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The Rot in Farming
Falling prices, stagnating production and diminishing returns are brewing an unparalleled crisis in farmlands across India. Ironically, the alarming situation has arisen despite an unprecedented 12 consecutive normal monsoons.

Creeping Paralysis
Doubts over Keshubhai Patel's fitness to rule are growing after his government failed to provide basic relief like tents to those affected by the earthquake. Despite having speedily restored electricity and water, which earned praise from some international agencies, criticism over Patel's poor marshalling of resources continues.

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John Buchanan gives an exclusive insight into what it takes to coach the world's most successful team. He also enumerates what
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Strategic Partners
As emphasis shifts from relief to rehabilitation, Care Today is selecting regions to focus on and NGOs to help it channelise aid. The involvement of victims is integral to the plan so that their dignity remains intact.

STATES: GUJARAT

Chaos Confounded

The effect of the divide on relief operations is evident at every level. A day after the earthquake, Minister for Rural Housing and Jails Jaspal Singh, on Industries Minister Suresh Mehta's request, placed an order with a firm in Ludhiana for 1,500 tents to house up to 8,000 people in Bhuj. But the order was cancelled after Additional Relief Commissioner G.C. Murmu refused to take responsibility for the payment on the Government's behalf.

STRESSED OUT: Lifting his sagging image and regaining credibility will prove to be a tough exercise for Keshubhai
"Keshubhai knows this is his last innings as chief minister. He is just passing time." Amarsinh Chaudhary Former chief minister		"There is only one word to describe the government: irresponsible." Ramesh Shah Gandhian businessman

In Kutch L. Man Singh, a senior officer, had at his disposal Rs 10 crore for making instant payments to those affected in the area. But till the second week of February, hardly any money had been disbursed. In Bhuj again, a proposal by a senior officer to build temporary shelters to accommodate 10,000 houseless families of the region is yet to get a response from the Government. In Gandhinagar, the relief commissioner regularly holds meetings with NGOs but many organisations involved in active relief work in Kutch are never invited. Says Kirtan Desai of the Gayatri Parivar, one such outfit that has been ignored: "The Government's lack of coordination is indeed baffling."

The poor marshalling of resources has put a question mark over Keshubhai's credibility. It is widely accepted, even in official circles, that the leadership lacks the administrative acumen needed to carry out the monumental task. When Keshubhai says he will ensure that eight lakh rooms are ready as temporary shelters before June 30, there are few takers simply because his Government has failed to provide even basic tents to all those affected. Says a senior minister: "We should be grateful people are not resorting to violence." Compounding Keshubhai's woes are his poor communication skills, whether it is while dealing with the bureaucracy or the media.

The Opposition Congress is naturally delighted. Fresh from its victory in the state civic polls, the party is waiting in the wings to seize power in Gandhinagar. Says former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary: "At 70 plus, Keshubhai Patel is physically infirm and knows that this is his last innings as chief minister. He is just passing his time."

A beleaguered Keshubhai disagrees. "Nobody talks about how we managed to restore electricity and drinking water supply in the shortest possible time in Kutch," he says, taking heart that some international agencies, in Gujarat on relief work, have gone on record to say the Government had done its best under the circumstances. Even a US Congressional team, led by Edward Royce and Jim McDermott, co-chairmen of the India Caucus in the Congress, which reached Gujarat last week, endorses that. Says McDermott: "We have a positive feedback as far as the Government's performance is concerned."

Such praise, however, won't be able to absolve Keshubhai of responsibility for the drift in governance. In fact, there is a history to it. When Keshubhai rode to power on an anti-corruption campaign for a second term in March 1998, even his well-wishers were surprised by one of his first decisions which was to retain L.N.S. Mukundan as the chief secretary and P.K. Laheri, as principal secretary. Keshubhai's entire poll campaign had revolved around the sins of the Shankarsinh Vaghela government and both the officers were key players in that regime too.

The reason Keshubhai retained the two was obvious: both Mukundan and Laheri had gone beyond the call of duty to network with BJP MLAs whom Vaghela had weaned away to form the Rashtriya Janata Party. Keshubhai knew their skills would come in handy if ever he were faced with a rebellion. In his second innings, his priorities have changed dramatically. For Keshubhai, governance has become secondary to protecting his chair.

MetroScape
Charitable Mood
In the backdrop of murky allegations about underworld connections, philanthropy by the Bollywood badshahs comes a little more easily.
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Looking Glass

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