Friday, July 31, 2009

Rise of Muslim Insurgents in Uyghur

Even a superpower like the US feels that from the strategic and commercial viewpoint, China poses a threat to it. Nevertheless, by now, China itself is a victim of terrorism in the Uyghur Muslim majority community province of Xinjiang.

Recently, the Chinese special envoy to Dacca, Zhou Gang, voicing concern to the Bangladeshi leadership, observed that just like India and Bangladesh, China is also a victim of terrorism.

Links with International Terrorist Organisations
Terrorists active in Xinjiang have links with some international terrorist organizations. They receive financial support from abroad. Keeping in view such a situation, China is also seeking its involvement in the global war on terror.

Due to terrorist activities of Uyghur Muslim insurgents and the recent encounter between them and Hun Chinese, more than 100 persons were killed and 1,000 others were injured. The situation had turned so serious that the Chinese President Hu Jintao rushed back home without taking part in the G-8 summit, and military was deployed in Xinjiang.

Targetting South Asian Region
Raising hue and cry over it being a victim of terrorism, China conveniently forgot the fact that there was the Chinese hand, by and large, behind the spread of terrorism in South Asian region.

In the northeast sector, Naga, Manipur, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and other insurgent received training, firearms, and monetary aid from China over several decades. Training camps for insurgents in Myanmar were run with Chinese support.

China has also served as a source of inspiration for Naxallites who have spread their tentacles in various states, and from the very beginning allegations have been leveled that they were imparted training and firearms with Chinese aid.

Maoists caused bloodshed in Nepal over the past two decades, and their leaders remained in contact with China. They often admitted that they received monetary support from China. This is why that after the end of monarchy in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, when Maoists came to power, Prime Minister Prachanda undertook a visit to China.

When Pakistan was sponsoring, aiding, and abetting terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir, Chinese rulers were supplying not only arms but also help in nuclear devices and missile tests.

When the Pakistani troops and terrorists infiltrated into Kargil, and Indian forces were engaged in beating back them, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had dashed to Beijing for consultations with Chinese leaders.

Even thereafter, China was extending support to Pakistan in construction of Gwadar seaport. The Chinese leadership kept silent on terrorist incidents of attacks and explosions in India, and it never criticized Pakistan on this score.

It is worth mentioning here that firearms recovered from infiltrators from across the border include Chinese grenades also. Doubtless, these were received by the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence or the Pakistan Army who pass them on to terrorists.

Formulating Plans
It is no secret that the Pakistan, at present, has turned into a bastion of terrorism. Terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Al-Qaida, and others are currently hiding their terrorists in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province from where they formulate their plans to launch attacks on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia. Uyghur Muslim insurgents of Xinjiang have developed links with these terrorist outfits.

Now that the Chinese living in the Xinjiang province are under threat from Muslim Uyghur insurgents and terrorists, the Chinese leadership is feeling the huge threat of terrorism and they are making an appeal to the international community to come their support.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Maharashtra Police Chief Supports Israel-Type Action Against Terror

Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Shivanandan is of the opinion that India lacks the inclination to act immediately against terror actions, and suggests that India should learn a lesson from Israel, which acts immediately as soon as a terror action takes place. It is not very difficult to understand to what the Mumbai police commissioner is eluding, and with what inclination.

Knowledge of History
It is strange that in a state of Maharashtra, which is ruled by the Congress party, a person holding an important office of police commissioner is neither aware of the legal limits of his statement, nor appears to have any knowledge of history. Shivanandan has also said in his statement "We have rendered ourselves worthless and watching terrorist attacks helplessly for thousands of years. We never went out to fight anyone in retaliation. This is what our problem is." Shivanandan feels India somewhere lacks the killer instinct.

The police commissioner feels that the standards established to act in response to a terrorist attack lack that killer instinct needed by it. It also reflects his venomous way of thinking. He has lauded Israel for taking immediate action against an act of terrorism, but a majority of the world population thinks Israel to be guilty of terrorism. Even Israel's mentor and master, US President Barack Hussein Obama had recently said that Israel was responsible for the inhuman conditions prevailing in Gaza Strip. It appears that Shivanandan is not even aware of the fact that it was the confrontation between European terrorism and Zionist terrorism that was largely responsible for Israel's creation.

Helplessly Watching Terrorist Attacks
Unfortunately, Arab nations got all the blame and bad name for it. Palestinians were rendered homeless in their own land. They were labeled terrorists and the struggle for independence by Palestinians was termed terrorism.

Shivanandan says that for thousands of years, India has been helplessly watching terrorist attacks. What does he actually imply by it? If he takes the attacks made by foreign countries for expansion of their domain as terrorist attacks and brings Islamic or European invaders in the line of fire as terrorists, such a definition of terrorism would encompass all those states that existed in undivided India which fought with one another for lust of power and the enmity and anarchy created by these rulers were utilized fully by foreign invaders.

Need for National Unity
In fact, the issue is not that we Indians never went out to invade and attack others for thousands of years, but the basic issue is that we continue to get divided on religious, communal, and ethnic lines. It is also a problem that we view our national issues with a jaundiced eye of communalism and bigotry. In this way in the false pride of patriotism, we continued to bring national unity to tatters.

National unity is essential for the integrity of any country. In fact, Shivanandan is attempting to view terrorism under his specific mentality. While referring to the history of thousands of years, he has easily forgotten Nathu Ram Godse and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur.

The Israeli Approach
When Shivanandan terms the Israeli approach as immediate action against terrorism, he has not seen the faces of oppressed Palestinians. He talks of lack of killer instinct, but forgot the country's history. He has also forgotten that despite the best peace loving instinct, when the time to emancipate the country from the shackles of slavery came, Indians, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed demonstrated that killer instinct to the full, and through it attained independence for the country.

In fact, Shivanandan's statement is not a statement made by a responsible police officer, but it appears more a statement by a person who has a particular bent of mind and venomous mode of thinking. It is the Maharashtra government's duty to take serious note of this statement.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Political Upheaval in Jammu and Kashmir

Whatever is happening in Jammu and Kashmir politics is unfortunate. Nobody could object to differences between the ruling party and the opposition in politics, but there is a definite limit to differences in parliamentary democracy. Politics should not be so directionless and shallow that it creates a situation of political instability. It is the result of this political situation that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced his resignation after being emotionally hurt. However, it was unnecessary.

Kinds of Allegations
The opposition levels several kinds of allegations against the government, and the head of the government has to function, tolerating them. The allegation leveled by People's Democratic Party [PDP] of his involvement in the sex scandal case is totally baseless.

In a restive and unstable state like Jammu and Kashmir, politics needs to be sensitive and alert. PDP's attitude was exactly the opposite. After all, the manner in which Mehbooba Mufti rushed to the assembly speaker's seat and snatched the mike from him on July 28 was very irresponsible behavior by a legislative assembly member. The irony is that she is not at all repentant about her behavior. On the contrary, she continued to accuse the speaker of behaving indecently.

Role of Mainstream Political Leaders
In reality, PDP's attitude cannot be called the role of a responsible political party from any angle. The real role of mainstream political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir is to work toward foiling such attempts, be it from Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti.

On the issue of peace and development, there has to be political unity in Jammu and Kashmir. In contrast, Mehbooba is engaged in the politics of conflict. There is no problem in accepting that she is in a way making things easy for separatist forces. This is not going to do any good to anyone.

There does not appear to be any justifiable reason to take up what occurred at Shopian in this manner. It would have been in everybody's interest to make efforts to stop recurrence of such incidents and give solace to the victims.

Future Ahead
After all, what do Mehbooba and her PDP want? There are no elections at this time that she could take political advantage of it. But, being the head of the government, Omar should also have refrained from emotional extremism. He has got majority in the assembly and there is no danger at the moment of his government being reduced to a minority.

Omar should understand that he is leading a state whose foundation is being shaken by cross-border terrorism and internal secessionism, and disruptive forces have been trying to keep it at unrest. At this time, the need is to work together to restore normalcy in Kashmir.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

New British Approach to Middle East Peace Plan

The British Parliamentary Committee (BPC) has demanded that the European Union (EU) should link its relations with Israel with efforts for establishment of peace in the Middle East. Even more significant is that the said committee has also called on the British Government to establish contact with HAMAS that controls the Gaza Strip. The committee is rightly of the opinion that without large-scale cooperation from the Palestinian organization HAMAAS, no durable peace is possible.

Israel's Conditions
The demand by the BPC has come at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while reiterating his five conditions for restoration of peace in the region, maintains that the future Palestinian state would not be allowed to keep any arms and weapons.

However, Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Atias maintains that no country in the world has any right to force Israel not to allow its population to live in the Palestine territory. He has categorically asserted that the process of construction of the Jewish habitats would continue in occupied Baitul Muqaddas and the West Bank.

Israel's current aggressive attitude is no different from its earlier stand. In fact, it is this attitude that has spoilt peace in Middle East, and has created new issues by terming HAMAS's armed struggle terrorism. Statements made by Netanyahu and Ariel Atias are, in fact, a part of the conspiracy that aims at sabotaging peace efforts in the region. The conspirators are active even at a time when the rein of the US, Israel's master and mentor, is in the hands of Barack Obama, who is striving to improve US relations with the Islamic world, and who has already held Israel responsible for the inhuman conditions prevailing in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu-Obama Meeting
During his recent meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, Obama had categorically said that Israel must stop all construction work, particularly those of new Jewish hamlets in the occupied areas. Obama has exerted further pressure on Israel that it should recognize the two-nation theory, and allow the establishment of a Palestine state.

Yet, despite pressure from Obama, what the Israeli leadership is doing is no secret. Adding conditions to the establishment of a Palestine state and demanding that it should be prohibited from maintaining any kind of army tantamount to a slap on Palestinians' self-respect. Under such circumstances, talking about establishment of peace in the region is entirely meaningless.

That is why the BPC has demanded linking of relations with Israel to put efforts toward establishment of peace. Although the attitude and inclination of European countries and the US has usually been sympathetic, and that the Palestine issue continues to hang fire, is largely because of the patronage that Israel enjoys from the European countries and the US. Else a handful of Judaists could not dare to play with the dignity of the Arabs.

Significance of Plan
However, it is commendable that going by Israel's arrogance, the BPC has called on the European countries to link relations with Israel with efforts for establishment of peace. There are scant chances that it will have any impact on Israel until the US also adopts a hard attitude in this regard.

The other significant aspect is the BPC's attitude toward HAMAS. In fact, both the US and the EU have described the armed struggle by HAMAS as terrorism and have been delinking it from the peace efforts in the Middle East. Yet, the truth is that HAMAS continues to enjoy the majority support of the Palestinians and Mahmoud Abbas is taken to be a sympathizer of the Zionist forces.

In such a scenario, HAMAS's role in efforts for establishment of peace becomes more significant. By admitting it, the BPC has displayed its wisdom. The BPC is quite correct when it said that by refusing to talk to HAMAS, the UK is gaining nothing. The BPC has also termed the Israeli action in the Gaza Strip inappropriate.

Whatever stand the EU or the British Government may adopt on the demand, the report is evident that a tendency to criticize the Israeli aggression openly is developing in the UK, Europe, and the US.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Hindutva and BJP

Despite its defeat in the 15th Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not intend to give up its Hindutva agenda. This was made clear at the BJP's national executive committee meeting, held recently in Uttar Pradesh, where it was categorically declared that there was no question of the party deviating from its avowed Hindutva goal.

Anti-Muslim Approach
However, a section of the BJP believes that the party's defeat is largely because of its distance with the Muslim community. This section believes that the party was defeated because of the staunch Hindutva face of the Gujarat Chief Minister and senior party leader, Narendra Modi, and the provocative speech made by party member Varun Gandhi. The section also feels that the party cannot progress by ignoring the Muslim community.

However, the group affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) holds that the BJP should not deviate from the Hindutva agenda. Having become flabbergasted with the internal dissension in the BJP, the RSS admonished the party and advised it that if it has any difficulty with the Hindutva, it is free to give it up. This encouraged the Sangh Parivar lobby. Consequently, the BJP recalled the Hindutva issue at its executive committee meeting.

Hindutva Agenda
The fact is that the BJP has been criticized on its Hindutva stand within the party circle. When the BJP was in power at the federal level, it had to bow repeatedly to secularists in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and had to shelve the Hindutva issue. The party's traditional voters, therefore, accused it of having forgotten the Hindutva agenda, Uniform Civil Code, Ram Temple, and Article 370. However, by the time the parliamentary elections were held, the party returned to the Hindutva and brought Modi, a star campaigner of the Hindutva and a staunch enemy of the Muslims.

Also by encouraging Varun Gandhi at his "venomous" speech, the party strived to give the impression that it continues to hold on to the Hindutva. However, the Congress party's electoral success and the increasing interest of the Muslims in the party, forced the BJP to admit that ignoring Muslims is not in its favour.

Hindutva vs Secularism
In short, ever since the results of the parliamentary elections were declared, the BJP find itself bind to the ideological struggle between the Hindutva and secularism. The party has never analyzed and examines the causes of its election defeat sincerely nor could it gather enough courage to accept its responsibility for the defeat.

The executive committee meeting in Uttar Pradesh can be termed significant in as much as that a senior party leader Arun Jaitley has admitted that the party has been weakened at the organizational level. At the same time, the BJP unit in Uttar Pradesh, taking the responsibility of the defeat, expressed its determination to continue to hold fast to the Hindutva.

One wonders whether by the time the elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly are held, the BJP would be able to compartmentalize the voters that may charismatically give their verdict in favor of it. Possibly, the BJP may resort to old tactics in the name of the Hindutva. Even if it happens, the party would have to bear the brunt of it.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

India As Sri Lanka's Saviour

There are recent news reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has temporarily decided to release a loan of $2.5 billion to Sri Lanka to overcome current economic crisis. It is also speculated that the IMF board of directors met on July 24, 2009 at its Washington headquarters to take a final decision in this regard. Sri Lanka is certain that the board of directors of IMF will fulfill anxiety to receive the loan.

Violation of Human Rights
The IMF is pointed out that Sri Lanka has successfully thwarted all attempts made by the West to block the loan to Sri Lanka citing human rights violation.

The IMF recalls, at this juncture, the statement of US Secretary to State Hilary Clinton at a media briefing precisely two months ago that the time was not opportune to release this loan to Sri Lanka.

However, the US officials claimed later that US was not obstructing the loan being released to Sri Lanka, the stance taken by the US and the West to teach a lesson to Sri Lanka for committing war excesses when the Vanni war was at its peak was transparent.

Meanwhile, Reporters Sans Borders (RSF) based in Paris has also expressed views regarding this loan.

Victory Over LTTE
The Sri Lankan Government which has emerged victorious in defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the graveyard of thousands of Tamils continues to suppress media freedom. Under these circumstances, IMF should release the loan to Sri Lanka only after obtaining a written guarantee from Colombo that it will safeguard and respect media freedom, said RSF in its letter to IMF.

The silent resistance posed to the release of this loan to Sri Lanka by US and the objections raised against the loan by several humanitarian organizations such as RSF have failed to prevent the IMF from releasing the loan. In short, Sri Lanka was successful in obtaining the loan overcoming all resistance.

India's Assistance
The vital point is that the India has assisted Sri Lanka in obtaining this massive loan of historical significance from the global financial body.

It is an open secret that India behind the screen backed Sri Lankan Security Forces in is offensive against the LTTE.

There is another. When the Western world tried to appoint an international commission to probe into the allegation of human rights violations against Sri Lanka, Colombo successfully defeated the attempt with the support of friendly nations. The same India helped Sri Lanka to defeat western pressure on that occasion too.

However, the diplomatic circles are of the view that even at this juncture, India played a silent role to clear all obstacles placed against the loan being released to Sri Lanka. It is believed that US withdrew its efforts in blocking the IMF loan to Sri Lanka on pressure exerted by India.

Future Prospects
Sri Lanka has reached a compromise with New Delhi regarding offering a solution to restore the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. Diplomatic circles point out that India ensured the IMF loan being granted to Sri Lanka to reciprocate Colombo's assurance of resolving the ethnic issue.

Will India which is acting as the saviour of the Sri Lankan Government come forward to ensure that justice and fair play being meted out to Sri Lankan Tamils who are subjected to hardships and agony as a result of a three-decade war? Will New Delhi act realizing its responsibility and commitments as a neighbour country?

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Batla House Fake Encounters Report

Excerpts from the Human Rights Commission report submitted to the Government on the Batla House fake encounters that has been made public, make one feel that the report and the comments made by the Commission lack the caution necessary in such cases.
In its report, the Commission has given a clean chit to the Delhi police saying that the police fired in retaliation. The Commission could be right in its stand but it is important to know on the basis of what evidence the Commission jumped to the conclusion that the police fired in retaliation.

Reasonable and Detailed Evidence
The Commission maintains that it has reasonable and detailed evidence from which it has drawn the conclusion that the police team faced the threat to life. It is possible that the Commission could be right in its claim of having evidence but to reach any conclusion, circumstantial evidence must not be ignored. Did the Commission record evidence of the people living near the place of incident?
It is necessary to know that there is wrath and annoyance among the people living around that place, who claim that the Commission has come out with its verdict in favor of the Delhi Police without even caring to record the evidence of these people. If the allegation is true, it raises a question mark on the impartiality of the Commission report, which injures the tenets of justice.
The Commission presenting its report to the concerned bench of the Delhi court has recommended that there is no need to take any action against the police. The Commission's three-page report, however, said about Atif and Sajid that whether the two had been involved in the Delhi bomb blasts could not be investigated because it is a criminal case.

Referring Indian Penal Code
The Commission has referred to section 100 of the Indian Penal Code under which if a person feels threat to his life, he can counteract for his own safety. The Indian Penal Code grants the right to every citizen to self-defense but this issue can only be settled by a court of law. The Commission ignored the eyewitnesses in this case.
It is not clear whether it recorded the statements of the relatives of those killed and those arrested by the police, because the right to self-defense is not enjoyed by the police alone, it has all citizens in its ambit. If those arrested maintain that they fired in self-defense because the police first fired on them, who would settle this controversy? Naturally, the court. The Commission, perhaps, did not record the statements of the parties concerned.
On the escape of culprits from (House No) L-18, the Commission maintains that possibly they may have got an opportunity to escape during the ensuing stampede. It is strange that a very important and significant Commission like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has used the word possibly in its report on a very significant point.

Drawn Conclusion
The Commission has also drawn the conclusion that the action by the police was very much within the law and that no human rights violation has taken place. Let us once again discuss the self-defense issue at this point as well. The said section gives a right to self-defense to every citizen but the underlying beauty of it is that only that much force can be make that is sufficient for self-defense.
However, in the Batla House case, the bullet ridden dead bodies of the youth prove that the police used more force than actually needed. Did the Commission compare the post mortem reports of those killed in the encounter with the post mortem reports of Inspector Sharma, to know how many bullets each side fired and what was their angle? Perhaps the Commission ignored this point too. Under such circumstances, if there is annoyance among the people of Batla House and Muslim members of Parliament, is it wrong?
It appears that in making comments against the suspects and in favor of the Delhi police, the Commission made no attempt to reach to the bottom of the truth, and purposely or otherwise avoided it, and accepted, certain hypothesis and the police report as true.
Had it not done so, those living around L-18, Batla House would have no complain that their evidence has not been recorded. Let the Commission come out with any explanation of its attitude, but its action has injured the confidence the people have in it. And such a situation is inappropriate for any constitutional body.


Israel's Challenge to US Calls To Halt Settlement Activity

The US envoy to the Arab region, Senator George Mitchell, begins a new tour during which he meets with Arab and Israeli officials under the theme of "advancing the peace process and looking for ways to overcome the obstacles that stand in its way."

US-Israeli Tension
This tour is different from the previous ones as it comes amid US-Israeli tension because of Benjamin Netanyahu's defiance of the US Administration's calls to freeze the settlement activity and dismantle the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu refused to present any commitment to freezing the settlement Activity during his recent visit to the White House. His aides bragged about this stand and considered it a sign of strength and firmness. This stand prompted his foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to "reprimand" Senator Mitchell and lecture him on how what he termed Israeli concessions through a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip led to an increase in the rocket attacks on Israeli towns and settlements in the south.
Nothing has changed since Mitchell's last tour about one and a half months ago. The Israeli settlements are expanding on the pretext of natural growth and Lieberman continues to hold his post as Foreign Minister, while Netanyahu gave the Israelis a free hand to settle unconditionally in occupied East Jerusalem. Furthermore, his government issued decisions to confiscate Palestinian lands in occupied Jerusalem and build 50 housing units in the Shaykh Jarrah Neighborhood of Jerusalem.
We do not know how Senator Mitchell and his administration will deal with this Israeli challenge. Until now, this administration has been contented with expressing its "resentment" of and "opposition" to the settlement activity without taking any practical punitive steps.

Paying Price for Verbal Opposition
What we fear most is that this administration might ask the Arabs to immediately pay a price for its verbal opposition to the settlement activity by taking normalization steps with Israel, such as opening their airspace to Israeli flights, activating the trade exchange, and opening trade offices in occupied Jerusalem.
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Arabs' presentation of a peace initiative alone is not enough. She added that normalization steps must be taken to explain this initiative and reassure the Israeli public opinion and Government by showing how serious the Arabs are toward peace.
The first and most prominent response to Ms Clinton's call came from the heir apparent of Bahrain, Shaykh Salman Bin-Hamad Al Khalifah. He wrote an article in the US Newspaper the Washington Post in which he called on the Arabs to move toward the Israelis through the Israeli media to facilitate the peace efforts between the Arabs and Israelis. He said: "We, the Arabs, have not done enough to directly communicate with the Israeli people."
The US State Department immediately welcomed the Bahraini heir apparent's article and asked Senator Mitchell to go to Manama to congratulate him on his stand and to convey the US Administration's thanks to him and to his government.

US Stand Towards Arab-Israeli Conflict
There is no argument over the fact that the current US Administration's stand towards the Arab-Israeli conflict is totally different from that of the former administration that was led by George Bush and the group of the neo conservatives.
However, as Arabs and particularly as Palestinians, we must not pay the price for this difference in advance by reversing the Arab peace initiative in order for us to begin full normalization before a complete withdrawal.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Restoring Peace in Jammu and Kashmir

When former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's daughter Rubaiya was abducted by terrorists in 1989, the situation started deteriorating and since then, Kashmir continued to remain on boil due to terrorism. Millions of Kashmiri pundits were displaced from their homes, and had to migrate to other parts of the country, and thousands of people lost their lives. Kashmir, the heaven on the earth, was reduced to a hell because of the proxy war waged by Pakistan.

Improved Situation
In 2002, during the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led Government, elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were held in a free and fair manner, and the elected representatives formed the State Government, under which the situation started improving. The people of the State witnessed the return of peace and progress in the valley and other parts of the State.

Therefore, in the 2008 Jammu and Kashmir elections, notwithstanding the poll boycott given by militants and separatists, people turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to franchise, and elected a new Government.

Nevertheless, during the reign of the People's Democratic Party and the Congress coalition Government, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti started making demands for troops reduction, repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and the withdrawal of the Army and Border Security Force (BSF) from the civilian areas of the state.

At that juncture, Omar Abdullah and the National Conference also endorsed these demands. In this connection, bunkers of the Army and BSF were removed from Srinagar and other areas, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed in cities to maintain peace in the state with the coordination of the State police.

After the last elections, a coalition government was formed between the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference and the Congress. Immediately after taking over as Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah announced that the State Government has initiated the process of repeal of the AFSPA. Later, he commented that the duty of maintenance of law and order in Jammu and Kashmir would be entrusted with the State police.

Chidambaram’s Visit
Recently, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram during his recent visit to Srinagar said that that the task of maintenance of law and order in Jammu and Kashmir would be entrusted to the state police, and the CRPF would be withdrawn from there in a phased manner.

In wake of this announcement, a demand was raised in various parts of Kashmir that the CRPF should be withdrawn from the state. Meanwhile, in wake of the incident of rape and murder of two women in Shopian, followed by an incident in Baramullah, peace was disturbed in Kashmir valley. Thereafter, the process of withdrawal of the CRPF from Baramullah was set in, but peace has not yet returned there, and the State police are not in a position to control the situation.

In view of these ground realities, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has now admitted that the CRPF cannot be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir straightaway. Prior to it, there is a need to raise the strength of the State police, provide it the required number of firearms and equipment, and also impart further training to it. The State police are not in a position to handle the situation likely to be created with the withdrawal of CRPF.

Now that conditions in Jammu and Kashmir are improving and infiltrators are being killed in border areas, and people have started reposing faith in the military and security forces we can ill-afford to take suicidal steps such as reduction of troops, withdrawal of CRPF, and the security forces, for this is bound to aggravate the conditions in Kashmir and the country.

Proxy War Waged
In fact, abnormal conditions are currently prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir. From across the border, a proxy war is being waged, thereby the Pakistan intelligence agency Inter-Srevices Intelligence (ISI) in the form of terrorism. Even at present, approximately 1,200 Kashmiri and foreign terrorists are active in Kashmir who can create disturbance at an appropriate opportunity.

It is not possible for the state police to tackle terrorists in remote areas and much less in urban areas. Omar Abdullah has, therefore, realized now that it is not yet possible to withdraw the CRPF in order to maintain law and order in the State.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Commissions To Appease Public on Issues

In 2005, when he occupied the chair of the highest court of the country, former Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti expressed his view on investigation commissions that to millions of Indians, an investigation commission is just another name for suppressing facts. He said that no judge should accept to head an investigation commission. However, if they have to do so in the line of duty, then the Government should take the responsibility of protecting them from the appeals of concerned parties. In this context, Justice Lahoti, commenting on the Sri Krishna Commission investigation into the Bombay riots, said that if Justice Krishna had known what was going to be the fate of his recommendations he would not have wasted his time in going through every detail of the incident. These are the words of a former Supreme Court chief justice, who is not satisfied with investigation commissions. If the chief justice holds such opinions, it is not hard to imagine the public opinion about such commissions, how disappointed they must be with the results of every commission.

Failed Target
The tragedy is that even if conclusive evidence is given by the commission, no action is taken by the Government or the concerned parties on their recommendations, and the drama continues until the next episode. The Government and the administration do this to mollify the public. This toy is wound up and it starts moving, and if it stops at some point then it is wound up again to keep the public satisfied. This process has been continuing for a long time and if it continues, it will become a case where the public will be like children who are given toys to keep them amused. It seems that this system will continue.

Remember, what happened to the N.C. Jain Commission, which had been appointed to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and what happened to the Sri Krishna Commission which was set up to look into the Bombay riots. The public has always found that it is not satisfied with one report, so another commission is appointed to look into the matter. It has also happened that two commissions have been appointed at the same time to look into the same matter.

Appointment of Commission
For the appointment of one commission after another on the same matter, an example can be given of the R.C. Sinha Commission, which was appointed in 1989 to look into the Bhagalpur riots. It submitted its report in 1995. However, in the meantime, the Government changed and a new commission under the chairmanship of Justice N.N. Singh [Retired] was given the task of looking into the riots from the beginning.

The case of appointment of two commissions to look into a matter is that of the Justice Nanavati Commission and the Justice U.C. Bannerjee Commission appointed to look into the Godhra incident. It is another matter that they looked into different aspects of the incident and were appointed by different organizations, but the incident was the same. The Nanavati Commission was appointed by the federal Government and the Bannerjee Commission by the Indian Railways. It must be obvious to anyone that commissions appointed at the same time are not going to be free of official interference.

Recommendations of Commission
In such a situation the question arises, if official commissions are necessary then why necessary changes are not made in the 1952 Commission of Enquiry Act, why is it not mandatory that all recommendations of the commission are followed and no Government should be allowed to make changes in the recommendations? It seems that such high standards do not exist in the Government and its organizations. Otherwise, there is no reason that we should be stuck in this whirlpool forever.

The Congress is, once again, heading the Government. If it is interested in the welfare of people, it should prove it by following the recommendations of the Liberhan Commission and should be different from other Governments. It should also make necessary changes in the Commission of Enquiry Act.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

New Era of Indo-US Relations

A new era could really begin in the Indo-US bilateral relations after the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's five-day official visit to India. Hillary's this trip started from Mumbai and concluded with her meetings with the Indian politicians in New Delhi.

The aim of Hillary's visit was to provide a strong basis of mutual relations between industrialists, prominent citizens, and younger generation of both countries as well as to the bilateral relations between India and the United States, and she was quite successful.

The opinion of the Indian diplomatic circles has not been good with regard to Democratic Administration of the US. The US President Barack Obama increased this apprehension through some of his elections speeches.

In present visit, Hillary has put to rest several such apprehensions. The relations between India and the United States are not being dictated now by noble thoughts of some political leader, but by the long-term perspective adopted by the Pentagon, according to which if the US has to maintain its status in the 21st century, it would have to move on with strategic partnership with some regional powers based more or less on equality.

Nuclear Programme
In fact, it is going to be 10 years of the Pokhran nuclear tests by India and Chagai nuclear tests by Pakistan. Hillary tried to clearly underline two different viewpoints the United States has developed during these past 10 years toward the two countries.

In 1999, Pakistan was a strategic partner of the US, whereas the US used to look at India, until then, as a country in the Soviet camp, which was compelled to lean toward it as the Soviet camp disintegrated.

At present, the US is calling India a strategic partner, and also it is also obvious from the announcements of agreements and understandings during Hillary's visit that it is eager to move forward in that direction.

Pakistan-Centric Issues
The mention of Pakistan's nuclear program in US statements is being made only in the context of concerns related to nuclear terrorism, whereas US energy companies are eager about the beginning of a new chapter of the Indian nuclear program.

During her visit, Hillary tried to say it in different ways that instead of looking at itself with Pakistan's yardstick, India should move forward with global ambitions and should consider the US as a reliable ally in this journey. This is a very big change in the US viewpoint and its implications would become clear as time goes by.

Priorities Formulated
Moreover, in the finer details hereafter, India should keep its priorities clear and should not let them get mixed up with the interests of the US. Pakistan could be a common headache for both, but both would have to deal with it in their own ways. If power companies and arms companies of the US want to do business with India, the US would have to mould its laws accordingly.

The manner in which a way out has been found on the end use agreement of weapons during this tour, the US would have to find a similar way out in the matter of reprocessing of nuclear fuel and other matters.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Establishing National Security Guard

While claims are being made of bringing about huge changes in fields of education, law, urban development, and national food security within 100 days, the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has shown that where there is a will, there is a way by establishing National Security Guard (NSG) hubs in the country's four metros. This is one noteworthy initiative of the Manmohan Singh Government after coming to power for a second term.

After taking charge as Union Home Minister following the Mumbai terror attack on 26 November 2008, Chidambaram promised that by July 1, 2009 he would establish NSG hubs in Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, along with Mumbai. By fulfilling this important promise in time, he has reassured people that the Government would not let security operations to be delayed, if the need arises.

Positive Step
The NSG hub getting active in four metros of the country is an important step in the fight against terrorism. The first phase of the announcement made by the Government to set up NSG hubs in the country, after the November 26, 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, has been completed within the time limit of six months.

There are two things necessary in the war against terror -- first, every possible preparation to deal with the attack and second, immediate retaliatory action in the event of an attack. This fulfills both requirements. While inaugurating the Mumbai hub and then the Chennai NSG hub, Chidambaram announced that the task of appointment of commandos for these centers is complete, and reassured people in a way that in the event of a terrorist attack in any part of the country, the NSG could start its operation within a few hours now.

Lessons from Mumbai Attacks
There was more destruction during the Mumbai terror attack only because NSG commandos arrived late. Learning a lesson, the Government took several steps that also include setting up NSG hubs at several places in the country and keeping them ready at all times with necessary resources. In fact, looking at the threat of terrorism, our preparations were quite lax. Apart from NSG hubs, the Government has taken several other steps that have eliminated the security weakness to a great extent.

It is obvious that, once bitten, the Government is now twice shy. In the matter of security, this kind of vigil and preparation are essential. This is why the Government has now become ready to provide helicopter service to the NSG commandos, if necessary to avoid traffic jams. NSG is a force that acts in the event of terrorist incidents and plane hijacks, and the Mumbai incident has shown that decentralization of its units is as necessary as its central importance. Only by decentralized network of the security will the central control become strong, and it will be able to secure the vast country with its long coastline and borders.

There had been delay in Mumbai of 10 hours, owing to which NSG commandos could not do their work as skillfully as expected from them. Getting them ready for action at the lone NSG center at Manesar near Delhi and flying them to Mumbai, and then taking them to the spot in a bus was a harrowing experience, which has been criticized from all sides.

Building Confidence in Citizens
The Government is striving toward preparing more and more forces to fight terror. This expansion of the NSG is certainly an important part of it, but there are other plans before us of setting up special forces of the Army hub at Bengaluru, and Border Security Force (BSF) hubs at Jodhpur and Guwahati. Looking at all this, we can now believe that the terrorists will not be able to wreak as much havoc as they wrought in Mumbai. Usually it is the police that deal with terrorist attacks first even now and there is need to increase their capability along with removing the paucity of the resources. The NSG commandos would provide similar training to the police as they have received. The efficiency of the police forces of all big cities would certainly improve after they get helicopters.

The way terrorist attacks took place at regular intervals in the previous term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, and the Government could not bring about any concrete changes except making announcements had shaken the confidence of people. We know that you cannot end the threat of terrorism by merely strengthening your security system. The confidence of common people plays an important role in it. Let us hope that these steps would not only bring back the shaken confidence of people, adequate steps would also be taken at the Government level to create public awareness.

The Government is not going to keep expansion of the NSG limited to these five metros. In the next phase, this network would encompass Bengaluru and Jodhpur. This expansion is certainly welcome, but it will become effective only when it gets necessary information inputs and continuous active cooperation from other institutions of the state, and this force, which is made for the country's security, is used less for personal security.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Resumption of India-Pakistan Summit Talks

As a consequence of the India-Pakistan summit talks held on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement [NAM] summit in the Egyptian city of Sharm al-Shaykh, it seems the possibility of a change taking place in the tense environment in this region has brightened. During the summit talks between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, the two countries have delinked the bilateral India-Pakistan talks from the issue of terrorism. The initiative taken by India on this issue is bound to lead to a positive outcome.

Joint Statement
Earlier, India has been emphasizing that unless Pakistan brings to justice the accused of the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008, the prospects of talks with Pakistan were ruled out. On this occasion, the Indian Prime Minister stated in no uncertain terms that the composite dialogue between the countries is still subject to the earnestness on Pakistan's part in its counter-terrorism endeavours.

The noticeable point is that a considerably encouraging reaction has been received from Pakistan for the success of the summit talks. Describing the shift in the Indian strategy on bilateral talks as a pleasant development, Pakistan has termed the summit talks satisfactory. In the joint statement issued at the end of the summit talks, it has been accepted that talks is the only way to make headway.

During the two-hour-long meeting, the two leaders admitted that the composite dialogue process could not be linked with counter-terrorism action. The two sides have agreed to create an environment of mutual confidence and reliance so that an amicable atmosphere for resumption of the dialogue process could be created. It is also satisfying to note that the vexed Kashmir issue has not mentioned in the joint statement.

Nevertheless, it is worth consideration that the Prime Minister Dr. Singh made it clear in the joint statement that India is willing to hold talks on any issue. The Kashmir issue also figures in the composite dialogue.

Pakistan states that the Indian Prime Minister has expressed willingness to hold dialogue with Pakistan on the all issues, including all pending disputes. The term "all pending disputes" is being linked with the Kashmir issue. Indians are happy that the leaders of the two countries have met for the first time after four years and the joint statement issued on conclusion of the meeting does not carry any reference to the Kashmir issue. They think that their demand for putting the Kashmir issue into cold storage has been accepted.

In their summit meetings, the two countries have been announcing modes and dates of the future talks. However, perhaps for the first time, it has been decided in a meeting of two Prime Ministers that their Foreign Ministers will hold the next meeting, which is likely to take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2009. Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will hold mutual talks whenever needed and hand over reports to their respective Foreign Ministers. In this way, the level of the future talks between the two countries has been brought down. Usually, in their meetings and contacts, the ministers finalize schedule for meetings at the prime ministerial or presidential level, but here for the first time, the announcement has been made contrary to that.

Positive Results Expected
With bilateral talks, the prospects of easing of tension between the two countries have brightened. The top leaders of the two countries had also held talks in Russia last month. As such, the summit meeting in Egypt seems to prove instrumental in bringing about a change in the scenario.

Nonetheless, the success of the present summit meeting depends on to what extent the two countries succeed in the implementation of decisions made in the Egypt summit. The relations between India and Pakistan cannot be promoted just with the will of any one country.

Undoubtedly, both the countries will have to make equal contribution to it. Moreover, it is a positive development that the political leadership of the two countries has come forward for bilateral talks instead of adding to tension.

Prospects of Talks
During the meeting between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and the Indian Prime Minister in Russia, a number of decisions were made on bilateral issues, but no appropriate response has been made by Islamabad on them. Now, if strict steps are not initiated by Pakistan to prevent violence after the Egypt summit talks, it is likely to cause tension between the two countries. It is the responsibility of both the countries to comprehend the problems facing each other, and come forward to resolution of bilateral issues with an open mind.

Moreover, the bilateral talks should not be confined to mere paperwork. It is the joint responsibility of the two counties to promote an atmosphere of peace and friendship. People of this region have already suffered a lot. It will be better to let the people of both the countries live in peace.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Hillary Clinton Visits India

It is said that the notion continues to prevail among common people in Indian that the US is a selfish country that can go to any extent to maintain its global "supremacy." It can launch an invasion against any country and it can resort to bloodshed of innocents in order to retain its hold over the world. Hence, expansion of democracy and ideology carries no significance for it.

However, there is another belief that is prevalent among the Indians that the US can do anything to grind its axe. Any country not yielding to it aligns it with itself. It makes the unyielding country yielding to it and breaks up that country that can be severed. It is recognized as a supporter of countries such as Pakistan, which fall victim to the military dictators and can adopt any tactics in order to nip the menace in the bud that can pose a threat to it.

Impact of Tension between India and Pakistan
In fact, the notion prevalent among common Indians about the US is based on their experiences during the past half-a-century. India and Pakistan in the South Asian region have never been friendly to each other. The two nations in their bid to amass maximum arms served as a sandwich between the US and other big world powers. Amid sale and purchase of arms, conflicts and confrontations among them, and lack of mutual trust, and attempts to occupy Kashmir, these countries provided highly suitable chances to world powers to intervene in their internal affairs.

The US used Pakistan in the ouster of the Russian troops from Afghanistan, and when the Taliban whom it used for the expulsion of the Russian forces from Afghanistan and later on for staging a coup there, turned hostile toward it, it sought Pakistan's support to crush them. However, this time around success evaded the US. Its main reason is that Pakistan is no longer solely dependent on the US and has gone under the influence of China.

Emerging India's Status
Meanwhile, India is an emerging superpower because its image is constantly emerging as a peace loving and a dynamic country. In view of its rising image and prestige, the US also has molded its policies in favor of India. The US is scared of the mounting Chinese influence in the South Asian region and is exploring the support of India with a view to check growing influence of China. Although the proximity of the US with India in defense and trade is in India's interest, yet the latter needs to be wary of the possibility of becoming a puppet in US hands, although it can become its good ally in trade.

Developing Indo-US Relations
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently on a visit to India. Her trip to India is to certainly broaden and deepen the US relationship with India. During her visit, several agreements are to be signed and the plans would be evolved for the implementation of the US-India civilian nuclear agreement. She arrived in India as a Secretary of State of the Barack Obama Administration, but the Indian experience of the Bill Clinton Administration has been bitter, although time has undergone a sea change now.

Hillary expressed doubts about Pakistan’s commitment to the war on terror. Urging Pakistan to root out terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hillary said that based on the last six months, there has been a greater effort and commitment on Pakistan’s part to tackle the global threat of terrorism. However, it is too early to tell the outcome of the commitment from Pakistan.

Hillary has said the disputes between India and Pakistan should be looked at with "fresh eyes" and that Kashmir should "certainly" be on the agenda of discussions between the two countries. She said that the meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in Sharm el-Sheikh on July 16, 2009 has ignited the hope that both countries will pursue a dialogue again.

On the Kashmir issue, she affirmed the position of the US that it wants India and Pakistan to resolve all such issues bilaterally and that Washington is ready to support the steps that both countries take together.

India is fast emerging as a dynamic country on the world map. Hence, there is the possibility of it being exploited by the US for its vested interests. India welcomes the friendship offered by the US. However, it has been India's independent foreign policy not to accept narrow strategies of the US.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Malnutrition in India: Causes and Remedies

The State of India is a paradox. While it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is also home to 57 million of the world’s 146 million malnourished children. This menace continues to remain a silent emergency in the country, with 47 per cent of children under five either underweight, stunted, wasted or with micronutrient malnutrition.
Several nutrition awareness programmes and training courses for improving the dietary habits of people, too, are in place. Under the 30-year-old Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, supplementary nutrition is being provided to children up to six years of age and to pregnant and lactating mothers.
India's Position in Global Hunger Index
The country which figures 94th among 119 countries on the Global Hunger Index also faces the problem of acute malnourishment. However, a government survey has pointed out that malnourishment poses a major threat to India’s socio-economic growth. Indeed, malnutrition not only affects individual growth but also impedes productivity. India loses four per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to malnutrition that stems from a host of factors — poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, poor access to health care, unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation.
Malnutrition not only enhances their susceptibility to infection, but it also affects their educational achievements, health and overall productivity when they grow up. Consequently, child malnutrition is not only responsible for 22 per cent of the country’s disease burden and half of the 2.3 million child deaths annually, but it also costs India at least $ 10 billion per year in terms of lost productivity, illness and death. Such a colossal loss is unacceptable for a growing global power like India.
The tragedy of persistent child malnutrition in the country, despite steady economic growth, reflects not only the inequitable character of this growth but also the failure of health and nutrition delivery mechanisms, to the poor. It also indicates a lack of political will to deal with the crisis on a priority basis. In fact, child malnutrition in India is among the highest in the world, along with Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Nepal.
National Family Health Survey Report
Recently, the third National Family Health Survey report was released which tells a grim state of child malnutrition in the country. About 45.9 per cent children under three are underweight, 38.4 per cent are stunted and 19.1 per cent wasted. China, the world’s most populous country, has less than 10 per cent of its child population underweight. More humiliating is the discovery that even sub-Saharan Africa has almost half our percentage of underweight children.
Scepticism in accepting the disturbing statistics on malnutrition in India is because we have been made complacent by the plentiful food stocks and over-loaded Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns. We pride our Midday Meal Scheme for school children which is the largest nutritional programme in the world.
The ICDS is another flagship project. It has now about six lakh centres with some seven lakh anganwadi workers and an equal number of helpers catering to over four crore pre-school children as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. But despite all these things, malnutrition rates in India over the last 10 years have declined at the very modest pace of a mere two per cent per annum, lower than many countries with a comparable socio-eco nomic profile. Bangladesh has brought down its malnutrition rates by about six per cent a year.
Severe malnutrition is more frequent among girls (19.1 per cent) than boys (16.9 per cent). While most infants in India are initially breastfed, only 37 per cent children are exclusively breastfed for four months. Malnutrition rates among children of 0-3 years vary greatly across States, from Madhya Pradesh (55.1 per cent), Bihar (54.4 per cent), Orissa (84.4 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (51.7 per cent) and Rajasthan (50.6 per cent) to Goa (28.6 per cent), Manipur (27.5 per cent) and Kerala (26.9 per cent).
Malnutrition continues to be equated with food shortage and the solution canvassed is to simply increase caloric intake, not realising that the Khichdi-dalia staple provided at such meals is inadequate. Children require special food in small quantities which is dense in energy and nutrients, and not adult food, since children consume much smaller quantities. This explains why 75 per cent of Indian children under three suffer from iron deficiency (anaemia), fifty per cent from Vitamin A deficiency, apart from very high rates of zinc and folate deficiency.

Important Causes
Malnutrition in children is an outcome of insufficient food intake, impaired utilisation or depletion of nutrients due to repeated infectious diseases and parasites and Low Birth Weight (LBW). While poverty and food insecurity contribute to malnutrition in India, some important causes, most of which are preventable, include improper and unsafe infant feeding and child care practices, gender disparity in distribution of food and general neglect of the girl child, as a result of which 60 per cent of Indian women in the reproductive age group are anaemic, a major contributing factor for LBW.
Undoubtedly breastfeeding is an effective way of ensuring healthy growth and development of infants and protecting them against infections. However, only 37.1 per cent newborns are breastfed within a day of birth in India. Colostrum (first milk), which is essential for the infant’s nutritive and immunologic value, is often discarded as old and impure milk. Instead babies are fed with pre-lacteals like tea, ghuttis, diluted milk in many rural and poor urban households. Many families either do not initiate complementary food when the baby reaches the age of six months or give foods with sub-optimal nutritive value. Often, owing to the caregiver’s lack of knowledge, such food may be unhygienic and may introduce infection resulting in diarrhoea. The vicious cycle of malnutrition and infection thus begins.
As per the recent report of the World Food Programme (WFP), about 18,000 children die of hunger and malnutrition every day, he fact which uderscores the urgent need for the Government to respond to poverty in all its mani­festations.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme
Mid-Day Meal Scheme was fomally launched on Aug. 15, 1995 under the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE). The objective of the scheme is to give a boost to universalisation of primary education by increasing enrolment, attendance and retention of children to primary classes. This ambitious social welfare programme improves the nutritional status of children of primary classes studying in schools run and aided by the Government.
Under the scheme, Central assistance is provided to States for the following :
(i) Hundred grams of foodgrains per child per school day where there is a meal programme. Alternatively, three kg per child per month for 10 months.
(ii) Admissible transport subsidy for transportation of foodgrains from the nearest FCI depot to the school, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 50 per quintal. The cost of converting foodgrains into cooked meals is borne by the State Governments or local bodies.

The Remedies
There is a school of thought, though, which believes it would be far more efficacious at this point to specifically target areas which account for the maximum levels of malnutrition rather than expanding haphazardly. Some 10 per cent of Indian villages account for 28 per cent of child nutrition.
Eradication of malnutrition also makes sound economic sense. In countries with widespread deficiencies of the three major nutrients, it is estimated that micronutrient malnutrition results in a loss of about five per cent of the GDP whereas solving the problem would cost less than 0.3 per cent of the GDP.
Thus, it is important for the Government as well as the Non-Governmental Organi­sations (NGOs) to put greater effort and resources on malnutrition prevention and take early action rather than coping with malnutrition when it has already set in.