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INDUSTRIAL POLICY AIMS TO PUSH PUNJABS ECONOMY

V.P. PRABHAKAR*

he thrust of the new industrial policy-2009 of Punjab will be to play the role of facilitator and hand holding being investor friendly, lessen the Government control while outsourcing regulatory measures, bring administrative reforms under the aegis of the Punjab Social Development and Governance Reorms Commission, attract investment in the private sector and under the PPP mode, create dedicated fund for the development clusters, common facilities centres and providing infrastructure support under the initiatives of the Centre and State Government. Besides, it will also focus on promoting competitiveness and cutting cost 55 for the industry, stimulating economic growth and industry and service sector being the main engines of growth. Apart from this the new policy will aim at promting IT and IT enabled services, value addition to the resources of the State while promoting aro based and food processing industry, emphasis on fresh employment generation and skill upgradation, revival of sick industry by way of One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme and to provide mechanism for debt restructuring and to address and take care of environmental issues. The Punjab Cabinet Has approved the policy with an objective to push the State's economy and ensure level playing field to all investors and entrepreneurs being the stake holders in the economic process of development and growth of Punjab.

It may be added that the State Government formulated industrial policies in 1978, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1996 and the last industrial policy of Punjab was notified in march 2003. According to a spokesman of the Punjab Government, the nw industrial policy is an outcome of the efforts of SAD-BJP Goverment after seeking vital inputs from United nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) based on its experience and expertise that has the exposure to global scenario in the process of industrial policy forumulation and a series of deliverations with the representatives of various industrial associations. WHY PUNJAB Punjab ranks high in the country in the following areas: infrastructure, power, road network, telecom density, attractive consumer market and agriculture production. The main advantages of doing business in Punjab are: Highest work force productivity (only 1.2 per cent of all man-day lost despite having 5 per cebnt of the total industrial work force), excellent human resources and availability of manpower, all towns and villages are covered with telecom infrastructure. The State has highest opticfibre density, every village is connected with metal road, per capita bank deposits in the State are 1.8 times of the national average and motor vehicle density in Punjab is 2.4 times of national average.

# 295, Sector 16-A, Chandigarh

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ATTRACTING NEW INVESTMENT DEDICATED FUND : To attract new industry and look after the existing one, dedicated annualised fund amounting to Rs. 150 crores will be created for the purpose of creation and upgradation of industrial infrastructure, to make contributions as a State Share for the Central Government Schemes like cluster development, common facility centres and R&D, marketing etc. The fund will comprise contributions from PIDB and from the proceeds of the OUVGL. Realisation from Change of Land use charges from the industry to commercial use as provided in the notification of 7th March, 2005 will also form part of this dedicated fund. CHANGE OF LAND USE (CLU) : There will be no CLU charges and license fee for change of land use from agriculture to industry anywhere in the State. Similarly, there will be no CLU and license fee for change of land use from agriculture to industry in case of industrial component of the industrial park. However, these charges will be applicable on the residential and commercial components of the industrial park, as per rates notified by the State Government. The external development charges for industry and industrial parks will be on actual basis. The entrepreneurs will have the option to get the external development works executed from the concerned development agency of the area by depositing the actual charges or execute such works of their own in accordance with the plans/ structures duly approved by the development agency. SUPER MEGA PROJECTS : Special package of concessions for Super Mega Mixed Use integrated industrial park projects will also continue in accordance with notification of November 17, 2006 and guidelines issued by the State Government.
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MEGA PROJECTS : The State Government will consider and determine a special package of incentives as well as facilitation by way of relaxation of rules and regulations and provision of legal, institutional and financial dispensation of new as well as existing industrial undertakings or group of industrial undertakings expansion through an Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Minister in accordance with the conditions already laid down separately for this purpose by the State Government. Investment in more than one unrelated item at same location by one company will be clubbed for the purpose of determining minimum permissible investment for eligibility of mega project. STAMP DUTY EXEMPTION : In order to facilitate the grant of stamp duty exemption, Revenue Department will issue notification for remission of stamp duty for mga projects as approved by the Empowered Committee or for other projects, super mega projects as admissible under industrial policies of the State. DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED MULTIPLEX COMPLEXES : Development of integrated multiplex complexes will be encouraged. However, minimum investment limits for such multiplexes will be as under:(i) Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali and Bhatinda - Rs. 20 crores.

(ii) for towns other than mentioned above - Rs. 10 crore. HOTEL PROJECTS : Hotel Projects as defined by the Department of Tourism will be given the status of industry in non-designated areas and will be entitled to concessins as admissible to industry. Farm tourism/bed and breakfast tourism scheme/tented accommodation fulfilling the guidelines prescribed by the Department of

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Tourism will be given the facility of levy of water supply and power tariff at domestic rates. HEALTH TOURISM : Health Tourism projects as dfined by the Department of health will be given the status of industry. Such projects will be given facility of using upto 25 per cent of the medical facilities and other services areas for commercial purposes without payment of change of land use charges. Such projects fulfilling the minimum investment criteria of mega projects will be eligible for consideration of special package of concession by the Empowered Committee. TEXTILE INDUSTRY : Incentives provided in the textile policy will continue. IT/KNOWLEDGE INDUSTRY POLICY-2009 Punjab has led the country's economy in its growth led endavour, be it agriculture or industry. The growth of Punjab in coming years will be increasingly driven by the knowledge and service-bvased sectors, where ease of information transactions will be a key determinant of success. The strategy intends to create an IT/Knwoledge industry with exports worth USD 4.6 bn and 0.6 million direct and indirect jobs by 2018. The Punjab Government through Punjab Information Communication and Technology Corporation Ltd. (PICTCL), its nodal agency for the IT/Knwoledge industry investment has prepared a detailed strategy and action plan to promote the IT/Knowledge industry of the State. The strategy aims to create an eco system for IT/ Knwolege industry by addressing the challenges for the four key compoents namely infrastructure policy, human resources and investors relations. The new IT/Knowledge industry policy is part of the overching vision and strategy detailing out the key fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for the industry and an aggressive articulation to invite
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infrastructure developers and large IT units to undertake IT project in the State. VISION : To use information technology and knowledge industry as a vehicle by economic development and transform Punjab from a resource based economy to a knowledge based economy. OBJECTIVES : To establish Punjab as a leading IT/Knowledge industry destination in the country, to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in this industry by specially encouraging the MNCs and NRIs to invest in the State, to create world class infrastructure for IT/Knowledge industry and an enabling framework for protection of intellectual property and data and to create availability of robust manpower and education infrastructure to enhance direct and indirect employment creation in the IT/ Knowledge based sector in the State. IT units refer to companies in the IT hardware, IT software and other Knowledge industry units such as Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Telecommunications etc. IT software industry includes IT software, IT services and IT enables services. SUCH INDUSTRIES WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING EXEMPTIONS AND CONCESSIOS : Exemption from clearance from Pollution Control Board, exemption from inspection under the various labour laws, exemption from Punjab Apartment and property Regulation Act (PAPRA), power tariff at industrial rate irrespective of their location/ zoning, captive power generation facility installed by IT units to be eligible for 100 per cent exemption from payment of electricity duty, electricity duty exemption to IT/Knowledge units for five years, exemption to IT pars from statutory power cuts restriction of peak load hours and weekly off power cuts, exemption to IT units from

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perview of restriction of peak load hours and weekly off power cuts, IT units/ parks to be charged for power based on the actual units consumed. VAT on all IT products rationalised to be at par with the minimum floor rate of 4 per cent, exemption from stamp duty and registration fee for land transfer/allotted by PICTCL, 100 per cent stamp duty exemption (first sae transaction) on purchase/lease of built up office space within constructed IT Park, 100 per cent stamp duty reimbursement on land acquired by developer for building IT Park or IT units developing their own campuses, IT units/parks will have permissible FAR of 300 per cent on gross area of the project . IT units can be set up in residential, commercial, institutional, industrial or agriculture use zone notified under the Master Plan, IT Park can be set up in above areas except for residential use zone. No CLU charges and EDC (External Development Charges) to be levied on any component of integrated IT Park, capital subsidy at the rate of 20 per cent ofixed capital investment in a project, subject to ceiling of Rs. 20 lakh to be given to first 10 SME units in IT Park notified by PICTC and provision for grant of subsidy/ financial support to the IT/ITES companies for obtaining quality certification. VENTURE FUND FOR IT/KNOWLEDGE INDUSTRY : The Punjab Venture Fund has been created by the Punjab Government with a corpus of Rs. 20 crore contributed by SIDBI and various State Corporations. The fund has already mobilised contributions of Rs. 5 crore and the management of the fund is going to be entrusted to private partner. The State Government will contribute an additional sum of Rs. 5 crore to the corpus. UPGRADATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN EXISTING STATES, MOHALI : (i) The existing
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estates in Mohali were developed during 198081 for setting up electronic industries and there is need to upgrade the infrastructure in these estates by allowing development of world class IT campus/complexes to fulfill the requirements of IT/Knowledge industry. (ii) PICTCL will work out modalities in agrement with all the stakeholders to enable the developers/IT units to develop IT Park/IT campuses/IT built up space in the existing estates in Mohali by rezoning of existing layouts and other development controls. IT/KNOWLEDGE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND : The State Government will set up a development fund contributed by Government agencies including PIDB and OUVGL scheme for promotion of IT/Knowledge industry. It will be utilised for creation of infrastructure, human resource development, policy implementation and building strong investor relations. The fund shall also provide an additional assistance for advancement of SMEs. CLEARANCES AND SUPPORT : PICTCL shall act as nodal agency for facilitating investments and land allotment for IT/Knowledge industry and shall provide single window service to such investors. ALLOTMENT/TRANSFER OF LAND TO PICTCL BY STATE GOVERNMENT : The State Government will prioritise the allotment/transfer of available land with various Government departments/agencies to PICTCL to develop IT/ Knowledge industry infrastructure by identifying key IT complexes/Parks in the State. AGRO INDUSTRIES Punjab has vast untapped potential in agro industrial sector, which could be used to achieve multiple goals viz. increased income for farmers, rural industrialisation, employment generation, better quality products to consumers. This can be achieved by new investments in agro industries

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by national/multinational companies. THE BOARD OBJECTIVES OF AGRO INDUSTRIAL POLICY ARE AS UNDER : To increase flow of investments in agriculture and agro industries so as to stablish backward and forward linkages, to accelerate a close interface between research, extension mechanisms, industry, farmers, markets and consumers, to increase value addition, to create modern supplychain infrastructure needed for agro industrial development and marketing of agri produce, to create employment opportunities, thus, improving quality of life, to assist small-scale agro based units to remain competitive in a global market and to increase export of fruit and vegetables and value added agri products. INCENTIVES : Interest subsidy at the rate of 5 per cent for 5 yars on the interest on term loan subject to ceiling of Rs. 20 lakh per year per unit to Agro Industrial Units, interest subsidy at the rate of 5 per cent for 5 years on the interest on term loan subjct to Rs. 20 lakh per year per unit to Agri Infrastructure Projects, interest subsidy at the rate of 5 per cent for 5 yars on the interest on term loan subject to ceiling of Rs. 20 lakh per year per unit to existing small/medium agro idustrial units for Modernisation and Technology Upgradation. Financial assistance up to 25 per cent of FCI subjct to ceiling of Rs. 2.5 crore for setting up Centre of Excellence for devlopment of technologies i the area of Agro/Food processing industry. The State Government will participate in PPP project on terms and condition as decided by the Government. Assistance up to 50 per cent of actual expenditure subject to a ceilibng of Rs one lakh for obtaining international food Standards/Global Gap Certification by producers of fruits and
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vegetables, assistance for preparation of detailed project report up to 50 per cent of th cost, not more than Rs. 5 lakh per unit, assistance for patent registration in Agro Industries and Agriculture up to 50 per cent of expenditure, not more than Rs. 2 lakh per patent. RESOURCE ALLOCATION : The financial obligation to provide subsidy/assistance for agro industry computes to Rs. 530 lakh in first years, Rs. 1030 lakh in second year, Rs. 1330 lakh in third year Rs 1230 lakh in fourth year Rs. 1530 lakh in fifth year, Rs. 1200 lakh in sixth year, Rs. 900 lakh in seventh year, Rs. 600 lakh in eighth year and Rs. 300 lakh in ninth year. The total financial obligation for nine years is Rs. 86.50 crore. It is proposed that the funds may be provided from the Rural Development Fund. SUBSIDY ON MARKETING : PAGREXCO would continue to provide subsidy for distant domestic marketing and export of flowers, fruits and vegetables ad import of planting material. The existing concession, under Industrial Policy 2003, regarding exemption of market fee on wheat shall be retained. All agro processing units will be allowed to purchase agricultural products directly from the farmers. CLU charges would be waived off while EDC charges would be reviewed. VAT, RDF, MDF, ID Cess and other taxes/levies would be rationalised. EXISTING INDUSTRIES Besides Dedicated Fund of Rs. 150 crore to help the existing industries, there is Vat relief also under which sample checking of up to 1 per cent vehicles passing through information Collection Centres would be made, VAT refund would be made in 60 days instead of 90 days, 75 per cent Vat refund would be made against indemnity bond to those filing monthly return and scrutiny

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of papers by the Excise and Taxation Department would be made at the place of registration of dealer instead of place where the truck is impounded. FEEDOM FROM INSPECTOR RAJCUTSOURCING OF INSPECTION: Authorisation of Chartered engineers/ environment engineers as parallel inspections/ verification authorities for inspection of boilers, weights and measures, electrical installations and pollution control equipments will be made. POWER SECTOR REFORMS : No lock-in period and charges for restoration of same connected load after getting it reduced by PSEB. Power feeder with more than 75 per cent industrial load would be treatd as industrial feeder. RELIEF TO SICK UNITS : The scheme for concessions to sick small scale units notified on May 29, 2003, to continue. Mechanism for providing Corporate Debt Relief (CDR) to large units would be worked out. ENVIRONMENT REFORMS : Orange category (earlier green and red were there) of industries would be created. Classification of industries would be made on the basis of level of pollution irrespective of investment. More private laboratories would be approved by Punjab Pollution Control Board for testing of samples. BINFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT : Punjab State has been pioneer in instroducing Private Partnership mode for development of roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The State Government had enacted Punjab Infrastructur (Development and Regulation) Act 2002 to attract private investment. The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) is the nodal agency for this. The PIDB also provides validity gap funding up
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to 40 per cent of the project cost for roads and bridges projects taken up on PPP mode. Under PPP initiative three expressways projects and 48 ROP/RUP projects are under implementation while eight ROB/RUP projects have already been completed. DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS : The incentives provide under the industrial policy of 2003 for development of industrial parks through private sector or cooperative societies of industrialists/Entrepreneurs as joint ventures of private sector and public sector undertakings will continue. MAINTENANCE & UPGRADATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDUSTRIAL FOCAL POINTS/ESTATES AREAS : The users of land in a particular Focal/Point/Estate area will be involved in maintenance of infrastructure in their area thrugh creation of Special Purposes Vehicles for each area. To provide legal framework to this activity Punjab Common Industrial Infrastructure Maintenance Act will be enated. All existing and new industrial focal points/areas/estates/parks developed by State Government agencies or private developers will be brought under the purview of this act. This act shall have over riding effect on any existing provisions of any department/corporation/local bodies. SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES : The Government has inacted Punjab Special Economic Zones Act to accelerate development or sezs. AIR CONNECTIVITY : The State Government attaches great importance to creation of infrastructure for the development of more airports in the state. The Mohali international airport, Amritsar international airport, civil airport at Sahnewal near Ludhiana, civil airport at Pathankot and development of civil enclave at

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Bhatinda are at various stages of progress. The Centre has also accorded its approval for setting up flying institute at Faridkot and Behman Jassa Singh near Talwandi Sabo in Bhatinda district. The Department is planning to have runway strip of 7000 feet at Behman Jassa Singh to cater to the needs of refinery and upcoming petro chemical hub in that area. HELICOPTER SRVICE : helicopter service from industrial hubs like Ludhiana, Jalandhar etc. will be started. INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR AND FREIGHT CORRIDOR : The Union Government has extnded the Easter Railway Freight Corridor from Sonepur to Delhi up to Ludhiana in Punjab. A multi model logistics park in Ludhiana district is also being set up by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India, Ministry of Railways. The Punjab Government has urged the Centre to extend the Eastern Freight Corridor from Ludhiana to Amritsar. The Centre has also agreed in principal to extend the Mumbai Delhi Industrial Corridor up to Ludhiana. The State Government has taken up the matter with the Centre to extend this corridor also upto Amritsar. REHABILITATION OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS : Under the BSVP and IHSDP Central schemes under JNNURM wherei a outlay of R. 537 crore for 2005 to 2010 has been earmarked, the State Goverment will provide affordable housing to the slum dwellers/ industrial workers in the urban areas. VERTICAL GROWTH OF INDUSTRY : Higher FAR will be allowed to IT and service industry subject to the fulfilment of tow planning norms and keeping in view the infrastructure support. Vacant lands in industrial focal points will be utilisd for developing industrial parks. The State
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Government will make endeavour to provide best infrastructure at Goindwal Sahib industrial complex. LAND BANK : The State Government will create land bank to develop industrial areas for the relocation of existing industris from residential aras and for location of new industries. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT : The Human Resource Development has been identified as one of the main pillars to support the exponential growth of any stat based on knowledge basd and srvice based and service sector based economy. A need has been identified to develop the citizens skill levels to compete in the global market. In pursuance of this, it is envisaged to promote Human Resource Development through 'Knowledge Generation', 'Knowledge Dissemination' and 'Knowledge Level Evolution' of the citizens through educational, vocational, professional development and consultancy process. The state envisages effectively utilizing the existing as well as devloping educational and information and communication technology (ICT) based infrastructure and resources through public private partnership (PPP). POWER SECTOR : The State Government has undertake setting up six new power projects which would be completed between 2012-14. They are: Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura, Goindwal Sahib, Gidderbaha, extension of Bhatinda TPS and extension of Lehra Mohabat TPS. The total power availability, which at present is 6609 MW, will be infreased to 8640 MW by 201112 and further to 16,275 MW during 2016-17 thereby making Punjab a power surplus state. The new power plants are being promoted through private sector participation on BOO basis.

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Scorching Days, Frosty Nights

JASVINDER SHARMA*

he same trouble surfaced again in the English period today. The teacher forgot to bring his

sunrise till twilight. He doesn't bother about my studies. All the wants me to grow up quickly so that he could teach me to handle the plough effectively. Mother is a bit sensitive. Whenever she sees the scars of severe beating by teacher, on that day, she doesn't let me do the domestic jobs like cutting fodder or tending the cattle. She says, 'My dear son, you pay attentio to your study and get free from this ancestral mean job of agriculture'. *** Today it was a day of total relief and fun. Till afternoon, we were free. Before recess, we had the periods of drawing and art & craft. The Hindi ma'am was on leave. We were playing freely in the classroom. The noise level of our class raised so high that it reached the Headmaster's room. No one among us could make out any judgment whe the Headmaster made a sudden attack on us with his thick stick. It was like a brutal lathi-charge by the angry police on uncontrollable rioters. The headmaster canned us mercilessly. Someon's head broke and anothe's leg was hit hard. I hid immediately under the table. He saw me and draged me out and gave me an

stick which was meant for giving us physical punishment daily. Whenever it happens, we are scared much more. Our hands, buttocks ad legs had a good equation with that stick. When stick is not there then the teacher becomes more devilish. The teacher sent Deepak, the class monitors to the adjoining field to pluck a wooden stick of sesame tree. All of us knw that when the teacher beats us with this raw, uneven and bumpy stick, it becomes intolrable. Painful rashes on the skin appear; deep and aching bruises emerge and sometimes bleeding starts. Filled with fear, I forgot whatever I had learnt at my home. The rough and irregular wooden stick took life out of me. I wished I could run so far where no school existed. My tender palms, little hands, buttocks, legs, all were severely injured as if my skin was peeled of. I have to conceal all this from the mother. Whe she looks at these excesses on my innocent and delicate today, she becomes more sad and gloomy. She starts scolding the teacher and sometimes reprimands me too. My father gets no leave from the fields. He toils there from early

5/2, ail Vihar, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula-14109, Haryana.

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exemplary thrash. The class was dead silent as if curfew was imposed. The headmaster left us as a winning army leaves behind the dead and injured defeated enemy. A few moments after that, we were the same again. Once again the same old masti pathshala. *** Today the English teacher took two continuous periods. He taught us that tense are of twelve kinds. The Hindi ma'am had taught last week that tenses are of three kinds-present, past and future. Suddenly it occurred to me and I stood up and asked the teacher about this anomaly. The teacher didn't relish it. He picked up his stick and took me to task for this dare. I could not understand my fault. Later, I asked my friend where I was wrong. He warned me never challenge a teacher's wisdom. He explained that the teacher was right. In English, there are twelve tenses like Present Indefinite Tense, Present Continuous Tense... I realized how stupid I was ! Such a baffling is this English language. We dare not ask the teacher. We were stick at the present tense for the last two months. We repeatedly forget the identity of sentences as to which tense they belong and then what is the form of verbs to be used, the helping verbs etc. There is a lot of confusion. Only one or two students follow that humbug. We apply the rote method and mug up numberous sentences from Hindi to English but when the teacher asks something different, we
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are caught in his net. The English grammar is very complicated. Rules changes at every step and there are thousands exceptions. The teacher gave us a small tst of translating into English; like-He goes to school, I go to market, Sits sings a song, The washer man washes clothes etc. Then everyone's notebook was checked. Mohan sits with an intelligent boy, he cleverly copies down from him and never gets punishment. I sit with Radha who herself is very ppor in English. So I get beating daily. *** Today the teacher was probably not feeling well. He didn't beat us with his cruel stick. He ordered the students to bend down and catch their ears, bringing hands from behind, a posture like a chicken. We remained in that pose for minutes together. All the blood had gathered near the mouth and ears. The legs were tired badly and started aching. The body started shiveing. Eyes were fainting. Whenever we tried to straighten ouselves a bit, stealing eye of the teacher, the teacher would notice us and rebuked in a very filthy language. Thank god the bell rang. When the teacher left, he kicked the buttocks of Sohan who fell on his mouth. He scolded him calling bad names to his mother and sister. He cursed him saying foolish, idiot and stupid countryman. We don't hate him much when the teacher rebukes us. But when he attack us with his brutal stick or kicks us with his heavy boots, he looks

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like a cruel devil. God knows, when these teachers will die of heart attack. *** In the morning assembly, the headmaster gave a strange lecture to us. He advised us to remain far from cigarette, wine and bad company. These teachers themselves smoke in front of us and after the school break, take to drinking in the school itself. I did not listen to what he said. I kept on whispering with Mohan. Today was the first period of Social Studies and the tacher was on census duty. The Headmaster Sir took the class. He startd teaching English. He asked me to stand up. Possibly he had noticed me talking during his assembly lecture. My whose body started shuddering. The headmaster ordered, 'Come near the blackboad and write-sweep, sleep, speak, walk, talk, write... I knew the dangerous plot behind all this humbug. I was sure that all my spellings would be wrong. He was looking for the execuses to flog me. And then the teacher took his rod and took his full revenge. He looked like my father who whips his pigheaded and obstinate bullocks. I fell down and then he smacked me with his roubust leather shoes. I was not a football which would shoo away when knocked severely. Does th Government hire these teacher only to beat the students? I hear our parents talking to each other. They
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become happy most of the time thinking that the teachers are very strict and control the class effectively through rod. Only once, a complaint came against a teacher. Sohan was given hard blow on his ears and his mother came to the Headmaster. Gopal's father was also present there. Before the Headmaster could justify his staff's brutality, Gopal's father requested the Hadmaster with folded hands, 'How hard you may beat my son Gopal, I won't complain but make him study well. After all, he has to face the Board Examinations this yar.' *** There was no electricity in the village the whole night. In the evening, mother had kept me busy in petty hoyusehold errands and odd jobs of the fields. At night, I thought of completing the homework in the light of candle but I was so tired that soon my eyes closed. In my dreams, my condition was very miserable. All my teachers thrashed and flogged me. When I woke up in the morning, my body was soaked with sweat due to panic and terror. With trembling feet, I entered the school. I was sure all the teachers would tear off my skin today as I had not done any of my homework. But there was an atmosphere of great relief and jubilation in the school today. It was the teacher's day today. All the periods were free. All the students made merry. I completed my pending homework otherwise I was to be taken to task tomorrow.

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Bicentury Celebrations of the Coronation of Punjab

Maharaja Ranjit Singh M.B. SINGH*
aharaja Ranjit Singh, a warrior parexcellence was the apogee on the sikhs' zenith of exaltation, surmounting the mughal supremacy of deceit, treachery and intrepidity. He was the emblem of the khalsa primacy, which Guru Gobind Singh had divined with a vision of the sublime. When Maha Singh father of Ranjit Singh died at the young age of twenty seven, Latif wrote "He left to his son and successor, a state beset by danger, but he bequathed to him at the same time the qualities by which dangers are best overcomecourage combined with a natural genious for comand and enterprise tampered by prudence and foresight". The inscription on the room of the haveli of Maha Singh, father of Ranjit Singh at Gujranwala "Maharaja Ranjit Singh born on 2nd November, 1780, Jai Viladat Ranjuit Sinh Sahib Bahadur Tarikh Viladat 2nd November, 1780". As a boy Ranjit Singh used to accompany his father on several expeditions. His father had seen in him the spirit of adventure worth mentioning. He said so as remarked by Latif "The state of Gujaranwala will not be a sufficient kingdom for my brave son Ranjit Singh. He will one day carve out a great empire for himslf." On the death of his father the state was managed by his mother and Diwan lakhpat Rai, who put Ranjit Singh to lear under Bhai Phagun Singh and Daula Ram, but Ranjit Singh was more

interested in marksmanship than in books. His interest in marksmanship is also mentioned by Mr. Wade to whom Ranjit Singh told that when Maha Singh died, Ranjit Singh was left with 2000rounds of shots, which he used in firing at marks. Ranjit Singh was married to Mehtab aur daughter of Kanahia chief. His mother-in-law was woman of enterprise and knew how to manage the affairs of the state. Though his mother-in-law tried to influence Ranjit Singh, but he was made of a sterner stuff, and did things in his own way. So he decided to assume powers at the age of 17 years. He dismissed Diwan Lakhpat Rai against his mother's opinion. Ranjit Sinh was crowned on April 12th, 1801, and declared Maharaja. He was anointed by Baba Sshib Singh Bedi, who applied tilk on his forhead. He struck Nanak Shahi coins symbolising sovereigntythese the same year. Thecoins had the inscription of Banda Singh Bahadur and of Dal Khalsa deg teg ateh nusrant bechang, yafat Nanak Guru Gobind Singh on one side and place of issue on the other. Punjab Government is celebrating his coronation on the completition of bi-centuryo of theillustrios Maharaja of Punjab, who took his kindom towards Kabul with the onslaught of General Hari Singh Nalwa. At the time of coronation there was great confusion and chaos all around. At that time there

HM-334, Phase IX, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali)

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were twelve misls, twenty seve Hindu chiefs around Jammu and Kangra hills and over score of Muslim territories either direct rule of Kabul Government, apart from Punjabi Muslim chiefs. Some writers have said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom was founded in violence, treachery and bloodshed. Griffins says that "Keynote to the Maharaja's character was selfishness". Latif also says that his policy was the policy of snatching the rights of the weak. S.R.Kohli comments on the policy. "The full significance of the achievemen i.e. of Ranjit Singh of uniting Punjab can only be realised when it is remembered that for 700 years beginning from the eleventh century that is ever since the defeat of Raja Jai Pal by Mehmud of Ghazni, the tide of invasion had flowed constantly and steadily eastward from central Asia into India and it was reserved for sikhs under Ranjit Singh not only to dam the flood but actually to roll it back across the Indus." The valour and sacrifice of the sikh community in repulsing athousand year wave of Persian and Afghan invasions from the north east of India form a marvelous Span in the History of India. A saying was very much in circulation thereafter, "Eh singh bahadur sure, Apne hath de pure". Thvalour and blood of sikhs fround the environment suitable under their master and they made conquest after coquest. Perhaps this was made possible as Ranjit Singh cast lots before Guru Granth Sahib, which regiment may lead the expedition. This was one way give them inspiration and fight to the last. Of the fighting spirit of the sikhs Malcolum says, "From the ashes of the martyrs pheonix-like they rise into the higher splendour from every attempt to crush them." SERVICE TO THE SIKH NATION
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It can rightly be said that he rendered prodigious service to the sikh nation as he united all the warring elements together and converted the freebooters into an imperial race having national solidarity and a sound political entity. Moreover digging out Kingdom from the debris of the high political philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh was a marvelous job. Sikh chiefs were engaged in mutual jealousies and ran their affairs with selfish motives. Ranjit Singh can canalised their energies into asingle channel and big annual recoveries were realised. This provided careers to thusands of youth in civil and military departments. It is said that he was not constrained by treaties, agreements or solemn oaths. He entered into them and violated them as best suited his schemes. He used all strategems and artifices to expand his Kingdom. Ranjit Singh welded all the petty chiefs and misls into abig Kingdom. When we look at the consolidation of India by Sardar Patel after Independence, how do we like his strategy. Ranjit Singh did the same. Wily and treacherous enemies have to be subjugated with their poly. His search for anatural frontier made him to go beyond the Khyber pass and close it by taking control of Peshawar and Hazara territories and construction of chain of forts on the hills. It was done to keep the wild tribesmen and invader at bay. He was therefore able to reverse the trend of history. It was through the Khyber pass that foreign ivvaders had poured into India from the distant past. HIS CIVIL ADMINISTRATION He at sometimes labelled as an autocrat, and that all the wings of administration were concentrated in him. This could be because the civil administration in India was not in an organised way. Moreover it is wrong to assume that taking willfunction in ademocratic manner. Moreover

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the historians were mostly english who were lurking for an opportunity to grab the sikh Kingdom. They finally usurped the Kingdom from Maharaja Duleep Singh. He had great human qualities, which will be born out with examples. Once some holy men came to him and asked why he was sorting long beard. He replied that it was so that he may clean their feet. It was a sign of utter humility on his part. Ranjit Singh appointed Harui Singh Nalwa as the Governor of Kashmir, but when Faquir Azisud-din and others objected by saying that he was abetter general than an administrator, he recalled his decision. Another instance of his humility can be undestood from the fact that on the coins minted, he nowhere mentioned his name. Cunningham in his book, "The History of the Sikhs" writes, "Ranjit Singh never arrogated to himself the title or powers of the despot or tyrant. He was assiduous in his devotions; he honoured men of reputed sanctity; he attributed every succes to the favour of God and he styled himself and people collectively 'The Khalsa or commonwealth of Gobind.' Whether in walking barefooted to make his obeisance to acollateral rwpresenttive of his prophets or in rewarding a soldier distinguished by the symbol of his faith, a lon and ample beard or in restraining the excesses of the fanatical Akalis or in beating an army and acquiring aprovince, his own name and his own motives were kept carefully conceiled and everything was done for the sake of the Guru, for the advantage of the Khalsa and in the name of the Lord. Villave Panchayats were active at the Pnchayat level. No interference was made in the private lives of the people except for the collection of taxes and land revenue. Gurmata was abolished as it was non-functional.
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Of his simplicity Pame remarks "He assumed few of the outward signs of royalty. His dress was invariably of the simplest description, his only ornaments even on state occasions being astring of pearls about his waist and the Koh-i-Noor on his wrist." He never wore aroyal head dress and he never used athrone. He remarked to Baon Van Hugle, 'My sword is all the distinction I require.' Though he affected simplicity, and yet no stranger could enter his durbar and mistaken any other person for the 'LION OF PUNJAB'. Inspite of simplicity his court was known in India for its splendour. Maharaja was assisted in the affairs of the state by five ministers, of who the authority of the chief minister was the highest. There were twelve departments of which three pertaining to Land Revenue, tax accounts, Pertaining to Royal household, and salary of army personnel, and civil servants was important. The state was divided into four provinces, Lahore, Kashmir, Multan and Peshwar provinces. Provinces were divided into parganas, Taluqas and mausas. At the mauza level panchayats functioned unchecked. According to Narang, So much sanctity was attached to Panchayats that no partydared to tell lies before them. Land was held jointly on Bhaichara principle. Finances came from two main sources, Land Revenue and Other sources. Land revenue was the main source of income. Out of 3 crores about 2 crores came from this sources. Assessment seemed to be exacting. In the Kapurthala Jullundur Gazetter, "Ranjit Singh took whatever he could and whenever he could get it." There have been therefore some criticism aboutin the exacting ways of recovery of land revenue, but looking at the facts things look otherwise. Kashmir paid land revenues of Rs. 1,52,825

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under Akbar, under the pathans, it was Rs. 60,00,000 but under Ranjit Singh it as Rs. 13,00,000. Whenever complaints about the harassment meted to the people by the officers were pointed out there were taken to task. Customs and excise brought Rs. 1,60,000 a year. JUSTICE Capital punishment was not heard of except at like peshawar and Hazara. Execution as decided by the Maharaja himself. According to Osborne five minutes is about the duration of the trial. In one case, which he attended two men had pilfered at the gaes of the Maharaja's hare. The matter was reported to the Maharaja, who called these men to his presence who ordered for a earof the one and nose of the other to be cut. Justice was also a source of money. Fines were freely imposed. He kept no police to chastise the people. People held and manufactured arms freely any responsible officer tried to be disloyal to him as long as he lived. SECULAR AND LIBERAL KING Hindu Pathshalas and Dharamshalas as well as the Muslim mosques and maktabs were given liberal grants. Special stress waslaid upon literacy. A statement made by a D.P.I. under the British government mentions that there were more literates in the Punjab under the Maharaja than under the british. In order to know about the mind of the people, he moved incognito to learn about their views, He took corrective steps to rectify the situation. He gave important posts to the men of other religions, such as to Faquir Aziz-ud-din and Dhian Singh Dogra. He also employed French and german engineers. When he got the exterior of Golden Temple gold
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plated, he also got the Vishwanath temple of Benaras similarly gold plated with six quintals of gold. He also got the inner ceiling of Jawalamukhi gold plated with four quintals of gold. In all he donated 16 quintals of gold to Hindu temples. It is sometimes said that he did not pay so much attention to sikh religion as to other religions. J.D.Cunningham recounts the news of the Death of Hari Singh Nalwa, the famous general. In his words, "Ranjit Singh's rejoicings and the marriage and youthful promise of his grandson were rudely interrupted by the success of the Afghans at Jamraud and the death of his able leader Hari Singh. The old man was moved to tears when he heard of the fate of the only genuine sikh chief of his creation of his creation, and he had scarcely vindicated his supremacy on the frontier, by filling the valley of Peshawar with troops." HIS LAST DAYS At ferosepur, The Maharaja enjoyed the festivities on the invitation of ukland and was invited to inspect some cannons intended as a present to him, he could not do so, but stumbled before them. Even when he returned to Lahore after enjoying the hospitality of Auckland he was never himself again. With the best of then existing medical advice European, Yunani as well as Ayurvedic aven Homeopathic, he suffered a stroke of paralysis on December 24, 1838. He lost his speech with this stroke and remained bed ridden till he passed away on June 27, 1839. The bards of Punjab who had sung Paeans of their Lion's glory did not fail to record the british Faithlessness and perfidy. Daru tez firangi wali peende sar Maharaj betab hoeya unt nal sarkar de dagha keeta zal zahar da ism sharab charhia (Jafar beg) meaning thereby that after taking strong English wine, Maharaja became restless. The British berayed him with poisnous wine.

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SALE OF PROPERTY
SHIVPRATAP SINGH MANN*

atrimony & property are the two common sources of litigation for a common man on the street. In a series of articles we shall deal with the problems regarding property. Property is commonly bought and sold. What does it imply and entail. What is bought and what is sold in a sale & puchase of the property. What events must come together to constitute a sale of immovable property. What are the consequences that flow, from a legal standpoint view, from a property related transaction. We shall examine these and other questions in a series of articles. Sale : transfer of ownership in exchange for a price paid or promised or part paid and part promised is how the substantive part of section 54 of transfer of property act 1882 defines it. The rest of the section deals with procedural elements of the sale. Within the context of this article the sale is with reference to tangible immovable property. The concept of immovable property has been distilled over time to include land, building, hereditary allowances, rights of way, ferries, fisheries, or any other benefit arising out of land and things attached to earth, or permanently fastened to anything that is attached to the earth. It does not include standing timber, growing crops or grass. Judiciary interpretation has further enlarged that in case the free, though rooted and seeking nourishment from the soil, but is of the kind and intended to be to be used as timber and is intended to be severed reasonable thereafter, it may not be treated as immovable property. Having said that we move on to the next critical element in the definition of sale namely the 'price'. The Transfer of Property Act again does not define

as to what constitutes price. So we resort to the same meaning as what is defined in section 2(10) in Sale of Goods Act 1930 i.e. the 'money consideration'. This includes money already due, payable in future, money due on a prior debt and even an adjustment of claim or relinquishment in family settlement and in fact the concept of price has been enlarged to include what ever the vendor accepts as price. However the term price does not include servies in past or future or adjustments of share in a partnership. These are held, NOT, to be 'price' or 'sale consideration'. A commitment to refrain from contesting a suit in a court of law or discharge of future maintenance has been held NOT to be price. It needs to be pointed out that 'price' is a critical element in the concept of sale. If there is no ascertainable or defined or quantifiable price then its Not sale. It may then acount to barter or exchange or gift but not sale. Such a contract is not enforceable as sale in the court of law for the want of quantifiable price. Having set the back ground for the topic we now come to the other finer points of concept of what is a sale and when is a sale complete in case of immovable property. Now the question often asked is that at what point in the process the interest in the property passes from the seller on to the purchaser i.e. at what point does the title and that attendant benefits of the property pass on to the purchaser. A bare reading of section 17(b) r/w section 49(a) of Registration Act and section 54 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882 makes it adequately clear that if the immovable property is worth more than Rs. 100/- the sale deed must be compulsorily registered. In case it's not registered no interest in the property will pass on to the purchaser. I may as well make a passing reference to the concept of part performance (more of it latter) by virtue of

H.No. 538, Sector 11-B, Chandigarh

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which the purchaser's possession is potected even if the seller refuses to register the sale deed. This concept protects the possession of the purchaser if the seller backs out of the deal. It is important to point out that people miss out the significance of the legality involved as they (mis) understand the terms in a much generalized and loose manner. Another question that is a source of much confusion is when a sale is complete. The answer to it is slightly convoluted. The transfer of title of property is not a point event. It's more akin to a process with two separate events happening (i.e. execution of the sale deed and the registration of the sale deed), either simultaneously or subsequently, and both sepaately being critical to its completion. And both the events compliment each other and taken together end in the transfer of the title and the other attendant benefits, to the purchaser. The sale is complete when the sale deed is executed however the title of the property is not yet transferred to the purchaser. The title to the property is transferred only upon registration notwithstanding the fact that sale deed has been executed, the complete price paid and the possession handed over to the purchaser. So it should be clearly understood that what a layman understands of sale really has 2 important events which must happen, either concurrently or in tandem. The first being the execution of the sale deed which completes the sale per se. Simultaneously or subsequently there should be registration of the sale deed which would actually clear the way for transferring the property in the name of the purchaser. It also important to added that once the sale deed is executed and if the seller refuses to get the sale deed registered the sale deed can be compulsorily registered. Further more even if the registration of the sale deed happens at a latyter time after the execution of the sale deed, then the sale deed would be deemed to be ooperative from the date of the execution and not from the date of registration. Another interesting aspect of the concept of sale
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is the pruice and has to be given some attention. The price may be paid immediately or it may be paid in part and part may be yet to be paid or may wholly be promised to be paid in future. I may as well mention here that non-payment of price, as long as it's quantified or ascertainable from the recitals in the deed, will not diminish the legal validity of sale. The sale is still legally valid eve if the price has not been actually paid or is only pat paid or only promised to be paid and the purchaser can maintain a suit for possession of the property. The only thing necessary is that the price should be ascertainable or quantifiable or defined at any point in the entire process or transaction. The only remedy for the seller then is to use for recovery of purchase money. The seller cannot approach the competent court and ask for setting aside the sale deed on grunds of non-payment of price. Neither can the court, in a suit for possession by the purchaser order the possession by the purchaser conditional upon payment of the purchaser money/price. However some High Courts have expressed a different view. However if in the deed the seller has reserved the right to repurchase the pro0perty in question at some point of time in future, then he can do so at that time. Now another question frequently asked is that if all rights and incidents attached to the property are transferred du7ring the sale by defeault. The answe is, generally speaking, yes. When ever a property is sold, it is sold absolutedly. All rights and incidents that the law attaches with the property are transferred to the purchaser at the completion of the sale process. However some variation do exist to this general situation. These will be dealth with in a separate article. At this point it is necessary to tell the lay reader that there are two other subsidiaries but equally important events involved in the process of transfer of interest in the property, namely agreement to sell and mutation. These will be dealt with separately in other articles.

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HORRORS OF PEOPLE SMUGGLING

ANIL MALHOTRA*

new report dated April 11 in the UK Guardian broke the horror story of the death

asylum seekers, including four children, suffocated after spending more than 100 hours in a container that had arrived in a business park in Drinagh, Co Wexford, from Zeebrugge. There were five survivors. The two Turkish families had been expecting a three hour trip to the UK." Though trafficking and smuggling in human beings is an international phenomenon, it has yet to be defined as an offence under any Indian legislation. However, UK has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its associated Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons and in these intenational instruments now part of UK law both "Human Trafficking" and People Smuggling" is the facilitation of illegal entry, either clandestinely or through deception or the use of false documentation which takes place with the consent, involvement and participation of the illegal entrant. "Human Trafficking" may mean the recruitment, transoortation, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of abuse of power or of giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. The consent of a victim of trafficking in human beings is irrelevant and not material once any of the means defined above have been used.

of "Fifty-four illegal Burmese migrants being smuggled by traffickers in Southern Thailand suffocated in the sweltering confines of a tiny sea food container lorry after the air conditioning system failed." The remaining 67 survivors apprehended by Thai Police were abandoned by the lorry driver after he discovered the horrific scene. Other similar human smuggling ventures reported by the Guardian read in the following terms: "July1995 : Eighteen Si Lankan Tamils found dead in Hungary by the Austrian border. The abandoned trailer attracted the locals' attention because it was covered in files. June 2000 : Fifty-eight Chinese migants found dead behind boxes of tomatoes in the back of a container lorry in Dover. Only two men survived the crossing from Zeebrugge, Belgium. Each had paid $ 20,000 to travel to the UK. The Dutch lorry driver was jailed for 14 years. October 2001 : Twenty-six migrants died after hiding in the unventilated fish tank of a ship travelling from China to the South Korean port of Yosu. They had been crammed into a space of 10 square metres with no air holes. Upon discovery, the crew threw the bodies overboard. The 34 survivors were sent back to China. December 2001 : Eight Turkish and Albanian

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Indian context. As of now, the only statutory law in India which can possibly be applied to apprehend human trafficking finds identification in Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property. However, in the absence of cogent evidence, credible witnesses and most important the incriminating consent of the complainant, no conviction is possible under this identified offence. To fill in this legal lacuna, the proposed enactment of the Punjab Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, 2007 is a welcome move in the onslaught against illegal trafficking of human beings. This credible law which will strengthen the legal arms in attempting to wipe out this menace has seven noteworthy features. It defines the offence of human trafficking, provides for a licensing regime for agents and compulsory bank guarantees, gives the power of search, seizure and arrest, creates special designated courts for trials, identifies defined variable punishment for trafficking with or without licences, constitutes a corpus of funds and permits confiscation of illegally acquired property of gullible residents of the State of Punjab. This roposed legislation, as of now has no parallel law in any State in our

huge country. However, "People Smuggling" or human smuggling by consent has escaped the notice of the draftsmen of this laudable legislation. All illegal immigration, atleast in northern India, takes place with the consent of the potential immigrant. In this backdrop unless consensual human smuggling is not identified as an offence, the new proposed Human Trafficking Act may be failing in its objectives. Therefore, it is extremely necessary that this new proposed law first encompasses consented human smuggling as an offence to make it a successful law. It seems surprising that the Emigration Act, 1983 which is a grossly outdated piece of legislation neither addresses nor is being amended to look at human trafficking and smuggling. Illegal immigrants cooling their heels in jails in Europe cannot be repatriated to India without their nationality status verification. Their numbers are mounting despite UK's MOU with India for returning illegal immigrants within 90 days. Consensual illegal immigration continues unabated. Therefore, checking the inflow of illegal immigrants is now more important by defining people smuggling by consent.

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Tourist Places in Goa / Tourist Places of Goa

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ourist Places of Goa - Goa is really a traveler's delight because of its exotic beaches waterfalls, springs, lakes as well as wildlife sanctuaries. The breathtaking physical features coupled with festivals, carnivals, historic churches and monuments along with host of options for entertainment make Goa a treasure trove for tourists. Tourist Places of Goa are also the perfect mix of physical beauty, culture, tradition and history. Panaji, the official capital of Goa also known as Panjim, is one of the most charming Goa's Tourist Atrractions places to see in Goa. Some of the places to visit here are The Panaji Waterfront, Statue of Abada Faria, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. Mapusa, where you can shop with your heart content at the markets which come here on Frdiay. The beaches close to Mapusa are Anjum and Chapora Margao the second largest city in Goa still has the remnants of colonial Portuguese rule. Come here to know the traditional heritage and customs of Goa. Or just go and enjoy the sun and sand at the Colva, Benaulim and Majorda Beaches. Dona Paula is an important Goa's Tourist Atrractions destination which offers a picturesque view of Mormugad harbor. Here you will find the statue "Image of India" which was carved by the Baones Von Leister. Go fishing, boating, canoeing, water surfing at

the Various beacheside destinations of Goa. To get the best experience of the Beaches in Goa, you can visit the Palolem Beach, one of the most beautiful in the state. Visit the tiny fishing hamlets nearby, where the people still follow a simple lifestyle. The Banga Beach is another one of the popular Beaches in Goa. Go on a tour to see the wildlife in Goa with India Pofile, and see the most exotic animals and birds. Click pictures of the Golden Backed Woodpecker, and the Common Grey Hornbill, or follow the flight of a Yellow Bulbul, the state bird of Goa. Listen to the roar of the panther, or watch the crocodiles laze under the sur by the riverbanks. The Arvalem Waterfall in Goa is on of the most beautiful sites in Goa. The waterfalls, located 9 kilometers away from Bicholim, nestle in a picturesque setting. It offers a great chance to go cave exploring to adventure lovers Legend has it that the Pndavas stayed here after being exiled from their kingdom. Vasco Da Gama, another Goa's Tourist Atrractions, also known as Vasco flanked by the Zuari River is the most cosmopolitan city in Goa. This was the place where Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama landed. Tourist Places in Goa Dona Paulan Mapusa Margao Velha Goa Panaji Vasco Da Gama Ponda

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Tourist Places in Goa / Tourist Places of Goa

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oa Wildlife Sanctuaries Tourist Attraction The sanctuaries in Goa are nestled amids nature's splendor; evergreen forests and deciduous trees encompass these preserves. Mostly one can view herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), clusters of monkeys, Malayan giant squirrels, gaur sambar, wild boar, cobras and pythons are a common sight. And it you get lucky, you might even spot elephants tigers and blank panther. The best time to visit the sanctuaries is either early in the morning or late in the evening. Goa Sanctuaries gives you an opportunity to elope from the concrete jungle and some quality time in the natural jungle life. The wildlife sanctuaries in Goa are doing their finest to preserve the wealth of the flora and fauna that they have. Presently Goa has six wildlife sanctuaries at Bondla (Mollem Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary, Cotigao, Chorao Island, Madei, Netavali and Mollem national park. Together they cover an area of rich, varied and vibrant avenues of 755 square km, or around 60 per cent of fores area and 20 cent of the geographical area of the state. Goa is a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiastic. Wildlife Sanctuaries are recognized to check poaching of endangered species. Goa also has a

few such Wildlife reerves to guard the naive animals from indiscriminate hunting. Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa are bird watcher's delight. You will spot almost hundred different species of colorful birds while your tour to Goa. Goa is gifted with over 1512 documented species of plants over 275 kinds of birds over 48 varieties of animals and over 60 genera of reptiles. Few of the tourists know that one third of Goa is coveed with rich forest and that it is one of the greatest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world. Goa-Travel.com offers the best ideas about Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa and Other Goa Wildlife Sanctuaries Tourist Attraction. Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa
Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Flora in Dr. Salim Ali Bird Flora in Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary Sanctuary Wildlife in Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Birds in Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Wildlife in Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary Birds in Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary Sanctuary Flora in Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife in Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Flora in Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife in Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

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THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN

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or many yeas the prevailing view has been that divorce was not6 only traumatic for children but contributed to negative life outcomes for the majority of those whose parents divorced. Recebntly, however, in "For Better or for Worse: Divorce Reconsidered" by Hetherington and Kelly (2002), a new picture has emerged. The good news? 75% of the children of divorce did not end up having serious psychological, social, or academic problems. The bad news? 25% of the children from divorce did end up having such problems. It is immediately important to further clarify these percentages. Historically divorce research has been relatively short-term, genrally exploring the first two years post-divorce, which is clearly the period of greatest upheavel and, therefore, the time when all parties, parents and children, look the worst. Hetherington, a research psychologist, not only has been following some families for 30 years but many for ten years or more. Also, where most research has just looked at divorced families, Hetherington compared divorced families to nondivorced families, providing much more refined data. This article will report on a number of her findings along with some of my own observations. The imporance of comparing the two types of families becomes immediately apparent when discussing the negative outcome rates for children. Since 10% of the children from nondivorced families in Hetherington's research had significant problems, the "true cost" of divorce is an additional 15% of children with significant problems. Again, this is one of those good-bad news pieces of data. It reduces the negative impact of divorce on children to a rate much

lower than has been typically reported and tells parents that divorce will not permanently mar the lives of most of their children. Nevertheless, 15% of children from divorced families represent milions of struggling lives. As we proceed, I will try to help the reader understand factors that contribute to both the good and bad outcomes. Hetherington doesn't pull any punches. The end of a marriage is usually brutally painful to all involved. The first two years is typically characterized as a period of craziness for the whole family, with marked mood swings, abnormal behavioral patterns, and poorer mental and physical health. For children whose parents have hidden their problems from the children (often from each other), it is especially traumatic and inexplicable, with these children experiencing a greater sense of loss. However, children whose parents had high levels of conflict often found the calmer, more stabile single-parent home a relief and not nearly as traumatic. In fact, children from non-divorce, high-conflict homes turned out to have similar outcmes to children from divorced homes, i.e., higher levels of problems while growing up and higher rates of marital problems as young adults. This clearly suggests that staying together for the children is only beneficial in quietly disengaged marriages. Of course, it is not necessarily beneficial for the parent who wants out, who is more likely to become depressed or develop substance abuse problems if remaining in a loveless marriage. Preschool children found coping with divorce especially difficult, which makes sense given their greater immaturity and fewer coping skills. They

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required a custodial parent (nearly always the mother) who was especially stabile and engaged. Younger children often regressed in their behaviour (wetting/soiling, baby talk, social withdrawal/clinging) and young boys often acted out, becoming what Hetherington called "incompetent bullies", i.e., being aggressive with peeers to get what they want but breaking down in tears if it doesn't work out. In general, young boys had greater difficulty adjusting to divorce than young girls. To further complicate the issue, mothers appear to have greater difficulty managing sons who are responding poorly to the divorce. Since boys are acting out more and mothers are especially depleted uring those first couple of years, the extra effort required to be effective disciplinarians isn't there. I think a couple of other factors add to this. Mothers often see the difficult son as being "just like his father", making it harder to relate positively to the boy. Also, sons have lost substantial time with their same-sex parent, which often creates a greater sense of loss. This is especially strong for the very active, physical boys who miss the physical aspects of the father-son relationship. Hetherington reports that consulting with a therapist is helpful for the primary caretaker during this period of greatest turmoil. She notes that what was reported as most helpful was a behavioral approach, focusing on limit-setting and managing stress. Schools also can play a key role, especially for young children, but even for teens. Children need connection to caring adults and a teacher, counselor, nurse, or coach can provide some of that much needed support. Parents need to inform the school about impending divorce and school staff needs to respond by identifying someone who will try to reach out and make that important special connection. Also, there often needs to be some assistance during those first two years to help
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insure academic success with special sensitivity to the fact that doing homework will often become a much greater challenge during those first two chaotic years. Finally, I have found that school-based support groups for children of divorce are especially helpful in reducing the children's sense of shame and providing coping strategies. The role of fathers is very important and complex. Fathers tend to become marginalized postdivorce. They lose much of the time they spent around their children. Since men know this (and since most divorces are initiated by women) men are often very opposed to a divorce which means leaving the family home and losing contact with their children. It is becoming increasingly difficult as fathers are much more involved in parenting than they were 20-30 years ago. The problem is further complicated by the fact that male intimacy is more action-oriented, doing things together, rather than talking about things. With much less time around their children, fathers tend to focus on being "pals" and become less of disciplinarians and often don't spend enough time doing schoolwork with their children. Also, they are often more resentful of the children's outside activities and increasing social needs as they get older because these needs can significantly reduce what is already very limited time. This becomes even more complicated when men move towards remarriage and find themselves having to make difficult choices betwen their children and their new significant others. (Of course, mothers have similar issues as the usual primary caretakers, but their extra time with the children and their greater relational skills often allow them to find a way to balance these needs more effectively.) I find that it is especially important for fathers to create a living space that feels like a real second home for the children and to find a way to have one-on-one time with each child (perhaps mid-

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week visits with one child at a time). Also fathers need to attend school meetings and doctor's appointments and not rely on getting all their information from mothers (who are not always willing to share the parenting role despite complaints about being left to deal with everything). After six years By this time most of the children are doing well. They are usually more focused on the current issues in their lives than divorce-related issues. By this time that 25% rate of doing poorly has become established. Much of the outcome is determined by how the parents have adjusted to the divorce, since most of that 25% comes from the 25% of the former spouses who are still hostile and not cooperative. An equal percentage of parents are actually doing quite well and 20 years later everyone reflects on what an important difference that made for parents and children. The remaining 50% fall into a category Hetherington calls "parallel co-parenting." It's a live and let live relationship where the parents basically ignore each other with minimal communication and, often, very different parenting styles. Interestingly, most children seem to be able to adjust to these differences. I find this to be particularly true when the parents respect those differences and are not openly critical of each other. In addition to continued parental hostilities, the research indicated that another important factor contributing to poor adjustment after six years is the "parentification" of children. This is when children are asked to take on too much responsibility for caretaking and chores and/or when the parent turns the child into a confidant, needing too much support from the child and sharing too much information about what is happening with divorce-related and household issues. I find this is especially a risk in motherdauthter relationships and is often established
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during those first two years when the mother's resources are so depleted and there is a daughter of at least pre-teen years. The importance of the mother-depletion factor is one reason why I so often urge divorcing couples to consider joint-physical custody when that is a possibility or, at the very least, to have a nonadversarial divorce, e.g., using mediation, so there is less hostility to overcome and parenting is more shared, even if not equally. Another six year finding is the increase in sibling conflict among boys, which may partly reflect girls' greater relational skills, while boys are immersed in socially-reinforced behaviors of bottle-it-up, go-it-alone. The boys, with less access to fathers and less ability to share issues with mothers, and up competing with each other for the reduced parenting resources available to them. Of course, this can add to mothers becoming increasingly frustrated and making positive maternal resources even less available. Adolescence I want to touch on a few of the unique issues for this period of great change in children's lives. Some fascinating research data shows that more girls from divorced families experience early-onset puberty (25%) and even more from remarried families (35%) as compared to girls from married families (18%). The hypothesis Hetherington presents for the divorced family group is one based on evolutionary psychology. This states that girls in hostile environments develop the capacity to reproduce sooner in order to ensure continuation of the species. For the remarried families (where the percentage is nearly double), the "strange male theory" is suggested. This refers to the phenomenon that when a strange male is introduced into a into a girl's family (stepfather or older stepbrother), it triggers early onset of puberly. The importance of this data is that these girls are

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at reater risk for early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy. This is especially true in homes where there is an absence of authoritarian parenting (limit setting that remains sensitive to individual needs and input from the child). The teens who did well are once again characterized by having strong connections to at least one adult, not necessarily a biological family member. The school is also especially important during these years because of the need to belong and the need to experience success. The teens who struggled during earlier years often exhibit unsuccessful coping in the form of "competenceat-all-costs" (very stressed out teens who fly below the radar until they crash), or the aggressiveinsecure children whose adolescence splits into one of two groups, antisocial or depressedanxious. I feel it is very important to seek mental health services for children who show continued problems beyond the initial two years of expected turmoil and, especially for those who show signs of struggle during adolescence. After twenty years Breaking new ground with this data, since many of the original group are now married adults, Hetherington offers some helpful insights. Eighty percent of the children, as young aduts, seem to have become reasonably well-adjusted. Antisocial behavior and drug abuse have declined, although alcohol abuse remains. A subgroup of girls have actually benefited from the divorce in the sense that the coping skills they learned in dealing with the adversity seems to have contributed to an extraordinary level of achievement. Family relations seem to have improved, which is why I encourage fathers who felt marginalized during earlier years to stay in connection and they will likely be rewarded with many years of connection to their adult children (which is actually the much longer phase of parenting).
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Unfortunately, the data showed most young adult children reporting lack of connection to their fathers. But remember this is from the time when fathers were not that involved to begin with. Today's fathers are much more involved and I suspect future long-term data will reflect closer relations when the children are adults. Growing up in a divorced family does increase the challenge for successful marriages in early adult years. This is especially true when the wife is from a divorced family, since her wounded trust impacts her role as facilitator of connections. However, the limited data from this study suggests the negative impact is not as pervasive as expected. Furthermore, my experience is that young couples who have experienced divorce are much more sensitive to the risks and are seeking marital counseling much earlier on which gives their marriages a greater chance to succeed. I have been especially struck by the change in the percentage of men initiating counseling and wanting a better quality marriage. This bodes well for diminishing the negative effects of the trauma of divorce on relational commitment. In closing Hetherington states two "bottom-line" messages from her work. First is that there should be a "Nobel Prize for Unsung Heroes", referring to the exceptional courage and resilience exhibited by many mothers who do what is needed under trying circumstances and lead to such high percentages of positive outcomes. Second, she stresses the need to appreciate the flexibility required by everyone involved in order to cope with the challenges of divorce and especially the importance of recognizing that there are many paths to success, so don't keep searching for the "right answer" or feel divorce dooms everyone involved. Just figure out what seems to work best for your family. To that I'll just add, amen.

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Oct.-Nov. 2009

MIND YOUR BLOOD URIC ACID

DR AJIT S. PURI*

which consist of urates and chalky materials. It may be added that even vague aches/pains or backache may be the result of high blood uric acid and, therefore, its estimation should not be delayed in these cases so as to avoid further serious complications. Moreover, if in these cases, the estimation is ignored and high levels of blood uric acid are not taken note of the patient will continue to suffer from bakache or vague aches/pains. High levels of blood uric acid may play a vital role in causing coronary artery disease. The public does not seem to be much aware of the risk involved on this account. Coronary artery disease is a dangerous complication caused by high levels of uric acid. It is likely to damage the blood vessel walls. Even urate crystals may get deposited in these wails, leading to the narrowing of the blood vessels causing coronary artery disease/heart attack. It is highly important that blood uric acid estimation must be done in all cases of coronary artery disease. Further, it should be detected as early as possible in all such persons as are prone to coronary artery disease, or have a family history of heart or even of stroke. Since uric acid is excreted by the kidneys and the excretion will be greater if the leves are high in a person, even the kidneys may be damaged as a result of excess excretion. There may be a crystallisation in the kidneys leading to uric acid stones. If the excretion continues to be excessive, the kidneys may even be damaged permanently. Even gallbladder stones are likely to form as a result of high levels of blood uric acid. Gall-stones may cause infection in the gallbladder, and it is well known that both gallstones and infected gallbladder can lead to cancer. It is always advisable that the gallbladder should be removed surgically in all cases of gallbladder stones (either as a result of high blood uric acid or due to some other reasons) so as to prevent the cancer of the gallbladder. Early detection of high blood uric acid helps to prevent the formation of stones and finally the cancer of the gallbladder.

he source of blood uric acid is mainly food, especially meat or its products like soups that we take. It also comes from the caffeine present in tea or coffee. Therefore, when a person takes either meat or tea/coffee, he adds to the uric acid in his blood. Other beverages like alcohol, beer and wine also contribute to the levels of our uric acid. Besides food various tissue breakdowns in the body also add uric acid to the blood. To some extent, the body releases its own uric acid. The normal levels of blood uric acid are 2-6 mg/ dl. This wide variation is normal due to the fact that certain factors influence the blood uric levels in a person. It differs from race to race. The level is usually lower during pregancy, and increases after a vigorous activity/exercise. About 70% of uric acid is excreted in the urine and also a small amount through intestinal juices into stools, and the remaining into sweat, saliva, etc. Thus, there is constant formation and excretion of uric acid in a normal healthy person so that the normal range of uric acid is maintained in the blood. The rise in blood uric acid occurs either by overproduction or under-excretion in different conditions of the body. However, the exact cause of the rise may not be known. High blood uric acid is known to affect the joints. There may occur painful swelling of jointsarthritis, especially gout. In gout, there is a recurrent attack of acute pain and swelling, involving at first only the big toe and then several joints may be affected and the patient may even be cripped if the disase is not treated in time. In this condition, the urates get deposited in and around the joints which are responsible for the joint pathology. In untreated cases of gout, even urates may get deposited in other parts of the body, especially external ear where it forms tophi

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Life Style-The Biggest Culprit

mmunization has succeeded in controlling diseases like small pox, tetanus, diphteria, whooping cough, measles and polio. Antibiotics have changed the scene of infective diseases. Diseases due to deficiency of any paticular nutritional factors have been wiped off with its replacement like scurvy by Vitamin C, rickets by Vitamin D, night blindness by Vitamin A, beriberi by Vitamin B1, Marasmus by protein and high calorie diets, anemia by Iron and Vitamin B12. Metabolic diseass like diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, heart attack etc., have come to fore front. Today Diabetes is one of the major cause of ill health and even death, due to its complications. Thirty five million diabetic patients in our country today will become sventy million in the next 15 years. You also must have noticed so many new diabetic patients in your family, neighborhood, relations or office. No doubt diabetes is an inherited disase, as it is more common in some families. But it is cannot be denied that the environmental factors are very important in precipitating its onset in those who are prone to get it. It is more common in urban poplation than urual; it is still more common in immigrat population than what is prevalent in natives. Asians who immigrated to England and US, the incidence of diabetes in them has virtually doubled. What are these invironmental factors? The well recognized factors are: 1. Obesity 2. Lack of exercise 3. Sedentary habits 4. Changes in food habits 5. Stress of survival 6. Change in life style What i this change in life style? Life style is really, a set pattern of living. It may

SURINDER SUD*

mean different to different person. But in general a normal life style means: 1. Discipline in time schedule. 2. Well set sequence of activities without unexpected day to day variations. 3. Regular hours of work and leisure. 4. Regular physical activities. 5. No racing against time or space. 6. Cleaner environments, safe water. 7. Natural foods. 8. Minimum stress. No doubt these factors create undue stress for natural metabolic activities and survival. If a person has inherited the tendency to develop diabetes, these factors will precipitate or pre-pone its onset. Have we any control over it? In today's scene, it is not possible to avoid these stressful situations. Everyone is racing against time and space and has become too ambitious to acquire everything in shortest possible time. That is the need of the day. Think seriously where have you gone wrong? Can you avoid somethings, if not all? Is it possible to change or modify any of these stressors? Can you avoid developing diabetes? This exercise of introspection will help you to take corrective steps in at least stopping further damage, if already some has been done. Shift to following changes: Regular and planned activities of life. Regular and healthy eating habits. Regular exercise. Maintain normal weight. Well designed hours of work and relaxation. Avoid undue stress. More practical and realistic objectives. Not to be overambitious. Periodic check up. Review yourself once a month. Is it effective? Does it work?

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Is Diabetes Your Personal Problem Only ?

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Wo all are available for help at the earliest? 1. for a child is less than 10 years - the parents, the teacher, friends and classmates. 2. for adolescent-brothers and sisters, friends, parents and teachers. 3. 4. for adults-spouse, friends, colleagues. for elderly-spouse, children or servants.

hy should anyone else know about your diabetes or its management?

Disease are something personal, and many times we don't like it to be known to others. Normally we don't like undue sympathy, pity or unnecessary interference. But diabetes is somewhat different then other diseases. It is not an infection or contagious disease, so it does not require isolation or segregation. Since diabetes is a life long disease, it requires a really prolonged management. The patients have to shoulder greater responsibilities in its management to make it more practical, convenient and economical. Compliance becomes better, and so the results. The basic management of diabetes is: i. ii. iii. Adjustment in life style. Selection of food. Regular exercise.

For a child, the parents have to take full responsibilities of i. providing right type of food at right time and ensure that it is adhered to. ii. iii. iv. administer insulin injections. monitor the contol. day to day adjustment of treatment.

v. recognize acute complications like hypoglycemia and other immediate treatment. vi. keep the records of investigation, treatment and take periodic advise from the doctors. Teacher is the right person to look after the child in school for timely meals, games and care of hypoglycemia if it occurs or likely to occur. For all other, family members may offer i. moral support and encouragement. ii. Co-operation in following and adjustment of the prescribed diet. iii. help in monitoring the control of diabetes. iv. help in taking insulin injection, if handicapped visually or shaking hands. v. vi. timely help in emergency situations. financial support.

iv. Monitoring control through urine or blood tests. v. Administration of insulin injection.

vi. Adjustment during day to day problems or sickness. vii. Coping with acute emergencies like hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis. viii. Monitoring complications. Can you manage all these by youself alone? Yes, to some extent only. On many occasions you would need some one to help you especially whe you are not in a position to act by yourself.

Therefore, it is essential that all diabetic patients must inform and keep in confidence all those who matter in thir better care or during emergency situation.

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Bollywood
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What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. But Bollywood stars don't believe in it. Every one wants a good screen name. And if they feel they don't have, they just adopt another one. Stars take stage names for many reasons, often because their real name is considered unattractive, dull, unintentionally amusing, already used, difficult to pronounce or spell (most common reason), or projects the wrong image. Sometimes performers wish to adopt a name that is unusual (sometimes even outlandish), memorable, or that complements his/her performing persona; or because they wish to remain anonymous in relation to another sphere of work. 'Kumar" and 'Kapur' are most attractive names for Bollywood stars and everyone wants to change his name to either Kumar or Kapoor. (Manoj, Kishor, Ashok, Dilip, Akshay). Johny Lever's real name is John Rao and he adopted Lever from 'Hindustan Lever' where he was working. Mallika Sherawat's birth name is Reema Lamba; she adopted the screen name of "Mallika", meaning "queen", to avoid confusion with other actresses named Reema. "Sherawat" is her mother's maiden name. She uses her mother's name as a tribute to her mother's love and support. Here is List of some of famous Bollywood actors and actresses who adopted different screen name? Actors: Akshay Kumar : Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia Ajay Devgan : Vishal Devgan Ashok Kumar : Kumudlal Kanjilal Ganguly Balraj Sahani : Yudhishthir Sahni Bobby Deol : Vijay Singh Deol Dharmendra : Dharam Singh Deol Dilip Kumar : Yusuf Khan Guru Datt : Gurudatt Shivshankar Padukone Jitendra : Ravi Kapoor Johnny Lever : John ao Lucky Ali : Maqsood Mehmood Ali Kishore Kumar : Abhas Ganguly Manoj Kumar : Harikishen Goswami Mithun : Gouranga Chakraborty Nana Patekar : Vishwanath Patekar Raj Kumar : Kulbushan Pandit Rajesh Khanna : Jatin Khanna Rajnikant : Sivaji Rao Gaekwad Sanjiv Kumar : Harihar Jariwala Sunil Dutt : Balraj Dutt Sunny Deol : Ajay Singh Deol Actresses : Madhubala : Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi Mahima Chaudhari : Ritu Chaudhry Mallika Sherawat : Reema Lamba Mandakini : Janki Roy Meena Kumari : Mahjabeen Bano.

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Meenakshi Sheshadri : Shashikala Seshadri Nadira : Farhat Ezekiel Nargis : Fatima Rashid Preity Zinta : Preetam Singh Zinta Rekha : Bhanurekha Ganesan Tabu : Tabassum Hashmi Tuntun : Uma Devi Khatri I always wondered if Dharmendra is from Punjab and has Sikh religion..... why doesn't he have word Singh as full name or last name..... there u go, the whole famiy eliminated the word..... I loved Tabu's real name..... Tabasum=smile (farsi)..... so sweet..... Long ago, i posted somethin about Madhu Bala, and a kind member of HF wrote that she

married Kishor Kumar who converted, appearantly, to Islam..... is the name Abhas stands for the name after marriage? or it is his real birth name, Azzi? Kishore Kumar married four times. His first wife was Ruma Guha Thakurta aka Ruma Ghosh. Their marriage lasted from 1950 to 1958. Kishore Kumar's second wife was the famous actress Madhubala, who had worked with him in many films including his home production Chalti Ka Namm Gaadi (1958). They married in 1961, although Kishore Kumar knew that she had major health problems and would die in a fiew years. Madhubala was a Muslim, and the two had a civil marriage, for which Kishore Kumar reportedly converted to Islam and changed his name to "Karim Abdul".

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