Cell phone disaster

Nowadays I strongly feel that the there should be some kind of control mechanism in using mobile phones. In recent times, the number of users of cell phones has increased considerably. In Bangalore, I think, everyone has at least one cell phone. Most of them always keep head phone and speak for a long time.

Don't they know the consequences of it? Or do they do it knowingly? I feel pain sometimes if I speak a bit longer. We all understand that it is meant for quick message. However, people have started using it for chatting. This would definitely collapse their system. As someone put it, "will destroy your brain".

Cell phones create radiation, no doubt about it. However, the radiation is very minimal.  World Health Organisation also has admitted it and issued guidelines for using cell phones. Low level radiation is deadly in long term. It does not harm you immediately. However, usage of cell phone for a longer time will definitely result in great physical damages. Radiation is invisible, non stinking, and untasted. Unlike radiation, low level radiation does not even create any feelings. Thats how all these radio active materials thrive on in the electronic gadgets in the civil life. Nuclear Power industry also thrives on the same survival strategy.

None will oppose low level radiation since no harm is seen anywhere. A cell phone user may get brain tumour after a span of 20-25 years, which cannot be linked directly to cell phone, though it could be the source. It is a tricky situation, of course. Nuclear lobby also behaves in the same manner. There are many reasons for cancer, tumour, not necessarily nuke radiation. Lack of nutrition, smoking, alcoholism, etc could be cited as reasons.

I am afraid of our country where a half of the population has become customers of cell phone might turn to be the abode of cancer patients. We will have to see only sufferings of the short living generations.

Is there any wayout to avoid such a disaster?

Malnutrition among young children

Malnutrition has now been in the news. Almost everyday. Its because of the intervention of the Karnataka High Court on the issue. Within 15th May, state government has to submit its report and action plan to eradicate malnutrition. This order was made on the backdrop of a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by High Court. HC has formed three committees also to look into the whole malnutrition issue. The issue got highlighted recently when TV9 telecast deaths of about 4000 odd children in Raichur district, followed by the corruption in ICDS section of Dept of Women and Child Development (DWCD). Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director and some other officials of DWCD, Bangalore have been suspended after a Lokayukta raid on their houses and offices.

There was a discussion in SCM House, Mission Road in Bangalore this morning. Mathews of SICHREM, Mariswamy of SPJ, Dr Asha, Sudha of Right to Food Campaign, Saroja of Chiguru, Dr Padmini and Nagasimha of CRT and others were present. The meeting was called to formulate an action plan on combating malnutrition among children, which will be submitted to the committees appointed by HC.

Malnutrition is a byproduct of poverty. It is a violation of human rights. Malnutrition is a diability too, as someone in the meeting put it. It is rampant among children in the age group of 3-6 years. Anganwadi centres have been set up in villages by the government under ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) to combat malnutrition among these children. It is also meant for pre-natal and post natal purposes. However, a large level of corruption from the top to the bottom has been underway. Its a known secret. But Lokayukta proved it to be true.

I made a suggestion to strengthen the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) in the district to conduct surprise visits in anganwadi centres, file FIR if anyone found guilty, and catch hold of the officials responsible. Since CWC is the supreme body in the district to look after care and protection of children under 18 years, it would be an effective strategy to strenghthen it. Right now, CWCs are unaware of their powers and functions. They are made to act as servants of DWCD. CWC, a first class magisterial body, has been reduced to be subordinate body of District WCD. So sad and pathetic situation. This is how the DWCD has weakened the child care mechanism. If CWC is strong in the district, all child care services would be effectively monitored. CWCs need training in legal aspects and support from organisations to function effectively. However, all the NGOs blame CWCs as toothless body. Not only CWCs, but the NGOs and activists too do not know about the powers of CWCs. Thats where the problem lies!

Since ICDS fund meant for poor vulnerable children and rural women folk is shared by the officials on a regular basis, public accountability has to be in place. Now, other than the dept heads, none knows how much is allotted and spent. Who decides on spending it? No idea among us. Therefore, A public accounts committee has to be formed at the taluk level to monitor the ICDS fund utilisation, chaired by a First Class Judicial Magistrate. Each penny has to be accounted and audited. By doing this, we can ensure that the penny allotted is spent for the child. In the committee, CWC and Bala Vikasa Samithi (BVS) should have representation.

Simultaneously, convergence of all departments has to be in place. There are various schemes and programs in each department. However, the departments never meet together to do something common on children. It is like five horses drag the chariot to their own direction and end up nowhere. HC has to issue directions to the government now to initiate convergence as a policy to implement the schemes.

Formation of a District ICDS Monitoring Committee involving various networks and NGOs in the district is not a bad suggestion. But, why do we need another network when already there are many committees? What we need to do is to strengthen the existing bodies and make them work.

Dr Asha said the all of a sudden, you cannot give lot of nutrition with eggs and milk or something else. Child's body cannot absorb it in its body. What is needed is immediate treatment, may be hospitalisation. Gradually the child will be able to eat something. But, moderate children can be given nutritional stuff now and prevent them turning into severely malnourished.

It is also very atrocious to know that government spends Rs.4 per child a day! Is this sufficient to keep a child nutritious? Govt of Tamil Nadu spends Rs.12 a day. It gives meal to the child. Out of Rs.4, how much actually reaches the child, after licked and eaten up by officers?

An old woman in Raichur cursed the department when she came to know about the corruption in ICDS: makkala duddu thakkondavaru narakakke hoguthare! (Those who poached children's money will end up in hell only.)

Homes on Footpath

On the way to office from Shivajinagar, I saw them again! On the same spot, under a dirty blanket. Three of them are as young as 10 years. They are seven in the group. When I pass them, they would still be in the mood to wake up. The toddlers have worn discoloured and torn shirts and trousers. Their uncombed hair has grown so long as it looked they never had bothered about its growth. The verandah of furniture shops has turned home for the group during nights. They just sleep on the bare floor, covering with an old, torn blanket. It seems that none comes on thier way to disrupt their sleep. Or, they would sleep after the policemen's usual night patrolling. Or, there might be some 'nominal monetary adjustments'.

Is this group belongs to same family? Where have they come from? How long they have been in this metropolitan city? How do they make a living? What language they speak? How much they are able to earn a day? There are such questions that emerge suddenly from within. I have to find answers from them soon a day.

I feel sometimes ashamed of the existing systems that have been set up for child protection. Child Line is a helpline existing in the city for rehabilitating such vulnerable children. Moreover, government rescue homes have been functioning in the city. This apart, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) have opened their offices to serve them. Government officials also have responsibility to rescue such children and ensure them a secured future. There are such institutions. And money allocated. But still, children are on foot path!

An unusual experience in my village

When I was inside the Vaayanashala, as populalry called in Kerala for village level libraries, after one and a half decades, I felt nervous. A kind of fast journey backwards suddenly gripped me. I spent most of my adolescent days and considerable part of youth in library activities, as secretary and member. Howmuchever sweat was flown to it while finishing the floor of the reading hall! So much of physical labour! Now, Vayanashala has gained a decent and proud look. The reading hall has full of newspapers and periodicals. The library has full of books, old and new, systematically catelogued.

A banner carrying my photograph and name was hung in front of Vayanashala. The program was discussion on my newly translated book on 'zero budget natural farming' from Kannada to Malayalam on 15th April 2012. The name of the book is 'Subash Palekarude zero budget Prakruthi Krushi'. In fact it was formally released at Kochi in last December by Sarang Gopalakrishnan. Now the Venue was Vayanashala's reading hall. Prof. Keshavan Vellikulangara, the lone and old literary figure from our village was present to inaugurate the program. He has been known for his writings on children and science. A close aide of the then politician Lonappan Nambadan, Keshavan Mash, as popularly called, is known for his public speeches.

Joy Kaitharath, who abandoned his politics in Marxist party a decade ago and turned to pro people issues now, was present. He has been into the exposure of corrupt politicians and anti people policies of government. P V Velayudhan, or Velayudhettan, who has taken up implementation and propagation of zero budget natural farming at home and around, had come to speak about the practices in farming. C A Robin came in time. He has been running a monthly magazine, Keraleeyam. Devoted completely for its management and propagation, Robin hardly went for his government job. He has grown to be a known social activist in Kerala. His intervention and involvement in all the atlernative activities in the state are well known. He was the active member of Novu Gramapthram, published by me during my youth in Kerala. He continued the publication with other friends even after my exit from there. His canvas of activity naturally grew to the wide spectrum of Kerala. Keraleeyam was initiated about 12 years ago.

My old friend Rashid Erath, Paachan Joy, Renny Varghese and Sukumaran also spoke about my contribution to Malayalam. I could see a few faces which I had forgotten. I gradually recollected them. The most shocking fact was the total loss of my memory about a friend: Hakim Kaliparambil. He was very close to me and we spent unlimited time together in my youth. However, even now, I am not able to recollect the moments we spent together. Of course, he has changed a lot as he lost his hair and developed ageing. He children are adults now, one in engineering and another one in sports.

P S Iqbal, who hails from my village and lives in Thrissur now, could not turn up. He was a fire brand in our village during my adolescence and youth days. An active member of CPI(M) and a popular orator, Iqbal gained several fans among the youth at that point of time. If continued, he would have become a top leader in the state, MLA or a minister. However, he was sidelined within the party and he had to join a government job. He found at least some satisfaction in reading and activities with film society at Thrissur. I can still see the flame in his eyes.

Keshavan Mash has offered to give some paddy land to Vayanashala to do experimental farming. Everyone has appreciated it. Vayanashala Secretary Saheer is though little skeptical has shown interest to go and check the land. I encouraged them to go ahead as there are natural farmers around to help them out.

There were some 35 people in the program. Rashid was saying: it is really amazing as people never get together like our old days, that too on sunday. Robin also expressed the same feeling. Social networking has gradually come down. All prefer to sit before TV on holidays! TV has really played a major role in destroying the social fabric.

Victim of son preference: What's the real issue?

Infant Afreen was subjected to her father's violence and later hospitalised in Bangalore. Now the latest news is that she succumbed to death by this morning. All the media have been very keen about reporting about the issue. Everyone has blamed her father Umer Farook for his cruel behaviour. His 19 year old wife also has suffered injuries and burns, inflicted by him.

Afreen is not an isolated case. There have been several cases of children reported from different parts of the country. The number of unreported cases is actually more than what has been reported. Why girl children are targeted for violence? We cannot blame one person like Umer Farook. It is the reflection of a patriarchic society wherein girl children are seen as a liability. Umer wanted a male baby as he did not want to take the liability of a girl baby. That was the motivation for him to illtreat his daughter Afreen.

The issue is not very simple. It has got a huge backdrop of violence-filled male dominated society. Son preference has taken toll of millions of girl children in our country. Take the census of 2011 and see the sex ratio. It has further dropped from 927 to alarming figure of 914. It means for each 1000 males, 86 girls were not allowed to be born. Though law has banned sex determination tests and feticide, several clinics in our towns still operate such activities. If you multiply 86 per one thousand for the whole population of 120 crores, you will get the incredible number of 'killed' girls during the past one decade. In this gender based killing, both men and women take active role, irrespective of caste or religion. In fact, women sometimes take lead role for female feticide. The reason is women also are part of the patriarchal society and are supposed to protect its values and norms.

Girls are liabilities for their parents now. Dowry is gigantic demon trying to maul them always. The parents somehow manage to get their daughters married by giving dowry. However, they cannot live peacefully. Dowry harrassment, domestic violence, son preference etc in marital home bring their daughter back home. If she is sent back after solace, she is brought back dead. Currently, deaths of newly wed women are reported regularly. The number of women committed suicide out of domestic vilolence is more than that of farmers now. Unable to bear the wrath of husband, a large number of women kill themselves along with their children. In this situation, what would be the pulse rate of parents who have got daughters? Umer Farook is a slice of this society.

Who is bothered about this silent genocide taking place for several decades? What is the point of making a huge propaganda in Afreen's case when millions are killed systematically but silently? It is called sensationalism or media hype. In such situation, none is interested to get into the actual issue of the problem. Even the child rights activists are carried away with it.

What we need to do at present is the awareness campaign about the importance of girl children, compulsorily involving the religious leaders, political leaders and local community leaders in large scale. Social status of girls has to change, not only in towns but in rural areas as well. It shall not be done only on the declared days for girl child. It should be a regular activity, making a part of the day to day life. This will definitely bring about far fetching changes in and around us.

Economic calculations in relationship

On last Sunday, I was on my stroll in morning in the Lingabudhi Park near my house. One person crossed over and turned to me, then asked: Aren't you Ibbani Babu? I said yes and looked at him trying to locate who he was. Without giving any strain to my mind, he introduced himself. He is Mahesh, now a lecturer in Kannada in Christ University. While he was doing his degree in Maharaja's college, Mysore, he has participated in the cultural programs I had conducted. He was in Goutham Hostel at that time. I was running a monthly magazine, Ibbani in Kannada. Prof. J R Laxmana Rao, famous science writer called me Ibbani Babu first time. But I did not carry it throughout.

Suddenly I located him. He has enthralled us by singing beautiful folk songs in the programs. Now, he has got wife and a small kid. He teaches PU students in Christ PU residential college, near Bidadi.

While sharing about the boys who study in the college, Mahesh said that parents would not mind spending money for their children if they get good education and discipline. Parents want strict institutions where their children groom with highly disciplined. For a year, the fee is around 2 lakhs. Compared to my PU study without any fees, it is really a shocking figure.

Now a days, parents have become illiterate in the case of their children. When children grow into adolescence, parents become blank. They just don't know what to do with them. Adolescents obviously behave hyperactive, outstanding, overcharged, disoriented, and diffused. Unless parents get training exclusively on adolescent behaviour at this point of time, it would be hell at home. The conflict between parents and the child becomes common. So parents find a quick and easy solution: put the child in some 'strict' institution to shape him/her.

Gradually, child gets into a different world. His thought process gets changed. For him, parents become a source of money or materials. A kind of business relationship develops in a subtle way and slowly the intimate and emotional relationship fades away.

It is disastrous!

A mechanical relationship between parents and the son/ daughter would prevail upon in the days to come. Relationship would confine to job placement, marriage, property sharing, family functions etc. You have to read it with the increasing number of Homes for the aged, and murders of parents by children.

Economical calculations will, no doubt, harm the emotional and intimate relationship, not only between parents and children, but also between husband and wife.