Call for empowerment of Lokayukta

To
The Chief Minister of Karnataka
Vidhana Soudha
Bangalore-560001

Sub: Karnataka calls for empowerment of Lokayukta

Sir,

The resignation of Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has caused anguish to the members of Mysore Grahakara Parishat and indeed to the citizens of Mysore.

The reason for Justice Santosh Hegde's resignation causes all thinking citizens to question as to why his functioning as Karnataka Lokayukta was systematically hampered by Government of Karnataka by 

(1) Not empowering the Lokayukta so that cases of corruption and maladministration detected and investigated may be dealt with expeditiously and firmly, and not appointing an Upalokayukta, thus hobbling the Office of Lokayukta, and

(2) Not prosecuting or not permitting prosecution of officials who were found by the Lokayukta to be guilty of corruption/maladministration, thus weakening the Office of Lokayukta

As citizens view it, this reflects adversely on the functioning of government especially from the point of view of public probity, since it appears as if government is protecting corrupt officials when it should be encouraging honesty and integrity, the example of which should be set at the highest levels of administration. The institution of Lokayukta was created specifically for the purpose of improving the standards of public administration by investigating cases of corruption and other admninistrative faults and defaults, and government should make the maximum best use of this statutory body in the public interest.

In view of the foregoing, we strongly urge you to publicly assure the citizens of Karnataka that you will keep the promise of your election manifesto by fully empowering the Office of Lokayukta, for betterment of the people of Karnataka and for ushering clean governance of our State

Yours faithfully,
(Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere (Retd))
President
Mysore Grahakara Parishat, Mysore
In support of movement Empower Lokayukta of Karnataka

Bt Cotton Can Not Beat Nature

A research article published by the scientists of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the 28-5-2010 issue of "Science" shows that nature has once again outwitted Bt cotton.

Bollworm is the major pest affecting cotton and most of the pesticides used in cotton cultivation is used to control the bollworm. Scientists discovered that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium which occurs naturally in the soil produces a toxin which kills bollworm larvae. By genetically modifying the cotton plant by splicing Bt genes into the cotton DNA, the cotton plant itself can be made to produce this toxin and the scientists had hoped that such cotton can be grown without application of pesticides thus saving huge costs to the farmers. Attracted by the promise of greater profits, thousands of farmers have switched over to Bt-cotton and Monsanto, the holder of the Bt-cotton patent expects that in 2-3 years, 80% of India's cotton production will be of the Bt variety.

But it is very difficult to beat nature. Monsanto admitted in March, 2010 that in Gujrat, the bollworm has now become resistant to the Bt-toxin. This means that Bt-cotton can not kill the bollworm by itself and hence still needs pesticide application.

China provides much larger data on Bt-cotton than India. It has been cultivating Bt-cotton since 1997 and now more than 95% of China's production of cotton is of the genetically modified variety. In the study published in "Science", researchers from CAAS found that with the spread of Bt-cotton, previously harmless insects called mirid bugs have now become major pests. To control the mirid bugs, Bt-cotton farmers are now using more pesticides than farmers growing conventional cotton and their profits have disappeared. In what is a major worry, these mirid bugs are not only devouring cotton plants, but are also destroying other crops such as apples, grapes, pears and dates.

K.N.Ramachandra, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Coconut Oil May Be Good For Health

It is commonly believed that coconut oil, if used in cooking, is bad for health. It is a saturated fat which is supposed to increase LDL (bad) cholesterol in humans and thereby increase the incidence of heart disease. Many doctors discourage the use of coconut oil for this reason.

Expert opinion against coconut oil seems to have become hardened after the prestigious National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the US published a report on the bad effects of various tropical oils including coconut oil.

But this opinion seems to contradict the fact that people living in the coastal areas use coconut oil as the main medium of cooking, but incidence of heart disease among them is not higher than other groups of people who do not use coconut oil. Studies (Lancet 1994;344:1195) have shown no correlation between saturated oils (such as coconut oil) and plaque formation in arteries (a cause of heart disease). Other studies (e.g., Journal of Indian Medical Association 1998, Oct;96(10):304-7) have shown that in selected populations, the incidence of heart disease (and diabetes) increased after the consumption of traditional oils such as coconut oil decreased and the consumption of the so called good oils (e.g. sunflower oil and safflower oil) increased. So coconut oil's bad reputation may not be deserved at all.

To get authoritative information on other health benefits of coconut oil, Mysore Grahakara Parishat wrote to the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad under the Right to Information Act. The following is a summary of the reply given by the Institute.

1. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid from which monolaurin is derived. Monolaurin has several health benefits particularly in developing immunity towards bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

2. There are some reports that coconut oil may stimulate the thyroid gland and improve body metabolism. (Since it is well-known that thyroid hormone lowers LDL levels in the blood, this might explain why use of coconut oil reduces incidence of heart disease as revealed in the JIMA study quoted above).

3.Coconut oil is excellent as a topical application for several types of skin problems.

4. Foods prepared with coconut oil (especially fried foods) are thermally more stable and have longer shelf life. Coconut oil itself has a long shelf life and does not easily become rancid unlike other oils.

Therefore, it appears that coconut oil provides many health benefits, either as a cooking medium or as a topical application.

Dr.H.A.B. Parpia, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

World No Tobacco Day Observed

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, a programme on the theme "TOBACCO KILLS" was organized jointly on 31-5-10 by the Institution of Engineers, Mysore Chapter, Mysore Grahakara Parishath and Anti-Tobacco Forum.

(Release of the booklet "Tobacco Kills" on 31-5-10 on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day. From left, A.S. Satish, Organizing Secretary, Institution of Engineers, Mysore Local Centre, H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Retired Chief Engineer, Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha, Working President, Mysore Grahakara Parishat, Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Convener, Anti-tobacco Forum, Prof. V. Jagannath, HUDCO Professor at ATI, Mysore.)

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath spoke on the ill effects of consumption of tobacco products. It was followed by a lively debate among the members of the audience. The policy of the government which forced farmers growing staple foods like paddy, jowar, etc. to suicide for want of timely supply of quality seeds, fertilizers etc., but ensured supply of all types of inputs to tobacco farmers was criticized. The participants felt that since India has signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol for controlling cultivation, manufacture and marketing of tobacco and its products, it should be serious in its efforts to control the tobacco epidemic because health and money of its citizens are literally going up in smoke (More than one million deaths in India every year are directly attributable to tobacco).

A booklet 'TOBACCO KILLS" containing a collection of tobacco-related articles from newspapers and magazines was released on the occasion. It can be obtained by calling 9845950440 (or e-mail him).

 
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, MGP & Anti-tobacco Forum

Photos of the May 2010 issue of Grahaka Patrike

(B.Vaikunth Shenoy)

MGP members and other environmentalists met a representative of the Mysore DFO on 21-5-10 and presented a memorandum against the proposed amendment to the Trees Act.

(Yesu)

SAGE, MGP, Aaramba, Nesara and Nisarga organizations conducted a one-day programme of screening short films on genetically modified (GM) food crops.

(Yesu)

Prof. Kikkeri Narayan analysing a movie at the GM movie festival. Others in the picture are H.L.Satish and K.N.Ramachandra.

(B.Vaikunth Shenoy)

The ground around this tree at Aranya Bhavan has been asphalted. This will probably choke the tree.