Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

White elephants

The elusive jewel?

Mahatma; the messiah
of non violence

By K L Dhar

Nutrition policy

By Kritika Pandey

Internal security-
A role for Army ?

By Lt. Col. Surendra Sharma

EDITORIAL

White elephants

Should it surprise anyone that more than 11000 employees in public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the State are surplus? A report in this newspaper recently quoting a Finance Ministry document paints a highly disturbing picture. In all, PSUs employ about 22500 persons. In plain terms it means that half of them are not needed. Against a total paid-up capital of Rs 206 crores these establishment have accumulated losses to the tune of Rs 1736 crores. The liabilities on statutory dues alone are Rs 318 crores. What does this drive home if not that the Government should not be in the business of running business? Having created these white elephants the Government is finding it difficult to get rid of them. The Finance Ministry has prepared a four-point remedy: (a) identification of assets free from encumbrances and make them pay towards golden handshake (GHS)/voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in addition to catering to working capital requirements; (b) stopping further instalments of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) until loans and statutory liabilities are settled; (c) improvement of performance by chalking out suitable plans; and (d) closing down units/activities which are beyond any scope of revival and restructuring either technically or professionally. To achieve these objectives a high-level Government committee is said to have done some preliminary work by: (a) identifying 2225 workers of five ailing PSUs who could be exited in the first phase; (b) preparing a list of disposable assets which could fetch Rs 200 crores; and (c) categorising 253 units of various PSUs which could be closed down. Practically speaking, however, the Government has only Rs 40 crores on hand during the current financial year "to provide residuary support to ailing PSUs in their endeavour of offering GHS/VRS." This is not the first time that one has heard of these noises. Off and on we have talked of toning up the functioning of PSUs. There are two reasons why there is no breakthrough: (1) the retrenchment of staff under any garb is easier said than done (the Finance Ministry itself has described it "a sensitive issue") for fear of adverse popular reaction; and (2) the Government can't straightaway go in for disinvestment because there will be no buyers of economically crippled firms.

A line each about some of the PSUs in the industrial sector in between many lines about them in the official documents tells a lot. The State Handloom Development Corporation suffers from "shortage of marketing infrastructure and working capital." Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited is experiencing "continuing loss" and "financial erosion" from 2000-01 onwards. Minerals Limited is exposed to "declining trend in the company's returns over the years." The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has a net loss of 24.16 crores and 50 per cent of its fleet of about 1200 vehicles is "over-aged". In the case of the State Financial Corporation (SFC) and the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) the picture is not very clear. In the case of the former, there seems to be a mismatch between the amount of loans disbursed and the recoveries actually made. The latter is shown to have recorded some surplus earnings but has "paid to the extent of 30 per cent of 34 points of COLA arrears." The Economic Survey shows an upswing in the earnings in the sphere of tourism including by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) which tops the catalogue of all authorities, corporations and societies engage in the field. It does not say, however, whether it is commensurate with an expenditure of Rs 275 crores made on tourism development activities during the 10th Five Year Plan. This field has suffered the most on account of terrorism. It ought to be given some more time to regain its previous momentum especially in the Kashmir region. Efforts should be accelerated at the same time to further tap pilgrim tourism in this province and sight-seeing in Leh district which is being increasingly mentioned as No 1 tourist destination in the country.

On the whole, however, the Government should pass on the management of corporations to private entrepreneurs including those in existence for promoting tourism. It has played its part for too long for all that it was worth. Involvement of the people would also enhance their stake in creating new facilities and retaining and refurbishing the existing ones. The Government should focus instead on fulfilling its social obligations especially with regard to health and education. It is also its responsibility to provide conducive security climate for giving a fillip to development. Understandably any such exercise will require focussed attention. No further time, however, should be lost in working in this direction. We can't afford to continue digging into public coffers for feeding machines that are rusted and have dubious or limited value.

The elusive jewel?

It is part of history that when freedom-fighter and the country's first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was offered Bharat Ratna he promptly turned down it. His plea was that those who have been on the selection committee should not be given the honour. He was eventually bestowed the nation's highest civilian award posthumously in 1992. Could we look forward to any such gesture in the present times? It is disgusting that there is clamour for Bharat Ratna for one person or the other. Ever since Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recommending Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee's name for Bharat Ratna a Pandora's Box seems to have been opened. Many politicians have emerged as claimants almost all of them on party lines. Samajwadi Party wants it to be given to Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. Communists see no reason why their veteran Mr Jyoti Basu should be left behind. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has been quick to remind one and all that late Kanshi Ram deserves it the most of all. Rashtriya Janata Dal feels that Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav can't be ignored. From Tamil Nadu a voice has been heard to reserve the tribute for music maestro Ilayaraja. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has scoffed at all this talk. Instead it has chided political parties for limiting the national viewpoint "only to me and mine". It has expressed the opinion that only Bhagat Singh, the "topmost youth idol", and "Indian soldier" would be the deserving recipients of the decoration. From other quarters the names of industrialists L.N. Mittal and Ratan Tata and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar have been floated.

The entire debate leaves bad taste in one's mouth. Can anyone be Bharat Ratna if he is not regarded by ordinary citizens as one?

Mahatma; the messiah of non violence

By K L Dhar

The suave and saintly souls are born after generations to illumine the world by their will power, virtues and wisdom. Such a noble soul was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbander in Gujarat to lead the slumbering nation from gloom to gaiety. He deserved to be called ‘‘Mahatma’’, being totally detached from lust, pelf and power. This great messiah with the message of non violence achieved impossible feats and impressed his foes with his tool of Ahimsa. It proved more powerful than nuclear bomb.

Gandhi as a young child observed a scorpion approaching towards mother's saree. He brought a stone to crush it as soon as it crawled on her sari and shouted, ‘‘Mother, mother, scorpion, I shall crush it.’’ She at once folded the saree and threw it away and advised young Mohan Das, that this should be the attitude towards the enemy. The enemy should not be killed but thrown out. The mother's advice had a great impact upon this young child in later life . He became the preacher of non violence that stood him in good stead in turbulent times. Mahatma's doctrine of non violence has more relevance today, when the whole globe is enveloped in the deadly disease of casteism, racialism and religious frenzy. The barbaric incidents of violence in the name of religion shall turn this civilized world into mayhem and gory graveyard and its unabated growth shall destroy the chromatic cultural and religious co-existence of the developed as well as developing nations of the globe as anticipated by the Father of the nation one hundred and twentyfive years ago. Well wishers of the world should devise ways and means to preach the message of peace and non violence, being the theme of all religions of the world. The younger generations should be freed from the fetters of narrow minded religious outlook and encouraged to become global citizens by imbibing the values of passion, sympathy, tolerance, mutual brotherhood. By depicting the lives of great people of the world like Gandhi Ji who sacrificed their lives for the national unity. The well wishers of the nation should also listen to the woes of the aggrieved under dogs and victims of social injustice and embalm the injured psyche of the trouble torn, displaced and ignored masses. If these victims of oppression and inequality are not listened to, they shall fan the flames of violence and religious bigotry as Gandhi Ji remarked, ‘‘violence is bred by injustice and inequality.’’

The great pacifist and renowned American writer, Fredrich Bonn Fisher in his/book ‘‘Profiles of Gandhi’’ edited by Norman cousins remarked about Gandhi Ji. To quote his words, ’’ ‘‘Ancient India planted Ahimsa and reaped Gandhi’’. A L Bhasm in his book ‘‘The wonder that was India is all praise for Gandhi and says that Indian culture shall survive because of Gandhi Ji's doctrine of non violence and his dynamism in doing away with the effete elements of Indian culture. Gandhi Ji had firm faith in ‘‘Live and Let Live’’. He emphatically said that all religions teach love and mutual brotherood and let us share love with each other to make this planet, the planet of peace, progress and prosperity. In his autobiography, my experiments with truth’’, he wished to live for hundred and twenty five years but the gory incidents of the partition of this country made his heart to bleed and he prayed to God to take him early as the pacifist in him did not wish to live in an atmosphere of hatred and violence as he did not wish to see a divided subcontinent where the people of all faiths had fought shoulder with shoulder for the noble cause of freedom.

This preacher of non-violence became the victim of violence to preach the younger generation that violence does not lead to peace but destroys the deep rooted pillar of love and endangers the social fabric between Nations and communities.

Thanks to the UN for declaring Gandhi Ji as the ‘‘Man of the Millinium ’’ and observance of his brithday as the ‘‘Day of non violence’’.

The tribute to this great son of the soil is to shun violence of every kind as it the greatest enemy of peace progress and prosperity. It yields nothing except bloodshed, hatred and escalated violence.

We, the people of this great nation, should become the beacon light of non violence and treat the fellow citizens of the world as brethren and make this world a colourful garden, where the flowers and fruits of different hues bloom and the birds of different origins warble and spread their fragrance and sweet message of peace through their musical tones throughout the length and breadth of the world.

Nutrition policy

By Kritika Pandey

Contractor raj is flourishing in the Rs. 2,000 crore-plus supplementary nutrition programme under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in contravention of Supreme Court orders against use of contractors. The apex court-appointed commissioners in the right to food case, in their seventh report, have pointed out that despite the court's four-year-old order; at least nine states continue to use contractors in procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains to children under ICDS.

The court commissioners were able to gather data only for 22 states, out of which they found that Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Daman & Diu continue to depend upon contractors to supply food to children under the flagship scheme.

The 11th five-year Plan too has left the room open for debate within the government with the Plan document not deciding between three options it has thrown up. The plan envisages that either hot cooked meals be provided through self-help groups, mothers' groups or village committees. Or, it suggests the alternative route of relying upon micronutrient-fortified food (which entails centralized procurement and consequently use of contractors, wholesale dealers and manufacturers).

As it is evident from the apex court's intervention the most neglected area of the planning process is lack of comprehensive nutrition policy for the country, particularly for the children. On paper there are innumerable policies formulated by state and central governments. But such policies lack coherence and direction. Malnutrition continues to afflict half of the Indian population. The basic necessities of life like food, shelter and clothing are not available to millions of people.

Such a bleak situation poses a powerful challenge to scientists, planners and administrators of India. In order to better the lot of the teeming millions a development strategy which lays a strong emphasis on nutrition needs to be devised. The aim of development must be to improve and enrich the quality of life of the common people and ensure freedom from hunger and want.

The model of development which makes the rich richer without endowing any enduring benefits to the poor will not solve the problem of malnutrition, the byproduct of poverty, but will create conditions for social unrest on a mass scale. Irrespective of fashioning of new political and economic systems, inequalities have only increased and deepened the economic crisis. Economic growth with social justice is a generalized slogan, but unhappily it continues to remain as a slogan with us.

A study conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, which covered over 15,000 rural households spread over nine states of India showed that per capita income was less than Rs. 25 per day in 40 per cent of the rural households; on the other hand the least expensive balanced diet, evolved by the Institute, costs about Rs. 40 per day on the basis of current food prices. It shows that if in 40 per cent of rural households in our country all the family income is spent on food it will be impossible to get adequate nutrition. Nutrition deficiency disease accounts for considerable part of the current morbidity and mortality pattern in the country.

According to a study made a few years ago less than 15 per cent of rural poor families in India escaped losing a child and nearly 50 per cent families three or more children on an average. Under these circumstances it is natural that family planning programmes have failed to click. According to latest available data maternal mortality in the country is 372 per 100,000 live births. This shows that one out of every 50 women in the reproductive age dies during pregnancy. Anaemia due to malnutrition claims 15 to 20 per cent of pregnant women. Ninety per cent of children of pre-school age are undernourished in India compared with their counterparts in America. There can, therefore, be no doubt that a large proportion of children belonging to the low income groups are undernourished. Good nutrition is necessary in infancy and childhood and it is found that malnutrition during early development can lead to stunted growth, both physical and mental. That is why malnourished children lack the ability to exploit their full intellectual potential.

The problem of protein calorie malnutrition in children does not call for expensive protein rich foods, fabricated in urban factories or imported from abroad. With a judicious combination of inexpensive locally available foods it should be possible to meet the deficiency. Recipes based on such inexpensive food for young children have been formulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research. All that is needed is to get the message across to our rural folks. A deficiency is a major cause of blindness in 7-8 per cent of children under 5 and about 10 per cent of children of school-going age. To mitigate the problem leafy vegetables have to be included in the child's diet. Also it is advisable to administer a massive dose of vitamin A once in six months. This programme was initiated by the Nutrition Institute and has been adopted by seven states in the country where there is a high incidence of vitamin A deficiency. Malnutrition has pernicious economic implications which have not yet been fully appreciated.

An effective food and nutrition policy requires a basic appreciation of these factors and nutritional needs with a coordination of efforts and a firm political commitment. Within the country, all sectors concerned with food which frequently work independently must be brought together to plan and eventually coordinate and implement the policy. External consultants could assist appropriate personnel (planners, agriculturists, economists, nutritionists) in the assembly and analysis of information regarding the present food and nutrition situation. This analysis would in turn suggest several essential and optional components of an effective policy. Any strategy chosen must reflect not only the nutritional status of the people particularly those most susceptible to nutritional deficiency but take into account the national structure, the planning capabilities and the resources of the country.

Thus planners and politicians must get involved in food and nutrition policies, in evaluating the constraints imposed by other sectors in the economy and in assessing the consequences of these commitments on other aspects of development. The strategy chosen will reflect the characteristics of the national structure but the attainment of proper nutrition for the population will be an objective of highest priority in any nation's development plans. Only when this is actively sought will the control of malnutrition be feasibility.

It may not be too optimistic to hope that successful national food and nutrition policies could become integrated with international policies of population, agriculture adjustment, and income distribution and eventually with the formulation of a world food security policy. INAV

Internal security- A role for Army ?

By Lt. Col. Surendra Sharma

Some senior soldiers, including a former Chief of Army Staff, have been openly voicing reservations from time to time over the desirability of the Indian Army being frequently called out for counter-insurgency and internal law and order duties, especially in the North-East. They argue that deployment of the Army for such duties is sapping their "fighting ability". In a graphic description, though inappropriate even in terms of classic military strategy, it is portrayed as "fighting with one hand tied at the back". A secondary refrain in such arguments is that the Army is being increasingly inducted for such duties because of "failure" of the civil administration to control large-scale disturbances.

Ironically, the arguments by these soldiers have little validity if examined from the angle of military strategy itself. It betrays a mindset steeped in the military doctrines espoused by 18th and 19th century European military rulers, who viewed war as infliction of maximum damage, both human and material, on the enemy, employing maximum force. The military aristocracy governing these states, directly or by proxy, idealised combat as a contest of "individual valour" and "national honour". A swashbuckler came to be idealised as a model soldier.

It is but axiomatic that our military, like militaries elsewhere, is trained and equipped to fight, and fight effectively with all available force. It is armed to overpower and annihilate the enemy. But a crucial aspect of military strategy is overlooked. This should be the last resort. With the worldwide acceptance of the concept of popular government, war has come to be defined, mainly since the last century, as pursuit of national politics by other means. The earlier objective of a national army to fight to kill or to annihilate the enemy merely for the sake of "winning the war" is abandoned. This is to be exercised only if other tactics to achieve the overall political objective fail.

Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese thinker is, arguably, the greatest military genius of all time. Though he wrote almost 2,500 years ago, his concepts both on military tactics and strategy have been studied mainly in the last century. Now increasingly acknowledged in the West, his military strategy has been termed the "concentrated essence of wisdom on the conduct of war". According to leading Western military thinkers and historians of the last century like Liddel-Hart, Sun Tzu on the subject of war has "never been surpassed in comprehensiveness of depth of understanding". In China and the Far East though, Sun Tzu's concepts influenced military thinking for centuries. According to him, the acme of military skill is to "subdue the enemy's army without fighting". This was relevant even in ancient times when bows and arrows were used freely. This wisdom would be germane to the doctrines of modern warfare when the cost of arms and ammunition is becoming prohibitive even for affluent Western nations.

Apparently, the military wisdom of Sun Tzu has escaped the attention of the Indian Army. Like any modern army, our Army should be psychologically prepared and trained to fight-ground conditions permitting-without close physical combat or annihilation of the enemy.

Undeniably, annihilation of the enemy may sometimes become an absolute tactical necessity, other options failing. But this conceivably cannot be an overall strategic objective today in any case of conflict among nation states. Sun Tzu says: "The skilful military strategist should be able to subdue the enemy's army without engaging it, to take his cities without laying siege to them and to overthrow his state without blooding swords".

The example of large-scale warfare amongst nation states in the last century, beginning with the First World War, is instructive. Opposing European armies dug themselves in face-to-face in virtually parallel trenches. They employed maximum force which largely resulted in fruitless combat and physical elimination influenced by-quite literally-destructive strategic doctrines of Western military thinkers and generals.

The combatants inflicted, months on end, maximum human casualties on opponents, merely to gain, or regain, largely valueless physical ground. It eventually proved to be too expensive both in human and material terms. It was an unwise strategy of seesaw victory, defeat and again victory in successive battles. Apparently, the generals who conducted these operations were entirely innocent of the strategic brilliance of Sun Tzu: "He who struggles for victory with naked blades is not a good general".

The other argument about occasional internal deployment of the army in aid of civil administration is again not valid. Law and order is a state subject. The total police force available with the district administration, particularly the armed reserves, has not been augmented proportionately to the rise in population, almost since the time of independence. The district armed reserve police strength is three or four companies or so, on an average. Of course, as a supplement, reserve armed police battalions are available with the state government for duty anywhere should large-scale civil disturbances erupt. But the district civil authority continues to make do with limited local resources available. These can check and contain small disturbances or localised insurgency.

In case of large-scale disturbances or conditions of insurgency in the state, the total armed police reserves available with the state government are generally inadequate. A continual augmentation of armed police reserves by the state governments is expensive. To keep raising, training, equipping and maintaining armed police reserves is a recurring, and ever increasing, revenue outgo of a non-development nature. A study of the last few Union budgets shows that the outlay on paramilitary forces has increased manifold, in comparison with that on the defence forces. State governments as well as the government of India have a constraint on resources.

They cannot be expected continually to raise non-development outlays without taking into account, entirely as reserve strength though, the availability of the military forces stationed in various states. It would, therefore, be incorrect to argue that any recourse to the defence forces, ipso facto, indicates either a failure of civil authority or its inability to contain large-scale violence. The mindset of the Indian military that counter-insurgency operations in a few north-eastern states or occasional aid to civil authority to quell internal disturbances would sap their "fighting ability" during war, if not disabused, would be both strategically unwise. INAV