Caring for Our Elders – a Disappearing Attitude

(This article appeared in The Sentinel on December 29, 2013)

“Yet somehow our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members”—wrote Pearl S Buck in ‘My Several Worlds’. 

Respect for elders has long been ingrained in our psyche. From our very childhood, we have been told to obey our parents and teachers and respect our elders. We were taught to be always courteous to them and listen to their advice, the same being reiterated in the ‘moral science’ classes we took as children.

Religious texts across religions have stressed the special relations between the young and the elderly, with the Bible saying, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older”, or the Taitriya Upanishad mandating, “Revere your mother and father as God.”

In the Mahabharata, the wise Vidura advises Yuddhishthira thus, “tasmad dharma–pradhanéna bhavitavyam yatatmana | tatha cha sarva–bhutéhu vartitavyam yathatmani ||” which in short means “…righteousness is the best quality to have, wealth the medium and desire the lowest.

Hence, by self–control and by making righteousness your main focus, treat others as you treat yourself.”

So, by being helpful to our elderly, we are setting an example for our children who often learn some of life’s most important lessons by example.

The Assamese have always prided itself as a community which cares for its elders. We regard our elders as the conscience keepers of society, the bridge between tradition and modernity. Reverence for the elderly is not limited to our parents or grandparents only; this reverence extends to all elderly persons, even beyond the pale of our acquaintance.

But with changes in our social fabric, our elderly have lost the reverence and respect they were once accorded. There have been increasing instances of elderly abuse in the state, with a disturbing number of elders being turned to the streets by their children and grandchildren.

We only need to look around us to find instances of these disturbing and recurring incidents. Even a casual look at everyday incidents on the public transport systems and other public services will give a picture of the utter disregard for the elderly and the gradual breaking down of social norms. Often the elderly are forced to jostle in crowded buses and other public transport and get caught in ugly arguments with able–bodied passengers even to get access to the seats reserved for them.

Here I recall a small incident narrated to me by an acquaintance that took place in a city bus recently. It was a hot day in summer when she took the bus. It was already crowded when an elderly person boarded the bus, and looked around for a seat. The seat reserved for elderly persons was already occupied by two young men, who were least bothered to offer the reserved seat to its rightful occupant.

After sometime the conductor came around and told the youngsters to vacate the seat for the elderly person. But instead of complying, the young men started arguing angrily, saying that they deserved to sit wherever they wished as they had ‘paid full fare for the journey’. No amount of persuasion helped, nor did an attempt to point out the ‘Reserved for Elderly’ sign above the seat. In fact, things reached such a pitch that the elderly gentleman himself interceded and said he did not want to sit at all!

Such adverse experiences often leave the elderly confused and embarrassed and turn into deterrents for voicing such just concerns in the future, thus depriving them of the services they are entitled to.

Such incidents are not isolated cases, but occur quite frequently. A report by Help Age India in 2012 has indicated that Guwahati ranked the second highest in elderly abuse with 60.55 percent cases. Around 40 per cent men and almost similar proportion of older women selected disrespect as the most important constituent of abuse followed by neglect and verbal abuse during the survey.

Where are we going as a society, if we cannot respect and protect the vulnerable sections of our population? Our elderly do not want our sympathy– they simply crave our love and respect. What does it cost a strapping young man or woman to offer a seat in a public transport or give an elderly person the preference in a queue? It is true that in today’s fast paced world, many of us often do not find time to think about others. But whenever we see someone elderly, we should pause to help out in any manner possible, for our present is their past and their present our future.

Then there is the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 which can ward off attacks against the elderly and also act as an enabling law for the elderly in need of help. But nothing can really persuade us to treat our elders kindly, until we imbibe responsibility within ourselves. We do not push a child aside to grab a seat or walk away if a child falls down in front of us. We care for them because they cannot take care of themselves and we as adults realize it. The same applies to senior citizens as well.

Just as we were helped by people we know and sometimes even by those who we do not, because we needed their help as children; so also, today we owe the elderly our attention and help. It is our responsibility to look out for them, be they our relatives or even someone on the streets. Few ever ask for assistance on their own– for fear of imposing themselves on us. But when our elders face health issues and other problems, it is our bounden duty to shoulder the responsibility. It is but a sweet ‘thank you’ for our safe childhood and our hope of a more assisted old age.

What use is a laptop in a toilet-less school?

This article appeared in The Sentinel on October 30, 2013

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.

For want of a shoe the horse was lost.

For want of a horse the rider was lost.

For want of a rider the message was lost.

For want of a message the battle was lost.

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

The popular proverb may have referred to the death of Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field, but it also describes how a small situation may gradually but inexorably worsen due to a minor initial impediment.

This proverb often reminds me of a young girl I met once in a village in Assam. Her name was Papori. She was a bright young girl, an expert weaver. She used to attend the local high school in her village before she decided to drop out of school altogether. Why?

As a child she used to look forward to go to school, but as she grew older and attained puberty, she began to feel the absence of a toilet in her school. She began to feign sickness during those days every month and to avoid her parents' questions, started paying more attention to housework. As time went by, she began to avoid school altogether, deciding to stay at home instead and help her parents make some extra income by weaving.

When I look back at the incident, I do not just see Papori working at her loom as children walk past her house on their way to school. I see her growing into a young person, a wife and a mother, deprived of basic education. I see deprivation of the next generation as well, because her ignorance of many crucial aspects of life will affect her and her children throughout their lives. And all will happen because Papori's school does not have a toilet.

At this point I want to refer to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). As of March 2011 Assam had a dropout rate of 8.3 percent in lower primary schools and 15.2 percent in upper primary schools. The document, 'Chief Minister's Vision for Women and Children 2016' also indicates that there is a serious problem of school dropout, especially among the girls. The CM's vision document also indicates that female enrollment in government schools in Class I in 2011-12 was 3.86 lakh, while it was 2.58 lakh in Class V. This further dropped to 1.19 lakh in higher secondary and junior colleges following high dropout rates in classes IX and X.

As the country strives to achieve the third of the Millennium Development Goals—to promote gender equality and empower women—it is really a matter of grave concern that girls are dropping out of schools without completing their education. According to official statistics, of all girl students enrolled in schools, the average dropout rate for girls has increased from 5.0 percent in 2009-10 to 11.9 percent in 2011-12 at primary level; and from 13.5 percent in 2009-10 to 14.3 percent at the upper primary level.

Studies conducted in this regard have discovered the biggest reason for this: absence of clean and hygienic toilets in schools for students, especially teenage girls. Studies by UNICEF indicate that while 54 out of 100 schools across the country have separate toilets for girls, on average, only one in every nine schools in Assam have separate toilets for girls.

The CAG report also found that 40.18 percent schools across the state did not have any girl’s toilet. The same report also pointed out that there were no toilet facility at all in 15.57 percent schools, nor was drinking water available in 18.85 percent schools, despite the state education department having incurred an expenditure of Rs 12,631.47 crore during 2006-2011 on elementary education, resulting in a declining trend in enrollment and high dropout rate of students in the state.

But ironically, while girls are deprived of education for absence of toilets, the state government has been spending crores of rupees every year since 2005 awarding the first division holders in the HSLC, High Madrasa and Senior Madrasa exams with the Anundoram Borooah Award.

Around 1,40,000 personal computers and laptops have been distributed to such students since the award was instituted. In 2013, another 26,788 first division holders in the HSLC, High Madrasa and Senior Madrasa exams will receive the Award district wise.

This article does not want to disparage the achievement of young students who have performed well in their exams and deserve appreciation. There can be other ways to encourage students like special scholarships or fee exemption in colleges of their choice, while the funds spent on procuring personal computers and laptops can be diverted to construction of toilets and sanitation facilities in schools so that few more girls can complete their education.

The Government should ensure proper sanitation facilities in all the schools by creating special provisions in the annual budget. Voluntary organizations should generate awareness among the guardians on the need for basic amenities like toilets in schools and help them monitor whether basic requirements are in place in the schools where their children are studying.

School teachers too should keep tab on their students, especially girl students and encourage them to come to school and motivate others who decide to drop out.

But this would be possible only when our leaders responsible for policy making can understand the importance of proper sanitation facilities in schools. So we need a visionary leadership who can prioritise the need for a toilet over a laptop.

After all, we do not want a rendition of the original proverb in this form—

For want of a toilet, a girl student was lost.

For want of a girl student, an educated  mother was lost,

For want of an educated  mother, a responsible child was lost,

For want of a responsible child, a good citizen was lost,

For want of a good citizen, an able generation was lost,

For want of an able generation, a powerful country was lost,

And all for the want of a toilet in school.

মই কেতিয়াবা জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হ’ব পাৰিমনে !

This article was published in Aamar Asom on 13 December 2013.

দিল্লীত একেলগে পঢ়া আমেৰিকা নিৱাসী বন্ধু এজনে কথাৰ মাজতে মোক এটা ডাঙৰ প্ৰশ্ন কৰিলে | প্ৰশ্নটো হ’ল যে ‘মই কেতিয়াবা জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হ’ব পাৰিমনে নাই !’ বন্ধুৰ প্ৰশ্নৰ আওপকীয়া অৰ্থ হ’ল - এজন জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হবলৈ হ’লে প্ৰয়োজন হোৱা গুণবোৰ মোৰ গাত আছেনে ?  

পঢ়ি-শুনি, বিদেশৰ বহু লোভনীয় চাকৰিৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ এৰি, মই যেতিয়া সংসদীয় ৰাজনীতিৰ জগতত প্ৰৱেশ কৰিছিলো, তেতিয়া মোৰ ওচৰ-পাজৰৰ মানুহবোৰে মোৰ প্ৰতি বিশেষ ঔত্‍সুকতা প্ৰকাশ কৰিছিল | সেই সময়তো মোৰ মনত প্ৰায়ে হোন্দোলনি তুলিছিল এই প্ৰশ্নটোৱে যে ‘মই সঁচাকৈ জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হ’ব পাৰিমনে নাই’ | কিন্তু তাৰপিছত নিজৰ ওপৰত থকা প্ৰবল আত্মবিশ্বাসৰ জোৰত ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় স্তৰত গুৰু দায়িত্ব কান্ধ পাতি ল’লো | ৰাজ্য আৰু ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় স্তৰৰ ৰাজনীতিত অতিক্ৰম কৰিলোঁ নটা বছৰ | এই সময়বোৰত কাহানিও মনলৈ কোনোধৰনৰ সংশয় বা ভয় ভাব আহিবলৈ দিয়া নাই | কিন্তু বিদেশৰ মাটিত বন্ধুজনে দি থৈ যোৱা প্ৰশ্নটোৱে আকৌ ভালেখিনি পৰলৈ মোৰ মূৰত খুন্দিয়াই থাকিল | শেষত মই নিজেই নিজক জুকিয়াই চাবলৈ ঠিক কৰিলোঁ, যিহেতু সময়খিনি আছিল অবসৰৰ এটা অৱশ আবেলি | 

জনপ্ৰতিনিধি এজনৰ গাত কি গুণ থকা উচিত ? প্ৰথম মনলৈ আহিল যে এজন জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হ’বলৈ সৰ্বপ্ৰথমেই নেতাগৰাকীয়ে ‘জনপ্ৰিয়তা’ আৰ্জি ল’ব লাগিব | লগে-লগে অসমৰ ৰাজনীতিত দপ-দপাই থকা বহুকেইজন জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা বা নেত্ৰীৰ ছবি চকুত ভাহি উঠিল | অবশ্যে প্ৰয়াত হেম বৰুৱা, নিবাৰন বৰা বা শৰত সিংহৰ দৰে নেতাৰ জনপ্ৰিয়তা আমাৰ প্ৰজন্মই নিজ চকুৰে দেখা নাপালেও অনুভৱ কৰিব পাৰো তেওঁলোকৰ পৰ্বতসম জনপ্ৰিয়তাৰ কথা | তেওঁলোকৰ প্ৰজ্ঞা, মেধা আৰু ব্যক্তিত্বই তেওলোকক আকাশলংঘী জনপ্ৰিয়তা আনি দিছিল | কিন্তু এতিয়া নিবাৰন বৰা বা হেম বৰুৱাৰ যুগ নাই | এতিয়াৰ নেতা জনপ্ৰিয় হ’বলৈ হ’লে বিহুমঞ্চত ককাল ঘূৰাই নাচিব পাৰিব লাগিব, ডিঙিত বৰঢোল আৰি সংস্কৃতিবানৰ ভাও দিব পাৰিব লাগিব, মূল্যবৃদ্ধিৰ অবসান ঘটাবলৈ ডিঙিত আলু, পিয়াজৰ মালা ওলোমাই ল’ব লাগিব, হাতত জাৰু লৈ মহানগৰ পৰিস্কাৰ কৰিব লাগিব, টি ভি কেমেৰাক নিমন্ত্ৰণ কৰি আনি নাটক কৰি ৰাইজৰ বাহ্ বাহ্ ল’ব পাৰিব লাগিব | তেহে জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা ! মই বাৰু তেনেকুৱা কাম কেতিয়াবা কৰিছোনে ? মই মানুহটো যেনে, তেনেদৰেই ৰাইজৰ আগত নোলাই কেতিয়াবা অভিনেতা হৈ ওলাইছোনে ? নাটকীয় সংলাপ মতাদি ৰাইজৰ আগত ডিঙিৰ সিৰ ফুলাব পাৰিছোনে কেতিয়াবা ? উত্তৰ আহিল ‘নাই, কেতিয়াও পৰা নাই’ | তেন্তে মই জনপ্ৰিয় হম কোন সতে ! 

বহু অনুষ্ঠান মোৰ ওচৰলৈ আহে | প্ৰথমতে অনুষ্ঠানটোৰ উদ্যোক্তাসকলৰ লগত কথা পাতি ভালেই লাগে | সামাজিক, ৰাজনৈতিক বহু বিষয়ত ভাল-ভাল কথা ওলায় থাকে | কিন্তু লাহে লাহে তেওঁলোকৰ কথাৰ সুৰ সলনি হয় | মই বুজি পাও তেওঁলোকৰ আচল উদ্দেশ্যটো |  তেওঁলোকে পাতিব বিছৰা অনুষ্ঠানটোৰ বাবে মোৰ পৰা যে পইচা বিচাৰিছে সেয়া স্পষ্ট হৈ পৰে ক্ৰমাত্‍ | মই তেওঁলোকক বিনয়েৰে বুজাই কওঁ যে আচলতে ইমান টকা চান্দা দিব পৰাকৈ মই বৰ ধনী লোক নহওঁ, নামী-বেনামী অজস্ৰ সম্পত্তি গোটাই লৈ মই ‘অবসৰৰ ৰাজনীতি’ত নমা মানুহ নহওঁ | মোৰ পৰা প্ৰত্যাখিত হৈ তেওঁলোক অসন্তুষ্ট হয়, মুখ ফুটাই একো নকলেও তেওলোকৰ চকু-মুখত সেয়া স্পষ্ট হৈ ফুটি উঠে | কেনেকৈ জনপ্ৰিয় হম মই ? কিছুমান অনুষ্ঠানৰ উদ্যোক্তা সকলে পাকে-প্ৰকাৰে মোক বুজাব খোজে যে মোক তেওঁলোকৰ অনুষ্ঠানৰ মুখ্য পৃষ্ঠপোষক বা উপদেষ্টা কৰি ৰাখিব খোজে | বিনিময়ত সেই একেই উদ্দেশ্য | মই প্ৰত্যাখ্যান কৰো | কওঁ যে মুখ্য উপদেষ্টাৰ পদটো মই কিনি ল’ব নোখোজোঁ | মোৰ সহকৰ্মী দুজনমানে কয় যে ‘এনেদৰে কেনেকৈ হ’ব’ ‘ৰাজনীতিত এইবোৰতো সকলোৱেই কৰে’ | মই  তেওঁলোকক বুজাই ক’ব নোৱাৰোঁ যে সকলোৱেই কৰা কামটো মই কৰিব নোৱাৰোঁ | পইচা দি মই ডিঙিত গামোছা ল’ব নোখোজোঁ |

দুজন মান জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা বা নেত্ৰীক দেখা পাও, যিকেইজনে সংসদত কোনোদিনে সৰব হৈ পোৱা নাই, তেওলোকৰ ভাষনত কোনোদিনে অসমৰ চিৰন্তন সমস্যাবোৰৰ সমাধান সূত্ৰ প্ৰকাশ পোৱা নাই, ‘প্ৰকৃত উন্নয়ন’ বুলি দেখুৱাবলৈ তেওঁলোকৰ কোনো উল্লেখযোগ্য অবদান নাই | কিন্তু তেওলোক জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা, কিয়নো টি ভি কেমেৰাৰ আগত তেওঁলোকে মুখবোৰ উলিয়াবলৈ সদা-তত্‍পৰ | ক’ৰবাত কিবা এটা ঘটিলেই চিধাই গৈ এওঁলোকে টি ভি কেমেৰাৰ আগত উদাত্ত ভাষন ৰাখে | কিন্তু আচৰিত কথাটো হ’ল সেই টি ভি কেমেৰাৰ সন্মুখত কিবা এটা গম্ভীৰ বিষয়ৰ ওপৰত আলোচনা অনুষ্ঠিত হ’লে এওঁলোকৰ অজ্ঞতা আৰু অনভিজ্ঞতা বৰ দুখ লগাকৈ প্ৰকাশ পায় | মই টি ভি সাংবাদিক মাতি কেতিয়াও কোনো কথাত হৈ-চৈ কৰা নাই | গতিকে মই জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা হম কেনেকৈ ?

অসমলৈ আহিয়ে মই নিৰ্বাচনত অবতীৰ্ণ হৈছিলো | কিন্তু জনা নাছিলো যে নিৰ্বাচনত টকা আৰু সুৰাই ইমান সমাদৰ লাভ কৰে বুলি | কঠোৰ সিদ্ধান্ত লৈ মই দুয়োটা বস্তুকে বৰ্জন কৰিলো | কাকো এপইচাও বিলাই নাপালোঁ | ফলাফল - মই হাৰিলো | সুৰা সংস্কৃতিৰ (আচলতে অপসংস্কৃতি) ঘোৰ বিৰোধিতা কৰি মই কাকতত প্ৰবন্ধ লিখিলোঁ, সজাগতা সভা পাতিলো | সুৰাই আমাৰ ডেকাশক্তিৰ কৰ্মস্পৃহা নোহোৱা কৰি আনিছে, চিন্তাশক্তি শুন্য কৰি আনি জাতিটোলৈ এক স্থবিৰতা নমাই আনিছে আৰু তাৰ ফলত যে স্বাৰ্থাম্বেষি ৰাজনীতিকবোৰ লাভবান হৈছে; এইবোৰ কথাকে সভাই-সমিটিয়ে ক’লো | কিন্তু সুৰাই অসুৰৰ ৰূপ লৈ অসমৰ গাৱে-ভূঞে বৰ্তমানেও সংহাৰী ৰূপ ধাৰন কৰি আছে | এইবোৰ কথা কোনে কয়, কোনেই বা শুনে ? গতিকে জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা মই হব নোৱাৰোঁ | 

যিকোনো সভা সমিটিত নিমন্ত্ৰণ পত্ৰত উল্লেখ কৰা সময়মতেই মই গৈ উপস্থিত হওঁ | কিন্তু বৰ লাজ পাওঁ, যেতিয়া দেখো ৰাইজ দূৰৰ কথা, উদ্যোক্তাসকলেই আহি উপস্থিত হোৱা নাই | সময়তকৈ দুঘন্টা পিছত থকাটোৱে যেন আমাৰ নিয়ম | ৰাজনৈতিক জীৱনত কোনো সভা মই সঠিক সময়ত আৰম্ভ হোৱা দেখা নাই | সময়ানুৱৰ্তিতা মানি চলিবলৈ অসমীয়া জাতিটোৱে আজিলৈ শিকা নাই | আমিবোৰ অনেক ক্ষেত্ৰত বহু দূৰত ৰৈ যোৱাৰ ইয়ো এটা প্ৰধান কাৰণ | কিন্তু মুখ্যমন্ত্ৰীকে ধৰি আন আন জনপ্ৰিয় নেতাক দেখা পাও, তেওলোক সভা-সমিটি আৰম্ভ হৈ যোৱাৰ বহুত পিছত, ৰাইজে তেওলোকৰ বাবে ৰৈ ৰৈ লেবেজান হোৱাৰ পৰত, তেওলোক আহি উপস্থিত হয় | সময়ৰ মূল্য তেওলোকে নুবুজিব পাৰে, তেওলোক কিন্তু জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা |   

বিহুতলিত নাচিব নোৱাৰো, প্ৰতিবাদ কৰাৰ নামত ভাওৰীয়া হ’ব নোৱাৰো, পইচা দি গামোছা পিন্ধিব নোৱাৰো, নিৰ্বাচনত পইছা নিবিলাও,  ধ্বংসমুখী প্ৰতিটো প্ৰবনতাৰ বিৰুদ্ধে মাত মাতো, সুৰা আৰু চান্দা সংস্কৃতিৰ বিৰোধিতা কৰো, সংস্কৃতি ৰক্ষা কৰাৰ কাণ্ডাৰী হোৱাৰ পৰিবৰ্তে কৰ্ম-সংস্কৃতিৰ কথা কও ..; গতিকে মইনো কোনসতে জনপ্ৰিয় নেতা হও ? জনপ্ৰিয় নেতাসকলৰ গাত থকা কোনো এটা গুণেই দেখোন মোৰ গাত নাই |          

হয়, মই অনুভৱ কৰিছো, আজিৰ তাৰিখত এজন ‘যোগ্য’ জনপ্ৰতিনিধি হ’ব পৰা বহু ‘গুন’ মোৰ মাজত নাই | কিন্তু এই দুৰ্গুণবোৰকে ‘গুণ’ বুলি কিমানদিনলৈ ভাবি থাকিম, কিমানদিনলৈকে মানি থাকিম ? বিহাৰত এসময়ত লালুপ্ৰসাদৰ এনেকুৱা ‘গুণ’ বিহাৰীয়ে মানি চলিছিল, এনে ‘গুণ’ দেখি ৰস পাইছিল | তেতিয়া বিহাৰীক দেশবাসীয়ে ইতিকিং কৰিছিল | যেতিয়া বিহাৰীয়ে লালুক নাকচ কৰিলে, দেশবাসীৰ আগত বিহাৰীৰ ভাবমুৰ্তি উচ্চ হৈ গ’ল | অসমত কেতিয়ালৈকে নেতাৰ বহুৱালিবোৰক ‘গুণ’ বুলি গণ্য কৰা হৈ থাকিব ? 

Rhino killings in Assam – Senseless Poaching, Shameless State!

 This article was published in The Sentinel on November 27, 2013.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Indeed, the flora and fauna have been considered as some of the greatest treasures of a nation.

The Great Asian One–Horned Rhino is an integral part of the Assamese identity, both in the regional and the global context and is an important component of its tourism potential. This gentle animal has been the focus of an entire gamut of activities, be it documentaries, literature or campaigns celebrating its majesty and its importance in the Assamese ethos. However, it has also, unfortunately, become the target of relentless poaching and is mercilessly hunted for its body parts, most of which are coveted for perceived benefits which, in many cases, have no scientific basis.

The rhinos in Assam have been braving poachers, unrelenting human encroachment on its habitat and an indifferent state government for several years now, although conservation attempts have seen an increase in intensity in recent times. But even though a host of new technologies, modern arms and ammunition are being supplied to the forest officials and guards, rhino poaching continues unabated.

According to the 2012 census, Assam has a total population of 2,505 rhinos. 2,186 of these rhinos are in Kaziranga National Park. While the numbers are encouraging, it is a matter of grave concern that a total of 524 rhinos have been killed for their horns between 1986 and 2011.

According to media reports, till November this year, 41 rhinos have been killed for their horns. In 2012 itself over 40 rhinos were killed. In 2011, nine rhinos died, seven in 2010, 14 in 2009, 12 in 2008, 21 in 2007, nine in 2006, 12 in 2005, five in 2004, six in 2003, five in 2002, nine in 2001 and 14 in 2000.

Year	Nos. of Rhino Killed/Died
2013 (till November)	41
2012	40
2011	09
2010	07
2009	14
2008	12

Assam, which is a biodiversity hot spot, has seen regular killings of wild animals due to
improper management by the forest department and immature behaviour of Assam’s forest minister.

Assam lags behind many other states of the country in protecting its wild animals. We have not seen any collective approach, integration or coordination among the forest officials–guards and other allied/concerned departments like Tourism, Police and District Administration etc to protect the fauna of Assam. We, the people, chose the government to implement the laws and regulations properly and to manage the state and its resources in a judicious manner. But it has been noticed that the Government of Assam itself has been ignoring and violating the laws and
regulations of the Constitution of India, even though Article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India provides that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the nature environment including forest, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.”

Fresh incidents of poaching continue even after the state government in 2012 created an elite Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and armed the personnel with automatic weapons like Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) to match the fire power of the poachers, who have been known to switch from the .303 rifles to sophisticated machine guns.

According to media reports, poachers generally use three methods to kill and dehorn
rhinos—pit poaching, electrocution and guns—of which guns are the most favored and most widely used in recent years. Forest guards and officers know everything but they are unable to do anything.

Assam, which has five national parks, 17 wildlife sanctuaries and five elephant reserves, also adopted Sub–section (3) of section 197 of the CrPC 1973 (2 of 1974), which provides immunity to all forest personnel against any criminal procedure in the event of causing death to a person while discharging their duties. But nothing much has been achieved, mainly because inefficient officers are still holding important positions in the department besides Assam’s Forest Minister.

Following amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) (Assam Amendment) Act 2009, for the first time in the country, poaching has now become punishable by imprisonment from seven to ten years in place of the earlier provisions of three to seven years. For a second offence, the quantum of punishment has been extended from ten years to life imprisonment. Poaching has been made a non–bailable offence in the state. But it is a matter of great trepidation that no kind of punishment has been given to the poachers. If forest guards catch a poacher, then he gets jailed for hardly 3–4 months.

The government had also announced that Kaziranga National Park will soon have thermal cameras installed at several locations inside the park to detect any unwanted movements inside the park, including those of the poachers. But in spite of such measures, there has been no abatement in rhino poaching, especially in Kaziranga National Park, which contains the largest number of rhinos in the state. This is in spite of environmentalists and concerned citizens crying themselves hoarse demanding protection of the one–horned rhino in the last few places on earth where it still roams free.

Even World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), which is working extensively with the state government in protecting the rhino population in Assam, has shown serious concerns about the level of commitment of the Assam State Forest Department and the Bodoland Territorial Council in providing protection to rhinos. Gauhati High Court has taken a suo moto case against illegal killing of rhinos vide PIL number 66/12 but the Government of Assam has yet to provide the reply to the Honorable High Court. This itself exposes the inability of the Assam Government and the Forest Minister.

Urgent measures need to be taken to ensure safety of these animals. The Eco Task Force (ETF) Battalions raised to protect the forests in Assam should also involve the local people in and around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Assam should emulate some of the greatest conservation stories across the world which involves participation of the local communities in protecting the animals and conserving the bio–diversity.

The public are yet to see any poacher or others involved in illegal trades of animal parts given any exemplary punishment for their crimes under the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) (Assam Amendment) Act 2009. There is also an urgent need to fast track cases related to the Wildlife act so that the accused do not get opportunity to post bail.

Instead of the state government spending crores of tax payers’ money by sending the forest minister and his entourage to foreign countries for seminars and workshops on conservation issues, they can go and visit other states within the country which have won accolades in for their conservation efforts.

The moot question now is—who will take responsibility for the brutal and inhuman killings of rhinos in the state? Will the forest department finally get its act together and do something for these gentle giants? Will they be finally able to fix responsibility for the killings and punish the guilty?

Here I must point out that not only are poachers guilty of mercilessly killing these animals, the forest officials and the minister who sits at the helm of affairs of the department are to be equally blamed.

Forest and environment minister, Rakibul Hussain, who has held this portfolio for two
consecutive terms must answer why rhinos continue to be hunted, often under the very nose of forest officials even though the number of forest guards has increased exponentially and they are now provided with better weapons.

He must also answer for the poor safety measures by his department for protection of the rhinos during the monsoon when these animals stray out of the reserved forests and wild life sanctuaries to escape the floods which inundate major portions of these protected areas. I also question the state government, led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi over the continued patronage of the forest minister, who has time and again only demonstrated his incapacity in protecting the state animal.

As a concerned citizen, I demand that the state government and the forest department take immediate and effective steps to ensure that the remaining rhinos do not fall prey to poachers’ bullets. They should take special notice of reports of the presence of militants in the poaching business.

To the forest minister, I can only say that he should have resigned from his post a long time ago, owning moral responsibility for the killings, and for his utter failure in discharging the duties of his office.

For the people of Assam, it is my sincere request and prayer to help bring a change so that we can save the last of the rhinos in the world—because if we do not act now, the only time we will probably see the rhino will be in photographs and documentaries, government logos and books.