Women's health

Sir,

Born into a socially hostile environment a girl child treads a perilous path through adolescenee and womanhood. I heard this long back but it still continues to resonate. For an average girl child in India, the privation of poverty are significantly enhanced by the deprivation she must bear because of her sex. Her adverse socio-cultural milieu also runs against her health through the social phenomenon of early marriages and large families. So today when we are celebrating International women's day what better than to show our understanding about women's health. India is one of the few countries in the world where mortality is more among infant girls than boys, despite the biological advantage of the farmer.

To be honest health of women cannot be discussed outside the context of development process. In fact women underline the importance of human factor in development. Human resource development and poverty elevation need not be detrimental to economic growth, but an important element of stimulating economic growth and women have to be at the centre of it. Women are the most burdened and vulnerable members of the society and under poor socio-economic condition, their education and health suffer. The health of women cannot be held ransom to economic recession, debt crisis and cyclical draughts. So what is needed? A women centered pattern of development conecurrently with efforts at health improvement, serving as a means for larger good. Although measurable but very variable progress has been made over past three to four decades in social development, health, nutrition, water and sanitation and basic education. But women have not received the full benefits.

Today inspite of a general recognition of the magnitude of social and health problems confronting women, there is little evidence of commitment to redress this neglect at policy level. Efforts have not been made to resolve the problems at the practical level. Existing paradigms regarding women's welfare need to be re-examined as it seems that they have been taken for granted.

Yours etc...
Swaran Vihar
Jammu

Paddar sapphires

Sir,

Paddar is a remote area in Kishtwar district of the State. It is about 113 Kilometters from Kishtwar and is located at an attitude of more than four thousand Kilometers. It is here that Sapphire was first found way back in 1880. Since then the place has been famous all over the State.

It is nonetheless strange that despite the value of sapphire being high in the international market there has been no interest to mine the precious metal on scientific lines. It we go by the newsreport published in this paper (Mar 15) then we can safely assume that till now the State Government has shown a general lack of interest in the development of these mines. A recent auction conducted by the Government has now forced them to rethink their lackadaisical attitude towards the mining of sapphire in Paddar.

First of all the area of Paddar is remote. These has to be a good all weather road that leads to the mines. The mining has to be under taken in a scientific way. As per the news report it is though very late that now the Government is contemplating to ask National remote sensing centre to find an approximate assessment of the quality of Sapphire ore that can be found in Paddar.

Keeping in view the high cost of Sapphire it is the need of the hour to start a round the clock vigil of the mines so that theft of the ore is stopped. At last it is good that the Government has become alert towards the need to develop Sapphire mines at Paddar.

Yours etc...
Kishen Singh
Nagrota
Jammu

Release of Cola

Sir,

A wage committee was set up to examine in depth the wage structure of PSU workers to evolve a suitable formula for periodic revision, years ago, taking into account the cost of living index and other relevant factors.

It was decided that for the purpose of determination of cost of living Allowance (Cola) a comparison shall be made with average All Indo Price Index for the twelve months from January to December each year and in case the average is higher/lower than 350 by more than 10 points, nutralisation shall be made in respect of each block of ten points increase/decrease. The payment of COLA shall be made in April each year after price indices are notified. The amount will however, be due from Ist January each year. The planning department will have to notify All India Average index of each calendar year. At present COLA is due to the employees for the last two years and have been withheld by the Government without any rhyme or reason, with the result the PSU workers and their families are facing worst type of financial problems. The Chief Minister is requested to personally look into this vital issue on priority and also look into the conversion of COLA into DA, so that this problem is solved once for all.

Yours etc..
Ashok Sen
Janipur
Jammu