Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

It is widely admitted that democracies die behind closed doors. They instead work on the premise that nothing shall be hidden because nothing can be hidden. The people have every right to know that their government acts fairly, lawfully and accurately. At the Central level we already have a fairly strong legislation called the Right to Information Act (RIT) that enables every citizen to force the men at the helm of the administration to dust off their pigeonholes. Unfortunately, however, in the State it remains a weak instrumentality. We have chosen a dispensation in which we can't immediately gain from even the most beneficial Union laws. What a pity! The State got the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act in 2004. As an expert noted in this newspaper later, "the rules were not issued for 18 months rendering the Act nothing more than scrap of paper." In any case it was toothless. It contained absurd provisions like stating that the first appeals lie with the "controlling officer" of the concerned department and the second appeals with "the Government." How could such partisan umpires be expected to take action against their own colleagues withholding the desired information? Another equally ridiculous clause was that the officers failing to provide the information in stipulated time-frame would be "liable after such inquiry as may be required under rules pertaining to disciplinary action applicable to him for imposition of such penalty as may be determined by the disciplinary authority under such rules." Where the need for a probe was after the failure to give information was established? Why should there be a ...more

Poll buzz in the air

Men, Matters & Memories

By M L Kotru

Poll buzz is very much in the air, thanks mainly to the supine United Progressive Alliance Government in Delhi which is unwilling to take up the challenge thrown to its existence by the unprincipled Left Front. Having gone this far to clinch an Indo-US nuclear deal the gutless Manmohan Singh Government appears to be reeling under Leftist pressure. The Left doesn't want the deal to go ahead because .more

Doping in sport world

By Atul Cowshish

The Czars of Indian sport are a worried lot these days because of the tardy progress in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Delhi in 2010. While they may still pull it off and eventually win appreciation for successfully conducting one the biggest (number-wise) sport events in the world, there is one thing that also demands a good. .more.

Meeting elementary education : Targets

By V.P. Prabhakar

The strength and vitality of a nation emanates from its literate populace. Literacy begins from home and takes a formal shape in schools that lies in public domain. The schooling and elementary education are, thus, the edifice on which the pillars of a healthy society are built. .. ..more.

EDITORIAL

We have right to
be well informed

As the pressure also piled up on the State Government to bring its Act on par with the Central law it too amended its legislation and called it the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2007. Defending the bill Mr Taj Mohiuddin, Minister for Consumer Affairs, admitted in the legislature that the State Government had not copied the Central Act keeping in consideration "our own requirements and sensitivities". Nevertheless he described the amended measure as "revolutionary" and "a step towards greater transparency and accountability." However, the amendments fell short of expectations. These did seek to usher in some improvement but on the whole left gaping holes. In a detailed analysis the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) which along with other public-spirited persons and organisations was involved in consultations during the formulation of the Central legislation, described the amendments "a half-hearted measure". It noted three "positive features": setting up of an information commission, role of appellate authority in identifying errant officers and statutory requirement on the State Government to educate citizens about RTI. On the other hand, it pointed out at least a dozen shortcomings like, for instance, "the High Court is not covered, definition of information is inadequate, private bodies have been left out, reasons should not be required for giving information, too many exemptions, no public interest override or sunset clause, pro-government bias of the committee for selecting information commissioners, inadequate penalties and exclusion of intelligence and security agencies." To its credit the CHRI carried out extensive comparative study. To cite an example, it said the J&K law defined the term "information" as meaning "any document or information relating to the affairs of the State or a public body." The definition in the Central Act was much wider and covered a whole gamut of material which qualified to be called "information" --- records, circulars, memos, emails, log books, contracts emails, opinions, press releases, reports and models. The CHRI reasoned: ""In the absence of a comprehensive definition of the term 'information' in this manner bureaucrats are likely to deny access to many categories of information whose disclosure may be inconvenient to their vested interests. There is a serious danger of the Act becoming restricted to providing copies of only papers and documents held by public bodies. The Amendment Bill does not rectify this situation….The definition of information should clearly include samples of materials used in public works. .. It is well known in the public domain that one of the ways of making money through corrupt means in the execution of public works is to make use of materials of inferior quality. If citizens living in Jammu and Kashmir have the same right as citizens living in other States they will be able to seek samples of materials used in public works and offices and verify them against the quality specifications mentioned in the contract. Corruption can be contained with the help of people's participation." With Central Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah echoing it the voice for honing the State RTI Act to perfection has gained strength. There is no doubt about it.

Now by returning the Amendment Bill to the legislature, State Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) has given it an opportunity to take the remedial step. Since there is already a model available in the form of the Central Act the legislators should have little difficulty in adopting it in toto. Prima facie there does not appear to be any necessity of losing more time by referring the bill to a select committee or holding a public debate. People have every right to know and being informed about what their ruling apparatus is doing in their name. The United Nations has noted in one of its reports: "Freedom will be bereft of all effectiveness if the people have no access to information. Access to information is basic to the democratic way of life. The tendency to withhold information from the people at large is, therefore, to be strongly checked."

Poll buzz in the air

Men, Matters & Memories

By M L Kotru

I can understand disapproval by the Left of entering into a deal with a Government headed by the international hate-figure, George Bush, the US President. I personally happen to be one of the millions the world over, including an overwhelming population in the US, who simply believe that the world would have been better place to live in minus George Bush.

But the Left particularly the Marxist Party, seem to have a different agenda altogether. Their reaction to the nuclear deal is motivated. That the deal would in the long tun help India develop its nuclear power resources just doesn't concern them. An absurd suggestion that instead we could forge some other nuclear alliances, presumably with China, to further our objective. Beijing may have fueled the nuclear engines in Pakistan, let alone North Korea, but the Marxists, seeing through their tinted glasses, would, am sure prefer that.

That even China has willy nilly come to terms with the intent of the proposed Indo US deal does not impress the Marxists. They just do not want India to have any truck with the imperialist Americans. The Chinese may in the meantime have spread their tentacles all over the globe, more importantly in Africa, but why would that bother the Marxists. Weren't they the ones who would not recognise the 1962 Chinese aggression for what it indeed was. Chinese hegemony is obviously acceptable to them.

And, by attacking American imperialism they wish to exploit the anti-Bush sentiment worldwide to further expand their vote bank. The American misadventure in Iraq comes in handy to woo Muslim electors. The West Bengal Chief Minister, a Marxist to the core, may be courting American and other Western investment in the State but then sauce for the Marxist goose is not sauce for the Indian gander.

Their hatred of things American now extends to having joint exercises with US Defence Forces- normally a routine activity which nations the world over encourage. Similar exercises have been held in the past. Not just with the US but with any number of countries but the Marxists see it as an extension of the American grand design of raising a bulwark against the Chinese in Asia. China continues to lay claim to our territories in States neighbouring West Bengal, which the Marxists have ruled for over the past quarter century, but are not inclined to be bothered by it.

And given that pusilanmity of the UPA Government the Marxists have made an art of pushing it into a corner at will, dependent as the UPA is on ‘‘outside’’ support of the Marxists in Parliament. Any honourable Government would have spurned the Marxists threats or even resigned. Mind you, it is not as if the agreement thrashed out by India and the US over the past three years, needs to be approved by Parliament. Yet, the UPA is not inclined to take the risk of losing power in the bargain. Forget the hemming and hawing by the Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee the fact is that every time the UPA utters a word in support of the Indo-US deal, it is followed by a few hundred words of apology to the Marxists.

I started with the poll buzz and I return to it. The Marxists aren't exactly as sure of themselves this time over of their Kerala stronghold. The party has been plagued by clases at the top in the State unit; charges of corruption have become a commonplace, some of these very embarrassing to the State leadership. And Kerala which holds some kind of a record for not repeating the same party to power, it is alternately the Marxists and allies on the one hand and the Congress and allies on the other. In West Bengal as well as there has been simering discontent, thanks to Mamta Banerjee's unrelenting campaign against ‘‘the anti-people’’ policies of the Marxist Government of West Bengal. Besides, the Marxist cadres in West Bengal are after many years facing resistance to their bullying ways in the hinterland. A parliamentary election now, many Marxist supporters believe, may reduce their strength in the House. The Prakash Karat's of the party are aware of this even as they continue to harass Manmohan Singh out of his wits.

The real election buzz can be heard loud and clear, and officially too, in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. With the Election Commission announcing December polls the party drums are rolling. Flags have begun to appear. The maverick Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi has in fact never ceased campaigning all through the past five years. He is Gujarat's ‘garv’ and the BJP leaders and the Sangh Parivar tend to agree. Even his own partymen may be calling him a ‘‘fascist’’ and a ‘‘dictator’’ but that hardly appears to dent his ardour. The Godhra and Vadodra killings are all but forgotten by Narendra Modi and his henchmen. Instead it is now the ‘‘pride of the five crores Gujaratis’’. He and his publicists never fire of reminding you of some newsmagazines which have for a few years now made it their business to the name the ‘‘ten best schools’’ ‘‘the ten best colleges’’, ‘‘the ten most famous Indians’’, having named Narenda Modi the best Chief Minister in India. His senior party leader and former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel may not agree with the view but who cares as long as Narendrabhai continues to have a free run of the State. Sit back and see how good a man this Modi really is !

He has now realised that he is a Gandhian too. He believes in Gandhi's concept of Ram Rajya. Since neither Gandhi, nor Modi nor even I were around when Ram ruled but in Gandhi's vocabulary it stood for, goodness, honesty, equality before law, no discrimination of any kind and fairness above all. These are the qualities which Modi singularly lacks. But given the context of the communal divide he has so assiduously crafted these past few years you can never tell he might stage a comeback, the man known to the rest of us as an authoritarian communalist with a touch of megalomania.

Himachal Pradesh by comparison is a different kettle of fish. The State may have by all accounts prospered under the prevailing dispensation but you can't overlook the Himachalis habit of giving the other party a ‘‘chance’’ every time there is a fresh poll in the State. Polls are due in other States as well but that will be some time next year.

Interestingly, although Jammu and Kashmir goes to polls in about 11 months the parties there seem to be jittery and for the most part not sure of what their poll planks should be, on paper at least. The BJP and Congress know what their battle-cry will be but it's the so-called mainstream political parties in the valley that must get their act right. The somersaults of the past may not go well with the electorate.

To go by the slogan-mongering of the People's Democratic Party and the National Conference it appears to be a fight between the two to steal the Mirwaiz Farooq-led Hurriyat's platform. Not wholly, but the guts of it. The PDP, more than the National Conference is virtually committed to a self-governing valley. If it continues its uneasy presence in the Congress-led State Government it is only because it is politically expedient. It gives the party a certain leverage in man-management that could at election time be a help, apart from giving it access to money. Farooq Abdullah has already projected himself as the party's nominee for Chief Ministership but in his race against the Mufti father daughter twosome he will have to work overtime to enlarge his political space in the valley and hopefully in Jammu as well.

To conclude I must return to the pathetic straits the Manmohan Singh Government has reduced itself to, thanks to the Left, The UPA has allowed the Marxists to virtually dictate the country's foreign and economic policy. How many times will the UPA Government feel the need to correct its chosen course on hearing a publicly articulated snub on a strategic decision. If the UPA, the Congress Party in particular, has decided that the remaining 18 months of its rule are worth living as the ruling party, it must also decide how best to change the parameters of this co-existence. Hanging on to power when it cannot even deliver on major economic and foreign policy issues would make the party's return to power more difficult.

Doping in sport world

By Atul Cowshish

It is by no means an easy task. Just consider that it took almost a decade to nab American athlete Marion Jones whose crying face seeking forgiveness for using illegal performance-enhancing drugs at the Sydney Olympics was splashed recently in newspapers across the globe. She had become a cult figure, hailed as one of the greatest woman athletes after she had won five medals at Sydney-three of them gold. But Jones was not the first 'great' athlete to be disgraced; sadly the list of the hall of infamy will not stop growing.

Barring a Milkha Singh here or a PT Usha there Indian athletes have generally not been known for sterling performances at international meets. Perhaps because of their low profile it was assumed that they are by and large free of the disease of drug affliction. A more likely reason is the silence preferred by the sport bosses in India to keep dope scandals under wraps. But doping has actually existed for a long time among sports persons in the world. And India is no exception. The practice of injecting drugs for medal-winning performance has existed among sprinters, swimmers, boxers, wrestlers, weightlifters, swimmers, footballers etc.

In recent years a number of Indian athletes have tested positive for banned substances allegedly used by them for better performance. That some of them later managed to get a reprieve on account of some technical or procedural flaws in their doping tests does not mean that Indian officials can afford to be smug about doping among athletes and other sports persons. Getting caught for doping brings a bad name to the country, the sport organisation and the sports person concerned whose short-lived moment of personal glorification gives way to a bleak future.

There is an opinion that it is unfair to single out sports persons for using steroids, hormones and many banned drugs when their use extends to people in many other fields. It may not be so open, but the problem exists across a spectrum of the society. But it is also true that it is the sports persons who are seen as a country's ambassadors and figures of public adulation and their indiscretion becomes a matter of national concern as against the aberrations of say, a bank clerk or a young executive. It may, however, be added here that it is not always easy to prove the doping charges conclusively.

In a country like India, it is more true. The infrastructure for testing the samples (urine) of suspected athletes is poor in India. There is a shortage of kits and there have been allegations of samples being tempered with. All that puts a question mark on the credibility of the tests.

Many Indian athletes who tested positive have made the startling disclosure that the contraband stuff was given to them-rather, sold to them-by their coach, often foreign. Drugs have changed hands at even camps conducted by sport bodies, and reputed sport institutes. It is said that a 'doping chart' also exists. Clearly, the need is to hand over the matter of drugs transaction in the world of sport to the police, instead of leaving the matter only with a sport organisation or officials. It is more urgent to bust the racket of supply line of drugs into the world of sport than standing on some false prestige.

The sports federations in India have no clear doping policy. Little effort is made to make the sports persons fully educated about what is right and wrong in dealing with 'drugs' that come usually in the shape of 'medicines' administered for recovery from an injury or some such thing. An athlete may not know that the reason for his jaundice is not contaminated water but one of those performance-enhancing drugs administered to him or her.

It sounds almost bizarre but it exposes the inadequacies of dealing with the problem of doping in Indian sport. It has been reported in the media in the past that sport officials have resorted to 'face reading' to determine if a particular athlete has taken a prohibited drug. According to these officials, the athlete with an intake of banned substances behaves like an alcoholic! If it were really true, where was the need for all that expensive paraphernalia for conducting doping tests? It might have also made it virtually impossible for an athlete on drugs to fool the administrators at any sport meet.

The doping methods are generally a step ahead of the methods of detection and tests. It may become even more difficult if and when 'gene doping' with 'designer drugs' becomes prevalent to raise a crop of what may be called genetically modified athletes who will perform incredible feats to establish astounding records. Some fear is expressed that while 'gene doping' may be absent from the 2008 Olympics in China it may have become more common by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Those who take banned drugs are perhaps aware that it can lead to health complications. But the risk is considered worth taking because the top performers at an international meet are certain to collect huge rewards in cash and kind that will assure them a rich and luxurious life. There is also the pressure of doing well for the country, while some are undoubtedly driven by the idea of personal glory and recognition that comes from winning a medal at a prestigious international event. The days of the amateur sports have long gone.

If sport administrators are not abler to control the menace of drugs why is there a hesitation in involving the law enforcing agencies? After all, it is the law enforcing agencies which can, at least in theory, smash a gang of drug traffickers in the sport world. Provided, of course, the sport authorities lend their full cooperation. The game of shielding the favourites cannot be played by any sports organisation, be it Indian or that of any other country. (Syndicate Features)

Meeting elementary education : Targets

By V.P. Prabhakar

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the main vehicle at present to provide elementary education to all children in the age group 6-14. The programme seeks to open new schools in habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grant. The approach is community-oriented and village education plans, prepared in consultation with Panchayati Raj Institutions, form the basis of district elementary education plans. Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are being provided additional teachers under the programme and capacity of existing teachers is built through extensive training including support for teaching-learning material.

The SSA lays special focus on:- educational needs of girls, and children of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; ensuring the quality of construction; involvement of the local community in construction; creating a child friendly school environment. Many States have drawn up innovative designs, effective convergence for clean water and toilets. Approximately 5 lakh class rooms alongwith 59000 drinking water facilities and 57,327 toilet blocks have been sanctioned in 2006-07.

Education think-tank National University of Educational Planning and Administration, has developed an Educational Development Index to track progress of States towards Universal Elementary Education (UEE) for primary and upper primary levels as well as for a composite look at Elementary Education.

The EDI ranking, it is expected, will encourage the states to improve their performance and have a closer look at both the inputs and the outputs of the parameters that affect elementary education. It is also hoped that the EDI will also enable more effective targeting of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to the most backward districts.

The Educational Development Index (EDI), has been developed keeping in mind four broad parametres - access, infrastructure, teacher related indicators and outcomes. The index takes into account 22 variables for calculating EDI. These variables are - access - percentage of habitations not served, availability of schools per 1000 population; Infrastructure - average student-classroom ratio, school with student-classroom ratio greater than 60, school without drinking water facilities, schools with separate toilets for boys and girls as required; Teachers - Percentage of female teachers, pupil-teacher ratio, school with pupil-teacher ratio greater than 60, single-teacher schools-in schools with more than 15 students, percentage of schools with less than three or less teachers, teachers without professional qualification and outcome -gross enrolment ratio overall, scheduled castes : gross enrolment ratio, schedule tribes : gross enrolment ratio, gender parity index enrolment : repetition rate, drop-out rate, ratio of exit class over Class I enrolment-primary stage only, percentage of passed children to total enrolment, percentage of appeared children, passing with 60 per cent and above marks.

Chandigarh has done well in providing facilities like infrastructure and teachers at the elementary education level in comparison to the surrounding States.

It has been ranked fifth in the EDI State-wise ranking for 2005-06, Himachal Pradesh is seventh, Punjab is 14th and Haryana is 23rd. Kerala has topped the ranking followed by Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

School Report Cards

The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) has also created a comprehensive database on elementary education known as, District Information System for Education (DISE). The project covers both primary and upper primary schools of all the districts of the country. DISE has completely eliminated the time lag in availability of educational statistics which has come down drastically from 1-8 years to less than a year at the national and only a few months at the district and state levels.

NUEPA has developed School Report Cards of more than 1.04 million primary and upper primary schools. The purpose of the school Report Cards is to disseminate information to students, parents and interested community members. The school Report Cards provide users comprehensive information on the vital parametres of student, teacher or school on 26 different variables. It enables to extract concise and accurate information on the above variables, about each school in a standard format. The format is easy to understand and allows meaningful comparisons to be made among schools. In addition to quantitative information, the school Report Cards also provide qualitative information and a descriptive report about individual schools. (PIB)