C O M M E N T

Jammu and Kashmir: From political intrigue to economic emancipation
By Maj Gen. Raj Kaushal (Retd.)

After six decades of turmoil and tribulations at the national and international levels and yet the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir defies a solution. The problem has spelled untold misery on the people of the state and has been a virtual battle ground between the two South Asian Giants, and of late a Nuclear Flash Point in the International strategic parlance. The ‘K’ word has continued to remain the most contentious acronym on the Raisina Hill ever since the dawn of independence. Statesmen, diplomats, strategists and soldiers of different hues and vintage have tried their prowess to crack this juggler’s nut but with little success.

 Are we any where near the solution? Do we have the political will and committed Leadership? Is Pakistan willing to walk the talk? Is the international community willing to support a solution? The short answer to all these questions is bold ‘YES’. A solution motivated by the vision of bringing peace and prosperity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir through public private partnership with political patronage is the only way forward! The main drivers of this plan will be the people, corporate and political executives with security forces playing a complementary role.

The basic fundamentals of this plan flow from the premise that economic emancipation of the people and good governance will solve the problem of militancy and alienation. Neither the use of force nor the international/diplomatic initiatives have paid any dividends so far. Let us shift the paradigm from containment to conflict resolution and give peace a chance through a community based approach.

State of J&K, geographically and demographically is an amphitheatre of diversities which must be recognized and honoured. Politically the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, BJP and the Indian National Congress have their own niches in specific regions and no single party holds the sway over the entire state. Efforts to expand their respective political bases have been of no avail in the political dynamics of the State but on the contrary continue to resuscitate the militancy and feeling of alienation amongst the populace. Unethical and divisive political practices have to be given a go by and a culture of political reconciliation and convergence has to be ushered in to resolve this monumental challenge. Potential of young and forward looking political leaders in each of these parties is required to be harnessed in the proposed plan by electing them as Chief Executives/ Designated Cabinet Ministers of the areas in which they have their political following and function in an environment of cooperation and healthy competition.

The concept is to demarcate Special Administrative and Economic Zones in the State based on developmental and socioeconomic imperatives and empower these by granting them fiscal and administrative autonomy under their respective Chief Executives/Cabinet Ministers. These SAEZs would be run in the true entrepreneurial spirit and corporate culture. The same can be replicated in the North East. Their developmental plans will be based on a demographic, geophysical and geo economic analysis rather than contrived, populous, parochial and highly personalized political agendas/manifestoes. Professional financial surveys and studies would be initiated by inviting international expertise and consultancy to ensure maximum return on investments in the laid down time-frame. Funding of the developmental projects will be organized by the Planning Commission through soft loans from global financial institutions and plan allocations. These plans would be executed on ‘Sreedharan’s DMRC Model’ by industrial cartels through global tenders in a time bound manner. Coordination, monitoring and accountability will be ensured by the chief executives by reorienting the existing inept administrative infrastructure.

To operationalise this concept, we will need to evolve consensus among the various stake holders, the most critical part of this process. Pray not appoint another committee or a retired bureaucrat to analyze this proposal for if it cannot be faulted it would certainly be delayed to be eventually defeated in detail. Let it not be discussed only in the air conditioned chambers in the South Block but also in the by lanes and alleys of Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Doda, Bandipore, Pattan, Bijbiara, Kathua, Rajori and the like. Let the proposed plan be conceptualized and launched in an operational manner. It must be discussed not only by the CCS but also by an all party committee in an atmosphere of national conciliation bereft of brinkmanship and political acrimony.

If political consensus fails to emerge, then this operation should be launched under the governor’s rule. Let the baton be handed over to the young and courageous political and corporate leaders, who will lead from the front. Let us not be captive to our fears of secession and religious or regional polarization. Let us rise as a Nation and make J&K a Crown of a resurgent and progressive India before we lay claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council. Let Jammu and Kashmir not be a Nuclear Flash Point but an investor’s paradise and a traveler’s dream. Let us show to the world that we are not only claming space in the Forbes list but are also applying the concept of wealth creation and distribution to combat militancy.

What an opportune time to operationalize this strategy with Dr. Manmohan Singh at the helms! Who else could appreciate the futility of the ‘More’ and ‘Better’ approach to the one which is ‘New and Different’. Let it be his political agenda and commitment to the nation. Let 11th plan be focused for conflict resolution and progress of J&K as well as the North East. If the nation can be one in war why not in solving this problem. But only if we recognise that there is an opportunity now. In any case I do not recommend that we ignore other dimensions or imperatives of the problem. Let us focus on the issue which has been neglected both by design and default.

And finally let us also inspire Mr. Shaukat Aziz to practice this concept for it is only then that a lasting peace will be ushered in the sub continent for the only way forward is working together.

[The author a former major general of the Indian army with frequent stints in the troubled state and now is a Specialist (Policy & Plans) at National Disaster Management Authority. views expressed are his own. mgrkaushal@gmail.com]

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Gandhi and Special Economic Zones
S.N. Sahu

I read the article on SEZ in www.southasiapost.org . It was indeed illuminating and moving. The story a farmer becoming a labourer in his own land sums up the grim issue faced by those whose lands are being used for the cause of so called development. The sensitive portrayal of the issue really captures the mood of the millions of people who are in the forefront of the movement against the development of the SEZs. The reference to China in your piece is indeed very apt. Those who uncritically give the example of China should understand the problems they face in dealing with the series of protests of people there. In this context I recall a line from Mahatma Gandhi’s second letter to Hitler.

He wrote that he could hear the dumb cry for peace from among the Europeans because he was tuned to the dumb millions of India. Any body who could tune oneself to the lowest common denominator could conceive of the larger cause which affect the society as a whole and which promote the welfare and well being of every body.

I am really impressed by your constructive suggestion that farmers in stead of being the recipients of compensation should be made partners of the development. These are the words which if implemented would really empower people. Your suggestion takes me to the republic eve speech of President K.R.Narayanan delivered in the year 2001. In that landmark speech he exhorted all the State Governments of out country to make tribal the partners of mining activities against which they had started numerous movements.  To drive home the point he quoted Dr. B.R.Ambedkar who in one of the sensitive pieces had written that while promoting development in the lands inhabited by the tribal the State must deal with them great care and sensitivity. Narayanan’s words, in that speech, that let not the future generation hold our Republic responsible for opting for a mode of development which destroyed mother earth and trampled on the rights of the tribal need to be taken more seriously.

By stating that ordinary farmers should be made partners of development you are advocating the cause of empowerment of the common people. The country is celebrating the centenary of the first Satyagraha. Before commencing the Satyagraha in 1906 Gandhiji interacted with the coolies and labourers to know their mind and understand their view points. Some of the more educated and well off people could not appreciate that approach. Enlisting the support of the most ordinary people for the cause of freedom was beyond their world view which was extremely restricted and narrow. Gandhiji in his autobiography has written that brain splitting is not the monopoly of those who had the benefit of education and other comforts of life. He asserted that poor and illiterate had as much mental faculties to dwell on the public issues as the lawyers and the educated people. It is because of Gandhi’s novel and inclusive approach that large numbers of coolies and labourers participated in the first Satyagraha and later while reflecting on the success of that Satyagraha he traced it to their large scale participation. In fact on another occasion he firmly said that he preferred Satyagraha to any other method essentially empowers the weak and poorest. By making the poor and weak the partners of the first ever non-violent struggle in history Gandhi had set an example of empowerment.

Hundred years after the first Satyagraha it is important to recall its real spirit- the empowerment of   the weak. In the context of the SEZs it is the farmers who are weak in face of the economic might of the huge industrial enterprises. The weaker are the share croppers whom you have rightly referred to in your thought provoking piece.

I enjoyed reading it which is so refreshing in the context of the too much emphasis on market forces determining the destiny of our society and nation. In the media circles it is now rare to hear the voices speaking for the marginalized and pleading for their empowerment. Yours is a voice of sanity and strength.

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Liquor and Punjab go Hand in Hand

Punjab was once land of milk and honey. No longer now. It is liquor that leads. While some experts assert that liquor consumption has increased at least by 50 per cent, others peg it higher.  There are two ways you get it in this land now more known for Tandoori chicken’s leg and Whisky peg. One is bribe and brew your own and second is to get it from thekas. In any case the business of liquor is booming.

According to the sales figures, the demand of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has shot up by 49%, from 32, 26300 cases in 2005-06 to 48, 15,000 cases in 2006-07. The sales of  whisky have increased to 44,25000 cases, at a rate of 51%, from 2,92,300 cases and in the prestige liquor category, in the last fiscal year , it saw a growth of 89%:from 7,33,300 cases to 13,87,600 cases. Each case consists of 12 bottles. For every bottle consumed from the theka, add at least another bottle of the home brew, the roori marka.

Take beer along. It is seeing dizzy growth 500% as compared to an upswing of 400% in 2005-06. But the number of the cases sold is still very low: it is nearly 5 lakh cases. Punjabis love something hard to hit the brain.  Yet there is another class to add to the consumption of beer, wines and vodka. According to excise department officials the consumption of drinks like vodka and wines by the fair sex accounted for a 40% increase.  Increased sale of hard liquor is directly proportional to the consumption of beer and wine.

And non resident Punjabis when they visit their home state add their own mirth. Those winter months witness increased sale, even of the real scotch.  At marriages it is flaunted. “Eh ta asli hai bhaji shako”. Punjab even beats the national capital, Delhi in the consumption of imported brands of whisky including Chewas Regal, Johnny Walker and even Bleu Label. These Punjabis from the land of honey and milk also bring a different culture, natural with their cosmopolitan exposure that gels with the tradition of good food and drinks and Punjabis get push for good life with drinks. This pushes up the sale of the premium hard drinks than country-made liquor.  This new culture increases the sales of premium brands and weans people away from country-made liquor. Yet for common Punjabi, the real fun is either their daru or the theka daru.

New liberalised policies are reflected in the sales. Radico Khaitan, a liquor company that has 6% market share in Punjab and has witnessed 46% growth like some other liquor companies. The sales have grown from 40% to 50% in the last year.  Both liquor and liquor barons are a new class upstaging all others.

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Right Mind at the Right Place
PAU Ludhiana Gets a New VC
Dr. Jaspal Singh

THE Board of Management of Punjabi Agricultural University, Ludhiana has selected Prof. Manjit Singh Kang as the Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious PAU Ludhiana. Which has been accepted by the Governor in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University. Consequently, Dr. Kang has joined his new assignment today (April 30, 2007). Till now Dr. Kang has been a professor of Quantitative Genetics at the Louisiana State University (USA) and is a fellow of American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. Apart from this, he is the Senior Editor of the ‘Journal of Crop Improvement, LSU Agricultural Center Baton Rouge, LA, USA.

Dr. Manjit Kang hails from Khamano village on Morinda-Samrala road, where he received his early education way back in the fifties of the last century. He also attended the Khalsa High School Mandi Gobindgarh before joining PAU for his B.Sc. Hon. in agriculture. After graduation in 1968 he moved to the USA for his post-graduation and doctorate in the field of Plant Genetics. Now the entire family of four bothers and three sisters is settled in the USA. His father Mr. Gurdit Singh 88, who once edited the well-known Punjabi journal Panj Darya is also staying put in the USA with his sons and daughters.

Punjabi agriculture is not doing well for the last two decades. Farm production has stagnated and the first generation Green Revelation has almost exhausted its potential. Now the State needs the 2nd Green Revolution in order to achieve four to five percent annual growth rate. In this dismal situation, the appointment of a world-class geneticist assumes agriculture lot of importance. Another outstanding farm scientist and well-known rice breaker Dr. G.S. Khush, who was initially offered the post, has now agreed to play an advisory role in the University. It seems farm sector in Punjab is going to get the necessary thrust in order to be able to pull itself out of the present morass.

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