Volume 18 Issue 20

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

Udupi and Chickmagalur MP Karandlaje says BJP will win this year’s Lok Sabha elections | P2

Vol 18 Issue 19

Thursday, March 7 , 2019

North Karnataka farmers suffer because of scanty rainfall and uncertain weather conditions | P3

Pakistanis in B’luru: India, Pak must fight terror, not each other ‘The neighbours should talk, give peace a chance’ Oisika Dev

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akistani citizens in Bengaluru are concerned over the tension prevailing between India and Pakistan.

“After the IAF air strike at Balakot the warlike situation between India and Pakistan is alarming. War signifies loss of life and destruction which will increase hatred. Both countries should try to resolve their issues through negotiation and dialogue,” said Rafiq Alam, a

Pakistani citizen who has lived in Bengaluru for the past ten years.

Rubina Haque, who owns a boutique at Koramangala, said: “We are deeply disturbed by the terror attack that claimed the lives of in- Pakistani citizens living in Bengaluru are nocent soldiers. saddened by the tragic loss of life and property | War is not the so- Courtesy: KPN News lution. I urge the India and Pakistan should governments of both countries to resolve their issues through give peace a chance, according to dialogue instead of engaging in a Tariq Yousaf, a Pakistani busiwar which will threaten human nessman who has lived in Bengaluru for five years. “War will lives and property.”

only bring death and destruction. We don’t want any more cross-border terrorism. Instead, both countries should promote a culture of peace and non-violence. The motto of both should be to fight terrorism, not each other. We dont want another Kargil war”.

On February 26, IAF planes struck at a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist group. The Indian government claimed the strike killed a large number of terrorists. The IAF raid followed the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama by a JeM member that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel.

Continued on Page 2

News Briefs l Escalating his attack on the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called it an “enemy of farmers” and accused the State of not yet submitting the list of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PMKSNS). l Exposing the rift persisting within the Sri Lankan government, President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday said he would ask the UN Human Rights Council to reconsider its 2015 resolution on the country, as he did not wish to “ropen old wounds”. l Capacity addition in the wind energy sector will slow down over fiscal 2019 to 2023, with only 14-16 GW being added due to a decline in bid responses.

Women’s Reservation Bill lies in cold storage

Lack of interest, opposition prevent passage’ Sahana S

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he issue of women’s reservation Bill has been brought up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in less than two months. Many Bengalureans hope to see more women representatives from Karnataka through the 33% reservation proposed for women.

Dr Harish Ramaswamy, a political scientist and professor at Mysore University, informed The Observer: “When compared to 17.5% of women representatives in Pakistan and US, India has only 12% women representa-

tives. Laws addressing women’s problems, including the dowry Act, are a failure because of fewer women representatives.”

Women should not only have 33% reservation in legislatures but also be allowed to play decision-making roles rather than be portrayed as mere representatives, Ramaswamy added.

Meena Kumari, a senior advocate in the Karnataka High court, said: “The Bill is a vital piece of legislation that could change the structure of Indian politics. Active participation of women in Parliament will bring equality and solidarity that understands the values of human rights in society.”

The Bill, passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010, never got through

the Lok Sabha. It has faced many obstacles because of lack of political consensus..

BBMP councillor JM Savitha Mayanna Gowda said: “We need to have more women representatives in Parliament. It would give Parliament a better opportunity to understand issues concerning women. Moreover, it would bring a change in society as they can make right decisions in difficult situations.”

“Every bill has its own merits and demerits, but if the women’s reservation Bill is passed, then it would have the capacity to change Indian politics. Even though the law raises the abilities of women and (promises to) end gender discrimination, it would highlight the goals of development and peace in society,”

explained Kavitha M, a political science professor at the Government PU College.

Speaking to The Observer, Shewtha B, a freelance journalist, said: “More women from rural areas should understand the value of the Bill.”

Many believe the Bill will help in the uplift of women in rural India. Others say it will give women a decisive say in Parliament and the state legislatures, strengthening democracy.

Although both Congress and BJP promised in their manifestos to pass the Bill, it has been in cold storage. In 2017, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to have the Bill passed in the lower House of Parliament.

Bhaskar D., CEO of Vidyarnaya, an NGO that works for women’s empowerment, said: “Women should have a chance to prove their abilities in Parliament. Moreover, providing reservation in the parliament will raise the participation of women in politics.”

Though the Bill had the support of the Congress, CPI, CPM and AIADMK during UPA rule, opposition from the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal – which backed the Congressled government – prevented its passage.

With the NDA government showing no interest in getting it passed, the fate of the Bill remains uncertain. sahana.s@iijnm.org

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CITY

Confident of BJP winning LS elections: Shobha ‘Modi is the nemesis of corruption’

Yohanjali R

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hobha Karandlaje, BJP MP from the UdupiChikmagalur parliamentary constituency, on Thursday said that she is confident her party will win the Lok Sabha elections this year.

After the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP would introduce more changes than in the past five years. “Our PM Modi will continue to fight against corruption, work for the public and improve international relations. More schemes will be implemented,” Karandlaje said at a press conference.

About the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, she said: “Around 3,000 people have appliedfor the scheme in Udupi and Chikmagalur. Around Rs 5 lakh is given to each family. The centres are well equipped to treat heart, lungs dental and other health issues.”

The government is helping farmers by providing them Soil Health Cards.

Shobha Karandlaje said the Government Training Tool Centre will help train youngsters | Credit : Yohanjali R

‘Ex-CM loves Tipu more than Tilak’ Referring to former chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah’s remark that he is scared of people wearing tilak, Karandlaje said: “Siddaramaiah does not like our culture and traditions. He likes Tipu Sultan more.

He even celebrated Tipu Jayanti. He does not dare talk about Muslims and Christians. He only attacks our culture. We even started a trend of selfie with tilak to show pride in our culture and Sir (Balgangadhar) Tilak.”

Claiming to work for women’s safety, she said: “We have proposed a Bill to the PM, which includes a provision to hang the individuals committing do-

mestic violence or sexual assault against women. Women’s empowerment is also one of our priorities.”

About her constituency, she said: “Udupi has been doing really well, thanks to our party.

We will do better this time.”

Highlighting the development work taken up in her constituency, she said: “The Government Training Tool Centre will help train youngsters with skills that will help them achieve 100% recruitment.

The first centre will open in Udupi. Another effort in Udupi is the ‘Gems and Jewels’ program to help get certification for jewellery makers and provide training.” yohanjali.r@iijnm.org

The Observer Thursday, March 7, 2019

Sewing machines to weave dreams this Women’s Day Shrabona Ghosh

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n the occasion of Women’s Day, Vanitha Sahayavani (VSV), a community initiative started by Bangalore City Police, will distribute sewing machines among needy women. Police commissioner T. Suneel Kumar will hand over the machines to beneficiaries.

“This is an initiative by VSV to empower women who need it the most. Most of the women who come to us for help are widows, women who are abandoned by their families, victims of domestic violence, or survivors of abuse or violence. Helping these women financially will help in building their confidence and give wings to their dreams,” said Preethi Baliga, a VSV official.

“Around 30 sewing machines will be given away. We have given vocational training to the women, and now it’s time to manifest their dreams into reality. These sewing machines are their first step towards generating their own living. These women, in their journey towards a better future, will also help other women in need. We are thankful to our donors who understand the need of assistance and collaborations and help us in attaining our goals,” Baliga added.

Previous beneficiaries will share their success stories at the function. Women who have come a long way from being victims to achievers will get a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial skills. They will showcase their craft at jewellery and other merchandise stalls.

“We are glad a platform like Vanitha Sahayavani exists which helps women in need. I was rescued from sexual abuse and given a new platform to live my dreams. The vocational training that they provide helps us in earning a living,” said a victim of sexual abuse who did not wished to be named.

VSV, which operates out of the office of the city police commissioner, provides immediate rescue and support for women in distress.

Established in the year 1999, it can be accessed through the toll-free helpline number Namma 100. It provides free telecounselling, police assistance, crisis intervention, rescue in case of domestic violence, harassment and/or abuse.

Vanita Sahayavani also conducts awareness programmes on the safety of women and other issues related to the fair sex at colleges, public and private sector companies and different social communities. shrabona.g@iijnm.org

War is no solution, say Pakistanis Continued from Page 1 “We all know that Pakistan harbours terrorists and uses them to wage an asymmetrical war against India. We Pakistanis are not proud of it. No words can provide comfort to the families of the CRPF personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Both countries should give peace a chance and both the government should try to resolve the situation through dialogue. I am glad Pakistan decided to release (Wing Commander) Abhinandan as a peace gesture. This is a good start,” Saba Yasmeen, a Pakistani college student visiting relatives in Bengaluru, said.

“Amidst the warlike situation, Pakistan’s decision to release

Abhinandan shows that Pakistan wants to improve its relations with India. India should also refrain from war and try to resolve the differences through dialogue.

A cross-border war will only result in destruction and death.

It’s high time Pakistan took effective measures to combat terrorist outfits operating from its soil. This is the only way by which Pakistan can improve its relations with India,” said Faizan Haque, a Pakistani citizen living in Indiranagar.

Since 1971, this was the first time Indian military aircraft crossed the Line of Control.

Adil Ahmed Dar, 20, a local resident, rammed an SUV laden with 300 kg of explosives into a vehicle in a CRPF convoy travel-

ling from Jammu to Srinagar.

Following the February 26 retaliation, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said: “India struck the biggest training camp of JeM at Balakot. In this operation, a large number of terrorists, trainers, commanders and groups of jihadis who were been trained for fidayeen actions were eliminated.”

In response to the air strike at Balakot, Pakistani fighter jets crossed the Line of Control on February 27 and shot down an IAF MiG-21.

Abhinandan Varthaman, the pilot of the MiG-21, was captured. Later, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to release the pilot as a gesture of peace and goodwill. oisika.d@iijnm.org

Dalit Sangharsh Samiti and ten other parties that fight for cause of Dalits organised a protest rally that began from Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall to Maurya Hotel today in Bengaluru on Thursday. Nearly 20 demands, including increase in reservation for jobs for Dalits and police action against perpetrators of atrocities against them. “We represent the Bahujan Dalit Sangharsha Samiti. Dalits from across Karnataka have assembled to protest against the atrocities they face. We are going to make an appeal to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy regarding our basic rights and amenities,” Raj Shekhar, District President of DSS, Vijayapura, told The Observer. | Credit: Ileena Dutta

RURAL KARNATAKA

The Observer Thursday, March 7, 2019

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Unpredictable, scanty rain leaves north Karnataka farmers helpless Borewells have no water, crop yields shrink

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Pranay Prakash

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armers in North Karnataka continue to suffer due to unpredictable weather conditions. According to them, dry conditions have accentuated over the past four years with no respite in sight.

At the mercy of sporadic rain, dry spells and empty canals, the farmers face numerous challenges in getting substantial crop yields.

Anil Mohare, a farmer in Indi Taluk, Vijayapura district, said: “It has not rained on time for the past four years. The groundwater level has been going down over the years. It never rains during the sowing season. Even the gap between two showers is increasing. We plough the fields and sow seeds expecting rainfall within 15-20 days of the monsoon starting, but it never rains.

Around 20-25% of the seedlings go waste. A few seedlings might survive the drought, but a lot depends on the fertility of the soil.

The crops need water once every 15 days to grow well.”

Mohare has two borewells – one dug to 400 feet and another to 900 feet – along with a we-

2 3 1. A dilapidated and parched distributary of Indi Branch Canal in Indi Taluk, Vijayapura. 2. Labourers clearing soil thrown up by a drilling machine digging a borewell. 3. A corn field with a wasted harvest because there is no water in the canals. | Credit: Pranay Prakash which dried up in January. “The 400-foot-deep borewell used to have 2 inches of water regularly, but it has dried up. It had water till December 2018. Now I don’t even get half an inch of water.”

Bemoaning the negligible rainfall they receive every year, the farmers say it is not sufficient to recharge the groundwater table.

They have to invest a lot in digging borewells, the only solution left.In September 2018, 23 out of Karnataka’s 30 districts – comprising 156 taluks – were earlier declared drought-hit by the state government.

The Hindu quoted revenue

minister R.V. Deshpande as saying sowing had not been taken up at all on 5.8 lakh hectares.

Twelve districts in north interior Karnataka, dependent on northeast monsoon, were affected.

The Hindu report further said that the state had received 49% less rainfall during the northeast monsoon season.

An assessment done by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre in January 2017 identified 12 districts as having low or very low resilience to drought and droughtlike conditions. The report called for immediate relief measures in

these vulnerable districts.

Chidambar Kulkarni, a farmer who grows horticultural crops like grapes and rears silkworm, said: “Climate change has led to a lot of unseasonal conditions.

For the past two years, we have not seen any rainfall. Four years ago, we used to grow 10 quintals of tur dal in one acre of land. The climate was sufficiently suitable; not that it had rained too much or there was water in the borewells. We didn’t get any rain for the first crop during June, and it is only for the second crop that we got rain. When I was a kid, we used to grow moong dal, which is sown in June, but for the past 20-25 years, I have never seen it being grown in this region.”

While a lot of research has been done on the causes for drought in N.Karnataka, not enough attention seems to have been paid to mitigate a disaster in making.

Explaining the reasons behind the abnormal climatic conditions, Prof. J. Srinivasan said that the reasons could be global warming or local factors.

Elaborating, he said: “North Karnataka has traditionally been one of the driest parts of India. People don’t realize that parts of Karnataka are as dry as Gujarat. There are papers now coming out showing that mnorth Karnataka is slowly getting drier. The farmers’ problems are

These school students eat the veggies they grow Through this, they get to study farming Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel

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tudents of a school in Mandya district eat vegetables of the best quality in their midday meals.

They grow them.

“A midday meal worker suggested growing vegetables looking at ourvast ground and water facility. We rarely buy vegetables. Students also study agriculture through this,” headmistress Sujayalakshmi of the Government Higher Primary

School in Boothana Hosur village informed The Observer.

After school, 46 students head to the patch where they tend to vegetable and fruit trees.

“I am happy to do farming at school apart from academics.

My parents are farmers, and I know the importance of, and difficulties in, farming. Our teachers support and guide us. They also help us in planting saplings. I water them with help from my schoolmates,” H.M. Manju, a class 7 student, said.

Most students have a farming background.“It is an initiative to make the children know the importance of agriculture,” the headmistress said.

The doors of all the four classrooms in the school are decorated with various fruits and vegetables. There are banana, papaya and coconut trees along the school gate. Apart from these, the students grow brinjal, chilli, gooseberry, drumstick and pumpkin.

Impana M of class 6 said: “It is so much fun to see a fruit or vegetable after days of efforts.

Teachers often tell us methods of planting and even wiping off weeds. My teacher taught me to use cutting equipment, and I started using it without her help. I learnt to grow vegetables and banana.”

T. Nagaraj, a professor with

the University of Agricultural Sciences, said other schools should follow the example of the Boothana Hosur institution.

“It is important for everyone to know about agriculture and is more valuable when inculcated in school children. (Knowing) the difficulties in growing a sapling can make a person realize the value of food. Hence, food wastage can be prevented.”

Cultivation of fruits and vegetables began 15 years ago at the school, which opened in 1946.

Earlier, SharadaVidyanikethan Public School in Mangaluru taluk cultivated vegetables in a 3.5-acre patch on the campus. abbinaya.s@iijnm.org

complicated.”

Drought and drought-like situation have become a bane for farmers. Hailstorms, unseasonal rain or no rain compound the problem. The farmers say there is an increasing risk to their livelihood.

Explaining the water scarcity in the region by drawing a parallel with the Arkavathi river basin, Prof. Srinivasan, a professor at Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, Indian Institute of Science, said: “Fifty years ago, the Arkavathi flowed nicely into the Thippagondanahalli reservoir. Now no water comes to the farmers in the basin.

They say rainfall has declined.

But the truth is, if you look at the rainfall data, it has not declined. What has happened is that people are using rainwater irresponsibly because the river has no water. This is an issue which each district has to look into carefully.”

The farmers maintain it is not so simple. They say there is hardly any water left below the ground.“Sometimes it rains, but the water does not reach the underground aquifers. Only if it rains properly will the aquifers below the ground get recharged,” farmer Mohare said.The farmers hope it rains this year or the canals bring them the water. pranay.p@iijnm.org

WEATHER Partly cloudy sky Minimum Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius Maximum Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius Relative Humidity: 45% Tomorrow: Partly cloudy sky with 35 degree Celsius. A dry day and clear night can be expected.

OBSERVER TEAM Editor- Oisika Dev Page Layout: Pranay Prakash, Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel Reporters: Shrabona Ghosh, Ileena Dutta, R Yohanjali, S Sahana, Pranay Prakash, Oisika Dev, Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel

Health

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The Observer Thursday, March 07, 2019

SUPPLEMENT

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The Cost of Empathy

Veterinarians are particularly vulnerable to depression and suicidal inclinations, writes SA Gayatri

aring for pets, especially animals that have been abandoned or abused, is not for the faint hearted. But did you know that animal caregivers are particularly at risk from psychological distress, depression and even suicidal impulses?

A recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Association in the United States reveals that in the past three and a half decades, 400 veterinary doctors in the US committed suicide, or at a rate 3.5 times that of any other occupation.

The study highlights that in 2014, a survey of 11,627 veterinarians found that 9% were undergoing psychological distress, 31% had experienced depressive episodes, and 17% had experienced suicidal ideation since leaving veterinary school.

Each of these is considered a risk factor leading to suicide.

“It is true that being with and treating animals, and watching them suffer in pain can be depressing, stressful and trau-

Animals used in product testing are often abandoned and in need of care Credit: Pexels

matic. It can affect the veterinarian. However, the doctor will not commit suicide in all cases.

I have heard that people in this profession become victims of depression while working in government hospitals but not private one; so it might be related to stress or administrative issues of their respective organizations,” says S Kumar, a senior

doctor at V Care Pet Polyclinic, Bengaluru.

The US study found that more male than female veterinarians (326) committed suicides. From 2000 to 2015, nearly 10% of deaths among female veterinarians could be because of suicide.

Suicides are rarer in women than men, but looking at the elevated rate, female veterinarians seem

more likely to commit suicide than their co-workers. The researchers believe that male veterinarians were 2.1 times more likely to kill themselves than the normal population whereas female veterinarians were 3.5 times more likely.

Shirley Sara Koshi, an Indian veterinarian who worked in Riverdale, United States, committed suicide after she was apparently harassed about the ownership of a stray cat. Her lawyer confessed that she was in depression, and the lawsuit filed because of the cat worsened the situation.

Also a study Veterinary surgeons and suicide published in the British Medical Journal in 2014, notes that veterinary surgeons have a proportional mortality ratio for suicide approximately four times that of the general population and around twice that of other healthcare professions.

“I know of very few cases in my 35 years of practice. But there have been vets who told me about their depressions and

stress-related problems. Thus, this study is something that can be trusted as there are more chances of doctors in this profession slipping into depression,” says RK Suri, a clinical psychologist from New Delhi.

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actors that could be leading these doctors to suicides include the personal traits of individuals entering the profession including hypersensitivity to animal suffering, negative effects during undergraduate training, work-related stress, professional and social isolation.

Also, the reasons for developing attitudes to death and euthanasia—the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering—were noted to be formed through the profession’s routine involvement with euthanasia of companion animals and slaughter of farm animals and suicide “contagion” due to direct or indirect exposure to suicide of peers within this small profession.

The Perils of Flying High I

The increasing incidents of drunk pilots flying commercial aircraft is alarming, says Yajush Gupta

ndia tops the list of suspended airline pilots who reported for duty in an inebriated state. Around 150 pilots have been apprehended in the last four years and he most frequent offenders are from the two airlines that lead the country’s aviation industry, Jet Airways and Indigo.

These frightening numbers were revealed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in response to a query filed under the Right to Information Act, which also said since 2014, a total of 171 pilots of Indian carriers were caught sloshed before taking off from Indian airports and abroad. 57 pilots were detained at Delhi airport and 43 at Mumbai airport. Two pilots were found drunk at Dubai airport, one in 2016 and another in 2017.

A report by Manorama online said that last year alone five pilots and nine airline staff attempted to board flights in

an inebriated state at Chennai airport, while 5 pilots and 11 members of crew were arrested

the list of defaulters who reported for duty in an inebriated state last year. Section 24 of India’s Aircraft Rules 1937 states that crew members are not allowed to consume alcohol 12 hours before the The airline can hire doctors or agencies to oversee the concommenceduct of alcohol breathalyzer tests | Credit: Google ment of a at Kolkata. And more than 40 pi- flight. lots have been failing the breath A senior DGCA official stated analyzer test every year. in an interview that even 0.001% In response to a question on level of alcohol in the bloodthe action taken against the drunk stream is a violation by Indian pilots, the DGCA replied, “The standards. Moreover, pilots are privileges of pilot license held also supposed to pass a breathaby these pilots are suspended.” lyzer test before each flight.

The irony is that India boasts the DGCA rules states that when a world’s strictest guidelines for member of the crew fails the test drinking and flying and yet tops for the first time, his license is

suspended for three months; for a second violation, his license is suspended for 3 years and for.

Third, his licence is permanently cancelled.

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irline authorities caught 57 pilots over the alcohol limit in the last two years, but just 11 lost their jobs, according to a report in the Times of India. Most often pilots are let off with a warning. Jet Airways, the country’s largest airline, accounted for 23 drunk pilots, all of whom are still flying.

An official of the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) told IANS, a news agency, that pre-flight, breathalyzer tests are compulsory only for domestic flights. For international flights, there is random pre-flight testing, but post-flight breathalyzer tests are mandatory for flights into India.

“If an Air India pilot flies an international flight after tak-

ing alcohol then he is risking the lives of several hundreds of passengers. But by the time he lands in India then the alcohol level might have gone down and would pass the breathalyzer test,” he said. He says drunken flying should be treated as a criminal offence. “An anonymous Indian Air Force official told IANS,“No sane person will fly a fighter jet under the influence of alcohol. It is akin to committing suicide.”

Alcohol disturbs all vital organs and even just a slight quantity of alcohol in the bloodstream can have a substantial effect. Being under the influence of liquor leads to ineffective use of oxygen by the brain, impairing reaction time, and blurred-vision leading to severe consequences.

Drink driving has made Indian roads into death traps for motorists and pedestrians alike, drinking and flying will render Indian airspace off limits for all but the most foolhardy.