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Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is bliss "Informed debate' is an oxymoron in the Indian parliamentarian's dictionary. The passing of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2002, in parliament on December 19 seems to have reconfirmed this.

After more than half a decade of rumination by the Union ministry of environment and forests (mef), the bill was finally tabled in the current session. It sailed through the two houses with the most listless of debates. This, on an issue bound to affect the future of millions on the margin of subsistence.

The mef tabled the bill with utmost secrecy (see: Down To Earth, Vol 11, No 14, December 15, 2002). The members of parliament (mps), however, found the bill to be of

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