DOI 10.4010/2016.1484 ISSN 2321 3361 © 2016 IJESC Research Article Volume 6 Issue No. 5 Alarming Issues in Malwa Region of Punjab Karamveer Kaur Brar1, Amandeep2 Research Scholar1, 2 Punjabi University, Patiala1, Punjab Technical University, Jalandher2 [email protected], [email protected] Abstract: The state of Punjab is a part of the world’s first and oldest civilisations. The state of Punjab has been showcased as an Indian agricultural success story since the Green Revolution. Nowadays Punjab becomes grain bowl of the country. Punjab has more popular regional divisions’ viz., Majha, Doaba and Malwa regions. Malwa is a natural region in west-central northern India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. This Region covers as many as 15 districts of Punjab. Malwa Region contribution in Primary, Secondary and Territory sector is at increasing pace which makes it backbone of Punjab. Agriculture revolution in this region has generated and provides the much needed food security to the nation(s) and at the same time, Malwa Region is today battling so many problems, This paper has tried to cover different alarming issues of Malwa Region which are diluting poison in this ‘Makheon meetha Malwa’ for instance, Gender imbalance, Drug addiction, Skill Gap, Peasant’s Suicides in agricultural heartland, Desperate Youth, Instability in Peace, Curse of Cancer. Present paper also enlightens the way out for these burning problems. Keywords: Agriculture revolution, Alarming issues, Desperate Youth, Gender imbalance, Malwa Regions, Skill Gap 1. Introduction Curse of Cancer. Present paper also enlightens the way out for “He who has bread has many problems; these burning problems. He who does not have bread has only one problem.”- Byzantine 3.Research Methodology The study is based on secondary data collected from reputed Punjab, the richest state in India that throbs with the vibrant articles of research journals, books, prominent sites, reports culture, has always moved on the path of prosperity. The state etc relevant to present study. The study is all about to focus on known as the “Food basket and Granary of India", has been alarming issues of Malwa Punjab. awarded National Productivity Award for agriculture extension services for consecutively ten years from 1991-92 to 4.Gender Discrimination 1998-99 and 2001 to 2003-04. Once India's fastest growing To achieve fatherhood or motherhood is the greatest, happiest state, Punjab is now one of its slowest, with about 6% and the most satisfying and soothing feeling in this world economic expansion annually in recent years, compared with a irrespective of the sex of the child. But in which circumstances national average of 8.5% and top-performing regions that are the social structure of the state has tilted towards the clocking 11% growth. With few good industry jobs being preference for sons is a very tricky and difficult question to created, urban unemployment is a shocking 15.2%. Punjab's answer. The most important reason which is not talked about struggles offer one scenario of what might happen next in for the neglect of the girl child is that Punjabi society attaches India if the central government doesn't address longstanding too much “izzat” (honour) to the name of the daughter. Sons challenges. The state's woes also are a stark warning that rapid may indulge in any anti social or immoral activity but the economic growth can't be taken for granted, even in regions honour of the family is not at stake. This is not the case with that have long been star performers. Malwa is one of the three daughters. Newspapers daily carry reports of rape and sexual main divisions of the present Punjab state of India, the other exploitation of girls. Loss of virginity for unmarried daughters two being Majha and Doaba. Malwa is a natural region in is loss of honour for the family. It is considered to be a sin for west-central northern India occupying a plateau of volcanic which she cannot be forgiven. She is the victim of the crime origin. This Region covers as many as approximate15 districts but becomes herself criminal in the eyes of the society. Social of Punjab. Malwa Region contribution in Primary, Secondary pressure is mounted to such an extent and Territory sector is at increasing pace which makes it on the girl and her parents that they feel guilty without having backbone of Punjab, but at the same time Malwa Region is done anything wrong. This fear of loss of “izzat” becomes the today battling so many problems like Gender imbalance, Drug cause of their rejection at the prenatal stage. According to Addiction, Skill gap, Peasant’s suicide etc. UNICEF (1999) the girls in India are discriminated in the 2.Objectives- The Main objective of present paper is to cover form of less medical help in case they fall sick, no special food different alarming issues of Malwa Region like Gender and very little parental attention. Due to this girls are more imbalance, Drug addiction, Skill Gap, Peasant’s Suicides in prone to infections and diseases than boys which results in agricultural heartland, Desperate Youth, Instability of Peace, their poor health and short life span. This discrimination International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, May 2016 6134 http://ijesc.org/ against girls throughout their life is more lethal than feticide quacks, drug peddlers and truck drivers have been identified and infanticide. Punjab is a horrible and a fit case of such as the main supply source of drugs in Punjab. In the villages, barbaric discrimination. The sex ratio in Punjab as started to the chemist shops, which are meant to be the lifeline for the look up as 83 panchayats in the state have achieved a sex ratio villagers are one major source of illegal drugs for the village of 1000 girls for the same number of boys. Though these people. panchayats are small in number as compared to 12000 villages in the state yet it is a good beginning. The department of 6.Peasent’s suicide Health and Family Welfare has given 1.5 lakh cash to each of The state of Punjab has been showcased as an Indian these panchayats as a reward which will further encourage agricultural success story since the Green Revolution, which other panchayats to follow in their footsteps. The department was the parcel of development initiatives undertaken by has inspected 3642 ultrasound centers across the state since developed countries in the late 1960s and 1970s to aid April 2010 to ensure they did not indulge in female feticide. developing counties in increasing their crop yield. Yet, since Notices have been sent to 144 of the centres under section 20 this time there has been a steady increase in the number of of the PNDT Act. Licenses of 96 centers were suspended economically-related suicides by Punjabi farmers. In Indian where as license of 5 centres were cancelled following Punjab, one various groups are reporting a significant number different violations (The Tribune January 6, 2011). The of farmer suicides. Movement against State Repression programme under the name of “Nanhi Chhan” has been (MASR), an NGO working in Southern Punjab for the past launched in whole of Punjab by Harsimrat Kaur Badal two decades, has recorded 1,738 suicides in 91 Punjabi member of Parliament representing Bathinda constituency to villages between 1988 and 2014. These 91 villages are from protect “Rukh Te Kukh” (Womb and Plants). Under this two sub-subdivisions of District Sangrur, one of the 22 programme various plants and the literature about the districts of Punjab. MASR estimates at least 50,000 suicides protection of girl child is distributed free of cost. The lectures, have occurred across Punjab over the last two decades, though seminars and debates are organized enlightening the not all districts are equally affected. Sangrur, Mansa and importance of girls and trees in our life. In the mid of January Bathinda districts show a high trend among farmers to commit a festival ‘Lohri’ previously which was reserved to be suicide compared to other districts of the state. A staggering celebrated exclusively for sons born in that year in the family 63 per cent of these suicides took place in three districts of is now being celebrated for the newly born daughters also. Sangrur, Mansa and Bathinda. Sangrur reported 1,132 cases State level Lohri functions are planned for the girls in order to between the years 2000 to 2008, followed by Mansa, which realize the society about the equality of sons and daughters. witnessed 1,013 cases, including highest number (414) of suicides by farm workers. Bathinda is third with 827 cases 5.DrugAddiction followed by comparatively smaller district of Barnala, which Now a days the addiction is the worst illness of our society reported 532 cases. Other districts with three-digit figures on and it has been spreading its tentacles throughout the nation farm suicides due to high debt are Ludhiana (344), Moga and the world. No society has been free from this malady. (292), Patiala (126) and Muktsar (102), the home turf of ruling There is evidence that it can damage the brain and the mind, Badals. A State Government-commissioned report by Punjab increase the risk of strokes, seizures, dementia, liver diseases, Agriculture University reports 2,990 suicides in the two cancer and hypertension. The per capital alcohol consumption Districts – 1256 in Bathinda and 1634 in Sangrur between in Punjab is considered to be the highest in the world. The 1990 and 2010. After this report the Punjab finance minister in survey on Drug Abuse in Punjab conducted by Institute of the 2012-13 budget had allocated Rs 30 crore — Rs 2 lakh for Development and Communication, Chandigarh in 2003, each suicide-hit family.