Why don't we trust nature? It can very well be our doctor

SATHYA VIJAYAGOPALAN

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The Hindu

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Tulsi for cold, dhurva for longevity, bilwa for cleansing, vallarai for memory power, curry leaves for indigestion and good hair growth and a host of other herbs are the saviours from tiny ailments in villages.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A garlic clove a day chases asthma away. A carrot a day keeps the ophthalmologist away . . . a dentist away and cancer away. Deep breathing exercises 20 minutes a day can keep most diseases away. A few yogasanas a day can keep most diseases away.

These are some of the sayings that we don't trust. Everyone one of us has some health ailment or the other. Some have severe headaches, others develop breathing problems, yet others get serious problems such as heart or lung ailments. But have you ever taken an apple or carrot a day as you must have learnt by heart in your primary school?

We don't trust nature. Most of us do not drink rainwater. Rainwater may be slightly contaminated with dust and other chemicals on the first day and from the roof that may be coated with chemicals, but one can harvest it directly from the skies. Keep a clean tub right in the open on the terrace. This can be done the second day of heavy rain. The first day, the water from the skies can wash away dust and other particles in the atmosphere. Then it can be double-filtered and stored in huge drums. This water can be filtered again for drinking.

One must experience the taste of rainwater. It is heavenly. An Australian study has confirmed that rainwater is very much safe for drinking and other household purposes and does not cause any illness. Most people have installed a rainwater harvesting system but use this water for bathing and washing and rarely for drinking.

Children love the rains. They love snapping those bubbles and having a bath. But today you find a lot of elders shooing them away from having fun in the rain all because they think they will catch a cold. Don't you get a cold even when you don't bath in rain? Your hair shines so well after a bath in rain/rainwater.

Working late or watching movies most of us have lost the habit of waking up early and doing some form of exercise. Schools back in the 1960s had morning prayer and some exercises in the open sunlight for about half-an-hour. Although yogasanas and breathing techniques have gained importance (more in the West), we turn to them for style, or when we have some ailment that refuses to budge with our popping pills.

Ancient texts kept at the Saraswathi Mahal library in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, about breathing exercises have this to say. Practising a certain type of deep breathing while studying (alternate right and left nostril breathing) can improve memory power and help you retain whatever you are studying. This text says that breathing should be practised on an empty stomach pretty early in the morning (studying early in the morning some time before sunrise). The text says that this way, you cannot forget whatever you have read. This is because the oxygen that enters your body clears congestion in the brain and enables it to retain whatever you have read with concentration in memory.

Deep breathing exercises practised just for about 10-20 minutes a day can improve eyesight, cure constipation, ward off most diseases. A person practising Asanas rarely gets any degenerative disease. It is advisable to learn these breathing exercises and yogasanas from a practitioner as there are rules about doing the same and they can cause harm if done in haste or on a heavy stomach or when ill.

While you can get rid of most skin problems by taking a sun-bath, we have the habit of seeing the sun when we travel to our workplace and on weekends after a late breakfast. Suryanamaskars have become a religious sign or practised to help us rid ourselves of paunches.

We use polyester garments and rarely expose ourselves to cool air or sunlight. The fresh air can give you a cold or fever. We get the idea that standing in cool air can give us a cold whereas overeating and eating junk foods or drinking colas cannot.

A lot many people are scared of tasting seasonal fruits. Mangoes are a ‘no' ‘no' for fear of our sugar levels rising or our getting diabetes. Whoever said fruits will usher in diabetes, and not a sedentary lifestyle and wrong eating habits? Bananas no, potatoes no, carrots no. There are a lot of self-analysed ‘Nos.'

Tulsi for cold, dhurva for longevity, bilwa for cleansing, vallarai for memory power, curry leaves for indigestion and good hair growth and a host of other herbs are the saviours from minor ailments in villages. People living in cities cannot even identify common herbs, much less use them to benefit. Looks like we don't trust nature.

(The writer's email is: sathyavijay1@yahoo.com)

Be cheerful madam, everyone loves your pension

MEERA MOHANACHANDRAN

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The Hindu

Said a pensioner: “I wonder why these doctors prescribe so many drugs to old people like us — one for sugar; another for cholesterol; another for BP.” Another quipped, smiling: “Perhaps, they want us to die sooner.” And both laughed.

Have you ever been to a sub-treasury in the first week of a month? If you are young, of course,‘no' will be your curt reply. But, if you are a septuagenarian like me, your answer would be ‘yes' and that, too, with a long sigh. Let me now narrate my ordeal at the sub-treasury in my town when I went there to collect my pension this first week of June.

I was a bit late, around 10.30 a.m. As soon as I reached the gate of the sub-treasury, I heard a steady and loud din — the murmur of innumerable voices from inside. I knew it would be a tough day. I would have to wait long. Long — but how long? I reached the courtyard and a sea of faces greeted me. Mostly, all grey-haired ‘pantaloons' talking, laughing and waiting for their pensions.

I took a seat somehow on the cemented bench and fumbled the cheque book and pen from my bag. Balancing the book on my lap, I managed to write the amount and put my signature, even as I answered someone who asked me ‘What is the date today, madam, — ‘fourth.' Then, I took the cheque to the clerk and, along with the passbook, handed it over to him

As I was coming back to my seat, I saw it was lost. Already, another like me, had occupied it. I gently smiled at her and stood nearby. All around were eager faces; some were known but mostly unknown. All were busy talking. I tried to listen. “Do you know my daughter-in-law keeps hiding all kinds of sweets from me,” a grey-haired, bespectacled lady was narrating. “Don't know where she has learned this knack of house-keeping. Sometimes, I get so terribly disgusted.”

Another was narrating: “I wonder why these doctors prescribe so many drugs to old people like us — one for sugar; another for cholesterol; another for BP.” Another quipped, smiling: “Perhaps, they want us to die sooner.” And both laughed.

In the meantime, it was getting hotter and hotter every moment. I looked up. No, there is no ceiling fan at all!

I looked around and found a seat. There beside me sat four teachers — “Do you know, I tell my son, the government gave us salaries when we were young for our hard work; and now it is giving us pension for our drugs!”(They all had a hearty laugh.) I wondered how they echoed my own thoughts!

As I sat waiting and perspiring, the clerk called out a number, 238'. I almost jumped up. How could he call out ‘238' when mine is ‘202' and I'm still without a call? I moved towards the clerk. All around him stood men and women asking the same question. Now as I thought of returning to my seat, I saw once again I had lost it.

Like this, it continued hour after hour. I looked at my watch. It was 1.30. I was feeling hungry, tired and sick. Suddenly, the murmur quietened. Everyone was gazing at the desk where the clerk sat. A new clerk had come. He had a loud, clear voice. The numbers rang out ‘200', ‘201', ‘202' quickly. As it came to be my turn, I gathered my pension and stepped out. Now heaving a sigh of relief, I just wanted to reach home.

An autorickshaw came by. Quickly, I clambered in. The driver too was an old man. He observed,” How happy madam! You are getting your pension, no? I murmured: ‘Do you know, I've been waiting since 10.30 for this and it is 2.30 now?' But he seemed not to have heard me at all. He said, “Oh, it's nothing, you're so fortunate — a pension in this time of inflation and at this old age is a real blessing! Everyone loves your pension! Your children love it, your in-laws wait for it! You are so much wanted by all even at your old age. Why? Just for your pension! And, look at me, I'm just an old fool, driving here and there even at this age. Of course, you're lucky!” I said nothing. Handing over the auto fare, I moved towards home — he may be correct. I knew but my mind said: ‘No, today I wasn't'.

(The writer's email is: meeranair.mc@gmail.com)

Published: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST | Updated: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST

How I wish I had patented my ‘half pant,' pony tail and earstuds!

M. S. Subramanian

Grandpa, had you patented what you did in college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays!

When my grandchildren crowd round me in the night after dinner, they usually beg me to tell them about my young days and how I went to college and of my successes and failures.

Though my stock runs out, they are very eager to hear about on incidents again and again. Like a ‘stuck' gramophone record, I would tell them the same story night after night. After I finished the recounting the story, they would always exclaim, “Grandpa, had you patented what you did in the college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays, instead of the oral blessings now you are giving us.”

It becomes necessary for me to share with readers this tale which so fascinates my grandchildren. More than half a century ago, I came from our village to Madras to join college for my Pre-University Course. I suppose that is now an equivalent to the present 10 + 1.

As I was from the mofussil, I did not know that it was taboo to wear shorts (then called “half pant”) for college. I had only one pair of trousers (full pant) and many “half pants” and, out of necessity, I had to wear shorts. Within two days, I became famous in a negative way and acquired the tag “half pant.” I was called “the half pant,” even though I stopped wearing them after a week's time for fear of ridicule. Incidentally, none except schoolboys wore shorts in Madras those days. You could never see a young or middle-aged man or an elderly person wearing half pants,' unless he was a foreigner, who was exempt, I do not know why.

I also sported a luxurious pony tail, then called kudumi (tuft) and wore two kadukkans (earstuds). This gave the other students a lot of merriment and they also used to call me “girlie.” I wrote to my parents that I might be permitted to sport a cropped hair and also to remove the ear studs.

After considerable delay, and only after I threatened them that I would discontinue my studies did they relent and permit me to turn “modern.” In spite of all this, my tag as “half pant” did not disappear and all through my college career I was addressed only as half pant. A classmate always used to tease and taunt me and I had to bear it with a grin as he was double my size.

About five years ago, I came across that very same person, who is over 60 like me, and he was wearing shorts (which is a rage now among all people except children who seem to detest it) and I could not help laughing at the spectacle. I accosted him and asked him how come he wore half-pants now, having made fun of me in college. He slunk away with a shameful face, not only because he knew I had a point there, but also because I was double his size now!!

Now, I also find men sporting long hair like women (for a change, women now sport short hair). Men also wear ear studs, though only in one ear.

This is why my grandchildren say that I should have patented my style of wearing half pants and sporting kudumiand, of course, wearing the kadukkans. Alas, I did not think about it then and, now, I am the loser. My grandchildren say that they are the losers, as they have to be content only with my oral blessings on their birthdays.

Published: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST | Updated: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST

How I wish I had patented my ‘half pant,' pony tail and earstuds!

M. S. Subramanian

Grandpa, had you patented what you did in college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays!

When my grandchildren crowd round me in the night after dinner, they usually beg me to tell them about my young days and how I went to college and of my successes and failures.

Though my stock runs out, they are very eager to hear about on incidents again and again. Like a ‘stuck' gramophone record, I would tell them the same story night after night. After I finished the recounting the story, they would always exclaim, “Grandpa, had you patented what you did in the college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays, instead of the oral blessings now you are giving us.”

It becomes necessary for me to share with readers this tale which so fascinates my grandchildren. More than half a century ago, I came from our village to Madras to join college for my Pre-University Course. I suppose that is now an equivalent to the present 10 + 1.

As I was from the mofussil, I did not know that it was taboo to wear shorts (then called “half pant”) for college. I had only one pair of trousers (full pant) and many “half pants” and, out of necessity, I had to wear shorts. Within two days, I became famous in a negative way and acquired the tag “half pant.” I was called “the half pant,” even though I stopped wearing them after a week's time for fear of ridicule. Incidentally, none except schoolboys wore shorts in Madras those days. You could never see a young or middle-aged man or an elderly person wearing half pants,' unless he was a foreigner, who was exempt, I do not know why.

I also sported a luxurious pony tail, then called kudumi (tuft) and wore two kadukkans (earstuds). This gave the other students a lot of merriment and they also used to call me “girlie.” I wrote to my parents that I might be permitted to sport a cropped hair and also to remove the ear studs.

After considerable delay, and only after I threatened them that I would discontinue my studies did they relent and permit me to turn “modern.” In spite of all this, my tag as “half pant” did not disappear and all through my college career I was addressed only as half pant. A classmate always used to tease and taunt me and I had to bear it with a grin as he was double my size.

About five years ago, I came across that very same person, who is over 60 like me, and he was wearing shorts (which is a rage now among all people except children who seem to detest it) and I could not help laughing at the spectacle. I accosted him and asked him how come he wore half-pants now, having made fun of me in college. He slunk away with a shameful face, not only because he knew I had a point there, but also because I was double his size now!!

Now, I also find men sporting long hair like women (for a change, women now sport short hair). Men also wear ear studs, though only in one ear.

This is why my grandchildren say that I should have patented my style of wearing half pants and sporting kudumiand, of course, wearing the kadukkans. Alas, I did not think about it then and, now, I am the loser. My grandchildren say that they are the losers, as they have to be content only with my oral blessings on their birthdays.

Published: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST | Updated: July 10, 2011 09:07 IST

How I wish I had patented my ‘half pant,' pony tail and earstuds!

M. S. Subramanian

Grandpa, had you patented what you did in college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays!

When my grandchildren crowd round me in the night after dinner, they usually beg me to tell them about my young days and how I went to college and of my successes and failures.

Though my stock runs out, they are very eager to hear about on incidents again and again. Like a ‘stuck' gramophone record, I would tell them the same story night after night. After I finished the recounting the story, they would always exclaim, “Grandpa, had you patented what you did in the college, you would have become rich and you could have given us substantial presents for our birthdays, instead of the oral blessings now you are giving us.”

It becomes necessary for me to share with readers this tale which so fascinates my grandchildren. More than half a century ago, I came from our village to Madras to join college for my Pre-University Course. I suppose that is now an equivalent to the present 10 + 1.

As I was from the mofussil, I did not know that it was taboo to wear shorts (then called “half pant”) for college. I had only one pair of trousers (full pant) and many “half pants” and, out of necessity, I had to wear shorts. Within two days, I became famous in a negative way and acquired the tag “half pant.” I was called “the half pant,” even though I stopped wearing them after a week's time for fear of ridicule. Incidentally, none except schoolboys wore shorts in Madras those days. You could never see a young or middle-aged man or an elderly person wearing half pants,' unless he was a foreigner, who was exempt, I do not know why.

I also sported a luxurious pony tail, then called kudumi (tuft) and wore two kadukkans (earstuds). This gave the other students a lot of merriment and they also used to call me “girlie.” I wrote to my parents that I might be permitted to sport a cropped hair and also to remove the ear studs.

After considerable delay, and only after I threatened them that I would discontinue my studies did they relent and permit me to turn “modern.” In spite of all this, my tag as “half pant” did not disappear and all through my college career I was addressed only as half pant. A classmate always used to tease and taunt me and I had to bear it with a grin as he was double my size.

About five years ago, I came across that very same person, who is over 60 like me, and he was wearing shorts (which is a rage now among all people except children who seem to detest it) and I could not help laughing at the spectacle. I accosted him and asked him how come he wore half-pants now, having made fun of me in college. He slunk away with a shameful face, not only because he knew I had a point there, but also because I was double his size now!!

Now, I also find men sporting long hair like women (for a change, women now sport short hair). Men also wear ear studs, though only in one ear.

This is why my grandchildren say that I should have patented my style of wearing half pants and sporting kudumiand, of course, wearing the kadukkans. Alas, I did not think about it then and, now, I am the loser. My grandchildren say that they are the losers, as they have to be content only with my oral blessings on their birthdays.

Take care of drivers

DR. N. MOHANDAS

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Why are accidents on the increase? Many say that it is due to rash driving, not obeying road rules and regulations, bad road conditions and mechanical failure of the vehicle. Why is it so? Every one blames the vehicle or the road. No one thinks of the condition of the driver. It is a sad mistake that no one bothers about the health of drivers. Most of them suffer from diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease due to stress, irregular diet, sleepless nights and mental agony.

A driver identified with diabetic neuropathy (loss of sensation of the legs) or nephropathy (swelling of the legs) due to continuous driving can be a potential hazard to road safety. He is likely to lose his control at the accelerator or brakes at any time. Some drivers who suffer from retinopathy (involving eyesight) cannot tolerate bright light from a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Any slight fluctuation in the blood sugar level or blood pressure can cause giddiness and the driver may his lose his control at the steering wheel? While government transport drivers are forced to drive continuously from one destination to another much against their will, private operators are careful to engage two drivers on such long trips for them to take turns and relax.

A few young drivers (who are well paid) spend their money liberally on alcohol. At one point of time they become totally alcohol-dependent and develop sudden tremor and neuropathy. Statistics show that about 60 per cent of road accidents are caused by intoxicated driving. This is quite common among lorry and two-wheeler drivers. On festival days, liquor shops are flooded by two-wheeler riders. With the liquor working fast on them, there is no one to monitor their driving.

A friend of mine who is an ENT surgeon tells me that many drivers who go to him for treatment are hard of hearing, caused by the high frequency audio-video systems provided in the bus combined with noise pollution. There are instances of a number of accidents happening at the time of drivers changing cassettes in the audio and video players. Use of cell phones while driving is a known cause of accidents.

One of the possible remedies to this problem is subjecting the drivers to a periodical medical check-up. Their employers should change their job according to their physical condition. Employing two drivers on longer trips will help to avoid accidents caused by stress and fatigue. Regular ‘ambush checks' must be done to eliminate drunken-driving. The punishment must severe as in foreign countries for over-speeding and violation of rules.

As a doctor, I feel sad when I see those who have lost their organs in road accidents and those who for days together lie in bed in a coma or paralysis with brain injury, thus becoming a perennial burden to the family. Road safety not only depends on the drivers but also lies in our hands.

(The writer's email is: mohandas562@gmail.com)

When roads become killing fields, shouldn't we act?

DR. JUSTICE A. R. LAKSHMANAN

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India has one of the largest road networks in the world — 3,314 million km — consisting of national highways, expressways, State highways, major district roads, other district roads and village roads. About 65 per cent of freight and 86.7 per cent passenger traffic is carried by the roads. The motor vehicle population has recorded a significant growth over the years. Two-wheelers and cars (personalised mode of transport) constitute more than three-fourths of the motor vehicles.

According to a Maruti Suzuki weblog, more than 1,00,000 Indians are dying every year in road accidents. More than a million are injured or maimed. Many years ago, a study found that road accidents cost the country some Rs.550 billion every year.

A recent survey by the Central Road Research Institute shows that more than 90% pedestrians feel unsafe while crossing the roads, while they comprise more than 50% of road victims.

Is it due to a lack of apt provisions in our law that travel through Indian roads is a tryst with death?

All the more so, because despite the Supreme Court's directions to the police and all other authorities entrusted with the administration and enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and generally with the control of traffic in regard to traffic safety, reckless driving by government buses has not diminished.

In view of the above, I, as Chairman of the Law Commission of India, prepared a Consultation Paper on this important subject and suo motu made a recommendation to the Government of India through the Law Ministry and the Report No.234 is pending with the Ministry. In this article, I have dealt with the present Law of India IPC 1860, viz., Sec.279, 304A, 336, 337 and 338, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Road Traffic Act, 1988 and the Road Regulations 1989.

The then Law Commission also submitted its report (42nd Report) in June 1981 and examined the provisions of the IPC.

Any State government may, after previous publication, by notification make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions/rules, etc., in different areas of the State. Such rules may provide for

•the removal and the safe custody of the vehicles including their loads which have broken down or which have been left standing or have been abandoned on a highway;

•the determination, maintenance and management of parking places for the use of vehicles and animals and the fees, if any, which may be charged for their use;

•prohibiting the use of footpaths or pavements by vehicles or animals;

•prohibiting or restricting the use of audible signals at certain times or in certain places;

•regulating the loading of vehicles and in particular, limiting the loads carried in relation to the size and nature of the tyres fitted;

•a right of way for ambulances and fire brigade vehicles;

•the control of animals likely to frighten other animals or pedestrians;

•the control of children on highways;

•prohibiting the riding by more than two persons at the same time on cycles other than cycles designed for the purpose;

•prohibiting the riding of more than two cycles abreast;

•limiting the age of drivers of vehicles;

•regulating the driving of vehicles and animals at night; and

•regulating the use of highways by pedestrians. The State government may, after previous publication, by notification make rules regulating the construction, equipment and maintenance of vehicles used on highways and public places. Different rules may be made for different areas of the State.

The rules may be made under this Section governing any of the following matters either generally or in respect of public vehicles of a particular class or description or in particular circumstances, namely:

(a) the width, height and length of vehicles;

(b) the size, nature and condition of wheels and tyres;

(c) brakes;

(d) lamps and reflectors;

(e) warning devices;

(f) the inspection of vehicles by prescribed authorities;

(g) regulating the particulars exhibited on vehicles and the manner in which such particulars shall be exhibited.

The State government may also make rules for regulation of the use of public vehicles, viz., the issue, renewal or cancellation of driving licences, issue of permits etc.

•the documents, plates and marks to be carried by public vehicles, the manner in which they are to be carried and the language in which such documents is to be expressed;

•the badges and uniforms to be worn by drivers;

•the fees to be paid for permits, driving licences, duplicate copies of permits or driving licences, plates, badges, and appeals preferred before statutory authorities;

•the limiting of the number of public vehicles or public vehicles of any specified class or description, for which permits may be granted in any specified area, or on any specified route or routes;

•the fixing of maximum or minimum fares or freights;

•the maximum number of passengers or the maximum quantity of goods that may be carried in a public vehicle;

•the conditions subject to which passengers, luggage or goods may be carried in a public vehicle;

•the construction and fittings of and the equipment to be carried by public vehicles, whether generally or in specified areas or on specified routes; and

•the safe custody and disposal of property left behind in pubic vehicles;

Traffic personnel are not controlling traffic and discharging their duties effectively. People, whether educated or illiterate, have scant respect for traffic rules and regulations.

The traffic personnel should give immediate attention to the following and take effective steps to enforce discipline in regard to:

•Non-observance of traffic rules;

•Jumping the red light;

•Crossing the speed limit;

•Driving without valid licence;

•Driving under the influence of liquor/drugs;

•Driving while talking on the mobile;

•Driving without helmet;

•Overloading of passengers in autos/share autos;

•The driver's seat is occupied by a minimum of three persons in share autos/other autorikshaws and vehicles are parked haphazardly. Over-speed of scooter/motorcycle, crossing the yellow line or violating traffic rules;

•An entire family (minimum four persons) riding a scooter/motorcycle without realising that this is a traffic offence and such travel is at the risk of their lives;

•Government buses, no rule or regulation. Parking them at any place;

•One-way traffic signal/total violation;

•Suffocating jam-packing of stage carriages;

•Confiscation of vehicles fitted with LPG cylinders which are meant for home kitchen, arresting and prosecuting the owners/drivers of such vehicles;

•Weigh bridges should be installed at all entry and exit points to and from a city as well as toll collection centres to keep in check overloading of vehicles;

•Driving schools to impart training at a nominal fee by the government;

•Excess collection of fares by omnibuses during festival seasons. Stringent measures to be taken forthwith to cancel the licence of such offenders;

•There should be no exemption to Government vehicles from insurance against third party risk. Sec. 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act should be amended for the purpose;

•Enormous increase and growth in the population of vehicles in big cities;

•Easy availability of driving licence (reason is obvious);

•Increasing tendency of consumption of liquor while driving;

•There is pride/ego involved in fast driving of costly cars, with a sense of false status, by the children of rich people. (Refer BMW cases);

•Checking/setting and enforcing blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers with random breath testing at sobriety checkpoints;

•Speedbreakers affect traffic flow and are safety hazards, if not properly constructed;

•Traffic-related measures:

(i)Speed control

(ii)Entry restrictions

(iii)Separate lane for bus and cycle, etc.

•The situation in respect of State roads is still worse. The private sector also needs to be involved in the maintenance of national highways/State highways.

•Octroi and sales tax barriers are to be done away with now that the VAT system has come into force in many States.

•Mobile court/mobile policing should be introduced round the clock and it should not be limited to peak hours.

•Digging of roads by various agencies like telephones/electricity/corporation causing inconvenience to roadusers.

•Driving in the wrong direction, breaching speed limits, jumping traffic lights are common violations.

•Need for recognised driving training schools

•Auto drivers/share auto drivers fleecing passengers at railway stations.

•Misbehaviour by auto/share auto drivers with poor passengers. Periodical training must be given to them by the police.

•Introduction of mini-buses.

Steps to prohibit the use of pathways on either side of the road for running tea stalls, petty shops, vending fruits and vegetables, etc., should be implemented.

Measures to prevent road accidents may be preventive, precautionary and punitive. There is no denying that there is a need for improved road-watch, surveillance and detection, effective and holistic regulation of all kinds of traffic on the roads and proper deterrence. Roads are used not only by motorised transport but also by non-motorised transport as well as pedestrians. There is no comprehensive Central legislation to effectively and holistically regulate all kinds of traffic. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is relatable to Entry 35 of the Concurrent List and the National Highways Act, 1956 is relatable to Entry 23 of the Union List. The subject matter of roads, traffic thereon, and vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles falls under Entry 13 of the State List and therefore, outside the purview of Parliament. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution will be required to be amended for such comprehensive Central legislation. The Law Commission feels that there is a need for a comprehensive Central road traffic law.

As an important part of the enforcement measures, there should be compulsorily installed CCTV cameras at all vulnerable points to be determined by an expert committee to curb traffic violations.

There should be a vigorous campaign on the electronic media, including Doordarshan, All India Radio and private TV channels through regular programmes and debates, so as to create awareness among the general public of the imperative necessity to strictly follow traffic rules as well as highlight the consequences of rash and negligent driving.

As an important part of the enforcement measures, there should be established, through public-private partnership, recognised driving training schools in different parts of the country, equipped with simulators and obliged to follow properly devised driving training modules and impart training at a nominal fee.

As an important part of the enforcement measure, Rule 118 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making it mandatory for the notified transport vehicles to be fitted with an irremovable or tamper-proof speed governor sealed with an official seal of the Transport Authority, should be enforced more vigorously. Government vehicles should not be exempted from insurance against third-party risk and Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act should be amended for the purpose.

(The writer is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of the Law Commission of India. His email is: jusarlakshmanan@ gmail.com)

The shift away from nuclear power and towards renewables is based on reasoned debate and aimed at achieving objectives which are ambitious but realistic.

The shift away from nuclear power and towards renewables is based on reasoned debate and aimed at achieving objectives which are ambitious but realistic.

By 2022, Germany will have phased out nuclear energy. Until then, we will be investing even more heavily in the radical new direction of German energy policy. This decision represents another surge forward on Germany's road towards sustainable energy provisions sourced largely from renewables. In taking it, we have set ourselves an ambitious objective. Our intention now is to map out our long-term and irreversible progress along that road, heading for energy provision that is clean, affordable and safe. We will be investing in industries which are set to dominate the future.

The decision to phase out nuclear energy has the backing of a broad majority in German society. Civilian nuclear power has been the subject of a highly charged debate in both politics and society for many years. The broad democratic consensus we have reached is that this change of track on energy policy is possible — technically, conceptually and economically. The tragedy at Fukushima triggered a reassessment of the risks of nuclear power and accelerated our change of direction. However, Germany had decided before Fukushima to move towards renewable energy sources and bring about an end to its relationship with nuclear power. That policy chimes with our commitment to combat climate change. The targets for developing renewable energies, which the German government set in October 2010, have simply been shifted forward.

Our neighbours and partners have been observing our accelerated change of direction with great, sometimes sceptical, interest. But one thing is indisputable: on the basis of reasoned debate, we have set ourselves objectives which are ambitious but realistic. We will act responsibly in our work towards all these goals, seeking always to ensure security of supply, affordability and respect for the climate and the environment. Until March 2011, Germany's 17 nuclear reactors generated 22 per cent of our country's electricity needs. After eight reactors were taken off the grid in March 2011, the remaining nine cover 15 per cent of the demand. Even with the eight oldest reactors offline, our guaranteed capacity is still more than our highest ever domestic consumption.

For the time being, the deficit caused by taking those reactors out of the equation is being met by new, renewable capacities, better system management and improved efficiency.

In future, nuclear power will gradually be replaced by energy from renewable sources and low-carbon gas power plants. We will continue to need fossil-fuel power plants for an interim period, to bridge the technological gap. Nevertheless, our climate change targets will remain unaffected. We still aim to achieve the EU-wide target of lowering CO{-2} emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 as well as our national target of a 40 per cent reduction.

In 2010, 17 per cent of Germany's electricity came from renewable sources. We plan to make this 35 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2030. Germany's change of direction is not going to make us more dependent on other countries. The German government is investing more than ever in the three key areas to ensure its power supplies: enhancing the grid, developing renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.

Each country must decide its own energy mix, this has recently been underlined by Chancellor Merkel during her talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the first Indo-German governmental consultations. However, there are many dangers which do not stop at national borders. It is, therefore, a good thing to have EU stress tests to provide reliable and comparable assessments of nuclear power plant safety. We should also be making it our common goal in international bodies like the IAEA to ensure the greatest possible safety by establishing the highest possible standards. We must not allow a disaster like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima to happen again.

If we are to achieve our goals in energy and climate change, we need to complete the European internal market for energy too. This will involve working on energy efficiency, continuing to enhance the internal energy market and competition to benefit the consumer, improving infrastructure to better secure supply, and diversifying among sources and supply routes. National grids need to be connected intelligently and with an eye for what is needed. Any potential for saving energy needs to be optimally exploited. Energy saving is crucial as a source to help cover our energy needs.

In my work as Foreign Minister, I campaign for all of us around the world to be able to use the opportunities opened up by globally developing renewable energy. We are helping to implement the Desertec concept, which enables clean electricity from solar, wind and even photovoltaic power to be generated in desert regions and delivered to industrialised countries across the globe. Solutions that yesterday seemed utopian or completely unaffordable are now technically and economically possible or tangibly close to realisation. In Germany, renewables have already created a lot of jobs. Fast growing emerging and developing countries can also benefit from the new technology to make their growth more sustainable.

Our partner India has great potential to be a leader in the production of renewable energies and the German government observes India's policies in this area, such as the Solar Mission, with great interest. Renewables have become a prominent topic in our Indo-German Energy Forum, which was established in April 2006 by Prime Minister Mr. Singh and Chancellor Ms Merkel, and which brings government and industry representatives together for a political and project dialogue on a yearly basis. The Forum is something very special: it is the only such body we have ever set up to foster our energy relations with another country.

Both renewables and energy efficiency are also a priority area of our bilateral development cooperation. We are jointly planning to set up solar plants in India and working on models which are economically viable, ecologically sustainable and manageable for government administration, for example in decentralized renewable energy supply, an area of particular importance for rural livelihoods. There is a lot of fruitful cooperation already going on — and Germany stands ready to expand this in the future.

With this acceleration of its energy revolution, Germany, one of the world's leading industrialized nations, is pursuing a path which it has been travelling in terms of technology and planning for some time. Our new direction on energy will not be to the detriment of our capacities, our environment or our neighbours. It will open the door to efficient, sustainable, safe and economically sound energy policies for the 21st century. We invite our partners to collaborate on this closely and constructively, and to make full use of the opportunities at hand.

(The writer is Foreign Minister of Germany.)