Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Anil Kamboj

A new set-up for better safety standards

By D. K. Arora

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) plans to establish an International Financial for Aviation Safety (IFFAS) to enhance safety standards globally, according to Mr. R.C. Costa Pereira, secretary general . ......more

Karnataka row
over medium

By Tukoji R. Pandit

Karnataka seems to have sparked off, not for the first time, a debate on the medium of instruction at school level, especially the primary school. It recently ordered-and then announced a reprieve for one year-that (government-aided) schools where English is the medium of instruction, will not be recognised as these institutions are supposed to be imparting lessons to pupils in the state's language, Kannada. In some quarters, the JD(S) -BJP government's move is seen as a deliberate 'anti-English' drive, a cause that has .....more

EDITORIAL

Stop this invasion

The current year is ending with at least one timely lesson for us. What has been a constant trickle is becoming a deluge in the State. The seizure of 3.5 kilograms heroin worth Rs 3.5 crores from three smugglers at Chowki Chowra under the jurisdiction of the Akhnoor police station on December 22 should open our eyes. It is the second major recovery of narcotics in less than a week. On December 20 a Pakistani smuggler was caught in Arnia sector in Ranbirsinghpura sub-division with 25 kilograms of heroin worth as many crores. In the latest incident the trio belongs to Rajouri district and includes a student. Prima facie it appears that the three of them were acting as couriers. The Pakistani citizen involved in the earlier happening has confessed to working for a drug mafia. It is necessary to reach the bottom of the truth in these matters. Hardly a month passes without one contraband drug or the other not being captured in some part of the State. It is a dangerous phenomenon. We are well aware of the unlawful cultivation of opium in the south of the Kashmir region. Efforts to curb it have not been wholly successful. It must be eliminated lock, stock and barrel. What is not yet known, however, is whether unscrupulous elements have built a mechanism to convert it into more deadly uses. For the time being a logical inference can be that the State is on the transit route of international trafficking of opium and its by-products. Studies and seizures in the past have revealed that several points in the country are transfer centres for heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan on the one side and Myanmar, Thailand and Laos on the other. Its ultimate destination is stated to be Europe. Continuing trouble in Afghanistan has seen it earn the dubious reputation of becoming the largest producer of opium poppies in the world. Pakistan, Vietnam and China too account for a major chunk.

Heroin's application enslaves the people in case they are not able to resist the temptation. Its injection brings an ecstatic, warm, glowing sensation, followed by relaxation and contentment. Within half a day the withdrawal symptoms set in with a craving for more. This leads to addiction in turn. An overdose of a relatively pure heroin can cause depressed respiration, coma and death. There is thus adverse effect on society as a whole. Not surprisingly, therefore, heroin is banned in nearly all countries even for medical purposes. Its possession can invite up to death penalty almost everywhere. This risk factor comes in handy for drug cartels to push its prices. From time to time the reports have appeared that intelligence agencies have not been averse to exploiting it for their own purposes. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is, for instance, exposed to the charge of using drug money to finance terrorism in the State. Likewise the United States' Central Intelligence Agency is said to have found it handy during the Cold War.

Gear, diesel, smack, Bobby, china white, black tar, horse, hunk, jenny, brown, brown sugar, dope and dark are some of the street names by which heroin is known. We should instead be familiar with its real face which is evil. It has to be knocked out of sight.

Apply strict control

The computer scam in the State Technical Education Department is possibly the first instance of gross misuse of funds sanctioned under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan. The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has discovered that the Department had purchased as many as 409 computers at exorbitant prices. Each machine was bought at Rs 43000 against the market rate of Rs 33900 thereby inflicting a whopping total loss of Rs 38 lakhs on the State exchequer. A case has been registered against five officers and proprietor of a private company. One hopes that it is carried to its logical conclusion. One often hears of corrupt officials and unscrupulous business persons joining hands to nibble into the public funds. Their modus operandi is rather simple. Inflate the cost of the desired commodity and prepare the official papers accordingly. It is anybody's guess that there is quid pro quo involved in such deals. Loot and scoot. This is what appears to have been done in the present case as well. There was clear violation of prescribed procedures. Neither the quantity nor configuration of computers was specified. For, the intention was clearly to extend benefits to an identified supplier. It could have been done only by avoiding a healthy competition. It does not come as a surprise, therefore, that the concerned officials had overlooked the available rates for computers for commercial use with three years' warranty. They showed hurry instead in buying them with one year's contract. Does this leave scope for any interpretation other than the one made by the SVO? There was wilful attempt on their part, to quote a source, "to confer undue benefit upon themselves and the supplier." From the available evidence one can only conclude that it is an outright case of corruption coupled with conspiracy. It brooks no sympathetic consideration and must be dealt with firmly.

What is unfortunate is that this will again show the State in a poor light. The impression may go around that it can't make even that plan work which owes its genesis directly to the Prime Minister's initiative. As it is the State does not have a good reputation so far as its developmental profile is concerned. It is generally believed that there has been a serious mismatch between sanctioned funds and their actual utilisation in every sphere of activity. The State as a whole is blamed for not showing the right temperament for making headway. Sleaze has eaten deep into our political and government apparatus. One can simply marvel at the construction boom and numerous rag-to-riches stories on either side of the Pir Panjal without any visible progress on any front --- industrial or other. It can't be explained easily. The armed militancy has made the malady worse. One may find one's heart aching heavily if one has a look back at the post-1947 scenario. The administration has not only become the biggest employment agency but its edge is also sufficiently blunted. Viewed in this context one would feel relieved if the computer scandal is just an isolated occurrence. It would be extremely disturbing were it to turn out as the tip of the iceberg so far as the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan is concerned. Who will care for us if we are not honest to ourselves?

Managing Indo-Bangladesh border

By Anil Kamboj

The Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh border passes through West Bengal (2217 km), Assam (262km), Meghalaya (443 KM), Tripura (856 KM) and Mizoram (318 KM). The entire stretch consists of plain, riverine, hilly/jungle and with hardly any natural obstacles. The area is heavily populated, and the cultivation is carried out till the last inch of the border. People of similar ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural character on both sides inhabit the entire stretch of border. They have the same physical characteristics. The riverine border, mostly in Dhubri district of Assam and southern West Bengal, presents peculiar problems, as it is difficult to locate permanent Border Outposts (BOPs) in the area due to swelling of the Brahmaputra and other rivers that increases the depth of the river by about 30 feet. The ‘char’ areas thrown up during the dry season and which people inhabit are almost completely submerged. Patrolling in such areas is problematic. The nature of the border configuration affords an easy opportunity to the infiltrators and smugglers to cross over to India. The crossing is further facilitated because the border is thickly populated. The southern frontier of the West Bengal border is much more vulnerable, and so the number crossing is larger.

Guarding of Border

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) of Bangladesh guard the respective sides of the border which is carried out from border out posts (BOPs). There are approximately 45 battalions of the BSF (about 725 BOPs) and 30 battalions of BDR (about 650 BOPs) deployed to guard the border. BOPs (normally comprising 20-25 persons) are constructed all along the border to promote a sense of security amongst the border population and prevent trans-border crimes. As against 25-30 kms (inter- BOP gap of 3-5 kms with fencing) of area covered by a BSF battalion on the Punjab border, about 90-100 kms (inter-BOP gap of 5-6 kms with no border or even a partially fenced border) of area is covered on the Bangladesh border. The fence is now coming up with 50 percent work already completed. The population is scattered almost along the entire stretch of the boundary.

Enclaves and Adverse Possession

Enclaves become convenient points for smuggling, avoiding customs and excise duties, importing of contraband, and are a point of entry for illegal aliens. There are 111 Indian enclaves (17,158 acres) in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves (7,110.02 acres) in India

Adverse possession mostly takes place due to the riverine nature of the border at certain places that leaves chars after the floods. There are 2,853.50 acres of Indian land under adverse possession of Bangladesh and 2,154.50 acres of Bangladeshi land is under adverse possession of India.

The Border Agreement of 1974 provides for the exchange of enclaves and settlement of the issue of adverse possession. A Joint Working Group has been constituted to solve the border-related issues. India has been insisting on a joint census of the enclaves before these are exchanged, but Bangladesh has not agreed to the suggestion yet.

Informal/ Illegal Trade

One of the oldest challenges to border management pertains to illegal trade/smuggling. The main informal trading centres on the Indo-Bangladesh border are Assam (Fakiragram, Mankachar, and Karimgunj), Meghalaya (Lichubari and Dawki), Mizoram (Tlangbunj), Tripura (Kailashahar, Agartala, Sonamora, Bilonia and Sabroom) and West Bengal (Petrapole, Bagdha, Mejdia, Lalgola, Mohedpur, Radhikapur, Kaliagang and Hilli). Availability of a large market and railways near the border make it easier and attractive for the smugglers to indulge in informal trade. The illegal trade is carried out mostly on headloads, bicycles, rickshaw, vans and boats.

The biggest item on the agenda of smugglers is cattle. There are large number of ‘cattle corridors’ all along the border and the cattle are transported undetected from Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, MP, and Bihar. As many as 1.7 million pieces of cattle were illegally imported into Bangladesh every year. These cattle were brought up to the border districts in the cattle mandis and from there unloaded about 20 km from the border on the Indian side (out of the jurisdiction of BSF) and then gradually moved towards the international boundary in small groups as part of the local cattle herds. Since the local cattle are allowed to graze up to the boundary, these cattle also formed a part of the group and eventually were made to cross over to Bangladesh through the unfenced border. Since the fence has come up in some areas, cattle smuggling has some what gone down.

Illegal Migration from Bangladesh

One of the most serious and longstanding problems is illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals to India.

Unabated illegal immigration has caused serious long term economic, political, and social and security implications for India. These immigrants have settled in and round the border areas including all the north-eastern states of India and also as far away as Delhi, Mumbai and other parts. The influx has its security implications like the strategic Siliguri corridor falling into the hands of such people whose loyalty is untested. The change in demographic pattern is already responsible for the ongoing insurgency in Assam and Tripura. Increase in the population of the northeastern states is reflected in the census figures of 1991 and 2001. A time will come when these elements will have a greater say in the political decision-making. These developments on the Indian side are being echoed on the Bangladeshi side by elements that propagate the view that the borders defined at the time of partition are no longer relevant and need to be altered taking into account the recent demographic changes. This fast population growth, in the Indian Border States not only affect the political and social fabric of these states but also puts a heavy burden on their economy and development. Madhav Godbole, who headed the Task Force on Border Management, has provided the latest estimates. In his report submitted to the Government in August 2000, he has placed the figure at 1.5 crore with about 3 lakh Bangladeshi nationals entering India illegally every year.

Undemarcated Boundary

The international boundary in Berubari sector of West Bengal at Mouza Daikhata-56 Khudipara- Singhpara, about 1.5 km (56 acres), has not been yet demarcated due to differences of opinion between the governments of India and Bangladesh. As per the Government of West Bengal, by and large the Sui River divided the area along the actual possession held by India and Bangladesh.

The West Bengal government is of the view that the boundary in this area should be aligned along the actual possessions with a view to regularising adverse possessions. The state government had integrated positions for the entire Berubari sector and Daikhata-56 was only a part of it.

Muhari River Belonia (Tripura) – Muhari River (Belonia sector) is a part of Tripura Nokhali/Comila Sector of the India-Bangladesh boundary. The dispute in this area could not be solved due to the change in the course of Muhari River and formation of a char (approximately 46 acres). The dispute involves demarcation of the boundary over a stretch of 2.5 km.

The dispute in Lathitilla/Dumabari area of Assam involves a stretch of about 2.5 km length (approximately 135 acres of land) in the Lathitilla sector of Assam.The land in this area is under the administrative control of Bangladesh, however, the land revenue is being paid to the Government of Assam. -CNF

A new set-up for better safety standards

By D. K. Arora

The IFFAS would make available resources to developing and least developed countries for being used for training of personnel, installation of safety-related reliable and technologically advanced navigational aids and development of maintenance facilities in the field of airworthiness. The beneficiaries would not be allowed to use these funds for aircraft procurement or construction of airports, he added.

ICAO saw the necessity to promote IFFAS, because major international financial institutions had conventionally laid emphasis on social sectors such as poverty alleviation, health, water and sanitation. Giving an estimate of the funding required, he said that as per the current assessment based on audit reports US $ 50 million was required to correct safety-related deficiencies in developing countries which made minimum contribution to ICAO.

Mr Pereira is a former General of the Brazilian Air Force with 8000 flying hours to his credit and has also earlier been chairman of the National Civil Aviation Authority of Brazil and president of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission.

ICAO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, established in 1944, is responsible for framing regulations for safety, security and economic air transportation throughout the world. In the 56 years since its inception, it has promulgated 18 regulations, called annexes, dealing with aircraft operations, airworthiness, air meteorology, air traffic services, aviation security, accident investigation and cargo of dangerous goods.

The assembly of ICAO, comprising all member states, introduced universal mandatory safety oversight audit programme, which empowered it to conduct safety audit. Initially, audit covers the area of licensing, aircraft operation and airworthiness. As a sequel to audit, defects and deficiencies have been identified and a comprehensive approach to rectify defects for improved safety in aviation is presently under consideration by ICAO.

To achieve higher standards in global aviation safety, an improvement in safety-related aviation infrastructure is an imperative for all countries, including those identified by the United Nations as the least developed ones which may not have the requisite funds.

ICAO's prime objective is to ensure that aviation safety receives the attention it deserves, irrespective of a country's economic strength or priority it wishes to accord to civil aviation. While countries which have adequate funds and possess the necessary expertise can easily overcome the drawbacks identified in the audit reports, ICAO is concerned about States which do not have the financial resources to do so.

While an easier option is to bypass countries with poor civil aviation infrastructure, it would mean shrinkage of air routes and destinations. The other and more constructive option is to find ways and means to overcome infrastructural deficiencies in aviation, wherever it existed. It is for this reason that ICAO is currently engaged in setting up of an IFFAS.

India should take up a leadership role in rallying the support of the other developing countries for the establishment of the proposed IFFAS. The assembly of ICAO is expected to meet in September this year to discuss and endorse proposed IFFAS. The corpus for the proposed fund is likely to be collected by levying a fee of $ 1 (one) on every fare paying international passengers. ICAO can collect $ 800 million from 800 million international airtickets sold every year. Out of this, $ 50 million is required immediately to correct safety-related deficiencies in developing countries that make minimum contribution to the ICAO. IFFAS is expected to be set up over the next two years.

During his recent visit to India, Mr Pereira had an exchange of views with the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta; the Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr A. H. Jung, and officials of Air India, Indian Airlines, the DGCA and the Airports Authority of India.

He also highlighted the enormous technical expertise that India had in the field of civil aviation. ICAO had been drawing upon India's technical expertise from time to time in the execution of technical cooperation projects undertaken in developing countries. -- CNF

Karnataka row over medium

By Tukoji R. Pandit

That a child learns best in the mother tongue can hardly be over emphasised. Also, there can be no question of lowering the dignity of any Indian language by ignoring it at the school level. But the issues involved in Karnataka seem to be slightly different and varied. It was not clear, for instance, if the state government was actually indulging in a bit of political grandstanding or responding to demands from parents of children attending these schools. Did the parents want their wards to be taught through the Kannada language? Were they opposed to English as the medium of instruction and, if so, did they send their children to these schools because there was no alternative or did they make a conscious choice?

English has been in use as the medium of instruction in certain government-aided schools in Kannada for quite some time. What was the experience? Did the students suffer because their lessons were taught in an 'alien' language? Remember Karnataka is one state which has probably benefited most from the widespread use of the English language.

The state government, however, does have a point. It had clearly stipulated that the schools it was going to provide aid would use Kannada as the medium of instruction as is the case in other government-run schools. Since certain schools were found to be violating this rule the government thought it was within its rights to withdraw recognition to them. Yes. But if these schools had flouted any rule the state government had conveniently slept over it all these years. Besides, the question of recognition or de-recognition of schools is best taken before, an academic session has started which is not the case now and this has literally jeopardised the future of the children studying there.

Let us factor in one reality. English may be 'dominating' the life of certain class of Indians but only about three per cent of the people seem to have any degree of proficiency in the language. However, thanks to our one billion plus population, even with a 'small' three percentage India has the fourth largest population of English-speakers.

Indians who keep quarrelling over the role of English in India have failed to see that English has started to spread in almost every country on earth from an early level of education. English is believed to be the most preferred foreign language in every 'new' European country. Indians should also beware of the fact that China has put all its heart and soul behind a move to teach English to its citizens. The zeal with which the Chinese are learning English would suggest that there may soon come a time when India and China have either the same number of English speakers or the Chinese have left India behind.

What authorities as well as educationists in India fail to notice is that not only are more and more non-English speaking countries taking lessons in the English but they are attaining better proficiency in the language by learning it diligently and carefully. Not many Indians pay attention to learning the language well, as will be gauged by the speech and writing ability of a large number of Indians-maybe the majority-- who learn the English language.

There are Indians who like to think that English should be considered one of the 'native' languages in the country. Their claim is perhaps derived from the fact that the English language had arrived in India as far back as the early 1600s with the East India Company. By early 1800s, a number of Christian schools had been set up where English was the major language to be taught. By 1835, the British rulers were working on the Macaulay plan to produce bi-lingual Indians who would be 'interpreters between us (the British) and the millions whom we govern-a class of persons Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals and in intellect.' Of course, Macaulay had his critics too, especially among Indians.

By early 20th century English had become the official and academic language. The rise of nationalist movement in the 1920s led to anti-English sentiments, though ironically this movement itself used the English language to spread its message. The anti-English sentiments received wider response after the British left India in 1947 when many thought that the young and free nation should not see its life and administration dominated by an alien language. Call it wheel coming full circle or the fact that things keep changing, many in the country today seem to suggest that Indians should count their blessings for not snapping their links with the English language. These Indians think that an early start in learning the language improves the chances to win the race in today's world. (Syndicate Features)