E D I T O R I A L   P A G E

EDITORIALS

Costlier petrol, diesel
WHEN the administered price mechanism (APM) was dismantled in April, it was obvious that sooner or later the prices of petrol and diesel in the country would start reflecting the international trend. Since the global market was hardening fast, a hike was inevitable. Technically, public sector companies like the IOC, HPCL and the BPCL have been freed from the constraints of the APM, but they continue to be reined in by the Petroleum Ministry as far as pricing is concerned. 

Road map for disinvestment
THE Punjab State Disinvestment Commission, which has studied the functioning of 29 public sector undertakings, their 11 subsidiaries and nine cooperative institutions, and submitted its report to the state government on Monday, has made very bold recommendations which only a very strong political leadership can implement. The commission has suggested the closure of some PSUs, restructuring of others and handing over of a few like the PRTC to the employees.

OPINION

Corruption and derailed development
A sustained campaign is required
Sucha Singh Gill
THERE is an intimate link between widespread corruption and continued deceleration in Punjab’s rate of economic growth. Corruption is responsible for financial bankruptcy of the government and consequently its incapability to intervene in critical areas. At the same time corrupt officials do not respond to the situation the way it is required. The mental incapacity adds to the apathetic attitude of the official human resources towards societal needs.

FOLLOW-UP

Into a dark world and back
Reeta Sharma
THE flight to Australia for Shalini was a flight to freedom as well as reunion with her husband after a gap of over 15 years. Daughter of one of the richest 10 NRIs in Hong Kong, Shalini’s life has been full of turmoil and her parents’ money as well as love could not bring her solace and happiness even for a day.

TRENDS AND POINTERS

UK has high teenage pregnancy rate
A new survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has found that despite having the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world, the UK has made little progress in combating the problem.

Take a chance, break that record
NEXT time an athlete breaks or creates a world record, remember that uncontrolled factors had a lot to do with it. According to scientists, most athletics records are being smashed by pure chance rather than by skill. The reason why seconds are being skimmed off world bests for events like the marathon has been a matter of debate. Factors such as better training or a wider range of competitors have been suggested.

An apple a day may keep cancer at bay
EATING an extra apple or orange a day could significantly cut the risk of dying early from heart disease and cancer, according to British scientists. The Cancer Research, UK, team said their findings showed that people aged 45 to 79 with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had half the risk of dying of any cause compared with people with low vitamin levels.

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

EDITORIALS

Costlier petrol, diesel

WHEN the administered price mechanism (APM) was dismantled in April, it was obvious that sooner or later the prices of petrol and diesel in the country would start reflecting the international trend. Since the global market was hardening fast, a hike was inevitable. Technically, public sector companies like the IOC, HPCL and the BPCL have been freed from the constraints of the APM, but they continue to be reined in by the Petroleum Ministry as far as pricing is concerned. So, they acceded to the “request” of the Petroleum Minister not to increase the prices immediately. In the past two months there was nearly a 25 per cent hike in international prices, but the price line was held within the country. Finally, when the bitter pill was administered on Monday, there was not only dismay but also a lot of chaos. It was known right on Friday that the prices would go up from Monday. Naturally, most users started hoarding fuel, leading to an acute shortage by Sunday evening, the day when most petrol companies do not supply fuel to the petrol stations. By Monday, queues were long and tempers were short. Some people even registered FIRs against dry petrol stations. The fact of the matter is that some petrol pumps actually finished their stocks, while others held on to take advantage of the price hike. Surprisingly, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik has expressed ignorance about all this confusion. One hopes that these are only teething troubles and suitable mechanism would be devised soon enough to ensure that such chaotic scenes do not recur. After all, now the price revision is going to be a twice-a-month affair. People will perhaps get used to the situation once they witness fall in prices as well.

India has followed the Malaysian model to ensure stability in the domestic prices. It reduced duty on petrol as well as diesel by 2 per cent. Had this step not been taken, the hike might have been as much as Rs 4 per litre. This cut serves two purposes. One, it provides price cushion. Two, it maintains a revenue-neutral position for the central exchequer. The Finance Ministry will pay oil companies the Rs 2,000 crore burden that they have incurred in the past two months. It is not clear whether it will be in the form of oil bonds or direct cash. Ironically, the Congress has opposed the hike, despite the fact that it had gone along with the dismantling of the APM. Its explanation is that it is not opposed to the price hike per se but has disliked the timing of it. Perhaps it is referring to the gathering war clouds. The government has a readymade answer. Had it not increased the prices now and there was actually a war, higher demand for these products could have worsened the situation for the oil companies. The government has also tried to soften the criticism by announcing that there will be no immediate change in the price of LPG and kerosene.

Road map for disinvestment

THE Punjab State Disinvestment Commission, which has studied the functioning of 29 public sector undertakings, their 11 subsidiaries and nine cooperative institutions, and submitted its report to the state government on Monday, has made very bold recommendations which only a very strong political leadership can implement. The commission has suggested the closure of some PSUs, restructuring of others and handing over of a few like the PRTC to the employees. It requires tremendous faith in the economic system currently in fashion all over India and in the developed world, the system of market economy that runs contrary to the economic wisdom acceptable since Independence until the P.V. Narasimha Rao-Manmohan Singh duo adopted in 1991 the IMF-World Bank treatment handed out for ailing economies along with loans. The treatment has not been uniformly successful. China gained from it, Argentina did not. India’s experience so far has been mixed. An informed and constructive debate is required before the state’s assets can be touched. It is now widely acknowledged that PSUs are a drag on the exchequer, the return on the huge capital employed in them is abysmally low or negative, a large amount is wasted year after year to sustain the sick units since their closure is opposed by employees’ unions, politicians keen to fish in the troubled waters and bureaucrats, who have an interest in the status quo. The question why they fell sick will only lead to fault-finding. The ruling economic philosophy behind the reforms is: it is none of the government business to be in business. Babus cannot efficiently run hotels and buses, manufacture consumer goods and export cooked vegetables. What the private sector can do better, let it within the stipulated guidelines.

The disinvestment commission has closely examined the working of state enterprises and made PSU-specific recommendations. It has recommended the winding up of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, the Punjab Financial Corporation, Sugarfed, PAIC, Punsup and PRTC, restructuring and rightsizing of cooperative institutions like Markfed and Milkfed, and the formation of an assets management company to dispose of moveable and immoveable property. There are two worrying points. One, how to look after the interests of the affected employees. For this the commission has suggested the creation of a safety net and also giving the surplus employees the option of voluntary retirement. Where the money will come from to fund the implementation of both schemes is a matter of serious concern, given the state’s already precarious condition. Two, the whole exercise of disinvestment can get entangled in legal wrangles if a transparent system under persons of known integrity is not put in place. The state can learn lessons from the Centre’s experience with disinvestment, which is proceeding smoothly after some initial hiccups. Since the unearthing of scandal after scandal has earned the Punjab government goodwill of a large section of the people, it is in the best possible position to carry out the badly needed, even if unpopular, reforms. Care will have to be taken that the whole operation is carried out with clean hands. Although the disinvestment commission was established by the previous Badal government, the SAD-BJP leaders may not gladly go along with the government’s disinvestment agenda, specially if employees resort to protests. However, after the latest disclosers, the people have turned wiser and will keep an alert eye on who is for the development of the state and who is a hurdle.

Quota politics in UP

WHO said that Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati has become Chief Minister for setting things right in Uttar Pradesh? Dr Sampurnanand was, perhaps, the last “working” Chief Minister of the state. That was in 1961. C. B. Gupta replaced him after a bitter political feud within the Congress. And thereafter began the decline of UP in all sectors - education, employment, social welfare, power generation, irrigation etc. Less governance meant more corruption. Today UP competes with Bihar in the matter of anarchy passing as governance. But who cares? Ms Mayawati, of course, has a one point programme. And that is to strengthen her Dalit base at whatever cost. She has gone straight for the jugular, as it were, by picking holes in her predecessor’s controversial “quota within quota” reservation policy. There were understandably quite a few red faces when she announced on Monday that she had consulted Bharatiya Janata Party ministers before reversing former Chief Minister Rajnath Singh’s job reservation policy. The policy for creating reservation for the most backward castes within the quota for the other backward castes was flawed. However, Ms Mayawati has not reversed the policy because it is wrong, but because she wants to introduce her own brand of reservations for the benefit of her large BSP vote bank.

The questions that are being asked in political circles in Lucknow and Delhi are about the stability of the BSP-BJP coalition government. Ms Mayawati loves to be in power but on her own terms. That is why she has taken the decision to throw out Mr Rajnath Singh’s policy and in due course replace it with one that serves her narrow political interests. Mr Kalraj Misra has sent his letter of resignation from the presidentship of the UP unit of the BJP as an expression of unhappiness against the high command’s decision of sharing power with the BSP. Mr Rajnath Singh, who is looking after the BJP in UP as the Centre’s observer too is upset with the turn of events. The decision to abandon the MBC reservation policy was evidently manipulated with the help of BJP ministers who want to embarrass Mr Misra and Mr Rajnath Singh. The coming weeks should see some political sparks fly in UP and Delhi. Mr Rajnath Singh has been quoted as having said that “I will take up the issue with party leaders and seek a clarification on the circumstances in which the decision was taken”. However, Ms Mayawati is likely to have the last laugh. She has dropped a broad hint that the Supreme Court’s stay on the implementation of the controversial MBC quota policy had caused avoidable delay in pushing the social justice agenda. She wants the old policy to be revived until the apex court gives its verdict! But Mr Rajnath Singh is not convinced. The reason for his unhappiness is obvious.

OPINION

Corruption and derailed development
A sustained campaign is required
Sucha Singh Gill

THERE is an intimate link between widespread corruption and continued deceleration in Punjab’s rate of economic growth. Corruption is responsible for financial bankruptcy of the government and consequently its incapability to intervene in critical areas. At the same time corrupt officials do not respond to the situation the way it is required. The mental incapacity adds to the apathetic attitude of the official human resources towards societal needs. Moreover, whatever little capacity exists, the corrupt officials derail the efforts for positive improvements in favour of making money even in distress situations.

This has been happening in the state for nearly two decades. The exposure of recruitment scandals of the PPSC, departmental committees and in the posting and transfer of officials of departments concerned with execution of various public works has focused the issue of corruption in Punjab. The prime focus of the newspaper reporting remains on the bribes of hefty amounts accepted by the persons concerned. The persons entrusted with responsibility of selecting officials on merit have ignored it in a brazen manner.

Prior to the exposure of the recruitment scandals in the media, several stories were circulating among the people about the price tags for various vacancies and the key persons holding public offices allowing their family members to negotiate deals through touts. The media exposure following unearthening of some scandals by vigilance section of the Punjab Police has confirmed the public perception that the public offices are grossly misused by the power that be. Instead of merit it is hefty bribe which has been adopted as criterion of selections.

This has not only discredited the system of recruitment but has subverted the system of academic merit and excellence in selections. Several individuals got placement on considerations other than well defined merit. Such persons neither have the capacity nor the motivation to function as officials to provide efficient and transparent service to society in its endeavour to progress towards prosperity and humane existence. Persons selected on the strength of money become willing participants for breeding corruption.

Primary source of bribery is black/unaccounted money and wealth acquired through illegal means. Black economy is generated by income in the form of rent, interest and profit. Thus, it is property/wealth in the farm land, capital/enterprises and business from where black money originates. Bribe is offered by those who have command over sizeable property and wealth. Sections deprived of the command of large property have little capacity to pay bribe. Such sections live largely on wage income, including salaries, they are not participant in black economy. Bribe is one of the causes as well as effects of black economy.

Since black economy is largely defined as income from sources which are not reported to the tax authorities, therefore, it is unrecorded and unaccounted income. This form of corruption is very important for the governments. This reduces the tax compliance and the tax collection and thereby results in a fiscal crisis. The campaign of Captain Amarinder Singh against recruitment scandals is likely to be short-lived and less rewarding if it is not extended to achieve better tax compliance. In a recently held discussion on “White Paper on State Finances” a very senior functionary of the previous government stated that annual revenue loss to Punjab on account of tax evasion stood at Rs 2000 crore. This was rectified by a senior functionary of the present government by stating that this loss stood at Rs 4000 crore. Thus, by mere plugging of tax evasion, the fiscal crisis of the Punjab Government can be overcome.

The widespread system of bribery and tax evasion is an integral part of the same phenomenon. Officials accepting money and gifts from the potential tax payers connive in the process of tax evasion. In fact the money/gifts received by the officials is a fee for allowing tax evasion several times more than the money and value of gifts accepted by them. Prof Arun Kumar of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, the author of The Black Economy in India (Penguin, 1999) holds the triad responsible for it. This includes the businessmen, the politicians and the bureaucrats. “Even if one of the three is missing there can be no generation of black income.”

Judiciary is treated as a part of the bureaucracy. Prof Arun Kumar states that “if bureaucracy refuses to carry out illegal acts or judiciary acts firmly when cases are brought before it, illegality cannot become systemic — it would remain sporadic.” Corruption being a joint product of politicians, bureaucrats (and judiciary) and businessmen (including industrialists and landlords), it cannot be fought by attacking only one of the triad. The other two are likely to come to the rescue of the one under attack. The fight against corruption would be sustainable if all the three elements are attacked in unison. It is rightly being pointed by top journalists (led by Mr Hari Jaisingh) that investigation of case of persons involved in corrupt practices be allowed to be reported in the press so that whole gamut of the dirty game is exposed and punished.

Corruption and black economy have derailed the normal development activity of the country. The flow of revenue to different layers of the governments has lagged much behind the expenditure. Consequently governments have gone bankrupt. The Union Government, state governments and local governments are facing fiscal deficit on an unprecedented scale. This crisis began to build up in 1970s and engulfed the governments in 1980s and assumed alarming proportion with no solution in sight in 1990s.

The Punjab Government did not face any fiscal crisis till early years of 1980s but got involved nearly in debt trap by the end of 1990s. The clue to this crisis can be found in burgeoning size and proportion of black economy in India. The size of black economy was merely 3.0 per cent of GDP in mid 1950s which increased to 7 per cent by the end of 1960s and to 20 per cent by 1981. Since growth in black economy got a big jump in 1970s the debate on this also began during this time. The Wanchoo Committee (1972) gave some estimates of the tax evasion as a cause of this. But in spite of the debate this phenomenon remained unchecked and the size of black economy jumped to 35 per cent of the GDP in 1990-91 and 40 per cent in 1995-96.

With 40 per cent as the size of black economy the loss of tax revenue at a given rate of taxes was estimated to be Rs 2,00,000 crore (Arun Kumar). If this amount is collected effectively the fiscal crisis of the government would just disappear. The lack of adequate resources has led to postponing of certain projects causing escalating costs and massive borrowing as a convenient method to finance government spending. This made governments highly indebted and a large share of its tax revenue (nearly one-third) going for debt servicing.

Along with large tax evasion, there has been a tendency to misuse and loot public sector undertakings. According to one estimate public sector lost Rs 30,000 crore through corruption in 1990-91. This resulted in reduction of the rate of profit to 5 per cent. Had this not happened, the rate of profit of public sector would have been 30 per cent. In fact, scandal after scandal had surfaced in India and culprits remaining unpunished has given deep roots to corruption and plundering of public resources for private personal benefits. The scandal of PUNWIRE is a glaring example in Punjab.

The corruption/black money has paralysed the system. The persons employed in governments remain either non-functional or disinterested in work unless it is personally rewarding to them. Public money even for development is supposed to be siphoned off and wasted. As mentioned by Rajiv Gandhi, out of every rupee allotted for rural development only 15 paise reached the field.

Some of the intellectuals justify/rationalise corruption as a global phenomenon and term it as a lubricant of the system. Ultimately, they have come around the idea that since nothing works in the state sector, privatisation is the only solution. They fail to understand that the state has to function and perform at least at some minimum level and particularly for people living below poverty line. There is no substitute to efficient and effective working of the state sector in these areas and corruption has no place there.

At a macro level the widespread corruption and black economy is transferring resources from common man and the government sector (tax revenue) to holders of black money. The black money accounting for 40 per cent or more of the GDP is being used for nonproductive activities. Various studies point out that the largest proportion of this money is invested in real estate and other speculative activities such as trading of shares. Another large proportion is taking the form of outflow of funds abroad in Swiss banks or via NRIs in the advanced countries. The remaining part of the black money is spent for ostentatious consumption. The construction of palatial houses for residential purposes, purchase of luxury items, mega-functions celebrating birthday and marriage parties can be placed in this category. These functions are a medium of vulgar display of ill-gotten money. Everything has been happening in full knowledge of those who are supposed to check corruption. This has created a consumer culture among a section of population which is devoid of any moral value, ethics or even national pride. They have become wheeler and dealers in the game of money by any means. They are also seducing ordinary people to a mode of life based on consumer culture which is unsustainable in this country.

Thus, corruption/black money has blocked a large portion of country’s resources (40 per cent) which are used for unproductive purposes. This has also created a non-work culture in government departments and a class of people leading luxurious life and promoting unsustainable consumer culture. Corruption is promoting immorality, lack of ethics and absence of positive value system. It is not only paralysing working of the government, derailing development activities but also creating security risks for the country.

A fight, therefore, against corruption is a fight for making the government to work and perform. It is an effort to put development process back on rails, establish rule of law, create positive values so essential for our country to exist as a proud and secure nation. This fight deserves the support of right thinking people in all parties and in every corner of this country. A good beginning has been made in Punjab and it needs to be sustained. A Delhi-based intellectual of Oriya origin remarked that things are going on the same way elsewhere in India also but Punjab has shown the way. But this fight would have to break the nexus of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats (including judiciary) and businessmen if it is to sustain. Estimates indicate that hardly 3 per cent of the total population is in command of black money and indulges in corruption. A genuine campaign against corruption is bound to get response of the majority of the population. It would also allow the basic rule of democratic governance to prevail that a meritorious person born in a poor family has a chance to move to the top position.

Further the sustained campaign against corruption, for acceleration in the rate of economic progress and effective governance would absolve the leadership of the charge that it is backward in outlook. This is a historic task and has to be performed for modern transition of society even though within capitalist framework. Any leadership performing this task would synchronise itself with the dynamic and forward outlook of the society. The task is not easy because the elements to be fought are well entrenched in the corridors of power. But this task has to be accomplished from the perspective of society. A beginning has been made. Its sustenance would depend on the public support and vigilance which seem to be emerging through media and legitimacy at the hustings.

The writer is Professor of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala.

FOLLOW-UP

Into a dark world and back
Reeta Sharma

THE flight to Australia for Shalini was a flight to freedom as well as reunion with her husband after a gap of over 15 years. Daughter of one of the richest 10 NRIs in Hong Kong, Shalini’s life has been full of turmoil and her parents’ money as well as love could not bring her solace and happiness even for a day.

This is a follow-up on the life of a girl, who was born and brought up in luxury, comfort and opulence. After her schooling, teenaged Shalini, as per her family’s tradition, was sent to Las Vegas in the USA to pursue her studies further. With stars in her eyes, she started her journey for Las Vegas but did not know that it would end up as a journey into the dark world of drugs

The mafia lures young students of rich backgrounds into the world of drugs. Shalini too fell prey to its trap.

Her parents made every effort to save her but in vain. Alcohol, cocaine and chain-smoking became her companions. A brief retrieve at a rehabilitation centre in the USA instilled hopes and dreams in the minds of her parents, who married her to an Australian. The next two years were spent in marital bliss, which resulted in the birth of a daughter.

Unfortunately, Shalini returned to drugs. She sold her house and all belongings to purchase drugs. The situation continued to deteriorate with the police repeatedly keeping her behind bars. Besides her parents, her husband and daughter too got pushed into the traumatic situation because of her drug addiction. Her parents were eventually appointed legal custodians of her daughter as she was not able to rear the child in any way.

However, Shalini did not hesitate to misuse the vulnerability of her own daughter. She sought her help for drugs, which eventually dragged the little girl too into the same dark world.

Shalini’s parents and husband eventually hoped to seek answers from the East. But at least in three well-known hospitals of Delhi all their efforts failed because of the defiant behaviour of Shalini. She tried to escape from one of the institutes by jumping from the first floor and in the process broke her hip joint. For this fracture, when she was admitted to an orthopaedic centre in Delhi, it had to shunt her out after first-aid because of her violent behaviour.

It was in this pathetic condition that Shalini was finally brought to Bhatia Neuropsychiatry Centre, Amritsar. For the next one year, Shalini was a major challenge not only to the staff of the hospital but also Dr Jagdeep Singh Bhatia.

“She resorted to bribing the staff for drugs, running away from the hospital or physically attacking anyone who tried to stop her. Surely, at the initial stage the medicine has its own role to play. However, it is our approach towards this ailment, which has tremendous effect on patients. The humane touch is extremely important in their cure. Shalini started responding after one year. Her violent behaviour stopped once our meditation therapy started. Besides, she began reciting Japuji Sahib and began visiting the Golden Temple, which had a soothing effect on her personality, as primarily she was a religious person”, revealed Dr Bhatia.

Her desire to live resurfaced. She began teaching in a school for the mentally challenged “Amritsagar School for Special Children”. “She gave very motherly affection to the students and built an affectionate bond with all of them”, say the staff members.

After a gap of 15 years her husband arrived to see her at Amritsar. He stayed in Amritsar for a couple of months to strengthen Shalini’s belief in life and finally the happy couple returned to Australia to begin an extremely hazardous journey. Since Shalini had introduced her own daughter into the darkness of her own world at that time, the little girl has remained lost in that very jungle. “However, now that Shalini has regained her inner control, she knows the route of this jungle. Not only the motherly instinct but also but her own terrible experience will enable her to lead her daughter out of that darkness. Shalini’s husband is by her side to share the agony of this hazardous journey”, says Dr Bhatia. 

UK has high teenage pregnancy rate

A new survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has found that despite having the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world, the UK has made little progress in combating the problem.

One of the most significant factors stated in the report is the poor quality of sex education in the country. Sexual codes have become more relaxed without corresponding changes to prepare teenagers to cope with the new pressures.

“Contraceptive advice and services may be formally available, but in a closed atmosphere of embarrassment and secrecy. Or as one British teenager puts it, “It sometimes seems as if sex is compulsory but contraception has failed”. The high levels of inequality in British society were also blamed. Girls from poor areas have little incentive not to become mothers”, it noted.

The report said that while 17 or 18 may be the best time physically to have a baby, teenage mothers have much poorer prospects. They are more likely to drop out of school, have poor qualifications, be unemployed or do low-paid jobs.

The age at which British youngsters lose their virginity has fallen from 20 for men and 21 for women 40 years ago to 17 for both sexes today. The number of girls having underage sex has also doubled in the last 10 years, the report added. ANI

Take a chance, break that record

NEXT time an athlete breaks or creates a world record, remember that uncontrolled factors had a lot to do with it. According to scientists, most athletics records are being smashed by pure chance rather than by skill. The reason why seconds are being skimmed off world bests for events like the marathon has been a matter of debate. Factors such as better training or a wider range of competitors have been suggested. But according to a team of mathematicians, there is a simpler explanation, in two-thirds of track and field events, small advances since 1980 are no better than those predicted by chance. These include the 200 metres, 1,500 metres and the marathon, reported BBC.

Uncontrolled factors such as wind, climate or altitude can lead to favourable results, says Dr John Taylor, Kings College London. He believes humans have reached their natural limits when it comes to sporting performance. “The real sporting chance is that of where you are competing with others who have the same powerbase,” Taylor said.

The predictions fitted well with the actual results between 1990 and 1999.

“You can’t go beyond what we’re finding in terms of that bell-shaped curve, that distribution.” Some sports do show dramatic changes, however. According to Taylor, this might be due to new rules, better technology or even cheating.”

“It may be due to new drugs being used surreptitiously,” he continues. “If you find that there is a significant difference in a particular year, something is happening and you should investigate that more closely.”

The Kings College team plans to analyse certain sports to see if they can find statistical evidence of cheating. But he says more data are needed before they can come up with any firm conclusions. ANI

An apple a day may keep cancer at bay

EATING an extra apple or orange a day could significantly cut the risk of dying early from heart disease and cancer, according to British scientists.

The Cancer Research, UK, team said their findings showed that people aged 45 to 79 with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had half the risk of dying of any cause compared with people with low vitamin levels.

Prof Kay-Tee Khaw, lead investigator at Cambridge University, said that even a small rise in vitamin C, equivalent to eating 50 grams per day more fruit or vegetables, was associated with a 20 per cent reduction in risk of dying from any cause.

The risk of dying from heart disease during the study period was 30 per cent lower and the risk of dying from cancer 15 per cent lower. “The findings indicate that modest increases in fruit and vegetable intake of just one or two servings a day may be associated with large benefits for health,” she said.

Khaw told a news conference that vitamin C levels were studied because they were a good marker of fruit and vegetable consumption. Whether taking vitamin supplements was protective remained to be seen. She said there were many ways in which fruit and vegetables might prevent cancer, including stopping the formation of carcinogenic chemicals and triggering detoxifying enzymes into action.

Her study, which began in 1993, involves a detailed probe into the dietary habits of 30,000 men and women in Norfolk, eastern England. It is part of a continuing investigation into diet and cancer involving 450,000 people in nine European countries.

Researchers point out that there are huge differences in cancer rates in the different countries, They believe that 40 per cent of all cancers may be linked to diet.

The supermarket giant Tesco, which sells 30 tonnes of vegetables a week in Britain, has teamed up with the cancer charity to promote the message that people should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Reuters

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

What remains as the culminating point of the process of elimination is the Witness, the knowledge Absolute — the Atman. The self-luminous Atman which is distinct from the five sheaths, the witness of the three states, the real, the changeless, the untainted, the everlasting bliss — is to be realised by the wise man as his own self.

— Vivekachudamani

***

— Shukraniti, Chapter 1, 321-330