Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output
Alka Pande

THE crisis of sugarcane in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the current season, has forced the sugar mills as well as the government authorities to contemplate on ways and measures for enhancing the production of sugarcane crop as well as sugar, in the state.

All stake holders including the farmers, sugar mill owners and the government are united on two major issues - improving the relationship between the farmers and the sugar mills besides timely announcement and payment of sugarcane price by government and sugar mills, respectively.

The discussions had been on for long in the state that the government should announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) before the sowing of the crop so that to encourage the farmers to take to sugarcane cultivation. However, the state – which is known to have the largest sugarcane growing area in India - has the tradition of announcing the SAP just before the crushing season.

"Now the government needs to review how this tradition can be changed," admits the Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner Sudhir M Bobde. Highlighting the need for correct pricing by the government and timely payment by the mills, Bobde also points out the need for the government to strike a balance between the sugarcane farmers and mills. He even mentions the shortcomings in the slip system being followed by the sugar mills for payment to farmers and also raises the issue of inappropriate weighing of the farmers’ produce by the sugar mills, besides unnecessary waiting caused to farmers, which reduces the sugar recovery from the sugarcane.

This was perhaps for the first time any government official raised such sensitive issues on a public platform. Bobde was speaking at a seminar "Sugar Tech 2009: Shorter Seasons in Sugar Industry – Opportunities & Challenges." The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) UP State Council in association with National Sugar Institute, Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The seminar aimed at reviewing the substantial fall in the production of sugar in the state, besides assessing the challenges and opportunities in order to arrive at a meaningful solution to benefit the farmers, industry and the Government alike.

The Cane Commissioner was of the opinion that the government is required to make a long-term roadmap for sugar industry in the state as it is not sugar production alone which gets affected due to lack of proper policies, the industry also affects alcohol industry, which is a major revenue generation sector for the state government.

Bobde pointed out that increase of sugar price leads to a price hike for molasses that is used for making alcohol, which consequently increases the duty on alcohol and thereby reduces its price competency in the alcohol market of the country.

For records, the area for sugarcane has decreased by 16.48 percent in last one year and this year the availability of sugarcane is expected to be around 98 million tonnes of which 40 to 42 percent is feared to go to Khandsari and Jaggery units. The drawl for the sugar mills is estimated to be around 45 percent. The challenge before the government is to increase this drawl. Besides, the stake holders are also united on the issue of shrinking crushing season in the state. Crushing season – which used to be of 150 to 180 days – is now reduced to merely 90 – 120 days for two consecutive years.

On the occasion the government and the sugar mill owners raised their concern over sugarcane diversion to Khandsari and jaggery units. Director, National Sugar Institute, Government of India, SK Mitra advocated that the diversion of cane for jaggery and khandsari units should be discouraged. He said that recovery was another factor, which can increase the sugar production by at least 0.5% at all India level.

The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Atul Kumar Gupta who was also present at the seminar said that the installed capacity of sugar had though gone up this year, the production had gone down by nearly 11 percent. He cited various reasons for the same which included higher prices of competing crop, non-payment or delayed payment, litigation cases and better prices of ‘gur’ and ‘khandsari’. He advised that the mills should have a long-term relationship with the farmers whose interest was of primary importance, hence a loyalty bonus system or fixed cane price for two years could be introduced.

On the occasion, Jayant Krishna,the Vice Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP State Council presented a UP Sugar Vision 2015, which was based on the day-long deliberations. The salient features of this Sugar Vision 2015 included --:

* Sugarcane farmers and sugar mills should pursue a long-term win-win partnership and operate on a platform of mutual trust by 2015.

* The farmers of Uttar Pradesh should adopt better seed varieties and farm practices while the sugar units should embrace technological innovations to ensure a 10-15 percent increase in recovery by 2015.

* All major producers should become integrated players with at least 10,000 tonnes of daily crushing units along with alcohol production and co-generation of electricity by 2015

* Uttar Pradesh should become a significant player in global sugar market by 2015.

* Uttar Pradesh should account for two-thirds of the national sugar production by 2015.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Northern Voice Online
Word News Network, USA
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Elites TV News, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Connect.in.com
Agriculture Industry Today
Sugar Industry News
Newschurner

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output
Alka Pande

THE crisis of sugarcane in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the current season, has forced the sugar mills as well as the government authorities to contemplate on ways and measures for enhancing the production of sugarcane crop as well as sugar, in the state.

All stake holders including the farmers, sugar mill owners and the government are united on two major issues - improving the relationship between the farmers and the sugar mills besides timely announcement and payment of sugarcane price by government and sugar mills, respectively.

The discussions had been on for long in the state that the government should announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) before the sowing of the crop so that to encourage the farmers to take to sugarcane cultivation. However, the state – which is known to have the largest sugarcane growing area in India - has the tradition of announcing the SAP just before the crushing season.

"Now the government needs to review how this tradition can be changed," admits the Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner Sudhir M Bobde. Highlighting the need for correct pricing by the government and timely payment by the mills, Bobde also points out the need for the government to strike a balance between the sugarcane farmers and mills. He even mentions the shortcomings in the slip system being followed by the sugar mills for payment to farmers and also raises the issue of inappropriate weighing of the farmers’ produce by the sugar mills, besides unnecessary waiting caused to farmers, which reduces the sugar recovery from the sugarcane.

This was perhaps for the first time any government official raised such sensitive issues on a public platform. Bobde was speaking at a seminar "Sugar Tech 2009: Shorter Seasons in Sugar Industry – Opportunities & Challenges." The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) UP State Council in association with National Sugar Institute, Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The seminar aimed at reviewing the substantial fall in the production of sugar in the state, besides assessing the challenges and opportunities in order to arrive at a meaningful solution to benefit the farmers, industry and the Government alike.

The Cane Commissioner was of the opinion that the government is required to make a long-term roadmap for sugar industry in the state as it is not sugar production alone which gets affected due to lack of proper policies, the industry also affects alcohol industry, which is a major revenue generation sector for the state government.

Bobde pointed out that increase of sugar price leads to a price hike for molasses that is used for making alcohol, which consequently increases the duty on alcohol and thereby reduces its price competency in the alcohol market of the country.

For records, the area for sugarcane has decreased by 16.48 percent in last one year and this year the availability of sugarcane is expected to be around 98 million tonnes of which 40 to 42 percent is feared to go to Khandsari and Jaggery units. The drawl for the sugar mills is estimated to be around 45 percent. The challenge before the government is to increase this drawl. Besides, the stake holders are also united on the issue of shrinking crushing season in the state. Crushing season – which used to be of 150 to 180 days – is now reduced to merely 90 – 120 days for two consecutive years.

On the occasion the government and the sugar mill owners raised their concern over sugarcane diversion to Khandsari and jaggery units. Director, National Sugar Institute, Government of India, SK Mitra advocated that the diversion of cane for jaggery and khandsari units should be discouraged. He said that recovery was another factor, which can increase the sugar production by at least 0.5% at all India level.

The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Atul Kumar Gupta who was also present at the seminar said that the installed capacity of sugar had though gone up this year, the production had gone down by nearly 11 percent. He cited various reasons for the same which included higher prices of competing crop, non-payment or delayed payment, litigation cases and better prices of ‘gur’ and ‘khandsari’. He advised that the mills should have a long-term relationship with the farmers whose interest was of primary importance, hence a loyalty bonus system or fixed cane price for two years could be introduced.

On the occasion, Jayant Krishna,the Vice Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP State Council presented a UP Sugar Vision 2015, which was based on the day-long deliberations. The salient features of this Sugar Vision 2015 included --:

* Sugarcane farmers and sugar mills should pursue a long-term win-win partnership and operate on a platform of mutual trust by 2015.

* The farmers of Uttar Pradesh should adopt better seed varieties and farm practices while the sugar units should embrace technological innovations to ensure a 10-15 percent increase in recovery by 2015.

* All major producers should become integrated players with at least 10,000 tonnes of daily crushing units along with alcohol production and co-generation of electricity by 2015

* Uttar Pradesh should become a significant player in global sugar market by 2015.

* Uttar Pradesh should account for two-thirds of the national sugar production by 2015.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Northern Voice Online
Word News Network, USA
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Elites TV News, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Connect.in.com
Agriculture Industry Today
Sugar Industry News
Newschurner

Human Rights office takes the sacrifice of a slum in Lucknow

Human Rights office takes the sacrifice of a slum in Lucknow

In preparation for the inauguration of the Human Rights Commission Office in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow by the Governor (behind Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, next to Indian Oil office) on 29 September 2009, the authorities have demolished the Gandhi Nagar Ward slum in which about a hundred families lived.

Most of them were 'dholak' manufacturers from Gonda District and stone cutters from UP. This slum was located on the adjacent piece of land on which the Human Rights Commission Office is supposed to come up. "Was it really necessary to demolish this slum merely because the Governor has to make an appearance momentarily on the adjacent piece of land?" said noted social activist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey. Dr Pandey is also the national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).

On the other hand these families living in the slum, and thousands still to continue to live this way, are not being accommodated in the much publicised housing schemes for the poor, both central and state. "One wonders who is availing the benefit of these housing schemes - the Basic Services for Urban Poor of central government and the "Kanshiram Shahri Garib Awas Yojana of the state government and what happened to the funds allocated for these schemes?" asks Dr Sandeep Pandey.

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Wikio.com

Human Rights office takes the sacrifice of a slum in Lucknow

Human Rights office takes the sacrifice of a slum in Lucknow

In preparation for the inauguration of the Human Rights Commission Office in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow by the Governor (behind Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, next to Indian Oil office) on 29 September 2009, the authorities have demolished the Gandhi Nagar Ward slum in which about a hundred families lived.

Most of them were 'dholak' manufacturers from Gonda District and stone cutters from UP. This slum was located on the adjacent piece of land on which the Human Rights Commission Office is supposed to come up. "Was it really necessary to demolish this slum merely because the Governor has to make an appearance momentarily on the adjacent piece of land?" said noted social activist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey. Dr Pandey is also the national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).

On the other hand these families living in the slum, and thousands still to continue to live this way, are not being accommodated in the much publicised housing schemes for the poor, both central and state. "One wonders who is availing the benefit of these housing schemes - the Basic Services for Urban Poor of central government and the "Kanshiram Shahri Garib Awas Yojana of the state government and what happened to the funds allocated for these schemes?" asks Dr Sandeep Pandey.

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Wikio.com

West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake

West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake

A growing outrage is palpable from the civil society against the abuse of media's credibility to arrest Chhatradhar Mahto, the leader of Lalgarh movement in West Bengal, India.

The West Bengal police and authorities disguised as a fake media representative and with the assistance of a local media personnel, managed to reach Chhatradhar Mahto. Mahto was arrested then.

Dr Vishnu Rajgadia, Secretary of Jharkhand RTI Forum and a noted social activist, took the initiative with support from National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) leaders to begin a signature petition campaign demanding the Prime Minister of India to intervene and stop this trend which is jeopardising the credibility of media in India. Citizens have mobilized individuals to sign a petition against the misuse of media's credibility in West Bengal to arrest Mahto. The signature petition got hundreds of signatures from citizens in a short span of time (signature petition is online here). Prominent among those include the Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, noted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist and adviser to Supreme Court Commissioner on Right to Food Arundhati Dhuru, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan,

"The West Bangal police has misused the credibility of media to arrest a leader of Lalgarh movement, Chhatradhar Mahto on 26 September 2009. This is very objectionable as it is a misuse of the credibility and good name of the media. This is also an encroachment in the autonomy of Media" says Dr Vishnu Rajgadia.

"This will create various problems for the journalists including the threat of their life during reporting in any so-called disturbed area. Therefore, we request you all to consider signing the online petition to protest the misuse by West Bengal police and to support a law to prevent such possibilities" further adds Dr Rajgadia, who began the petition on behalf of several human rights organizations.

It poses serious questions on the way police is functioning in a democratic country. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and other such Acts which are rule of the law in other states like Chhattisgarh, have only caused seemingly irreparable damage to social democratic fabric.

When media used disguise to conduct sting operations, the authorities took them to task and hardly any concrete action has come out of the evidence collected thereby in public interest. However authorities shamelessly have used the disguise of media and put media's credibility at risk in West Bengal.

"In a democratic country like India, each and every institution has its own duties as well as each of them have been provided certain space, authority and liberty to execute their responsibility. No institution has any right to encroach the autonomy of other institution" says the petition.

"The media persons are visiting in various remote areas including "Disturbed" fields and they also have to meet with various people including any accused person to collect news and to expose various socio-political-economic conflicts of the society. The media has a credit to keep its sources secret and to not harm somebody during their news gathering process" further states the petition.

"Therefore, the act of West Bengal Government through its CID and Police is totally unethical and unjust. It has created a big threat to the media persons especially for them who are visiting to various remote areas of so-called insurgency. Now, every body will suspect the identity of even the genuine media persons putting them at grave risk" says the petition.

The petition also demands a law in place to prevent any such abuse of media in future. Hope effective measures to safeguard media from any such misuse in future get in place as soon as possible.

[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/wbmisuse/petition.html ]

Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Sahil Online News, Karnataka, India
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Citizen News Service (CNS)
World News Network, USA
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
The New Nation, Bangladesh
Elites TV, USA
Bihar and jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhan, India
West Bengal News, India
Silobreaker.com
Wikio.com
Mediakhabar.com
Media Days

West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake

West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake

A growing outrage is palpable from the civil society against the abuse of media's credibility to arrest Chhatradhar Mahto, the leader of Lalgarh movement in West Bengal, India.

The West Bengal police and authorities disguised as a fake media representative and with the assistance of a local media personnel, managed to reach Chhatradhar Mahto. Mahto was arrested then.

Dr Vishnu Rajgadia, Secretary of Jharkhand RTI Forum and a noted social activist, took the initiative with support from National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) leaders to begin a signature petition campaign demanding the Prime Minister of India to intervene and stop this trend which is jeopardising the credibility of media in India. Citizens have mobilized individuals to sign a petition against the misuse of media's credibility in West Bengal to arrest Mahto. The signature petition got hundreds of signatures from citizens in a short span of time (signature petition is online here). Prominent among those include the Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, noted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist and adviser to Supreme Court Commissioner on Right to Food Arundhati Dhuru, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan,

"The West Bangal police has misused the credibility of media to arrest a leader of Lalgarh movement, Chhatradhar Mahto on 26 September 2009. This is very objectionable as it is a misuse of the credibility and good name of the media. This is also an encroachment in the autonomy of Media" says Dr Vishnu Rajgadia.

"This will create various problems for the journalists including the threat of their life during reporting in any so-called disturbed area. Therefore, we request you all to consider signing the online petition to protest the misuse by West Bengal police and to support a law to prevent such possibilities" further adds Dr Rajgadia, who began the petition on behalf of several human rights organizations.

It poses serious questions on the way police is functioning in a democratic country. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and other such Acts which are rule of the law in other states like Chhattisgarh, have only caused seemingly irreparable damage to social democratic fabric.

When media used disguise to conduct sting operations, the authorities took them to task and hardly any concrete action has come out of the evidence collected thereby in public interest. However authorities shamelessly have used the disguise of media and put media's credibility at risk in West Bengal.

"In a democratic country like India, each and every institution has its own duties as well as each of them have been provided certain space, authority and liberty to execute their responsibility. No institution has any right to encroach the autonomy of other institution" says the petition.

"The media persons are visiting in various remote areas including "Disturbed" fields and they also have to meet with various people including any accused person to collect news and to expose various socio-political-economic conflicts of the society. The media has a credit to keep its sources secret and to not harm somebody during their news gathering process" further states the petition.

"Therefore, the act of West Bengal Government through its CID and Police is totally unethical and unjust. It has created a big threat to the media persons especially for them who are visiting to various remote areas of so-called insurgency. Now, every body will suspect the identity of even the genuine media persons putting them at grave risk" says the petition.

The petition also demands a law in place to prevent any such abuse of media in future. Hope effective measures to safeguard media from any such misuse in future get in place as soon as possible.

[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/wbmisuse/petition.html ]

Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Sahil Online News, Karnataka, India
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Citizen News Service (CNS)
World News Network, USA
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
The New Nation, Bangladesh
Elites TV, USA
Bihar and jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhan, India
West Bengal News, India
Silobreaker.com
Wikio.com
Mediakhabar.com
Media Days

Extrapulmonary TB: India needs to do more

Extrapulmonary TB: India needs to do more
Bobby Ramakant and Paul Chinnock
Source: TropIKA.net

A call has been made for India to do more to combat the extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis. The Indian branch of Advocacy to Control TB Internationally (ACTION) says the country’s TB control programme is failing to take sufficient action to diagnose cases of the condition.

“Extrapulmonary TB” describes TB of any part of body except the lungs. An estimated 15-25% of TB cases worldwide are extrapulmonary. Patients do not have a cough and so TB infection is often not suspected. Their sputum tests negative for TB bacteria, so this form of the disease is hard to diagnose, often requiring invasive procedures to obtain diagnostic specimens and the use of more sophisticated laboratory techniques. People living with HIV/AIDS face a high risk of developing extrapulmonary TB and the condition has become more common since the advent of HIV.

Diagnosing and treating people with extrapulmonary TB is now internationally recognised as a major public health concern but many countries have yet to accord it a sufficient level of priority in their control efforts. ACTION India says this is the case with India’s Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP).

“Diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB is not covered by RNTCP – only treatment of extrapulmonary TB is covered”, says Mamta Jacob, Advocacy Officer, ACTION India. He points out that, “Medical colleges provide diagnosis services for extrapulmonary TB and then patients can be referred to treatment for extra pulmonary TB at RNTCP”. However, about 70-80% of patients in India seek care first from the private sector, where – if available – diagnostic tests for extrapulmonary TB are prohibitively expensive (US$30-120).

The difficulties and costs of diagnosing extrapulmonary TB add to the burdens faced by national TB programmes, particularly in the case of India where there are more people with TB than in any other country. According to India’s country profile in WHO’s latest Global Tuberculosis Control report, 1,296,000 new or relapsed cases were notified during 2007; 17% of new notified cases were of extrapulmonary TB. The rise of drug-resistant forms of TB is amongst the programme’s other challenges.

TB programmes across the world need improved and affordable diagnostic tests for all forms of the disease.

ACTION India
ACTION India says it engages in country-level advocacy efforts to increase funding and demand for TB control programmes and address policy constraints to diagnosis and treatment in India. ACTION India works directly with the Indian government, multilateral agencies including the World Bank and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other technical organizations, and allies including the Stop TB Partnership and Global Health Advocates.

Bobby Ramakant and Paul Chinnock
Source: TropIKA.net

Publiahed in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Tropika.Net
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Elites TV, USA
World News Network, USA
Deilhi Star News, India
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Healthdev.net
Ziviso.worldpress.com
Tweetmeme.com

Extrapulmonary TB: India needs to do more

Extrapulmonary TB: India needs to do more
Bobby Ramakant and Paul Chinnock
Source: TropIKA.net

A call has been made for India to do more to combat the extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis. The Indian branch of Advocacy to Control TB Internationally (ACTION) says the country’s TB control programme is failing to take sufficient action to diagnose cases of the condition.

“Extrapulmonary TB” describes TB of any part of body except the lungs. An estimated 15-25% of TB cases worldwide are extrapulmonary. Patients do not have a cough and so TB infection is often not suspected. Their sputum tests negative for TB bacteria, so this form of the disease is hard to diagnose, often requiring invasive procedures to obtain diagnostic specimens and the use of more sophisticated laboratory techniques. People living with HIV/AIDS face a high risk of developing extrapulmonary TB and the condition has become more common since the advent of HIV.

Diagnosing and treating people with extrapulmonary TB is now internationally recognised as a major public health concern but many countries have yet to accord it a sufficient level of priority in their control efforts. ACTION India says this is the case with India’s Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP).

“Diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB is not covered by RNTCP – only treatment of extrapulmonary TB is covered”, says Mamta Jacob, Advocacy Officer, ACTION India. He points out that, “Medical colleges provide diagnosis services for extrapulmonary TB and then patients can be referred to treatment for extra pulmonary TB at RNTCP”. However, about 70-80% of patients in India seek care first from the private sector, where – if available – diagnostic tests for extrapulmonary TB are prohibitively expensive (US$30-120).

The difficulties and costs of diagnosing extrapulmonary TB add to the burdens faced by national TB programmes, particularly in the case of India where there are more people with TB than in any other country. According to India’s country profile in WHO’s latest Global Tuberculosis Control report, 1,296,000 new or relapsed cases were notified during 2007; 17% of new notified cases were of extrapulmonary TB. The rise of drug-resistant forms of TB is amongst the programme’s other challenges.

TB programmes across the world need improved and affordable diagnostic tests for all forms of the disease.

ACTION India
ACTION India says it engages in country-level advocacy efforts to increase funding and demand for TB control programmes and address policy constraints to diagnosis and treatment in India. ACTION India works directly with the Indian government, multilateral agencies including the World Bank and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other technical organizations, and allies including the Stop TB Partnership and Global Health Advocates.

Bobby Ramakant and Paul Chinnock
Source: TropIKA.net

Publiahed in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Tropika.Net
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Elites TV, USA
World News Network, USA
Deilhi Star News, India
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Healthdev.net
Ziviso.worldpress.com
Tweetmeme.com

Globally-acclaimed Surgeon Prof Rama Kant now on SRNT Treatment Committee

Globally-acclaimed Surgeon Prof Rama Kant now on SRNT Treatment Committee

One of the most-credible International agencies for tobacco research – SRNT - has inducted Lucknow-based Internationally-acclaimed Surgeon and tobacco control crusader - Professor (Dr) Rama Kant - in its Treatment Committee. Prof Rama Kant began the first Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC) in late 1990s and was also the first Indian General and Cardio-thoracic Surgeon to be conferred upon the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's International award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to tobacco control in the year 2005. India is one on the list of (Asia, Africa, Oceana Caribbean and Latin America) AAOLA membership countries. Dr Mira Aghi represents the whole of AAOLA on the SRNT Board of Directors.

Presently Prof Rama Kant heads the Department of Surgery at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU - upgraded King George's Medical College) and is also the Director of the CSMMU Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC).

The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), head-quartered in the United States of America, encourages scientific research on public health efforts for the prevention and treatment of cigarette and tobacco use. Dr Jean-Francois Etter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland, who is the co-chair of SRNT Treatment Committee, welcomed Prof Rama Kant to the SRNT Treatment Committee.

"Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability. There is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. We can use the existing vast healthcare network of our country in tobacco control, simply by better management and utilization of the existing healthcare staff, at no extra cost. Involvement of health care workers in managing tobacco cessation programmes is a major tool in curbing the tobacco epidemic" says Prof Rama Kant.

"About 10 lakh tobacco-related deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use. Those who use tobacco should quit tobacco use before it is too late" says Prof Rama Kant.

Prof Rama Kant is the President-elect of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), UP, and also heads the Lucknow College of Surgeons (LCS). He is also the recepient of the National award from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Government of India (1997), Anushansa Puruskar of UP State government of India (for the years 1998 and 2000) and Birbal Sahini Award (1995).

Published in:
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
News From Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Elites TV, USA
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Bihar And Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India

Globally-acclaimed Surgeon Prof Rama Kant now on SRNT Treatment Committee

Globally-acclaimed Surgeon Prof Rama Kant now on SRNT Treatment Committee

One of the most-credible International agencies for tobacco research – SRNT - has inducted Lucknow-based Internationally-acclaimed Surgeon and tobacco control crusader - Professor (Dr) Rama Kant - in its Treatment Committee. Prof Rama Kant began the first Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC) in late 1990s and was also the first Indian General and Cardio-thoracic Surgeon to be conferred upon the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's International award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to tobacco control in the year 2005. India is one on the list of (Asia, Africa, Oceana Caribbean and Latin America) AAOLA membership countries. Dr Mira Aghi represents the whole of AAOLA on the SRNT Board of Directors.

Presently Prof Rama Kant heads the Department of Surgery at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU - upgraded King George's Medical College) and is also the Director of the CSMMU Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC).

The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), head-quartered in the United States of America, encourages scientific research on public health efforts for the prevention and treatment of cigarette and tobacco use. Dr Jean-Francois Etter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland, who is the co-chair of SRNT Treatment Committee, welcomed Prof Rama Kant to the SRNT Treatment Committee.

"Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability. There is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. We can use the existing vast healthcare network of our country in tobacco control, simply by better management and utilization of the existing healthcare staff, at no extra cost. Involvement of health care workers in managing tobacco cessation programmes is a major tool in curbing the tobacco epidemic" says Prof Rama Kant.

"About 10 lakh tobacco-related deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use. Those who use tobacco should quit tobacco use before it is too late" says Prof Rama Kant.

Prof Rama Kant is the President-elect of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), UP, and also heads the Lucknow College of Surgeons (LCS). He is also the recepient of the National award from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Government of India (1997), Anushansa Puruskar of UP State government of India (for the years 1998 and 2000) and Birbal Sahini Award (1995).

Published in:
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
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2009 UNICEF ICBD Regional Award winner children in media spotlight

2009 UNICEF ICBD Regional Award winner children in media spotlight
Kulsum Mustafa

LUCKNOW: September 25, 2009: They trooped in with an air of confidence. There were 20 of them. From ages six to 14. Proud winners of the UNICEF Regional Award for International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB). The All India Radio (AIR) children's programme team was accompanied by their mentor and senior AIR programme producer, Ms Archana Prasad. The radio team which had recently won international laurels had been invited to the UP Press Club with the media fraternity at the bi-monthly "Media for Children," programme jointly hosted by Media Nest and UNICEF, the former a forum of media professionals.

Also present were the UNICEF communication specialist, Augustine Veliath, and one of the resource person for the radio programme that won the award, Dr Nautiyal, a scientist. The children, expert at handling the microphone, shared their experiences about the making of this special radio programme that had won them this prestigious international award and brought honour and recognition to the radio station.

ICDB is a day set aside each year to celebrate children's broadcasting and encourages young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting. The 2009 ICDB theme was, "Unite for Children: Tune in to Kids."

The ICDB award was instituted 19 years ago. This is for the first time that AIR Lucknow has won it. A grand award ceremony is slated for 10 November 2009, in New York, where the regional award winners will be honoured and out of these regional awards one international winner will be declared as the global winner.

Besides India the other regional winners in the race for this international honour are Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Suriname, Togo and
Ukraine.

The US based jury judged the entries between June and August 2009. The entries were evaluated by teams of broadcasters, radio and television experts and communications specialists. The judges looked at content, execution and year-round youth participation.

AIR Lucknow’s entire two hour programme broadcast on March 1, had been conceptualized, prepared and presented by children for this special broadcasting day. Later an edited version of 30 minutes was prepared which was send as an entry for the competition to New York.

It was an email message of Stephen Cassidy, Chief of UNICEF's Internet, Broadcast and Image Section, to Ms Prasad that carried the happy news. It read, "We are thrilled with broadcasters’ dedication to the ICDB and children's programming. We are inspired by the diversity and creativity these broadcasters exhibit in celebrating UNICEF's mission to involve young people in the media-making process. Children around the world reap the benefits of their commitment."

The mail went on to say how the ICDB was launched in 1991 to encourage broadcasters worldwide to create awareness for children's issues and takes place the first Sunday in March. On that day, youth write, report, produce and present programs that allow them to reach a wide audience with their thoughts on the issues that affect them. The next ICDB will take place on 7 March 2010.

"We put in our best but we never even dreamt that we would be getting this award," said an elated Tuhina, the anchor kid for the radio programme.

"It was lovely to face the media, get ourselves photographed and interviewed," said Gauri, Children's programme anchor. Tuhina said that all the while they had been conducting the interviews; this was for the first time that they were interviewed.

"It was a great feeling when my friends and teachers called up after reading the news and seeing our pictures in the newspaper. The news sunk in then," said Anshuma who is a student of class ninth. Wanting to become a software engineer for him radio will remain a part of his life no matter what he does in life.

"The quality of the programme speaks volume for the talent of the children. AIR never won an award simply because it never participated in the competition before. They made a good programme and forgot about it. They entered the competition for the first time and won,” said Mr Veliath who persuaded the programme team to send in their entry for the competition.

Expressing happiness at this great honor Ms Archana Prasad who will go to US to receive the award on behalf of the team gave full credit for this award to the children who had put in a lot of labour.

"I think it were the two interviews that the children had done with the slum children and with Dr Nautiyal for 'our planet Earth' that must have impressed the jury," said Ms Prasad when asked about the highlights of the programme sent for the competition.

Wrapping up the programme Ms Kulsum Talha, senior journalist and secretary general Media Nest said, "Media Nest and entire media fraternity applauds the great achievement of these bright kids and wishes them more success in life."

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

2009 UNICEF ICBD Regional Award winner children in media spotlight

2009 UNICEF ICBD Regional Award winner children in media spotlight
Kulsum Mustafa

LUCKNOW: September 25, 2009: They trooped in with an air of confidence. There were 20 of them. From ages six to 14. Proud winners of the UNICEF Regional Award for International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB). The All India Radio (AIR) children's programme team was accompanied by their mentor and senior AIR programme producer, Ms Archana Prasad. The radio team which had recently won international laurels had been invited to the UP Press Club with the media fraternity at the bi-monthly "Media for Children," programme jointly hosted by Media Nest and UNICEF, the former a forum of media professionals.

Also present were the UNICEF communication specialist, Augustine Veliath, and one of the resource person for the radio programme that won the award, Dr Nautiyal, a scientist. The children, expert at handling the microphone, shared their experiences about the making of this special radio programme that had won them this prestigious international award and brought honour and recognition to the radio station.

ICDB is a day set aside each year to celebrate children's broadcasting and encourages young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting. The 2009 ICDB theme was, "Unite for Children: Tune in to Kids."

The ICDB award was instituted 19 years ago. This is for the first time that AIR Lucknow has won it. A grand award ceremony is slated for 10 November 2009, in New York, where the regional award winners will be honoured and out of these regional awards one international winner will be declared as the global winner.

Besides India the other regional winners in the race for this international honour are Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Suriname, Togo and
Ukraine.

The US based jury judged the entries between June and August 2009. The entries were evaluated by teams of broadcasters, radio and television experts and communications specialists. The judges looked at content, execution and year-round youth participation.

AIR Lucknow’s entire two hour programme broadcast on March 1, had been conceptualized, prepared and presented by children for this special broadcasting day. Later an edited version of 30 minutes was prepared which was send as an entry for the competition to New York.

It was an email message of Stephen Cassidy, Chief of UNICEF's Internet, Broadcast and Image Section, to Ms Prasad that carried the happy news. It read, "We are thrilled with broadcasters’ dedication to the ICDB and children's programming. We are inspired by the diversity and creativity these broadcasters exhibit in celebrating UNICEF's mission to involve young people in the media-making process. Children around the world reap the benefits of their commitment."

The mail went on to say how the ICDB was launched in 1991 to encourage broadcasters worldwide to create awareness for children's issues and takes place the first Sunday in March. On that day, youth write, report, produce and present programs that allow them to reach a wide audience with their thoughts on the issues that affect them. The next ICDB will take place on 7 March 2010.

"We put in our best but we never even dreamt that we would be getting this award," said an elated Tuhina, the anchor kid for the radio programme.

"It was lovely to face the media, get ourselves photographed and interviewed," said Gauri, Children's programme anchor. Tuhina said that all the while they had been conducting the interviews; this was for the first time that they were interviewed.

"It was a great feeling when my friends and teachers called up after reading the news and seeing our pictures in the newspaper. The news sunk in then," said Anshuma who is a student of class ninth. Wanting to become a software engineer for him radio will remain a part of his life no matter what he does in life.

"The quality of the programme speaks volume for the talent of the children. AIR never won an award simply because it never participated in the competition before. They made a good programme and forgot about it. They entered the competition for the first time and won,” said Mr Veliath who persuaded the programme team to send in their entry for the competition.

Expressing happiness at this great honor Ms Archana Prasad who will go to US to receive the award on behalf of the team gave full credit for this award to the children who had put in a lot of labour.

"I think it were the two interviews that the children had done with the slum children and with Dr Nautiyal for 'our planet Earth' that must have impressed the jury," said Ms Prasad when asked about the highlights of the programme sent for the competition.

Wrapping up the programme Ms Kulsum Talha, senior journalist and secretary general Media Nest said, "Media Nest and entire media fraternity applauds the great achievement of these bright kids and wishes them more success in life."

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

India Court of Women on dowry and violence

India Court of Women on dowry and violence

Women. Dowry. Violence and abuse – associated by default. Almost always. Irrespective of socio-economic 'status'. Urban or rural, north, south, east or west. Heart-rending stories evidence it. And horrific statistics confirm it.

"We hope you will support our fight for justice," said some of the victims. And the mothers, fathers and sisters left behind to suffer the loss of some others. Tears flowed as they spoke. Sometimes mine too. Sighs and shock all around. And applause and appreciation also. At their courage and commitment. To stand up and speak for themselves and others.

All this and much more happened at the India Court of Women on Dowry and Related Forms of Violence against Women at the Christ University and Dharmaram Vidyashram from Jul-27 to Jul-29 organized by Bangalore based Vimochana, the Asian Women and Human Rights Council (AWHRC) and El Taller International in collaboration with over 40 other Indian and international community based organizations and women’s rights groups. This Court was part of the larger global movement of the Courts of Women which were initiated by the AWHRC in 1991 in the Asia Pacific region and have hence moved through El Taller into Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, Central and South America. Since then, some of the participating organizations had been with Vimochana and El Taller International in creating and holding over 35 Courts of Women worldwide and particularly in the global south. Focusing on violence against women due to diverse issues like poverty, culture, racism, war, etc., the courts are public hearings of individual testimonies of survival and resistance that invite us to revisit the existing problems and collectively seek new paradigms of justice.

The India court began through a preparatory workshop organized by Vimochana and AWHRC India in Bangalore from January 9-11, 2008 where participants debated and framed key issues and formed the core group whose members took forward the processes of the Court in their locations. This unfolded over a period of 18 months through activities organized by primary partners (including news media) of the Court in their towns/states/regions, along with women’s and human rights organizations, students, trade unions and other civil society organizations thus retaining the perspective and methodology of the Courts of Women of making the Court a process and not an independent event.

This Court centred on bringing the seemingly normal and routine phenomena of dowry and associated violence within the institution of marriage back to the centre of public consciousness and conscience. However, it also delved deeper into some related issues in the overall context of development, consumerism, commoditization and globalization including:

- Sex-selection, declining sex ratios and new reproductive technologies.
- Trafficking and forced prostitution
- Rapes and sexual violence caused by declining sex ratios
- Issues of property rights
- Child marriages and denial of education
- Desertion and bigamy
- Depression and other forms of mental harassment apart from physical violence causing death
- Increasing vulnerability of women in the context of emerging issues as that of farmer’s suicides
- Legal responses

The first day of the finale saw over 200 participants engaging in 6 coordinated and well researched round table discussions on various topics like the impact of growing economic and cultural fundamentalism and globalization on dowry, marriage and abuse of women; media reconstruction of violence and autonomy; government policies, legislation and alternative forms of justice responding to dowry related violence against women; and the role of science and medical technology in femicide (female foeticide, infanticide, etc.). There was also an interesting exchange titled "Resistance: The Conference of the Birds with stories, poetry and sharing of experiences of resistance" aptly held at the Birds Park.

Calling of the Court through the Song of the Cike by Chitra Iyer and team started the second day. A welcome address by representatives of the organizing groups and a performance titled Sva Kranti, Women Seekers of Truth by the renowned performer and activist Mallika Sarabhai from the Darpana Academy followed. The special guests were acknowledged, lamps of memory were lit, the jury was introduced and the legendary Justice (retd.) V.R. Krishna Iyer, a former judge of the Supreme Court opened and blessed the Women’s court. Expert witnesses like social workers/activists, academicians, medical and legal practitioners introduced sessions meaningfully titled Daughters of Fire, Daughters of Despair, Daughters: Displaced and Dispossessed, Daughters of Lost Wisdoms on themes ranging from the changing forms of dowry violence and murders and dowry in the context of globalization and emerging traditions. The concluding ones were Daughters of Hope and Daughters of Dreamtime highlighting instances of resistance and hope. Each topic had 5-7 poignant testimonies heard by the jury and audience – some stories I heard and insights I gained follow.

"I am a woman, I once was a mother" began Poonam Kathuria of SWATI, Gujarat as she talked about how the original practice of girls from wealthy families receiving money and expensive articles as wedding gifts ‘evolved’ into dowry. She described the Satta Patta tradition prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan where a girl forms a part of her brother’s wedding gifts given to his bride’s family. Regardless of her age she is forced to marry a brother or male relative of her sister-in-law. If one marriage breaks down, the other is annulled irrespective of either couple’s wishes. According to her, the naari adalat/panchayat functioning in some Indian states question only excess dowry and the women’s problems emerging from it rather than the practice of dowry giving itself. Dowry prevention officers rarely register cases of violation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA, 2005) or those pertinent to violence or death due to dowry as they are often occupied with training and other official tasks. Further, abuse victims and their families rarely report fearing taboos and repercussion.

She also talked about how dowry and other patriarchal and regressive mindsets and traditions continue to objectify and devalue girls and women resulting in trafficking and child marriage. Advancement in science, particularly medicine has aided in increasing sex selective abortions (estimated at 2 million foetuses annually) and skewed gender ratios especially in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi (with a national average of only 933 girls for 1000 boys in 2001 as per the official Census of India website) despite the and Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Regulation and Prevention of Misuse (PC & PNDT) Act, 1994. Even if allowed to be born, girls are those who often suffer/die from malnutrition and gastrointestinal and other diseases as boys’ health and well being is prioritized over theirs’.

“Love was wonderful but marriage was hell”, said a bleary eyed Nina, a student of social work with a flair for poetry, from Madhya Pradesh currently working with an NGO and living with her parents and son as she awaits legal separation. She painfully narrated how she faced physical and emotional harassment for dowry in her marital home in spite of all the pre-nuptial assurances and agreements with my husband and his family.

Lakshmi who was sold as a girl for dowry was barely able to relate her traumatic experiences while Kamala revealed how she was forced to be a child bride to minimize wedding expenses. The former is now supported by the Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Hyderabad which runs a home for abandoned girls and the latter is studying in a school. Zeenat Jahan from Kerala sighed in anguish as she was physically and mentally tortured without food by her husband and his family for insufficient dowry and bearing girls. Parvati Bai who was trafficked into prostitution in Mumbai from Andhra Pradesh when she was unconscious after her food was drugged by her husband repeatedly thanked her rescuers.

Through a video clip, Dr. Jaya, from the National Capital Region (NCR) shared the horrifying details of how she was forced to undergo foetal sex determination and the violence she and her baby were subjected to after she dared to have a daughter. Encouragingly, she sought legal assistance and agreed to speak out although she fears for her safety.

Nalini Nayak from the Self Employed Women’s Association Union, Kerala started the hearing on the influence of globalization and rapid economic liberalization on the Indian ‘marriage market’ with the words “I am a woman whose wisdom was once priceless”. News and popular media’s repeated coverage/portrayal of ostentatious wedding ceremonies all over India add to the economic burden of low and ‘educated’ middle income families of daughters. She has observed that the parents are often pressurized to organize lavish rituals and celebrations apart from dowry and gifts to the grooms’ family and guests. Women from the increasingly impoverished fishing and farming communities are forced to migrate to earn for their families and more importantly to accumulate savings for their own dowry or their daughters’. They are exploited by the unregulated garment, electronics and other industries particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the name of progressive development of women.

The Sumangali Thittam in Tamil Nadu binds young unmarried women to employers who promise financial assistance for wedding expenses at the end of their 2-3 year contract. Malar, Ramya and their families have been following up for many months but have barely received a part of the promised sum though they toiled in inhuman conditions.

Jameela, a single mother and migrant worker from Kerala recounted her struggle to support her family and give dowry for the marriage of her three daughters. Meenu and Asha Rani from New Delhi told their tales of the loss of livelihood and shelter arising from displacement and the subsequent indebtedness due to the burden of dowry and increased wedding expenditure.

Vimochana’s study and campaign initiated in Bangalore in 1997 found that of the 1133 cases of unnatural deaths of women here, only 157 were treated as murder while 546 were classified as suicides and 430 as accidents. Further, among the 550 cases reported between January and September 1997, 71% were routinely closed as kitchen/cooking accidents and stove-bursts. Currently, at least 3 women are killed or driven to suicide daily - clinically terming them as “unnatural deaths of women in marriage”.

After the hearings ended, the jury aired its responses and views. On the final day, those present reflected on the entire process of the court, sharing their opinions, learning and a broad action plan. Among the anticipated outcomes of the court, I believe that the following are critical:

- A catalytic and creative process spreading awareness that dowry related violence against women is a crime against humanity and that dowry is the most extreme form of commoditizing women
- A growing community of strong empowered women who would refuse to barter their dignity for an ephemeral security through dowry; women and men who would reject dowry related demands and raise their voices against all forms of violence and discrimination
- Policy changes that enhance opportunities and ensure sustainable security for women affirming and acknowledging their inherent strengths and wisdom.

Some names, locations and occupations were changed to protect identity

References: Vimochana

Pushpa Achanta
(The author is a freelance writer, a Fellow of Citizen News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau, and a community volunteer based in Bangalore, India)

Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
World News Network, USA
Citizen News Service, (CNS)
Tweetmeme News
Human Right Today, Pakistan
Truth Feeds.com
Twitter.com
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India

India Court of Women on dowry and violence

India Court of Women on dowry and violence

Women. Dowry. Violence and abuse – associated by default. Almost always. Irrespective of socio-economic 'status'. Urban or rural, north, south, east or west. Heart-rending stories evidence it. And horrific statistics confirm it.

"We hope you will support our fight for justice," said some of the victims. And the mothers, fathers and sisters left behind to suffer the loss of some others. Tears flowed as they spoke. Sometimes mine too. Sighs and shock all around. And applause and appreciation also. At their courage and commitment. To stand up and speak for themselves and others.

All this and much more happened at the India Court of Women on Dowry and Related Forms of Violence against Women at the Christ University and Dharmaram Vidyashram from Jul-27 to Jul-29 organized by Bangalore based Vimochana, the Asian Women and Human Rights Council (AWHRC) and El Taller International in collaboration with over 40 other Indian and international community based organizations and women’s rights groups. This Court was part of the larger global movement of the Courts of Women which were initiated by the AWHRC in 1991 in the Asia Pacific region and have hence moved through El Taller into Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, Central and South America. Since then, some of the participating organizations had been with Vimochana and El Taller International in creating and holding over 35 Courts of Women worldwide and particularly in the global south. Focusing on violence against women due to diverse issues like poverty, culture, racism, war, etc., the courts are public hearings of individual testimonies of survival and resistance that invite us to revisit the existing problems and collectively seek new paradigms of justice.

The India court began through a preparatory workshop organized by Vimochana and AWHRC India in Bangalore from January 9-11, 2008 where participants debated and framed key issues and formed the core group whose members took forward the processes of the Court in their locations. This unfolded over a period of 18 months through activities organized by primary partners (including news media) of the Court in their towns/states/regions, along with women’s and human rights organizations, students, trade unions and other civil society organizations thus retaining the perspective and methodology of the Courts of Women of making the Court a process and not an independent event.

This Court centred on bringing the seemingly normal and routine phenomena of dowry and associated violence within the institution of marriage back to the centre of public consciousness and conscience. However, it also delved deeper into some related issues in the overall context of development, consumerism, commoditization and globalization including:

- Sex-selection, declining sex ratios and new reproductive technologies.
- Trafficking and forced prostitution
- Rapes and sexual violence caused by declining sex ratios
- Issues of property rights
- Child marriages and denial of education
- Desertion and bigamy
- Depression and other forms of mental harassment apart from physical violence causing death
- Increasing vulnerability of women in the context of emerging issues as that of farmer’s suicides
- Legal responses

The first day of the finale saw over 200 participants engaging in 6 coordinated and well researched round table discussions on various topics like the impact of growing economic and cultural fundamentalism and globalization on dowry, marriage and abuse of women; media reconstruction of violence and autonomy; government policies, legislation and alternative forms of justice responding to dowry related violence against women; and the role of science and medical technology in femicide (female foeticide, infanticide, etc.). There was also an interesting exchange titled "Resistance: The Conference of the Birds with stories, poetry and sharing of experiences of resistance" aptly held at the Birds Park.

Calling of the Court through the Song of the Cike by Chitra Iyer and team started the second day. A welcome address by representatives of the organizing groups and a performance titled Sva Kranti, Women Seekers of Truth by the renowned performer and activist Mallika Sarabhai from the Darpana Academy followed. The special guests were acknowledged, lamps of memory were lit, the jury was introduced and the legendary Justice (retd.) V.R. Krishna Iyer, a former judge of the Supreme Court opened and blessed the Women’s court. Expert witnesses like social workers/activists, academicians, medical and legal practitioners introduced sessions meaningfully titled Daughters of Fire, Daughters of Despair, Daughters: Displaced and Dispossessed, Daughters of Lost Wisdoms on themes ranging from the changing forms of dowry violence and murders and dowry in the context of globalization and emerging traditions. The concluding ones were Daughters of Hope and Daughters of Dreamtime highlighting instances of resistance and hope. Each topic had 5-7 poignant testimonies heard by the jury and audience – some stories I heard and insights I gained follow.

"I am a woman, I once was a mother" began Poonam Kathuria of SWATI, Gujarat as she talked about how the original practice of girls from wealthy families receiving money and expensive articles as wedding gifts ‘evolved’ into dowry. She described the Satta Patta tradition prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan where a girl forms a part of her brother’s wedding gifts given to his bride’s family. Regardless of her age she is forced to marry a brother or male relative of her sister-in-law. If one marriage breaks down, the other is annulled irrespective of either couple’s wishes. According to her, the naari adalat/panchayat functioning in some Indian states question only excess dowry and the women’s problems emerging from it rather than the practice of dowry giving itself. Dowry prevention officers rarely register cases of violation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA, 2005) or those pertinent to violence or death due to dowry as they are often occupied with training and other official tasks. Further, abuse victims and their families rarely report fearing taboos and repercussion.

She also talked about how dowry and other patriarchal and regressive mindsets and traditions continue to objectify and devalue girls and women resulting in trafficking and child marriage. Advancement in science, particularly medicine has aided in increasing sex selective abortions (estimated at 2 million foetuses annually) and skewed gender ratios especially in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi (with a national average of only 933 girls for 1000 boys in 2001 as per the official Census of India website) despite the and Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Regulation and Prevention of Misuse (PC & PNDT) Act, 1994. Even if allowed to be born, girls are those who often suffer/die from malnutrition and gastrointestinal and other diseases as boys’ health and well being is prioritized over theirs’.

“Love was wonderful but marriage was hell”, said a bleary eyed Nina, a student of social work with a flair for poetry, from Madhya Pradesh currently working with an NGO and living with her parents and son as she awaits legal separation. She painfully narrated how she faced physical and emotional harassment for dowry in her marital home in spite of all the pre-nuptial assurances and agreements with my husband and his family.

Lakshmi who was sold as a girl for dowry was barely able to relate her traumatic experiences while Kamala revealed how she was forced to be a child bride to minimize wedding expenses. The former is now supported by the Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Hyderabad which runs a home for abandoned girls and the latter is studying in a school. Zeenat Jahan from Kerala sighed in anguish as she was physically and mentally tortured without food by her husband and his family for insufficient dowry and bearing girls. Parvati Bai who was trafficked into prostitution in Mumbai from Andhra Pradesh when she was unconscious after her food was drugged by her husband repeatedly thanked her rescuers.

Through a video clip, Dr. Jaya, from the National Capital Region (NCR) shared the horrifying details of how she was forced to undergo foetal sex determination and the violence she and her baby were subjected to after she dared to have a daughter. Encouragingly, she sought legal assistance and agreed to speak out although she fears for her safety.

Nalini Nayak from the Self Employed Women’s Association Union, Kerala started the hearing on the influence of globalization and rapid economic liberalization on the Indian ‘marriage market’ with the words “I am a woman whose wisdom was once priceless”. News and popular media’s repeated coverage/portrayal of ostentatious wedding ceremonies all over India add to the economic burden of low and ‘educated’ middle income families of daughters. She has observed that the parents are often pressurized to organize lavish rituals and celebrations apart from dowry and gifts to the grooms’ family and guests. Women from the increasingly impoverished fishing and farming communities are forced to migrate to earn for their families and more importantly to accumulate savings for their own dowry or their daughters’. They are exploited by the unregulated garment, electronics and other industries particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the name of progressive development of women.

The Sumangali Thittam in Tamil Nadu binds young unmarried women to employers who promise financial assistance for wedding expenses at the end of their 2-3 year contract. Malar, Ramya and their families have been following up for many months but have barely received a part of the promised sum though they toiled in inhuman conditions.

Jameela, a single mother and migrant worker from Kerala recounted her struggle to support her family and give dowry for the marriage of her three daughters. Meenu and Asha Rani from New Delhi told their tales of the loss of livelihood and shelter arising from displacement and the subsequent indebtedness due to the burden of dowry and increased wedding expenditure.

Vimochana’s study and campaign initiated in Bangalore in 1997 found that of the 1133 cases of unnatural deaths of women here, only 157 were treated as murder while 546 were classified as suicides and 430 as accidents. Further, among the 550 cases reported between January and September 1997, 71% were routinely closed as kitchen/cooking accidents and stove-bursts. Currently, at least 3 women are killed or driven to suicide daily - clinically terming them as “unnatural deaths of women in marriage”.

After the hearings ended, the jury aired its responses and views. On the final day, those present reflected on the entire process of the court, sharing their opinions, learning and a broad action plan. Among the anticipated outcomes of the court, I believe that the following are critical:

- A catalytic and creative process spreading awareness that dowry related violence against women is a crime against humanity and that dowry is the most extreme form of commoditizing women
- A growing community of strong empowered women who would refuse to barter their dignity for an ephemeral security through dowry; women and men who would reject dowry related demands and raise their voices against all forms of violence and discrimination
- Policy changes that enhance opportunities and ensure sustainable security for women affirming and acknowledging their inherent strengths and wisdom.

Some names, locations and occupations were changed to protect identity

References: Vimochana

Pushpa Achanta
(The author is a freelance writer, a Fellow of Citizen News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau, and a community volunteer based in Bangalore, India)

Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
World News Network, USA
Citizen News Service, (CNS)
Tweetmeme News
Human Right Today, Pakistan
Truth Feeds.com
Twitter.com
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India