Keep Sri Lanka’s unity intact

By M.V. Kamath

History does not care for individuals or their fates. History has its own task to fulfill and it does so in its own mysterious ways. The Musharrafs and Prabhakarans are mere toys in the hands of fate. They would only be foolish to think otherwise.

As Sri Lanka is being compelled to grapple with yet another ethnic conflict forced on it by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with the brutal assassination of Sri Lanka’s deputy Army chief Lt Gen. Parami Kulatunge on June 26, one begins to wonder whether there is any future for this unhappy island.

One thing is clear: India should steer clear of Sri Lanka’s inner conflicts no matter who calls for its intervention. India tried militarily to help, only to lose several thousands of its army men. Rajiv Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister himself was assassinated and nobody believes a word of what the LTTE’s chief negotiator and ideologue Anton Balasingham said about it. Balasingham did not admit to LTTE’s own sinister role in planning the assassination but has been quoted as saying that it was “a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy” which his own party had arranged, whether Balasingham admits to it or not. He now expects the Government of India and the people of India “to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective”. Cheap words.

No Indian can possibly forgive or forget the killing of Rajiv Gandhi even if Balasingham pledges to the Government of India that the LTTE “under no circumstances will act against” India’s interests.

If the LTTE wants India’s ‘support’—whatever that implies—it must give up arms and abhor violence of any kind. After a two-day visit to Colombo in early July, India’s Foreign Secretary made it clear that Delhi is fully committed “to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity” of Sri Lanka. And that is as it should be.

Under no circumstances can India even distantly support the LTTE’s demand for self-determination and an independent eelam. There can be no separate Tamil State and India cannot—and should not—be a party even for the conceptual foundation of the proposal for an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA), which the LTTE presented to the Sri Lankan government in October 2003, pushing the idea of confederalism, which is just another way of demanding ‘self-rule’ and not ‘shared rule’.

Any compromise by India on this issue may turn out to be self-destructive. The LTTE’s belated pseudo-apology for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi may be one way of seeking India’s goodwill. This must be firmly denied. The pseudo-apology probably means that the LTTE is on its last legs and has decided to make one last chance for winning a battle against the Sri Lankan forces. Like Pakistan it has tried out terrorism and is now attacking civilians, forcing them once again to flee their homes and make a dash to India.

Between January 12 and June 28, 2006 as many as 3,673 persons belonging to 1,155 Tamil families were forced to take refuge in India. By taking recourse to such brutalism, the LTTE probably hopes to gain Tamil Nadu’s sympathy for its cause. It is a bad case of misjudgement.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU), has unequivocally condemned terrorism as a means of realising political goals, which means the LTTE has no friends. Neither in India, nor in the EU, nor, in fact anywhere in the whole world. It is beginning to get isolated. In an era of globalisation it is futile for Tamils in Sri Lanka to speak of a separate state. They have to learn to live in peace with fellow Sri Lankans whatever their ethnic background. That is the reality of today and that is going to be finality of tomorrow. And it is a foolish LTTE that does not understand the changed circumstances.

Prabhakaran has tried everything, short of an all-out war against Colombo’s rule. He may, in his desperation, initiate a war, only to face international hostility. And that may be the end of his dreams. He should have learnt his lesson from Pakistan, which has tried every trick under the sun. To capture Jammu & Kashmir it waged three wars against India and failed all three times. Then it tried terrorism on a large scale but that has not taken Islamabad any further. It is now likely to lose Washington’s friendship as well, considering that the US Congress wants to cut aid to Pakistan, and Musharraf has been forced to cling to China’s tail.

Now Musharraf is playing one last card. He has proposed demilitarisation of Kashmir and has reportedly ordered that henceforth there should be “no mention of Muzzafarabad or Azad Jammu-Kashmir” in official maps, which are now expected to show the entire Jammu & Kashmir as one region with Srinagar as its capital.

In a programme highlighted on CNBC TV Musharraf said: “I have proposed demilitarisation as a final resolution. Demilitarise Kashmir, give self-governance to the people of Kashmir with a joint management arrangement on top. This is an idea I am proposing.” If Musharraf can now try to get out of the trap his own country had set up, it is a signal to Prabhakaran that the LTTE’s time is up. Even low intensity offensive no longer pays. In Sri Lanka the first sign of it was noticeable when the LTTE’s Special Commander for Batticalao-Amparai, V. Muralitharan (‘Col. Karuna’) defected to the Sri Lankan Government. In Pakistan’s instance, obviously at the instigation of the United States, former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharief have made their peace and are out to return ‘home’, which is an obvious warning for Musharraf to behave. If Musharraf’s time is up, Prabhakaran cannot last either. If he refuses to compromise, his end cannot be far off. Hence, Balasingham’s pathetic appeal to India is to forget the past and show magnanimity. Hence, Musharraf’s appeal is to show a ‘united’ Jammu and Kashmir on official maps.

Sri Lanka can afford to wait. So can India. Violence does not pay. Certainly not in the long run. And violence has had a very long run both in Sri Lanka and in South Asia. The LTTE is now pleading for an Interim Self-Governing Authority within its current jurisdiction. For all the loud noises it makes, it is surely aware that the world will no longer put up with violence and if the European Union, with the support, direct or indirect of the United States creates a cordon round Sri Lanka to prevent arms and other goods getting access to the LTTE, it will turn out to be the beginning of its end.

The message has gone to Musharraf; a similar message is bound to reach Prabhakaran. It is to ensure Sri Lanka’s unity. Musharraf has not asked for a confederation with India but who knows what the future holds for him as to Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharief? History does not care for individuals or their fates. History has its own task to fulfill and it does so in its own mysterious ways. The Musharrafs and Prabhakarans are mere toys in the hands of fate. They would only be foolish to think otherwise.

Indian summers for BPOs?

BPOs are booming and everyone wants a share of the pie. But operations with a manpower of 30 or 100 are not necessarily a viable option. Even as the BPO bazaar is rocking, biggies like Apple and others like PowerGen and Belair had to shut shops in India, one of the world’s fastest growing BPO markets. Because by the time these firms realised the feasibility of small BPOs in India, it was too late as costs had run high and so did attrition. This left them with no other alternative but to close their call centres here.

Analysts say that a call centre is a scaleable business and so it does not make sense to start operations with an employee base of 30 or so. Kapil Singh, country manager, IDC India, says, “For a captive call centre to sustain operations in a long run, minimum 400-500 people are required.” The possible reason for closure by these MNCs could be their inability to scale up and high costs of course, says Siddharth Pai, partner and MD, TPI India.

Before a company starts operations, it has to decide the reason for outsourcing — whether it is skills or just call centre work. If captives open here to do high-end work, then a number of 30 can sustain operations but MNCs who came, were doing fairly low-end call centre work.

“If you play in the market with 30 people or so and try to compete with companies with strength of 1,000 or more, the business will not last,” adds Mr Pai. The exact reason for these companies shutting shops here is not scaling up, as a result their fixed costs ran high and cost arbitrage disappeared.

Another reason for closure, says Alok Shende, director, Frost & Sullivan, could be quality delivered from the Bangalore centre. Big brands are very sensitive towards the quality and so are their customers. This could have also led to the closure. However, Mr Shende denied any wage pressure saying, “There is still a good wage differential between the US and Indian salaries. So there is no way they could not have afforded decent salaries.”

Steve Dowling of Apple clarifies, “We re-evaluated our plans and decided to put our planned support centre growth in other countries.”

Burying the past, Mr Shende says there are certain lessons to be taken from these sudden closures. First, the senior management of the parent company should act as internal spokesperson and sell the outsourcing success story to their employees.

Also, the top management hired in India should be experienced enough to handle various problems that arise in a new set up.

He also feels that the companies who have exited India may have gone wrong in their teething exercise. There are chances that top management that was recruited didn’t have right business depth.

Reuters Asia boss Chaitanya Kalbag to join Hindustan Times as Editor-in-Chief from Sept 1

Chaitanya Kalbag, till recently Managing Editor, Reuters Asia, is joining Hindustan Times as Editor-in-Chief from September 1, 2006. HT Editor Shekhar Bhatia will be reporting to him.

Confirming the development, Rajiv Verma, CEO, HT Media Ltd, said, “We are very excited about Kalbag’s decision to join Hindustan Times. He brings with him a tremendous wealth of experience, both global and in India. We are very confident that he will help us give even better quality of content to our readers and raise the standard of editorial excellence in India.”

Asked what would be the role of Vir Sanghvi, Editorial Director, Hindustan Times, vis-à-vis Kalbag, Verma said, “There will be no change in the role of Sanghvi. Both Kalbag and Sanghvi will report to Shobhna Bhartia, Vice-Chairperson, HT Media.”

Asked about the proposed business daily from the HT stable, Verma said, “We are presently working on it. There is a lot of market research going on. We are trying to understand the changing needs of the reader. We are not in a hurry but I am hopeful that we will be able to launch the business daily by the end of the year.”

Kalbag joined Reuters in 1983 in New Delhi, and moved to Manila in 1987 and in 1988 became Chief Sub-editor on the Hong Kong Economic Desk. In 1991 he moved to Tokyo, and in 1993 he was appointed Editor, News Production, Japan. His next post as Editor, News Production Asia, was based in Hong Kong.

In 1997 he became Bureau Chief, India, responsible for India, Nepal and Bhutan. He then became Managing Director, Reuters India Limited, and Manager-South Asia, based in Mumbai. In this role he was the senior Reuters company official for all eight South Asian countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He took over his current role as Managing Editor, Reuters Asia, in July 2000 and has been heading all text, television and picture news operations in Asia.

Prior to joining Reuters, Kalbag had worked in New Delhi in the late 70s with two magazines -- New Delhi and India Today.

Make Goa an ideal State,Kamat calls upon Goans

Power Minister Digambar Kamat has called upon the people to maintain traditional unity and communal harmony to make Goa an ideal State in the country.
Addressing after unfurling the tri colour in front of the District Collectorate building here on Tuesday morning, Kamat underlined the need for collective efforts to root out terrorism from the country. “Terrorism is posing a serious challenge to the country and all should unite to eliminate the menace”, he urged the gathering.
Speaking further, Kamat said that co-operation of all the people would make India achieve the dream of becoming the super power by the year 2020.
Saying that the country has achieved tremendous progress in science and technology in the last six decades, the Power Minister said India today is self-sufficient in most of the commodities.
Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik, Fatorda MLA Damu Naik, Margao Municipal Chairperson, Rajendra Azgaonkar, District Collector J B Singh, District Superintendent of Police, Shekar Prabhudesai, freedom fighters and others participated in the Independence Day celebrations.

Venkatesh Kini to join Coca-Cola as V-P

Kini, vice-president, Sprite and Flavors, Brand Business Unit, Coca-Cola, North America, has relocated to India. He will join Coca-Cola, India, as vice-president, marketing, with effect from September 1, 2006, and will be based at the division office of Coca-Cola, India, in Gurgaon. He will report to Atul Singh, president and CEO, Coca-Cola, India.

A Coca-Cola, India, spokesperson confirmed the development, but refused to divulge any more details.

Kini takes over from Vikas Gupta, who quit as V-P, Coca-Cola, India, recently to join Anand Bazaar Patrika. Kini has over 17 years of marketing, sales and general management experience. From September 2005, he has been working at Coca-Cola, North America. Kini has been instrumental in the successful launch and subsequent re-launch of Sprite. He has led the development of innovative advertising and the graphics redesign for the Sprite re-launch.

Kini joined Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, India, as marketing operations manager in March 1998. Later on, he joined The Coca-Cola Company in India as senior brand manager for the Lemon Lime Category. Kini has a BA in Economics from Hindu College, Delhi University, and an MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad.

Will Mono Rail steal the pie?Add to Clippings

Mono Rail, a complementary feeder system, is threatening to become a cog in the wheel for the Bangalore Metro Rail project.

A team of Met Rail, headed by former cabinet secretary Zafar Saifullah, is guiding the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) and has quietly drawn up a plan to build close to 100 km of Mono Rail for Bangalore, sources told TOI.

The plan is to get the Mono Rail project started by January 2007 and complete it in two years, keeping the Metro Rail project pending till then. Or, worse, scrapping it. Phase I of Metro Rail will take five years to complete.

Several spokes have been put in the Metro Rail project. First, the government has applied the brakes on acquisition of 28 acres of private land to get the project chugging.

Though the foundation stone for the Metro Rail project was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on June 10, nothing has moved since then.

The Karnataka government has posted two engineers — Yoganand and S Kini — who worked under public works minister H D Revanna, brother of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy — in the BMRC to put the Mono Rail project on track.

Both had worked in the Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project earlier. The Karnataka government has been informed, sources say, that Mono Rail is not a mass rapid system and that the project would be exorbitant.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation MD E Sreedharan has repeatedly pointed out that Mono Rail is not suitable for mass transportation. The decision to build a Mono Rail has been taken despite experts sounding the state government and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda that it can only be a feeder system.

At best, it can be used to transport passengers within an airport or run a maximum of 5 km. Sources said a Mono Rail is being planned along the lines of a project executed by Hitachi for Chongqing city in China.

Expression of interest for the Mono Rail was called for by the Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, but now BMRC is looking into the project. Five consortiums have applied to be consultant for the project.

After the consultant is selected, the request for proposal and tender document will be prepared.

Language controversy hots up

Konkani Ekvott against changing Official Language Act


The Konkani Ekvott forum has firmly demanded that no changes should be made to the Official Language Act of 1987.
This demand of the Konkani Ekvott comes in the wake of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) deciding to effect changes to the Official Language Act, according equal status to Marathi and Konkani script on par with Konkani in Devnagiri script.

The Konkani Ekvott, a forum comprising various bodies in Goa today addressed a press conference in Panjim city. Shridar Kamat of Konkani Bhasha Mandal, said “Konkani Ekvott is not against the Roman script. State patronage should continue to Konkani in Roman script with vigour as long as its usage continues. However “no changes should be made to the Official Language Act of 1987,” said Kamat.
Stating the reasons for their demand, Kamat said, “if Roman script is given the official status it will open the doors to the Marathi language.” Kamat said “on the education front, books have been published in the Devanagri script since 1963. Kamat also said “there are fears that there is a hidden agenda of fundamentalist forces to divide Goans on communal lines.”
As for the demand from various factions to give Marathi equal status in the Act, Kamat said “to give equal status to the Marathi language in the Act, the language should be spoken in the State. As Marathi is not a spoken language, it has not been given equal status in the Act.” According to Kamat, “knowledge of Konkani is essential for government jobs. If this clause is not made compulsory then we will be opening government jobs to people from Maharashtra. Kamat said, “we (Konkani Ekvott) are not opposed to Marathi but we fear that the job opportunities of Goans will be hampered.”
The Konkani Ekvott is also apprehensive that if changes are made to the Act, Keralites and Kannadigas that account for 7 per cent and 10 per cent of the population respectively might demand for the recognition of these scripts as well. Referring to the 14 demands made by the Dalgado Konkani Academy, Kamat said that the Konkani Ekvott opposes the first demand for the change in the Act, but supports the other 13 demands which do not require the change in the Act.
Kamat said, “we are prepared for any eventuality. If there are more indicators that there will be changes to the Act, we shall be forced to take democratic means to oppose.” Serafino Cota of the Konkani Ekvott, Nagesh Karmali of the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad, Fr Jaime Couto, Prof S M Borges from the Catholics for Devnagiri, Prashant Naik and Jose Lourenco from the Goa Hitrakhan Manch, Arvind Bhatikar and Prof H Nagvenkar from the Asmitai Pratisthan were also present.

Story of a successful fund manager

Back in 1994, Umesh Kamath had a choice. He could either join his family business of manufacturing PVC pipes or respond to the call from the world of investments.

He chose the latter and now manages six funds with a total corpus of Rs 255 crore. And he doesn't regret it one bit.

Investments are his first love and Kamath would not trade the fast-paced and dynamic world of equities for anything. So right out of T A Pai Management Institute, Manipal in 1993 where he majored in finance, Kamath was clear that he would test his theoretical skills in a top financial institution.

A brief stint in GIC Housing Finance in the credit appraisal department and he was ready for the big break. Canbank Mutual Fund was looking for a research analyst in equities and Kamath for an opening.

The next three years would see him visiting plants, interacting with managements in fields ranging from cements to shipping. A major part of his current skill set of evaluating managements and judging their performance were sharpened during this tenure. With a firm foundation in company analysis, he was now ready to dance with the sharks.

Buy, sell, buy, sell, buy...

"Trading is not just about execution, a buy or a sell decision," says Kamath. It goes way beyond that. An equity dealer, Kamath realised, acts as a critical link between the markets and the fund manager.

Interaction with the panel broker, discussions with traders and market feedback were a key part of the job. It is this feedback on market movements that forms the basis for buying and selling decisions. For Kamath, the interaction with the markets could not have come at a better time.

The tech boom was reaching a crescendo and Kamath got a taste of what irrational exuberance was all about and why a trough follows a spike. Lessons learnt, Kamath moved on to managing funds, first, equity for two years and later debt funds at a time when the rising interest rates were causing a turmoil in the markets.

"At nearly Rs 500 crore, the corpus was five times my equity AUM, so the assignment for someone with no experience in handling debt was stiff," he says. It is here that his CFA certification from the ICFAI Institute came handy.

Back to school

Like a keen student who is always trying to make sense of the subject he is trying to master, Kamath, too, wanted to understand the components that form the investment universe, how they interacted and what were the outcomes. He had the opportunity to analyse equity, debt, investment statistics, economics and forex markets in the course.

"I borrowed heavily from the knowledge gained from ICFAI and applied various strategies that I learned," he says. For Kamath, this knowledge couldn't have come at a better time.

Canbank Mutual's VRS left a vacuum in the debt portfolio and Kamath was entrusted the responsibility of steering the fortunes of Cangilt and CanIncome.

"The strategy during those difficult times was simple. Get out of illiquid securities, get into securities that gave higher returns and actively manage duration."

Kamath looks back at this stint with pride because this was a challenge and he wanted to make it count. His skills and expertise is however not limited to debt. In January 2006, he was put in charge of six equity schemes - Caninfrastructure, Can Emerging Equity, Can Growth Plus, CanD'mat, Canbalance and Canbalance II.

The last fund has a five star rating from Value Research and is a top performing fund in the balanced category. While its benchmark, Crisil Balanced has returned 3.8 per cent over the last six months, Canbalance II has given 8.8 per cent.

On the disappointing returns for other funds in his portfolio, Kamath says that the reversal in midcap prices was responsible. His strategy for his funds is more conservative than aggressive.

"Managers should be balanced in their approach to investments and should not be taken in by hype," says the 36-year-old fund manager.

Look into the future

"Earnings visibility is key to evaluating stocks," says Kamath adding that sectors such as capital goods, IT and cements in addition to construction have a good earnings visibility currently.

Even though there are growth possibilities, he is wary of company managements, which promise the sky and fail to deliver. The ability to deliver and stick to the return commitments given are crucial as this forms the basis for decisions on stocks. An active management is able to explore and take advantage of opportunities.

"The quality of management decides valuations and the price of stocks," he says. Like the majority of his peers in the field, Kamath adopts a bottom up strategy. "Fundamental analysis tells me what to buy while technical charts give clues to the timing of purchases," says Kamath.

But what does one do when the markets are as choppy as they are now? Kamath believes in the maxim: when in doubt, play safe. He prefers large-caps when the markets fall or are range bound and small and mid-caps when the bulls take charge. And experience tells him that the decision to sell is as important as buying.

"You should have a selling strategy based on returns, trailing stop loss and on events that might impact the earnings of companies in your portfolio," he says.

Markets at an arm's length

When he is not figuring out the growth prospects of companies and wishes to forget the markets for a while, Kamath tries his skills at table and lawn tennis. His two kids aged seven and four take up the rest of his time.

Question him on retirement and Kamath like his peers sticks to the usual. "I take things a day at a time and with so much happening in the markets, who is worried about two decades into the future," he says.

But we believe that this god-fearing conservative fund manager would be mulling over the hits and misses on his roller coaster career at the markets as the sun goes down in Koteshwar in Udipi.

Happy Independence Day!!

Cong puts language on back burner

Stung by the feedback its leaders have received, the Congress party now seems to have decided to push the language issue onto the back burner.
Indications of this were received during All India Congress Committee General Secretary Margaret Alva’s short visit to Goa when the language imbroglio was discussed briefly.
Senior office bearers of Goa Pradesh Congress committee who had a meeting with her strongly advocated the need for maintaining status quo on the controversial issue, sources said. They said the demands of Romi Konkani protagonists should be met with necessary notification or administrative orders without touching the Goa Official Language Act.
Sources said that Alva appeared convinced by their view and indicated that it would be better to maintain status quo, at least for now.
It may be recalled that Congress Legislature Party at a meeting on July 31, had called for equal status to Roman Konkani and also to Marathi.
However, when GPCC discussed the issue, majority was for maintaining status quo. Interestingly, even some MLAs who were present for the CLP meet, later at the GPCC deliberation, felt it is better not to amend the Official Language Act. This is because the feedback received by some MLAs was against giving equal status to Marathi.

Unity tune in the name of Konkani!

Goan citizens from different walks of life came together today and gave a clarion call for unity among Goans through Konkani as it is the identity of every Goan.
Representatives of various organisations and individuals expressed their views about Konkani at a meeting organised by Konkani Ekvott at the People’s High School today.

Architecture college student, Abhijeet Gaonkar, said, “No matter what the religion, whether Hindu, Muslim or Catholic, we have all studied one common language in school and that is Konkani.” And added that the language issue does not bother him.
Gaonkar sent a clear message to students to have no doubts about Konkani and leave no chance to create a divide among people because of Konkani.
Strongly expressing his sentiments about Goans, Dr Oscar Rebello said “we co-exist despite the differences that exist between individuals and we are proud of the individuality. For me Konkani is the symbol of my identity. Nobody can mess with this symbol, we salute it and nobody can touch the language.”
At the same time he said that “there is a lot of respect for the Roman script and also Marathi.” The question is not about the language script but about our identity, Dr Rebello said.
Konkani Ekvott convenor, Serafin Cote said that there should be no changes to the Official Language Act of 1987.
The Konkani Ekvott will now move on to organise meetings on the language issue at various levels such as the students councils, Yuva Mahotsavs, and Konkani Kendriya Saunsthas.

GPCC favours maintaining status quo on language issue

The large majority of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee which met here today favoured that party should maintain status quo on the language issue even as its president, Mr Ravi Naik told reporters that his party would resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the people of the state ahead of forthcoming general elections to the state assembly.

Addressing an impromptu press conference soon after the GPCC meeting, Mr Naik said that some people have made the mess and an unnecessary problem has been created but hastened to add that his party would solve the issue once for all.

He said that his party members expressed their views on the language issue at today’s meeting and that no decision had been taken by it on the issue of granting official language status to both Konkani in Roman script and Marathi.

The GPCC president further said that the party would elicit opinion of the party workers at different levels before taking a decision on the vexed issue. He refused to give his personal comments on the issue saying that he would go with the collective decision of the party.

Mr Naik also said that he would be leaving for New Delhi on August 9, soon after observing the anniversary of the Quit India Movement, to meet the party’s central leaders and apprise them of the situation in the state vis-a-vis the language issue.

He said that the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsingh Rane, would also accompany him and that they would jointly call on the All India Congress Committee general secretary, Ms Margaret Alva, AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and political advisor to Ms Gandhi, Mr Ahmed Patel.

Meanwhile, sources in the party said that there was total unanimity in the GPCC meeting on maintaining status quo on the language issue, with many members expressing views that Konkani in Roman script should not be neglected and that awards should be given to books written in script and that more funds should be allotted for the development of language in that script.

Members also felt that the Official Language Act should not be amended, said that sources adding that issue should not be allowed to linger on. They also wanted the party to take them into confidence before a decision on the issue was taken in the Congress Legislature Party.

Union minister for official status to Roman Konkani

The Union Minorities Minister, Mr A R Antulay today observed that a language has its own importance, irrespective of the scripts in which it is written. “I would be happy to see Konkani in Devnagari as well as in Roman script accorded with the status of the official state language,” he observed while commenting on the ongoing linguistic imbroglio in the state.

Speaking as the chief guest during the 60th birthday function of the former Union law minister, Mr Ramakant Khalap, Mr Antulay lamented that the word ‘minorities’ is being used in the country in a derogatory manner and said the the use of the word ‘minorities’ is not restricted to religion but also to language.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I am the minister concerned with the minority status of the languages, he concluded.

He said that the Sections from 30 to 35 of the Constitution speak about the religious as well as the linguistic minorities.

“There are 19.5 per cent religious minorities in the state,” Mr Antulay informed, adding that the Jains too are minorities who have not yet been notified as such. “They would however receive this status soon,” he announced.

Mr Antulay said that the Hindus are in minority in states like Jammu and Kashmir and the Union territories such as Lakshadweep.

As for the national linguistic scenario, almost one third of the total population of India is in linguistic minority, the Minorities Minister pointed out, adding “out of this, 95 per cent are Hindus.”

Later, he felicitated Mr Khalap by presenting him with a citation, shawl and a shreephal. The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane, the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Wilfred de Sousa, the state Congress president, Mr Ravi Naik and Ms Nirmala Khalap were also present on the occasion.

Describing Mr Khalap as the true political leader who was ever ready to sacrifice his post, however high, Mr Antulay said that he would suggest the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi give an opportunity to Mr Khalap to work in the Rajya Sabha. He also said that Mr Khalap has been the best central law minister ever since the time of Mr Ashok Sen.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister observed that Goans had a habit of creating issues over minor things such as Railways and airports, thus indirectly referring to the public opposition to the Konkan Railway and the Mopa airport project.

Though such trivial issues, including the issue of the state language, are politicised, the state has been making steady progress, he noted.

Mr Rane also described Mr Khalap as a true social worker, a honest colleague and furthermore a dedicated opposition leader, when Mr Khalap held the post in the past.

Dr de Sousa said that the contribution of Mr Khalap in politics, on the state as well as on the national level, is well-known to the public.

Mr Ravi Naik, the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad, Mr Vasant Davkhare, the president of Vithal Rakhumai Mandir Samitee, Pandharpur, Mr Shashikant Pague and the celebrated writer, Mr Vishwas Patil also spoke.

Replying to the felicitation, Mr Khalap said that he would be very happy to witness the total implementation of various laws enacted by the state government, including those for the tenants, which were formulated during his tenure as an MLA.

Mr Khalap stated that the state language issue should be resolved and the demand of Hindus as well as Catholics should be met by according status of official state language to Marathi and Konkani in Roman script.

Water - India needs massive investments

By Dr. Uday Lal Pai

India is one of the biggest and most attractive water markets in the world. The boom time for Indian bottled water industry is to continue- more so because the economics are sound, the bottom line is fat and the Indian government hardly cares for what happens to the nation's water resources.

Most multi-national (MNC) companies view India as the next big market with a lot of potential and growth possibility. Several MNCs are waiting in the wings to expand a $ 287 billion global water market into India. There is a huge market being exploited by the packaged water industry, and it's growing at 40% per annum.

With over a thousand bottled water producers, the Indian bottled water industry is big by even international standards. There are more than 200 brands, nearly 80 per cent of which are local. Most of the small-scale producers sell non-branded products and serve small markets. In fact, making bottled water is today a cottage industry in the country. There are investment worthy mid-cap companies in this segment.

Despite the large number of small producers, this industry is dominated by the big players - Parle Bisleri, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Parle Agro, Mohan Meakins, SKN Breweries and so on. Parle was the first major Indian company to enter the bottled water market in the country when it introduced Bisleri in India 25 years ago.

The ground water realities

Industry sources estimate that the total Indian water market is worth more than $1 billion - consisting of approximately one-third for water provisioning, one-third for municipal water treatment and one-third for industrial water treatment. The overall water market is growing at 15-20 percent per annum.

In just 50 years a water-rich nation has been reduced to a water-insecure one. By 2025, the per capita availability of water is likely to slip below the critical mark of 1,000 cubic meters. And with 82% of our villages overdrawing groundwater to meet their needs and cities ferrying water from peri-urban areas, the country is close to exhausting its groundwater reserves.

India has 16 percent of the world's population, 2.5 percent of the land mass and 4 percent of the world's water resources. These limited water resources are depleting rapidly while the demands on them are increasing. Drinking water supplies in many parts of India are intermittent. Transmission and distribution networks for water are generally old and badly maintained, and as a result, are deteriorating.

Corporate control over water and water distribution in India is growing rapidly: the packaged water business is worth $250 million, and it's growing at a huge 40-50% annually. Around 1,200 bottling plants and 100 brands of packaged water across the country are battling over the market, overdrawing groundwater, and robbing local communities of their water resources and livelihoods.

Genie is out of the bottle.

India is the tenth largest bottled water consumer in the world. Today it is one of India's fastest growing industrial sectors. The rise of the Indian bottled water industry began with the economic liberalization process in 1991. The market was virtually stagnant until 1991, when the demand for bottled water was less than two million cases a year. However, since 1991-1992 it has not looked back, and the demand in 2004-05 was a staggering 82 million cases.

The per capita bottled water consumption in the country is still quite low - less than five liters a year as compared to the global average of 24 liters. However, the total annual bottled water consumption has risen rapidly in recent times - it has tripled between 1999 and 2004 - from about 1.5 billion liters to five billion liters. Between 1999 and 2004, the Indian bottled water market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25 per cent - the highest in the world.

Indeed, the bottled water industry is one of the most thriving sectors in India. According to another section of market observers, the market is growing at a whopping rate of about 55 percent annually. Though exact figures are not available, the market is growing for sure. Even though it accounts for only 5 percent of the total beverage market in India, branded bottled water is the fastest growing industry in the beverage sector.

Bottled water is still not perceived as a product for masses though, the scene is changing slowly thanks to low pricing and aggressive marketing strategies adopted by new entrants. Some surveys show that truck drivers on highways form a major chunk of bottled water drinkers. Penetration in rural areas is another significant factor that is likely to play a key role in the development of the bottled water trade.

Bottled water is sold in a variety of packages: pouches and glasses, 330 ml bottles, 500 ml bottles, one-liter bottles and even 20- to 50-litre bulk water packs. The formal bottled water business in India can be divided broadly into three segments in terms of cost: premium natural mineral water, natural mineral water and packaged drinking water. Leave alone the metros, where a bottled-water manufacturer can be found even in a one-room shop, in every medium and small city and even some prosperous rural areas there are bottled water manufacturers.

Consumption of bottled water in India is linked to the level of prosperity in the different regions. The western region accounts for 40 per cent of the market and the eastern region just 10. However, the bottling plants are concentrated in the southern region - of the approximately 1,200 bottling water plants in India, 600 are in Tamil Nadu. This is a major problem because southern India, especially Tamil Nadu, is water starved.

The majority of the bottling plants - whether they produce bottled water or soft drinks - are dependent on groundwater. They create huge water stress in the areas where they operate because groundwater is also the main source - in most places the only source - of drinking water in India. This has created huge conflict between the community and the bottling plants.

The branded bottles

Packaged drinking water, which is nothing but treated water, is the biggest segment and includes brands such as Parle Bisleri, Coca-Cola's Kinley and PepsiCo's Aquafina. While the single largest share in the mineral water market might still belong to an Indian brand -- Parle's $52 million Bisleri brand has a 40 percent share -- multi-national corporations are not far behind. Nestle and Danone are vying to purchase Bisleri, and Pepsi's Aquafina and Coke's Kinley brands have been extremely successful in edging out many of the small and medium players to buy-outs and exclusive licensing deals.

Kinley and Aquafina are fast catching up, with Kinley holding 20-25 per cent of the market and Aquafina approximately 11 per cent. The rest, including the smaller players, have 20-25 per cent of the market share. News reports indicate that other MNCs like Unilever are also eying the market.

Currently, Kinley is being manufactured in 15 bottling plants across the country and according to Coca-Cola India President Alex von Behr, Coke had invested nearly $1 billion in India between entering the market in 1993 and December 2001. Behr says that Coke expects a significant portion of our turnover to be accounted by pure water business.

Almost all major national and international brands have taken a plunge. Parle's Bisleri that virtually monopolized the bottled water market is now vying with Nestle, Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Manikchand, UB and Britannia. According to a national-level study, there are close to 200 bottled water brands in India. Nearly 80 per cent of these are local brands.

Premium natural mineral water includes brands such as Evian, San Pelligrino and Perrier, which are imported and priced between $2 - 2.5 a litre. Natural mineral water, with brands such as Himalayan and Catch, is priced around 40 cents a liter.

The Indian bottled water market, which has more than 250 brands, is expected to undergo a major consolidation phase, and the need for standards and regulations is of great importance, according to Ita Thaher, Secretary General of the Asian Bottle Water Association (ABWA).

She said that the Indian bottled water market is valued at more than $250 million and is growing at a rate of 60 per cent.

The major growth in packaged water, however, was in the bulk water segment. According to estimates, bulk water packs of 20 liters, targeted at the institutional and home segments, grew at a rate of 30-40% in 2002 alone. Bisleri re-invented its 20-litre jumbo home pack, fitted with a spout, to acquire a more 'consumer-friendly' image.

According to industry estimates, the main consumers of packaged water are no longer restricted to the upper class but include middle class and lower-middle class families as well. The 'rural' market is currently dominated by tourists and travelers; packaged water is now beginning to be seen as an essential appendage to any form of travel.

The government apathy

In April 2002, the government of India announced a new water policy based on privatization. The social activists allege that this policy was shaped entirely by the World Bank recipes for the water sector.

In comparison to global standards India's bottled water segment is largely unregulated. Safe water is rated with a different yardstick in different countries. In India, the aspect has been overlooked for long. Indian consumers tend to believe that any bottled water is safe water. This may not be the case.

Several small players have entered the trade in India to capitalize on the craze, with no check on them. Some serious doubts have been raised about the safety of so-called bottled water available. There has hardly been an involvement of any statutory body in defining specific standards. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has just recently got involved in the process.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has proposed expediting setting up of Water Regulatory Authority, urging the Planning Commission to build a strong case for its creation to the government. The Chamber's proposal which will be submitted to the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia by its President, Anil K. Agarwal, stresses that water is crucial and hardly any good job is being done in this area. As only a third of country is under irrigation with assured canal water or ground water supplies. Maintenance of irrigation system is poor which is partly because water tariff are very low and do not cover the costs of tariff and maintenance, said the Chamber proposal.

Turbulent future

India faces a turbulent water future. Unless water management practices are changed - and changed soon - India will face a severe water crisis within the next two decades and will have neither the cash to build new infrastructure nor the water needed by its growing economy and rising population.

World Bank draft report, `India's Water Economy: Bracing for a Turbulent Future,' says by 2020, India's demand for water will exceed all sources of supply unless the country's management practices are changed, and soon.

William Brennan, Portfolio Manager of the Praetor Global Water Equities Fund and Managing Director of Equities at Boenning and Scattergood. "India right now, especially with the technology centers that are being built, will have a real driving force in the global water business as far as infrastructure, water delivery, membrane filtration and chemical use. China, on the other hand, has really emerged as a significant player in the water market over the last two years. As China goes through its industrialization, they will become more and more dependent on fresh water and will become a significant consumer of water and related products and services."

Climate change projections show that India's water problems are only likely to worsen. With more rain expected to fall in fewer days and the rapid melting of glaciers - especially in the western Himalayas - India will need to gear up to tackle the increasing incidence of both droughts and floods.

India can still store only relatively small quantities of its fickle rainfall. Whereas arid rich countries (such as the United States and Australia) have built over 5,000 cubic meters of water storage per capita, and China can store about 1,000 cubic meters per capita, India's dams can store only 200 cubic meters per person. Moreover, India can store only about 30 days of rainfall, compared to 900 days in major river basins in arid areas of developed countries.

A water thirsty country

According to a document recently published by the Delhi office of the international NGO, WaterAid, even if this target is reached within a decade, as the UN seeks to do, "29% of the rural population, or 244 million people, and 23% of the urban population, or 90 million people, would still lack access to adequate safe, sustainable water".

Another estimate shows almost the same figure. The projected increase in population by the year 2025 indicates that the per capita availability of water is likely to slip below the critical mark of 1,000 cubic meters. Though projections vary, India's population by 2050 will in all probability balance between the low variant of 1,345 million people and the high variant of 1,581 million people.

The fact that most of this population growth will be accounted for by urban areas will add to the existing water crisis in the cities. By 2050, 48% to 61% of India's population will be living in urban areas.

Even if the middle variant of 55% is taken into consideration, 800 million out of the projected total population of 1,450 million, will be in urban areas, adding an unprecedented 500 million people to the present urban population of 309 million. While rural water demand is assessed on an allocation of 40 liters per capita per day (lpcd), the corresponding urban demand is against a norm of 135 lpcd. A population shift means additional demand on already shrinking urban water resources.

Massive investments needed

Estimates reveal that by 2020, India's demand for water will exceed all sources of supply. Notwithstanding the catastrophic consequences of indiscriminate pumping of groundwater, government actions - including the provision of free power - have exacerbated rather than addressed the problem.

In just 50 years a water-rich nation has been reduced to a water-insecure one. By 2025, the per capita availability of water is likely to slip below the critical mark of 1,000 cubic meters.

There is clearly an urgent need for action. First, India needs a lot more water infrastructure. Compared to other semi-arid countries, India can store relatively small quantities of its fickle rainfall. Whereas India's dams can store only 200 cu.m.of water per person, other middle-income countries like China, South Africa, and Mexico can store about 1000 cu.m. per capita. New infrastructure needs to be built especially in underserved areas such as the water-rich northeast of the country where investments can transform water from a curse to a blessing. The country needs to invest in water infrastructure at all levels - from large multipurpose water projects to small community watershed management and rainwater harvesting projects.

ASSOCHAM also points out that treating land is expensive as it costs around $178 to $223 per hectare as something of the order of 80 million hectares of land in India needs treatment which alone would require an investment of $1.8 billion.

The government is increasingly dependent on aid for water infrastructure projects from institutions like the World Bank. As liberalization and free markets are the guiding principles of these agencies, they are pushing full cost recovery and reduced public control. This is shifting the flashpoint for water conflicts from agrarian basins and rural areas to the cities, where the battle is on for the control and management of municipal water supplies.

MNC manufacturers of water and wastewater treatment equipment either have a presence in India or have ensured that their products are easily available in India now. Canadian companies are eyeing the Indian water market keenly. Canada's companies have expertise in disinfection, non-chemical treatment, membrane technology and clean environment technologies. They are also strong in lake water management and municipal water supply systems. The Netherlands has technical leadership in activated carbon treatment technology, membrane technology and wastewater treatment.

Konkani Ekvott members addressing the media

Konkani Ekvott members addressing the media wherein they voiced their opposition to changing the Official Language Act.

Bank officers to oppose merger proposal

The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation joint-general secretary T R Bhat on Sunday said that organisation will oppose the proposed merger of public sector banks and warned that move could lead to serious implications on the national economy.

While statements are repeatedly being made by Finance Minster about merger of PSBs to form four-five large banks, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also blessed the suggestion, Bhat said addressing reporters here. He said there is no consensus that mergers can improve the efficiency of banks.

On the other hand, when entities get merged, instead of competition there will be oligopolistic tendencies that could result in price manipulations, he said.

Bhat observed that the Government wants public sector banks to compete with largest banks in the world by the merger process.

However, it is a fact that even after merger all the 27 PSUs will have hardly one tenth of the capital held by City Bank, considered to be the largest in the world in terms of capital.

The confederation secretary said that the every bank has its on business culture, which keeps it distinct from others. Mergers can cause serious cultural conflicts, he said.

He said the ability to face competition depends on the speed of service rendered by the bank, the quality and efficiency in delivery of service will matter and its not the size.

On the issue of pension, he said at present only 50 percent of the bank employees are covered under pension schemes. The confederation has placed a demand before the Indian Banks’ Association to cover all the employees under the schemes, he said.

Konkani Kutam award to Melwyn

Wellknown poet Melwyn Eugine Rodrigues has been selected for the Konkani Kutam Award-2006 by Konkani Kutam Bahrain for his committed and dedicated service to Konkani language and literature.

An engineer working in Dubai, Mr Rodrigues has authored 6 books, edited poetry books of varoius authors and published columns in prominent Konkani newspapers. Mr Rodrigues has written lyrics for music albums and has participated in various national-level literary workshops and seminars and national poetry recital sessions.

A co-founder of “Mandd Sobhann” and founder of “Zage Kavi”, a movement of contemporary poets, Mr Rodrigues is also a founder member of “Daiji Dubai” Konkani writers association and editor of Konkani section in “Daiji World” website. He was an office-bearer in Konkani Bhasha Mandal Karnataka, Konkani Sahitya Kala Samithi and Konkani Lexicon Project for many years.

His book “Moga Pelho” has won the best book in Konkani award in 1989 from Goa Konkani Bhasha Mandal. He has also won the “Editor’s Choice Award” in 2002 from International Library of Poetry.

The award will be presented at the Sandesha Foundation in Bajjodi on July 28 by Konkani Sahitya Academy President Eric Ozario.

Hindutva should not be linked to fascism

Prasar Bharati chief M V Kamath on Sunday came down heavily on the media for increasingly associating Hindutva with fascism and said that the words ‘secularism’ and ‘ fundamentalism’ were being used in an irresponsible manner.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Hindutva, Rashtriyate, Vaishishtyate’ organised by Guruji Janmashatabdi Samiti at University College, Mangalore, the Kamath observed that media had developed a trend to sensationalise attacks on minorities but keep quiet when there is a same kind of attack on majority community.

Several places of worship belonging to the majority community have been damaged in the past, but the media seem to have ignored them. However, the same media created unnecessary controversy when a place of worship was demolished a few years ago, he said.

Kamath also criticised the so called intellectuals and secularists stating that they were only working for minority communities. They have totally failed to understand the concept of Hindutva, he said. Hinduism provides for freedom of thinking, expression, and independence which are exemplary, he said.

He said it was unfortunate that some people within the community were shy to call themselves Hindus. Even if one goes to temple to pray he is shy to disclose the same in public. He said adding that the Hindus should first start feeling proud of themselves.

He said that even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had once told press persons that she often visited temples to watch the sculptures and avoided telling them that going to temples was to pray to god.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa in his address stressed on the opportunities for inter-religious debates to sort out social tensions. India is a nation of many religions and culture and there should be equal opportunities for all, he said.

Mulki Prathishta Teru (chariot) festival

Dear Bandhavas,

GSBs have some great traditions and heritage that they will be always proud about. Its good to see those colours, smell that fragrance, and taste the richness that expresses in our traditions.

Among the events that we are all proud of, are our chariot festivals at various temples across India, particularly along the coast. I had the privilege of photographing an entire overnight event at the Holy Mulki Venkataramana Temple. The event was that of Prathishta poornima, the day when Lord UgraNarasimha's Idol of Vijayanagara Origin was consecrated at the temple by Shrimad Vijayendra Teertha Swamiji.

I am pleased to forward you all the photographs and description of the event. Hope you all like the same.

I am grateful to the Generous God and the Kind priests and trustees of the temple, who gave me this privilege, so that many of us spread across the world could see the grandeur of the event and attend it in person!

Here is the link:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2103682360

Feel free to leave comments and pass on the link to those who are interested. Those who are interested in sending Kanika to the temple can get the details from me. The temple trust also runs scholarship schemes for poor and deserving students.

Warm Regards,

K. Nagesh Pai

Mumbai

CLP for equal status to Marathi, Roman Konkani

In a strategic decision, the Congress legislature party, which met today soon after the state assembly was adjourned sine-die, has decided to accord official language status to Marathi as well as Konkani in Roman script.

Highly placed sources in the state Congress party told The Navhind Times that the issue of according official status to Marathi and Konkani in Roman script was debated in the meeting held in the chamber of the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane at which the members deliberated at length on the issue before arriving at consensus.

The sources further said that though some members expressed reservations on the move, they agreed to abide by the majority decision in the interest of the party, particularly in view of forthcoming elections.

The state government had declared Konkani in Devanagri script as the sole official language of the state, while Marathi was allowed to be used for all official purposes. Ever since the government decision on according official status to Konkani in Devanagri script the protagonists of Marathi have been demanding similar status to that language.

Of late the lovers of Konkani in Roman script have been leading an agitation seeking equal status to Konkani written in Roman script and had given a deadline to the government to make its stand clear on the issue. The deadline issued by the agitators ended last week.

The sources further said that party leadership was of opinion that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to derive mileage by championing the cause of Marathi, while tacitly supporting the proponents of Konkani in Roman script in an attempt to divide the Catholic community — who generally use the Roman script and support the Congress — and alienate it.

Besides, some other political parties and disgruntled politicians (including some Congressmen) were also trying to fish in troubled waters by supporting the cause of the two languages and inciting passions among the lovers of these languages, said the sources adding that the Congress has now decided to end the controversy over languages once for all.

The party by its decision to accord official status to Marathi has shown to the Marathi lovers that it was not anti-Marathi as was being projected by the opposition in an attempt to win over Marathi lovers on its side, said the sources adding that those who were trying to woo the lovers of Konkani in Roman script would also find themselves in odd position now with the CLP decision.

By another major decision that the CLP took, the ruling party has decided to give option to the parents and students with regards to studying of English in primary classes, particularly in standard first. Various other developmental issues were discussed at the meeting.

The sources in the Congress also said that party leadership has tried to take the winds out of sails of the opposition by its bold decisions, which will have far reaching consequences. The party is preparing to face the electorate in the forthcoming general elections to the state assembly, due in less than a year.

Breastfeeding is best feeding

by Nandkumar Kamat

THERE is no doubt about it. As a male member of the mammalian kingdom I have the proof directly in front of me-another male member of my species, my six month old son Nachiketas. Breastfeeding is best feeding. For past six months his only nourishment is the Mother’s milk. It is nothing short of a miracle. He almost doubled his weight since birth on the singular, protective, immunopotentiating biofluid-the mothers’ milk. We are now much enlightened parents. Initially we could not and did not believe what the books had to say about the importance of breast feeding.

As a biochemist, having studied endocrinological aspects of mammary gland development and lactation, I had pure intellectual curiousity-would it really work, or would our son become malnourished? There was anxiety. But as breastfeeding began it was slowly becoming clear that Nachiketas was absorbing the nutrients without any problem. He was putting on 30-40 grams per day. We were convinced within the first two months that breastfeeding works and it works perfectly, wonderfully. It kept Nachiketas absolutely healthy and happy. A perfect bond was established between him and his mother. To watch a happy infant sucking at his mothers’ breast contentedly, is a divine sight. It is nature at its evolutionary best.

A poet has termed the breasts as ‘domes of love’ but actually that is a limited sensual description of the ‘fountains of nourishment’. Besides nutritional elements the mothers’ milk contains antibodies, natural painkillers and satiating and soothing hormones-which keep the babies relaxed and happy. Humans are mammals, primates. We belong to the super family of great apes. If we watch our distant genetically related cousins who stopped in the track of evolution-chimpanzees, Orang utans, Baboons, Gorillas-in their wild habitats then it is apparent that their females breastfeed the young with a lot of affection and care.

World’s tribal people have not given up this practice. Urbanisation, growth of nuclear families, the moving away from traditional feeds and diets combined with the discovery of the bottle feeders, infant feeds, dehydrated milk powder, infant formulations heavily impacted the human society in the best part of the 20th century. A feeding bottle can never substitute mother’s nourishment. Breastfeeding is a tiring job. Its’ unpredictable frequency can throw off a woman’s routine-disturbing her biorhythms, keeping her awake, causing sleep deprivation, irritation, weight loss, fatigue. To escape from these testing natural duties, the feeding bottle came to replace breastfeeding.

The promoters of infant feed formulae aggressively advertised their temptingly packaged products. They even produced supporting but dubious and questionable medical proof to influence the consumers. But medical research was getting increasingly convinced about the proven beneficial effects of breastfeeding. The tide turned in favour of breastfeeding some 25 years ago. I was amazed to hear from my mother that except me other siblings were never breastfed. This was precisely the period when breastfeeding was not being promoted as it is today. Tins of so-called ‘baby milk’ used to get piled up in our house.

More or less this was a story of a full generation born in Goa after Liberation. The turnaround came probably with the introduction of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in India. Slowly, the mothers could get convinced. Promotion of breastfeeding is now a dedicated international movement under The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). It was formed in 1991 to act on the Innocenti Declaration (1990) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The declaration pronounced from Florence, Italy was a revolutionary paradigm shift in modern human society. For the first time global opinion was converging with the singular aim of ensuring a healthy growth of the infants-the way nature has programmed it biochemically, immunologically.

The Innocenti Declaration was produced and adopted by participants at the WHO/UNICEF policymakers’ meeting on ‘Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative’, co-sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (AID) and the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), held at the Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy on July 30 – August 1 1990. The15th anniversary of the declaration was observed in 2005. The preamble of Innocenti declaration defines breastfeeding as a unique process “that provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development and which reduces incidence and severity of infectious diseases, thereby lowering infant morbidity and mortality and contributes to women’s health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and by increasing the spacing between pregnancies provides social and economic benefits to the family and the nation. The declaration claimed that – “these benefits increase with increased exclusiveness of breastfeeding during the first six months of life, and thereafter with increased duration of breastfeeding with complementary foods, and programmer intervention can result in positive changes in breastfeeding behaviour”.

As part of its action plan to facilitate and strengthen social mobilisation for breastfeeding, WABA envisioned a global unifying breastfeeding promotion strategy. A day dedicated to breastfeeding was suggested to be marked in the calendar of international events. Later a day’s celebration was turned into a week. This has come to be known as World Breastfeeding Week celebrated every August 1-7 to commemorate the Innocenti Declaration.

World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992. Now it involves over 120 countries and is endorsed by UNICEF, WHO and FAO.

The government of India has been strongly championing the promotion of breastfeeding. The first few hours, days and weeks in an infants’ vulnerable life are critical. Mothers’ milk is the only defense at these moments. It is the nature’s powerful biological shield. The immunologists are overwhelmed by the powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties of human milk. Actually breastfeeding need to come naturally to Indian mothers. Indian civilization always boasted of a ‘breastfeeding culture’. There are folksongs on the ‘‘mothers’ love flowing through breast milk’’.

Goa and Kerala may have less infant mortality than other states. But this is not the excuse to deviate from breastfeeding. It is basic right of the human infants. Support the initiative of the Goa government to spread the message of the importance of breastfeeding during this week. We owe it to the present and the future generations. Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Veteran scribe Prabhu passes away

Veteran journalist and former sports editor of The Times of India , KN Prabhu died here on Sunday morning. He was 83.

Prabhu is survived by a daughter and an Australia-based son, having lost his wife two years ago.

He was discharged from hospital 10 days ago after suffering a bout of pneumonia.

The veteran journalist was known for his poetic style of cricket writing and had toured extensively with the Indian team after joining The Times of India in the late 1950s.

He covered India's first ever Test series victories in West Indies and England in 1971, besides covering India's World Cup triumph in 1983.

Prabhu, who started his career with Indian Chronicle in Delhi, was the only journalist to receive the prestigious CK Nayadu Award conferred by the Indian Cricket Board.

Sports Journalist Federation of India condoled his death.

‘Don’t betray motherland’

Poet Vishnu Naik has strongly condemned Konkani leaders for supporting the ‘unconstitutional and unacceptable’ demand to merge Karwar and Joida taluks with Goa state. Konkani Parishat, formed by a group of Konkani leaders, in its recent meeting had passed a resolution that Karwar and Joida taluks, where Konkani speaking population is more, be merged to Goa.

“This is nothing but betraying the motherland. Konkanis stayed in Karnataka for centuries; made use of the benefits of the state and survived on the resources provided by Karnataka. Now they are asking to merge Karwar and Joida taluks, which are a part and parcel of Karnataka, to Goa.” Mr Naik said.

He said that the ‘anti-Kannada’ elements should realise that Karnataka was not a commodity that could be sold in the market or given to some others in pieces.

He flayed Dr S R Pikale for making such childish statements that ‘it was better that Konkani speaking people identified themselves with Goa as its language and culture suited with their views and lifestyle.’

Recalling yeoman service rendered by great writers like Govind Pai, Dinakar Desai, Yashvanth Chittal, Gangadhar Chittal and Gaurish Kaikini for spreading its fragrance throughout the world by their fine writings, Mr Naik said, “Though they are from Konkani speaking families, they never tried to suppress Kannada and its culture.

Dr Pikale and his followers should work for strengthening the ties between Konkani and Kannada”, he added.

Inactive leaders

Various social and cultural organisations in the district are expressing their unhappiness over political leaders keeping mum over the issue. “Why are our elected representatives and leaders keeping quiet when some short-sighted Konkani leaders are talking of dividing the state?,” asked the president of cultural association.

Many citizens said that this (MLAs, MLCs and MPs’ silence) would encourage the Konkani leaders further. It was high time our (Kannada) leaders come out with strong statements against the resolution passed by Konkani Parishat. Mr Vishnu Naik said that it was strongly condemnable that Kannada politicians were keeping mum though some ‘anti-Kannada’ elements were trying to snatch some parts of the state.

‘Extradite them’

Bhatkal taluk Kannnada Sahitya Parishat held an emergency meeting on Friday to condemn the resolution adopted by Konkani Parishat. In a resolution, the Bahtkal taluk KSP said that Konkani leaders were misusing Kannadigas’ soft attitude towards others.

Dr Sayyed Zamirulla Sharief, president of KSP urged the government to extradite Konkani leaders, who passed the ‘anti-Karnataka’ resolution, from the state. He said that passing such resolutions would not augur well for Konkani language and culture. These things would develop a crack between harmonial relationship between Konkanis and Kannadigas.

He warned that if they (Konkani leaders) expressed such views once again, KSP would launch an aggressive agitation.

Separatist move of Konkani meet condemned

Even before the Belgaum incident fades from public memory, a few people in Karwar have passed a resolution to include certain bordering areas of Karnataka in Goa.

It all happened at the 66th anniversary celebrations of the local unit of Akhila Bharatha Konkani Parishat at Karwar on July 8. The meet resolved to urge the authorities concerned to include Konkani-speaking areas such as Karwar, Joida and Supa, among others, in Goa.

Interestingly, Parishat President Paul Moras and former president Basti Vaman Shenoy, both Mangaloreans, were present on the dais at the same programme. But neither of them opposed the move, sources said.

When contacted, Parishat President Paul Moras agreed that he was present at the meet. “I was only an invitee to the programme,” he said and added, “The decision was taken by the locals and not me.” Asked why he did not oppose the move (at least after it appeared), he said he was planning a statement in a few days. On the other hand, Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy has strongly condemned the move and termed the resolution “anti-State.”

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Academy President Eric Ozario said Karnataka has five neighbours - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Maharashtra - and none of these states have a separate Konkani Academy as created in Karnataka. “When this is the case, passing such a separatist resolution will make even minority Christians suspect,” he opined and called upon all Christians to condemn such a move. The same group had opposed Kannada script and demanded implementation of Devanagari script for Konkani, some months ago.

Konkani takes on Eng in Goa

Romi Konkani supporters are battling the saffron parties over the introduction of English in Class I of government primaries.

Romi Konkani supporters, on Tuesday, said the government had to make its stand clear on officially recognising the Roman Konkani language by Friday, adding that they would agitate if no action was taken.