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JAYALALITHA IN DOCK |
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Luring Tourists to Ladakh The onions, which were the
poor man's staple .....more |
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EDITORIAL Madras High Court has dismissed the writ petition of former Chief Minister Jayalalitha and some of her cabinet colleagues besides senior bureaucrats. All of them face charges of corruption when she was at the helm of the affair from 1991 to 1996. The issue related to appointment of three Special Judges to try corruption charges against Jayalalitha. This was done under Section 3 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The whole idea for incorporating this section pertains to speedy disposal of corruption cases to have deterrent impact on others. The trial has to be done on day to day basis. The learned Judges have found no merit in the writ petition. The decks are thus cleared for speedy trial of Jayalalitha on various corruption charges. Jayalalitha in her petition quoted three reasons for challenging State Government's notification appointing special Judges. First one complained of political rivalry aimed at her political annihilation. The Hon'ble Court dismissed this ground since prima facie cases do exist to go ahead with the trial under the PCA. The second ground quoted by her was constitution of 'regime courts' wherein she pointed out that corruption cases related specifically to the AIADMK regime from 1991 to 1996 and that those who ruled the roost earlier stand excluded from its purview. She had argued that her predecessors in the governing apparatus were also in the thick of corruption and to that extent enquiry has to be much larger. As long as her regime is singled out for such trial, there is the charge of 'regime courts.' The High Court did not agree with this contention. In support thereof made specific mention that no complaint from any source is registered against previous regimes. In the absence of complaint, it is beyond the scope of any court to take cognisance of non-existing corruption charges against other regimes. The third reason cited by her was that the entire case was filed with a view to create adverse publicity against them. This was also not upheld by the court since such publicity adverse or otherwise is automatic for all political and public dignitaries which gains wide coverage. Section 3 of the PCA was also challenged but the High Court upheld its constitutional validity. Ms Jayalalitha faces at least six charges of corrupt practice out of which three have already reached the trial stage and criminal prosecution has to be faced by her to prove her innocence in the designated court. The three charges relate to amassing of huge assets worth Rs. 66.65 crore which have not been explained to the satisfaction of the investigators. The assets are duly listed and she would be hard put to explain the sources of such wealth within a span of just five years. The second charge that has reached the trial stage relates to granting illegal exemption from building rules to a hotel in Kodaikal. She has to explain why, how and under what circumstances and what consideration she violated the rules. This too is a water tight case. The third case pertains to procurement of 45,000 TV sets for distribution to village panchayats. Many irregularities and payoffs are mentioned in the chargesheet with supportive evidence. Besides, there are three more specific cases which are at various stage. The political ramifications of High Court verdict are quite serious for Jayalalitha in person and her party AIADMK. She stands humbled as regards her frequent pricking of the Central Government. In public esteem she cannot adopt 'holier than thou' postures nor the alibi of political vindictiveness. To that extent her popularity amongst masses is bound to dip and his rival Karunanidhi and DMK party headed by him slated to go up. By far the largest fallout could manifest in AIADMK MPs looking for other pastures with their unquestioned leader in the dock. There are already signs of fissures within the 16 MP AIADMK group who won't like to sink their political alongwith their supremo. This is a windfall for the Vajpayee Government which faced continuous on slaught from Jayalalitha ever since coalition Government was formed. It is apparent that remaining time of her political career would be consumed by trials in the courts with special Judges and trials going to take place on day to day basis. There could not be any worse setback for the iron lady who derived sadistic pleasure by ditching and pricking even her friends and friendly parties. The only silver lining is that she gets temporary, reprieve of eight days to appeal against High Court verdict in the Apex Court. After all she has as much right on nation's flexible laws as other VIPs facing corruption charges. Vajpayee Government has moved ahead with closing down of 8 Public Sector Undertaking that have been perpetually sick for years without any hope of revival. None of the financial institutions nor those concerned with rehabilitation had any panacea for removing acute sickness that has drained hundreds of crores from the Central coffers over the years. This issue did engage the attention of previous Governments also but they never mustered enough of courage to close such units. The white elephants continue to exist, albeit on paper without any production. Under prevailing laws the employees had to be disbursed fully salary month after month. The Leftist parties opposed their closure tooth and nail for political expediency. The Congress Party too dilly-dallied. The decision now taken by the cabinet is in line with progressive and liberal economy when sick units have no place for any more financial support from the Government. In fact two parallel actions are on to liberate the PSUs from total control of the Government. The first one is already on with disinvestment exercise. Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha reiterates that disinvestment slated for this year is very much on cards despite weak bourses and prospects of lesser realisation. For maximum price, a special board is being constituted to arrange systematic disinvestment to have full transparency at best possible price. The second item is closure of sick units. There are many of them. The eight units slated to be wound up will cost the exchequer a hefty Rs. 550 crore golden handshake for the employees. To that extent legitimate rights of the employees are taken due care of. In the process Government would save recurring expenditure of around Rs. 100 crore per month on such sick PSUs slated for closure. As Vajpayee Government has taken the vital decision regarding sick PSUs that cannot be rehabilitated technically and otherwise, it is just as well that J&K State Government moves likewise to wind up white elephants that continue to burden the empty coffers of the State recklessly. To be precise, hardly any State PSU is in good health. Some demarcation can be made for those whose continuance is in public interest and those which serves practically no purpose must be closed down. All these sick PSUs are located in prime areas and the realisations from sale of premises/land are going to be enough to meet the golden handshake liabilities. This would save the State coffers from persistent drain month after month and year after year. |
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Luring
Tourists to Ladakh Ladakh (excluding parts held by Pakistan and China) was opened to tourism in 1974 under pressure from tourist industry. Now it receives over 15,000 foreign tourists a year. And domestic tourism is on rapid rise. Once conditions in the Kashmir Valley are hospitable, numbers visiting Ladakh could go up dramatically. Ladakh, with its vast high plains and deep valleys -- one of the most elevated regions in the whole world -- offers its own geographical attractions. Many visitors, mainly domestic tourists content themselves with staying a couple of days in Leh. This is combined with drives into the outlying countryside and visits to monasteries. The excitement of coming to Leh -- at 11,550 ft, one of the highest permanently inhabited towns on the globe -- is often deemed enough. The other type of tourist, interested in ethnic authenticity or nature tourism, or a mix of the two, is apt to stay longer. And such a trip could include trekking. Ladakh has ancient caravan trails amidst some most challenging natural surroundings. And a population largely of Tibetan culture, thus providing a unique opportunity to discover the mysterious world of Tibetan lamaism uncorrupted by Chinese influence. Even a chance to meet pure Aryans like Da Hanu living around Tso-Horari lakes. In tourist promotion literature, "trekking tourism" generally refers to a mild sort of adventurous expedition where nature and primitives are to be met. Outside these two essential dimensions, a wide variety exists. It also goes by the name of "alternative tourism" or "sustainable tourism", something more respectful of the environment. Ordinarily trekking tourism puts more money into the hands of locals that resort tourism. Trekkers pay for lodgings, hire guides and porters, and buy fresh food locally. This type of tourist wants to be in contact with locals and is willing to put up with the existing stage of facilities. That way trekking is less demanding of costly infrastructures than, say, beach tourism. Ladakh, however, suffers a few disadvantages. Due to shortage of local supplies, trekking agencies often bring along all the needed food, even their own gas stoves for lack of fuel wood. With scarcely any rian, trekkers can sleep in the open air and bathe in a nearby stream if they feel like it. Opportunities for hired labour as porters or guides are also limited since the tracks are few and easy to follow, and ponies are used for porterage. What are the likely benefits -- and pitfalls - for the one and half lakh Ladakhis as tourism picks up, more so international tourism? Take the economic scenario. Surely the sums poured by the central Government into Ladakh's development projects are astronomical in comparison to the tiny number of beneficiaries. Much of this funding is concentrated on providing water and energy to the widely scattered desert villages. The latest one is an ambitious project consisting of the Egufa canal and settler colonies alongside. National security mandates that local people stay settled to mark occupation over the vast, inhospitable terrain. Yet the benefits of Government schemes fails to reach many of the needy. And there is the absence of medium or large-scale industries. The opportunities for regular employment for unskilled work are too scarce to absorb the already available workers. And new numbers are being added fast, more so since the tradition of entering the monkshood no longer appeals to young men. In this context, the advent of tourism does offer a break. Admittedly it brings only minimal financial returns to individual villagers, yet it's a help to a rural economy relying mainly on marginal farming and shepherding. Not necessarily the main activity, or one that can do the job by itself, tourism can be viewed as a convenient economic activity, at places the most promising option. For a vast areas such as Ladakh, influx of a few thousand tourists can't really inflict any significant environmental damage. Only the town of Leh - already blighted by urban sprawl has to be protected against pollution from the generated waste and auto fumes. And much stricter regulation of guest houses and hotels that have mushroomed in their hundreds. The usual run of international tourists shouldn't pose much of a security threat, too. Satellites overhead do a far better job of spying over a naked terrain like Ladakh's than a few individuals gathering military intelligence on the ground. Yet tourism may have effects, in ways that are not readily identifiable, which are highly potent in the long run. In a community-based society like Ladakh's, by customary usage most political power is the acknowledged monopoly of the village male elders. Tourism disturbs this equilibrium, as its entrepreneurial possibilities are mostly grasped by younger folks, otherwise denied access to power. Some youths even ally themselves economically with outsiders over the heads of village elders. Again economic activities that are inherent in the development of tourist industry foster competition over money. Thus they undermine the traditional barter setup; a sort of capitalism grafting itself on the ancient social systems still largely extant in parts of Ladakh. The privileged travellers, with their stylish clothing and equipment, beguiling manners and behaviour, often become role models for the ambitious young locals. It can produce its own discontents as well prove an influential factor in the process of internationalization. For the last few decades the Tibetan Buddhist culture in Ladakh has been under increasing exposure to outside influences. There is the large military presence, and the growing reach of radio/cinema films/television. School curriculum is the usual Indian one, that has little Ladakhi about it. Now tourism, both domestic and international, is adding another dimension. Ladakhi socio-economic pattern permeated with religion, which had lent stability and dignity to everyday life for centuries, seems under severe strain. Many of the young are rejecting their own culture wholesale. Understandably the community is nervous about losing its ethnic identity. No wonder the newly setup Leh (Autonomous) Hill Development Council (LHDC) requires children to wear the traditional goncha as school uniform. That's the rub: tourism can destroy tourism. Ethnic tourists seeks ethnic authenticity, but in the process they can destroy the precious resources itself. Tourist presence in large numbers acts as a force for integration and modernization. Actually international tourists want to see before this sort of life disappears. The ideal, of course, is to retain both the ethnic identity and tourists -- something that has been attempted most successfully by Indonesia in Bali. As tourists in Lakhs are attracted to this culture, the Balinese are taking extraordinary care to preserve their rituals, dances and symbols, even reinventing a few. Much research and planning has gone into it. A similar exercise would have to be undertaken for Ladakh, if we want to rely on tourism as a major economic input for betterment of local people. The entry tax of $10 ($20 for those visiting the newly opened far off areas such as Pangong) on foreign tourists is a step in the right direction. Indeed these tourists would well be prepared to shell out more. Resistance to the same usually comes from tourist companies who fear a cut in their profits. And means must be found to tax domestic tourism, which again consists of affluent sections. This could be done through adding an extra charge to the air fare and bus fare. And a substantial road toll on private cars. Funds so generated must be
earmarked for renovating and maintaining monasteries,
stupas, gompas, and other places of cultural/historical
importance. Some of these are currently in a sorry state. |
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