Excelsior... Nation

SPECIAL REPORT
Bhutan begins to
feel heat of terrorism

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The landlocked country of Bhutan is confronted with a serious threat-terrorism. Indeed, the Government of Bhutan ....more

Delhiites flocking in
with contributions
for quake victims

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Gujarat Bhawan in the quiet environ of Chanakya Puri is a busy place these days as people.....more

Authorities gearing up to
thwart onset of epidemics

AHMEDABAD, Jan 31: With hopes of finding any more survivors in the rubble fading down after five days of the killer earthquake.....more

PM cautions against ‘force’
in family planning prog

LUCKNOW, Jan 31: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today cautioned against force to ensure success of family planning programmes. .....more

Bonded labourers’ agonising woes
ILO wants India to act
against human misery

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Government of India is under pressure from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Anti-Slavery International to undertake.......more

Need for comprehensive
plan to deal with
natural calamities

BHOPAL, Jan 31: Despite situated in quake-prone Sonata (Sone, Narmada and Tapti).....more

Centre advises states
to set up exclusive
courts in jails

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Centre has advised the States and Union Territories to set up exclusive courts .....more

IAF air power
show cancelled

JAISALMER, Jan 31: The biggest ever "air power show" of Indian Air Force (IAF) scheduled at Pokharan ......more

SPECIAL REPORT
Bhutan begins to feel heat of terrorism

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The landlocked country of Bhutan is confronted with a serious threat-terrorism. Indeed, the Government of Bhutan has begun to feel the heat of terrorism. As it cannot deal with the problem without India’s assistance, a word has finally come from Thimpu for New Delhi for help and guidance.

The Government of Bhutan has, clearly, been forced to signal its readiness to the Indian Government for joint action to flush out insurgent groups belonging to India’s North-Eastern States.

Known as the "land of the thunder dragon", Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, bordered north by China and on all other sides by India. Bhutan has very high mountains, fertile valleys and thick forests.

Bhutan is a monarchy, without a written constitution. Recent reports indicate that the mountain kingdom is inching towards democracy. A political transformation is under way, its main force being the reformist monarch Jigme Wangchuk.

And time has come when King Jigme Wangchuk does not fight shy admitting the "fact" that insurgent groups from India’s North-Eastern States have deeply entrenched themselves in the jungles of Bhutan in recent years. The Government of India tried for long to convince Bhutan of the need for the joint operations, but Bhutan all along was wary of letting India conduct military operations on its territory.

Assam is known for the presence on its territory of terrorists of all hues. Many were not surprised when recently the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) killed 10 Bhutanese nationals at the Laki Bazaar area in Barpeta district, close to the Bhutan border. The victims had come down from Namlang, 7 km inside Bhutan, to sell their merchandise in a weekly market.

The incident came close on the heels of NDFB attacks on Bhutanese nationals at three places in the third week of last month, in which two persons were killed and two Bhutanese vehicles were set ablaze. The Governments of Bhutan and Assam have found themselves at loggerheads over the killing of Bhutanese nationals.

Bhutan has vehemently refuted Assam’s claim that the incident took place in the Himalayan kingdom and the bodies were later dumped on Indian territory. Bhutan has also dismissed Assam Chief Minister, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’’ claims regarding the NDFB’’ involvement in the killing.

If Bhutan has chosen to reiterate the statement that the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), which is currently holding peace talks with the Assam Government, perpetrated the crime, Mr Mahanta has deemed it necessary to insist that the killing of the Bhutanese people was a result of the continued presence of NDFB rebels in Bhutan. In fact, Mr Mahanta conveyed to Thimpu: "It is easy for the militants of both ULFA and the NDFB to cross over to Indian territory, commit crimes and then go back to their camps in the jungles of Bhutan".

The Chief Minister has annoyed the King of Bhutan by blaming his Government for not taking any action against the rebels. Bhutan’s King has chosen to avoid directly responding to the Assam Chief Minister’s statement. Mr Thinley Penzor, Councillor at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi, has claimed that the 10 persons were killed inside Indian territory. He rebutted the Assam Government’s claim that the NDFB was behind the killings.

Bhutan has lodged a complaint with New Delhi over the killings and also asked it to safeguard the lives and property of Bhutanese citizens. Bhutan, in fact, has conveyed to the Government of India: "Bhutan’s police have definite information and concrete proof that the attacks were carried out by the BLT".

This has added a new dimension to the attacks on Bhutanese citizens. Thimpu’s claim hints that the pro-talks BLT may have been used by certain forces to target Bhutanese nationals and thereby prompt Bhutan to take steps for the eviction of ULFA and NDFB extremists from its territory.

According to Army intelligence sources, there are nearly 2,500 ULFA and NDFB militants in Bhutan. And they have a large arsenal there. The command headquarters of ULFA is also located in Bhutan. Some underground Naga militants belonging to the Isaac-Muivah group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have already moved to Bhutan and set up training camps.

Delhiites flocking in with contributions for quake victims

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Gujarat Bhawan in the quiet environ of Chanakya Puri is a busy place these days as people are coming in with loads of contributions for the Gujarat earthquake victims.

The lobby of the Bhawan is a beehive of activity with officials having not a moment to spare receiving loads of clothes, food packets, blankets and medicines being brought in by taxis, private cars, auto-rickshaws and even on foot.

People have come prepared for anything to help the victims. While some make enquiries regarding blood donation, others volunteer to start immediately for the quake-hit areas.

"They need us, they need our help. I will do everything that could be possible. Today, I have donated money and blankets for the them and tomorrow I will donate my blood. I am also planning to go to gujarat to help in rehabilition efforts," said Dr Narendra Singh, who practises in CGHS in the city.

"This is all for the cause of needy and all the contributions are out of the sense of humanity," said businessman P Kwatra recalling that his great grandfather had lost everything in the Quetta earthquake in 1933.

"I can understand the devastation of the quake and would like to personally contribute as well as like my NRI friends to whole-heartedly contribute to this noble cause."

Supervising relief at the Gujarat Bhavan here last evening, O P Sharma, in-charge of the Gujrat earthquake relief cell talking to UNI said, "the response of the common people has been tremendous and contribution are coming in from both individuals and companies, mostly in the form of medicines, food items, clothing and blankets."

Mr Sharma said the collection work began at the Bhawan only on Monday. Even in this short period of two days, more than 20 tonnes of goods have been sent for the quake victims.

"Food items, clothing and other goods are sent through air to Ahmedabad, Bhuj and other areas in that state and distributed to the needy.

"So far, we have sent eight truckloads and collected around two lakh rupees through cash and cheques. We have sent ten tonnes of milk powder donated by the NDMC and will despatch another 30 tonnes soon. Blankets and clothes, both new and old, are coming in", he said.

"Foods items include mainly milk powder, wheat, flour, grains, rice, mineral water and biscuits. Packing and handling is taken care of to ensure that they are not rendered unfit for use before they reach the victims", Mr Sharma said pointing to the cartons and sacks piled up in a corner.

"Various companies are providing dry rations and medicines but given the enormity of the calamity, nothing seems to be enough and the relief work will continue for many more days to meet the needs of the survivors", he added.

"Cash and cheques are collected for the Gujarat CM relief fund and proper receipt and accounts are maintained," Mr Sharma said. (UNI)

Authorities gearing up to thwart onset of epidemics

AHMEDABAD, Jan 31: With hopes of finding any more survivors in the rubble fading down after five days of the killer earthquake in Gujarat, authorities are now grappling with the gargantuan task of disposal of thousands of bodies to thwart the onset of epidemics.

Officials today braced themselves upto dig out more and more bodies that may take the death toll well beyond the official figure of 20,000.

Hints of the rising toll was given last evening itself when Minister of State for Home and Information Haren Pandya had, during press briefings, admitted that the toll could cross the 20,000 mark.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, who toured Bhuj two days ago, had yesterday said in New Delhi that the toll could even skyrocket to one lakh.

However, the Gujarat Government had described it as Mr Fernandes’ "personal assessment".

Meanwhile, nearly 40 deaths were reported in the Indian Air Force (IAF) colony at Bhuj. Similarly, in the Army and BSF colonies, deaths had been reported. Gandhidham also reported nearly 250 fresh deaths.

With hundreds of vultures descending on the quake-hit Kutch district, especially the Anjar town, and decomposition of bodies, a heavy stench pervades the affected areas.

The primary task before the State Government officials, the Army, police forces and other agencies involved in the massive relief effort is to extricate the bodies from the huge piles of rubble, the only sight one can catch in the affected areas.

Thousands of bodies have been recovered from various areas and mass cremations held, but many more remain buried as earth moving machines like cranes and bulldozers are finding it difficult to wade through the debris of innumerable collapsed houses.

In the most-affected old Bhuj area, it is difficult for the cranes and bulldozers to go through the small lanes. There is an urgent need for masks and hand gloves and the State Government has been virtually caught napping to tackle the situation. Only few Army personnel and activists of voluntary agencies, besides the foreign experts, are equipped with the gear. (UNI)

PM cautions against ‘force’ in family planning prog

LUCKNOW, Jan 31: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today cautioned against force to ensure success of family planning programmes.

Inaugurating the family welfare and health mela here, the Prime Minister underlined the need to make people aware of the necessity of family planning instead of using coercive methods for its success.

Once family planning was implemented through coercion in the country and its impact had jeopardised the whole programme, Vajpayee said adding that wrong methods should not be adopted for performing right work.

There was a need to create awareness about the health facilities available for the people right from the time of birth, he said and added that lack of knowledge about the various health facilities had also led to population explosion.

Once the people are convinced that their children would have a long and healthy life, they will not go in for more children, Vajpayee pointed out.

Vajpayee said there has been an all round improvement in health facilities in the country though statistics available with the Government show a dismal picture.

Infant mortality rate was coming down due to the efforts of the Government, he said.

Lauding the efforts of private practitioners, doctors and NGOs in the field of health and family welfare, Vajpayee said some new diseases which are a fall out of modern living, posed challenges.

He said efforts should be made to find medicines for the cure of new diseases with the help of alternate forms of medicines like homoeopathy, unani and ayurveda.

Vajpayee said doctors should treat patients with sympathy and "health for all and cure for all" should be the motto.

He expressed the hope that the Mela would provide the best of medical aid to the poor and deprived classes free of cost.

Referring to the Gujarat earthquake, the Prime Minister said financial and material assistance was pouring in from different countries as well as from the states.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister C P Thakur, Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and other state ministers also spoke on the occasion. (PTI)

Bonded labourers’ agonising woes
ILO wants India to act against human misery

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Government of India is under pressure from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Anti-Slavery International to undertake a comprehensive national survey to identify the total number of bonded labourers in the country.

The ILO, in fact, has strongly recommended two steps-use of valid statistical methods and utilising the service of an independent body. After from the survey, the ILO has also suggested that the Government of India ask each State to develop action plans to identify, release and rehabislitate those in debt bondage.

Both the ILO and the Anti-Slavery International have highlighted the relevance of two other measures-one, each State in India should maintain statutory registers recording the release data and the compensation paid to rescued bonded labourers, and, second, carrying out reviews from time to time to figure out whether there is any relapse into bondage.

In its latest report regarding compliance by India of ILO Convention number 29 on forced labour, the ILO has referred to various cases where the authorities neither freed the bonded labourers nor proceeded against those indulging in the offence. The ILO’s report remarked: "The failure to bring prosecutions against those using bonded labourers appears to be widespread".

The ILO report has noted that those subjected to this form of slavery belong to minority groups who are "victims of discrimination, particularly indigenous people and those belonging to the socalled low castes".

A paper received by the Union Labour Ministry laments that even after 53 years of political freedom, a plethora of social reformation, labour and grassroots movements and the initiatives of NGOs, the prevalence and perpetuation of the bonded labour system points to an apathy towards the century-old human slavery problem.

Incidence of this system has been reported from 12 States-Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has already constituted a 7-member special group to review the existing schemes and laws related to the abolition of bonded labour. And Mr K Ramaswamy, member of NHRC, has goner on record as saying: "30 per cent of population were bonded labourers of whom 86.4 per cent were Dalits".

According to one estimate, 15 million children work as bonded labourers. Certain individual States alone are estimated to have a bonded labour population of one to two million people. There were well over 10 lakh bonded labourers working in Tamil Nadu.

The Ministry of Labour statistics of 1989 put the total number of bonded labourers identified at 242,532. By 1995, this number had risen to 251,424. These figures indicate that from 1988 to 1995, only 8,892 bonded labourers had been identified throughout the country, at a time when non-Governmental sources were reporting as many as 65 million bonded labourers in India.

Human Rights Watch, in its project report on ‘Child Labour in India’, pointed out that there are an impressive number of protective laws, Government decrees and orders, national policies and projects, standing and special committees and commissions, reports and recommendations. Unfortunately, the laws are rarely enforced, according to Human Rights Watch. This body has regretted that the recommendations are rarely implemented.

There is no denying that despite a plethora of national laws, their enforcement is often stifled by the general social apathy, caste-class bias, corruption and the sheer disregard for the widespread sufferings of child lasbourers.

Need for comprehensive plan to deal
with natural calamities

BHOPAL, Jan 31: Despite situated in quake-prone Sonata (Sone, Narmada and Tapti) linament zone, authorities in Madhya Pradesh seems to have made only half-hearted attempts to tackle temblors, and there is a need for a comprehensive action plan to deal with such natural calamities, experts feel.

Tremors of the January 26 killer earthquake in gujarat were felt in large parts of malwa region in Madhya Pradesh, including state capital Bhopal. Some houses in Patan tehsil of Jabalpur district developed cracks following tremors.

UNI reports from different regions indicate that barring some cosmetic steps, there was a lack of strategies to make populated areas, falling in "vulnerable zone" in the state, less vulnerable to temblors.

Most buildings in the state are designed "without keeping in mind the standard norms and would not be able to bear stress emanating from any geological vibrations," reports indicate.

Acting on the directives of Jabalpur District Collector, a plan has been concretised for the district. He had ordered preparation of a list of all buildings categorised as "dangerous".

Jabalpur witnessed a quake of intensity around six on the richter scale on May 22, 1997, that killed 39 people and destroyed property worth crores of rupees. In October last, another quake of 5.2 magnitude rocked Jabalpur, though there was no loss of life or property.

The region was jolted by several minor tremors as well during the past three years. The epicentres of both quakes in Jabalpur were in close proximity.

An Indore report said the district administration had drawn an action plan for the management of natural calamities. Various Government departments had been entrusted with the responsibility for its implementation.

District Collector Manoj Srivastava said Indore Municipal Corporation had set up an emergency control room after the Gujarat quake. The temblor made an impact on the district also, he said adding houses in some colonies developed cracks.

He admitted sufficient evacuation arrangements had not been made for persons dwelling in multi-storeyed buildings in case of any natural calamity or emergency situations like fire.

A report from Ujjain said district administration had begun a survey of multi-storeyed buildings. A camapign had also been initiated to disseminate security measures to be adopted when confronted by any such natural calamity.

In Rewa, the District Collector has activated calamity cell in the wake of the Gujarat tragedy.

Experts however described the precautionary measures at district-level in the state in the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake as "inadequate".

A comprehensive action plan should be drawn up immediately to tackle future seismological disturbances, they say. The situation demands immediate action as fears have been expressed that the January 26 quake might lead to increased geological disturbance in the region.

According to noted seismologist Dr Janardhan Negi, the Gujarat quake occurred not in the Narmada fault zone, but on its northern side. He apprehended that the Gujarat temblor could intensify seismological activities in the weak Sonata zone passing through Madhya Pradesh.

The Narmada, Tapti and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh are considered "earthquake-sensitive". The Nimar belt, especially Khandwa district, which witnessed geological disturbances during the last seven years, has been categorised as "quake-sensitive".

Seismologists stress on the need for outlining an emergency plan for quake-sensitive regions to reduce the loss of life and property and ensure proper execution of relief operations, should a quake occur in the state.

According to a scientist of the Disaster Management Institute here, the calamity management in quake-sensitive zones should be fully geared up to meet any natural calamity.

The thrust should be on ensuring that buildings follow diligently the standard set of rules and norms for coping with any seismic-induced imbalances, he opined.

Command operation teams associated with relief work should be well apprised of streets and buildings of the cities concerned, observes another scientist of the institute.

They should also be acquainted with nearest routes through which immediate assistance could be send to the affected cities. Plans should also be chalked out well in advance on how to send cranes and other machines for removing debris from affected sites. (UNI)

Centre advises states to set up exclusive courts in jails

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: The Centre has advised the States and Union Territories to set up exclusive courts in the jail premises for disposal of petty offences involving undertrial prisoners.

The Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs has told the States and Union Territories that such a measure would go a long way in decongesting jails. Special courts will be held once or twice a month.

The States and Union Territories have been advised to set up legal aid cells in all the jail premises to provide legal aid and advice to the inmates.

The Centre has suggested that the concerned district administrations and jail authorities should forthwith be asked to cooperate by providing space in the jail for the special court and legal aid cell and infrastructure in the form of staff and office equipment.

The Centre has further advised that state legal services authorities should constitute panels of advocates who would be assigned to the legal aid cells in the jails to give advice to the inmates and draft legal documents once or twice in a week.

The presence of lady advocates on the panel was strongly advocated as they would be able to win the confidence of women inmates.

Earlier, following a suggestion from the Chief Justice of India, Chief Judicial Magistrates and Chief Metropolitan Magistrates were appointed to hold courts in the respective jails.

The results of such experiment have been very encouraging. So far, more than 8000 cases of undertrial prisoners have been settled by the special courts held inside the jails. In the central jail at Delhi about 300 cases were settled in the course of three sittings only, an official release said. (UNI)