the smokers know that smoking is injurious to health. But with the present ruling many smokers might shift to the usage of hookahs. We know that hookah tobacco is filtered and has only four per cent of nicotine. So it will be beneficial in one-way or the other. Another aspect is that hookah smokers cannot use hookah in public places because it is cumbersome to carry such a huge thing. So this will discourage passive smoking,” said Mr Daman Sodhi, Owner, Oz, a Hookah Bar Restaurant in Gurgaon.

Regular smokers however feel that the ruling will not affect them in any way.

“See those who smoke or are addicted to smoking, imposing or waving off tax will not make any difference”, said Amit, a university student and a chain smoker.

Health hazards of tobacco use

According to a study by the federal health ministry, the health hazards in the tobacco industry are relatively high –34 per 100 population, especially suffer from tuberculosis and cancer.

In India more than 40 percent of cancer cases are due to tobacco use.

Tobacco Industry

The tobacco industry is fragmented across the country, with around 200 manufacturers in every state. But Madhya Pradesh is the major producer of tobacco products because of easy availability of raw material in the state.

Tobacco is an important commercial crop in India. It is raised on an area of about 4 lakh hectares with an annual production ranging from 500 to 550 M.Kgs.

History

The Portuguese merchants first brought tobacco to India 400 years ago. But it was the Goan legislature, which passed the toughest anti-tobacco law in the world in 1997.

The Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act prohibits smoking and spitting chewed tobacco in public places including bus stands, beaches, and public transport.

It bans all tobacco advertising in the state and the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of school or any place of worship. After a long-term public education campaign involving the state's school children, the law has now been well received.

MOTOROKR-E6 brings in mobile multimedia revolution

Motorola’s new flagship PDA puts video, games, music and productivity in the palm of one’s hand. Launched on the theme of music addiction, the new handset is all set to revolutionize the mobile entertainment in the country.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 25 : A complete re-visioning of traditional music and PDA devices MOTOROKR E6 was recently launched in the capital. The elegantly designed entertainment handset has been particularly engineered to enhance the lifestyles of the professionals on the go.

MOTOROKR is the first Motorola handset in India to offer music ID and Screen 3. Music ID is a song identification service that enables a user to identify the song identification Service while Screen 3 is live news and information streaming service.

The pinnacle of Motorola’s heritage, innovation and leadership in multimedia, MOTOROKR E6 provides a winning balance in portable entertainment and business efficiency.

The MOTOROKR has been launched on the theme of “Music Addiction” as the device has the ability to create a great and better music experience. Its music ability allows the user to immerse in and interact with music.

Mobile style:
MOTOROKR E6 is the thinnest and slickest entertainment PDA measuring 14.5mm thick. Unlike its predecessors, most of the handset’s stylist exterior is taken up by a super sized 2.4” 240*320 TFT touch Windows screen... a first in mobile handset. With such additional external features as a high resolution 2-mega pixel camera, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, dedicated music and removal SD card memory slot MOTOROKR E6 is a true multimedia style.

Mobile multimedia:
With its built-in 2 mega-pixel video camera, MOTOROKR E6 raises mobile video to a new level. With high quality CIF(352*288)video recording and making movies has become much more easier.

With the superior quality of MOTOROKR E6’s camera which includes a macro view and 8* Zoom, one will be able to capture every minute detail, preserving the entire special moments and people in one’s life with incredible credibility.

Mobile entertainment:
MOTOROKR E6 makes gaming truly mobile. The E6 comes with a high resolution 320*240 TFT Touch Windows Screen and a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack that together deliver a superior gaming experience.


Mobile productivity:
Even when entertainment gets paused as the real world comes crashing in, MOTOROKR E6 will shift gears seamlessly to meet one’s every need.

Available at Rs 18,500, Motorola’s new entertainment enabled handset is sure to be hot in demand among the mobile freaks in the country.

The quota menace, careers at stake

It’s a fight between power and quest for knowledge, as the HRD ministry and the IIMs decide on the date of the admission; aspirants and their parents’ spend sleepless nights hoping that the issue will be solved soon.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 21 : In a bid to retain its stay the Human Resource Development ministry has asked the IIMs to defer their admission procedure till the Apex Court gives it verdict on the reservation issue.

This is the first instance in the history of IIMs that the admission procedure has been delayed.

The Supreme Court is to hear the Centre’s plea to vacate its decision staying implementation of the 27 per cent quota in IITs and IIMs on April 23rd. In a tussle between the court, the ministry and the IIMs, the worst sufferers are the aspiring MBA students.

“Presently students are in a state of dilemma; because of the delay they might miss out on the other options as well. Like some students who are serious about completing their MBA in time and have enough funds to go abroad and study but have kept IIM on their priority might miss out on either of the options if things are delayed,” said Prashun Roy, who has just completed his MBA.

All the six IIMs were to hold a meeting recently, to decide on the admission issue. But it was called off after the central government sent fresh notice to the B-schools to put their admission process on hold till the apex court hears the matter on April 23.

Aspirants say they do not have anyone to fight their cause. Hundreds of students shell out huge sums of money on tutorials to prepare for the entrance exams for prestigious institutions like IIMs every year.

But when issues of such kind crop up these tutorials do little to back their students.

“Our job is to conduct classes for preparing them for the entrance exams like CAT (Common Admission Test) in lieu of the fees they pay. What they do after the exam, whether they clear or they do not clear, whether they are gaining access to any of the institution or not is not our headache,” said the head of one of the premier tutorials of India.

Again, India’s reservation policy according to the constitution was formed for the upliftment of particular sections of society until a certain period of time or till the motive was fulfilled. But whether it still needs to be continued is a point to be justified.

It can be said that the reservation regime as it has evolved, is being envisaged as a stable and permanent power sharing arrangement between different communities and not as a temporary measure to rectify the disparities that exist in our country.

While the argument goes on, we can conclude that it is the aspiring candidates and their parents who bear the brunt of such decisions, not the politicians for whom power is the central issue, if some people suffer, so be it!

What made Cho a killer?

Much speculation is being raised to ascertain the reason for Cho Seung-Hui not being given appropriate treatment. However, experts in India say Cho suffered from a rare psychiatric disorder which is difficult to assess on a time-to-time basis.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 20 : The South Korean student Cho Seung-Hui responsible for claiming 33 lives in Virginia polytechnic institute was supposedly suffering from a psychiatric disorder. He had a record of stalking women. He was also referred to a mental health facility two years ago.

Cho had written play scripts so violent that a professor had asked him to seek counseling.

A Virginia “special justice” had given a ruling in 2005 that the student, Cho Seung Hui, was “mentally ill” and an “imminent danger” to at least himself and possibly others.

All these aspects compel one to ponder as to why there was no action taken for his treatment or arrangements made for the protection of the lives of other students.

Leading psychiatrist Dr. Samir Pareekh, says, “Cho is a case of psychopathology. It is a very rare psychiatric disorder, in which it is very difficult to judge the condition of the patient.”

“In this case the doctors could not have done much about it as the extremity of the condition of the patient varies from time to time. He could have been harbouring delusion and seemed to be suffering from psychotic behaviour. And that is the reason he acted in this manner,” says Dr. Pareekh.

Experts say graphical picture of the intensity of the disorder varies from time to time with a longer duration between two respective attacks. So it is difficult for doctors to say if the patient is suffering from any such turmoil.

Cho had sent video footage between the 7.15am shooting and the 9am one, to the news agency NBC claiming that he had no other option left.

The package contained 27 videos, 43 still photos, one audio recording and an 1800-word manifesto. NBC has handed over the original material over to the FBI. The news agency released portions of the package’s contents on Wednesday evening.

Cho, an English major who lived on campus, came to the attention of campus police on Nov. 27, 2005, when a female student complained that Cho had harassed her on phone and in person.

On Dec. 12, 2005, another female student complained after Cho sent her unwanted instant messages.

Cho also had several brushes with the law. He was stopped by police twice for speeding -- once on March 30 for driving 75 mph in a 55 mph zone.

On April 7 he was clocked doing 44 mph in a 25 mph zone. Cho was supposed to appear in court next month.

US witnesses' deadliest shooting: Arms law questioned

As the whole world laments the tragic death of the students and an Indian professor in Virginia tech University killed by a 23 year old Korean, debates crop up in various sectors regarding the existing US gun laws.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 19 : It was a black Monday for the students of Virginia Tech University in United States. More than 32 students including professors fell to the bullets of a 23-year-old South Korean student who was studying English Literature in the same university.

Dubbed as the worst campus-shooting massacre in US history, Cho Seung-Hui was apparently disturbed and described a loner by his classmates. The incident witnessed the death of an Indian professor and an Indian student, Minal as well.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the government hoped Monday’s shootings, allegedly carried out by the South Korean native, would not "stir up racial prejudice or confrontation."

This is second such incident that has occurred in the same university. Earlier it was a student again who fired at his friends. The issue throws up some very vital questions like, security measures in the campus, reason for such incidents and most importantly, the Arms Law in the United States.

The shootings sparked off criticism of U.S. gun control laws. Editorials lashed out at the availability of weapons, and the leader of Australia, one of America’s closest allies said that America’s gun culture was costing lives.

The 2nd amendment of the constitution of US reads:
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

A number of countries, which followed similar strategies, did consider amendment of their law, but United States has taken little note of the fact though, the country has faced similar attacks in the past.

According to Uday Bhaskar, Defence Analyst, these kinds of happenings in the US are not new and US in no way will amend their existing law but there is room for making the laws more stringent.

“This is not the first time that incidents of such kind have happened and sadly I do not feel that this will be the last time. However, there is room for making the laws stringent in colleges and institutions whereby the institution can debar students for carrying Arms and Ammunitions in the premises. Next, the age bar can also be increased from 18 to 25 or so. This way at least there will be some kind of control,” says Uday Bhaskar.

With the killing of Indians, criticism is pouring in from different quarters of India as well. According to Sathyamurthy, a parent and Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter, stringent weapon laws should be implemented immediately.

“One thing that reflects is the mindset and the time in which we are living. It is also the moods and methods of the contemporary society in US. It is not the first incident in US in recent times. We only hope that it is the last. Every time such an incident occurs there is a heated debate in the US about the need of stringent weapon laws and ultimately it is the small arms lobby that wins. This time at least one hopes that the case is different,” says Sathyamurthy.

Another factor, he feels that calls for urgent implementation is the need for greater societal cohesion and accomplishment of family values.

“Incidents of this kind also call for a greater societal cohesion and family values which is becoming increasingly scarce in a consumerist society. In the context Asian nations like India and South Korea to which Cho belonged, the break up in the joint family system or the inability to throw up a counter dealing shock absorber of the kind may have contributed to such delinquency. What may be needed is not only better weapon law but also parenting which is increasingly becoming absent in the consumerist society.”

According to the AP news agency, Cho walked into a Virginia gun shop, put down a credit card and walked out with a Glock and a box of ammunition. He paid US$571.

In India, civilians can posses arms only if they have license and do not have any criminal background.

Australia had implemented tough gun laws after a gunman went on one of the world’s deadliest killing sprees 11 years ago and killed 35 people and 37 seriously injured.

Handguns are also banned in Britain, a prohibition that forces even the country’s Olympic pistol shooting team from practicing on its own soil.

In Sweden, civilians can acquire firearm permits only if they have a hunting license or are members of a shooting club and have no criminal record.

In Italy, people must have a valid reason for wanting one. Firearms are forbidden for private use by Chinese citizens.

Criminalization of politics in UP

More than two dozen candidates with criminal records are contesting in UP elections. While analysts condemn the candidates being given the tickets, they voice that the onus lies with the voter who can check the entry of these criminals in politics.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

April 18 : The third round of the seven phased elections to the largest state in the country began today. More than 114 million voters are eligible to caste their votes to elect 403 members of the hugely populated state during these elections and each and every party is leaving no stone unturned to make a mark .

What is interesting is that in contrary to elections in other states, Uttar Pradesh is witnessing more than two-dozen candidates with criminal records contesting from various constituencies.

And leading the gang is Mumbai blast accused Abu Salem. Salem has filed his candidature from two constituencies of Mubarakpur and Azamgar under the banner of a little known political outfit Rashtrawadi Samajwadi Party. Salem, who was extradited from Portugal with the help of the Interpol, is currently in Mumbai jail. Salem candidature however is still in doubt. It may be mentioned that the Samajwadi party has withdrawn its candidate from the Azamgarh constituency leaving an impression that it is indirectly supporting the don.

Another candidate in the fray is thirty-five-year-old Seema Parihar, whose name was synonymous with terror until she surrendered in 2003. A woman dacoit from the ravines of Chambal, Parihar is contesting as a candidate for the Indian Justice Party.

Again Mukhtar Ansari, the don of Mau who is charged with crimes like murder and dacoity is contesting as an independent candidate from Mau constituency.

These were a few to name… And these goons justify their motive as well - If Balmiki could turn a saint and pen down the great epic Ramayana then why can’t the goons of today be given a chance to reform themselves.

While the voters of the state will decide the fate of the candidates during the month long elections that started on April 7, Analysts say the sole responsibility lie with the voters.

According to Professor Ramakant, “Criminals have adopted three important qualities of God and that is they are omnipresent, they are almighty and they do not categorize. But more importantly they do not possess the basic human quality that is they do not have a heart and show no kindness. It is the voters who have to realize this thereby not casting their vote for the candidate.”

He further said that there must be some law, which should defy such candidates from contesting for such important posts.

Senior academician and leader Sumit Vyas too opines the same “It is the voters and only the voters who can prevent these goons from becoming our leaders and taking care of our future. How can the voters bring such criminals to power?”

Citizens however say that it is the Parliament that should pass a law preventing such candidates from contesting in the elections.

“Ideally, Parliament should pass a law preventing “tainted” politicians from fighting elections,” said Sumit Awasthi, a college student.

According to a research, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) topped the list of nominees with criminal antecedents, while the ruling Samajwadi Party had fielded the maximum number of millionaires in the ongoing state assembly elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed the BSP. Of the total candidates fielded by the party, 27.03 per cent are facing criminal charges while the Samajwadi Party stands a close third with 26.5 per cent candidates from the rogues gallery.

Significantly, a large number of candidates including some of the multi-millionaires did not even have permanent account number (PAN).

So for voters who are yet to cast their ballot, selecting candidates who reflect criminal identity may come at the cost of electing politicians of dubious quality.

However, while candidates with criminal records continue to dominate UP’s political landscape, one hopes that the voters take up the onus on themselves to debar the tainted politicians from gaining their foot hold in the political arena.

Jet Sahara merger elevates passenger expectations

The deal between Jet Airways and Air Sahara is finally through. While competition in the aviation industry increases, passengers say quality would be the key and they expect better service at a lower rate post the biggest airline merger in India.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

WITH THE FINAL sealing of the Jet-Sahara deal, Jet is all set to acquire the shares of Sahara Airlines at a price of Rs 1450 Crore. This is second anticipated market driven coalition in the aviation industry after the government has already set the ball rolling with the merger of two state owned airlines Indian and Air-India.

Jet Airways-Air Sahara and Indian-Air India combine would now command over 50 per cent share of the total market and nearly 70 percent of the total capacity. This shows that there would now be a clear division between full service carriers and low-cost airlines. Jet Airways-Air Sahara and Indian-Air India would together have over 90 per cent of the domestic full service market.

Delighted on the merger, a beaming, A K Shivanandan, Senior General Manager, Corporate Communication, Jet Airways, said they are looking forward enhancing passenger benefits. “We will upgrade our facilities and provide the maximum benefits to our passengers. We are sure the passengers will be very happy and with our service and look forward to using our airline again and again,” said Shivanandan.

Air Sahara, whose parent Sahara Group had decided to exit the aviation business, had earlier been courted by Kingfisher Airlines but a deal could not materialize due to differences over valuation.

Speaking exclusively to merinews, an official of Kingfisher, who preferred not to be identified said that the merger will not affect Kingfisher in anyway as it is already witnessing a steady and positive growth. “Size of Jet Airways is going to increase but in no way will the merger have any impact on Kingfisher. Kingfisher has grown to great heights. If you see the market share of Jet, it has decreased by 9.7 per cent in the past two months. But if you see the market share of Kingfisher it is showing a steady and positive growth,” said the official of Kingfisher.

With a dominant player gone, price increases could become easier. All this makes a competition authority a must, to protect the consumers’ interests in the rapidly changing aviation market.

Again a common maintenance base and route rationalization could cut down operational costs for Jet. Adding to the fact that Jet will have more craft in its fleet while its rivals will have to wait at least 3-4 years before the aircrafts they have ordered, are delivered.

Frequent fliers feel they stand to gain in the current scenario.

“Jet Airways has been the pioneer in providing quality service to air passengers. And now we expect better quality service at a much lesser rate. The reason being, while the capital expenditure and the operational expenditure is going to be reduced with the acquisition, the frequent flier would expect rates to come down comparatively with quality service,” said R Jai Krishna.

Jet has already paid Rs 500 crore as advance in lieu of the shares pledged by Sahara last year. An amount of Rs 600 crore is expected to be adjusted as arrears, interest and other liabilities. Jet will pay Rs 400 crore by April 20 and the balance of Rs 550 crore is payable in four interest free annual equal installments commencing on or before March 30, 2008.

Jet will enjoy the rights on brand Air Sahara for first six months after which it would be returned to Sahara group. After exiting the airline services, Air Sahara would operate helicopter services under its own ‘Air Sahara’ brand.

Urban India needs to wake up and vote

The recently held polls in various parts of the country have brought forth the fact that the elite and the educated are refraining from voting. It is probably time to impose strict voting rules to have genuinely democratic governance.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

The recently held municipal poll in Delhi has revealed one of the shocking features of today’s democratic India. Residents of posh localities in Delhi preferred to stay indoors and abstain from casting their votes.

South Delhi colonies saw a voters’ turnout as low as 24-25 per cent. In Defence Colony and Saket, it was 24 per cent, in Vasant Kunj 16 per cent, 5 polling booths in JNU, where voters comprise mostly teachers and non-teaching staff, saw an even lower turnout of 12 per cent.

And this is not the first instance. We have been witnessing such occurrence for quite some time especially in the metropolitan cities.

Mysore district in southern Karnataka state witnessed barely 30 per cent of urban voter turnout in last year’s by-elections for the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency.

We take no time to point our fingers and say that the government has done nothing for the welfare of the citizens of the country. But why do we not realize that it is we the people who are responsible for bringing any leader or government to power.

The right to vote is the greatest power given by the democracy to the citizens of the country. And to exercise that power is the duty of every citizen.

President Abdul Kalam Azad had once said, “large voter turn out will be the first step towards realization of developed India 2020, and the second step would be to become enlightened righteous citizens.”

But are we really concerned about the future of the country or we are happy to fulfill our own selfish motives.

Professor Suhas Palshikar, a psephologist and a professor in the department of politics and Public Administration in Pune University, says that the elite and the educated have easy access to bureaucrats and the political big wigs and this makes them feel that voting is insignificant.

“For an ordinary, poor and less educated citizen, voting is the main instrument of exercising his choice and asserting his viewpoint, whereas, for the elite and the educated, there are many other avenues of political expression. They have relations and friends among the bureaucrats, they have access to the powerful, and they have material resources. Therefore, for them voting is only a nominal and non-significant act,” opines Prof Palshikar.

According to Jagpal Singh, Reader, Political Science, Indira Gandhi National Open University, the onus goes to the education system, in India. He feels the curriculum, as a whole should be changed which would inculcate a sense of responsibility and respect for values among the citizens and not merely prepare them for specific career oriented-jobs.

“They have become indifferent to the general issues of the country. Though the issues of law and order, inflation, corruption etc do affect the society, these educated well to do people believe that they can voice their views through other forums like television, internet, news paper etc,” said Jagpal Singh.

One of the strongest factors that affects voter turnout is whether voting is compulsory.
In countries like Australia, voter registration and attendance at a polling booth have been mandatory since the 1920s. These rules are strictly enforced, and the country has one of the world's highest voter turnouts.

Several other countries have similar laws, generally with somewhat reduced levels of enforcement. Bolivian citizens who don't vote may be denied 3 months salary.

Imposing such kind of ruling might bring about a change in the overall political scene in the country.

India lags in health security

As India observes World Health Day, hundreds of thousands of people are still victims of abject poverty living in unhealthy conditions and deprived of access to adequate healthcare.

Pritha Roy Choudhury

WORLD HEALTH DAY, celebrated annually on April 7, marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year's theme is International Health Security. The aim is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future".

And, on the occasion of World Health Day as the government and non-profits come up with various measures to provide maximum benefit to the people, there are many segments of the society, which go unnoticed and needs immediate attention.

One such pathetic example is that of a 72-year-old cancer patient who allegedly jumped to his death from a high-rise building in Delhi on the eve of World Health Day. It is believed that he could not take the agony of living with cancer.

The question that arises now is: Are the hospitals providing cancer treatment efficient enough to boost the mental health of a cancer patient? Crores of money is spent on cancer research every year. Though our researchers have made credible progress in cancer treatment, are our hospitals capable enough to take care of the mental health of the patients?

Another significant area is that of the poor and downtrodden which is driven by lack of education, healthcare and infrastructure.

National programs to fight diseases like AIDS, TB, Malaria and Polio are there, but lack of availability of the required drugs or poor testing facilities are posing hurdles.

According to a recent World Bank report, education achievements are poor, particularly for girls in rural areas.

Expenditures on preventive health are limited and the private sector and accounts for 80 per cent of expenditures on curative health, despite the network of clinics and hospitals. Public health services are often regressive, benefiting the rich more than the poor.

Our country has come a long way since independence. Today, it is playing a significant role in the global arena. But it is a matter of grave concern that millions of people in the country are still living in abject poverty and unhealthy living conditions.