Women in South Asia Least Equal :
South Asia is the least gender sensitive region in the world. "Face of poverty in South Asia is a female one" said Dr Khadija Haq, president of the Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Center and Principal author of the report on Human Development in South Asia 2000: The Gender Question. "Across South Asia despite constitutional guarantees of equality, women face discrimination in the legal economic political and cultural spheres of life..." "Discrimination against women in South Asia begins at, or even before birth, Female foeticide and infanticide, neglect of health and gender based feeding practices combined with heavy work burden are all manifestations of son preference and patriarchal structures that prevail across the region." The report hailed as a report card on progress of nations in the area of human development" by the UNDP resident representative in New Delhi, highlights the extremely poor conditions of the South Asian women. .. "Invisibility of women in the economy is a world wide phenomenon, but in South Asia its impact is pernicious." The report urged the governments in the region to incorporate gender into all aspects of planning... "courage is needed to bring about an equal and equitable society which this region needs desperately to unleash the creative energies of its people. (The Times of India 12 October 2000- p9 and The Asian Age 10 October 2000- p3)

Move to Abolish Death Penalty in India:
The South Asian Human Rights Documentation Center ( SAHRDC) has made submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission to recommend abolition of death penalty and till such time to enforce strict and explicit standards which comply with emergent international consensus. Despite the international consensus for abolition of death penalty - 114 countries have done away with it- and the fact that India is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) no steps have been taken by India so far in this respect. (The Times Of India 20 October 2000 p9)

Human Rights abuses rampant in Pakistan:
Human Rights Watch in its report titled "Reforms or Repression? Post Coup Abuses in Pakistan" has accused the Pakistani military rulers of committing widespread abuses in the name of political reforms. The regime have been detaining opponents without charge, removed independent Judges from higher Courts, banned political rallies and demonstrations and... "systematically destroying civil liberties in Pakistan". (The Asian Age 12 October 2000 p4)

UNICEF’s unique endeavour for the rights of the girl child :
Meena, the UNICEF advocate for the rights of the girl child was introduced to the children and women inmates of New Delhi’s Tihar Jail through the two films: Murgiyon Ki Ginati (Counting the Chickens) and Bant Ke Khaye Adha Adha to (Divide and Eat Half Half )" The message- gender bias , though incomprehensible to most went through as in the language of one inmate mother " It is important to educate girls because she is responsible for the happiness and well being of not one but two families." (The Times of India 28 September 2000 p3)

Eco Clubs:
Eco Clubs to sensitise Children about environmental issues are set up by various schools in New Delhi. In an Eco Club meet organised by the department of Energy, Government of Delhi, Children were made aware of the magnitude of technology and infrastructure induced environmental crisis, accompanying high pollution levels leading to fast depletion of natural resources (The Times of India 29 September 2000 p6)

Indian Ocean Haze traced to Chulha smoke and aerosols:
INDOEX ( Indian Ocean Experiment) has come out with the observation that aerosol emission from a variety of sources - fossil fuels and biomass burning as part of rural cooking practices in the region especially wide use of fuel wood, cattle dung, charchol and agricultural waste- is the most significant contributor to the thick haze extending some 10 million square kilometers over the Indian Ocean. Pollutants are transported to upto distances of several thousand kilometers showing occurrence of trans boundary transport and having more than local implications. This layer of haze which contains an appreciable amount of soot carbon can reduce photo-synthetically active radiation causing significant loss in agricultural production, besides affecting monsoons, health and water resources. (The Times of India 19 October 2000 p5)

Narmada Dam :
With India’s apex court clearing the legal hurdles to the construction of much opposed World Bank assisted Sardar Sarovar Dam, a new chapter has been added to developing nations tryst with environment and ecology. The dam which will benefit Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujurat was mired in controversy especially around questions of rehabilitation of the dam oustees. The opposition to the dam is being spearheaded by Narmada Bachao Andolan which has its reservations about the ecological sustainabilty of the project and the quality of relief and rehabilitation work taken up by concerned governments. While there is reason for the governments especially Gujurat to rejoice at the verdict, The NBA leader Medha Pateker has vowed to fight to the finish and Arundhati Ray has expressed shock at the move completely ignoring human rights issues. "You can stand in front of the map of India and throw darts anywhere it without bothering about the environmental or human costs... If a man or woman is going to be grounded to dust, the only option is to fight back." (The Times of India 20 October 2000 p1)

Human Rights:
There is an increasing awareness on human rights issues in India with courts coming to the rescue in cases of rights abuses involving custodial torture and excesses by security forces. Recently Delhi High Court has sought probe into police brutality involving Balbir Singh who lost his right toe after being severely beaten up by a police Sub- Inspector. In another development Justice Pandian Commission inquiring into the police firing at Barakpore in Anantanag District Of Jammu and Kashmir on 13 April 2000, has completed its hearings and is expected to submit its report shortly. This is incidentally the first Panel set up to probe alleged excesses by the security forces during militancy. (The Times of India 12 October 2000).

Compiled by

Arabinda Acharya