O J’s Corner
Victory of the mask

Masks were galore throughout Gujarat during election time. No wonder, Narendra Modi’s masks fetched for him a stunning victory in the flourishing State of Gujarat. And he has completed a hat-trick in winning for the third time. He could cast a magic spell over the people. He was a flamboyant son of the soil and could not be suppressed by any means.

His eyes are set for higher goals. He was feigning to be an epitome of humility, an act of masquerading, when he said that he was not above the party. He has unveiled a plan to bridge the rural-urban divide. Broadband facility would be brought to every village. Progress would be the catch-word. In the same breath he has said he was not sure whether he would be able to complete the projects for Gujarat. An analytical mind can decipher something from this assertion. He would not be there in Gujarat, as he was aiming to secure a national space. No one can blame him for entertaining big aspirations.

And with the sort of media glare he has accessed, adulations climax into larger-than life portrayal. We have seen how the party, the media and the managers espoused an “India Shining” after A B Vajpayee completed a five-year term as Prime Minister. It is another story that Pramod Mahajan-sponsored “India Shining” campaign had boomeranged on the party. The media thought whatever hi-tech-savvy Mahajan perceived was being fulfilled. Politics and media attention are ephemeral.

RSS ideologue Govindacharya had dubbed Vajpayee’s softline as a “mukhauta” (mask) of the BJP. But the portrayal of the mask had not helped either Vajpayee or Govindacharya any further.

True, Modi has won a huge personal victory. But it would be naïve to project a BJP splash in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh State elections in 2008. The situation in other States is entirely different from Gujarat conditions. Regional parties and personalities play a significant role in the political affairs of many States. Distribution of Modi masks and playing up emotive issues would not hold good everywhere. When Modi was driven to the wall by the media, Central politicians and dissidents, he naturally received a sympathy wave. The devastating victory ensured by Modi cannot be under-estimated, but to hope that this would be the same everywhere is wishful thinking. Media go after the wave and adulate and create idols of persona in one breath and in the next go in for a steamrollering when they fail.

I believe Congress was not that hopeful about Gujarat. It had not projected a leader in that State. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s comment that L K Advani was hastily named PM-to-be, for fear of Modi, was an admission of hopelessness.

However, the political scenario is interesting as many regional satraps have been energised to hope for the best, like Mayawati, Jayalalithaa ( even DMK has the jitters about Jayalithaa and the Marans allying together), Mulayam Singh Yadav and others. One cannot rule out Sharad Pawar either. He has already extended an olive branch to Bal Thackeray. If the minuscule Deve Gowda could become the PM. Although on account of the “historic blunder” committed by the CPM and got Jyoti Basu eliminated from the race, probabilities hoding out are many. Governments come to be, by sheer number game. It is not always that masks bring in more numbers in the Lok Sabha.

O J's Corner

Sustainable development

Gandhiji Institute of Sustainable Development (GISD), the brainchild of P.J.Joseph, at Nadukani in Idukki district of Kerala is unique as its founder is. Situated atop the hills, offering a panoramic view of the valleys and other hills far-off, there is nothing more to be encountered, beyond the precincts of the 3000-foot-top-set-up, for the protagonist of the spirit of enquiry.

GISD, a venture of the umbrella organisation by name Gandhiji Study Centre, is intended to offer research and training facilities to people who are interested in Gandhian values.
Gandhiji Study Centre, headquartered at Thodupuzha in Idukki district, is a voluntary organisation specialising in inculcating Gandhian values and thoughts on development.
Emphasis on agricultural growth as being capable of reducing poverty and hunger is put in place by the institution nurtured by Joseph, who has an indefatigable spirit to propagate organic farming and comprehensive development.

Already, Idukki is poised to become the first organic farming district in the State. I believe there are about 20,000 organic farming families in the district by now. Organic farming goes hand in hand with cattle rearing, production of milk, and protection of bio-diversity.

Hazard-free and health-friendly farming, eliminating all kinds of injurious chemical pesticides, and offering natural crops is the mainstay of extension activities of Gandhiji Study Centre and its research and training wing, Gandhiji Institute of Sustainable Development. A concerted effort would fetch premium for achieving the millennium goal on reduction of poverty and hunger. More than that, the institutions could provide a headstart for imparting awareness about nutrition as well.

GISD would, therefore, be an ideal location for improving knowledge and skills. Cushioned in salubrious climate and cool environs, the mind would be clear and the body agile at Nadukani, where brain-storming sessions would be fruitful.It kindles hopes for rural development and uplift of tribals who are part of the work-sphere.

Lab-to-land transfer of technology would be the off-shoot of the ventures at GISD. Aready, there are plans to associate with the activities of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University departments at Ahmedabad. In fact, the GISD complex at Nadukani was designed and constructed in consultation with Prof Utpal Sharma, director of the School of Planning of CEPT, along with architect Sankar of Habitat, Thiruvananthapuram.

Joseph has made it clear that the best brains in the fields of agriculture and sustainable development and research institutions of repute would be brought to GISD from time to time so that proper training could be imparted to people who are responsible for replicating the models devised at research centres. Non-governmental organisations would be capable of undertaking effective extension activities.

Prof N S Ramaswamy, founder-director of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, National Professor, and chairman, CARTMAN as well as Indian Heritage Academy, who inaugurated the GISD on December 15, called for restoring the balance of nature. Half of the 65 lakh Keralites working outside the State could find avocation in the State itself, if proper activities are undertaken. The State cannot always be dependent on the remittances from abroad.

Gandhiji Study Centre and Gandhiji Institute of Sustainable Development would be an impetus to those who crave for sustainable development, organic farming and all-round development of the people

Research and training, transfer of technology
to be taken up by
Gandhiji Institute of Sustainable Development

It was grand finale at Nadukani, the hill-top of this part of Idukki district, when the Gandhiji Institute of Sustainable Development, the research and training wing of the Gandhiji Study Centre, was inaugurated on December 15.

Padmashree Prof N S Ramaswamy inaugurated the institute, which is the brain-child of
P J Joseph, who likes to bestow half of his time and energy for social work and sustainable developmental activities and farming in addition to politics.

GISD was opened on the occasion of the centenary celebrations year of launch of Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa in 1907.

Prof Utpal Sharma, director, School of Planning of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University, Ahmedabad, State Minister for Public Works Mons Joseph, MPs P C Thomas and Francis George, former vice-chancellors Dr Cyriac Thomas( Mahatma Gandhi University) and Prof Babu Joseph (Cochin University of Science and Technology), Idukki district collector Ashok Kumar Singh and a plethora of other guests participated in the function and offered valuable suggestions.

Prof Ramaswamy, who is a repository of varied experiences and wisdom, in his capacity as founder-director of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, National Professor of Management, chairman of CARTMAN, Bangalore, and Indian Heritage Academy, former chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India, Committee on Meat Industry, former director of National Institute for Industrial Engineering, Mumbai, professor of J B Institute of Management of Bombay University in addition to various other assignments, called for restoring the balance of nature. Earth should be respected as mother.

By improving agriculture on a sustainable level, livelihood and income can be assured to the people. Rain harvesting, solar energy generation, organic farming and related activities would fetch good returns for the people.

Education tourism, health-tourism etc should be made widespread. Equitable distribution of resources could be ensured. Half of the 65 lakh Keralite families settled outside the State could be brought back, if the facilities are properly utilised.

Prof Ramaswamy maintained that the Rs 25,000 crore remittances from abroad could not offer a sustainable economy for the State.

The feeling of negativity should be shed. By developing a positive attitude, integrated development can be ensured. China, Japan, Korea etc are progressing well on a positive note. China was far behind India in developmental matters. Now it is 40 years ahead of India in development matters. The country experimented with a combination of communism and capitalism and has been thriving on sustainable development.


Prof Ramaswamy was reaffirming his belief that inland waterways should be strengthened, forests should be conserved, skill-oriented and vocationalised education should be imparted and there should be development-oriented attitude about everything.

Kerala, which is endowed with rapture of rains, should exploit availability of water for its developmental needs.

He was of the firm opionion that animals are not offered the incentives they deservc. In rural areas, the farmers and animals live together. Animals fetch seven per cent of the GNP for the nation. They provide Rs 1,60,000 core income for the country. Cattle offer milk, meat and employment for the people. As much as 80 per cent of cattle-rearing works are undertaken by women. Therefore, any incentive given to cattle-rearing goes to the aid of women.

Cattle save 60 lakh tonnes of petroleum for the nation. Half the ploughing is done by bullocks. They offer Rs 20,000 crore on this score alone.

Railway development should be expedited. In China trains run at speed of 400 kms per hour, whereas in India the speed is 40 kms per hour. We must have bullet trains, he said.

GISD is situated atop 3000-foot-high Nadukani hill, which offers exhilarating scenery all around. The complex has solar energy water conservation facilities.

O J's Corner
Unrealistic Poverty Line

In the present-day liberalised world, the norms for determination of poverty line have nothing to do with the realities of harsh living. One is considered below the realms of the poor, if his monthly income is less than Rs 356.30 in the rural areas and Rs 538.60 in the urban areas. These are the national figures for determining poverty as quoted in the Planning Commission's report of March 2007.

The figures are much lower than the internationally accepted norms. The World Bank has been highlighting a poverty threshold of one dollar a day for Asian, African and similar countries. It is woeful, indeed, that the UN poverty line was drawing inspiration from the Indian povertyline concept.

In India, the Planning Commission has been estimating the incidence of poverty in accordance with the Lakdawala Committee norms. Expenditure figures are taken from the National Sample Survey Organisation.

Poverty is measured in terms of the basic calorie intake and not basic requirement of nutrition for an individual. Satiation of hunger at the minimum level is reckoned. One must be able to buy 650 gms of grain a day. I believe even that is not possible at Rs 356.30 a month for a human being now-a-days in view of escalating prices of essential commodities. That means povertyline is essentially starvation line. Forget about a glass of milk and eggs, and nutrition.

Other basic human needs are not taken into consideration like health, shelter and clothing, let alone standards of living and access to public services.

The government norm is that an average person should consume between 2,100 and 2400 calories a day. In fact, the Indian Council of Medical Research stipulates that an adult male should consume 3,800 calories and female 2,925 calories a day for taking care of mere hunger.

The body also needs protein, fat, minerals, iron and vitamins. Many diseases afflict people on account of malnutrition, which limits development and the capacity to learn. About 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are apparently due to malnutrition.

So what is the sanctity of one being dubbed as living below the poverty line, above the poverty line? Is a person with a monthly income of Rs 360 or Rs 375 substantially better than one with a monthly income of Rs 356.30?

These figures have nothing to do with reality factors anywhere, particularly for sustenance in Kerala. The Chief Minister has pointed out that of the 3.5 crore population, 70.28 lakh people have ration cards. (In fact, all the families should have ration cards , not only for taking care of food requirements, but also as the precious document for identity). There are about 14,000 ration shops. Of the 70.28 lakh ration card holders, 49.40 lakh people have only APL(Above-the-Poverty-Line) cards. There is no subsidy for them. When open market prices were competitive, the APL card-holders did not lift the ration items. Therefore, the ration quota to the State was drastically cut. Now when the market prices started skyrocketing, APL fellows are after ration, but the State cannot provide the articles as per demand.

In Kerala, there has always been a furore about muddle of ration articles. Those who rake up such issues are not aware of the state of affairs elsewhere in the country. A majority of the powers-that-be in various States gobble up the quota. By hooks or crooks, foodgrain - rationed or otherwise- should be available, as per demand-supply persuasion. Otherwise, the prices would roar like anything.

When the globalised sectors are minting money one way or other, we should follow the Western principle of social security protection. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGP) providing 100 days' work at Rs 60 per day a year is simply not enough. It may be good for a beginning, but it does not satisfy norms of basic living conditions.

The growing Indian economy should take care of the job-less, income-less people through effective social security protection of the Western type. Nutrition, special care for women and children, with special reference to pregnant women, and decent living standards should devolve on the people.

O J’s Corner

Remove blocks and
Implement projects

The scenario with regard to Plan funds utilization and execution of works in the State is dismal. The sorry state of affairs has a deleterious impact on the developmental projects, planned to be executed in various departments of the government as well as thousands of local bodies in the State. One cannot even sympathise with those who are constitutionally authorised to aid and advise and execute developmental works. It has become evident that they have been paying only lip service to the duty enjoined upon their positions.

Taking stock of the performance of fiscal 2007-2008, the Planning Board has pointed out that upto October, the actual spending was to the tune of 25 per cent of the allocations. That means, of the total Rs 6,950 crore plan budget for various departments, the amount spent was only Rs 1,750 crore.

The performance of local bodies was worse. These constitutional institutions could spend only six per cent of the total Rs 1,790 crore allotted to them. Mind you, the local bodies are destined to get huge amounts directly from the Central Government for various popular schemes.

One cannot particularly blame the prevalent or previous governments about lackadaisical execution of works. The Planning Board has noted that this year the performance was better than the previous years. Which underscores the need for total revamp of the scheme of things for getting the plans implemented.

Initially, the projects have to be crafted with wide-ranging discussions which take considerable time. Then schemes have to be prioritised and pinpointed in accordance with the probable devolution of funds that may be made available. Then these projects have to fetch approval from district and state level overseeing bodies, which are prone to sit on the schemes for considerably long time. Finally, there has to be governmental approval, as the case may be.


Approval from the respective end-agencies of the local bodies, or if need be from the government, is not the be-all and the end-all. One has to get financial clearance from the finance department. This will naturally consume more time than the previous exercises as the bureaucrats have to get hair-thin explanations from the scheme proposers for anything and everything.

It is beyond comprehension, why many of these final exercises are needed after budget allocation for local bodies. No local body is constitutionally authorised to draw up deficit budgets. They can craft only surplus budgets. That means funds are there. Then they should be automatically cleared for spending their allotted money. There may be legal and constitutional hitches, but legal lacunae should be removed immediately.

The state of affairs have been hanging on all these years, to the detriment of the developmental needs of the people. Departmental heads should be empowered to spend the money allotted to them without waiting for still more clearances. Those who err should be caught and punished in course of time.

One should take inspiration from developed countries in the matter of authority to spend. Authorities should be empowered to use their right. Otherwise, the officials would always put up the file “for orders”, when they have the power to use their discretion and execute the project. For actualising this procedure, the political masters should not stand in the way of well-meaning actions taken by constitutional authorities below them. Local bodies have been bestowed with considerable amount of autonomy. But this should not remain on paper.

Planning board, finance department and political masters should not stand in the way of time-bound execution of schemes which are meant for the all-round development of the State.

Coconut farmers’ woes

Take a cue from the calls of Kerala Congress chairman P J Joseph who has been doing a yeoman’s service in highlighting the woes of the farmers and calling for comprehensive development of the State integrating the old practices with modern techniques. And take measures to ameliorate the woes of coconut farmers. It is not that a solution would elude the government provided a compendious effort would be made.

Joseph would vouchsafe it for a fact, by setting an example, that his politician’s work becomes wholesome only by doing social service. A model farmer himself, he has found innovative ideas for sustainable development and a better lot for the farmers. Organic farming, use of bio-manure, introducing high-yielding varieties of milch-animals, effective agricultural management, setting up high-speed road and rail networks, and all-round development of the state have been some of his spheres of activities.

He has established Gandhiji Study Centre, a training and research centre for agriculture and rural development. The Study Centre has already adopted Aralam panchayat in Kannur and Mullankolly panchayat in Wayanad district for infusing confidence in the farmers by evolving self-sustaining schemes.

Rubber and paddy cultivation and raising cash crops have also been among the thrust areas where he has been helping the farmers. The development potential in the tourism sector, expansion of the information technology sector, elimination of rural poverty and the like found favour with him for constant engagement.

It is no exaggeration to affirm that almost all innovative ideas for development, with particular reference to rural development and introduction of modern technology, have been pioneered by him by way of dissemination of ideas all these recent decades.

Years ago, he propounded a cleanliness drive for ensuring impurities-free Kerala. Effective waste-management efforts by setting up bio-gas plants at the level of local bodies was propounded by him. Now the government and voluntary agencies are trying to implement these schemes.

No area of people’s concern has escaped his attention, particularly since he has gained considerable experience in various echelons of life, including his contributions earlier as Minister for Education, Revenue, Registration, Public Works and Home.

Dwindling areas of paddy cultivation has made him inspire losing farmers, urging them to cultivate abandoned paddy-fields.

These days, he has been devising methods by which the coconut farmers, who are adversely hit by falling prices of coconuts, could be helped. There has been the practice of transporting only copra, desiccated coconut, to outside States. P J Joseph has been advocating another method. Coconuts should be dehusked and the farmers should be able to sell them by measures of weight.

Moreover, extraction of virgin coconut oil should be popularised. Virgin coconut oil would fetch better prices in the national and international markets.

There has been a hue and cry when palmolein was being shipped in through Kochi and other southern ports. Import duty for palmolein should be doubled to dissuade its easy dumping in Kerala, if not its ban, Joseph insists.

Now Nafed officials have assured MPs from Kerala that steps would be taken for procurement of coconuts. MPs have wanted procurement at the rate of Rs six per coconut. No time should be wasted in the name of wide-ranging discussions for arriving at fair price. Offers of subsidy and procurement getting prolonged, without actual implementation coupled with simultaneous import of palmolein, would break the backbone of the coconut farmers.

The State government had decided to procure raw coconuts through co-operative societies with a subsidy of 80 paise per nut. Action is yet to ensue. Meanwhile farmers are forced to sell out at the rate of three or three and a half rupees per nut.
The Central and State Governments should take heed to the practicable suggestions made by Joseph for the all-round development of the State.

O J’s Corner

Finally we have had it. The foundation stone was laid on November 16 for the much-haggled Smart City project at Kochi.

The $35 billion –project aims to build up a floor space of 8.8 million square feet in the years to come.

The on-again, off-again project had got embroiled in controversies as its agreement was being signed during the fag-end of the UDF’s Oommen Chandy-led government. The-then Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, who is currently the Chief Minister, had vehemently opposed the terms. Therefore, the UDF Government had not signed the agreement.
Achuthanandan, after coming to power, re-negotiated the terms and arrived at ostensibly better terms. The plus point appears to be that the State-owned Info Park need not be given over to the Smart City company. Also the ban sought on other IT companies to spread their wings in the vicinity of the Smart City has been scrapped.

Kochi is, therefore, emerging as the IT City along with Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Pune. Cyberabads in India concentrate mostly on BPO- Business Process Outsourcing- works. In other words, these are outside works. Our boys and girls need not migrate to the US, UK or European countries to do their work. Sitting in cosy computer rooms in our own cities they can double as the workers the foreigners would have been forced to draft in their countries.

Our IT cities are becoming sleepless cities. Our boys and girls work all the time of the day and night, in various shifts. The Americans get an edge here. They can offload the work sheets in the evening, which is morning here. Our boys and girls do the work and send it back, which the Americans receive in the nick of time. That is the advantage of the time zone. The Americans would have to dole out plenty of dollars for a job done there. But the BPO offers them cheap labour.

Those who have working knowledge of English and who are tech-savvy can secure jobs in the BPO sector in IT cities. People think everything is hunky-dory in IT cities in the internet era. It could be far from that.

Labour laws are not applicable in IT cities, Info Parks, Techno Parks, Smart City etc. Eight hours’ work, eight hours’ entertainment and eight hours’ sleep do not work out for the jobbers. Boys and girls sit up during day and night, in shifts, before the computer screens finding ways to tackle the knotty problems plaguing the Americans etc.

Celebrated companies chalk out ways to provide enjoyment to the hard-working youth who concentrate on the computer just like those who watch out on radar screens in submarines. Their attempt is praise worthy.However, in course of time, their vision get impaired, brains get over-worked, their body and mind get clogged with work-sheets.

But then, why do our youth go in for these jobs? They have no other go. Opportunities for white-collar jobs are few and far between. Okay, the youth should work vigorously, earn and save the money for a rainy day, when they would find it difficult to work.


An important issue confronting BPO work is with regard to safety and security, particularly for the girls employed in IT companies.

On November 1 night, 22-year-old Jyotikumari Ramanand, working for Wipro’s Hinjewadi, Pune, BPO office was picked up by the driver of the cab contractor retained by the company. She never reached office. She was raped and killed by the cab driver and his accomplice.

On December 13, 2005, 28-year-old Pratibha Murty who worked for HP Global Soft in Bangalore, met with the same fate.


Three days after the Pune incident, Preeti Ganguly, a 24-year-old girl of the Belapur branch of the BPO, was stalked and mugged when she reached her flat at the Railway colony at Dadar.

For cost-cutting, companies engage contract cabs for ferrying employees from workplace to residence and vice-versa. They can save a lot of money, but the lives of the girls are in danger. Company car drivers can also turn evil, but the comparative cruelty is less on the part of the direct drivers of the company.

We need jobs, we need good remuneration, but we must not be carried away by the sheen of the computer front.

An employment satisfaction survey conducted among 1,760 BPO employees from 20 firms across the country shows that the number of women staffers has been declining. The women staff strength was 36 per cent in 2005. It is only 32 per cent this year.

The point is, we have no other go. Our unemployed youth have to be pick up remunerative jobs. But then, their safety, security and well-being on all fronts should be taken care of. Cost-cutting would not help..

O J’s Corner

Mullapperiyar again

It defies common sense when Tamil Nadu insists that it will not allow construction of a new dam at Mullapperiyar to replace the existing 111-year- old dam. The centenarian dam is situated within the territory of Kerala. The water collected in the dam is given over to Tamil Nadu.

That the dam is very old, fragile, situated in earthquake-prone zone, continuous leakage and all put emphasis on construting a new dam, which is not for the benefit of Kerala, but for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu in its entirety.

We have examples of lesser old dams getting destroyed. Dam disasters of Vaiont in Italy, Victoria in Australia, Morvi and Jaswant Sagar in India should be an eye-opener.

There is not even sarcasm in the political mad rage that is ravaging Tamil Nadu regarding construction of a new dam within Kerala territory at its expense for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu. Kerala’s relief lies in saving the lives of lakhs of people from an impending disaster.

It is in the interest of Tamil Nadu that Mullapperiyar dam should not get destroyed. Thousands of tamil families are eking out a living in the Periyar valley. The water from Mullapperiyar supplies four districts of Tamil Nadu, utilising which cultivation is undertaken there. That region is a haven for vegetable gardens with the help of water from Mullapperiyar. The contiguous areas of Mullapperiyar within Kerala do not receive a drop of water from the reservoir.

What is prevailing in Tamil Nadu is overplay of incendiary local politics to incite the people.


In 1978, the Central Water Commission reported that Mullapperiyar dam was not safe. Tamil Nadu government had agreed with the recommendations of the commission for the construction of a new dam. There can be no cogent argument against construction of a new dam.

As a precautionary measure, Kerala government had decided that the water level in Mullapperiyar dam should be limited to 136 feet. But now due to incessant rains in the catchment area, the water level has gone up beyond 137 feet. It appears Tamil Nadu has not been drawing enough water from the dam these days. If Tamil Nadu had taken more water when it was getting filled, the level could have been brought down. It is downright foolish to allow concentration of more water in the fragile structure which we call a dam. In the whole world this is the only structure remaining decommissioned in view of its fragile nature. The dam was constructed using earth and lime. The life of even modern concrete structures is limited to 50 years. Alas, our earth-and-lime dam is 111 years old, the first ever surviving one in the world.

Experts have pointed out that collecting more water in the very old dam would put the structure under heavy strain. Lives of around 35 lakhs of people living downstream, in about five districts of Kerala, from Thekkady to Alappuzha, are in peril. No government can subject the lives of lakhs of people in vivid danger.

Kerala government has made it clear that it is not against giving water to Tamil Nadu from Mullapperiyar. Tamil Nadu can avail of the water, provided a safe dam is constructed. Why can’t they invite international experts and decide about the fragility of the dam?

Sheer common sense insists that the situation cannot continue for long. Had the dam been within the territorial jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu, it would have started steps for the construction of a new dam.

Seepage of water from points of leakage is considerably more than the situation that has been prevailing all these years. When water level goes up from 134 feet, seepage rate multiplies. That means the structure is getting weakened as the years pass by.

The dam is situated in earthquake- prone area. If a serious tremor occurs, it can destroy the dam.

Tamil Nadu is not allowing a joint inspection of the dam by experts. It does not permit Kerala experts to assess the level of seepage.

The situation has come to such a pass that there can be no more hide and seek. Nobody can suppress the real danger that is dangling like the Damocles’ sword over the lives of people.

It is quite clear that Tamil Nadu has been clinging on, with its political clout at the Centre. One way or other Tamil Nadu has been enjoying power at the Central level in the coalition set-up all these years. But it is dangerous to play foul with the lives of people on the strength of coalition power.

Even if construction is started now, it may take some time to complete it. The old dam cannot go on holding water for years together. It is better, to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu, to construct a new dam and enjoy the water resources from it.

O J’s Corner

Mullapperiyar again

It defies common sense when Tamil Nadu insists that it will not allow construction of a new dam at Mullapperiyar to replace the existing 111-year- old dam. The centenarian dam is situated within the territory of Kerala. The water collected in the dam is given over to Tamil Nadu.

That the dam is very old, fragile, situated in earthquake-prone zone, continuous leakage and all put emphasis on construting a new dam, which is not for the benefit of Kerala, but for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu in its entirety.

We have examples of lesser old dams getting destroyed. Dam disasters of Vaiont in Italy, Victoria in Australia, Morvi and Jaswant Sagar in India should be an eye-opener.

There is not even sarcasm in the political mad rage that is ravaging Tamil Nadu regarding construction of a new dam within Kerala territory at its expense for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu. Kerala’s relief lies in saving the lives of lakhs of people from an impending disaster.

It is in the interest of Tamil Nadu that Mullapperiyar dam should not get destroyed. Thousands of tamil families are eking out a living in the Periyar valley. The water from Mullapperiyar supplies four districts of Tamil Nadu, utilising which cultivation is undertaken there. That region is a haven for vegetable gardens with the help of water from Mullapperiyar. The contiguous areas of Mullapperiyar within Kerala do not receive a drop of water from the reservoir.

What is prevailing in Tamil Nadu is overplay of incendiary local politics to incite the people.


In 1978, the Central Water Commission reported that Mullapperiyar dam was not safe. Tamil Nadu government had agreed with the recommendations of the commission for the construction of a new dam. There can be no cogent argument against construction of a new dam.

As a precautionary measure, Kerala government had decided that the water level in Mullapperiyar dam should be limited to 136 feet. But now due to incessant rains in the catchment area, the water level has gone up beyond 137 feet. It appears Tamil Nadu has not been drawing enough water from the dam these days. If Tamil Nadu had taken more water when it was getting filled, the level could have been brought down. It is downright foolish to allow concentration of more water in the fragile structure which we call a dam. In the whole world this is the only structure remaining decommissioned in view of its fragile nature. The dam was constructed using earth and lime. The life of even modern concrete structures is limited to 50 years. Alas, our earth-and-lime dam is 111 years old, the first ever surviving one in the world.

Experts have pointed out that collecting more water in the very old dam would put the structure under heavy strain. Lives of around 35 lakhs of people living downstream, in about five districts of Kerala, from Thekkady to Alappuzha, are in peril. No government can subject the lives of lakhs of people in vivid danger.

Kerala government has made it clear that it is not against giving water to Tamil Nadu from Mullapperiyar. Tamil Nadu can avail of the water, provided a safe dam is constructed. Why can’t they invite international experts and decide about the fragility of the dam?

Sheer common sense insists that the situation cannot continue for long. Had the dam been within the territorial jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu, it would have started steps for the construction of a new dam.

Seepage of water from points of leakage is considerably more than the situation that has been prevailing all these years. When water level goes up from 134 feet, seepage rate multiplies. That means the structure is getting weakened as the years pass by.

The dam is situated in earthquake- prone area. If a serious tremor occurs, it can destroy the dam.

Tamil Nadu is not allowing a joint inspection of the dam by experts. It does not permit Kerala experts to assess the level of seepage.

The situation has come to such a pass that there can be no more hide and seek. Nobody can suppress the real danger that is dangling like the Damocles’ sword over the lives of people.

It is quite clear that Tamil Nadu has been clinging on, with its political clout at the Centre. One way or other Tamil Nadu has been enjoying power at the Central level in the coalition set-up all these years. But it is dangerous to play foul with the lives of people on the strength of coalition power.

Even if construction is started now, it may take some time to complete it. The old dam cannot go on holding water for years together. It is better, to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu, to construct a new dam and enjoy the water resources from it.

Emergency-enforced Pakistan

By O J George ( full name Oottupara John George)

Pakistan has again come under Emergency. There can be hair-splitting arguments about whether it is Emergency or Martial Law that has been clamped in Pakistan. An emergency can be enforced only in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. But the constitution itself has been kept in abeyance. What is now prevailing is martial law, according to one interpretation. Whatever it is, the people have lost their freedom.

Every tyrant there had proclaimed from the roof-top that to save the country from damnation, suspension of constitution and democratic rights was indispensable. General Pervez Musharraf has proved that he is not different. Let us sympathise with the people of Pakistan.

Countrymen, let us hail India, that is Bharat, for being our motherland. Do we think it over for a moment how lucky we are compared to the people living in our neighbourhood? We can howl and hoot, shout slogans against the government, stage hartals/bandhs and strikes on any number of days, like in Kerala, the southernmost state of India.

There can be political manoeuvring of any magnitude like what is happening in Karnataka now. Kerala can clamour for construction of a new dam in place of the 114-year-old Mullapperiyar dam and Tamil Nadu can vehemently oppose it. A Velu can carve out a Salem Railway division with the help of Lalu, no matter what happens to the Palakkad division. There can be hartals on this score on both sides of the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. There can be absurdity plays wherever we want these to be staged. We feel non-plussed only when terrorists hit us in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or Ahamedabad. The terrorist variety has a different gene altogether. They cannot be tackled with our ‘democratic’ loquacity, be it from Shiv Sena, BJP or the leftists.. Forget about Congressmen. They are, more or less, an uninjurious lot.

Perhaps now, more than ever before, Pakistan might need some disciplining in the wake of terrorist outfits overtaking the established structures of governance. A nuclear-powered Pakistan cannot be complacent in its rule. Nuclear arms should not fall into the hands of terrorist outfits, whoever they are. It is difficult to keep count of the names of Islamic terrorist organisations. Al-Qaeda, Taliban, LeT, Jaish and what not have had their free run throughout Pakistan, in addition to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq and other havens. Are they working for the good of the people?

We cannot choose our neighbours. Therefore, there is no alternative to living with the neighbours, however problematic they are. From the very beginning, Pakistan has been a nuisance to India. There can be many points for and against. But democratic processes have been a chimera in Pakistan, in spite of fiery Bhuttos ( Zulfiqar Ali and Benazir) and Nawaz Sharif in the recent decades. Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and the like had led the country on the strength of military support. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged without a pang at the instance of Zia-ul-Haq.After a few years, Zia met with a suspicious chopper accident.

Experts say Musharraf is like Zia-ul-Haq. Now he has got a Benazir Bhutto to keep company. What would be its outcome, no one knows. Pakistan is an unpredictable territory. India might well take heed. The neighbour is in ferment. Its problem should not spring a surprise on us.

India might have been dubbed as a disheveled democracy. There may have been so many political satraps calling the shot in various parts of India. But no one could impose a military rule here. The cacophony of democracy is its strength, whatever be its other weaknesses.

There were humorous references about Partition of British India. Had the British known that Mohamed Ali Jinnah was suffering from TB, perhaps they would not have allowed a separate Pakistan. From its very inception, it has been diseased.

Kerala, the Southernmost State of India was the victim of hartals/bandhs ( in effect strike) for about 180 days during the last ten months. An outsider would think it absurd. An average person with no political leaning considers this sort of strike imposed on the people as persecution. During hartals/bandhs, public transport grinds to a halt. Shops and business houses remain closed. If anyone opens shop, the strikers would attack them. The police cannot do much.

If someone falls sick, he can’t go to hospital. The strikers would not allow them to move.
Kerala is the most literate state in India. It appears everything has gone topsy turvy.

There are state-wide hartals and local hartals. Local hartals are limited to the area the callers prescribe.

The other day a tourist cruise liner berthed at Cochin. The tourists could not go sight-seeing or shopping.

We have lost our reasoning power, it seems

O J’s Corner

Let workers remain in the Gulf


Keralites are essentially thriving not in their State but abroad. In the seventies, the NRI concentration started growing in the Gulf countries, which in the nineties reached the figure of approximately 1.8 million. But there was a trickle back in the late nineties onwards. Still the present figure of Keralites living in the Gulf countries, and most of them working, as skilled hands or unskilled ones, could be anything not less than 1.5 million. All those present there may not be working. Some are there because their spouses work in various countries in the region.

Meanwhile, a lot of Malayalis have found a toe-hold in the US, UK , European countries and elsewhere. Generally, the financial position of Indians in the US, UK etc is strong. Their earning capacity is also better than the natives on an average. That is because those who fetched visas are mostly skilled hands. Particularly noteworthy is the contribution made by nurses in the health sector of the US and the UK. They make decent salaries. Their spouses also find some sort of livelihood, even if some of them are unskilled.

The unskilled workers living in the Gulf countries are facing a serious problem. The employment tenure of unskilled workers are being limited to six years. They would be given work visas initially for a period of three years. They may get another extension for three years. Afterwards they would have to pack up and return. This has been a proposal mooted by Bahrain. The suggestion has been churning in the discussion mills. It seems the Gulf Co-operation Council, comprising Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, which are the major players in the Gulf sector regarding employment potential, is discussing the idea in the ensuing conference. Gulf Co-operation Council, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries etc are powerful fora, which determine various policies for the countries concerned. GCC has been working streadfastly for more than two decades for a communion of the Gulf countries in matters of common interest. Their decision, if any being made, would adversely affect the unskilled workers.

There had been fears that the Gulf job market would pop off like a bubble. Still, the dream of thousands of youth to find some employment there has not been shattered. The remuneration scales may have come down. But the growing rates of petroleum price, the strong world economy and globalisation benefits have infused money into the construction sector. The spiraling beneficial effects have contributed to thriving marketing the consumer sector like electronics, digital gadgets, textiles and what not. A lot of our youth are employed in these areas.

Electricians, welders, fitters are generally reckoned to be in the skilled category. But it is not sure whether they would be reckoned as skilled hands. Moreover, there are various types of helpers in all fields, as also those working in shops, super-markets, textile vends and the like. The number would be in lakhs. They are not making much money. They have hardly any savings. Their remittances back to Kerala enable the survival of lakhs of family members.

If they lose their livelihood, many times their number in their families would have nothing to pull on. It would put them in a zero-option situation. India may be growing in economic percentage figures. Kerala may be pulling on, but if the Gulf-employed return en masse, it would challenge the subsistence capacity of lakhs of people.

The Central and State Governments should pursue the issue with all sincerity and persuade the GCC members not to go ahead with the devastating proposal. It is not wise for them to draw in entirely raw hands on a massive scale, dispensing with the services of time-tested and experienced workers.

Cruelty and violence

Cruelty and violence combined pervades the society. No-holds-barred attacks on other human beings are reported every day. Violence begets counter-violence. Campus violence has existed since the evolution of the present-day-like campus. When pre-degree section was also part of colleges, the institutions were unwieldy. Pre-degree students, in their formative years, could be easily influenced by political parties, which vied with each other to corner groups of college students. Every one thought campus violence would be abated after separation of pre-degree from colleges. The murder of a police officer on the Changanasserry NSS Hindu College premises the other day makes it clear that even though college students’ strength has come down after separation of pre-degree section, violence has not come down.

We speak about the need for extra-curricular activities on campuses. But the worst kind of extra-curricular activities can be witnessed on campuses in the form of attacks on political lines. Actually, the energy of the youth should be utilised for social work. Part of the vast campuses can be set apart for bio-farming. Clusters should be allotted to student groups for developing bio-farming. The services of agricultural officers should be made available to the groups for guidance. Some workers should also be drafted to fulfil the projects. Completion of the bio-farming projects should be included in the mark-book.


There should be gradation in the exam results in accordance with the completion of the project. The feeling should be inculcated in the minds of the students who are physically and mentally vigorous that there are well-meaning activities other than political manoeuvring. Politics itself should have part of social service activities.


The murder of the police officer should be an eye-opener to the powers-that-be. No leader should justify campus violence. Students alone are not the bulwark of political parties against opponents.

It is for the first time in Kerala that a police officer has laid down his life on account of campus violence. Campus-active political parties are showing one-upmanship to prove their strength. These activities are gaining strength but the quality of higher education in the State is coming down compared to other States.

We revel at being the most literate State. But the higher education sector is not that illuminating. At the national level, we have knowledge commission. But the knowledge we have acquired at the individual level is generally appalling. Some students are brilliant, as they are keen to acquire knowledge. Others wallow in intellectual filth by way of manoeuvring.

The conduct of many of the students even in schools is unbecoming. Instead of developing life-long friendship and commitment, some students behave like they hate fellow beings in class-rooms. Preventing other students one way or other, by hooks or crooks, from scoring better marks is the specialisation of a few upstarts. Instead of undergoing better learning process, they envy those who take pains to study. Some of them think that others are their punching bags. Teachers by themselves cannot take care of all these problems. Character and conduct is developed from home. Parents should take pains to explain to their children not to harm others. But the children automatically learn from the tricks employed by the parents against fellow human beings.

An attitude of service to others should be developed. At least, others should not be hurt.