Traditional animal penning in the deltaic regions – A waning practice for soil fertility management

Yuvasenthilkumar R., Research Associate, KM portal project

Shiva kumar P., Junior Research Fellow, KM Portal project

Pastures and professions

            “Pastures” is a word that denotes the large grasslands of Savanna of North America and Europe. Sometimes it will start with the dense forest and exist in kilometers. It is also extended in the semi arid forests of Africa from Sahara to Zambia. The Pastoralists were the nomad communities around the world, who thrive by animal grazing in the pastures for their livelihood. In some places, the pastoralists were accused for high soil erosion and destruction of forests. In some areas, the pastoralists suffer from the denial of rights to graze in the ecological reserves and in grasslands. Their grassland and the grazing grounds were encroached and these were the soil problems around the world between them and the administrators. Even in India, the pastoralists were regulated under the ancient economic regulation book written by Kaudilya known as Arthasasthra. It reveals the laws that have governed the village forests and the cultivable lands from over-grazing. Arthasasthra penalizes the pastoralists or the cattle herders, one who graze the land without the permission of the owner of the cultivable land or the governing body of the village administrative unit. The vegetation on the soil was considered as the major resource as well as the protection in the village governance.

Pastoralism Vs Cattle penning

            Most of the Pastoralists of the world were different from the Cattle penners and also in their function of the Profession. Pastoralists were professional nomads and they don’t have any place to settle permanently. The Cattle penners of Tamil Nadu were the seasonal nomads and they have permanent settlement of their communities at one village, who will also be doing some permanent profession there like Agriculture.

            Cattle penners have Socio-functional utility with their profession, unlike the nomadic pastoralists, who thrive for their livelihood alone. In short the Cattle Penners and their communities was the flower of the civilization’s excellence and the societies have evolved in such a way to protect and effectively utilize the existing resources. These cattle penners stand as the symbol for sustainability. The life of the cattle penners and their community is the best coping mechanism in the Eastern Tamil nadu’s livelihood. “The Konars” is the name of the community that has followed this profession for millenniums forms a key position in the civilized society.

Coping mechanism how?

            The Cattle and the Sheep penners of Eastern Tamil nadu, take the cattle and the sheep of the agrarian communities of dry upland in the summer and bring them to the greenish lowlands. Here the agrarian communities of dryland insure the cattle thrive in the summer with Konars. In rainy season, the Konars return the respective cattle to the agrarian communities and help them for their profession for ploughing. In this way the upland agrarian communities’ by-pass the dry spell and protect the cattle with Konars. This coping mechanism has evolved along with the nature in the course of time. There was a talk among the farmers in the lowland, once upon a time the vice versa was also true. The lowland agrarian communities have sent the cattle to the upland in flood season to save their cattle.

Win-win-win situation

            The profession of Cattle penning, an intelligent natural design leads to a win-win-win situation among the communities of Eastern Tamil nadu with the coping mechanism. This differentiates the nomads of other region and the cattle penners in terms of socio-functional means.

For Upland Agrarian communities

            The upland agrarian communities send the cattle and sheep to the Konar communities to drove them to lowlands for grazing in the flood less green summer. Thus the risk of fodder and water less summer of the Ramnad and Pudukkottai districts were by-passed and the farmers protect the cattle through Konars. The farmers keep the limited cattle for daily usage. Here the upland farmers benefited in this way.

For the Lowland Agrarian communities

The lowland agrarian communities use the cattle and sheep penners for enriching the cultivable lands with the manures. For each day the penners charge Rs.300-500 depending upon the number of animals. The delta farmers will be happy in allowing the cattle to pen on their lands. They get good yields in the subsequent crop. Here the delta farmers also get benefitted.

For the Konars

            For the Konars after mutually benefitting the agrarian communities of both the elevations gets profit as money these days for their family. They use the money for their family investments in purchasing own cattle or sometimes for developing their lands. The cases described in the figures will tell the story of their lives. There are n number families which involves in this profession today, which live prosperously.

Keystones have become useless

The cattle penners were considered once as keystones for retaining the fetility of the cultivable lands, with the cattle management have become unimportant these days. The majority of the agrarian population has switched to synthetic fertilizers slowly in decades and the population of the cattles have also reduced slowly on the other side because of the unimportance of animals in agriculture. Moreover the young Konars have changed their profession based on their modern education and have become employers for urban. “Today most of the Konar communities were running the last generation of their traditional profession” says Mr.Ravanachandran, a sheep penner from Budhalur. He adds, “it is same also for the agrarian communities that we have served with our profession”.

Research Opening

The deltaic regions have started losing it 80% of the fertility due to the lack of silt deposition and bad silt management strategies due to various historical and administrative reasons.  The waning practice of animal penning again seriously threatens the fertility management of the cultivable lands of delta. The last source of the organic matters deposition in the delta is also threatened. The only organic matter that is most common in the delta is the green manuring practice. It should be seriously considered to make a census over the Konar and the cattle penning communities and their livelihood and their spatial spread out in the Delta and the adjoining uplands of Ramanathapuram and Pdukottai in South and Ariyalur, Perambalur and Tiruvannamalai districts of North. The traditional practices or the art of cattle penning should be documented scientifically and it have to be conserved through the special schools for educating and encouraging their offspring among themselves. There are success stories of the young generation cattle penners in Budhalur block of Thanjavur district, where the five children of the traditional father were engaged in the cattle penning have earned in million of Rupees and have bought 70 acres of land and some 100s of own animals in his farm. Such farms have to be encouraged to create interest among the younger generation.  The Government and the Banks should consider these people for availing the bank loans to by-pass the risk of economic losses due to epidemics in cattles. The need special focus from the animal husbandry and the agricultural ministries for protect their livelihood in the Eastern Tamil nadu for the welfare of the region.

TNAU Celebrates Centenary year for Paddy Breeding Station

In the colonial India, when the infamous Bengal famine resulted in the heavy loss of human life, the rulers decided to initiate research on Agriculture and the first agricultural research Institute was started in PUSA, presently at Bihar. The Institute had initiated research primarily on wheat and rice.

Considering the significance of rice as the staple food of the majority of the population, the government implemented research programme exclusively to work on rice by appointing a British Government Economic Botanist, Mr. R. Parnell in 1912 at Paddy Breeding Station at Coimbatore. This officially launched the government sponsored exclusive rice research in India. This centre was later amalgamated with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

Paddy breeding station is completing 100 years after inception in 1912 which in true sense means 100 years of rice research in India. To commemorate the centenary year in a fitting manner, TNAU is organizing  an International symposium on  “100 years of Rice Science and Looking Beyond” during January 9-12, 2012 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 

TNAU to celebrate 100 years of paddy breeding in January

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) has proposed to celebrate the 100 years of paddy breeding from January 9-12.

Vice chancellor P Murugesa Boopathi said when Bengal famine resulted in a heavy loss of human life, British rulers decided to initiate research in agriculture. Government economic botanist R Parnell was posted at Coimbatore in 1912 to carry out research on rice and thus Paddy Breeding Station came into existence as the first rice research centre of the country.

K Thiyagarajan, director, centre for plant breeding and genetics, TNAU said that the paddy breeding station is world renowned due to its valuable records on rice heritage and germplasm characterization that was maintained by Parnell, Iliffe, and the first Indian rice specialist, Padmashri K Ramiah and others.

The first official rice variety GEB 24 released in 1921 has served as the starting breeding material for all the IRRI (International Rice Research Institute, Philippines) varieties in the name of "Kitchili samba". It is noteworthy to mention that GEB 24 is one of the first fine grain rice varieties in the country.

Director also added that some landmark varieties of rice were developed through genetic purification from this station which triggered the growth of rice production in the state. Subsequently, crossing was followed among the landraces and then with semi-dwarf donors from IRRI which paved the way for the phenomenal increase in rice production in Tamil Nadu, which stood at 15.29 lakh tonnes with a productivity of 805 kg per hectare during 1920, increased steadily to the current level of 71 lakh tonnes with the productivity of 3.7 tonnes per hectare, despite the marked decrease in the total rice area. Currently, rice scientists are gearing up to meet the future challenges of doubling the rice production in Tamil Nadu.

Dr S Robin, Professor and Head, Dept. of Rice, TNAU indicated that as part of the Centenary celebrations, an International Symposium on "100 years of Rice Research and looking Beyond" will be held from January 9-12. Around 500 scientists from India and abroad will participate in the symposium. Scientists from IRRI, Philippines, Australia, Netherlands, and China have consented to participate in the symposium. A rice expo will also be held during the symposium.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/coimbatore/30519938_1_rice-production-irri-international-rice-research-institute 

Courtesy: TNAU website and Times of India 

Note: Meanwhile farmers have celebrated the centenary year 1911-2011 for SRI method of paddy cultivation in Tamil nadu on Dece 23rd 2011 at Thiruvarur organized by NABARD . ஒற்றைநெல் சாகுபடியின் 100'றாண்டு விழாவை கொண்டாடிய விவசாயிகள் (Farmers Celebrate Centenary year for SRI paddy ) http://www.agriculturetheaxisoftheworld.com/2012/01/farmers-celebrate-centenary-year-for.html 

"இந்திய" குடியரசு தின குறிப்பு!

Endosulfan - Put an End

Endosulfan  the dangerous pesticide, More than 70 countries banned.

Endosulfan. But India the largest producer and consumer of this killer pesticide. Our Ignorant Indian farmers still using this harmful Pesticide, our loyal bureaucrats and officers letting them to use, Politicians don't care about them, But everyone in this country  was affected directly or indirectly by this  pesticide. Endosulfan is just one harmful pesticide,There are many killer pesticides available  in India. Most of our farmers not returned to organic farming and most of us even have no idea about Organic farming 

Green revolution...: In late 60s, Green revolution struck India. The only moto of this Green Revolution was to produce more and more food grains. So they did not took care about the seeds, Pesticides and the effects of  them. Probably India became(still it is..) the large market place  for the pesticide and fertilizer sellers and most of them was banned in other countries. In some cases India became a testing place, This is not Green revolution. We can call it a Blue revolution(Toxic color..)

 

• ·  Kerala the only state banned Endosulfan, Of course after a chain of rallies by NGO s.
• ·  The value of  Endosulfan market in India is 1 million dollars.
• ·  Animal tests nails the Pesticide, Human illness found in some cases, Unknown diseases in human kind. Every other day in India someone affected by Endosulfan.
• ·  Even though many blowing the whistle for Endosulfan, It seems  Politicians benefited by the sellers, that's the reason why Endosulfan is not banned in India.

Effects of Endosulfan Pdf

Endosulfan is just one pesticide, But there are many pesticides available out there.  

As far as the Manufacturing companies, this market is big and profitable. As far as politicians  its a beneficial deal. As far as the farmers, Endosulfan is just a pesticide. As far as to us Indians (including politicians) we are eating poison ... 

The only thing we India have to do is go back to our traditional Organic farming. That's the Green revolution we want today. Everyone of us need to act on this, Be a whistle blower.

Source: Madura beats - http://madurabeats.blogspot.com/2011/01/endosulfan-put-end.html

மாறாத உண்மைகள் - 9

Steiner rejected Modern science!

STEINER REJECTED MODERN SCIENCE!

 My introduction stated that if you believed in science you cannot believe in Biodynamics and that the reverse is also true, that if you believe in Biodynamics you cannot believe in Science. 

 Why? 

I’ve hitched my wagon to science, so let’s take a look at science.  Science is several thousands of years old.  Some pretty big names are associated with science; Pasteur, Darwin, Einstein, Galileo, Newton, Aristotle, Bacon, Curie, Copernicus, Da Vinci et al.  These are great scientists who earned their achievements the hard way – they did the research.  There is the scientific method, reproducibility and the peer review.  Remember cold fusion; nobody else could get the same results and so that theory went into the round file.  Science is critical thinking,  challenging the status quo and never closed to criticism.

 Now let’s look at Biodynamics, which was created by Rudolf Steiner in 1924.  Steiner was a member of The Theosophical Society and hung out with the infamous Madame Blavatsky, a great con artist, medium and holder of many séances.  Like Madame Blavatsky, Steiner also spoke with the dead.  He created The Anthroposophy Society and gave the lectures that became the bases for Biodynamic farming. He also created the Waldorf School system. 

 Instead of rigorous research, Steiner used “intuition,” “perception” and “Spiritual Science” to formulate his theories.   Here’s what Steiner said about peer review:  “As far as I am concerned, spiritual-scientific truths are true in and of themselves, and do not need to be confirmed by other circumstances or external methods” and “Direct perception reveals what I have just described.”

 You think I was talking smack at Biodynamics? Get a load of what Steiner thought of Science?

• “… for today’s superficial science.”
• “But that is the case with any science that chooses to take into account only physical things; it only understands corpse.  In reality, however, oxygen is the carrier of the living ether, and this living ether uses sulfur to gain control over oxygen.”
• “Take for example the scientific absurdities…”
• “These things cannot be dealt with effectively by the science available today.”
• “The type of experimentation current today is not real science; it ismerely a recording of individual phenomena and isolated facts.”
• “but what does today’s science do?  It takes a little glass plate and puts a carefully prepared something-or-other on it, gets rid of everything else and peers at it through something called a microscope.  That is the exact opposite of what we ought to be doing…”

 Steiner rejected science and created “spiritual Science” to suit his needs.  Steiner’s beliefs are in direct opposition to all of the sciences such as astronomy, botany, biology, zoology, anthropology, geology, plant physiology, plant pathology et al. 

 Science and Biodynamics are mutually exclusive.   Thus, to believe in Biodynamics, you must accept Steiner’s “Spiritual Science” and reject modern science.  I’m hazarding a guess, but I don’t believe that most biodynamic supporters understand this dilemma they’ve gotten themselves into.  The only way that I can see out of this dilemma is intellectual dishonesty or by accepting Biodynamics on faith, thus making it  a religion.

Stuart Smith

Source: http://biodynamicshoax.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/steiner-rejected-modern-science/

'Organic farming can't augment food supply'

BS Reporter / Chenai/ Dharwad December 28, 2010, 0:57 IST

Though organic farming has its own advantages, depending solely on it will not help augment food requirements of the country, said director general of ICAR S Ayyappan.

“Organic manures can augment the microbial activity, prevent environmental deterioration and restore soil health. It can reduce the chemical load in soil and farm produce. But at this juncture, when quantum of food is close to deficit, one cannot truly identify with the sole purpose of environmental resurrection alone. The fields around the world will be burdened with the responsibility of supplying grains to this oversized population. Organic farms alone cannot bear this responsibility,” he said while delivering the convocation address at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad on Monday.

Ayyappan who is also secretary, department of agricultural research and education, Government of India said the precision that manufactured mineral fertiliser offers helps overcome limitations of organic fertiliser. 

“Chemical fertiliser will remain the key inputs in agriculture. It has time and again been proved that they can augment production levels and can help fill the granaries,” he asserted.He called on agricultural scientists and the agricultural universities to develop location and situation-specific strategies for adapting rain-fed farming to emerging climate patterns as the global climate change is now a reality and there is a need to address the issue on a mission mode.

He also stressed the importance of low cost agricultural technologies as there has been a decline in profitability of agricultural sector due to fragmented holdings, an increase in input prices and the reduced ability of farmers to invest.

In future, growth in agriculture productivity can be sustained only through low-cost agricultural technologies, Ayyappan asserted.

Nutrition Security Act
Ayyappan stated that India needs a Nutrition Security Act to help the Nutrition Security Mission and Nutrition Policy become effectively functional. “Just a Food Security Act will not help eliminate malnutrition.

There has to be a coordinated effort between departments which can directly or indirectly influence nutrition security, by means of exhaustive research and by making use of the latest advancements in science and technology.

By breeding highly nutritious and fortified foods, it would be easier to combat issues of food scarcity and malnutrition at the same time,” he said. Expressing concern over the low per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables in India though India stood second in the world in the production of these, Ayyappan advocated the need to identify crops which have lesser demand for water and other inputs besides being more remunerative than field crops.

Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/%5Corganic-farming-can%5Ct-augment-food-supply%5C/419779/

Abolishment of the department of biodynamic agriculture in Witzenhausen

Protest in Witzenhausen

By corywhitney

Abolishment of the department of biodynamic agriculture in Witzenhausen.

The department of bio-dynamic agriculture with Prof. Dr. Ton Baars was established at the Witzenhausen faculty in 2005 and funded by its donors until spring 2011. In the founding treaty the administration of Kassel University and Witzenhausen faculty guaranteed to “make sustainable efforts to keep this department” after 2011.

In 2010 a specific evaluation of the bio-dynamic department, including advice from external independent experts, agreed that certain topics of biodynamic agriculture should be integrated in teaching and research at university.

According to demonstrators this result was violated by the Witzenhausen dean, faculty and president of University Kassel, as they recently decided not to keep the department – even before the evaluation process was officially finished. In addition, say the protesters, the dean influenced the decision making process in several undemocratic ways (e.g. he excluded members from the evaluation committee, he changed the proposed list of external experts and their questionnaire, he ignored the request of the majority of the joint faculty committee to keep the biodynamic department).

Although the donors (Software AG, Luis Bulk Institute among others) offered full financing for three more years, if the bio-dynamic department would, in the end, be kept by the University.Sadly, the biodymanic department and the work of Prof. Dr. Baars will be finished after this semester!

Democratic participation of students at risk!!

The development of the faculty in Witzenhausen as is traditionally based on self-government on all levels of university administration and is meant to include a strong students participation - students in Witzenhausen claimed the first department of organic farming in Germany.

The abolition of the department of bio-dynamic agriculture is only the tip of the iceberg. It hints at other incidences which have accumulated since Prof. Dr. Wachendorf became dean in 2008. The protesters find that the democratic participation as well as the unique organic profile of Witzenhausen is at risk!
Demands of the Protest:

!!! Keep the department of bio-dynamic agriculture!

!!! Keep the unique organic profile of Witzenhausen faculty!

!!! Stop the recent undemocratic negotiations with students!

!!! Follow the funding-treaty to keep the bio-dynamic department!

!!! A clear statement of Prof. Dr. Wachendorf how he wants to develop the faculty!

!!! More participation of students!

!!! Transparency in decision-making at the faculty!

!!! Re-initiation of the faculty committee as leading decision-making committee despite of changes in Hessian University Law!

!!! Discussion of mission-statement with exclusion of genetic engineering!

!!! Distinct improvement of communication and cooperation of all professors (e.g. immediately with external mediation)!

For more information (in German) and pictures visit: www.echtbio.de.vu

மூலம்: http://sustainableag.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/protest-in-witzenhausen/

Biodynamic Science?

By corywhitney

Just back from an afternoon in the Steinstraße lab basement. We’ve been calculating the dry matter content for a biodynamic germination test with 500, Rudolf Steiner‘s prescribed Horn Manure preparation, under different stresses. This is all part of a ‘free project’ within the SIA Masters Program (More on the SIA study program and schedule. The SIA Practical guide). Our free project groups objective is to see if the application of Rudolf Steiner’s prescribed Horn Manure preparations offer an advantage to plants (Barley, Pea, Tomato, Quinoa) in the germination stages.

This has required exhaustive research and work on our part, as all free projects do. However, it is an incredibly unique opportunity, as we are working with Prof. Dr. Ton Baars from the Uni-Kassel Professorship. Professor Baars is the only professor of Biodynamic Agriculture in the world, right here on the Witzenhausen Campus, much to the chagrin of some of other professors, here and away, and to the scientific community.

Biodynamic Science has been a topic of many heated forums and community meetings here in Witzenhausen as the funding for the position is soon up. The general consensus from the student body is that we need to keep the position so that we can look beyond modern day science and into the possibilities that Biodynamic has to offer. The general feeling from the scientific community is that having Biodynamic listed as a science here makes Witzenhausen seem less scientific. The professorship has enough work to do just supporting the pure organic studies.

The first question I asked Prof. Baars when he presented his research goals to me and my SIA colleagues this winter was about other theological sciences methodologies and their influence on biodynamic sciences. Prof. Baars told us that the biodynamic sciences use modern scientific practices and leave all theology aside. This turns out to be entirely untrue, in our experience so far biodynamic science is an amalgamation of theological, spiritual and scientific practices. It is at times very confused and at times quite refreshing. I have found myself working on this in the greenhouse and in the lab several times a week since that meeting.

The long and the short of it is here in Witzenhausen is the chance of a lifetime to do some ‘way out’ studies in a field that most scientist will laugh at, most laypeople will give you the hairy eyeball about and you’ll be endlessly explaining to anyone who cares to ask. Sound familiar?

Here is a paper on the subject that I found quite informative and inspiring in a funny way: Taking a Scientific Look at Biodynamic

Here is a poem by Arthur O’Shaugnessey for all those who are willing to be way out enough to consider a place like Witzenhausen for Masters Studies:

We Are The Music-Makers

We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams. World-losers and world-forsakers, Upon whom the pale moon gleams; Yet we are the movers and shakers, Of the world forever, it seems.With wonderful deathless ditties We build up the world’s great cities, And out of a fabulous story We fashion an empire’s glory: One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song’s measure Can trample an empire down. We, in the ages lying In the buried past of the earth, Built Nineveh with our sighing, And Babel itself with our mirth; And o’erthrew them with prophesying To the old of the new world’s worth; For each age is a dream that is dying, Or one that is coming to birth.

மாறாத உண்மைகள் - 8

அந்தணர் நூலும், அரசன் கோலும்

வெள்ளாலமைக்கு நீர் என்பது அவசியமான ஒன்று. முன்பெல்லாம், வான்பார்த்த வெள்ளாமையாத்தான் இருக்கும். விராட புராணம் படிப்பதும், மாரியம்மன் பண்டிகை எடுப்பதும், மழைகஞ்சி எடுப்பதும், கிடாவெட்டுவதும், அரசனை சவம் போல தூக்கிசெல்வதும், யாகம் வளர்ப்பதும் மழை பெய்ய வழி செய்ததது. இன்று அவ்வாரே சிலவிடங்களில் நடக்கிறது.

ஆனாலும், மழை குறைந்துவிட்டது, பருவமழை பொய்த்து விட்டது, பருவநிலை-காலநிலை மாறிவிட்டது என்று கூறி அரசாங்கம் மற்றும் அறிஞர்கள் பிரச்சாரம் செய்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் மக்கள்ஏனோ வானத்தைப்பார்க்க மறந்து விட்டார்கள். நிலத்திற்குள் பார்த்துகொண்டிருகிரார்கள். நூறு அடிமுதல் ஆயிரத்து ஐநூறு அடி வரை ஆல்துழை கிணறுகள் நீரைக்கொனருகின்றன. அதை வைத்து வணிக பயிர்கள் பயிர் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. மின்சாரம் இலவசம் என்பதால் இதெல்லாம் நடக்கிறது. நீர்சிக்கணம் என்பது எள்ளளவும்கிடையாது.

நீர்சிக்கணம் கொண்டுவரவேண்டும் என்ற முயற்சியில் நுண்ணீர் பாசன முறைகள் மான்யத்துடன் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. சொட்டு நீர் பாசன முறை மக்களிடையே இன்று வரவேற்ப்பை பெற்று பின்பற்றப்படுகிறது. இன்றும் அதே போன்றே பயிர்கள் பயிரிடப்படுகின்றன. கூடுதல் நிலைநாள் பயிர் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. விளைச்சல் அதிகமாக எடுக்கிறார்கள். லாபம் அதிகரிக்கிறது. ஆனாலும், நிலத்தடி நீர் கீழ சென்று கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறது. நீர் உபயோகம் குறைந்தபாடில்லை. நீர் தேவை நுண்ண்ணீர் பாசனம் வந்தாலும் அதிகரித்துக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கும். Water conservation is not observed after micro-irrigation. மனிதனின் பேராசைக்கும் உண்டோ எல்லை.

ஆட்சியாளர்கள் இந்திய நதிகளை இணைக்கிறோம், படுஹைகளை இணைக்கிறோம், மரபணுக்களை விதைக்குள் நுழைக்கிறோம், நாலாயிரம் அடி துளையிட்டு நீரை கொணர்கிறோம், என்று கங்கணம் கட்டிக்கொண்டு இறங்கிவிட்ட சூழ்நிலையில், விவசாய உற்பத்திபெருகிவரும் தேசிய மற்றும் சர்வதேச நகரங்களின் உணவு மற்றும் நுகர்வு ஆடம்பரத்தை நோக்கி இயற்கை வளங்களை இறுதிகட்டமாக நகர்த்த ஆயத்தமாகிவிட்டனர் என்று தோன்றுகிறது. i.e. mobilizing the natural resources for the national and international markets irrespective of the threshold level of our natural resources depletion. There is no end for human lavishness, selfishness and greediness.

அந்தணர் நூற்கும் அறத்திற்கும் ஆதியாய்
நின்றது மன்னவன் கோல்.

இன்று அந்தனருமில்லை, மன்னவனுமில்லை. இருவர்வேசத்தையும் வைசியர்கள் அரகேற்று நடத்தி வருவதால்தான் இந்த புலம்பல்.

ஆறில்ல ஊரும் பாழ். அந்தணரில்ல சபையும், மன்னவநில்லா குடியும் பாழ். ஓங்குக வள்ளுவம்.

குடி.. குடீ... குடீஈஈஈஈஈஈஈ .......1971 - 1989 - 2010 வரை

டாஸ்மாக் பற்றி பல முறை பல வண்ணங்களில் பலர் கூறிய கருத்துக்களை பதிவு செய்தாகி விட்டது. இந்த முறை இதன் ஆணி வேர் யார் என்பதை கொணரும் வண்ணம் சில காரடூனுடன் இந்த பதிவை செய்கிறேன். கீழிருக்கும் கார்டூன்கள் 1971 முதல் 1989 விகடனில் திரு.மதன் அவர்களால் வரையப்பட்டவை. தொடர்ந்து தனது சித்திரங்கள் மூலம் சாடிவரும் மதன் அவர்களுக்கு அனைவர் சார்பாக நன்றிகள்.

நடந்தது நடந்ததாக இருக்கட்டும்...

எஸ். முத்துக்குமார்

First Published : 23 Nov 2010 05:15:28 AM IST

தமிழகத்தில் இப்போது தினசரி மது அருந்துவோரின் எண்ணிக்கை 49 லட்சம் என்பதும், அவர்களின் சராசரி வயது 28-லிருந்து 13 ஆகக் குறைந்துள்ளது என்பதும் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கும் தகவல்.

பள்ளிச் சிறார்களிடமும் மதுப் பழக்கம் வேகமாகப் பரவி வருகிறது. மேலும், தற்கொலைக்கு முயல்வோரில் 37 சதவீதத்தினர் மதுப்பழக்கம் உள்ளவர்களே.

தமிழகத்தில் அண்மைக்காலத்தில் சுமார் 10 ஆயிரம் பள்ளிகள் மூடப்பட்டுள்ளன. அதேநேரத்தில், 10 ஆயிரம் மதுக் கடைகள் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இது நாம் எங்கே சென்று கொண்டிருக்கிறோம், ஆட்சியாளர்கள் நம்மை எங்கே அழைத்துச் செல்கிறார்கள் என்பதையே காட்டுகிறது.

மக்களை நல்வழியில் வழிநடத்திச் செல்ல வேண்டிய அரசு, அவர்களின் கைகளைப் பிடித்து மதுக் கடைகளுக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்வது வேடிக்கைதான்.

தமிழக அரசின் மொத்த வருவாயில் டாஸ்மாக் விற்பனையும், இயற்கையை அழித்தொழிக்கும் மணல் காசுமே முக்கியப் பங்காற்றுகின்றன. இதன் மூலம் சுமார் ரூ. 42,000 கோடி முதல் ரூ. 45,000 கோடி வரையிலான பொதுமக்களின் பணம் பல்வேறு வழிகளில் அரசின் கஜானாவுக்குச் செல்கிறது.

இவ்வாறு முறைகேடாக வரும் வருவாயை மக்களுக்கு இலவசங்கள் என்ற பெயரில் வாரி வழங்குவதில் என்ன பயன்? கட்சி மாநாடுகள், பொதுக் கூட்டங்களுக்கு கூட்டம் சேர்க்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயத்திலிருக்கும் கட்சியினர், தொண்டர்களுக்கு மது போதையை இலவசமாக வழங்கி, கட்சியை வளர்க்கிறார்கள். இதனால், ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் டாஸ்மாக் விற்பனை அதிகரித்துக்கொண்டே செல்கிறது.

மதுவால் சாலை விபத்து, வீண் தகராறு, குடும்பப் பிரச்னை, நிம்மதியின்மை, உடல் நலக் கேடுகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன. மது கூடாது என நினைப்போரையும்கூட, திரும்பிய பக்கமெல்லாம் மதுக் கடைகளைத் திறந்து அரசு அழைப்பு விடுக்கிறது. பள்ளிகள் இல்லாத ஊர்களில்கூட இப்போது மதுக் கடைகள் உள்ளன.

ஏழைகள் வாழ்வில் ஒளியேற்றி வைக்க வேண்டிய ஆட்சியாளர்கள், குடும்பத் தலைவரை குடிக்கு அடிமையாக்கி, விபத்தில் அவர் இறந்து, அவரது மனைவிக்கு விதவை உதவித்தொகை வழங்கி வருகின்றனர். இது அந்த ஏழைக் குடியானவன் இதுவரை அரசுக்குச் செலுத்தி வந்த டாஸ்மாக் கப்பத்துக்கு வழங்கப்படும் குடும்ப ஓய்வூதியமா என்பதை அரசுதான் விளக்க வேண்டும்.

மது தீமை தரும் என எழுதி மட்டும் வைப்பதால் பயனில்லை. வீட்டுக்கும், நாட்டுக்கும், உயிருக்கும் மது கேடு என்றால், அதற்குத் தடை விதிப்பதுதானே சரியாகும். அதை விட்டு எச்சரிக்கை செய்வது மட்டுமே எங்களது கடமை எனக் கூறுவதற்கு ஓர் அரசு தேவையில்லையே!

மது கூடாது என்ற தொண்டு நிறுவனங்கள், சமூக ஆர்வலர்களின் பிரசாரத்துக்கும் நடுவில், மது விற்பனை ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் உயர்ந்துகொண்டே செல்கிறது. 2009-ல் தீபாவளிக்கு தமிழகத்தில் ரூ. 81 கோடிக்கு நடந்த மது விற்பனை, தற்போது ரூ. 95 கோடியைத் தொட்டுள்ளது. இதுவும் தங்களது அரசின் சாதனைதான் என்று திமுக அரசு சொல்லப் போகிறதா?

மதுவின் தீமைகளை உணர்ந்த பெரியார், தனது தோட்டத்திலிருந்த தென்னை மரங்களை வெட்டி வீழ்த்தினார். போதை எந்த வடிவிலும் மக்களைக் கெடுத்து விடக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக, தனது சொத்துகளை அவர் இழந்தார்.

ஆனால், இப்போது, மக்கள் அழிந்தாலும் பரவாயில்லை என்றெண்ணி மது உற்பத்திச் சாலைகளை கட்சியினரே தொடங்குவது எந்த விதத்தில் நியாயம்?

தான் படிக்காவிட்டாலும், கிராமங்கள்தோறும் கல்விக்கூடங்களைத் திறந்து கல்விக் கண் திறந்துவைத்தவர் காமராஜ். ஆனால், இன்று பள்ளிகள் பல மூடப்பட்டு, மதுக் கடைகள் திறக்கப்படுகின்றன.

இதன்மூலம் இளைய சமுதாயத்தை குற்றச் சமூகமாக இன்றைய அரசு மாற்றிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. மது போதையில் தவறுகள் செய்யத் துணிபவன், போதை குறைந்ததும் தான் மாட்டிக்கொள்வோம் என்ற பயத்தில் கொலையும் செய்யத் துணிகிறான்.

நாள்தோறும் மதுவைக் குடித்துவிட்டு வீதிகளில் விழுந்து கிடப்போரை நாம் சக மனிதர்களாகப் பாவிப்பதில்லை. இதனால் யாரேனும் வேறு காரணங்களால் மயங்கிக் கிடந்தாலும், நாம் அவர்களைக் கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் சென்று விடுவதால், தேவையில்லாத உயிரிழப்புகளும் நிகழ்கின்றன.

ஆட்சி, அதிகாரங்கள், வரும் போகும். ஆட்சியில் இருக்கும்போது என்ன செய்தோம் என்பதை வைத்துத்தான் வரலாறு எழுதப்படும்.

எனவே, இளைய தலைமுறையையும், ஏழைக் குடும்பங்களையும் காக்க தமிழகத்தில் முழு மதுவிலக்கு என்பது இப்போதைய தேவை. இதன்மூலம் எதிர்காலத் தமிழகத்தை திறமையான, வளமான சமுதாயமாக்க முடியும். எனவே, இதுவரையில் நடந்தது நடந்ததாக இருக்கட்டும். இனிமேலாவது, நடப்பது நல்லதாக இருக்கட்டும். மதுவிலக்கை அமல்படுத்துவது குறித்து தமிழக அரசு தீவிரமாகச் சிந்திக்கட்டும்!

நன்றி: தினமணி மற்றும் விகடன் மதன்.

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