Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL WHAT CANNOT BE CURED.... India is a country full of many serious afflictions. Corruption happens to be the most hyped evil but there are others that are much more insidious equally incurable. The evil of dowry continues to haunt the brides as manifested by in-laws cruelty and bride burnings. This goes on despite passing of Anti-Dowry legislation which instead of minimising the evil has indeed fuelled competitive dowryism with never ending demands from the have-nots and vulgar display of wealth by those with unlimited wealth. It is quite questionable whether it is ill-gotten or real white stuff. Vulgar is vulgar. The panaceas often reeled out have refused to click. So much so that women empowerment is now being canvassed as the cure. But none amongst ....more		Women's Welfare, Sans Finances, Sans Men By: Alka Gadgil Mumbai, --- In yet another -- and rather absurd -- example of the marginalisation of women's is sues by the largely male. . ... more Wanted: A new world money system By: Navin Chandra Joshi The 1998 annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held recently in Washington . .....more Untying the Chinese knot By : Jagmohan Mathur The Pokhran tests in May last enabled India to declare itself a nuclear weapon state, broke monopoly of the big five for possessing nuclear arms and proved beyond doubt ..more

EDITORIAL WHAT CANNOT BE CURED.... India is a country full of many serious afflictions. Corruption happens to be the most hyped evil but there are others that are much more insidious equally incurable. The evil of dowry continues to haunt the brides as manifested by in-laws cruelty and bride burnings. This goes on despite passing of Anti-Dowry legislation which instead of minimising the evil has indeed fuelled competitive dowryism with never ending demands from the have-nots and vulgar display of wealth by those with unlimited wealth. It is quite questionable whether it is ill-gotten or real white stuff. Vulgar is vulgar. The panaceas often reeled out have refused to click. So much so that women empowerment is now being canvassed as the cure. But none amongst the masculinity is in mood to surrender power in favour of feminity. The evil of boozing is no less pernicious. Some States dared impose prohibition. In fact, during the currency of Morarji Desai Government at the Centre fifty percent compensation was mooted for loss of revenue to the States who introduce prohibition. He probably thought that India lies in Gujarat. But no taker fell for it. Andhra Pradesh dared introduce it at the cost of financial peril for appeasing feminine vote bank. Within a year the saner elements, not the boozers, reversed it. The Andhrites are indeed grateful to Chander Babu Naidu for being realistic for being in tune with times. Bansi Lal in Haryana thought it to be the greatest moral exercise that would transform every Haryanvi to become virtuous. He thought that women of Haryana would greet his boldness with enthusiasm and folded hands. It would have been an electoral windfall. But reverse happens to be true. The women resented prohibition as their male folks started returning home much more boozed and well past mid-night as they would have their fill beyond Haryana borders. It also proved to be blessing in disguise for smugglers and bootleggers who never had it so good. And then it was total turn-about. Bansi found himself cornered by those intoxicated with seats of power and in no mood to lose their fortune for the sake of Bansi's moralism in the form of prohibition. Akali Dal in Punjab wanted it but seeing the Haryana fiasco gave up the nasty idea because liquor is part and parcel of Punjabi's fast life. The evil of defection gained momentum after Anti-Defection was enacted. Earlier it used to be one odd dis-satisfied legislator going for principled defection. After the law, it was wholesale. One-third at a time is legal. This means wholesale robbery. If one person steals, he is a thief. But if 34 in hundred indulge in day-light dacoity together it has the sanction of law. That is ridiculous. No wonder there is the cry from all sides to do away with this obnoxious piece of legislation which legitimises group-thieving. The evil of foreign jaunts continue to plague the body and mind of all those who occupy musical chairs. This goes on despite various missives sent by the Prime Minister. They know not whether tomorrow would as well be their day. So the adage of ''make hay while the sun shines'' motivates them all to go for the jaunt. Never mind if it be for 'family affairs' or bonhomie with erstwhile 'comrades-in-arms'. Nationalism is at a dicount while anti-nationalism commands a handsome premium. Preaching secessionism is one of those things. Singing patriotic songs or that Saraswati Vandana is against 'secularism'. The laws are such that provide enough of latitude to the money and clout wielders but hits at the root of fundamental rights of the poor. Black marketers, hoarders and speculators have full freedom while the honest and sincere invites witch-hunting. Corruption of course invites maximum media hype but otherwise as good as legitimised. These and many more serious afflictions make the life hellish. But what use it is to brood over when it is a fact of life. The teeming millions have no option to go by the adage, ''What cannot be cured must be endured''. Indeed people have displayed remarkable resilience by accepting all afflictions that otherwise hurt their body and mind deep.

Women's Welfare, Sans Finances, Sans Men By: Alka Gadgil Mumbai, --- In yet another -- and rather absurd -- example of the marginalisation of women's is sues by the largely male dominated world of politics, two male members of the Women and Child Welfare Committee of the Brihanmumbai (Greater Mumbai) Municipal Corporation (BMC) requested Mayor Nandu Satam to transfer them to another committee on the grounds that they are outnumbered by women and "have nothing to do." The 16-member committee has 14 women and two male corporators, Hemant Doke and Sakharan Gawali. Both members of the extreme right-wing Shiv Sena, the ruling party in Maharashtra, Doke and Gawali have not attended even a single meeting of the committee. It has taken the BMC 120 long years to set up, in 1998, a special committee for women and child welfare -- only after the 73rd Constitutional (Amendment) Act, which laid not only a one-third representation for women in all local self-government bodies, but also that such bodies should establish women and child welfare committees. One of the country's first municipal corporations, established in 1879, the BMC instituted a women and child welfare committee well after a number of smaller corporations and municipalities had done so. The BMC Act of 1879, formulated by Phirozeshah Mehta, exponent of self governance and freedom fighter, itself states that of the corporation should look into the issues of women and child welfare. Sudha Khire, BMC Secretary, says that the Women and Child Welfare Committee is considered "unimportant" --- for "unimportant", read "politically unimportant". There is no money and power assigned to the committee. "Smaller corporations have gone ahead and constituted such committees long ago. But they decided to form this committee just this year, as a major political change took place -- in March 1998, the BMC introduced the Mayor in Council, which means that the municipal council has administrative, legislative & executive powers, whereas earlier all powers rested with the Municipal Commissioner and the administration, with elected representatives, the corporators, playing the nominal role of merely endorsing decisions taken by the administration. But even now, "no budgetary allocations have been made for the women and child welfare committee," said Khire. On the participation -- or lack of participation -- of men in the new committee, she said, "Actually men have a role to play in women's issues, as with the functioning of clinics, maternity homes, immunisation; these are not the responsibilities of women alone. But men cannot tolerate women's dominance. Important portfolios are not given to women. Last year we had a woman mayor because it was reserved." Shraddha Jadhav, committee chairperson, has no misgivings about the disinterest of the two male members. "I tried to make them understand that they have a role to play. They can look after the implementation of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (an unemployment guarantee scheme) or maternity homes from their areas. But I don't know why they have not attended any meeting. Anyway, I will move a proposal for taking action against members who remain absent." Jadhav has no qualms about the committee not having any specific role to perform or not having any finances. In fact she seems nuclear about the role of the committees. In "Ours is a new committee. We are still trying to prepare the proposal. There is a concrete plan to start health clubs for poor women in slums," she informs. Jadhav believes that 30 per cent reservation for women in local self Government is necessary: "Otherwise they (political parties) won't give women tickets voluntarily. Women should get representation. Sakharam Gawali was not very forthcoming about his seeking transfer to another committee. "The mayor has assured me to look into the matter in a month's time. I could not attend any meetings because I was out of Mumbai. I have nothing more to say," concluded Gawali. Mayor Nandu Satam has, meantime, expressed himself in "empathy" with Doke and Gawali. "I cannot speak on this issue (women's). I have no information Therefore I cannot give justice to the issue," said Hemant Doke. Besides being a corporator, Doke is an active Shiv Sainik involved in running a Shakha (Community Centres run by Shiv Sena). Doke is aware that women have to face injustices at home and in society. He comes across cases of alcoholic husbands bettering their wives, husbands not providing enough money to their wives for running the house. "Poverty and illiteracy are the root causes of their problems. Through our Shakha we have done interventions to help women. But somehow I feel that I don't have the expertise on women and children's issues. Helping needy women in a basti (slum) is different and being on the committee, giving suggestions and planning programmes are two different things. Therefore I have requested the mayor to transfer me to another committee," he said. Finally he admits that men can take responsibility in women's welfare. Meanwhile, the committee sans finances has been given the task of overseeing the functioning of health posts in slums which cater to women and children and maternity homes. (Women's Feature Service) .

Wanted: A new world money system

By: Navin Chandra Joshi

The 1998 annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held recently in Washington to deal with the immediate problem of current global economic turmoil and the long-term unstable capital flows in the area of globalisation, have failed to help the affected countries turn the corner.

Even as American President Bill Clinton urged for a global regulatory mechanism patterned after the one put in place by the U S during the great depression to halt a recurrence of the current international economic crisis, World Bank president James Wolfensohn, an Australian born former investment banker, focussed on the long-term issues of equitable growth on which prosperity and human progress depend.

Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha stressed at the meetings that the capacities of the IMF and the World Bank should be strengthened so that they could go about discharging the traditional functions of temporary balance of payments support and long-term development financing. There could not be blurring of the roles of the IMF and the World Bank, he said.

Sinha argued that the quality and content of the response of these world bodies needed a sober review. "In particular, we must think creatively to ensure early and preemptive response to emerging crises. We must also find ways to better reflect the political dimen of crisis management in the dimension processes of the Bretton Woods institutions, especially since the enduring economic and social consequences of the crisis pose severe challenges for political management.''

Also, the finance ministers of the 54 Commonwealth countries, in their meeting in Ottawa early in October, suggested that "in view of the challenge posed by the dramatic changes in the international finance system, we believe the global community today must respond with the same vision and energy as did the framers of Bretton Woods.''

British Chancellor Gordon Brown pointed out that 'What began last year as a local and regional crisis centered in a handful of Asian countries, with its effects most sharply felt in Asia, has spread to Europe and north and south America, becoming what is now a global problem.''

The G-7 group has called also for an overhaul of the IMF so as to adjust itself to the ongoing changes in the world economy, but it provided a few specifics of how that effort should proceed. The IMF has been severely criticised for its handling of the economic crisis that first erupted in Thailand 15 months ago.

A collapse of currencies and stock markets triggered by a flight of foreign investment money has pushed several Asian nations into steep recession since then, levelled the Russian economy and is now threatening to strike Brazil and other nations in Latin America.

Surely, the Asian financial crisis has highlighted some of the weaknesses in the present international monetary system. It has raised the crucial question regarding the role of the World Bank and the IMF institutions which were the creation of Bretton Woods conference at New Hampshire in July 1944. There is a growing feeling that no longer these institutions are able to diagnose or resolve financial crisis, nor are they able to prevent any crisis in future whenever and wherever it may take place.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) also faces an uphill task of bringing discipline in global financial transactions. While most countries have been integrated through free trade and removal of tariff barriers, trade wars still persist and protectionism poses an important impediment in any endeavour to create an appropriate world economic order.

Several countries, particularly the US, have been seeking to set aside the concept of multilateral trade to achieve the small gains of bilateral trade. This trend is destroying the platform of world trade which had served all countries quite well. The multilateral system had distributed world wealth in a more equitable manner and also created wealth for the countries of the world.

In this background, the launching of the new Euro currency from January 1, 1999 is going to add a new dimension to the international finance system. For the better part of this century, the dollar has reigned supreme in global finance, both a symbol of American economic might and a contributor of it.

But a new rival to the dollar could eventually prove more powerful than the German mark or the Japanese yen: a single European currency.

"Although the political, cultural and economic challenges are formidable,'' an International Monetary Fund study said, "the Euro has the potential to reshape European and international financial markets and to transform the world monetary system.''

Time is therefore ripe that the major trading countries of the world provide a better access to their markets for products from the developing countries and seek a better integration of the world trading systems encompassing all the countries. Poor trade performance and high interest rates have together created enormous debt servicing problems for many developing countries.

Medium and long-term external debt of the non-OPEC developing countries now totals over 10,000 billion dollars and there is a substantial further amount of short-term commercial debt.

The Asian crisis has demonstrated how badly flawed financial sectors in a few developing countries and inadequate risk assessment by international creditors and investors can have significant impact in countries around the globe.

Interestingly enough, the G-7 countries have emphasised that Japan must do more to restart its moribund economy as a way of providing a market not only for its troubled Asian neighbours but also for US exports. In fact, these and many more have been the recent challenges facing the Bretton Woods institutions.

Presently, the World economy is not really prepared for the kind of free market set up which ensures equilibrium in all markets and as such, the need to refocus attention on these institutions becomes apparent. What is more, the laws relating to trade and capital for some concerned action by the Bretton Woods institutions which have certainly not become redundant for creating an appropriate world economic order.

With the globalisation of international capital markets, there should be fewer demands on these institutions to lend as private finance should take care of most of the development needs of countries.

The IMF and the World Bank need to develop a comprehensive multilateral approach to help countries reduce their external debt burden. One idea, which has not yet received full G-7 endorsement, is to sell some of the IMF's stock of gold.

The proceeds could be use either for direct debt reduction or to help finance extension of the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility (EASF) which provides concessional financing to world's poorest countries on condition that they undertake economic reforms.

Today, banking business being highly globalised, the crisis within banking sector in one country has its repercussions in other countries as well with an equal intensity. All these issues have to be taken up afresh at a new summit that may help to evaluate performance of world financial institutions in mitigating and solving financial stringencies.

The space of bank failures in several countries, including Japan, has made the desirability of a second look more critical and urgent. Perhaps, some new mechanisms may be thought of to avert financial crisis altogether.

—PTI Feature

Untying the Chinese knot

By : Jagmohan Mathur

The Pokhran tests in May last enabled India to declare itself a nuclear weapon state, broke monopoly of the big five for possessing nuclear arms and proved beyond doubt the capability of our scientists and engineers.

But one of the unfortunate fallouts of this glorious event was a setback to Sino-Indian relations which had started looking up in the last decade.

China's strong reaction on Indian blasts and India's equally prompt retort resulted in deterioration in the relations with our northern neighbour. But recent developments indicate realisation on the part of both sides on the need of checking the negative trend and efforts are on to improve their ties.

Whatever China may say now, it is a historical fact that it launched an unprovoked attack against India in 1962 despite the Panchsheel agreement between the two countries which prohibited interference in internal affairs, aggression against each other and stressed on the principle of peaceful co-existence.

China committed blatant aggression and India suffered a defeat which no Indian can ever forget. Hence India was bound to take steps to make itself militarily strong, not to attack anyone but defend itself against any threat to its sovereignty.

While condemning India on its nuclear tests, China should not forget its own record. In October, 1964 China conducted its first nuclear test and by the time CTBT took final shape, it had already conducted 45 tests and was reported to be possessing 450 nuclear weapons. China was widely condemned for all its nuclear tests but it went ahead defying world opinion.

Thus, China was not justified when it termed India's action on tests in this May as 'outrageous'. China, which merely expressed concern after the first test on May 11, later called Indian ambassador Vijay Nambiar to foreign office in Beijing and expressed its strong condemnation.

A Chinese spokesman described India's action as 'an outrageous contempt of the common will of the international community for the ban on nuclear tests and a hard blow to the international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation'

China also joined the United States in attacking India at the UN sponsored conference on disarmament talks in Geneva and in the Security Council and described Indian tests as a new threat to South Asia.

One of the reasons of Chinese annoyance seems to be defence minister George Fernandes' remarks in pre-Pokhran period that China was India's threat number one.

Another cause of its fury was Prime Minister Vajpayee's post-Pokhran letter to American President Bill Clinton wherein China was portrayed as biggest threat to India.

In view of the Chinese harsh attitude, Nambiar was called back to New Delhi for consultations.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin also personally attacked India and accused it of targetting China because of its aspirations to be a major power in South Asia.

In an interview, Jiang clearly blamed India for the tension in the region. Earlier the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman also accused India of triggering a nuclear arms race in South Asia but he was quite mild on Pakistan which also conducted nuclear tests after India. Some avoidable remarks against each other were responsible for deterioration in Sino-Indian relations.

If we look back at the history of relations between India and China it is the former which has been taking initiatives to improve the bilateral relationship.

It was the Janata government in 1977-78 which took the bold step and sent Atal Behari Vajpayee who was then foreign minister to Beijing to create understanding for resuming relations frozen since Chinese aggression in 1962.

Again in 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing to start the process of improving relations. It took another five years before an agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the Line of Control was signed in September 1993 during the visit of then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.

In November, 1996 President Jiang Zemin came to India and an agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the military field along the Line of Control was signed. The two sides agreed to speed up the process of clarifications and confirmation of the Line of Control in order to arrive at a common understanding.

Both countries are discussing the boundary question in the framework of the India-China Joint Working Group and India-China Expert Group.

The Joint Group has met ten times so far, the last meeting was held in New Delhi in August 1997 while experts group has met five times. Its last meeting was held in March, 1997.

Although peace prevailed on border, no solution to the complex border problem is yet in sight.

The solution of the border dispute may take years but leaders of both sides have agreed to improve relations in other fields such as trade and commerce and cooperation in scientific and cultural activities.

One of the irritants in building mutual confidence between India and China has been longstanding defence cooperation between China and Pakistan which has direct bearing on India's security. In early 1996, A CIA report published in Washington Times said that China sold to Pakistan 5000 ring magnets used for the enrichment of uranium to weapons grade.

Earlier reports said that Pakistan received M-11 missiles and related technology from China, which also supplied tonnes of heavy water. There were several other reports which confirm China's active help to Pakistan in its nuclear weaponisation programme.

It is a known fact that Pakistan has gifted away a chunk of 5120 sq km of northern part of Kashmir to China. The area belongs to Kashmir which is legally a part of India although presently under Pak occupation.

Besides this, China is also occupying 38,000 sq km in Jammu and Kashmir. India has conveyed its concern at the highest level in China on its military assistance to Pakistan which helped in nuclear weaponisation. India's concerns were reiterated to the Chinese side during the visit of Chief of People's Liberation Army General Fu Quanyou last April.

China's attitude has undergone a sea-change after May nuclear tests. Besides Jiang's bitter criticism, the Liberation Army's mouthpiece cautioned India against provocative statements such as those by George Fernandes and said that if this arrogant boast and military expansionism was not effectively checked, the consequences would be serious.

China also directly interfered in India's internal affairs when it objected to transfer of Jammu and Kashmir portfolio to the home ministry.

After Pokhran, India launched damage control exercise on diplomatic front. First positive sign from India came through minister of state for external affairs Vasundhara Raje's statement in parliament on June 4 when she reiterated India's commitment to develop friendly relations with China.

India, with reference to Jiang's statement also clarified that it does not seek any confrontation with China and the nuclear tests were driven by its legitimate security concerns, including proliferation of atomic weapons and missiles in its neighbourhood.

India also arranged a special credential acceptance ceremony of the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to India.

On the occasion, President K R Narayanan said both India and China had the foresight and wisdom to overcome all hurdles to mutual understanding and continue uninterrupted the efforts to resolve the differences through mutual dialogue.

Another major step towards improving relations with China was Prime Minister's special envoy Jaswant Singh's meeting with Chinese foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan in Manila on July 27 along the sidelines of ASEAN Regional Forum meeting.

The two leaders discussed at length the ways to make fresh beginning in improving the ties.

The two sides reportedly agreed to untie the knot of new complications. Prime Minister Vajpayee while replying to the debate on foreign policy in Lok Sabha on August 4 also stressed the need for efforts from both sides towards improving relations.

Later the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that the Indian side is expected to take concrete steps for normalising relations.

Some beginning has been made to improve relations but it appears to be a difficult task. Since American President Clinton's visit to China and assigning it a dominant role in South Asia, Beijing considers itself a super power in Asia and treats other countries inferior to it.

India is unlikely to accept China's hegemony in the region. Undoubtedly there is urgent need for removing misunderstanding between the two countries but it should be based on developing mutual respect and by appreciating each other's security concerns.

China will have to recognise that India with one billion population is also a big power in Asia and it is a nuclear weapon state and not ready to roll back its weaponisation programme.

'No first use of nuclear weapon' treaty which China itself offered earlier and now India is willing to propose with neighbouring countries, can help in restoring mutual confidence and friendly relations between the two great countries of Asia.

PTI FEATURE