All English Editorial 11.08.2022

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8 EDITORIAL DELHI
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022

THE HINDU
COVID19, arguably, has become endemic in India

It is time to deal with COVID19 just like any other health condition and integrate interventions in general health service
has been insufficient attention on ryone and every member of Here is another example. HIV/
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
an objective assessment of what society. AIDS was an epidemic in the
Uncle Volte-face constitutes the endemic stage or
endemicity.
The risk of infection and disease
under COVID19, till early 2022,
mid1990s. Now, HIV/AIDS cases
are reported regularly but it is en
Nitish Kumar will find convincing voters An important point to remem was unknown, and the outcome demic because all societies/coun
ber is that the terms, outbreaks, unpredictable. Two and half years tries have agreed to it being an ac
more difficult than finding allies Chandrakant Lahariya epidemics, and pandemics reflect into the pandemic — the risk of get ceptable risk. Let us examine the
N
itish Kumar has done it again — a volteface. only the geographical spread. Out ting COVID19 continues and will data angle as well. In JuneJuly
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and now the breaks are a localised spread while always be greater than zero, for 2022, around 30 deaths are being
T
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, he infectious disease ‘out an epidemic is when a disease af when it was relatively easy to con long. However, there is better un reported every day on average in
used to call the Janata Dal (U) chief, paltu chacha — ‘un breaks’ or ‘epidemics’ or fects a large geographical area clude a defined year. Then, the in derstanding now of who will get people who tested COVID19 (but
cle turnaround’. In his latest Uturn, Mr. Kumar has ‘pandemics’ share a fate — within a country or a few coun fections and cases in three major severe diseases. The risk of the so did not necessarily die due to CO
joined hands with Mr. Yadav, five years after they part there is a day when the majority of tries. A pandemic is when multiple influenza pandemics in the 20th cial and economic impacts due to VID19). These numbers need to
them run their course and fade countries in different regions of century (191820, 1957 and 1967 COVID19 is minimal and close to be seen in perspective. In India, an
ed ways, and turned the tables on the Bharatiya Janata
away. However, a small proportion the world are affected. The severi 68) were identified based on zero. In such a backdrop, it is fair estimated 26,000 to 27,000 peo
Party (BJP) in the process. According to the JD(U), the (of epidemics or pandemics) tran ty of the disease has no or very li symptoms; laboratory testing was to conclude that while the health ple die every day due to a variety
BJP was scheming to split it and sabotage Mr. Kumar’s sitions to the stage of endemicity, mited linkage with this classifica not available for the pandemic in challenges of SARSCoV2 remain, of reasons which includes even
government from the inside. The BJP has dismissed this i.e., a level of transmission which tion and a disease could be mild; 191820 and was very limited in the socioeconomic impact is old age. These daily deaths in
allegation, pointing out that it could not have formed a is not considered to be a major but if it is widespread, it could be subsequent ones. In fact, in the blunted. It is a good starting point clude 120 deaths every day due to
government even if the JD(U) were to split. Mr. Kumar concern by the public or health termed a pandemic. COVID19 be 191820 flu pandemic, even the vi to believe that the COVID19 pan pregnancyrelated causes; 350 to
has won this round in the game of smoke and mirrors authorities. It has been 29 months gan as an outbreak in China, be rus was not identified (it was first demic in India has moved to its en 600 deaths in road accidents;
since COVID19 was declared a came epidemic afterwards when identified in 1933). If those clinical demic stage. However, that is not 1,400 attributed to tuberculosis;
that he has had with the BJP, and earned himself a pat
pandemic. However, new CO more countries were affected, and criteria of yesteryears are applied the same as saying that the pan around 2,000 deaths in children
on the back from the antiBJP camp. But his cleverness VID19 cases are still continuing to then, finally, was declared a pan in ongoing COVID19 cases which demic is over. In epidemiology younger than five years due to dif
and manoeuvring skills may not be lauded by the peo be reported from different parts of demic on March 11, 2020. It was are now either mild and/or asymp and public health, context (local ferent reasons, and 4,000 deaths
ple of Bihar whose sights might be more fixated on his the world, including India, on a not linked to the severity of dis tomatic (thanks to vaccination and setting, infection rate and vaccine every day attributed to tobacco
political trapeze act — after being with the BJP for long, regular basis. In fact, the numbers ease. Severe Acute Respiratory natural infection), one can con coverage) determines the disease and other related causes. Every ef
he fought the 2015 Assembly elections with the RJD, of daily new COVID19 cases in ma Syndrome (SARS), in 200204, was clude that the COVID19 epidemic spread. Therefore, in the ongoing fort should be made to avoid any
and split with it in 2017 to return to the BJP’s embrace. ny countries are more than what a very serious disease, with one in is over in many countries. COVID19 pandemic, every coun death that is preventable. No so
had been reported at the peak of 10 people who were affected dy One of the ways to differentiate try would reach an endemic stage ciety should be overly fixated over
Politics makes for strange bedfellows, but Mr. Kumar
the national waves in those coun ing; it was not declared a pandem between ‘pandemic’ and ‘endem at different points of time. Coun only one disease or health chal
has stretched the limits of ideological infidelity. He had tries before the emergence of Om ic because severity does not deter ic’ is the ‘socioeconomic’ impact. tries that had higher vaccination lenges. Clearly, COVID19 is one of
accused the RJD of corruption in defence of his split icron as a variant of concern. Ho mine this classification. Pandemics are not merely health coverage and higher natural infec the many challenges and cannot
with it in 2017. His explanation for walking out of the al wever, the severity of COVID19 events but also encompass the so tion (such as India) are likely to continue to be the top and the only
liance with the BJP that won the election in 2020 is un infections is low and the burden of Here to stay cial and economic implications of reach this stage early. Countries health priority.
likely to convince people. health services due to intensive New diseases usually do not disap infections and diseases. For nearly with low natural infection and vac The ongoing COVID19 pandem
Twice in five years, Mr. Kumar changed partners, care unit and hospital admission pear completely. Chikungunya, two years, a large number of SARS cination coverage (as in Africa) ic at the global level does not mean
both the times trampling over the mandate entrusted to even lower. COVID19 vaccination dengue and many respiratory vi CoV2 infections were happening would reach an endemic stage a every country needs to have simi
coverage is increasing and, in ma ruses usually stay within popula in a short period of time — by a no little later. lar interventions in its response.
him by the people of Bihar. Those in the Opposition
ny countries, COVID19 related tions once they enter a popula vel virus in a population which India, arguably, has reached a
camp who see this blatant opportunism as hope of an restrictions have either been re tion. Twentynine months into the was completely immunologically A disease perspective stage where COVID19 can be con
antiBJP politics ahead of 2024 are clutching at straws. moved completely or relaxed to a pandemic, there is consensus that naive — illnesses required hospital There is another dimension to the sidered to be in its endemic stage.
At the moment, all that the new alliance of JD(U) and large extent. SARSCoV2 will stay with humani isation and health facilities were pandemic and endemic debate. It is time to deal with the COVID19
RJD along with the Congress and the Left parties ty for long, possibly for years and overwhelmed. The infections, ill Since pandemics have a social im just like any other health condi
achieves is their survival in the immediate term. The Much opinion even decades. Cases are being re nesses and hospitalisations under pact, the decision on when a coun tion and integrate COVID19 inter
road to 2024 and beyond is a long one from here, and After the third wave in January ported from all countries and standably resulted in fear, panic try has reached an endemic stage ventions in general health servic
2022, India saw the lowest number parts of the world and are likely to and economic and social disrup is also determined by societal per es. It is time people do a
there is little that is predictable about Mr. Kumar en
of daily new COVID19 cases in be reported in the time ahead. In tion. The interventions to halt the spective of ‘the acceptable risk’. selfassessment of their COVID19
route. A lot will depend on how supporters of the indi March and April this year. Howev this situation, it is important to ask transmission of SARSCoV2, i.e., There are a number of countries risk and undertake voluntary pre
vidual partners of the alliance respond to this abrupt er, since then, daily cases have how diseases transition from epi lockdowns, quarantines, national across the world where societies cautionary measures. COVID19
realignment, and how the JD(U) and the RJD respond to spiked to around 18,000 a day. In demic or pandemic to the endem and international travel bans and have returned to ‘normalcy mode’ vaccination should become part of
the signals from below. Though the BJP has suffered a fact, in the last two months every ic state. school closure were equally un even though the per million daily the routine immunisation pro
setback, a new window has opened for it in Bihar, as the rise and fall in daily cases in India We usually go back to history to precedented. There was a loss for cases in many settings are higher gramme. There are other health
sole claimant of all antiincumbency votes. Central in revives the discussion on whether get such answers. However, in the many in terms of their sources of than cases at the peak of earlier challenges that are waiting to be
COVID19 continues to remain case of the COVID19 pandemic, income after the ensuing social waves. The United States has re tackled.
vestigative agencies could get active against key figures
pandemic or has become endem historical references are not very disruption and economic slow turned to a ‘no mandatory CO
in the new ruling coalition, but a more reasonable thing ic. Yet, consensus is missing. Part useful. The end points of the pan down. Clearly, the impact was not VID19 test’ for inbound passen Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya is a
for the BJP to do is to be more respectful of its partners of the reason is that the discourse demics prior to the 18th century restricted to those who tested CO gers. In Europe, many countries primary-care physician, infectious
and opponents. As the Shiv Sena and the JD(U) will af is dominated by opinion and there were determined retrospectively, VID19 positive; it has affected eve are back to full normalcy. diseases specialist and vaccines expert
firm, the BJP as a friend is more dangerous than the BJP
Words of wisdom for the Congress’s ‘last Mughals’

as an enemy. The BJP seems intent on expanding its
base at the expense of friends and foes alike. While this
is good as a longterm strategy, it runs the risk of under
mining established power equations and coalition go
vernments in the near term. And in politics, as in other
With only paper champions defending the idea of India, the party must selfreflect critically to fathom its predicament
aspects of life, there is no longterm future if one is un on those foundations. It not only ly pure Rashtriya Swayamsevak (Amendment) Act, the National
able to survive in the short term. engendered a rapidly growing and Sangh (RSS) type cadre, without Register of Citizens, farmer’s re
globalising India but even consoli hankering for political power (till monstrations, or the Agnipath
Fair and square dated citizenship rights and wel
fare. India’s growth even sur
2029 or even 2034). It is this fac
tion that has persuaded the leader
scheme for the armed forces. In
contrast, the Congress chose to
Uzbekistan and Ukraine won the team events, passed China’s during the first ship to distrust supposedly power protest Rahul Gandhi’s interroga
Rahul Mukherji decade of the new millennium, hungry Congress leaders, and re tion by the Enforcement Directo
but India showcased its talent to the fullest
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
while historic financial and human place them instead with outsiders rate in the alleged National Herald
T
he 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad, which investments were made to redistri such as Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh scam.
O
concluded at the historical town of Mamallapu n the eve of India’s 75th bute that wealth. These remarka Mewani, Alpesh Thakore, Hardik And, finally, the Congress’s en
ram near Chennai on Tuesday, will be talked year of Independence, we ble achievements are forgotten Patel, Nana Patole, Revanth Red viable connections within the state
about for a long time, for all the right reasons. It was ori the people of India are today. dy, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Siddhara and society have collapsed. The
groaning under the poison of Hin maiah, etc. party once commanded an enor
ginally slated to be held in Russia in 2020, but the coro
dutva and a rudderless Opposi India’s Congress problem elections. A clear political narrative will mous network within the adminis
navirus pandemic forced a postponement. Then, Rus tion. Collectively, these two fac Today, we find only paper cham Unsurprisingly therefore, a re need a new Congress leader who tration, media, civil society, and
sia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted the world chess tors are overseeing the pions defending that idea of India. port recommending radical re can create a consensus out of this even with foreign governments. It
governing body, FIDE, to look for a new venue for what destruction of India’s political lib The once mighty Congress Party, forms chaired by the former Maha maze. Such a leader would need could raise substantial funds. This
is the game’s most prestigious and largest team event. eralism. There is little hope for the bulwark of the Indian national rashtra Chief Minister Ashok the intellectual sophistication to infrastructure was a resource that
Chennai was chosen as the host in March but the visi constitutional values such as sarva ist movement, is in a state of such Chavan was summarily assigned to weave a propoor, secular and lib the party could leverage to sup
tors to the Olympiad — there were thousands of them dharma sama bhava (equal respect disarray that even Opposition par the dustbin of history by loyalists. eral outlook with. Given that India port less wellendowed parties in a
for all religions under the law), ties consider it to be a liability. The recent recommendations has a youthful population, this coalition. If it cannot deliver on all
every day — would have been surprised to learn that the
and the same treatment for all citi How is it that a party that go made at the Chintan Shivir (Reflec leader would need to be young these, why should Opposition par
event, featuring more than 1,700 participants from 186 zens. Quite tragically, we are in a verned India for nearly 60 years tion Conclave) held in Udaipur and energetic as well. ties work with the Congress? Yet,
countries, was being staged at such a short notice. situation where India could has been reduced to a sideshow? earlier this year (May 1315, 2022) Third, successful political lea the team led by Rahul Gandhi has
FIDE’s managing director Dana ReiznieceOzola, who is morph into a Hindu Pakistan, as To comprehend this predicament may see a similar fate. Former Del dership demands a combination failed in strengthening old bonds
a former Minister of Economics and Finance in the go was willed by the assassins of Mo and evolve, the Party must selfre hi Chief Minister, the late Sheila of charisma and astute political and creating new ties. This is why
vernment of Latvia, besides being a champion chess handas Gandhi. flect critically on four salient Dikshit’s son, Sandeep Dikshit, management. The charismatic the Congress’s sphere of influence
player, praised India for completing what she called a factors. was not even invited to the con leader can draw the crowds while is shrinking rapidly.
mission impossible. The ball got rolling when the All In Political development First, the Congress Party has a clave, among significant others. the political manager strategises
India’s foundational figures had leadership problem. It has much That the Congress Party would re elections, makes the machinery of The future
dia Chess Federation’s proposal was accepted by the
understood the importance of reli to do with those who control the fuse to introspect after the catas government work, and ensures ad The milliondollar question is:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin. To its credit, the gious diversity. Swami Vivekanan reins of the party in the name of trophic political losses is mind herence to the party’s ideological where will the Congress go? Will
Tamil Nadu government was willing to spend more da, the patron saint of the Indian the Gandhis. Sonia Gandhi’s man boggling. agenda. the party gerrymander its internal
than ₹100 crore on a sport that is not anywhere nearly youth, had argued for the necessi agers such as Ahmed Patel, Motilal Second, while experimentation Nehru had a Sardar Patel to polls due in September 2022 till a
as glamorous as cricket or football. In 2013, the Tamil ty of religious diversity. Netaji Sub Vora, Janardan Dwivedi, Oscar with political tactics is healthy, work with. While Nehru articulat Gandhi is reanointed as president?
Nadu government had conducted at Chennai the World hash Chandra Bose’s Indian Na Fernandes and Ambika Soni were ideological confusion is not. To ed the idea of India, Patel ran the Or, will it once again delay the
chess championship match between local boy Viswa tional Army had consistently politically grounded, and well day’s Congress high command party. This model was replicated election hoping that Rahul Gandhi
worked with all the faiths to defeat versed with realpolitik. swings between the extreme right under the United Progressive Al changes his mind after the Bharat
nathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, but the size and lo
the British. Bose’s closest asso Rahul Gandhi, on the other (flirting with soft Hindutva) and liance (UPA) government, which Jodo Yatra (now from September)?
gistics of that event cannot be compared with that of ciates were Muslims. The expe hand, wanted to assume the role the extreme left (flirting with radi Dr. Manmohan Singh ran, while In that case, the Gandhis, like Ba
the Olympiad. rience of the struggle for freedom of a democratiser within the party cal antiestablishment ideas). The Ahmed Patel managed the party. hadur Shah Zafar and his sons,
Nine years later, when bigtime chess returned to his was enshrined in the constitution by experimenting with the party’s rightwing leadership matches The same can be said regarding might well be the Congress’s last
home town, Anand had become less busy as a player al idea of India, that was created youth and student wings. Yet, he Hindutva by visiting temples, the political success of Narendra Mughals. However, they still have
and was more of a mentor, columnist and, before the by Maulana Azad, Jawaharlal Neh has ironically replicated the very flaunting the sacred thread, and, Modi and Amit Shah. the time to invest in the right per
Olympiad was over, FIDE’s new deputy president. But ru, B.R. Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, high command model of his moth soft peddling on issues such as the Even though Rahul Gandhi has sons, so that the Congress Party
among numerous other stalwarts. er and grandmother, with the dif Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the declined the throne of the Con can move forward. This is the best
the fivetime world champion had singlehandedly re
The legacy of the freedom ference that his team is politically dilution of Article 370, and numer gress President since 2019, his service that the Gandhis can per
volutionised Indian chess so much so that it could af struggle was the fundamental rea inept and rudderless. K.C. Venugo ous attacks on minorities. Such a team calls the shots, supposedly at form for the party, and for pre
ford to field three teams at the Olympiad. Two of them son India shocked the world by pal, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay Maken disposition of the three Gandhis his behest. Hence, in the public serving much that is precious in
— India 2 in the open section and India 1 in the women’s turning into a resilient democracy and Randeep Surjewala do not would have saddened Jawaharlal eye, he and Priyanka Gandhi Va India’s civilisational journey.
— went on to win the bronze medals, living up to India’s with abundant poverty, where ci possess the political acumen of a Nehru. dra have run the party to the
growing reputation as a powerhouse in world chess. In vilian control over the military was Digvijay Singh or an Ashok Gehlot. On the other hand, the Con ground. The party was absent Rahul Mukherji is Professor and Chair,
dia won another seven individual medals to cap off its established. The Congress Party, None of these and other advisers gress’s left faction wishes to create from almost all the major protests, Modern Politics of South Asia, South Asia
led by Sonia Gandhi, largely built have honed the art of winning an anticorporate and ideological on issues such as the Citizenship Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany
greatest Olympiad campaign ever. Many of those me
dals were won by teenagers. Youngsters such as D. Gu
kesh, Nihal Sarin, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
and Raunak Sadhwani promise even greater things for
To read more letters
Indian chess. There was unprecedented interest in Bihar politics politics” (Page 1, “Nitish ■ Sadly, by his frequent parties. It was only recently Chennai has proved among online, scan the QR code
chess from the public and the media, which will do a In severing ties with his Kumar dumps BJP for RJD, flipflops, Mr. Kumar scores that the party’s chief other things that India is
world of good to the game. Uzbekistan won the men’s alliance partner, the set to form govt. afresh”, very low in the “reliability ‘threatened’ to eliminate all capable of conducting a ■ The Olympiad was a
team event but perhaps the greatest story of the Chess Bharatiya Janata Party August 10). Perhaps he quotient” despite his clean regional parties, which was major event. The mission wellconducted event from
(BJP), and joining hands ought to have tendered his image. To remain a member totally undemocratic. was planned meticulously beginning to end. There is no
Olympiad was not authored by either Uzbekistan or In
with the Rashtriya Janata resignation and sought of a credible antiBJP force, S.K. Choudhury, and executed without flaw, doubt that the Tamil Nadu
dia, but by a group of five women from wartorn Uk Dal (RJD) now, Nitish fresh elections, maybe in he must focus on governance Bengaluru also due to the keen interest government and the Chief
raine. The gold they won should brighten up the Kumar has yet again proved alliance with the RJD and in association with his allies. taken by the Tamil Nadu Minister have brought laurels
sombre mood back home; it also reflects sport’s indom the political line that “there other likeminded parties. The BJP too must tone down A pat for T.N. Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin. to the State.
itable spirit. is neither a permanent foe A. Jainulabdeen, its rhetoric of targeting and The just concluded 44th Anna Mary Yvonne, C.A.C. Murugappan,
nor a permanent friend in Chennai ridiculing the regional FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai Kothamangalam, Tamil Nadu
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
DELHI
OPED 9
A new global vision for G20 The grammar of VIP security

A shift is required from commitments on aid and trade to collaboration around science and technology If checks are carried out before the arrival of the VIP and access
control is ensured after, assassinations are largely preventable
in services and retail that made up
for the losses to high productivity the driver. But since the driver was not tho
manufacturing, and climate change. roughly known and was therefore regarded
A forum to exchange experiences on unchecked, a police driver was given train
societal benefits and growth as com ing in that car and deployed.
plementary goals would lead to fresh Similarly, unchecked people are not al
Mukul Sanwal thinking on employment and lowed near the protectee, however well
environment. E. Damodar known they are and if even if they have an
While India has taken a clear view of Third, harnessing the potential of appointment with the protectee. They must
the role of the G20, there is concern the digitalinformationtechnology There are parallels between the assassina be checked. Once, I.K. Gujral, then Prime Mi
that the agenda, themes and focus revolution requires redefining digital tions of Shinzo Abe and Rajiv Gandhi. Both nister, was staying in the Andhra Pradesh Raj
areas which India will set for 2023 access as a “universal service” that of them were shot during an election cam Bhavan. D.R. Karthikeyan, an Indian Police
lack vision. goes beyond physical connectivity to paign. Abe, a former Prime Minister of Ja Service officer, had an appointment with
The G20 plays an important role sharing specific opportunities availa pan, was killed by Tetsuya Yamagami who him. When Mr. Karthikeyan got up to meet
in shaping and strengthening global ble. For global society to reap the reportedly held a grudge against a “specific him, a commandant of the CRPF accompa
architecture and governance on all fruits of the new set of network tech organisation”, possibly a religious group, nied him with a bouquet. A local security
major international economic issues. nologies, open access software that he believed was linked to Abe. Gandhi personnel objected to the commandant en
It recognises that global prosperity is should be offered for more costef was killed by Dhanu, an operative of the Lib tering with an unchecked bouquet.
interdependent and economic op fective service delivery options, good eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which was ap Unauthorised means that even though the
portunities and challenges are inter G20 leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome, Italy, in governance and sustainable prehensive of the redeployment of the In visitor may be known and has been checked,
linked. The challenge is to craft new 2021. AFP *
development. dian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. The they must have a purpose to be so close to
approaches to overcome the acute Fourth, space is the next frontier details of a VIP’s security vary depending on the protectee. Once, P.V. Narasimha Rao was
global discord. countries to take sides in the strateg economies are no longer to be consi for finding solutions to problems of place, time, and the stature and threat per on the dais to felicitate Swamy Sivananda at
However, according to the Minis ic competition as they have a real dered the source of problems need natural resource management rang ception of the protectee. However, these de an auditorium in Visakhapatnam. His son
try of External Affairs, in 190 meet choice requires fresh thinking on the ing external solutions but source of ing from climate changerelated nat tails lend themselves to a few basic princi wanted to stand next to him on the dais, but
ings, India will strengthen interna nature and form of collaboration solutions to shared problems. Third, ural disasters, supporting agricultu ples, called the grammar of VIP security. was not allowed. The rationale was that
tional support for priorities of vital from the G20. the BRICS provides an appropriate ral innovation to urban and This grammar can be subsumed under two there was no reason for the son to be so close
importance to developing countries Third, the primary role of the G20, model for governance institutions infrastructure planning. Analysing broad principles: antisabotage checks and to the Prime Minister as it had already been
in diverse social and economic sec which accounts for 95% of the suitable for the 21st century where a Earth observation data will require access control. decided who would be on the dais.
tors, ranging from energy, agricul world’s patents, 85% of global GDP, narrow group of states dominated by regional and international collabora
ture, trade, digital economy, health 75% of international trade and 65% of one power will not shape the agenda. tion through existing centres which Two broad principles Attention to detail
and environment to employment, the world population, needs to be re The starting point should be build have massive computing capacities, Antisabotage checks precede the arrival of A few ancillary aspects entail scrupulous ad
tourism, anticorruption and women oriented to prevent a clash of ideas to ing on the global consensus in the machine learning and artificial intel the protectee and are intended to ensure the herence too. First, security forces need to be
empowerment, including in focus the detriment of the global good. The Vienna Declaration on Human Rights ligence. Open access to geospatial da sterility of the place. This principle is strictly sensitised before every visit as every visit is
areas that impact the most vulnera solution lies in a new conceptual mo 1993 reaffirming the indivisibility of ta, data products and services and adhered to at the protectee’s place of stay unique. As the protectees frequently visit
ble and disadvantaged. Without del seeking agreement on an agenda all human rights. There is a growing lower costs of geospatial information and at the place of function. When the Rajiv capitals and pilgrimage spots, security forces
specificity, India has lost a chance to limited to principles rather than long recognition of economic and social technology facilities do not require Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad tend to become complacent. Second, every
nudge the G20 and regional organi negotiated anodyne text. The Rio De rights — for example, in the 2030 huge financial resources. was due for inauguration, the guests includ visit is dynamic, even if it is to a secure place
sations towards its focus areas. claration of 1992 is an appropriate Agenda for Sustainable Develop Fifth, public health has to learn ed Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and the and a regularly visited one such as a Raj Bha
model. For example, incorporating ment. Ensuring adequate food, hous from the COVID19 fiasco with infec Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. The antisa van. Third, security arrangements are like a
Collaboration not commitments the three major priorities of each of ing, education, health, water and tious diseases representing a market botage sweep was to be carried out at D12, chain and a chain is as strong as its weakest
The fractured world makes trade the groups as part of a global agenda sanitation and work for all should failure. A major global challenge is D6 and D2. The security wing disallowed link. Fourth, security considerations are
offs, the essence of current multilat will inform smaller groupings of guide international cooperation. the rapidly growing antimicrobial re the organisers from carrying out further more important than the elegance of the
eralism, difficult and suggests a new countries which have issuebased lin Principles of common but differen sistance which needs new antibiotics works at D12. A retired Director General of place of function or stay or approach path of
model of international cooperation. kages and overlaps between them in tiated responsibilities for improving and collaboration between existing Police (DGP), who was employed at the GMR the VIP. If the security principles are consoli
First, multilateral commitments stead of struggling for meaningful the quality of life of all households biotechnology facilities. Group which owns the airport, asked the De dated into a science, attacks and assassina
on aid and trade are faltering. Gover agreement on single concerns of can guide deliberations in other fora puty Commissioner of Police (DCP) for some tions are largely preventable.
nance in a world that is steadily be groups which are not even talking to on problems that seem intractable in Strategic thinking relaxation. The DCP had worked under him Both antisabotage checks and access con
coming more equal needs institu each other. multilateralism based on trade and Sixth, overriding priority to develop before, but would not oblige. trol were poor in the cases of Abe and Gand
tional innovation. This is because the aid. ment suggests avoiding strategic Access control is a process put in place af hi. Yamagami was within three metres of
role of the United Nations and the Common concerns Second, the global agenda has competition. Countries in the region ter the protectee’s arrival. Access control en Abe. He was unchecked and his gun unde
World Trade Organization in secur India should seek collaboration on li been tilted towards investment, whe will support building on the 1971 UN sures that no unidentified, unchecked and tected. Dhanu was allowed in the VIP enclo
ing cooperation between donor and mited focus areas around science reas science and technology are the GA Declaration designating for all unauthorised person is allowed within the sure reportedly by the daughter of the Con
recipient country groups is losing and technology, building on resolu driving force for economic diversifi time the Indian Ocean as a zone of vicinity of the protectee. By unidentified, we gress candidate, wrote Anirudhya Mitra in
centrality. There are now three so tions of the United Nations General cation, sustainably urbanising the peace and nonextension into the re mean that no person should be permitted to his book 90 Days. He wrote: “[At Sriperum
cioeconomic systems — the G7, Chi Assembly (UNGA) and other multilat world, and ushering the hydrogen gion of rivalries and conflicts that are be within the proximity of the protectee un budur], there were no metal detectors and
naRussia, and India and the others — eral bodies. economy and new crop varieties as foreign to it. less they are known and their antecedents no frisking at the Venue. Nalini and Shubha
and they will jointly set the global A new conceptual frame is need the answer to both human wellbeing Lastly, a Global Financial Transac screened. For instance, a bulletproof car escorted the human bomb Dhanu.” It is im
agenda. ed. First, the presumed equality that and global climate change. Innova tion Tax, considered by the G20 in had to be used during the German Chancel perative that the Blue Book and the Yellow
Second, Ukraine’s long shadow, we are all in the same boat, recog tion supports dematerialising pro 2011, needs to be revived to be paid lor’s visit to Hyderabad. The State had bullet Book, the two bibles of VIP security, incor
rival finance, the expanding in nised in the case of climate change, duction and consumption and mov to a Green Technology Fund for resistant Ambassador cars. The German Em porate the principles of security as
fluence of the trade and value chains needs to be expanded to other areas ing towards renewable sources of Least Developed Countries. bassy got a private bulletproof Benz car. The inviolable.
dominated by the U.S. and China, with a global impact redefining ‘com energy. The shift in lifestyles in the owner of the car, a wellknown industrialist,
and the reluctance of developing mon concerns’. Second, emerging postwar period created urban jobs Mukul Sanwal is a former UN diplomat assured the authorities of the antecedents of E. Damodar is a retired IPS officer
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
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CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
DATA POINT
BSNL’s distress call answered, but towering issues prevail

FROM THE ARCHIVES
FIFTY YEARS AGO AUGUST 11, 1972
A shrinking subscriber base and extremely low revenue per user are sinking the state-run telecom Political sanctions against hoarders
Vignesh Radhakrishnan which Jio entered the market forced New Delhi, Aug. 10: The Finance Minister,
& Jasmin Nihalani other players to reduce their charges. Mr. Y.B. Chavan, told the Lok Sabha today
This impacted the average revenue of that he expected the new public distribution
On July 27, the Union Cabinet ap both BSNL and other private service system to make, within weeks, an impact on
proved a ₹1.64 lakh crore package to providers. However, the staterun te the now rising prices of essential commodi
revive the stateowned telecom firm, lecom’s ARPU took a bigger hit. ties and appealed for cooperation from all
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. When Jio started raising tariffs, priv political parties. Intervening in the debate
While private players are gearing up ate players followed suit while BSNL on the price situation, he pledged the Go
to deploy 5G services, the govern did not. Consequently, the ARPU of vernment to the use of not only the provi
ment has allocated ₹44,993 crore for private players improved (₹136) and sions of the law but also “political sanctions”
administrative allotment of the 4G surpassed the preJio levels but BSNL against antisocial elements who have taken
spectrum. The revival package also (₹53) did not catch up. advantage of the delayed rains and fear of
includes funding for financially un Dwindling subscribers coupled drought to hoard and to push up the prices.
viable rural wire line services where with relatively low earnings from ex Mr. Chavan also promised that no produc
BSNL is the only effective player. isting customers took a toll on BSNL’s tion or distribution programme would lack
The government expects that with revenue. From ₹40,000 crore in funds even if it meant resort to further defi
the implementation of this recent FY06, revenue halved to ₹19,052 cit financing. Mr. Chavan said the price situa
package, BSNL will turn around and crore in FY22. While revenue dipped, tion was in part the economic price the
earn a profit by FY27. The firm last expenses increased to over ₹30,000 country has had to pay for some of the polit
made a profit in 200809. In the last crore and remained above the mark ical steps taken last year for which the Go
13 years, the telecom has suffered for 15 years. Chart 3 shows BSNL’s re vernment had been lauded. He did not clar
losses amounting to ₹1.02 trillion. venues and expenses in ₹ crore. As a ify this remark. The Finance Minister did
To realise the goal of turning BSNL result, BSNL has been consistently not offer any apologies for the deficit financ
profitable in the next five years, a making losses for the last 13 years. ing which was criticised by many members
crucial step would be to expand the Chart 4 shows profits and losses but he asked the House to take note of the
falling subscriber base. At present, made by BSNL in ₹ crore. massive effort made by him to mobilise re
the subscriber base of Jio and Airtel is Until FY20, employee benefits sources side by side with deficit financing.
three times that of BSNL’s. Not only is formed 40% of BSNL’s expenses. Fol The Centre’s effort to mobilise additional re
the subscriber base falling, but the lowing the 2019 rescue package, a sources had yielded Rs. 2,900 crores not in
revenue BSNL makes from each user bulk of which was used for funding cluding the share of the States between 1969
is also a fraction of what private ser the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 70 and 197172 as against the Fourth Plan tar
vice providers get. The average reve the workforce was cut down from 1.8 get of Rs. 2,100 crores for five years.
nue earned per user by BSNL is 2.5 lakh in FY18 to 64,500 in FY21. Yet,
times lower than what private BSNL’s share of employee A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AUGUST 11, 1922
players make. benefits in expenses is
An earlier bailout package an higher than the share Indo-Ceylon rates
nounced in 2019 helped trim BSNL’s spent by private compa
bloated employee benefits expense, nies. Chart 5 shows the Another Conference between the Traffic of
halving the losses incurred by FY21. share of employee bene ficials of the South Indian Railway and the
However, the revenue remained stag fits in total expenses. Ceylon Government Railway was held on
nant for four years after recording a BSNL played a crucial Sunday and yesterday in Colombo says the
major fall in FY19. Expanding the role in improving teledensity “Ceylon Daily News” of August 8. The S.I.R.
subscriber base and improving the (connections per 100 people) was represented by Mr. Rowbotham, Gener
revenue earned per user would take in rural and farflung areas. al Traffic Manager, who was accompanied by
care of the shrinking revenue. Private players have replaced two clerks; and the C.G.R. by Mr. T.E. Dut
In 2005, BSNL commanded a mar BSNL in the rural wireless ton, Traffic Manager and Mr. J.J.F Felix, As
ket share of 21%, the same as Bharti segment, but BSNL continues sistant Traffic Manager. It is learnt that the
Airtel and slightly higher than Re to be the lone operator in the main object of the Conference was the set
liance Communications. By 2022, rural wire line segment. The ru tlement of certain goods rates between Ma
BSNL’s share reduced to 10% while ral wireless teledensity and dras and Ceylon and vice versa. There was a
three private players controlled the broadband subscriber rate (per good deal of discussion on this subject be
rest of the market. Chart 1 shows the 100 people) has remained flat fore a final agreement was arrived at. It is
market share of wireless subscribers. in the last five years even as stated that these difficulties arise from time
Chart 2 shows the average revenue the urbanrural gap keeps wi to time as there is keen competition in the
earned per user per month (ARPU) dening. So, BSNL’s re goods rates between the South Indian
by BSNL and other private players. In newed focus on rural Steamer Agencies and the S.I. ry; and that
March 2016, BSNL’s ARPU was ₹118 areas as a part of its so unless the rates are revised as occasion de
while private companies earned cial obligation may help mands they would not keep in line with the
₹126. The dirt cheap tariffs with bridge the gap. fluctuations in the market rates.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
10
DELHI

Text & Context

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Rise in heinous crimes Missing monuments Aiding Ukraine Virus prone habitats Investments plummet
3,140 24 5.5 500 69

The number of The number of monuments In $ billion, the additional In million, the number The percentage by which the
heinous crime and sites in India that are aid the U.S. will send of people in South Asia investments by private equity
cases reported in “untraceable”. Union Culture Ukraine, with $4.5 billion living near habitats and venture capital funds
Delhi till July 15 Minister G. Kishan Reddy in budgetary support and where bats host into Indian entities
2022, a 13% rise informed the Lok Sabha that $1 billion in military SARSrelated plummeted in July, according
compared to the corresponding period 210 thefts, involving 486 objects were assistance, to help the country coronaviruses, according to research to a report by industry lobby Indian
last year, according to Delhi Police reported from centrallyprotected overcome the turmoil of the Russian published by Nature Communications. Private Equity and Venture Capital
data. showed. The number of heinous monuments/sites located in 19 invasion. The grant will fund urgent About 66,000 people in this region are Association (IVCA) and consultancy
crime cases in the first six months of States/UTs since independence. government needs including payments infected each year with the same. The firm Ernst & Young (EY). The
2021 were 2,790. The national capital Recovery of stolen objects is an for pensions, social welfare and research focussed on 26 species of bats investments in July ($3 billion) are the
witnessed 277 cases of murder, an ongoing process and 91 objects have healthcare costs, bringing the total in a region of 5.1 million square lowest for any month in a year, and
almost 18% rise from the 235 cases in been recovered so far. The U.S. fiscal aid to $8.5 billion. The kilometres stretching from China to lower than the $4.9 billion recorded
2021. In the category of nonheinous Archaeological Survey of India has funding, coordinated with the U.S. Southeast and South Asia. The study across 118 deals in the preceding
cases, house theft incidents have surveyed 8,478 villages in the last Treasury Department through the said that viral transmission from bats month of June. Only 74 deals were
increased by 553% from 1,158 in 2021 eight years and found 2,914 World Bank, will reach the Ukraine to humans may have been recorded in July 2022, as against the
to 7,561 in 2022. PTI antiquarian remains. PTI government in tranches. REUTERS “substantially underestimated”. REUTERS 134 deals in the yearago period. PTI
EXPLAINER
The new U.S. Bill on climate action

Does the new Bill completely leave out fossil fuel industries? What are the listed incentives to switch to clean energy?
THE GIST
Akriti Sharma oil and gas with renewable energy support her state Arizona’s businessfriendly
development. approach.
The story so far: On August 7, the U.S. Within the Democrats, the party had to
Senate approved a Bill titled the Inflation Why does the U.S. want to invest in agree to some policy changes. Senator Joe
Reduction Act (IRA) 2022, with a simple addressing climate change? Manchin was the major reason behind the
B On August 7, the U.S.
majority of 51 to 50. Vice President Kamala The U.S is currently facing extreme climate failure of President Biden’s BBBA in the
Senate approved a bill titled
Harris cast her tiebreaking vote to aid the threats. This includes heatwaves, wildfires, Senate earlier. However, after constant
the Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA) 2022. The IRA has a approval after the Senate was evenly cyclones, floods, and hurricanes that have deliberations, he agreed to support the
special focus on climate, divided. Even though all Republicans become frequent and intense in the past few current version which has more focus on
healthcare, and tax opposed the bill, the Democrats pushed years. The ongoing floods in Kentucky reducing deficits.
provisions to address through after a long debate taking advantage triggered by heavy rainfall and the wildfires Fossil fuel supporters criticise the bill as it
inflation. of the budget reconciliation process. The bill in California induced by dry lightning have does not take into account the communities
is a scaleddown version of President Biden’s become a major concern for the country. that are dependent on the fossil fuel industry
B The Bill marks the largest Build Back Better Act (BBBA), which failed to There is a link between extreme weather for their income. A protest by the workers of
American investment aimed get approval from the Senate. The IRA has a events and climate change. a coal plant in the state of West Virginia was
toward making the U.S. a special focus on climate, healthcare, and tax CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC recorded after their own Senator Joe
leader in clean energy. It provisions to address inflation. Manchin agreed to back the bill.
provides a tax deduction to Climate advocates criticise the bill for Climate advocates criticise the bill for
low and middleincome
What are the climate change coupling the development of coupling the development of renewable
households to go electric renewable energy, which is the cause
and seeks to lower the
provisions? energy, which is the cause of global
The Bill marks the largest American of global warming, with land leasing warming, with land leasing for oil and gas
energy bills of U.S.
households. For investment aimed toward making the U.S. a for oil and gas drilling drilling. The Bill still contains giveaways to
disadvantaged lowincome leader in clean energy. It includes the fossil fuel sector.
communities and tribal packages worth $369 billion for the clean Additionally, President Joe Biden has also
communities, the Bill energy transition. undertaken certain climate commitments. How does the Bill help the U.S. achieve
provides funding to benefit It provides a tax deduction to low and Climate action has been a priority since he its climate targets?
from zeroemission middleincome households to go electric and came into office. In 2021, he committed to The Bill being the largestever investment in
technologies. It also
imposes a fee on methane
seeks to lower the energy bills of American the new ambitious target of cutting addressing the climate crisis in U.S. history,
leaks from oil and gas households. It also aims to bolster the emissions by 5052% below 2005 levels by will help the nation get closer to its climate
drilling. domestic production of heat pumps and 2030 and signed a new methane deal to curb target of reducing 5052% emissions below
critical minerals. For disadvantaged methane emissions from the oil and gas 2005 levels by 2030.
lowincome communities and tribal industry. He introduced the Build Back According to an estimate by the Rhodium
B However, climate
advocates criticise the bill communities, the Bill provides funding to Better plan which was a multitrillion deal Group, the investments in the Bill could
for coupling the benefit from zeroemission technologies with key provisions for climate change. reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31 to
development of renewable which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, In May 2022, the Biden administration 44% by 2030.
energy, which is the cause enhance climate resilience, and mitigate revoked the Alaska oil and gas drilling lease The Bill can help the U.S. compete with programmes. Time running out: A
of global warming, with risks from extreme heat. sales in the backdrop of soaring fuel prices, a China in terms of renewable production as horizontal drilling rig on a
land leasing for oil and gas The Bill provides significant investment in move that is consistent with its climate China is a leading producer of solar energy. Have similar climate packages been lease operates at sunrise
drilling. renewable energy through heavy tax credits commitment. It can also facilitate the creation of domestic announced by other countries? near Midland, Texas, U.S.
for wind and solar energy projects and jobs. In May 2022, Japan announced its ‘Invest in on August 24, 2018. *
REUTERS
electric vehicles. Additionally, the Bill Why are Republicans opposing the Bill? Thus, the Bill can prove to be a turning Kisida’ plan which aims for a $1.1 trillion
imposes a tax on the largest and most The legislation faced criticism not only from point for global climate action as the U.S. is investment to bolster the Japanese economy.
profitable companies in order that they pay Republicans but also from a section within one of the largest emitters of greenhouse As part of the plan, the country aims to
their fair share, without levying any taxes on the Democrats along with fossil fuel gases globally. However, it does not address transition to clean energy and achieve 46%
households with income less than $40,000 supporters, and climate advocates. any issues of global climate finance which is reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by
per annum. The Republicans tried to delay the a major impediment to global climate action. 2030. In June 2021, the European Union (EU)
It also imposes a fee on methane leaks passage of the Bill in the Senate by It is a mere step toward achieving the climate proposed a similar ‘Fit for 55’ plan to reduce
from oil and gas drilling. introducing numerous amendments that target agreed upon in the Paris Agreement, emissions by 55% by 2030. The plan is
At the same time, the Bill also aims at criticised the Bill for its inability to curb where Article 2 states global temperature expected to become law soon. Being the
more investments in fossil fuels. inflation. All the amendments introduced should be limited below 2°C. largest emitters, both the U.S. and the EU
It seeks to expand oil and gas drilling, failed except the one introduced by Senator Even though the Bill is not enough to can play a significant role in taking
with the federal government offering land John Thune on the exemption of some address the climate crisis, such historic responsibility for historical emissions.
for onshore and offshore drilling as a businesses from the minimum corporate tax. initiatives by global leaders in greenhouse Akriti Sharma is a doctoral scholar at the
prerequisite for developing renewable Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema gas emissions can be a benchmark for other National Institute of Advanced Studies,
energy. Thus, it handcuffs the expansion of supported John Thune’s amendment to large emitters to push their climate action Bengaluru
EXPLAINER
The uproar over the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why are States alleging that the proposed Bill is unconstitutional? Who are the main opponents of the Bill?
THE GIST
A. M. Jigeesh 2003, when A. B. Vajpayee was the Prime the Bill. Congress MP Manish Tewari said Saugata Roy said such a provision will
Minister. The intention was to consolidate the Bill paves way for privatisation of create a situation similar to the telecom
The story so far: Ignoring the the laws relating to generation, profits and the nationalisation of losses. sector where monopoly companies will
objections of the Opposition, the transmission, distribution, trading and DMK’s T.R. Baalu asked what will happen destroy the public sector and smaller
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the use of electricity. The Act also offered to to poor farmers who are getting networks.
trade unions, the Union Power Ministry protect the interest of consumers and subsidised power in States like Tamil Similarly, Clause 13 seeks to amend B The Union Power Ministry
introduced the Electricity (Amendment) supply of electricity to all areas, Nadu. section 60 of the principal Act to enable introduced the Electricity
Bill, 2022 in Lok Sabha on August 8. rationalisation of electricity tariff, management of power purchase and (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in
Union Power Minister R.K. Singh said at transparent policies regarding subsidies What are the main amendments to cross subsidy in case of multiple Lok Sabha on August 8.
the stage of introduction that the Bill etc. The Act resulted in privatisation of the Act? distribution licensees in the same area of
could be moved to the Energy Standing distributing companies. It was amended Compared to the drafts of 2020 and 2021, supply. It says in case of issuance of B The Bill is opposed by
Committee of Parliament for broader in 2007 by the UPA Government, the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill of licence to more than one distribution farmers’ groups as they fear
consultations. “My simple submission is apparently under pressure from the Left 2022 has a number of changes. The main licensee in an area of supply, the State that the Bill will lead to
that this entire matter will be discussed in parties. The provisions for “cross Telangana Power Employees protesting change among them could be the Government shall set up a cross subsidy stopping subsidies and that
power distribution will
the Standing Committee and the Standing subsidy” — ensuring subsidy to poor the Bill on August 8. RAMAKRISHNA G *
proposal for the Centre’s intervention in balancing fund which shall be managed thereafter be under the
Committee has representatives from all households was added to the Bill in 2007. the area of power distribution, a domain by a government company. control of private
the parties,” Mr. Singh said. The There were attempts to amend the Bill that power distribution will thereafter be under the State governments. Such companies. Opposition
Opposition questioned the introduction further in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020 and under the control of private companies. provisions can be seen in clauses 5, 11, 12, What lies ahead? parties questioned the Bill
of the Bill. They alleged that the Centre is 2021. While the 2014 Bill was cleared by The workers in the power sector also 13, 15 and 23 of the Bill. Clause 5 amends The trade unions in the power sector on federalist principles as
breaching the promise given to SKM that the Standing Committee on Energy, it oppose the Bill citing that privatisation of Section 14 of the parent Act that deals held a oneday strike against the Bill. electricity is a subject which
the Bill will not be brought to Parliament. could not be passed in the House as the distribution companies and generating with the criteria for electricity They are also discussing the possibilities comes under the Concurrent
The Opposition MPs said the Bill is not Centre wanted to revise it. None of the units will result in job losses. When the distributors. The amendment empowers for an indefinite strike. The SKM is also List of the Constitution.
just antifarmer, but also other draft Bills came to Parliament as Central trade unions started a campaign the Central Government to prescribe the stepping up its agitations. The Energy
antiConstitutional and against the the Centre was not satisfied with the against the Act, the SKM pledged criteria. Standing Committee will soon start its B One of main changes in
interest of States. The basis of their primary response it received after support. The Opposition parties Another clause that causes worry for deliberations on the Bill. The panel is the Bill is the proposal for
argument was that the Bill may lead to consultations with stakeholders. All of questioned the Bill on federalist those who oppose the Bill is Clause 11, currently headed by senior JD(U) MP the Centre’s intervention in
the area of power
ending subsidies for farmers and poor those Bills remained in their draft form. principles. RSP MP N. K. Premachandran which seeks to amend section 42 of the Rajiv Ranjan Singh Alias Lalan Singh.
distribution, a domain under
consumers. said in the House that power or principal Act to facilitate operation of JD(U) called off its alliance with the BJP the State governments.
Why is there opposition to the Bill? electricity is a subject which comes multiple distribution licensees in the on Tuesday. Though the BJP can claim a
What is the history of the Bill? The opposition to the Bill is primarily under the Concurrent List of the same area and to avoid parallel network majority in the committee, the
The Electricity Bill was brought for the from farmers’ groups as they fear that the Constitution, and that the Centre should and optimise usage of the distribution chairman’s stand will be important when
first time and passed in Parliament in Bill will lead to stopping subsidies and have consulted the States before bringing network. Trinamool Congress MP Bills like this are taken up for discussion.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
DELHI
& Context
Text | 11
Through multiple lenses: Taliban supporters shout slogans and wave Taliban flags as they march along a street in Kandahar on August 31, 2021. *
AFP
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Understanding the Taliban

As the Taliban mark the first anniversary of their recapture of power on August 15, tracing their past
and present through books
Stanly Johny postcommunist civil war between warlords and they entered the city. She writes Omar wanted Bin
the rise of the Taliban. In Directorate S: The CIA Laden to leave Afghanistan and was not provided
For many, the Taliban, with their strident and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and with credible evidence by the Americans over his
premodern worldview and violence, are an Pakistan (2018), Coll offers a credible narrative on terrorist links. Bin Laden himself had claimed FROM THE ARCHIVES
embodiment of barbarity. For many others, they the double game Pakistan was playing in the responsibility for some of the major terrorist
are a local guerrilla force, rooted in tribal beliefs Afghan war. A critical addition to this list of attacks alQaeda carried out in the 1990s, and he
and united by an Islamist ideology, who forced the
mighty United States to withdraw from
Afghanistan. Either way, the Taliban’s history has
important books on Afghanistan is Bette Dam’s
Looking for the Enemy: Mullah Omar and the
Unknown Taliban.
had issued two edicts from Afghanistan, calling
for global jihad. Dam’s Omar appears to be a
helpless Mullah who did not favour Laden’s
Know your
been enmeshed with that of modern
Afghanistan’s complex, conflictridden past and
present.
Eye on Mullah Omar
Dam, a Dutch journalist who has covered
version of Islamist ideology. We are talking about
a Mullah who waged a ruthless war against the
antiTaliban warlords and the government of
English
They rose from nowhere in the first half of the Afghanistan extensively, originally published this President Burhanuddin Rabbani to establish his
1990s when Afghanistan was descending into book in March 2019 and an updated English Islamic emirate. Despite all the minute details “Good morning, sir.”
chaos and civil war after the collapse of the version was out in December last year. Starting Dam provides about Omar’s supposed “Good morning.”
communist regime. They were in power from with her first trip to Afghanistan, Dam takes the detachment from Laden, there is nothing to “What’s the difference between ‘must not’
1996 to 2001, until their Islamic Emirate was reader to the inner workings of the Taliban and suggest why Omar didn’t use force against the and ‘need not’, sir?”
toppled by a U.S. invasion. Twenty years later, the most unknown details about its mysterious yet Arab jihadists if he did not want them in “ ‘You must not go’ is somewhat like an or
they recaptured Kabul on August 15, 2021, when notorious leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar. Dam Afghanistan. The book also has scant references der. Somebody asks you not to go.
the U.S. was scrambling to evacuate its soldiers. has travelled extensively in Afghanistan and to Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Taliban’s No. 1 You must not eat.
As the Taliban mark the first anniversary of their interviewed dozens of people, including close enemy in Afghanistan who was assassinated by You must not read.
recapture of power on August 15, they are already associates of Omar, Afghan villagers, government alQaeda just days before the September 11 You must not leave the place.
reshaping Afghanistan according to their officials and international diplomats. attacks. Regarding the demolition of the Bamiyan ‘You need not go’ means ‘it is not neces
worldview. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Buddhas, she says Omar was initially against sary for you to go’. I’ll illustrate the use of
destroying the statues and changed his mind for these with two dialogues:
Rise, retreat and return The Taliban rose from nowhere in the first some unknown reason. “How is he, doctor?”
Dozens of books have been written about the rise, half of the 1990s when Afghanistan was She quotes someone who says Omar wanted to “He is better. But he must not go out”
reign, retreat and return of the Taliban. One of the descending into chaos and civil war after show his middle finger to the West by destroying “Must he be in bed all the time?”
most widely read books about the group was the collapse of the communist regime the statues. But what kind of a leader would “No, he needn’t. But he must not go out.”
written by Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid. His destroy 6th century monumental statues with “Must I attend the meeting?”
2000 book, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Her narrative challenges the mainstream views dynamites before the camera just to teach the “Yes, you must. But you needn’t stay on till
Fundamentalism in Central Asia, traces the of the Taliban and their leader. She also questions West a lesson? the end.”
origins, ideology and leadership of the group. some of the arguments in Rashid’s book such as “Must I come to see you tomorrow?”
While in the 1990s everyone was curious to Pakistan’s role in Taliban’s rise. According to her Simplistic interpretation “No, you needn’t unless you want to.”
understand the Taliban’s rise to power, in the version, the Taliban rose as a movement from the Dam’s Omar is also a simple Islamic leader who “No, I don’t want to.”
2010s, the focus had shifted to their insurgency. hujras (religious schools in Afghanistan) backed wanted unity and opposed unreasonable “Then you needn’t come.”
The U.S. invasion brought down the Taliban by some influential local families against the truck violence. But his supposed simplicity did not “What’s the meaning of ‘to bank on’, sir?”
regime in 2001 and a new Islamic Republic was mafia in the lawless Kandahar of the prevent him from wearing the holy cloak, which “ ‘To bank on’ or ‘to bank upon’ means ‘to
founded in Afghanistan. But the Taliban postcommunist Afghanistan. The Mullah Omar Muslims believe belonged to the Prophet rely on’, ‘to depend on’.
regrouped and continued to wage an insurgency she depicts is a pious, simple, Sufi leader who Mohammad, and appear on top of a mosque in I am banking on you to help me in this.
against both the American troops and the Afghan wanted to unite and stabilise the civil warstricken Kandahar while reasserting his authority. Despite You can’t bank on him to get you out of the
government. American journalist Carlotta Gall’s Afghanistan under the banner of Islam. She also his calls for unity, the movement he built mess.
The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan questions the Western narrative that Omar had remained almost entirely Pashtun (it still is), This is used in informal contexts.”
200114 is an attempt to map the Taliban’s close ties with Osama bin Laden and often points violent and antiwoman by any yardstick of basic “What is the meaning of ‘He felt on top of
resistance and the support it was getting from to the West for its failure in understanding the human rights and dignity. the world’, sir?”
Pakistan’s military establishment. Taliban regime. Despite these contradictions, Looking for the “ ‘To feel on top of the world’ means ‘to be
Steve Coll is another American journalist, who Dam’s narrative, however, seeks to absolve Enemy is an important book. It also offers insights in good spirits’, ‘to be very happy’.
has written extensively on Afghanistan. His 2004 Omar from some of the atrocities the Taliban have into the transfer of power within the Taliban in He is feeling on top of the world. He has got
book, Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, committed. The picture of Omar she has drawn 2001, how their offer for surrender was accepted the first rank in the IAS examination.
Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet up is also heavily dependent on the interviews by a powerless Hamid Karzai but rejected by the You don’t expect me to feel on top of the
Invasion to September 10, 2001, offers exhaustive given by his disciples or neighbours. She writes Americans and the last days of Omar. To world when I am in this awful mess.“
details about the different phases of Afghanistan’s Omar did not want violence against Mohammad understand today’s Taliban’s, it is imperative to “What is the difference between ‘peaceful’
decadeslong civil war — the U.S.backed Najibullah, the former Communist President who understand the man behind the movement. That’s and ‘peaceable’, sir?”
Mujahideen resistance against the Soviets, the was lynched by Taliban militants in Kabul after what Dam offers in the book. “ ‘Peaceful’ means ‘calm’, ‘tranquil’, ‘full
of peace’.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
It was a peaceful meeting.
This is a peaceful place.
THE DAILY QUIZ ‘Peaceable’ means ‘inclined towards or
promoting peace’.
The Indian teams performed creditably winning two Bronze medals for team performance and many individual You must arrive at a peaceable agreement.
medals in the Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Here’s yet another quiz on the tournament They are a peaceable community.”
“What’s the difference between ‘want’ and
‘need’, sir?”
F Identify this 22yearold Polish Woman International Master who had the best
1 The 44th Chess Olympiad
Open champion,
Uzbekistan, featured two
presenter, this former child
prodigy won one of the
individual bronze medals,
individual performance in the women’s tournament. VELANKANNI RAJ *
‘What we desire, we want. There is no limit
to our wants. Our needs are essential. Eve
ryone needs a house to live in. Everyone
teenagers; the first player playing on Board 4 for the India1
followed up his triumph in the women’s team, scoring 8 points Please send in your answers to the [email protected] needs food and clothing. Our needs are gen
World Rapid Championships in in 11 rounds. Name her. erally essential. Our wants are not.
leading from the 1st Board Questions (abridged) and Answers to the previous day’s daily quiz: 1. The ‘I want to see him’ means I have a desire to
and finishing just half a point
behind India2’s D. Gukesh
(9/11). The second player is
4 Over the course of the
tournament, this young
Indian player scored 8.5 points in
AuschwitzBirkenau State Museum preserves the memory of this event. Ans: The Holocaust
2. In Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, this museum is described as follows:
see him’. I need to see him’ means it is essen
tial, important that I see him’. Our wants are
one of a handful of players 11 rounds and became the ‘speech is all that is wanting to make them human’. Ans: Madame Tussauds many but our needs are few. We need not dis
who became Grandmasters seventh Indian player to cross 3. Identify this museum that takes the name of a noble Hyderabad family under the Nizams. cuss the difference any further. Goodbye.”
before the age of 13. Name the super GM ELO threshold of Ans: Salar Jung Museum “Thank you, sir. Goodbye.”
them. 2700 (live ratings), ending up 4. The Met Gala is an annual fundraiser held for the benefit of the fashion institute of this New
with 2702.2 ELO points at the Yorkbased museum. Ans: Metropolitan Museum of Art
2 This British player and
commentator finished
with the highest tournament
end of the tournament. He also
won a silver for his performance
on Board 3. Name him.
5. This museum is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a royal. Ans: Victoria
Memorial
ELO rating points (2,898) by 6. The Natural History Museum in London hosts this diamond which is said to have been a part
scoring 7.5/8 games and won
gold on the third board. Name
him.
5 Apart from D. Gukesh, only
one other Indian player won
a gold for individual performance
of the Mughal Peacock Throne. Ans: Koh-i-Noor
7. This museum is wellknown for its spiral design that resembles a nautilus shell. Ans: For feedback and suggestions for
(on Board 2). Name this player Guggenheim Museum Text & Context, please write to
Visual: This sculpture that was added to the Louvre’s collection during the reign of Louis XVIII.
3 Another popular chess
commentator and
who finished with 7.5 points in 10
rounds. Ans: Venus de Milo
[email protected] with the
subject ‘Text & Context’
Compiled by: Srinivasan Ramani Early Birds: S. S. Siva Shankar| Saatvik Tayal| Smriti Arora
CM A ND-NDE
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06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | THURSDAY | 11 AUGUST 2022
Demographic benefit waning

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
India will start ageing soon, with average age slated to reach 38.1 years in 2050
geopolitical moment into a long-term
economic opportunity.
Not only does India have a benign
Nitish’s gambit geopolitical moment that it could

leverage to its benefit, but also it has a
rare and favourable domestic political
A grand opportunity to be PM candidate beckons Bihar CM advantage. The ruling party enjoys
I
majority in Parliament and is headed
NDIAN politics has never been synonymous with morality. And SHYAM SARAN
by a PM who enjoys wide popularity
when it comes to opportunism, there are few who go the whole FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY AND SENIOR and unquestioned authority. This is
hog better than Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. A past mas- FELLOW, CENTRE FOR POLICY RESEARCH
rare in a multi-party democracy. It
ter at striking the best deal for himself and his party, the Janata Dal should be possible to bring about
I
(United), Nitish has dumped the BJP again and returned to the NDIA@75 is on the threshold of structural economic reforms and a
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan to form a new becoming the most populous regulatory make-over to enable India
government. Nitish had managed to remain in the saddle despite country at over 1.4 billion people. become the most reliable and pre-
the JD(U)’s below-par performance in the 2020 Bihar Assembly The large population has not ferred destination for the inflow of
election. His party had won only 43 seats, well behind the BJP (74) been a constraint on India achieving capital and high-end technology. In
and the RJD (75). With the BJP having the upper hand in the remarkable successes in its economic TAP IT: The key to leveraging the demographic dividend is to expand manufacturing. PTI the past, it used to be said India
alliance, Nitish had no qualms about settling for a diminished and social development so far and reforms through stealth. Now, we
these are reasons to celebrate. India have a political leader who has been
stature as the CM. However, the saffron party’s overbearing pres-
still has a relatively productive age
The next 25 years may determine if India will stagnate or open in welcoming foreign capital and
ence proved too hot for him to handle; finally, he opted for Plan B
in a desperate bid for his political survival.
profile: 50% of its population is below cross the threshold into a high-income, prosperous nation. technology. He has promoted digital
the age of 25 and average age of the economy and startup culture. Politics
Ironically, not much is expected to change in terms of Nitish’s population as a whole is 28.7 years as today need not be a constraint on eco-
role, alliance dynamics or Bihar’s governance. The numbers are still compared to 38.4 years in China and tutes over 50% of the GDP, about the create national champions which may nomic policy. It is also necessary that
stacked against the JD(U); its current ally, the RJD, will spare no 48.6 years in Japan. However, India, same as China. The prospects of fur- be able to achieve import substitution India’s social cohesion is not disrupt-
effort to dictate terms. Lalu Yadav’s party, whose rule was marked too, will start ageing soon, with its ther significant increase in employ- and increase higher value exports. ed by inimical forces. Its success as a
by rampant corruption and lawlessness in the state, is set to keep average age slated to reach 38.1 years ment in the service sector is there- There is a steady shift of a wide vibrant plural democracy remains its
Nitish on his toes. Sooner or later, he will again find himself pushed in 2050. The so-called demographic fore limited. Is there any prospect for range of labour-intensive industries, calling card internationally.
to the brink. And he will also have the BJP, with its ego bruised by dividend is a declining asset. The India to raise the share of manufac- chiefly textiles, electronics and con- India will also need to ensure that its
his brusque departure from the NDA, snapping at his heels. next 25 years, with India@100 as the turing, thereby creating more pro- sumer durables from China due to ris- economic strategy is environmentally
What does Nitish’s latest U-turn mean for the beleaguered Oppo- next marker, may determine whether ductive jobs in the next 25 years? ing wages but also in order to reduce sustainable and does not risk running
sition? The entry of a senior leader who has dared to take on the India will stagnate eventually in a This remains the key challenge. exposure to China because of rising into an ecological dead-end. The often-
BJP can act as a trigger for the Congress and its allies to regroup middle-income trap or whether it will According to economic theory, a coun- geopolitical risks. Despite the scale perceived trade-off between environ-
cross the threshold into a high- try’s development strategy the Indian economy offers, only ment and development is a false one.
and close ranks in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Howev-
income prosperous country. should take into a small percentage of the India is still at a stage where much of its
er, the Bihar CM needs to overcome heavy odds to emerge as the
Countries which have been able to account its resource investment has migrated infrastructure remains to be built. It is
tallest leader in the Opposition camp. How the old warhorse tackles leverage their demographic divi- endowment. If it is a to India. Most have not locked into an energy and resource-
multiple challenges — running a coalition government, keeping the dend phase have done so through a country with abundant gone to Southeast Asia, intensive pattern of growth. This offers
JD(U) flock together and propping up an anti-BJP national front — significant and sustained transfer of labour resources, such as chiefly Vietnam and an opportunity to pioneer an alterna-
will have a decisive bearing on his political future. labour from less productive agricul- India, the optimal strategy Bangladesh. India is tive growth strategy. This is also an
ture to the more productive industri- would be to incentivise unable to attract area where we may benefit from the
al and service sectors. This is paral- labour-intensive manufacture. investment which will more advanced knowledge and tech-
leled by increasing urbanisation That does not seem to be the case. If help transform the coun- nology that our key partners possess. A
Illegal mining, indeed since manufacturing and service

jobs are located in urban areas. We
have seen the process unfold clearly
you take the Production-Linked Incen-
tive (PLI) scheme, worth Rs 2 lakh crore
in the 2021-22 Budget, it is heavily
try into a competitive manufacturing
base for exports. Most foreign invest-
ment coming to India, although sub-
climate partnership with them would
be a constructive initiative.
This is a rare moment in our recent
Government’s admission must spur regulatory change in China’s trajectory of high growth weighted in favour of capital and tech- stantial, is for accessing the domestic history when several major powers
for four decades since 1978. Only nology-intensive industries, such as IT market. Higher tariffs are welcome to and other regional actors in Asia wish
H
ARYANA Home Minister Anil Vij’s admission in the Assem- 7.3% of China’s GDP is generated by hardware, electronics, pharmaceuticals such foreign investors but not to those to see us succeed and to emerge as a
bly that the dumper stopped for checking by the slain Tauru agriculture, while 40% is from manu- and medical devices, automobiles and who wish to manufacture for export. credible countervailing power to Chi-
DSP on July 19 was indeed headed towards a stone crusher, facturing and 53% from services. textiles. Except for textiles, there may be This needs to change. Countries like na. This moment may fade away as
discounting the police claim that it was being used to transport The key to leveraging the demo- relatively little employment generation. the US, Japan and Australia, who are geopolitical shifts continue to take
stone for personal use, is a vindication of the exhaustive reportage graphic dividend is to rapidly It is claimed that the PLI scheme would India’s partners in Quad, are already place in unpredictable ways. The
by The Tribune on the rampant illegal mining in the Aravalis expand manufacturing. Manufactur- generate 6 million jobs but it is not clear looking to create reliable supply journey from India@75 to India@100
despite a ban by the Supreme Court. Ground reports from across ing in India constitutes only 15% of how this figure has been arrived at and chains away from China. So are coun- may become an even more momen-
the state, and even Punjab, also brought out the deep nexus — polit- the GDP and has remained stagnant. over what period it is likely to be tries in Europe. India has a golden tous chapter in our history. The
ical patronage to the mining mafia, backed by the complicity of gov- The service sector in India consti- achieved. The objective appears to be to opportunity to leverage a favourable choice is for us to make.
ernment functionaries — that facilitates the continuation and pro-
liferation of the illegal activities. Chief Minister Manohar Lal
If only their screams could be heard

Khattar’s statement should come as no surprise then that the crack-
down revealed cases of mismatch between documents and stocks,
and that some crusher owners had procured e-transit documents
from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Tripura, no less.
The substantive figures presented by the state government to Balvinder of the region, from Harappan times ed to the babbling of mad person rare miniatures and Gandhara
show its seriousness in checking illegal mining negate its con- to the 20th century. Since the build- that Manto had scribbled in his sto- sculptures, displayed in the
tention that there is no organised illegal mining activity in
Haryana, but only stray incidents which are being dealt with strict-
ly as per law. The fact remains that all the measures being taken are
falling short, and there is no way that illegal operations on such a
M ANY a record of painful
hurt and suffering that
Punjab, on either side,
went through during the Partition
is available in various formats —
ing could not be divided into two, its
priceless collection was split.
There perhaps is no record avail-
able of the procedure that was
devised to settle which part of the
ry Toba Tek Singh.
The Indian ‘share’ of the arte-
facts met the same shabby fate
that many humans, ousted from
their homes and hearths and carry-
school’s open and unsecured corri-
dors till 1968, when the Chandigarh
Museum was completed. As igno-
rant, rustic art students, we would
scale can escape the radar of the enforcement agencies without col- often sit in the laps of black granite
lusion at various levels. Dealing with this challenge is the real test. history books, literary renditions collection should be retained and ing the hot-iron branding of Buddha statues belonging to the
and films. But the unheard, silent which one ‘exported’ to India. It ‘refugee’ status, were made to Gandhara School. No loss of any
Construction is an all-season activity, and the demand for sand
screams of inseparable cultural was as vague and unimaginative as face. The collection was first work was reported.
and stone seldom drops, leading to the temptation to extract more
heritage that too was cut into two the randomly drawn Radcliffe Line. dumped at the fort of the princely However, only two years after the
than the licence permits, or in areas where it is not permitted at all. has not been talked about much. How would all those mute pieces state of Patiala. It was then shifted priceless collection was shifted to
The uproar over the DSP’s killing should spur regulatory change, Due to this divide, Lahore, once a of the art collection have reacted to the Punjab School of Art at Sim- the ‘well-protected’ museum, a part
but it stands very little chance in the absence of a strong political hub of artistic and cultural activi- while being divided! Their silent la. Later, when Chandigarh started of its valuable miniature painting
will. A vital activity, as well as a good source of revenue generation ties, lost its sheen and soul. screams, sighs and pangs of separa- taking shape, it was brought here, collection fell prey to an unprece-
conforming to environmental clearances, has been reduced to an The magnificent building of the tion must have got lost in the din of along with the School of Art (now dented theft of 102 rare paintings.
exercise synonymous with corruption. Lahore Museum, designed by Bhai loud cries and wails of the bloody College of Art) in 1962. I wish we were able to feel the
Ram Singh, well-known artist and human distress that engulfed the The collection remained dumped sharp pain of separation and shift-
architect, housed valuable heritage region. Their screams can be equat- here, with a part of it, including ing of these silent screamers.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
We can’t always build the future for our youth, but we
Ditching BJP ed political interests. Democracy its cyber and electronic warfare Apple growers’ dilemma
can build our youth for the future. — Franklin D Roosevelt The political somersault by Bihar will cease to exist if this obnoxious mechanisms. Though China pro- Apropos of the news report ‘Poor
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar trend is not reversed. Lawmakers fesses consultation, cooperation link roads irk apple growers’, why
depicts how big an opportunist he and votaries of democracy must and coordination, the ground did the state government not take
is (‘Nitish dumps BJP; to be ponder over it and arrest this trend. reality is different. The interna- into account infrastructural
on this day...100 years ago sworn in as CM again with Tejash- ANIL VINAYAK, AMRITSAR tional community should come arrangements for the transportation
wi as deputy’). His ditching the together to contain Chinese of apples ahead of the apple season?
BJP and allying with the RJD No friends, no foes expansionist policy, arrogance Why has the Bashla-Untapu road
does not augur well for the BJP, The JD(U) supremo taking oath and belligerent behaviour. seen no work for four years, even
with the parliamentary elections as Bihar Chief Minister after SUBHASH VAID, NEW DELHI after being sanctioned under
due in 2024. The possibility of the bidding adieu to ally BJP did not NABARD? The bad condition of
lahore, friday,august 11, 1922
JD(U) and its allies facing the come as a surprise, but him los- Improve healthcare link roads that are full of slush is
wrath of some Central agency can- ing no time in joining hands with The article ‘Public healthcare, adding to the high transportation
Mr. Lloyd George and the Reforms not be ruled out. People are aware opposition parties proves that medical research lagging’ should costs of the apple growers, who have
EFFORTS are being made by certain Anglo-Indian journals to prove that Mr of such political gimmicks of there are no permanent friends act as an eye-opener. India ranks already faced high input costs this
Lloyd George’s description of the Reforms as an experiment is compatible politicians whose vested interests or foes in politics. In fact, the 154th in terms of quality and year. As per a report, apple consti-
with the announcement of August 1917. “There is in this statement,” says the are supreme to people’s welfare breaking of the BJP-JD(U) accessibility of healthcare. The tutes 79 per cent of the total produc-
Statesman, for instance, “nothing which is inconsistent with the tenor either and development works. There is alliance has come as a blessing health facilities are not only poor, tion in Himachal. People depend on
of the Montagu-Chelmsford report, or the Report of the Joint Committee of no friend or foe for politicians for RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as but also unevenly distributed in its cultivation for their livelihood.
the two Houses of Parliament on the Indian Reform Bill or—most important while forming a government. he was administered the oath of the country. In rural and hilly The government must take immedi-
of all—with the preamble incorporated in the Statute which governs, and RAVINDER SINGH, JALANDHAR Deputy CM. Nitish Kumar now areas, you won’t even find a GP ate cognisance of this issue.
which was intended by Parliament to govern, the entire operation of the first enjoys the dubious distinction of to get first aid, leave alone a PHC RITISH PANDIT, BY MAIL
decade of the Reform era in India.” If the journal has not forgotten its mother Politics of convenience having changed his political or a hospital. Critical healthcare
tongue, we challenge it to quote a single word from either the Government of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, known as allies as per convenience. He will facilities are almost missing in all Read books
India Act or any other authoritative document which shows that ‘Sushasan babu’ for delivering a be hard put to justify his flip-flop. government hospitals. Though Reference to the middle ‘Why
Parliament ever intended the Reforms to be treated as an experiment. The robust corruption-free administra- KUMAR GUPT, BY MAIL medical research is done only in a books must stay relevant’, one is
essence of an experiment is that if you are not satisfied with its working, tion to the state, has also suc- few prestigious medical colleges never lonely if one has a book in
you can withdraw it. Is there anything in the preamble to the Government cumbed to the politics of conven- Threat from China and hospitals, still we do not one’s hand. My father was a vora-
of India Act to suggest that Parliament contemplated the possibility, in any ience by aligning with arch-rival Reference to ‘Chinese belliger- refrain from making tall and false cious reader. Never did I see him
circumstances, of having to withdraw the Reforms? Undoubtedly, the RJD to remain in power. His image ence’; if a Chinese spy ship docks claims. Even the Covid-19 pan- without a book, not even during a
preamble did state that Parliament would be guided by the co-operation of an upright politician has taken a at Hambantota, our space mission demic has failed to awaken us sojourn. The habit of reading
received and the extent to which it was found that confidence could be hit. Democracy has been reduced to launch location and strategic from slumber and make us aware books doesn’t come overnight. It
reposed in the sense of responsibility displayed by Indians. But this had a number game, going by the recent weapon-testing area will be under of our deficiencies. We are yet to must be encouraged and cultivat-
reference only to the future stages and not to what was being actually political developments in Maha- close surveillance of the hostile enhance our health budget in pro- ed from early childhood. Unfortu-
conferred. And this is precisely the interpretation that was put upon the rashtra and elsewhere. The public nation. China may even interfere portion to our needs. nately, it is on the decline.
words by Mr Montagu; no one was more competent than him to interpret mandate has been negated by vest- with these activities by deploying SUNIL CHOPRA, LUDHIANA C GHANSHYAM, VISAKHAPATNAM
the will of Parliament in this matter. In a speech by him before he tendered
his resignation, he said that there was no question of going back. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | THURSDAY | 11 AUGUST 2022 OPED 07
Some economic hurdles crossed, many ahead First, till the 1960s, India suffered undeclared war with China does not
periodic bouts of food scarcity when
a truant monsoon or an excessive
One key economic challenge augur well for ‘India after 75’, just
as the 1962 war with the northern
flood played havoc with the food out- that India faces is how to get neighbour did a major damage to the
put. economy.
It is from the 1970s, when India the better of China. On the On the agricultural front also, the
began to enjoy the fruits of the
Green Revolution, that there was
agricultural front also, it faces a country is faced with a major chal-
lenge. The productivity of India’s
SUBIR ROY
SENIOR ECONOMIC ANALYST
enough food for all. The Green Rev- big challenge. The productivity farm workers is low and there is a
olution was made possible by mira- constant stream of job seekers to
cle seeds brought from outside of farm workers is low and job urban areas where the civic facilities
which were adapted by Indian scien- seekers keep migrating to do not exist for them to be able to
S
EVENTY-FIVE years ago, in tists to suit local conditions. live healthily. Plus, the level of
1947, when India became It marked the end of the “ship-to- urban areas. Moreover, India involvement of women in jobs is low.
independent, it had a GDP or mouth” existence, whereby the ves- India has one of the lowest female
total income of Rs 2.7 lakh sels carrying grains from the US has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in
crore and a population of 340 mil-
lion. Today, in 2022, its GDP stands
under the Public Law 480 (PL-480)
programme kept Indians away from
labour force participation rates the world, behind even those of
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Being
at Rs 236.65 lakh crore and the pop- hunger. Today, India is a major in the world, behind even those unable to be gainfully employed as
ulation at over 1.3 billion. exporter of food and with enough of wage earners affects their social sta-
While the GDP has gone up by 88 buffer stocks to tide over output loss of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. tus.
times, the head count has gone up by from bad weather (heatwave), as has The task ahead for India in the
just four times. So, obviously Indi- happened earlier this year. BIG BREAK: The new policy in the ’90s led to a social sector is multidimensional.
ans, on the whole, are much better The other major break came in the spike in manufacturing output & exports. REUTERS India needs a healthier and more
off, even after allowing for inflation. early 1990s after a huge foreign educated workforce so that those
But the point is, how is this income exchange crisis. This was the result seeking jobs can handle modern
distributed? If it is skewed, as is the of the pursuit of economic policies in In order to get an sations’ (in agriculture, indus- allel and even the US has just technology without which the econ-
case with a small sliver at the top post-independent India that sought idea of how far the try, defence and science approved major funding to end omy cannot become more produc-
enjoying an inordinately large share to simultaneously promote Gand- Indian econo- and technology) that dependence on Chinese manufac- tive. What we are looking at is the
of the country’s total income, then hi’s idea of Gram Swaraj, cottage my has pro- hugely improved agri- tured components. An inadequate need for quickly raising social sector
that does not speak positively about and small-scale industries and pub- gressed, it is use- cultural output and supply of semiconductor chips from spending for which currently the fis-
the level of well-being of a good lic sector-led large-scale industriali- ful to compare it with incomes and created a China has slowed down car output in cal resources do not exist.
number of Indians. sation under planning in imitation China. India and China large demand for many countries, including India. In discussing this scenario, we
Recent figures (2021) indicate that of the Soviets which was supported are now strategic manufactured To overcome this, India has have made a major assumption that
the top 10 per cent earn 57 per cent by Nehru. adversaries. They have products. launched a major initiative named the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine
of the national income whereas a The payments crisis led to the similar populations and What is the eco- “production-linked incentive” under war are behind us. But they are not.
good half of all Indians, the bottom introduction of new economic poli- started their independent nomic scenario and which global and Indian firms are New variants of the virus keep
50 per cent, earn only 13 per cent of cies which said goodbye to industri- journey around the same time: challenges that lie ahead as being paid large subventions to set spreading and imposing a cost on the
the national income. Thus, looking al licensing and foreign trade con- the late 1940s. While India was able India celebrates the diamond jubilee tput in a few years. But to facilitate economy in terms of man-days lost
back over the last 75 years, India has trols, resulting in a significant to ward off starvation with the US of its independence? Even if we this policy and ensure that there is a and health expenditure raised. As for
come a long way — the size of the growth in manufacturing output and wheat, China met with a severe set- assume that the Covid pandemic good domestic market for the new the war, it has led to a global shortage
cake is many times larger — but exports. Today, in terms of purchas- back and agricultural disruption as a and Ukraine war are behind the products like semiconductor chips, and rise in commodity prices, which
there is still a long way to go before ing power parity, the Indian econo- result of the “Great Leap Forward” country without having caused foreign trade restrictions have been is upping the Indian inflationary lev-
we can say that all Indians earn a my is the third largest in the world. which cost 30 million lives due to major economic damage, one key introduced. els and necessitating restrictive
level of income that allows them to In terms of US dollars, the Indian starvation. challenge will remain: how to get the This looks like a step backward monetary policies. So, these chal-
live with dignity. economy is the sixth largest in the China’s economic reforms started better of China? from the new economic policies of lenges will have to be overcome first
In terms of economic policy, two world, after the US, China, Japan, in the late 1970s after the death of The depth and complexity of Chi- the 1990s which have stood India in before the country can embark upon
major breaks stand out since 1947. Germany and the UK. Mao Zedong with the ‘four moderni- na’s industrial setup is without par- good stead. Thus, being in a state of the two major ones.
Mandal elected Chairman, Pak Constituent Assembly

N FROM THE TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
EW DELHI, AUG 10: With istan Constituent Assembly was the only nomination paper received
the coming into force of the marked by a simple ceremony and for the important office.
Indian Independence Act on the proceedings were conducted in
August 15, not only the Gov- a dignified and business-like man- Four killed as train derails
ernment at the Centre but also all ner. It was in the words of Mr. Man- LAHORE: Four passengers were
PA N Provincial Governments under the Indi- dal “a momentous occasion”. killed and 20 others injured as a
RTITIO an Union will undergo a transformation.
It is learnt that Provincial Govern-
Mr Mandal, in a brief speech,
thanked the House for the great hon-
result of a derailment of two bogies
of a special train from Delhi to
ments in nine provinces included in our done to him by electing him as Karachi. The derailment occurred
the Indian Dominion will from that temporary Chairman of the Con- last night following an explosion on
India’s draft Constitution date function under the Government stituent Assembly of Pakistan. the track between Delhi and Bathin-
of India Act, 1935, as adapted to meet He said: “You have come from dif- da railway stations.
was based on the broad India’s status as a Dominion. ferent parts of Pakistan to be here on The engine driver and the guard of
principles incorporated in It is further understood that all Provin-
cial Premiers and other Ministers in
this momentous occasion to frame
the Constitution for a free, sovereign
the train escaped injuries, but two
bogies capsized, resulting in four
the reports of the Union their respective Provincial Cabinets will State of Pakistan. The free, sovereign persons being killed. Three relief
have to regularise their position by tak- State of Pakistan will bring to all citi- trains have been despatched from
Powers Committee and ing new oaths, which, it is gathered, will zens of Pakistan prosperity and hap- Lahore to the scene of the occur-
the Model Provincial contain no reference to the British King.
Allegiance will be sworn by them only to
piness. It is my conviction that Pak-
istan will be one of the most
rence. The Chief Commercial Man-
ager and the Deputy Chief Operating
Constitution Committee, the Indian Union’s Constitution. powerful, resourceful and magnifi- Superintendent of the N.W. Railway
The United Press gathers from talks cent States in the world.” have rushed to the spot.
which had been approved with responsible officials of the Indian Paying a glowing tribute to Mr. M.A. The derailment, it is learnt,
AUGUST 11, 1947
by the Constituent Constituent Assembly that experts Jinnah, Mr Mandal said: “I must occurred between Giddarbaha and
entrusted with the drafting of a Consti- ON THE JOB: The Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan express my gratitude to Qaid-e-Azam Bulluana railway stations on the Del-
Assembly. There was tution for the Republic of India have were tasked with preparing the respective statutes. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the great hi-Bathinda section of the N.W. Rail-
been asked to complete their task by architect and creator of the State of way at 10.30 last night. The Inspector
speculation about the September 15. At the forthcoming ses- The United Press also gathers from meeting here this morning. On a Pakistan, and I have every confi- of Railways will hold an inquiry into
setting up of a special sion, the Constituent Assembly will lobby talks that another special com- proposal by Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, dence that under his leadership, with the accident at Bathinda Railway Sta-
appoint a select committee to scruti- mittee is likely to be appointed during Mr. Jogendranath Mandal was elect- his astute statesmanship and devotion on August 12 and 13.
committee to recommend nise the draft Constitution thus pre- the ensuing session of the Assembly for ed temporary Chairman. After some tion to the cause of Pakistan, prosper-
pared, it is understood. recommending necessary changes in formal resolutions, the House ity and happiness will come to the National Flag
changes in the text of the Enquiries reveal that the draft Con- the text of the “objectives” Resolution adjourned till tomorrow. people of Pakistan. It is needless for LAHORE: Two National Flags (30 ft by
‘objectives’ Resolution stitution will consist of nearly 300 sec- so as to adjust the same to the changed Mr Liaquat Ali Khan proposed that me to reiterate that Mr Jinnah is the 20 ft), printed on handspun and hand-
tions, based on the broad principles constitutional and political set-up con- Mr Mandal be elected temporary greatest statesman and one of the woven silk bought from the All-India
so as to adjust it to the incorporated in the reports of the sequent upon the division of India. Chairman and Khwaja Nazim-ud-Din greatest men of the world today.” Spinners’ Association’s Punjab
Union Powers Committee and the seconded the motion. Mr Mandal then Meanwhile, Mr Jinnah will be Branch, are being got ready to be
changed constitutional and Model Provincial Constitution Com- Pak Constituent Assembly meets occupied the chair amidst cheers from declared elected President of the hoisted over the Punjab Secretariat at
political set-up of India. mittee, which have already been KARACHI: The Pakistan Con- all sections of the House. Pakistan Constituent Assembly Simla and at Barnes Court — Gover-
approved by the Constituent Assembly. stituent Assembly held its inaugural The inaugural session of the Pak- when it meets tomorrow, his being nor’s House — on August 15.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS
AUGUST 11, 2022, THURSDAY SUNSET: THURSDAY 19:08 HRS
1
4
Careless (6)
Consistent (2,1,5) 9 2 1 6 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2079
SUNRISE: FRIDAY 05:48 HRS
9 Formal proposal for debate (6) ■ Shaka Samvat 1944
10 Fussily precise (8)
12
13
Keenly expectant (4)
On even terms (5)
4 2 ■ Shravana Shaka
■ Shravana Parvishte
20
27
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
14 Loyal (4)
■ Hijari 1444 Chandigarh 31 27
17
20
Intimate conversation (5-2-5)
For unlimited period (12) 6 7 1 5 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 14, up to 10:39 am New Delhi 35 28
23 Assert (4) ■ Ayushman Yoga up to 3:31 pm Amritsar 31 26
24 Knack (5)
25
28
Frustrate (4)
State with king or queen (8)
5 8 6 3 ■ Uttrashadha Nakshatra up to 6:53 am
■ Shravana Nakshatra up to 4:08 am

Bathinda
Jalandhar
33
31
27
26
29 To lament (6)
■ Moon in Capricorn sign Ludhiana 31 27
6 5
30 Alfred Nobel’s explosive (8)
31 A particular language (6) ■ Raksha Bandhan Bhiwani 32 28
DOWN
1 Fellow-feeling (8) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION Hisar 33 28
2
3
Not obligatory (8)
Inferior (4) 7 1 4 9 5 4 2 1 9 3 6 7 8
Sirsa
Dharamsala
32
28
28
20
5 Be in financial difficulty (4,3,5)
6 A tree-borne fruit (4) 8 6 9 2 5 7 1 3 4 Manali 26 15
7
8
Whole (6)
Avoid (6)
2 4 3 8 7 3 1 4 8 6 2 5 9 Shimla 27 17
11 Beyond hearing range (3,2,7) 6 7 4 8 1 5 3 9 2 Srinagar 33 20
15
16
Endure without complaint (5)
In weak health (5) 5 7 1 9 8 6 3 2 7 4 5 Jammu
Kargil
36
30
25
16
18 Be on congenial terms (3,5) 2 5 3 9 7 4 8 6 1
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION 19 Accidentally (2,6) Leh 24 13
Across: 1 Debit, 4 Fearful, 8 Sin, 9 A matter of, 10 Immense, 11 Chary, 13 Snappy,
15 Heated, 18 Beset, 19 Endless, 21 Out of turn, 23 Ill, 24 Dappled, 25 Emery.
21 Packed tightly (6)
22 Long narrow flag (6) 1 3 8 4 3
4
2
8
5
6
7
3
4
2
1
9
9
5
8
1
6
7 Dehradun 31 23 1
Down: 1 Dismiss, 2 By no means, 3 Train, 4 Flawed, 5 Attache, 6 Far, 7 Lofty, 26 Forbidding in appearance (4) Mussoorie 22 18
9 1 7 5 6 8 4 2 3
12 At the time, 14 Pitiful, 16 Display, 17 Refund, 18 Brood, 20 Dense, 22 Tip. 27 Nought (4) EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC
12 ThurSDAy, 11 AuGuST 2022
New DelhI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW THEIR VIEW

HT
The GST hike on chit funds may

deprive many Indians of funding
It could reduce the participation incentive for net savers and constrict this well-used source of credit
pants. The cycle ends after each fund chit fund intermediary, which is cur-
participant has received the pool of rently around 5% of the full lump-sum
money once. At a preset interval, typi- amount, divided by the number of
cally every month, a lump-sum from the participants.
contribution of all participants is trans- Our calculations based on data from a
ferred to one of them who wins that few completed chit fund cycles suggest
month’s bid for the pool of money. A that borrowers in chit funds pay around
piece of paper used for writing a bid 10-18% in interest cost, lower than most
amount in the olden days was known as other sources of credit, especially after
VIDYA MAHAMBARE a chit, and hence the name ‘chit fund’. accounting for guaranteed access to
& SANJOY SIRCAR A chit fund is a unique hybrid instru- loans without collateral. For those who
are, respectively, professor of economics ment that allows an individual to switch end up as savers, the interest earned is a
and professor of finance at Great Lakes from being a borrower to a saver/lender maximum of 4-6% or often even lower.
Institute of Management, Chennai in a seamless fashion. One can borrow Our estimates also suggest that in
Passenger profiles are

against traditional banking/insurance response to the hike in GST, if chit fund
instruments such as fixed deposits, intermediaries were to raise their
D
espite 75 years of independence, insurance policies, provident fund, etc, monthly commission to 7% (the most
access to borrowings from but that requires them to undergo a allowed by law) from the current 5%,
commercial banks, especially cumbersome credit-approval process then the cost of borrowings is likely to
unreliable crystal balls for meeting emergency needs, remains

elusive for the majority of Indian house-
holds. Many Indians work in the
informal sector or are self-employed.
and the loan is restricted to a fraction of
past contributions already made to the
collateral kitty. In the case of a chit fund,
any investor can bid to borrow from
increase by around 0.85% with a similar
decline in the already-low returns that
chit-fund savers make.
While borrowers would still be happy
They do not have stable income others against the promise of future to participate in chit funds, given that
streams, proof of regular income or the contributions, while the credit risk their interest rates remain attractive,
It’s for immigration control to bar absconders from fleeing and for Customs to nab airport collateral that banks need to sanction devolves to the chit fund’s promoter. the opportunity cost of participation
personal as well as small business loans. One can bid early in the cycle if one increases for savers on account of the
smugglers. The latter’s demand for details of fliers can hardly help predict acts of smuggling This forces them to rely on sources of needs money for any planned purchase, GST hike, especially in an environment
credit such as non-banking financial working capital for business or for a per- of rising interest rates. If participants
companies (NBFCs), friends and sonal emergency. Alternatively, one can who joined chit funds with an intention
relatives, and local money lenders and wait and take the lump-sum in a later of being savers were to switch over to
N
ews is often received and inter- unwittingly). By virtue of its value for weight pawnbrokers. part of the cycle. Each participant, alternative saving instruments, then the
preted in a context. So it should efficiency, gold has long been the hot choice of One such long-established alterna- therefore, receives a different pool of chit fund system would not work, since it
tive source of credit is chit funds, which funds. Bids tend to be more aggressive requires a group of people that must
not surprise us if new details on wilful smugglers. Tariff reduction with India’s are one of the earliest forms of peer-to- early in the cycle and so people who comprise a mix of expected savers and
passengers flying in and out of economic reforms had squeezed profits in such peer lending. Chit funds, if registered take the lump-sum early end up paying borrowers. If the chit fund industry
India demanded by Customs risky price arbitrage, but a local premium on the with a state government, are legal enti- more by way of their total contribution shrinks, then borrowers would have to
from airlines is seen as a privacy metal kept this glittery game alive. As reported, ties regulated under the Chit Funds Act over the duration of the fund than what find a substitute source of unsecured
issue, given how long it’s taking India to enact a airport seizures of gold added up to almost of 1982; they do not fall under the juris- they receive from it. Those who take it financing, which will not be an easy task.
diction of the Reserve Bank of India. In towards the end of the cycle tend to end It is difficult to evaluate the net
law that will regulate the use of personal data. 586kg in 2021-22, up from about 400kg the the government’s recent announce- up as savers, since they usually receive income of chit fund promoters in the
This week, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes year before. Some six weeks ago, as part of an ment of revised rates of GST, the tax more money than what they contribute absence of data on their costs, default
and Customs (CBIC) asked air carriers to submit effort to dissuade imports in general, the Centre that chit fund services attract has been to the chit fund. rates of participants and the net tax
19 fields of data on cross-border fliers at least 24 raised its basic import duty on gold brought raised to 18% from the earlier 12%. Since the cost of borrowing and the burden. Overall, however, professional
hours before their flights depart. Apart from along in their baggage by Indian citizens and How will this tax hike impact the chit return to savers depend on the bidding chit funds have served a segment of the
fund industry and thus people for process, it is uncertain, varies for each Indian population well for whom it is not
names, nationality and passport data, which are arrivals of Indian origin who’d stayed abroad for whom it is a key financial instrument? participant, and can be calculated only easy to get loans, especially rollover
anyway given in advance to our immigration over six months from 7.5% to 12.5% (plus a 1.25% To begin with, let us understand how ex-post. Every month, each participant loans from banks, NBFCs and even
authorities, the CBIC’s format is reported to surcharge), subject to a limit of 1kg per person. the product works. A chit fund is a makes an identical contribution to the microfinance institutions.
include contact details, billing information, Others must cough up a heftier charge of 38.5%. close-ended group lending scheme lump-sum, though the contribution dif- A careful reconsideration of the
on-board seating and much else, all of it aimed Could an enlarged incentive for gold sneak-ins with rounds of funding, where cyclical fers each month. It is calculated as the recent GST hike to 18% on chit fund
iterations equal the number of partici- winning bid plus the commission of the services is therefore warranted.
at doing “risk analysis” that could help India have gone into the CBIC’s data call-up?
thwart and prosecute economic offences. Like various popular assets, gold saw a sharp
Despite this demand for enlarged data, airlines pandemic uptrend driven by a global gush of
see an upside in the move, as it beats having to stimulus cash, but its price—both globally and
meet varied spot requests from law enforcers locally—has been largely flat ever since central
and investigative agencies, a spanner in the banks began to call off easy-money policies.
works that the world’s apex aviation lobby had This year’s outbreaks of retail inflation and war- www.livemint.com
New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Monday, August 13, 2012 Vol.6 No.193 `3.00 in DelhiNCR/`4.00 outside DelhiNCR 24
28 PAGES
appealed against on their behalf earlier this led uncertainty have not acted as gold price CAPITAL CALCULUS:
North Block >4
BANKER’S TRUST: Can RBI, finmin
turn a new leaf? >6
Change in the
year. A formal format spells ease of process. escalators, which suggests a slight drop-off in EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
CAPITAL ACCOUNT: Does economic
growth depend on foreign fund inflows? >15
REAL ESTATE: Real estate leases may
have to be registered>4
As border control is a major aspect of govern- public perceptions of its worth as a safety hedge SENSEX 17,557.74 ®
RAGHURAM RAJAN
NIFTY 5,320.40 ® DOLLAR `55.28 ® EURO `67.82 ®
YURI CORTEZ/AFP
‘I am happy
GOLD `29,880 ®
QUICK EDIT
OIL $112.95 ®
Right guy at I changed A good
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the colour of
the medal’
B Y A YAZ M EMON &
R UDRANEIL S ENGUPTA
·························
tally
S o finally India did not
win a gold medal at
the London Olympics.
That is no reason to be
despondent.
More gold has been
against state access to lists of flier identities. Yet, might also have stolen some of its glitter. In any
LONDON/NEW DELHI Naysayers will, of
time? I t was perhaps India’s most course, find one reason

telling moment of glory at the or another to wield a
mined from the thoughts

2012 London Olympics—free- stick. One popular
style wrestler Sushil Kumar lift- argument being that it is
ing Kazakhstan’s Akzhurek Tan- odd that a country of
atarov, his opponent in the semi- more than a billion
Ability to speak truth power. finals, over his shoulders and on people could not win a
to power will be an The 49-year old Rajan had to the mat for a stunning victory. single gold medal. The
oddly, our record of individuals wanted for case, the metal’s allure as a store of wealth in
spoken his mind earlier, in Au- It was a spectacular turna- answer to that is simple:
asset, but window of gust 2005, at a symposium in round, since Kumar was trailing India and Indians hardly
opportunity for serious Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to for much of the bout, and a show devote the time, effort
honour US Federal Reserve of strength and willpower. Un- and money that is
reforms may be limited chairman Alan Greenspan. He fortunately, he could not find the required to produce
of men than has been

had asked there whether finan- same spark in the final, losing to Olympics champions.
B Y A SIT R ANJAN M ISHRA & cial development had made the Japan’s Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu India’s successes, so
R EMYA N AIR world a riskier place, a ques- 3-1. far, have been largely due
························· tion he had answered in the af- “My aim was gold,” the 29- to individual effort and
financial wrongdoing flying off is dismal. perpetuity can hardly be taken for granted. Its
NEW DELHI firmative. year-old said after the loss. “I not because of any
R aghuram Rajan is not

known to mince words.
His candour was on
display at a speech he gave in
New Delhi on 14 April to an au-
His remarks were met with
scorn from some of the best
economists in the world at-
tending the symposium, held
at a time when many believed
gave it my best, but couldn’t
manage that, which leaves me
somewhat disappointed. But af-
ter Beijing, I had promised I
would change the colour of the
systemic support. If
anything, the sporting
system—which is by and
large a collection of
bureaucrats—in the
dience comprising some of the economists had discovered medal, and I am happy that I did. country is a positive
taken from the earth.

most powerful people in the their version of the perpetual There is no greater joy than see- hindrance to success.
country, including Prime Min- motion machine, free of old ing the national flag being hoist- The way to better
This vigil is the job of our immigration bureau, holdings are a physical burden and offer no
ister Manmohan Singh. frictions such as recessions and ed at the Olympics.” performance is to let
“India’s star has dimmed in high inflation. But Rajan was Kumar, who became the only sportspersons—players
the last few months, as our gov- vindicated when a gale swept Indian to win more than one in- and coaches—decide
ernance is besmirched by cor- through the world economy dividual medal at the Olympics, what they want. The
ruption scandals and our mac- three years later, aka the global was not entirely happy with his government should just
roeconomic health has deterio- financial crisis. Twice the success: Sushil Kumar acknowledges the crowd after receiving silver, which points to the grow- hand them a cheque and
rated,” Rajan said. “Alarm bells Rajan is now set to become his silver medal in the men’s 66kg freestyle wrestling event on Sunday. disappear.
should sound when domestic the new chief economic adviser Kumar became the first Indian to win multiple Olympic medals. TURN TO PAGE 24®
industry no longer wants to in- (CEA) to the finance ministry,
though, not Customs, which must concern stream of earnings. But nor can we assume
vest in India, even while eager- replacing Kaushik Basu, who
ly investing abroad.” returns to Cornell University.
Without pulling any punch-
es, Rajan pointed out reforms
Some of that candour and the
ability to speak truth to power We want EFFECT OF SANCTIONS
that would reduce patronage
and increase competition have
stalled, while “rent, patronage,
will be required, since he takes
over at a time when the Indian
economy is caught in a pincer
plurality in Omvati Prem first oil tanker to
or entitlement-enhancing
measures have sailed through”.
of slowing growth and high in-
flation.
media: Khullar bring Iran crude with Indian cover
itself chiefly with incomers, especially those would-be smugglers to be savvy investors,
He added that the old licence Rajan did not respond to
N A P OL EON HI L L
raj has been replaced by a new
resource raj.
questions emailed by Mint.
Former Reserve Bank of In- mint INTERVIEW B Y P . M ANOJ THE JOURNEY government last week,” a ship-
Rajan was taking a leaf from dia governor Bimal Jalan thinks [email protected] ping ministry spokesman said.
the book of John Maynard Key- Rajan is an “excellent choice” B Y S HUCHI B ANSAL & ························· MRPL managing director P.P.
BANGALORE Kharg Island
nes, one of his role models, for the post of CEA. “He has a A SIT R ANJAN M ISHRA Upadhya did not return calls
export terminal
who told his fellow economists
that they should speak truth to
very broad bandwidth,” said
Jalan, who was a CEA in the
·························
NEW DELHI
W hen oil tanker MT Omvati
Prem loads crude from
made to his office.
Mercator was the only tanker
O
who seek to sneak stuff into India that’s either or anything else about them for that matter.
1980’s. “Not only does he have wnership across television, Iran’s Kharg Island export termi- owner, not only among the five
IRAN
NOTE TO READERS good knowledge in the finan-
cial sector space, he has good
radio and print media, the
political hot potato for the min-
nal on 15 August, it will be the
first Indian ship to haul oil from
operating in India but from any-
where else in the world, that had
New Mangalore
The Media Marketing Initiative on ideas for the overall macroeco- istry of information and broad- the Persian Gulf nation after Eu- port participated in a tender floated
Page 11 is the equivalent of a paid nomic situation, as reflected by casting (MIB), is back in Tele- ropean insurers declined to pro- INDIA by the government’s ship-char-
for advertisement, and no Mint the thinking in his books.” com Regulatory Authority of In- vide third-party insurance cover. tering department, Transchart,
journalists were involved in Rajan has a scintillating dia’s (Trai) court although the State-run insurer United India Arabian on 30 July for hauling 85,000
track record. regulator sent its recommenda- Insurance Co. Ltd has provided Sea tonnes of crude from Iran for
creating it. Readers would do well
to treat it as an advertisement. He is currently the Eric J. tions to the government three the vessel owned by Mercator MRPL.
barred or liable for import duty. The word for Smuggling is a tawdry duty-made temptation.
Gleacher Distinguished Service years ago. Before floating a Ltd cover worth $50 million State-owned departments and
Professor of Finance at the fresh consultation paper on the against pollution damage, wreck undertakings are bound by a
Booth School of Business at the subject, Trai chairman Rahul removal and personal injury government policy to make their
University of Chicago. He has Khullar has started a public de- claims. India, the world’s fourth-big- shipping arrangements through
also been an honorary eco- bate on issues related to entry Transporting more crude from gest oil importer, buys about Transchart, which gives first
nomic adviser to Singh since barriers, ownership and market Iran, however, will depend on 8-10 shipments a month on an preference to Indian ships to
2008, and he chaired the com- shares across media categories. the scope of further sanctions average from Iran, mainly to its move their cargo, provided they
mittee set up by the Planning In an interview last week, he being planned by the US, Merca- refineries on the western coast, match the lowest rates quoted by
Commission on financial sec- said partial refarming of radio tor said. European Union insur- but the European Union sanc- foreign ship owners when price
this is ‘smuggling’ and our high-tariff past once It’ll probably go on, with no saying by whom.
tor reforms that submitted its spectrum is a possibility for the ers on 1 July cut off third party li- tion has crippled the shipments. quotations are invited.
report in 2008. telecom sector. Edited excerpts: ability cover to around 95% of Omvati Prem will carry the The 30 July enquiry was the
Rajan was the youngest chief the global tanker fleet that ships crude to New Mangalore port, first to be floated by Transchart
economist at the International Was there an immediate trigger crude from Iran. where Mangalore Refinery and to fix a ship on spot basis for a
Monetary Fund. He won the for reviving the debate on re United India’s insurance cover Petrochemicals Ltd, the nation’s state-run oil refiner after the Eu-
first Fischer Black prize, a pres- stricting crossmedia ownership? is part of an emergency plan put biggest buyer of Iranian crude, ropean Union banned the pur-
tigious award on the lines of Trai gave its recommenda- in place in mid-July at the prod- runs a refinery. The voyage to chase, transport, financing and
the biannual Fields medal in tions on cross-media owner- ding of the government to help New Mangalore takes seven insurance of Iranian oil from 1
mathematics and the Clark ship to MIB more than three India continue buying crude oil days. In July, the state-run refin- July.
made ample space for arrivals from overseas to Artificial Intelligence or not, it’s hard to see how
medal in economics, given to years ago. The ministry also from Iran. The insurer has also er could import only one ship- Following the ban, London-
an under-40 finance theorist. It commissioned the Administra- agreed to provide a separate cov- ment against a monthly average based International Group of
is given in honour of Fischer tive Staff College of India (ASCI) er of up to $50 million for hull of four. Protection and Indemnity Clubs
Mint is also available for R7 with and machinery to protect ships “The MRPL shipment was fi-
Hindustan Times in Delhi-NCR only
TURN TO PAGE 2® TURN TO PAGE 3® against physical damage. nalized and approved by the TURN TO PAGE 2®
play the role of smugglers at our airports (often predictive profiling of fliers will help nab them.
GUEST VIEW
The Indian edtech industry is taking India to the world

care. With edtech helping students prepare backs. Edtech’s growth is still dwarfed by access to a huge pool of skilled educators. support from the public sector. State govern-
AMAR PATNAIK for competitive exams, industry reports inadequate infrastructure, poor accessibility Learners abroad are enrolling with Indian ments have also risen to the challenge posed
found that the success rate went up to about and our digital divide. Most recently, issues of edtech firms not just for affordability but also by the pandemic by developing a learning
7% as compared to under 1% through the con- misleading advertisements and unfair trade because they deliver world-class content. ecosystem beyond the traditional school
ventional classroom mass-teaching formats. practices have come to light, which an edtech Various Indian edtech companies are setup. The Government School Transforma-
Edtech provides access to education on consortium is working to eliminate through slowly upping their global presence by col- tion Programme under the 5T initiative
E
dtech in India has grown phenomenally demand: students who were not compatible self-regulation. laborating with international universities or (Transparency, Teamwork, Technology, and
in the last couple of years, making India with the traditional school system’s rigid Going global: There are acquiring foreign firms. Timeliness leading to Transformation) of the
the edtech capital of the world. The pri- timetables can get access to quality educa- over 4,450 edtech startups These businesses are ven- Odisha government is a case in point. It
vate sector is playing a key role with the pub- tion. This is especially important in low-in- in India that are assisting The country turing out because they would also be useful for the state government
lic sector acting as a facilitator. India’s educa- come households, where children often help over 300 million school believe they have good to develop tablet distribution policies in alli-
tion sector saw a boom in edtech funding their parents with work or household chores students. Of these, 40 mil- has a strategic quality services and global ance with Edtech companies to help over-
during the pandemic. There are certainly during the day when schools usually hold lion are students pursuing contracts provide them come the digital divide.
some advantages of edtech over conventional classes. It also solves the problem of students higher education whose
edge in online with wider visibility and Our advantage has always been content. In
is a member of Parliament in
learning that should be considered. It’s time
to decide what the new ‘normal’ looks like for
from such homes not being able to afford a
high-quality conventional education, by
studies were disrupted by
covid. This brought edtech,
education that access to capital in major
markets like the US. These
the last decade, we have seen an entire indus-
try emerge that uses technology to develop
Rajya Sabha from Odisha
representing the Biju Janata Dal.
our education sector.
Educators, parents, and students have long
bridging gaps in teacher availability. The
cost-effectiveness of edtech allows students
which uses IT tools for
inclusive, engaging and
can be deployed collaborations have been
given an impetus by the
high-quality content and innovative solu-
tions. It is for state governments to harness
complained about the one-size-fits-all model to overcome the paywall between them and personalized learning, to for the greater new National Education these resources to maximize the benefits of
of conventional schooling. Edtech provides premium educators, and the virtual nature of the fore. India’s edtech Policy, 2020, which that advantage for public purposes.
specially tailored classes and access to con- this learning erases geographical constraints. industry could slowly good of all encourages education As India rightfully claims its place under
tent at a pace students are comfortable with. Finally, when considering edtech as a com- bridge the education-qual- through foreign universi- the sun in our 75th year of independence,
Students receive personalized recommenda- plement to traditional schooling, instead of a ity gap between the rich ties to help establish India edtech is a shining example of a sector that’s
tions based on data on their previous learning direct replacement, edtech modules have an and the poor, giving Indians from all back- as a global education hub. These partnerships taking Indian pedagogy to the world. Earlier,
patterns and performance. Students who upper hand over traditional textbooks. Better grounds more equitable chances of success. are expected to provide students with an it made news when someone of Indian origin
excel at studying would no longer be ham- navigation of resources, multimedia graphics India’s edtech boom also stems from facts like excellent learning environment as well as became a significant leader in a Fortune 500
strung by teachers catering to the lower and and interactive elements allow for a more the prevalence of enthusiastic entrepreneurs access to inter-disciplinary programmes. company. Today, Indian edtech companies,
nodal level of the class, while students who engaging educational experience. adopting a multicultural approach to suit the Bridging our digital divide: Indian edtech using Indian and other techniques and tools,
need extra support and benefit from a slower This is not to say that edtech programmes needs of a diverse country, developing inno- firms are providing access to education to are making a difference at scale for Indians
learning pace could receive the appropriate don’t have their own challenges and draw- vative products and approaches, and with marginalized communities nationally with and foreigners alike.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS ThurSDAy, 11 AuGuST 2022
New Delhi 13
THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
India at 75: A less poor but more From the Great Moderation to
anxiety over Great Stagflation
unequal nation with too few jobs The world is unlikely to escape stagnant growth and high inflation
Independent India turning 75 calls for celebration as much as reflection on the uneven outcomes of our development path
Widening inequality in the country

Economic gaps between haves and have-nots have worsened over the decades with
the benefits of GDP growth failing to reach all our citizens.
GDP and GDP per capita in India: 1950-2020 Growth in GDP and GDP per
capita in India NOuRIEl ROubINI
GDP 1,45,160 GDP per capita 1950/51-2019/20 is professor emeritus of economics at New
(in billion) (in ) (% per annum) York University’s Stern School of Business,
1950/51 13,840 and author of the forthcoming
DEEPAk NAYYAR 4,968 Growth in ‘MegaThreats: Ten Dangerous Trends That
is emeritus professor of economics, Jawaharlal GDP Imperil Our Future, and How to Survive
Nehru University 4.9 Them’.
2.9
2019/20 1,08,247
Growth in
GDP per
T
1950/51 2019/20 capita he world economy is undergoing a
Source: EPWRF India Time Series accessed at www.epwrfits.in radical shift. The decades-long Great
I
ndependent India turns 75 on 15 August. It is a GDP per capita in India: an international comparison Moderation is over. Coming after the
time for celebration. But such occasions are stagflation of the 1970s and early 1980s, it Too many factors of moderation have
also a time for reflection and introspection. 1970 2019 ($ in current prices at market exchange rates) was characterized by low inflation in rich reversed in recent times ISTOCKPHOTO
During the period 1950-51 to 2019-20, for 924 economies, relatively stable and robust
World
which evidence is available, in real terms, 11,361 economic growth, with short and shallow The same is true of today’s geopolitical
growth in GDP was 4.9% per annum while 2,601 recessions, low and falling bond yields, turmoil. Now that the US dollar has been
growth in GDP per capita was 2.9% per annum. Industrialized Countries thanks to a secular fall in inflation, and fully weaponized for strategic purposes, its
40,509
Thus, over seven decades, GDP multiplied by just sharply rising values of risky assets. This position as the main global reserve currency
221
over 29, doubling every 14 years, while GDP per Developing Countries
5,251
period is usually explained by central may begin to decline, and a weaker dollar
capita multiplied by almost 8, doubling every 24 banks’ move to credible inflation-targeting would add to the inflationary pressures. A
years. This provides a sharp contrast with the 112 policies after the loose monetary policies of frictionless world trading system requires a
India
period 1900-01 to 1946-47 during the colonial era, 2,095 the 1970s and governments’ adherence to frictionless financial system. But sweeping
when national income growth was 1% per annum 120 relatively conservative fiscal policies. But, sanctions have thrown sand in this well-
China
and per capita income growth was 0.2% per 9,936 more important than demand-side policies oiled machine, making trade costlier.
annum. At these growth rates, national income 88 were positive supply shocks that upped Climate change is also stagflationary.
would have doubled in 70 years, while per capita Indonesia potential growth and reduced production Apart from its disruptive effects, the drive
4,009
income would have doubled in 350 years! Political costs, thus keeping inflation in check. for decarbonization has led to underinvest-
Source: UNCTAD Stat accessed at https://unctad.org/statistics
independence, which restored economic auton- During the post-Cold War era of hyper- ment in fossil-fuel capacity before invest-
omy and enabled India to pursue its national devel- ISTOCKPHOTO SATISH KUMAR/MINT
globalization, China and other emerging ment in renewables has reached the point
opment objectives, made the change possible. livelihoods during the covid pandemic probably economies integrated with the world econ- where they can make up the difference.
In comparison with other countries during the accentuated the problem. Although poverty lines omy, supplying it with low-cost goods, ser- Pandemics caused by zoonotic viruses will
post-colonial era, this performance was not as and poverty estimates are always a source of con- vices, energy and commodities. Large-scale also be a persistent threat.
good as that of East or Southeast Asia, and it was tention, the number of poor people in India in migration from the global south to the north Finally, cyberwarfare remains an under-
not as bad as that of Africa. It was average. A com- 2022, perhaps 20-25% of our population, might be kept a lid on wages in advanced economies, appreciated threat to economic activity and
parison between the three Asian giants—India, close to the total population of India in 1947. technological innovations reduced costs even public safety. Firms and governments
China and Indonesia—at similar levels of develop- Economic growth can be transformed into and relative geopolitical stability allowed will either face more stagflationary disrup-
ment when they attained political independence meaningful development only if it brings about for an efficient and secure allocation of pro- tions to production, or they will have to
in the late 1940s, is instructive. Between 1970 and an improvement in the living conditions of people. duction to low-cost locations. spend a fortune on cybersecurity. Either
2019, using national accounts statistics compiled For the poor, their daily lives are a struggle. But the Great Moderation started to crack way, costs will rise.
by the United Nations, per capita income as a pro- Malnutrition—particularly among children and during the Great Recession and was then hit On the demand side, loose and uncon-
portion of that in industrialized countries rose women—persists, hunger and destitution are by covid. In both cases, inflation initially ventional monetary, fiscal and credit poli-
from 4.3% to 5.2% in India, 4.6% to 25% in China common, child labour is a necessity for many, remained low, given demand shocks, and cies have become not a bug, but rather a fea-
and from 3.4% to 10% in Indonesia, while their per shelter is makeshift or absent, access to educa- loose monetary, fiscal and credit policies ture of the new regime. Between today’s
capita income as a proportion of that for the world tional opportunities is sparse, and healthcare is prevented deflation. But inflation is back, surging stocks of private and public debts
economy rose from 12% to 18% for India, 13% to 87% neither available nor affordable. And sustainable rising sharply, owing to a mix of both and the huge unfunded liabilities of pay-as-
for China and 10% to 35% for Indonesia. livelihoods for the poor remain a distant dream. demand and supply factors. On the supply you-go social-security and health systems,
Economic growth in India has been associated A big failure of the development process in India side, the backlash against globalization has both the private and public sectors face
with unequal outcomes that have created divides since independence is that economic growth has gained momentum. Public anger over stark growing financial risks. Central banks are
between regions, sectors and people. The west and not led to commensurate employment creation. inequalities also has been rising, leading to thus locked in a ‘debt trap’: any attempt to
south of the country have surged ahead, while the The number of jobs created in any year are more policies to support workers that are normalize monetary policy will cause debt-
east and north have lagged behind, widening the nowhere near enough to absorb the increment in now contributing to a spiral of wage-price servicing burdens to spike, leading to mas-
gap between richer and poorer states. Over the the workforce, let alone the mounting backlog of inflation. Making matters worse, renewed sive insolvencies, cascading financial crises,
period 1950-51 to 2019-20, the agricultural sector’s the unemployed. Underemployment has always protectionism has restricted trade and the and fallout in the real economy. With gov-
share in GDP fell from 58% to 15%, whereas the existed. Open unemployment is rising. Youth movement of capital. Political tensions are ernments unable to reduce high debts and
share of the rural population (dependent directly unemployment, particularly among the educated, driving a process of re-shoring. Political deficits by spending less or raising reve-
or indirectly on agriculture) in our total population is alarming. The problem is more of a treadmill resistance to immigration has curtailed the nues, those that can borrow in their own
decreased from 85% to 65%, so that the ratio of than a time bomb. Even so, it is essential to recog- global movement of people, putting upward currency will increasingly resort to the
GDP per capita in the agricultural sector to that in nize that employment is not only a source of pressure on wages. Strategic considerations ‘inflation tax’: relying on unexpected price
the non-agricultural sector dropped from one-half growth, but also a means of mobilizing our most have further restricted flows of technology, growth to wipe out long-term nominal lia-
to one-tenth, leading to a massive rural-urban abundant resource—people—for development. data and information. And new labour and bilities at fixed rates.
divide. Modest growth during 1950-1980 was asso- Just as important, employment is the only sustain- environmental standards, important as they As in the 1970s, persistent and repeated
ciated with a steady decline in economic inequality wealth, while the bottom 50% had a mere 6% of able means of eradicating poverty and mitigating may be, have hampered production. negative supply shocks will combine with
between people. But rapid growth since 1980 has total wealth. This enormous rich-poor divide inequality. This balkanization of the global economy loose monetary, fiscal and credit policies to
been associated with a dramatic increase in eco- places India among the highest-inequality nations As we celebrate the past 75 years, flying the is deeply stagflationary, and it is coinciding produce stagflation. Moreover, high debt
nomic inequalities. For India, the World Inequality in the world. national flag in every home, let us also think about with demographic ageing, not just in devel- ratios will create the conditions for stagfla-
Report estimates that in 2021, the share of the top Rapid economic growth in India, starting 1980, our people for whom little has changed in their oped countries, but also in large emerging tionary debt crises. During the Great Stag-
1% in national income was 21.7% and that of the top did lead to a substantial reduction in absolute pov- lives, with a resolve to ensure that poverty and economies such as China. Because young flation, both components of any traditional
10% was 57.1%, while that of the bottom 50% was erty. Yet, the scale of absolute poverty that persists illiteracy do not exist 25 years from now when we people tend to produce and save, whereas asset portfolio—long-term bonds and equi-
only 13%. Similarly, the top 1% held as much as 33% is striking. Poverty reduction could have been celebrate the first centenary of our independence older people spend down their savings, this ties—will suffer, potentially incurring mas-
of total wealth and the top 10% held 65% of total much greater were it not for rising inequality. Lost from colonial rule. trend also is stagflationary. sive losses. ©2022/PROJECT SYNDICATE
MY VIEW | BeHAvIOUr BY BrAIN
Humility can help close a big gap in strategic decisions

Today, digital marketing is an integral recent covid pandemic provides the most doing a great job of understanding humans time frame, are pursuing an audacious goal:
BIJU DOMINIC part of many a brand strategy. The main recent example. The best brains in the world and persuading us to shift our behaviour. of building something that can simulate the
source of income of all leading internet com- helped discover a vaccine for the disease in The popularly held belief that all we need to human brain within 10 years.
panies is advertising revenue. Among the record time and developed an efficient sup- know about human behaviour has already After a difficult start, the HBP project has
most sought-after professionals in today’s ply chain to make it available even in the been discovered should be demolished. made good progress. One of the most signifi-
job market are those who can figure out the remotest of villages. But policymakers were Instead, it would be best if an awareness of cant milestones of the BRAIN project was its
I
was part of the team that launched Rex- algorithms that are deployed by these inter- clueless about how to persuade even edu- ignorance prevails among those working in release of a profile of molecular identities of
ona deodorant in India. The main busi- net majors and find innovative ways to make cated people who had seen the field of human behav- more than 1.3 million mouse brain cells and
ness objective of this brand launch way their clients’ brands stand out in the clutter. pandemic-related deaths iour. As Professor Stuart anatomical data from 300 mouse brains—
back in 1995 was to build a new category in Data analytics firms have been developing around them to walk We must accept Firestein of Columbia Uni- among the largest such characterizations till
the personal grooming segment. The com- strategies to aim the right advertisement at across to the nearest health versity reminds us in his date. But both these projects are far from
munication strategy of Rexona deodorant the right time at the right target audience. centre and get vaccinated. our ignorance book Ignorance: How it achieving their stated aim—developing a
was carefully crafted to make people aware But how successful are digital marketers in Tomorrow, another Drives Science, ignorance comprehensive understanding of the
of their body odour problem, communicate their persuasion job? pandemic could hit the
of actual human and not knowledge is the human brain, which comprises 86 billion
is chief evangelist, Fractal

the importance of using a deodorant directly
on one’s underarm and not on one’s clothes.
In 1996, when banner advertisements first
started, the click-through rate was 44%. By
world. The scientific com-
munity will be confident of
behaviour true engine of science.
Two significant projects
neurons and 100 trillion synapses. This is
also a stark reminder of the huge distance
Analytics, and chairman,
FinalMile Consulting.
How successful was our attempt?
Apocrine glands in the underarm of every
2018, this had come down to a mere 0.46%.
So, over the years, there was a truly dramatic
finding solutions to tackle
it. But how many human
before we can announced in 2013—the
Human Brain Project
one has to travel to fully understand the
conundrum called human behaviour.
human produce a secretion whose disinte- reduction in the ability of digital advertising behaviour experts are con- advance our (HBP) by the European With advancements in the fields of Artifi-
gration in the presence of perspiration to influence human behaviour. Even after a fident of effectively man- Commission and the cial Intelligence and huge leaps in computa-
causes an odour. So body odour is a biologi- consumer has clicked on a product title, aging human behaviour in understanding BRAIN (Brain Research tional power, it will become easier to unravel
cal reality. But there is a sad truth: 27 years what’s placed in an online shopping cart need such an event? through Advancing Inno- the complexities of the human brain. But a
after Rexona’s launch, the deodorant cate- not get bought. Studies show that the cart An inability to effec- vative Neurotechnologies) sense of ignorance—“ I do not know much
gory still hasn’t taken off in India. Despite all abandonment rate for even essential items tively understand and influence human Initiative by the Obama administration— about human behaviour’—must get rein-
communication efforts, not just the ordinary like groceries is more than 60%. Of every 400 behaviour is the biggest lacuna in business were bold new initiatives focused on revolu- forced in the minds of professionals working
consumer but even more knowledgeable people who enter a digital store, all that and policy decisions. Many persuasion pro- tionizing our understanding of the human in the area. The humility that emanates from
industry researchers can’t tell the difference today’s top tech-marketing minds manage to fessionals refuse to acknowledge this bare brain, the source of all human behaviour. this feeling will act as the fuel needed to fur-
between a deodorant and a perfume. Are influence is the behaviour of one person. fact. Instead, they organize award functions The HBP project, with a $1.3 billion kitty, and ther our knowledge about human behaviour
today’s marketing and advertising brains This massive failure to persuade humans on the beaches of Cannes and Goa every year the BRAIN Initiative that has spent close to and help us close today’s biggest lacuna in
any better in influencing human behaviour? is a reality in many policy decisions too. The to celebrate their false belief that they are $950 million till 2019, halfway through its business and policy decisions.
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DEXVLQJZRPHQLVZURQJWKDWZDVWKHKRQRXUDEOHSDUWRIWKHFRPPXQLW\OHDGHU·V Vietnam in 1979, in which it was We should be focusing on many as four lakh customers catastrophe: It will lose 70 mil-
VWDWHPHQW%XWWKHQKHVODPPHGWKHSROLFHIRUKDYLQJGHWDLQHG6KULNDQW·VZLIH,WLV roundly defeated and chased out the internal goings-on in across China were unable to lion working-age individuals
XQGHQLDEOHWKDW6KULNDQW7\DJLKDVHDUQHGDORWRIV\PSDWK\DPRQJKLVFRPPXQLW\ of Vietnamese territory. There- China. Noted American access their savings in rural over the next decade while
after, for more than 44 years, the columnist and analyst Gordon banks in the Henan and gaining 120 million senior
)RUKDYLQJGRQHZKDWRQHGRHVQ·WNQRZ+HLVQRWDSKLODQWKURSLVWDZDUKHURD PLA has been untested on the Chang tell us that China's Anhui provinces. But these are citizens. From the US to Tai-
VZDVKEXFNOLQJFULFNHWHURUDEXVLQHVVW\FRRQKHLVDVPHGLDUHSRUWVVXJJHVWMXVW battlefront. On the other hand, economy grew by 0.4 percent manifestations on the surface wan, India to Japan, democra-
DODQGVKDUNZKRPDGHDORWRIPRQH\E\WHUURULVLQJSHRSOHQRWKLQJKDVDSSHDUHG the Indian army has participat- in the second quarter of 2022. of a much bigger problem. cies are kicking Chinese firms
VRIDUWRVKRZWKDWWKHUHZDVDQ\WKLQJHQQREOLQJLQRUDERXWKLP$QG\HWVRPH ed in many an encounter in dif-
ferent terrains. Unfortunately,
This particular statistic comes
from China's National Bureau 5A><C74DB Its decades of rapid growth,
thanks to a single-party dicta-
out of their markets and cre-
ating multilateral coalitions to
SHRSOHLQKLVFRPPXQLW\DUHZRUULHGDERXWKLP³DQGDUHGHIDPLQJWKHODG\ZKR the memories of the 1962 humil- of Statistics. And according to C>C08F0=8=380 torship have enabled China to check Chinese expansionism.
UHVLVWHGWKLVWKXJ8QIRUWXQDWHO\WKHSKHQRPHQRQRIJORULILFDWLRQRIJRRQVE\WKH iation continued to have a dispro- many independent observers reach the position of the Also, China cannot ignore
FRPPXQLWLHVWKH\EHORQJWRLVQRWQHZ)RULQVWDQFHILYH\HDUVDJR5DMDVWKDQFRSV portionate influence on the and commentators, China's C>90?0= world's second-largest eco- the surging anti-Chinese sen-
NLOOHGWKHQRWRULRXVPDILDGRQ$QDQGSDO6LQJK7KLVUHVXOWHGLQSURWHVWVE\VRPH Indian psyche all these years.
The PLA belongs to the
economy has not only con-
tracted but is also in a free fall. 34<>2A0284B nomy (measured by purchas-
ing power parity). Chinese
timent abroad.
If China's troubles make it
5DMSXWVZKRUHJDUGHGKLPDVWKHLUKHUR7KHSKHQRPHQRQDSSHDUVWREHWKHVRFLR Communist Party of China While the Chinese Com- 0A4:82:8=6 investments are spread across less able to fulfill its dreams,
FXOWXUDOFRQVHTXHQFHRI0DQGDOLWHSROLWLFV7KHVWUDQJHFKDOOHQJHLQ,QGLDWRGD\LV (CPC). Its soldiers serve only the munist Party claims that trade the globe, and Beijing is push- the world must prepare for a
WRQRWMXVWWDNHRQJRRQVEXWDOVRFRXQWHUWKHLUJORULILFDWLRQ party. A soldier can shed his will lift China towards its goal 278=4B458A<B ing hard for obtaining influ- more dangerous China.
blood in a spirit of patriotism, but
to sacrifice his life to please his
of "around 5.5% growth" for
the year 2022, as announced >DC>5C748A ence in the Asian and African
theatre by dangling the carrot
History tells us that such pow-
ers attempt to reshape the bal-
?82D1<; employer, in this case, the party
is a difficult if not impossible
earlier; the actual growth is on
a downward trend. This year's
<0A:4CB0=3 of lucrative projects. Some of
these countries indeed have
ance of power before the win-
dow of opportunity closes.
proposition. In the early days of first quarter showed only a 2A40C8=6 fallen for China's ready-curren- Taiwan is the most likely tar-
the Communist revolution, the
men under arms might have
4.8% growth, again China's
official statistics. <D;C8;0C4A0; cy-no-questions-asked diplo-
macy, only to rue their haste
get of this Chinese anxiety.
Till China was rising, it
been inclined to see class revolu- The country has also seen 2>0;8C8>=BC> later, as they have been was content not to force the
tion as a cause, but such an out- massive protests over the deci- enmeshed in China's debt trap. issue and tried to entice
look cannot be indefinite. This sion by Chinese authorities to 2742:278=4B4 Chinese leaders want to absorb Taiwan through peaceful
perhaps explains why the party
did not expose its army on the
freeze the deposits of banks
based in rural areas. the largest 4G?0=B8>=8B< Taiwan and make the Western
Pacific a Chinese lake.
means. But the Taiwanese do
not want to be ruled by a
battlefield. While India lost ter- such demonstration by depos- But a closer look tells us genocidal dictatorship. After
ritory in the 1962 border war itors demanding their life- that China's future isn't all that all, which freedom-loving
with China, the same Indian time savings, in Zhengzhou bright. Its growth had already people would want to?
army, however, only five years city in the country's Henan slowed dramatically. Farmland (The writer is a well-
later in 1967, performed province, was violently cru- and energy resources are known columnist, an author
admirably against the same shed by the police. Runs on becoming scarce while the and a former member of the
enemy, forcibly throwing out the Chinese banks have become country is already grappling Rajya Sabha. The views
invading Chinese army at Nathu more frequent in recent years. with water shortages. Thanks expressed are personal.)
F^\T]_daRWPbT³aPZWXUa^\PbW^_PWTPSÛcWTd_R^\X]V³APZbWP1P]SWP]ÚTbcXeP[X]0\aXcbPa ?C8
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Sir — Former President of India Mr QdhcWT]PcX^]P[U[PV
Ramnath Kovind in his felicitation pro- âST]XTSPbWPaTÛ
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gram said that "The president is the cus- WT _T]Sd[d\ WPb UXVdaPcXeT[h b_TPZX]V VaPX]b8cXbbWP\T
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ed representatives of our country also must
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Constitution guides us. <hW^\TWPb
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5DM\D6DEKDVSHDNHUJLYHVKLVSHUVRQDOWRXFK09HQNDLDK1DLGXKDGKLVLPLWDEOH must coexist. Our constitution guarantees ^RRd_XTS=^cWX]V
\X]X\d\Ûcf^QTacWbX]cWTD]X^]RPQX]Tc X]R^]bXbcT]Rhc^cWTbcPcdbÛeXacdTX]cWTVP\T
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RQWRVD\WKDWKHFRXOGQRWJHWWKHSULPHPLQLVWHUWRJLYHDVLQJOHDQVZHULQWKH etc. A lot of politicians today have found ÛfPhbfXcW19?c^P]hXST^[^VXRP[SXUUTaT]RT RP[RWP\T[T^]ÛbâcbCWTaTXb]^VdPaP]cTT D]XcTSBcPcTbQTUâT
KRXVH,QGHHGWKHUHFRXOGEHVRPHPHULWLQWKDWEXWZKDWKDSSHQHGDWKLVIDUHZHOO a way to become famous by delivering fXcW cWT bPUUa^] _Pach;^^Z Pc =XcXbW :d\Pa³b cWPcWTf^]³cRa^bbêTac^cWT19?PVPX]>] DBTg?aTbXST]c
_^[XcXRP[RPaTTah^dfX[[aTPSX[hPVaTTcWPcXST cWTXa_PaccWTA93cWT2^]VaTbbP]ScWT;TUc ¯3^]P[SCad\_
ZDVXQFDOOHGIRU5RDVWLQJDQRXWJRLQJVSHDNHUIRUKLVDFWVRIFRPPLVVLRQRURPLV hateful speeches. That of course helps their
^[^VXRP[UXST[XchXb]^cb^\TcWX]VUâfWXRWWT S^]^cfP]cc^QT²_aXb^]TabÛcWT_PbcPbcWT
VLRQLVQRWDKHDOWK\SUDFWLFH2SSRVLWLRQOHDGHUV political career as they cater to ultras but
XbUP\^dbUâ=XcXbW:d\PaWPb]^cT]cXaT[hSP\ UXVWc PVPX]bc cWT 19? cPZTb _aTRTST]RT êTa
they damage the social fabric of the coun-
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try. In this situation Mr Kovind's words can UaXT]SP]S8c^[S
PDNHEDGSUHFHGHQFH)DUHZHOOLVDVROHPQRFFD go a long way in restoring unity and
Xc[hbd__âcX]VcWT7X]SdcePPVT]SP7TR^d[S \P]T]cUaXT]Sbâ_Ta\P]T]cT]T\XTbX]_^[X
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IRULWVHWVDEDGSUHFHGHQWDQGVHFRQGLWLVXQWLPH Because the present atmosphere of our WPcTaT[PcX^]bWX_QTcfTT]cWT93DP]ScWT19? RPcTSX]cWTaTbcÛ8]SXPcWTT[TRcâP[UXVWcX] R^d[SaT_aTbT]c
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IXQFWLRQE\FRQYHQWLRQV%ULWDLQGRHVQRWHYHQKDYH is not checked now it could be detrimen- _^[XcXRP[ X]]X]Vb =XcXbW :d\Pa WPb T[TePcTS 63PeXS<X[c^]k<PadcWP]R^ST QXVVTbcXR^]XRbcPaX]8]SXPfWXRW
DZULWWHQFRQVWLWXWLRQFRQYHQWLRQVUXOHWKH%ULWLVK tal to our democracy and lead us in into XbfWh8\R^\X]Vc^h^d
3DUOLDPHQW7KDWVKRZVWKHPDWXULW\RIWKHPHP chaotic times. 0Rcâ
SM Arif Hussain | Hyderabad Thus sports are not managed properly in Indian postal service has lived through the
¯0P\Xa:WP]
EHUVDQGWKHSHRSOHDWWKHKHOPRIDIIDLUV*HQHUDOO\ the country. We don't have a dearth of tal- change of times, connecting to the nook
VSHDNLQJWKHVSHDNHUFRPHVIURPWKHUXOLQJSDUW\ C@?BDCB5C51B3835>DB51=ECD>?G
ent. Given a chance, our sports person can and corner of India . For over 150 years,
DQGRZHVKLVDSSRLQWPHQWWRLWDQGVRKLVKDQGV perform much better. Of course, for this, it has been the backbone of the nation's 8UP]h^]T
Sir — India urgently needs a sports
they need the research team, diet, coach- communication network. Even after the STbTaeTbPQaTPZ
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ing, and training facilities at par with the advent of the internet, our postal service Xcb<TV;P]]X]V
RI1DLGXZDVPRUHWKDQPDGHJRRGE\3ULPH0LQLVWHU0RGLZKRKHDSHGODYLVKSUDLVH class scientific management center. This is
developed countries. continues to remain largely relevant and 0UcTaPQdbhR^d
RQKLP to research and build on our strengths. _[TÛhTPab8³eT
Just look at the medal tally of Australia, important, and occupies a special place in
Which sports suit India in general and also \PSTcWTSTRXbX^]
)LYH\HDUVEDFN3ULPH0LQLVWHUKDGVDLGWKLQJVDERXWRXWJRLQJ9LFH3UHVLGHQW in particular to an individual based on
and the UK. These countries have achieved the hearts of millions of Indians. When the
c^cPZTPbcT_QPRZc^T]PQ[T\T
+DPLG$QVDULZKLFKZHUHQRWLQJRRGWDVWHDQGWDQWDPRXQWWRORZHULQJWKHVWDWXUH strength, stamina, suitability, skills, and
a lot in Birmingham CWG-2022. Covid-19 pandemic was at its devastating
c^b_T]ScX\TU^RdbX]V^]\hbT[U
RIWKHSHUVRQRQWKHFKDLU300RGLVSRNHIRUPLQXWHVWRSUDLVH1DLGXEXWVSRNH In the Tokyo-Olympics 2020 USA peak, the department heroically stepped 0dbcaP[XP]RaXRZTcTa
support of all types, (basically aptitude,
achieved 118 medals, China 88 medals, in to deliver medicines and PPE kits to ¯<TV;P]]X]V
MXVWIRUILYHPLQXWHVDWWKHIDUHZHOORI$QVDUL7KH3ULPHPLQLVWHUKDGVDLGWKDW$QVDUL likes, and ability)? For this India should
Japan 58 medals, Great Britain 65 medals, health workers in the absence of private
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whereas India got just 7 medals. The above transportation facilities due to the lock-
advanced sports nations such as the USA, CTYPbWfXHPSPefX[[
SRVWDQGZRXOGEHDEOHWRWKLQNVSHDNDQGDFWDVKLVEDVLFQDWXUH7KDWFRXOGEH Great Britain, China, and Japan. This can
idea can work wonders for India. down. This proves how efficient, fast and
Sahasra Nivriti Vislesh | Secunderabad _[PhP\PYâa^[TX]
FRQVWUXHGDVWKDW$QVDULZDVDWXQHDVHZLWKWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQDQGKDUERUHGDQWL greatly improve India's number of medals
reliable India Post services were even in
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in international sporting events like Asian Uâ\PcX^]CWT
<51F5D859>491@?CD1<?>5 primarily come under 'social responsibi-
ZDVGRQHDQGLWZDVUHIOHFWHGILYH\HDUVODWHULQWKHKRXVHGXULQJWKHPRQVRRQVHV games and Olympics etc. When India pro-
Sir — It is really unfortunate that a pro- lities' and not under 'commercial services.' _T^_[TfX[[QTPQ[T
VLRQZKHQ1DLGXZDVJLYHQDIDUHZHOO%XWWKHQOHWE\JRQHVEHE\JRQHVDQGKRSH duced tremendous skills to win a huge 61
posal has been made to corporatise vari- Ranganathan Sivakumar | Chennai c^bTTW^fWT
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ous arms of India Post much against the BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) 4[TRcX^]bcaPcTVXbc
22, improving on it is no big task at all
FLYLO because we are already on the upswing.
wishes of nearly 5-lakh postal employees. [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯?aPbWP]c:XbWâ
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ow that the children are going to
@B1=?4?0C70:
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programme to close the gap that
'
has taken place in learning dur-
HILQLQJHWKLFVKDVQHYHUEHHQHDV\8QGHUVWDQGLQJLWKDVEHHQHYHQ ing the pandemic is helping in more ways
PRUHGLIILFXOW$QGSUDFWLFLQJLWLVDMREIHZZLOOEHDEOHWRFDUU\ than one.
RXW<HWLWLVDVXEMHFWRQZKLFKVRFLHW\DOZD\VGHEDWHV Pooja, a student in a government
7KHWHUPZKLFKRULJLQDWHGIURPSKLORVRSK\KDVWRGD\EHFRPH school in Saket, Delhi had been waiting to
DSDUWRIVHYHUDOGLVFLSOLQHVDQGLVDQLPSRUWDQWDUHDRIVWXG\LQPDQ return to her school for the past two years.
DJHPHQWWKHRU\DQGSUDFWLFH7KLVLVWKHUHDVRQZK\WKHZRUGHWKLFV As the classes commenced online during
the pandemic, she missed almost all the
KDVDFTXLUHGVHYHUDOFRQQRWDWLRQV:KHQLWFRPHVWRWKHHVVHQFH classes, because she did not have a mobile
HWKLFVVWLOOUHPDLQVWKHVFLHQFHRIULJKWDQGZURQJ%XWHVVHQWLDOO\LW phone.
LVDSUDFWLFH “I used to go to my friend’s house so
5LJKWDQGZURQJRIWHQGRQRWKDYHDFOHDUFXWERXQGDU\,WGHSHQGV that I could attend the online classes. But
RQWKHDFWRURUWKHREVHUYHU+RZWKHDFWRUFRQGXFWLVLQWHUSUHWHG7KH I mostly stayed and helped at home, while
VDPHDFWPD\EHLQWHUSUHWHGGLIIHUHQWO\E\GLIIHUHQWSHRSOH0DQ\WLPHV my mother went out to work,” she said.
WKHVDPHDFWPD\EHFRQVWUXHGGLIIHUHQWO\E\WKHVDPHLQGLYLGXDOXQGHU She has recently begun going to the
school, and says: “My teachers are helping
GLIIHUHQWFRQGLWLRQV me a lot. I had missed many classes and
7KHRUHWLFDOHWKLFVWKHQLVQRWDOZD\VDFRPSOHWHJXLGHWRHWKLFDO some of my friends learnt a lot of things
FRQGXFW7LPHDQGVSDFHVRFLHW\DQGFXOWXUHUHOLJLRQDQGFRXQWU\KDYH that I had missed during this time. My
WKHLURZQZD\VWRH[SODLQZKDWLVHWKLFDODQGZKDWLVQRW2EYLRXVO\ teachers are now helping me to cope with
EHFDXVHDZLGHUDQJHRIGHWHUPLQDQWVJRLQWRTXDOLI\LQJDQDFWRUEHKD extra classes that have commenced offline.”
YLRXUDVHWKLFDORUXQHWKLFDO Pooja, who has been promoted to class
2YHUWKHDJHVWKH,QGLDQSKLORVRSKLFDODSSURDFKWRHWKLFVIURP6DW\XJ seven this year, says: “I am very happy that
I am finally able to go to the school. I am
WKURXJK7UHWDDQG'ZDSDUWR.DO\XJLHWKHSUHVHQWWLPHVKDVPHWD
PRUSKRVHGFRQVLGHUDEO\LQYLWLQJFULWLFDORSLQLRQDQGFRQIOLFWLQJYLHZV
trying to cover most of the missed cour- <8BB8>= essary and basic for the classes they they completed at home as that was some construction companies. He
ses before my new classes start so that I had been promoted to. the only way possible. That could has to take the phone with him, so
$QGULJKWO\VREHFDXVHKXPDQEHLQJVKDYHWKHLURZQWRXFKVWRQHLQWKH know what my friends learnt.” Pooja 1D=8H03F0B Several teachers and schools be one of the reasons that the learn- we did not have a phone at home.”
IRUPRIHJRWKDWGULYHVORJLF$QGWKLVRIWHQFORXGVWKHFRQFHSWRIHWKLFV wants to take up computers when she 58ABC;0D=2743 adopted different methods to help ing gap has emerged.” Rajesh, who irons clothes in
grows up. students cope up with the learning The classes in Pooja’s school Palam Vihar in the NCR region,
Her school has started classes under 1HC7434;78 gaps. Teachers in several schools under ‘Mission Buniyaad’ have also faced a similar challenge. He
‘Mission Buniyaad’ — a programme to 6>E4A=<4=C8= also claimed that they had received started from April 11 and will go said: “I have two children and there
close the learning gap that emerged 541AD0AH! ' training and help from mentor on till June 15, allotting a little more is only one phone at home. Both of
among primary school students due to the teachers working in ‘Mission than two months for the students them had to either adjust to the
pandemic and subsequent closure of C>8<?A>E4 Buniyaad’ on how to handle the who could not attend online class- timings or miss out on their studies.
schools. The programme was first
launched by the Delhi Government in
C74;40A=8=6 learning gaps and these strategies
were very useful.
es. The new session starts from July
in which all students, including
Most of the time they kept on fight-
ing for the phone.”
February 2018 to improve the learning B:8;;B>5 Kumari explained how ‘Mis- those who were suffering from a In fact, even if students could
skills of children studying in schools run 278;3A4= sion Buniyaad’ was executed. The backlog, will continue with their study online, many parents were
by the city administration and the munic- children were divided into groups actual classes. apprehensive of continuing the
ipal corporations. Under this, students are BCD3H8=68= according to their level of compe- Kumari says that it is hard to education as they felt that they had
now being provided with extra classes dur- B27>>;BAD= tence. For example, students who judge current improvement as the been burdened with the task of
ing the summer vacation. Once schools could not recognise numbers or programme is at an early stage but educating the child by themselves.
opened up, it was once again put into gear. 1HC7428CH read Hindi words have been put in “the students are showing steady They preferred to skip the year and
Meetu Kumari, a teacher in a govern- 03<8=8BCA0C8>= Level I Group, while those who can progress.” send their children to schools only
ment school in Rohini, North-west recognise numbers but did not Many students, owing to diffe- when the offline classes com-
Delhi, said: “This programme has been 0=3C74 know how to multiply were placed rent reasons, had faced inevitable menced. Sarita, a resident of
7KH:HVWHUQLGHDRIHWKLFVLVHTXDOO\IOXLGDQGWKHUHDUHPDQ\YLHZV
DQGDSSURDFKHVWRZDUGVXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKHFRQFHSWDQGSUDFWLFHRIHWKLFV
started for children of class III to VIII, <D=828?0; in Level II. discontinuation in their schooling Harijan Basti, Dwarka, said: “When
as many of the students were lagging Maithili, a teacher at a school as the schools went online during online classes started, I had to sit
+RZHYHUDPLGDOOWKLVWKHLPSRUWDQWSRLQWWRQRWHLVWKDWGHVSLWHWKHVR behind. Some of them had gone back to 2>A?>A0C8>=B in Jamia Nagar, detailed the exer- the pandemic. Pooja’s mother with my eight-year-old son to
PDQ\DSSURDFKHVDQGVWDQFHVRQHFDQVWLOOPDNHRXWZKHWKHUDQDFW their villages when the schools closed. In cise: “We have made divisions Shanti, a single mother and a resi- make him study. I have not com-
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JXLGHEHLQJWKHYRLFHRIFRQVFLHQFH primary sections had incurred a gap of wish to be named, explained fur- due to the inability of several chil- back to school once offline classes
7REHOLHYHWKDWSD\VWREHJRRG%XWJRRGQHVVKDVWREHGHILQHG almost two years due to which many ther: “Proper exams could not be dren in accessing classes on smart- commenced.
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hess became a craze Chess has been transformed has also led to the growth of won the country's first Inter- was only fitting that Chennai Vallabhanathar won a chess big mental boost. It develops
C after Celebrated Bengali

Director Satyajit Ray's
movie Shatranj ke Khiladi cre-
into a sport that commands a
massive online following across
YouTube and Twitch streams. In
chess in the state.
How did Chennai come
into the picture? Russia was to
national Master's title. Viswana-
than Anand became the first
Grandmaster from India,
was hosting the event. Tracing
history, "In Tamil Nadu, many
temples with sculptures portray-
game after defeating the
princess Rajarajeswai (believed
to be an incarnation of Parvathi)
perspective, deepens focus,
enhances creativity, protects
against dementia, and boosts
ated a big buzz in 1977. But the recent times, artificial intelli- host the 2022 Olympiad, but Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, the ing different sports… You will and married her as his prize. planning skills. Experts also
recent Netflix release ‘Queen's gence, has been a revolutionary that changed with the invasion first Woman Grandmaster in even find a temple — Chathu- The temple documents show believe chess improves chil-
Gambit’ took it to a different ;1<I1>9B70=:0A phenomenon, has undoubtedly of Ukraine. Then, supported by 2001, and Praggnanandhaa, the ranga Vallabhanathar temple that chess was popular in Tamil dren's thinking skills and con-
level worldwide. changed the landscape of chess. the All India chess federation, second youngest Grandmaster in Tiruvarur — where it is Nadu even 1,500 years ago. centration. Some studies have
The story is about a child So it is not surprising why the Tamil Nadu government in the world, in 2016. believed that even God played Another myth was that even found that chess can help
prodigy, living in the 1950s Chennai's current internation- staked a claim to host the event There are many chess chess with the princess. So it is King Ravana first invented chess those who have suffered a
orphanage, going on to chal- al Chess Olympiad has created and won. queens in India. In 1974, the natural that Tamil Nadu had a to divert his mind from the war stroke to recover.
lenge the reigning international a global chess craze this year. About 2,000 players from federation promoted the strong historical connection with Rama. He used to play the After Covid, many have
Grandmaster, and winning it. It Already Chennai is the chess 188 countries are participating Women's National Champion- with chess." game with his wife. started playing mind games,
mesmerised even those ignorant capital of India as it has encour- in the current Olympiad in ship, and the Khadilkar sisters— Chess is a Sanskrit word The other story is that an and chess is one of them. The
of the chess game and made a aged for decades young talents, Chennai. The 'who's who of Vasanti, Jayshree, and Rohini— (chaturanga) that refers to the unnamed sultan of India was chess Olympiad may take it fur-
massive boom in the US and including the much celebrated world chess—Magnus Carlsen, held sway for the next decade. army's four main sections: bored and sought new enter- ther. In the current Olympiad,
other countries. Queen's Viswanathan Anand. Of the 73 Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Koneru Humpry, the country's chariots, elephants, cavalry, tainment. Ultimately a poor India is a serious contender.
Gambit refers to a chess open- Grandmasters, Tamil Nadu Mariya Muzychuk—are gath- most accomplished woman and infantry. Historically, chess man came and showed him a Seeded second, right behind the
ing parlance that evolves into a roughly has 40 per cent of the ered at Mahabalipuram near player, is the world's number came from India and then game similar to chess. He asked US, it is a testament to the
strategic game. This opening is total Grandmasters in India. Chennai. India's top-ranked four. The women's A team also spread through Europe. Our for a grain of rice for each square country's growing pool of
still a favourite for every elite Traditionally, Chennai had seen men's player P Harikrishna, has Harika Dronavalli, who is mythology references date and eventually became a rich strong, young grandmasters.
player. (The writer is a senior the birth of several chess clubs. chess wonder R Praggnan- heavily pregnant. back to Mahabharata and man. India has a strong chance in the
Chess suits people of all journalist. The views The Tamil Nadu government's andhaa, and top-seed Koneru Prime Minister Narendra Ramayana. Research shows that the absence of Russia and China. I
ages and can be played any- expressed are personal.) decision in 2012 to make chess Humpry are also participating. Modi declared the Olympiad Legend has it that Lord complex game requires hope our chess masters rise to
where, anytime. After Covid, compulsory in all public schools In 1961, Manuel Aaron open last week, pointing out it Shiva called Chathuranga planned moves. Chess gives a the occasion.
06 NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2022 Vol. CXXXXXVI 188
Incorporating and directly descended

from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818
Those Who Do~I A MEMBER
OF THE
Development work is dirty, you have to soil your hands, and you have to cope with ASIAN VOICES
Senate Victory crude elements at the lower dregs of society. If you care about your mission, and your
Drastic Changes
D espite a fractured legislature, Sunday marked
community, then it hurts when colleagues let you down, your social enterprise stumbles,
a crucial victory in the Senate for President funding is denied, or other hurdles materialize. Business schools dont teach you how needed on
Joe Biden and the unity of the Democrats. The to fight goons; risk mitigation strategies like sophisticated metrics and business algorithms
Senate has passed the Democrats’ sweeping eco- investment
nomic package designed to combat climate change, cant hold water in the face of the mad frenzy of plundering bandits; technological
address health care costs and raise taxes on large cor-
gadgets cant speak the language needed to navigate this dense thicket of unruly and
capital
D
porations, marking a crucial achievement for Mr
Biden and his party as they seek to maintain their heterogynous groups isbursement of investment
hold on Congress in the November midterm elec- capital in the first seven
months of the year was still
tions. The plan, called the Inflation Reduction Act,
low. In particular, there are
cleared the upper chamber by a vote of 51 to 50 along hindrances that have been raised for
party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris pro- many years but have not been com-
viding the tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided pletely resolved. Is there a problem
Senate. Democrats used a fast-track legislative with our mechanism or policy?
process known as reconciliation to pass the measure There are many reasons for the
in the face of unanimous opposition from Republi- delay in disbursement that have been
cans. “It’s been a long, tough and winding road but at pointed out for many years, such as:
last, at last, we have arrived,” Senate Majority Leader site clearance, investment prepara-
Chuck Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor tion. We must frankly admit that solu-
tions to overcome these shortcomings
as members prepared to vote for final passage. have not been implemented effective-
“Today, after more than a year of hard work, the Sen- ly. For example, site clearance
ate is making history. I am confident the Inflation progress is slow because we are cur-
Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining leg- rently doing two things at the same
islative feats of the 21st century.” time: project construction and site
The vote came after a marathon session that last- clearance. Obviously, we have seen
ed through the night and into Sunday afternoon, with this problem before, but there is no
Democrats breaking into applause as members cast solution to fix it. In addition, the cur-
their final votes. In a process known as a “vote-a- rent policies in land clearance com-
pensation have many shortcomings
rama,” Republicans offered a welter of amendments
There is no limit to what a man India should really applaud you have to cope with crude ele- academics, scientists, and others such as determining the land price,
that Democrats successfully swatted down over near- can do or how far he can go if he and honour ordinary men and ments at the lower dregs of soci- ~ who have refused to give in, determining the price of the recovered
ly 16 hours of debate. GOP senators did manage to doesn’t mind who gets the credit. women, who have nobody to ety. If you care about your mis- who have stuck by their princi- property, etc., which do not satisfy the
block a provision that would have capped the price of ~ Robert Woodruff, back them, yet are working dog- sion, and your community, then ples and whose lives shine as needs of the people, so the people do
insulin at $35 a month for those covered under pri- Coca Cola CEO 1926-1954 gedly to keep projects rolling. it hurts when colleagues let you examples to others of what can not agree with the compensation rate.
I
vate health care plans. Democrats needed 60 votes to Nobody can fathom the imm- down, your social enterprise be done. The procedures for approving
waive reconciliation rules and keep that part of the ndia spends more on pro- ense mental and physical suffer- stumbles, funding is denied, or For those who side with the
bill, but it failed 57 to 43, with seven Republicans grammes for the poor than ing they and their families under- other hurdles materialize. Busi- poor too, there may be unexpect-
joining Democrats in support of the measure. most developing countries go. I doubt whether outsiders like ness schools don’t teach you how ed floods of support. But not all
but is not getting the expect- us, protected by position, pass- to fight goons; risk mitigation can expect recognition or be- investment projects to qualify for cap-
House Democratic leaders announced last week ed dividends that significant port, privileges and police can be strategies like sophisticated met- come folk heroes. For most of ital allocation or approving the adjust-
that the lower chamber would return from its month- public expenditure would seem justified in goading others to risk rics and business algorithms those who put the last first, the ment process are also time-consum-
long recess on Friday to take up the legislation, which to warrant, and the needs of im- their livelihoods, their families’ can’t hold water in the face of the satisfaction and rewards are not ing. In particular, the assignment of
is expected to pass. President Biden praised Senate portant population groups re- well-being, or their own lives. To mad frenzy of plundering ban- fame, but knowing that they have rights and assignment of responsibili-
Democrats for passing the plan and acknowledged main partly addressed. This has take risks for oneself is one thing. dits; technological gadgets can’t done what was right and that ties in each relevant agency or unit is
that it required “many compromises.” In a statement, been haunting social scientists To encourage others to do so is speak the language needed to na- things are, however slightly, bet- sometimes very general. So, if one unit
he said, “I ran for President promising to make gov- and policymakers. quite another. As Adlai Steven- vigate this dense thicket of un- ter than they would have been. finds some procedures difficult, they
ernment work for working families again, and that is India has ranked a lowly 131 son commented so pithily: “It is ruly and heterogynous groups. Their small deeds may not com- can transfer such responsibility to
what this bill does ~ period.” The package is the cul- among the 188 countries sur- easier to fight for principles than One of the discouraging fea- mand attention; but in merit, another unit, or to the upper manage-
mination of months of negotiations over Mr Biden’s veyed for human development in to live up to them.” tures of Indian de- they may equal or exceed the ment unit.
2016, according to a just-released Even more, for mocracy is the po- greater and more conspicuous To speed up the disbursement
domestic policy agenda, which at times appeared to liticization of rural actions of those with more free-
UN report. It has made no imp- any outsider to en- progress, Government has established
be on life support but was revived late last month rovement in its ranking over the courage vulnerable society. A decade dom, pelf and power. interdisciplinary working groups with
with the surprise announcement of an agreement previous year. The report puts it poor people to take back, villages had a For the test is what people many participating agencies, so that
between Senators Schumer and Joe Manchin, a mod- in the “medium human develop- risks raises ethical very remote link do. Social change flows from in- when the projects have problems,
erate Democrat from West Virginia. ment” bracket, which also inclu- questions, especially with political par- dividual actions. Small gains well these agencies will sit together and
des nations like Bangladesh, when it is they, and ties. Those who consolidated as part of a sequ- come up with solutions immediately.
Bhutan, Pakistan, Kenya, Myan- not the outsider, contested pancha- ence can mean more than big ga- This is a measure for agencies, depart-
SCO summit mar and Nepal.
A major flaw in our develop-
who will pay the
price of failure. A
yat elections were
elected on the str-
ins which are unstable and short-
lived. Accumulated over time
ments and sectors to work well togeth-
er. But in reality, the work of coordi-
T he Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ment paradigm is that the focus painstaking reflec- ength of their elec- they snowball into giant achieve- nation and resolution is still very slow,
MOIN
Summit scheduled to be held in Samarkand is more on physical resources tion is demanded of QAZI toral merits, irre- ments. By changing what they and not really effective. This proves
and less on human resources. We social interventions spective of their do, people move societies in new that the mechanisms in the manage-
next month is shaping to be an important one.
seem to discount the human fac- in hostile and harsh The writer is an author, ideological stripes. directions and then change. Big ment of the approval procedures for
On the agenda for discussion between its eight mem- tor in all our programmess. To areas. When new
researcher and development
professional. He can be Caste did remain a simple solutions are tempting investment projects are still binding
ber-states ~ China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyr- refresh the words of the great an- agricultural prac- reached at strong card, but but full of risks. to create safety for authorised individ-
[email protected]
gyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan ~ are thropologist Margaret Mead: tices are being prop- the candidates’ For most outsiders, most of uals and organisations instead of
the Ukraine conflict, energy security, the food crisis, “Never doubt that a small group agated with entice- character played a the time, the soundest and the pointing out clear responsibility as
the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, the lingering of thoughtful, committed people ments of extravagant promises, critical role. The growing tenden- best ways forward are through well as the right of individuals and
effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade, and connec- can change the world. Indeed, it it raises several ethical questions. cy of village groups to seek out- innumerable small steps that organisations. There is also another
tivity. Uzbekistan, which currently holds the organi- is the only thing that ever has.” Too much has been talked about side political support for solu- could be just nudges and tiny reason for slow implementation,
sation’s rotating presidency, hosted a meeting of SCO Behind the gleaming images of the wealth at the bottom of the tions to local development issues pushes. Slower and smaller steps which is the lack of capacity of con-
Foreign Ministers in Tashkent a couple of weeks ago of icons of successful developm- pyramid as if it is a cash cow to has ruptured the traditional soc- also help build up people’s tractors.
ent, and revolutions is the untold be milked or there are so many ial structure. adaptability to changes. We Many solutions have been imple-
to finalise the framework agenda for the summit and saga of the sacrifice of the grass- low-hanging ripened fruits wait- Each leader in a village has should look for small innova- mented such as assigning responsibil-
presented over 15 draft documents which were roots staff that holds the fort as ing to be plucked. The peasants a political master in the nearest tions, not just blockbusters. ity to the head of the unit to be respon-
agreed upon. But, as a researcher with the Mumbai- brave and heroic warriors. It is have a much keener understand- town. All these developments Several development succe- sible for the disbursement progress. If
based think-tank Gateway House has pointed out in a the incandescent honesty and ing of the development and its have made the village social sses have occurred in less than the management unit of one project
recent article, there were two anomalies this time unvarnished selfishness that implications than the economists structure highly complex and optimal settings and often under does not manage to make disburse-
around. First, no joint communique from the meet- imparts purity to their mission sitting in the rarefied atmosphere confusing. In the coming years, appalling conditions of weak ment at an expected rate, in the fol-
ing was issued which has been the normal practice; and translates state policies into of Yojana Bhavan where India‘s rural assignments for officials of governance, widespread corrup- lowing year, the capital for the project
instead, Uzbekistan decided to provide a Chair State- real ground action. planning issues are dissected, government and banks are going tion, minimal infrastructure, will be either cut or transferred to
The honour and recognition analysed and, after a diagnosis, to become hazardous on account deep-rooted social divisions another project. The Government has
ment which has not yet been made public. Secondly,
that society owes to these brave prescriptions are made. By mani- of the growing politicization of and a poorly functioning judicial also set up inspection teams to detect
all SCO member-states bar India adopted a joint extraordinary individuals for pulating the choices of consu- villages. The new roads and high- system. which units do not strictly comply to
statement on strengthening the Biological Weapons their crusade for a cause bigger mers on the low-income pyra- ways that provide a fast passage In each case, creative indi- hand down proper settlements. How-
Convention (BWC) which has been highlighted by than them cannot be embodied mid, we have disempowered not just to towns but also to met- viduals saw possibilities where ever, the disbursement is still slow and
the Chinese, Russian, and Pakistani readouts from in awards, promotions and cita- them and the damage to the ros have demolished the concept others saw hopelessness. They so far, no individuals or units have
the meeting. Given the composition of the grouping, tions. Though our focus is most economy and ecology of these of village republics. imagined a way forward that took been handled, and no funding for any
there are fears in some quarters that India’s interests often on issues such as chronic already fragile societies is now In such a dispiriting scenario into account local realities, and projects has been cut or transferred.
may not always be in sync with those of China and its poverty, empowerment of wom- starkly visible. committed development work- built on local strengths they were There are two reasons, the first is
client-state Pakistan. Additionally, there is the per- en and the disenfranchised, and It is this distance that has ers may feel that their position is willing to experiment and ignore that the authorities themselves are not
ception that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left a sustainable solution to econo- grown between the planners and hopeless, that there is nothing the skeptics until the skeptics be- tough enough. The second is that the
mic instability, the lessons of all the people in the rural matrix they can do. The ‘system’ is too came supporters and often part- slow disbursement is difficult to
Moscow more willing to accommodate Beijing than that has plagued the develop- strong for them. Perhaps the best ners working to bring about cha-
successful policies and progr- attribute to a specific individual or a
New Delhi. ammes for achieving these ment apparatus. Too much dep- antidote to this despair is to nge on a larger scale. Gandhi’s specific unit.
The Kremlin has worked assiduously over the objectives cuts to the heart of endence on data and much less study the examples and lives of mantra is the most soothing cre- For example, a project needs
past two decades to rebuild its ties with the Central something we should never for- direct engagement with the poor those who have fought against do in such moments and endeav- adjustment, but the adjustment in-
Asian members of the SCO which were once part of get: The tenacious and commit- has been the major cause of fail- the odds and succeeded. In every ours: “First they ignore you, then volves many ministries and branches.
the Soviet Union, and Beijing has been keen to open ted officials, and their families ure for most state-mandated de- country, there are some coura- they laugh at you, then they fight Then, the conditions for adjustment
up land trade routes through the region for its Belt whose sacrifices have enabled velopment programmes. geous people ~ political and reli- you, then you win.” may be missing a certain step that is
and Road Initiative. Pakistan, on the other hand, has and continue to make the world Development work is dirty, gious leaders, civil servants, not important but is required accord-
already invited Afghanistan to join the China-Pak- a far better and just place. you have to soil your hands, and workers in voluntary agencies, (To be concluded) ing to regulations.
istan Economic Corridor, a decision protested strong-
ly by India as many CPEC projects pass through Pak- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [email protected]
istan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Iran, meanwhile, was
welcomed as a full member to the SCO at the
Tashkent meet and Russian ally Belarus’ member-
ship application process was initiated with further
decisions on it to be taken at the Samarkand summit,
Embarrassing
where Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are also expect- SIR, Recently six youngsters were Canada on a student visa on
ed to be accorded SCO ‘dialogue partner’ status. apprehended when they tried to March 19, nearly two weeks before
The process of granting similar status to Bahrain enter the US in a sinking ship near they were caught at the US-Cana-
the Canadian border. When they da border.
and the Maldives is to begin shortly, as also the con-
were produced before a court in The manager of the banquet
sideration of requests made by Armenia, Azerbaijan, the US, they failed to answer hall in Navsari, which was hired for
Cambodia, and Nepal for being granted ‘observer’ in English the questions asked by the exam confirmed that supervi-
status, the article published by the think-tank said. the judge. sors had turned off CCTV cameras
These are developments that ought to make India The court had to take the before the exam.
nervous. Not so much in themselves, given India’s help of a Hindi translator. The This proves there was no
excellent relations with most former Soviet Central court was baffled and shocked that transparency and something was
Asian republics, strengthening ties with Iran, and these youngsters had certificates definitely suspicious.
improving relationships with most other nations on with such high band scores of The agency which was autho-
the SCO’s periphery, but because of the perception 6.5 to 7 in the test conducted by rised to conduct the exam is based
the International English Lan- in Sabarmati, Ahmedabad and is
that the organisation could well be driven down an guage Testing System (IELTS) but now under investigation. Is this a
anti-West path by its most powerful member-states. were unable to converse in part of the much talked about
New Delhi has maintained an adroit distance between English. Gujarat model?
the pro-West/anti-West global alliances taking shape Primary probe has revealed There is always an apprehen- at the quality of the candidates indeed a case in point. other really qualified persons seek-
in recent years and must be careful not let the justly that the students appeared for the sion that competitive examina- who get selected. It is unfortunate that such ing employment.
famous hospitality of the Uzbeks lead to over-enthu- IELTS exam at a centre in south tions including NEET conducted That we have come across incidents bring not only disgrace Yours, etc.,
siasm at the SCO summit come September. Gujarat’s Navsari town on 25 in most of the North Indian cen- some frauds committed in the to our country but also affect the Tharcius S Fernando,
September 2021, and went to tres are not above board looking NEET exam in the last few years is prospects of brilliant students and Chennai, 7 August.
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2022 07
Wetlands must form part
100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
of biodiversity framework
It is believed that among the aims of the
Bolsheviks was the restoration to Russian
life of the simplicity of the state of Nature
as defined by Rousseau. They have not
been entirely successful as is evidenced
by the fact that the Russian Budget is now
computed, not as was possible even under
the contemptible Government of the Tsar,
RITESH KUMAR Government of India. While the several sites, with extremes in Harike, in millions of roubles but in trillions of the
smallest Ramsar Site is just 19.75 ha Kanjili, Vembanad-Kol Ashtamudi same unit. What is a trillion? According to
I
n August 2022, the Ministry of in area (Vembannur), the largest, the and others. the mathematicians it is the numerical
Environment, Forest and Cli- Sunderbans, spans 0.42 million ha. unit of the fourteenth order. Logically it
mate Change (MoEFCC) added Ramsar Sites are one of the three Of the existing list of Ramsar should consist of a million billions, just as
ten wetlands to the List of Wet- pillars of the Ramsar Convention (the Sites, a majority are designated Pro- the numerical unit of the thirteenth order,
lands of International Importance other two being working towards the tected Areas. The management of namely, a billion, should consist of a mil-
(also called Ramsar Sites) within the wise use of wetlands and cooperat- these sites is largely governed by the lion millions. In the practice of financiers
framework of the Ramsar Conven- ing internationally on transboundary needs of species and habitats and and others (and in the current parlance of
tion. The number of Ramsar Sites in wetlands, shared wetlands and does not leave much space for newspapers) a billion has come, by com-
India is now an incredible 64, equal shared species). accommodating wise use. However, mon consent, to mean today a thousand
to that of China and the highest in Ramsar Sites form ‘an interna- there is much scope for augmenting millions. Presumably, therefore a trillion,
Asia. With additional sites under con- tional network of wetlands which are the current management by taking when it occurs in telegrams from Moscow,
sideration, the network is likely to important for conserving global bio- into basin-scale land and water use means merely a thousand billions, or, in
increase to 75 sites in the 75th year of logical diversity and sustaining change and risks induced by climate simpler parlance, a million millions. It is
our Independence. human life through the maintenance change. to be noted that the Bolsheviks have still in
India ratified the Ramsar Con- of their ecosystem components, Ramsar sites need to be accord- reserve such bagatelles as quadrillions,
vention in 1982. Keoladeo National processes and services. The interna- ed a special status in the national quintillions, sextillions, etc. When the for-
Park (in Rajasthan) and Chilika (in tional significance of these sites is wetlands programme so as to ensure tunes of the citizens of the simple state
Odisha) were the first two sites to be indicated by their fulfilling at least that their management meets inter- par excellence are measured in the last
placed on the Ramsar List by the one of the nine criteria set by the national standards, financing is named unit it is to be hoped a defining
Government of India. Till 1990, only Convention. With 2,455 sites span- embedded within the state budgets ukase will issue from Moscow. It will be
four more sites were added to the list, ning 255.8 million ha, the Ramsar as well leveraged by building conver- in the highest degree undesirable that the
and another 19 over the following sites represent the world’s largest gence with ongoing conservation and social distinction assignable to the owner
two decades. Since 2012, Ramsar Site protected area network. development sector programmes, of a mathematical sextillion of roubles
designation has received a significant The contribution that Ramsar and systematic monitoring enables should in error be ascribed.
policy push from the MoEFCC, and sites make to biological diversity can species. In 2008, Dr Asad Rahmani actions that can secure the global val- capturing status and trends in eco-
38 wetlands have been added to the hardly be overemphasised. A recent and Dr Zafar-ul Islam identified 160 ues of the sites. logical conditions. NEWS ITEMS
list since. The network of Indian compilation of faunal diversity of 42 wetlands which met at least one of Since 1986, the MoEFCC has In November this year, countries
Ramsar Sites currently covers 1.25
million ha, which is approximately 8
Indian Ramsar Sites by the Zoological
Survey of India enlists 6200 species.
the nine designation criteria of the
Convention.
been implementing a national
scheme (presently known as the
will convene in Montreal Canada, to
set the post-2020 Global Biodiversity DELHI BANIA
per cent of the known wetland extent
of the country.
For several of the faunal groups,
these wetlands represent a significant
The Ramsar Sites make vital
contributions to lives and livelihoods.
National Plan for Conservation of
Aquatic Ecosystems) to assist state
Framework under the aegis of the
United Nations Convention on Bio- MURDER CASE
The Ramsar sites in India are share of the known diversity (for Deepor, Pallikarnai, Bhiatrkanika and governments in preparing and logical Diversity. The draft, unfortu- Mr. G.M. Young, District Magistrate, was
highly diverse. The sites range from example, over one-third of recorded Point Calimere provide critical flood implementing integrated manage- nately has clubbed wetlands within engaged today in recording the statement
Himalayan high-altitude wetlands mammalian species, one-fifth of rep- and storm buffers, whereas Bhoj and ment plans for Ramsar sites and the terrestrial for land and sea, a of the second approver, Ganga Pershad,
(Tso-Moriri, Tso kar complex and tiles, and about two-thirds of known Sasthamcotta are principal water other priority wetlands. Ramsar sites trend which has continued since the in the Delhi bania murder case. Ganga
Chandertal), to lakes and marshes bird species). sources. The backwaters of Kerala, of receive legal protection under Wet- previous Aichi Targets. This does not Pershad is 20 years old and was recently
(Wular, Hokera, Renuka, Keoladeo, Chilika is known to support a which Vembanad is famed, are the lands (Conservation and Manage- augur well for wetlands as these vital the joint secretary of the Congress Ward
Kabartal, Nawabganj, Loktak, population of over 1 per cent of the state’s prized tourist destination. ment) Rules, 2017. Each Ramsar site parts of landscapes are left at the Committee. He narrated in detail the part
Deepor, Rudrasagar, Sandi, Saman, known biogeographical population Over 260 shallow fish ponds in the needs to have a management plan margins of policy making and pro- he played in the murder, and his evidence
Keshopur-Miani, Sultanpur, Nal- of over 40 waterbird species. The EKW receive over 900 MLD pre-set- which outlines the pathway to wise gramming. mostly agreed with that of the first
sarovar, Sasthamkotta, Pala, Nandur- lagoon also maintains a healthy pop- tled sewage from the Kolkata Metro- use. A diagnostic approach for devel- The Global Biodiversity Frame- approver. He said he met Girdharilal dur-
Madhmeswar, Kanwartal and Pal- ulation and, is one of the only two politan region through a network of oping such management plans has work is a vital window for the global ing the last municipal elections when Mr.
likarnai), river stretches (Upper lagoons in the world inhabited by the locally excavated secondary and ter- been prescribed by the Ministry. In community to set a nature positive Sriram, a relative of Girdharilal, was put
Ganga River stretch, Beas Conserva- Irrawaddy Dolphin. KeibulLamjao, a tiary canals, used to produce annual- June 2022, the Ministry also formu- path – with significant impacts on up for election by the Congress Commit-
tion Reserve, Kanjili and Satkosia), floating national park south of Lok- ly 20,000 MT of fish, 50,000 MT of lated the ‘Sahbhagita Guidelines’ plans, programmes and investments tee. The Rs 36 that he had received from
crater lake (Lonar), salinas (Samb- tak, is the only known natural habitat vegetables and irrigate 4700 ha of outlining an “all of society” approach at all levels. Putting wetlands within the first approver, Radhakishen, was spent
har), mangrove swamps (Sunder- of globally endangered swamp deer. paddy lands. The rich fisheries and and governance framework for wet- this framework would be an impor- by witness in replacing Rs 35 which he had
bans, Bhitarkanika, Pichavaram and The globally vulnerable Black-necked tourism in Chilika form the liveli- lands conservation in the country. tant policy signal from decision-mak- spent out of the Congress Committee's
Point Calimere) and lagoons, estuar- crane breeds in the region around hoods of 0.2 million fishers. Several Ramsar sites are reeling ers that they recognise the criticality fund. The case was adjourned.
ies, and near-shore marine areas Tso-Moriri. The Sunderbans are Designating wetlands to the under immense development pres- of wetlands in halting and reversing
(Chilika, Ashtamudi, Vembanad-Kol
and the Gulf of Mannar). Water stor-
famed as the world’s largest single
chunk of contiguous mangroves and
Ramsar Site network affirms a
national government’s commitment
sure. Active waste dumping contin-
ues in Deepor Beel, East Kolkata Wet-
biodiversity loss and are prepared to
act on it. We must therefore do every- ALLEGED
age areas (Pong, Harike, Bhoj, Surin-
sar-Mansar, Bhindawas, Sur Sarovar,
an abode of the globally endangered
Bengal Tiger. Spectacular flocks of
to wise use. While the Ramsar site
designation is a much-celebrated
lands, and Pallikarnai marshes.
Changes in water regimes due to the
thing in our power to make sure the
importance of wetlands is recog- FALSIFICATION
Asan, Wadhvana, Thol, Ranganthit-
tu, Udhayamarthandapuram, Vedan-
flamingos can be seen at Sambhar
and Point Calimere, whereas hordes
event, what happens after the desig-
nation holds the key to whether the
construction of Ithai Barrage have
threatened the habitat of globally
nised in Montreal later this year and
beyond. OF ACCOUNTS
thangal, Nanda, Sirpur and Vellode) of Bar-Headed Goose regularly visit very purpose of the designation is ful- endangered Sangai deer. Illegal salt LUCKNOW, AUG 10
and assemblages of sewage-fed fish Pong. The diversity of waterbirds vis- filled. Delivery of Ramsar commit- mining in and around Sambhar has The writer is Director, Before the City Magistrate of Lucknow a
farms (East Kolkata Wetlands) have iting Keoladeo and Harike during ments is predicated on designing and led to a drastic reduction in inunda- Wetlands International South Asia. case of alleged falsification of accounts
also been included in the list by the migration often crosses over 100 implementing effective management tion regimes. Pollution is rampant in The views expressed are personal. and cheating was started against the
managing agent of the United India
War or peace, the truth suffers

Industrial Trust Ltd. The accused is Kun-
war Sree Krishna, Managing Director of
the Upper India Investment Ltd., which
is the managing agent of the trust. Mr.
JAWED NAQVI top-ranking former diplomats, would Germany, Britain, currently advising what the consequences are for any- and logic, they smear you. That is Labauti and Capt. Rogers, directors, who
be running for cover having declared Kyiv, had a department of propagan- one mentioned,” the UnHerd story what is going on here. are the complainants, alleged that the
U
kraine has published a list the imminent fall of Vladimir Putin da, which was called that. It toggled notes. “I argue that it is clear from the accused, in his capacity of managing
of some 620 academics, either by assassination or a bloody also as the information department Next to each name the report available evidence that Russia invad- agent, had received various sums of
journalists, military veter- coup. in its other avatars. lists the “pro-Russian” opinions the ed Ukraine because the United States money from applicants for shares in the
ans and politicians who it The maxim that truth becomes The ministries of information in individual promotes. For example, and its European allies were deter- trust and also securities from persons as
says are Russian propagandists. a casualty in war is thus only half our patch have remained a “Luttwak’s breach was to suggest that mined to make Ukraine a Western officers of the trust, and misappropriated
Three such worthies in the list are true. Peacetime is no longer a safe euphemism for the state’s propagan- ‘referendums should be held in the bulwark on Russia’s border, which this money and furnished false state-
Indian, and they seem baffled by the sanctuary for the ill-fated truth da overdrive targeting its own peo- Donetsk and Luhansk regions’”; Moscow saw as an existential threat. ments of accounts. Mr. Bhalla, secretary
accusation. against being exchanged for some- ple mainly, come peace or war. In Mearsheimer’s folly was to say that Ukrainians of all persuasions reject of the trust, was examined on behalf of
As ‘agents’ go, there’s probably thing more expedient. Countries are Ukraine, the Centre for Countering “Nato has been in Ukraine since my argument and instead blame the prosecution. The court rose before
nobody to beat Pakistan, followed by creepily spying on their own unlike Disinformation was established in 2014” and that “Nato provoked Vladimir Putin, who is said to have evidence had finished.
India in sheer turnover. Someone the old days when foreign agents 2021 under Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin”. UnHerd contacted and pub- been bent on conquering Ukraine
praising an Indian batsman in Pak-
istan could fall into the category of
were planted abroad to pry on each
other.
headed by former lawyer Polina
Lysenko.
lished the comments by Luttwak,
Mearsheimer and Greenwald.
and making it part of a greater Rus-
sia,” he told UnHerd. SIR HARCOURT
an Indian agent as is known to have
happened with cricket enthusiasts in
A very determined American
lover of democracy exposed the sub-
According to UnHerd — the
journal that carried absorbing
From February 24, the very start
of the war, said Luttwak, he had
“But there is no evidence in the
public record to support that claim, BUTLER'S
India cheering for a Pakistani bowler.
An Indian or Pakistani critical of
version of the constitution in his
country whereby ordinary citizens
responses from some of the alleged
Russian propagandists — the disin-
“relentlessly argued that not just the
US, UK, Norway and others should
which creates real problems for both
Kyiv and the West. So how do they
APPOINTMENT
authoritarian rule in their countries were spied on in a Big Brotherly way. formation department sits within the send weapons to Ukraine, but also deal with me? The answer of course is RANGOON, AUG 10
could be portrayed as enemy agents. He is now parked in a Moscow hotel, National Security and Defence Coun- the reluctant trio of France, Germany to label me a Russian propagandist, There are more comments on the
Rahul Gandhi has made the some distance from those seeking to cil of Ukraine. Its stated aim is to and Italy”. which I am not.” appointment to the Governorship of Sir
grade more frequently than many hunt him down as an enemy of the detect and counter “propaganda” “What happened is this. I said Greenwald saw a clear glimpse Harcourt Butler this morning. The Ran-
others. Opponents of nuclear state. Such heroes are not uncom- and “destructive disinformation” and that there is a victory party and the of McCarthyism in the Ukrainian list. goon Daily News says the news has been
weapons on both sides are easily sad- mon across the world. Julian Assange to prevent the “manipulation of pub- victory party is not realistic … Their “War proponents in the West received with mingled feelings. Fears are
dled with the opprobrium of helping and Mordechai Vanunu belong to lic opinion”. idea is if Russia can be squarely and other functionaries of Western entertained that an Indian Civilian, no
the enemy. Occasionally, campaign- this club. The July 14 list on its website defeated then Putin will fall. But this security state agencies have used the matter how great, would be the last man
ers for peace between the two Ukraine’s unusual move has an names those “promoting Russian is also the moment when nuclear same tactics for decades to demonise to lead the Province to her goal. It goes
become targets of slander. Others Indian parallel. It reminds one of propaganda”. Several high-profile escalation becomes a feasibility. It is anyone questioning the foreign poli- on to say, however, that a better selection
run the risk of annoying both sides. framed pictures of intellectuals criti- Western intellectuals and politicians a fantasy to believe Russia can be cy of the US and Nato. Chief among could not have been made from the I.C.S.
The Pakistani establishment cal of the ultra right-wing govern- were listed. Republican Senator squarely defeated. In Kyiv they have them, going back to the start of the The Burma Observer cannot understand
deemed Faiz Ahmed Faiz as too close ment in Uttar Pradesh hung in public Rand Paul, former Democrat Con- interpreted this stance as meaning I Cold War, is accusing every dissident on what basis the selection has been
to India. And now his daughters have squares in Lucknow. The high court gresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, military am pro-Russia.” of spreading ‘Russian propaganda’ or made and is not at all sure Sir Harcourt is
run into trouble with the Indian visa ordered the photos removed to pro- and geopolitical analyst Edward N. Mearsheimer was equally otherwise serving the Kremlin. That’s the right man. His geniality is the cause of
regime. tect the life and limb of those framed, Luttwak, political scientist John annoyed at being labelled a Russian all this is from the Ukrainians: just his popularity. The success of the Reforms
Let’s suppose Russia were to as also their privacy. Mearsheimer and renowned jour- plant. “When I was a young boy, my standard McCarthyite idiocy.” demanded that Burma should have a
publish a list of Ukrainian ‘agents’ in Ukraine’s countermeasures have nalist Glenn Greenwald were mother taught me that when others man new to the country. The Reforms, it
India. Quite a few, surely, including a history. During the war with Nazi named. “The list does not explain can’t beat your arguments with facts Dawn/ANN. thinks, are gravely imperiled by the
appointment.
CROSSWORD NO 292157
ADMINISTRATION
OF MADRAS PORT
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION MADRAS, AUG 10
ACROSS 12 Question I pose, appreciated for get discipline (6) almost certain to bottom wrinkly?
awful mess of a its good taste (6) be held by old (5) The administration report of the Madras
1 Billions in cash for
setter, say? (8) 23 Writer heading DOWN Tory leader (9,6) 14 See 9 Across Port Trust for 1921-22 shows that taking
backing out (6)
5 Good time to find
15 See 24 for exit perhaps is 2 Shoes initially 6 Kiss chap in 18 Unruly mob into consideration the general trade
16 Country not in the way (8) licked, easily embrace of lacking leadership, depression, the year has on the whole,
biography on the
needing many to 24/15 6 possibly, keeping Diogenes? Im ending in disarray
top shelf? (4,4)
commandeer top one scorching bootlicker in monstrous! (4,7) (5) been a satisfactory one for the harbour.
9/14 Ending in bar, The total net tonnage of vessels entering
aircraft (6) metal? (4,6) order? (7,8) 7 Peel of lime and 22 Type of music
various packs or
bags items
17 Tree, a hawthorn 25 See 27 Down 3 Lout, attention- mango with new rockin without the harbour during the year was 1,943,159
almost blocking 27 Carry first of seeker and fruit (5) rock and roller (5) tons, as compared with 1,662,444 tons in
containing little
path (8) parcels by drone knucklehead (3) 8 Benevolent 26 Clue mine (not
taste of
19 Silvery dope (4) 4 Kit for IT staff, character in down) (3) 1920-21, the total number of vessels being
crackling? (4,11) 653, as against 648 in the previous year.
hidden in lorry (8) 28 Ones checked mostly (3) recollection of 27/25 Drunk then
10 Continue to
preserve law (5)
20 Nothing pulled in date written by 5 German traders Mrs Thatcher? As welcomes The total tonnage of imports and exports
reverse is going idiots (8) once allied in if! (6,9) approaching during the year was also the largest on
11 University
ahead (6) 29 Crime on the rise, northern 13 Pop Idol party for
education kicking
21 Design of shield flipping hard to constituency, one candidates ladettes? (3,5) record, with the exception of 1919-20,
off a little bit (4) being 874,080 tons, as against 848,756 tons
in the previous year. The total of import
tonnage was slightly less than that of last
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) year, but this was more than made up for
by the increase in exports.
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | THURSDAY | 11 AUGUST 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
Subhani
11 AUGUST 2022
BJP to feel the heat of

Nitish’s coup in 2024
B
ihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has left the BJP stranded in Bihar by
getting out of the ruling alliance with BJP and opting to partner the
well-grounded RJD, currently led by Lalu Prasad Yadav’s younger son
Tejashwi Yadav. This has predictably fed the lore of Mr Kumar being
a “flip-flop” politician. Between 2015 and 2017, he had been CM in alliance with
RJD but dumped the RJD on that occasion to return to the BJP-led NDA. The
reputation is not unjust. But there is a wider question here — is Mr Kumar
alone who changes his mind? What about the BJP — in Bihar and in other
states?
The tag is intended to denigrate the CM and it might in the eyes of the upper
caste sections of the state, who have been with the BJP by and large well before
the arrival of Narendra Modi on the scene eight years ago. But outside that
elite social constellation, the label is unlikely to count. As for Bihar’s develop-
ment under Mr Kumar, who has been in the saddle since 2005, there will be a
question mark in spite of some progress in the otherwise discouraging record.
In this period, his longest tenure has been in the company of the saffron party.
The BJP thus cannot dodge the blemish.
Tuesday’s development in Bihar is likely to
A consolidation of the impact the political and social climate in Bihar.
OBC forces is clear That’s not unexpected. But equally we may expect
with the coming that the impact of this change will be felt in the
together of the next Lok Sabha election in 2024. The structural
Games Taliban play: Why CRAFTY KUMAR
LETTERS
India must engage in Af

equation in the state — arising from the balance of
former Lohia the social and caste arithmetic — will get loaded Nitish Kumar has shown
socialists — JD(U) against the BJP-NDA. some extraordinary sur-
and RJD — who are In 2019, the BJP-JD(U) combine had picked up all
teaming up with the seats but one. On its own, the BJP’s primary con- vival skills to continue as
stituency are the upper castes, and that could the CM of Bihar for the
Congress and the make things much harder for it. In Bihar, in the Afghanistan is a So, who was in a position
entire Left spectrum recent era, elections are hard to win outright for to betray Zawahiri? Two eighth time. And this in
society and polity in
— CPML, CPI, CPM any party. That has led to frequent coalitions sets of people, really. The spite of not being the sin-
which are put in jeopardy from time to time on
account of more proximate factors as well as more mundane issues like per-
Anand K. Sahay transition. The
Hamid Karzai years,
first are those seeking to
curry favour with the gle largest party. A miffed
sonality differences and difficulties in faction-management. for all their Americans — such as BJP cannot do much and
In the present instance, however, it is the BJP’s expansionist tendency, in Pakistan, which is in a
negatives, did has to be satisfied by
evidence since Mr Modi’s second tenure as PM began, that has fed dissatisfac-
tion with the party’s traditional allies. One by one, the Telugu Desam, Shiv
Far & Near produce the
poor way and can do with
all-round US help in get- throwing the “palturam”
Sena and Akali Dal parted company. And now it is the JD(U) in Bihar. In the outlines of a new ting financial aid and jibe at him. The channels
2020 Assembly election, it was evident that the late Ram Vilas Paswan’s callow Afghanistan... We escaping the FATF (UN’s
which had earlier praised
T
but supremely ambitious son Chirag was fooled into setting up candidates he recent killing justly accused the Taliban need to stand by terrorism roster); and of
chiefly to damage Mr Kumar’s JD(U) with the aim of dragging down the of Al-Qaeda chief of “grossly violating” the
the Afghan people...
course the Haqqanis them- Amit Shah for having suc-
JD(U)’s tally in relation to the BJP’s. The game succeeded and the CM has been Ayman al- Doha peace accord, under selves, partly to cement cessfully engineered the
wary of his partner. After the recent developments in Maharashtra, suspicion Zawhiri in a CIA which the Taliban pledged their own position within
was rife that an effort was on to break the JD(U)’s MLAs through lure or drone strike in not to harbour terrorists Afghanistan and possibly Shiv Sena revolt in
threats. This made the CM switch gears decisively leading to the August 9 Kabul, at an address evi- or allow terrorist attacks afield, including Arabs, to get rid of the Al-Qaeda Maharashtra are now call-
developments, although he would have likely been planning months in dently linked to Taliban to be launched against Uighurs, Uzbeks, Tajiks connection in a clever,
advance. interior minister Siraj- other countries from and Pakistanis. It has secret manoeuvre. The ing Nitish Kumar names,
A consolidation of the OBC forces is clear to see in Bihar alongside the com- uddin Haqqani, is very Afghan soil. For the US, strong social and matri- other set are those who when he has done the
ing together of the scattered elements of the former Lohia socialists — JD(U) bad optics for the regime. revenge for the 9/11 monial ties with foreign calculate they might bene-
and RJD — who are teaming up with the Congress and the entire Left spec- It raises complex ques- attacks is now complete as groups and fighters since fit if the Haqqanis are same. The NDA has lost all
trum — CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M). Such a line-up on a statewide scale is new. That tions about the Taliban, Zawahiri was the brains the days of the anti-Soviet exposed as helping Al- its other major con-
this is happening in a major Hindi- speaking state is something to watch. Will and requires us to ponder behind that tragic event. jihad, which was overseen Qaeda. In this group can stituents and will face a
it spread? Will Mr Kumar angle to position himself for PM in 2024? These are how India should proceed But this is strictly for US by Pakistan. Pakistan is be other Taliban factions
at best speculative questions for now. in Afghanistan. domestic politics. their overall “warlord” in or even non-Taliban tough task in the 2024
New Delhi may have to For the rest of the world, that sense. Afghans. general election to per-
cautiously re-visit its mod- once the US brought the Now that the Taliban are While castigating the
ulated approach to the Taliban back from the cold back in the saddle in Haqqanis for the Al-Qaeda form as well as they have
Heatwaves are the new normal Taliban to check for road-

worthiness. In a low-key
operation in June, it
after battling it militarily
for two decades, and then
signed a peace agreement
Kabul, and the country is
in dire straits, it faces a
dilemma. It is desperate to
link, we should bear in
mind that the Islamic
State of Khorasan (ISIS-K)
done earlier. This also
comes as a shot in the arm
for a dispirited Opposition.
C
onspiracy theories on climate change have almost ceased to gain cur- reopened its mission in with it, bypassing the then gain international recog- has gained in Afghanistan
rency as real events have forced people to accept what they are now Kabul which had been Afghan government, it nition in order to attract and is challenging the Anthony Henriques
experiencing year after year. The signs are ominous — Europe is closed after the Taliban seems inconceivable that foreign assistance in every Taliban, mounting terror-
sweating like never before, and reports say that the continent experienced takeover, underlining Washington would once conceivable field to avoid ist attacks across the coun- Mumbai
its five hottest summers since 1500 just in the last two decades. The Arctic India’s Taliban-wariness again seek to freeze the economic and political try. They are not a Taliban
has seen its oldest and thickest ice declining by 95 per cent in the last three
decades. The impact is no less back home in India. The northern part of the
over its past terrorist acts
against Indian interests.
group out. Doing so may
mean that the countries
instability, else it could
meet with serious internal
creation. Conjecture
places their provenance
BJP HEGEMONY
country witnessed heatwaves that made the month of March the hottest in The declared purpose of with real influence and challenges, including from with Pakistan’s secret HAVING BEEN dumped by the JD(U)
122 years; Delhi’s temperature crossed 49°C this year. restoring representation leverage with the Taliban Taliban factions. But in agencies and sometimes in Bihar, the BJP may not rue too
Two latest studies point to the possibility of climate change making is to coordinate the sub- are China and Pakistan. order to be a normal coun- even with the dark side of much the loss of a government over
extreme weather events happen. The Met Office, Britain’s national meteo- stantial Indian food and Afghanistan may then try, it must cut off links American operations. which CM Nitish Kumar maintained
rological service, says climate change made the current heatwave a whop- medical relief — to ensure lapse into a state like that with terror groups, many Compared to ISIS-K, Al- tight control. But his decision is a
ping 100 times more likely in India and Pakistan. The World Weather it reaches needy Afghan existed before the US inva- of whom may now be fam- Qaeda in Afghanistan is breather for the good news-starved
Attribution which used a different methodology in its analysis sounded people now in a near- sion in 2001, which led to ily or close associates, small beer. Opposition. The breakup gives the
more conservative but still insisted that that climate change made this famine situation. India’s the Taliban’s ouster. The regardless of nationality. The question is why Opposition a better shot at Bihar’s 40
heatwave 30 times more likely. Both agree that climate change will overture, besides empha- Haqqani faction — given This is a possible expla- should any of this worry Lok Sabha seats come 2024. Nationally,
increase the possibility of the repeat of heatwaves from now on. So much sising our deep friendship its proximity to Pakistan nation why Zawahiri us. The answer isn’t com- too, the realignment boosts flagging
so, that it could be an annual phenomenon. with the Afghan people, — may then become the came to be sheltered by plex. If Taliban returns to Opposition unity. For a while now,
The root to the mess would lie in human activity, mainly the use of fossil may be seen as cautious most powerful politico- the Haqqani outfit. After being its pre-2001 self with Opposition parties have been left
fuel which rapidly increases levels of greenhouse gases. Scientists agree in pre-positioning for the day military entity. Bin Laden’s death, Al- withdrawal of Western — counting not their own wins, but the
unison that there must be rapid action with large-scale impact on this the US and others eventu- With the Mullah Omar Qaeda was rendered a and Indian — help, India ruling party’s losses.
count if we were to protect the life of the next generation on earth but the ally settle down to confer era ending after the spent force except in parts can be seriously impacted N. Sadhasiva Reddy
possibility of it is comparatively less given the nature of our production legitimacy on Taliban Taliban founder’s death, of West Asia and the Sahel on terrorism. Two, Afgha- Bengaluru
and consumption-based economies. rule. by natural causes or engi- in Africa. Zawahiri was nistan — along with Iran
The worst sufferers of climate change, as other natural calamities, are Crucially, this depends neered by the Taliban’s without charisma. He had — plays an important part
the poor and marginalised people. A recurring heatwave would mean that
a large section of our people would remain vulnerable forever. This is
on the Taliban cutting all
terror links, especially
Pakistan controllers, the
Haqqanis have pulled the
no followers. He was liv-
ing out his last days as a
in delineating our strate-
gic interests in Central
SANDY’S LEGACY
unacceptable. The government must hence initiate mitigation steps, groups with an interna- most weight in the group, retired terrorist and was Asia. If we walk away THE DEATH of iconic singer Olivia
including proper housing for all, to protect them from extreme weather tional jihadist outlook like being the closest to shorn of value, living prac- now, we would have ceded Newton-John to breast cancer has left
conditions. Al-Qaeda, and upon the Islamabad. The Kandhar tically on charity. Vanda all leverage to China and the music world poorer. The Australian
insurgents paving the way and Doha groups have had Fellab-Brown, in a recent Pakistan in Afghanistan. singer and actress was best known for
for a government that to kowtow. well-argued Brookings That would help complete playing the high school sweetheart
accommodates all political Geography has much to paper, sheds light on India’s encirclement to the Sandy in the blockbuster musical movie
interests in Afghanistan, do with the Haqqani many aspects of the north and the west. Grease, which catapulted her to world-
besides treating women on power base, making it the Taliban relationship — Afghanistan is a society wide fame. She sang some of the biggest
an equal footing with men. most influential Taliban especially that of the and polity in transition. hits of the 1970s and ‘80s, such as “I hon-
The Zawahiri killing is a faction — a factor that has Haqqanis — with foreign The Hamid Karzai years, estly love you”, ”Have you never been
THE ASIAN AGE decided setback. It recalls received inadequate atten- fighters and groups. She for all their negatives, did mellow”, “Physical”, “Summer nights”,
Pakistan’s double-dealing tion in understanding asks some questions: produce the outlines of a and “You’re the one that I want” (selling
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR being exposed when intra-Taliban power Would Zawahiri be able to new Afghanistan. The sys- 15 million copies). A four-time Grammy
Editor Printer & Publisher
Osama bin Laden, whom dynamics. The clan is do anything without the tem in power today is Award winner, her music transcended
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: Zawahiri succeeded as Al- from the virtually ungov- Haqqanis finding out; and undergoing a churn. The boundaries. Her legacy will live on!
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: Qaeda chief, was killed by erned, rugged, tribal re- whether Zawahiri, finding Zawahiri incident could N.J. Ravi Chander
(011) 23211124. US special forces in gion that falls between harbour with the Taliban, well trigger certain unex- Bengaluru
Published and Printed on behalf of and for Pakistan. Pakistan and eastern would do anything (like pected happenings. We
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New
After the Zawahiri assas- Afghanistan which has engineering a terrorist need to stand by the Every Monday the best letter of
Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. sination, US secretary of attracted and sheltered strike) that would jeopar- Afghan people in this the week wins `500. Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 state Antony Blinken has jihadist fighters from far dise his hosts? extraordinary moment. [email protected].
J
ust last week, DKB reported on the repa- Whatever the reason, this development does directorate general of GST intelligence and bureaucratic post in 2019 for two years. He
triation of 1987-batch IAS officer pose a ticklish problem for the Yogi customs and excise department, all of which was given a one-year extension in August last
Renuka Kumar to her parent cadre of Adityanath government, since an impression function under the finance ministry. The year.
Uttar Pradesh. Now it seems that the is being given that senior babus are unwilling expansion is geographical as well, with ED No speculation usually means that it was an
Dilip Cherian officer has applied for voluntary retirement.
Apparently, the senior officer was reluctant to
to work in the state and would rather quit even
if they have a few years before retirement.
setting up offices in several states, including
Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur, Tripura and
expected move, by babus even. In this, they
are not wrong. It has become a new tradition
Dilli Ka Babu return to UP. However, Ms Kumar is not the
only officer who does not wish to serve in RISING CASES CONTRIBUTE
Sikkim, among others.
Since 2002 when the enactment of the
now that the Cabinet secretary gets to serve
beyond the regular term. The usual reason
Uttar Pradesh. Two more senior IAS officers TO ED’S GROWING PAINS Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) trotted out is ensuring “continuity”, which in
of the UP cadre have similarly sought volun- The profile of the Enforcement Directorate empowered the ED and gave its officers more this case means that the Centre is looking at
tary retirement, all within a week. They are (ED) has risen in recent times thanks to the leverage to operate, it has conducted thou- Mr Gauba to continue steering the economy
Juthika Patankar and Vikas Gothalwal. growing number of high-profile cases involv- sands of searches, especially since 2005, it did towards recovery and growth, crucial for the
Veteran observers cannot remember when ing money laundering that it is investigating. over 3,086 searches till February this year. government’s prospects as it preps for the 2024
New worry for three senior IAS officers have sought to quit
the service within days of each other.
So, what’s going on? The babu grapevine is
abuzz with speculation about the possible rea-
While these probes keep the agency in the
media headlines, there is other evidence that
the ED is now vying with the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) in terms of visibility
This may explain the constant need to
increase personnel. Yet, compared to the num-
ber of searches, the conviction rate is surpris-
ingly low — only 23 convictions since the
general elections.
Of course, a second extension for Mr Gauba
does queer the pitch for those who were in line
to succeed him to the top babu post of the
UP govt: Exit of son for this development. Some are blaming

the over-politicisation of the service in UP,
which is making babus avoid working in the
and clout.
Most observers point out that since 2018
when S.K. Mishra became the director, ED
passing of the PMLA. Perhaps, despite the
new inductees, ED may need not just more
numbers but suitable technology to ease the
country. However, Mr Gauba’s immediate
predecessor P.K. Sinha got three extensions —
and then was brought into the Prime
senior officers state. Why else would Renuka Kumar, who

played a key role in the UP IAS Association’s
campaign in the nineties to identify the three
most corrupt officers in the state cadre now no
has been on an aggressive expansion spree.
Before Mr Mishra became the chief, ED had
five special directors and 18 joint directors,
mostly drawn from the IPS. Now the agency
workload of the harried officials.
EXTENSION FOR GAUBA MEANT

TO ENSURE ‘CONTINUITY’
Minister’s Office as principal adviser where
he replaced principal secretary Nripendra
Misra. In that sense, Mr Gauba is still in mid-
innings!
longer want to work there? Like Renuka, has nine special directors, three additional There was barely a ripple in babu or media
Juthika, too, was on Central deputation. directors, 36 joint directors and 18 deputy circles when the Centre extended Cabinet sec- Love them or hate them, ignore them at
Vikas Gothalwal, however, is on study leave directors, a nearly 50 per cent retary Rajiv Gauba’s term by another national peril is the babu guarantee and
in the UK, and has sought VRS on health increase. Interestingly, there is a marked year. Mr Gauba, a former Union home secre- Dilip's belief. Share babu escapades at
grounds. preference for officers from the income tax, tary, was appointed to the country’s top [email protected].
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | THURSDAY, 11 AUGUST, 2022 Editorial 7
EDITORIAL Deserving changemakers
An impregnable Nexus of Good RightWalk Foundation will receive Nexus of Good Awards on August 27 for facilitating
fortress? quality education, health and income generation by driving institutional changes
N S
amina Bano and her won- PWD targets as well. to get recruited as apprentices in
itish Kumar took oath as Bihar’s CM for derful team will be con- RightWalk’s work extends over 6,000 establishments. What
the record eighth time on Wednesday. ferred with the Nexus of beyond schooling access and is more, 3,200 school drop-outs
Over the past 17 years, political equations Good Award on August admission assistance. They closely have also been brought into the
changed and alliances were reshuffled in 27 this year at a function organ- engage with private schools’ edu- labour market via apprenticeships.
Bihar several times but Nitish at the helm of affairs ised jointly by the Nexus of Good cators and train them on inclusive Adolescents upskilled through
remained constant. His success in retaining power Foundation and FICCI Arise for pedagogical practices to facilitate the Apprenticeship Scheme are
in a politically diverse and dynamic state like Bihar their dedication, commitment seamless integration of EWS chil- more employable in a progres-
can broadly be attributed to two factors — his infa- ANIL SWARUP and resolve to bring quality school dren in diverse classrooms. They sive economy. RightWalk also
mous/notorious side-switching strategies and his education to the deprived and have trained over 2,000 educa- worked closely with the develop-
deep-rooted political appropriation of sections of backward sections of society. tors across nine districts of UP ment team of the Apprenticeship
society that had been mostly left untouched before Utilising public-private partner- in partnership with UNICEF and Portal (NAPS) at the Ministry of
him, politically. While Nitish’s side-switching reflects ship, the model that they have cre- the state government. There is also Skill Development and Entre-
his astute political management that has lent him a ated is already scaling in the true an inclusion-centric training pro- preneurship (MSDE) to refine
winning edge over the erstwhile coalition partner spirit of nexus of good. gramme that is planned to be con- the software, thereby benefiting
BJP, the recent developments in Bihar have politi- Uttar Pradesh has been known ducted online for more teachers the whole country. Within 1.5
cal consequences far beyond the individual prowess for all the wrong reasons despite to gain access. Their post-admis- years only, the number of estab-
of Bihar’s longest serving CM. In the first place, in a some outstanding work being With 48 per cent girls and 1.5 per cent children with disability enrolled under sion support programmes such lishments registered on NAPS
single political masterstroke, Nitish has ensured that done by numerous officers and RTE, Samina and her team are aiming to close in on the gender and PWD targets as FABLE, PALS, EPL and Buddy increased by 7,500 with RWF’s
Bihar stands out as one of the last frontiers against institutions in the field of school Program have been charting new help. Alok Kumar-III, then Secre-
the right-wing BJP in the northern belt. The RJD- education. I was on a visit to Luc- Vidyalaya, following her father’s eventually prevailed and they won. ways to close in on the learning tary to the Chief Minister of UP,
JDU alliance, as for now and for a long time to come know in 2017 as Secretary, School, job in the Indian Air Force away RightWalk led policy reforms, ran inequality at home lately. played a crucial role in enabling
(if it exists), may prove to be an unassailable fort. Government India, to discuss an from his village. state-wide mass awareness cam- The overall behavioural spill- RWF to realise its full potential.
Neither any wave nor any high-brand national polit- action plan for the state. The Samina’s initial research paigns, conducted several dis- over of educational inclusion Amrit Abhijat and Kunal Silku
ical face can lay claim to power in Bihar if these two schedule was packed. However, revealed that Uttar Pradesh had trict capacity-building sessions under RTE in UP was recently have been great enablers as well.
parties decide to remain together. The reason is the this young lady, Samina Bano, approximately over 6,00,000 with local administration and pri- evaluated by two professors Unlocking welfare schemes
complex caste configuration that forms the corner- RightWalk was insistent. She wanted time RTE seats available for vulnera- vate schools, and designed some from University of Florida and and associated government funds,
stone of any election in the state. Lagging behind on Foundation, to narrate her story. I did finally ble children, but there were only ground implementation plans. Duke University. The RCT-based RightWalk’s efforts have already
various development parameters, there is so much relent and what an amazing story 54 admissions across the state in This resulted in over 40,00 poor assessment covering nearly 2,000 prompted the UP government
to offer to economically and socially backward sec- which aims she had to narrate. 2014, primarily due to fierce resis- children getting enrolled under households across 12 districts to spend over 300 crores on
tions of society in Bihar, who are often assuaged to create One of the provisions of the tance by private school lobbies and the scheme across 26 districts of consistently showed that chil- EWS children under RTE and
by little incentives and benefits. This is where both Right to Education Act aims at prohibitive state policies. the state in 2015. The news was dren admitted to integrated 100 crores under Apprentice-
the parties — the RJD and the JDU — have formed sustainable equal access to education and To unite like-minded profes- widely covered in the media and schools under RTE Act have ship. RightWalk’s model not only
their forte over decades. While Lalu Yadav-led RJD institutional social inclusion in classrooms by sionals, RWF initiated a ‘nexus of
good’ approach and focused on
gave further push to the cause. more positive attitudes toward unlocked Public Funds but also
dominated in the 1990s and the first half of 2000s mandating every recognised pri- In the last seven years, Right- school, better health behaviours ensured efficient utilisation of
by appropriating, and working for the upliftment of, change, vate school to reserve 25 per cent cooperation with communities, Walk built a unique partnership and outcomes, and induce par- Public Money. The organisation,
the OBCs in the state, Nitish Kumar went a step fur- believes its seats in entry-level classes for chil- teachers, principals, media and with the Government of Uttar ents to make more educational which aims at creating sustain-
ther after he assumed power in 2005. He was smart dren belonging to Economically supportive bureaucrats. Owing to Pradesh supporting them as a investments. Access to better able institutional change believes
enough to realize that there were strata even below model could Weaker Sections (EWS) and Dis- the national media coverage, the Project Management Unit (PMU) schools makes families realise its model could unlock Rs 100 of
the OBC, and he consolidated his base among new unlock Rs 100 advantaged Groups (DG). Samina Chief Minister of UP soon took while their extensive field team the value of education and thus public funds for every philan-
classes of voters in the name of EBCs and Maha- Bano and her organisation, Right- notice and extended support while drove ground implementation promotes their education-ori- thropic rupee spent.
dalits. Over the past 15 years, Nitish has been effort- of public funds Walk Foundation (RWF), have his Secretaries, Partha Sarthi Sen along with District Education ented behaviour. With interventions in edu-
lessly making marginal improvements to their lives for every accomplished a commendable Sharma and Amod Kumar, played Officers (DEOs). The organisa- RightWalk has also ventured cation and skill/employment,
to gain undeterred political backing. Among Maha- feat in this field in Uttar Pradesh. pivotal roles in helping RightWalk tion initiated the development into the implementation of the the organisation is making poor
dalits, there is a political loyalty of sorts for the philanthropic In 2013, as a young com- traverse the complex bureaucratic of an Online RTE Portal in 2017, Apprenticeship Scheme in col- households more ‘sustainable’ by
Nitish-led JDU. It may be pertinent here to point rupee spent puter engineer and IIM Banga- labyrinth. Succeeding key officers, which won a national e-Gover- laboration with the Vocational ensuring access to quality educa-
out that both Nitish and Lalu had their roots in the lore graduate doing management Vijay Kiran Anand, Rajshekhar, nance Award in 2021. RWF lev- Education Dept. of the state tion, income generation opportu-
socialist movement led by Jaiprakash Narayan dur- consultancy with a leading con- Pankaj Kumar and others, pro- eraged existing institutions of govt. following state PMU and nities and health.
ing the 1970s, and they still firmly represent the sulting firm in the US, Samina was vided field-level support in vari- Lokwani/Common Service Cen- Ground Delivery Network (GDN) The improvement of institu-
socialist idea. The reason that this idea is still breath- determined to return to India in ous districts. tre (CSC) to make the online RTE Model. They have become the tions and policy reforms remains
ing in Bihar, when other states are more or less shed- the uncharted territory of Uttar Yet, a powerful school moved admission process transparent first non-profit organisation in the fulcrum of RightWalk’s plan-
ding it, is that there is a need for it in the state. The Pradesh. She decided to root her to the High Court challenging this and accountable, eliminating the India to work on this particular ning, fundraising, and imple-
socio-economic backwardness of Bihar makes it organisation in UP and anchored provision while several personal corruption loopholes. This model policy. RightWalk’s vision on the mentation activities. Under the
suitable for socialist politics, which both JDU and it with the idea of Public-Private attacks such as civil suit, threats, has been immensely successful, Apprenticeship Scheme as a game exemplary leadership of Samina,
the RJD have mastered over decades. Against this Partnership right at the outset. etc. were aimed at Samina. It was having enrolled over 4,70,000 changer in solving India’s skill- this non-profit has not only man-
stands the nationalist politics of the BJP. Apparently, Samina considers herself a living a David versus Goliath battle. The EWS children into 16,000 pri- ing and employment challenge is aged to demonstrate good work
nationalist politics reverberates in Bihar also — but example of the transformational opponents were experts in court vate schools across the state in the poised to impact a large number of but has also gone on to scale it
in limited pockets and with certain caveats. If the impact that inclusion in education battles and the RightWalk team last seven years. With 48 per cent youth grappling with unemploy- through a public-private partner-
BJP has been trying to set its foot in Bihar, Nitish’s can have on someone’s life. Hailing had never even been to a court- girls and 1.5 per cent children with ment. Thus far, they have enabled ship that is truly inspiring.
exit from the NDA alliance is perhaps a big blow. It from a family that barely sent girls room. After six long months of disability enrolled under RTE, 40,000+ young people from ITIs Contact: samina@rightwalk.
has brought the BJP back to square one, from where to schools, her life changed when court battles, in the High Court as Samina and her team are aim- and other vocational educational org, [email protected]
it will have to start all over again. One may argue she gained access to Kendriya well as the Supreme Court, justice ing to close in on the gender and institutes across Uttar Pradesh Views expressed are personal
that the BJP had emerged with the single-largest-
Two women and the ‘National Flag’

party tag after the 2019 assembly election which, of
course, was replaced by the RJD later. The counter
argument is that in 2019, the vote convertibility fac-
tor played in the favour of the BJP because it was
with Nitish Kumar’s JDU. If the BJP has to spread
its wings in Bihar in the long-term, it will have to
explore options among smaller parties that repre-
sent socialist politics. For the present, the RJD-JDU
regional combine, supported by the Communist
Har Ghar Tiranga campaign rekindles the memories of how Sister Nivedita
parties and the Congress, is good enough to outclass
the BJP. In terms of national politics, Bihar — with and Madame Bhikaji Cama pioneered to draw up India’s National Flag
A
a total 40 Lok Sabha seats — may act as a speed-
breaker for the BJP juggernaut in the north. Can it s the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ MN Das describes how everyone the Indian National Flag, tric-
send ripples in the neighbouring UP for the Sama- campaign inspired and agreed that the “old form of impe- olour in green, yellow and red
jwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party to launched by Prime rialism could not continue” and with the words ‘Bande Mataram’
come together? It is still unanswerable. One thing is Minister Narendra that “Imperial policies and admin- on the middle band.... [and] wav-
certain that by breaking away from the NDA, Nit- Modi gathers an impressive flut- istration required moderation.” To ing the flag before them, she said
ish Kumar has triggered speculation that his name ANIRBAN GANGULY tering speed across the country, it Lord Minto, Curzon’s successor, she had ever hoped of seeing the
may be added to the list of BJP-opposed politicians is natural for the mind to draw a the latter’s “unpopularity was so republic of India, established in
who are aspiring for the PM’s chair. Nitish Kumar historic link to this unique tribute great that the mere mention of his her life-time.”
has hardly anything left to prove in the state politics, being offered to the indomitable name was a “red rag to nine-tenths Savarkar’s most popular biog-
he may be eying to shine on the national firmament. spirit of free India. of the population of India.” Mere rapher, Dhananjay Keer, notes
Given his political flexibility, and ready-to-assimilate The attempts to draw up a flag reference to Curzon’s administra- how at the Stuttgart meet, Cama
persona, he cannot be discounted as a contender! of free India, or to propose a flag tion, thus, writes Das, “was dis- declared that “This flag is of Indian
The biggest question, however, is how long will caste for India when she would have agreeable to his successors, and Independence. Behold it is born!
fragmentation and subjugation in Bihar keep serving achieved her freedom was, inter- to the people of India his memory It is already sanctified by the blood
the political ambitions of its leaders. If the RJD-JDU estingly, made by two women. was as unpalatable as that of the of martyred Indian youths!” Cama
can deliver on what they represent, it will be a true It is Sister Nivedita and Both Nivedita and Cama breathed life and essence in our quest for a Mutiny suppression or the Battle called upon the gathering to “rise
success. Nitish, in particular, has a chance to leave Madame Bhikaji Cama that we ‘National Flag’ of Plassey.” To Curzon’s mischie- and salute this flag in freeing one-
behind a legacy that will be remembered by people. must necessarily remember and vous public suggestion, even after fifth of the human race.” Keer
offer our tribute during this spe- who is called today to attain self- over 50 years after the first war of he had relinquished office, that the writes that the “delegates rose
cial phase when the spirit of the lessness”, she argued. Nivedita’s independence that Madame Bhi- 50th anniversary of the suppres- up and saluted the flag of Indian
DearEditor
Indian Tricolour is being sought flag embroidered in “scarlet and kaji Cama who, as RC Majumdar sion of the ‘Mutiny’ and the 150th Independence.” President of the
to be rekindled and re-awakened yellow” with the ‘Vajra’ at its cen- describes, had “earned undying year of the Battle of Plassey must Congress, Paul Singer, represen-
in a never done before manner. tre was displayed at the Congress reputation as the Mother of the be celebrated with pomp, Minto tative of the Social Democratic
Sister Nivedita’s connection Exhibition in 1906 and “many Indian Revolution”, represented noted with alarm writing to John Party of Germany, declared “that
IMPRESSIVE SUCCESS with revolutionary national- eminent persons, including Dr India at the prestigious Inter- Morley, then Secretary of State for the spirit of the resolution was
Cama made ists has been well-documented. [Acharya] JC Bose, accepted this national Socialist Congress in India that, “Anything of this sort approved” by the international
This is in reference to the editorial, ‘Ending it customary One of the doyens of nationalist symbol and started using it.” Stuttgart. Historian of the early is...utterly out of the question. I meet. Interestingly Cama’s reso-
on a satisfactory note’. India has performed journalism, Ramananda Chat- In 1909, when the issue of a nationalist movement in India, cannot imagine anyone, who has lution received approbation from
very creditably at the just concluded CWG by to unfurl the topadhyay describes Nivedita as National Flag was publicly dis- Prithwindra Mukherjee, in his ever thought twice about it; mak- leading socialists of the era, such
standing in the 4th position in the medal tally. National a “pronounced nationalist” for cussed, Nivedita wrote in the seminal study ‘The Intellectual ing such a proposal” as France’s Jean Jaures, Poland’s
whom the “promotion of the cause Modern Review in detail on its Roots of India’s Struggle for Free- It was in the backdrop of such Rosa Luxemburg, Germany’s
There have been many medals in disciplines Flag before of nationality” was “her mission history, need, symbolism and dom’, notes how Cama imbued a general ferment in India that George Bebel and Britain’s Henry
for the first time like the triple jump and
steeplechase, which is a very welcome sign. addressing and passion, as was women’s design. In a ‘National Flag’ she with “dynamism and impetuous Madame Cama, against vehe- H Hyndman.
education.” saw a deeper symbol for national patriotism was a respected fig- ment opposition from the Brit- Madame Cama thus became,
The reason for the change in fortunes is due any meeting, As early as 1905, Nivedita con- unity, a rallying point for crystal- ure among Indian revolutionary ish contingent at Stuttgart, spoke “the first Indian” to “unfold the
to the changed attitude among the people. because she ceived of the need for a ‘National lising the growing urge and aspi- leaders in Europe, as much as in of India’s plight under colonial Indian National Flag in a foreign
Unlike earlier, sport is now regarded as a viable Flag’ as a rallying symbol for the ration for freedom, an aspiration London and in Paris.” She had subjection and also succeeded country before an international
career option. Behind every victory is a story of said “she was in cause of India’s emancipation. that had to be passed on from also emerged as an ‘indispensable’ in unfurling the flag symbolising gathering.” From then onwards
discipline, hard work and sacrifice which needs the habit She worked on the design of a generation to generation. To link between Veer Savarkar and India’s freedom and her aspira- “she made it customary to unfurl
to be told. Many have surmounted impossible ‘National Flag’ with the ‘Vajra’ Nivedita, the aura of a ‘National other Indian revolutionaries and tions to recover herself. the National Flag before address-
of speaking — the thunderbolt — at its cen- Flag’ was an “altar, at whose foot, leading western political activists At the old Stuttgart Liederh- ing any meeting, because she said
odds to achieve podium finishes. Especially
heart-warming have been the performances of under this flag” tre, inspired by the example of whether for assault or defence, of that epoch. alle, venue of the Socialist Con- “she was in the habit of speaking
Rishi Dadhichi who “smilingly men’s lives are freely offered up.” 1907 in India was the year of gress, Cama argued “that the under this flag.”
those from the North East region. Often made listened, smilingly answered, and In an inspiring description mir- “turmoil and tempo”. The nation- continuance of British rule in Both Nivedita and Cama
fun of because of their physical appearance, in a moment laid himself down roring the essence of a ‘National alist duumvirate of Lokmanya India is positively disastrous and breathed life and essence in our
they have proved that when it comes to to die – yielding at a word the Flag’, she wrote, “Generations Tilak and Sri Aurobindo had extremely injurious to the best quest for a ‘National Flag’ and for-
national glory, they are second to none. very outmost demanded from come and go. New combina- effectively debunked the poli- interests of India” ever etched its centrality in our
humanity.” tions arrive and vanish, but that tics of petition or mendicancy, Madam Cama’s history sheet struggle for freedom. The historic
— ANTHONY HENRIQUES, MUMBAI For Nivedita, a ‘National Flag’ for which the national symbol as Sri Aurobindo had termed it, prepared by the Criminal Intel- ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement is
via email ought to inspire and command stands – that ineffable union of Veer Savarkar in foreign soil, had ligence Office, recorded how she an occasion to recall and rejoice
Dadhichi’s selflessness. “The Self- jana-desha-dharma for which started weaving the web of revo- told the gathering that “thirty- in the memory of that past.
millenniumpost.in less Man is the Thunderbolt”, she every people fight – remains lution; the mantra of “Swadeshi, five million pounds were taken The writer is a member of
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to wrote, “Let us strive only for self- for-ever, simple and steadfast Swaraj and Boycott” had spread annually from India without any National Executive Commit-
[email protected]. You can also send your comments to lessness, and become the weapon as Eternity, mirrored in the far and wide giving rise to waves return and in consequence people tee (NEC), BJP, and the Director
The Editor, Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah in the hands of the gods.” It was fugitive minds of its myriad of protest. in India died of poverty.” At the of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 India, “in all her millions, not a worshippers.” In his classic ‘India under Mor- “close of her speech”, the history Research Foundation.
few Indian saints or prophets, It was in August 1907, a little ley and Minto’, eminent historian sheet records, Cama “unfurled Views expressed are personal
4 EDIT DELHI THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2022
Nitish a past master at retaining power LETTERS

Venkaiah Naidu a great statesman
M aster of ‘U’ turns has done it
again. Nitish Kumar who is a
veteran politician felt that it was
some quick moves and bid goodbye
to the alliance with BJP. ough the
BJP knew what was going to hap-
the Muslims may also dri away
and it could adversely impact his
image of being a progressive, so-
only 45 seats while BJP got 7, RJD
got 79 and Congress 19. It will
again be a triangular fight in the
mooted the proposal for caste cen-
sus much against the wishes of the
BJP. He opposed the proposal to R ajya Sabha witnessed emotional scenes as Prime Minister and mem-
bers bid farewell to M Venkiah Naidu as his five-year term as
time for him to take corrective pen it did not make efforts to stop cialist and secular leader. next elections. If this combination conduct an all-India NRC (Na- Chairman of Rajya Sabha ended. His duties started as Chairman of
measures if he were to retain power Nitish. e BJP feels that the graph ere is a growing feeling can remain united till then, Nitish tional Register of Citizen) to estab- Rajya Sabha with ruling party in minority and he conducted the house
in the next elections. He realised of Nitish is going down. among the non-BJP parties that must have felt that he will have a lish the antecedents of those who with dignity and decorum with his vast political experience, skill and
that the BJP was growing at its ex- BJP and Nitish had ideological the BJP wants to politically weaken chance to come to power again and live in India and claim Indian citi- succeeded in passing all official Bills easily. The most remarkable part
pense in Bihar and his long tenure differences on several issues and the regional parties. Bihar has BJP will not be able to topple the zenship. He is also ruthless with of his tenure is that members were given opportunity to speak in mother
as Chief Minister has led to growing Nitish seems to have felt that sail- many regional parties, and JD(U) government. those who do not tow his line. We tongue as they can express their opinions freely with their own language.
anti-incumbency factor in the state. ing with BJP would affect his Mus- led by Nitish is also a regional One thing that needs to be have seen how party national vice- Only bad issue was the suspension of a few opposition members in the
e political crisis in Maharash- lim vote bank. It appears, Nitish party. Hence, he must have felt that recognised is that Nitish is a leader president and political strategist last session though it was painful to him but for decorum and dignity
tra which led to a split in Shiv Sena felt that BJP had succeeded in it was time to take a ‘U’ turn and who can take firm decisions. He Prashant Kishore was expelled of the house he had to take hard decision. Naidu is a man of dignity,
and Uddhav ackeray losing his weaning away a good section of cosy up to RJD. had been constantly opposing from the party. Nitish Kumar has discipline not only as an individual, family member but as a sincere
chief ministerial post also seems to OBCs and upper caste voters and It’s all a matter of number game. many decisions of the BJP though repeatedly made his message clear political party worker and leader obeying the high command for any
have forced Nitish Kumar to make if he continues to be part of NDA, In the last elections, JD (U) got he was part of NDA. He strongly – “Don't mess with Me.” duty at anytime and anywhere.
JP Reddy, Nalgonda
II
How perceptions shape interpretations V enkaiah Naidu is a great Statesman. As the Chairman of Rajya Sabha,
he used to conduct the proceedings of dutifully and beautifully, with
his wit and humour. He used to encourage each member speak. He is
fluent in English, Hindi and Telugu. He is a great orator, in all the three
cial, economic and political weapon, that too such weapons, Languages. He is an orator in all the three languages. He is from Nellore.
TALKING OF society, as well as the oft quoted used at a time would cause near He did Law Course, while I was doing Engineering Course at Andhra
MANY THINGS fountain of wisdom, by ruthless destruction of humanity and University, Visakhapatnam. We meet during alumni meet every year.
dictators, in the name of ecology of the planet. He chose He will be Guiding Light for the Nation.
communism. death as a noble alternative to Kantamsetti LakshmanRao, Visakhapatnam
Why, our own Constitution has causing destruction of the envi-
frequently been used, by crimi- ronment and suffering to people.
nals and fraudsters, to escape the Little wonder, then, that ‘Rama- Politicians are strange bedfellows
just consequences of their acts,
and go scot-free, at least tem-
porarily, in the name of human
vataram’ in Tamil has Kamban,
the author, imagining Ravana to
be a very erudite scholar, king,
T he Chief Minister of Bihar and Janata Dal (United) leader, Nitish
Kumar, is habituated to cross party lines to retain his position. At
one time he maintained his political attachment with Janata Dal supremo
rights. Strangely enough, in his- musician and a good-looking Lalu Prasad Yadav, aerwards he developed feud with Lalu and later
tory, as well as mythologies, he- man with good taste in clothing found Samata Party and allied with BJP and became CM for 7 days with
roes, as well as villains, were and jewellery, apart from being a NDA support in 2005. In 2013 he delinked ties with BJP and joined
Dr Mohan Kanda driven by the same force, ambi- much sought – after lover. Even hands with Lalu and formed Mahagatbandhan an anti BJP alliance Again
tion, though of different dimen- for Periyar, the Tamil political he came out from it and walked back to annex with BJP by saying it is
T
he perception by society of sions and quality. But for that leader in the 20 century, he was his natural partner. Presently Nitish severed his ties with BJP tied the
the personality of a person We have seen in earlier pieces that have appeared in force, there would have been no the ultimate Dravidian hero. knot with JD leader Tejashwi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav and offered
is a value judgment and wheels, cities, no temples or sail- Ten Asian countries in 2002 him with Deputy CM post in his cabinet. e readers may get confused
depends on the culture of a com-
this column that ethical norms and moral principles ing ships or aeroplanes, not to joined in producing 'Realizing to read this letter as I myself do. is is the episode behind most of the
munity, historical and geograph- can vary sharply over regions and time, and respond mention smartphones. The he- Rama,’ which was performed at politicians in India. Shiing strange bed relationships oen for selfish
ical considerations and the ethical to cultural imperatives. Likewise, persons, in real life roes worked for the welfare of hu- NCPA Mumbai. The conflict be- pleasures appears to be the motto for our political figures.
and moral superstructure that in- as well as in the mythologies of different manity at large, while the villains tween good and evil, within one- Dr NSR Murthy, Secunderabad
fluences the conduct and behavior sought to satisfy their lust for self, and the resolution of that
of the members of that society.
civilizations, have been depicted, as villains or power, and wealth. Take for in- conflict, by the merger of the
We have seen, in earlier pieces heroes, depending on similar considerations. stance, the case of Ravana in the two, was beautifully depicted, as II
Very often, a historical, or even mythological,
that have appeared in this col-
umn, that ethical norms and
moral principles can vary sharply
character is recognized as a villain in one version
Ramayana. No saint, or sage,
could have matched his achieve-
ments in building a great city,
Rama and Ravana merge into
one at the end.
Much controversy surrounds
A s Nitish Kumar has become a habitual changer of loyalties to NDA
and others, his party JD(U) can be seen as JD(U-turn). His swiness
in changing partners is unmatchable in contemporary politics. His latest
over regions and time, and re-
of an epic, while being characterized as a hero in constructing ships for commerce the personality of Duryodhan, break up with BJP has come a cropper to the latter's psychological dom-
spond to cultural imperatives. another version, elsewhere, at a different time in and trade and establishing a just, the eldest of the Kaurava broth- inance over opponents and has come like a boon for the opposition
Likewise, persons, in real life as history, or by different sections of people. fair and egalitarian system of gov- ers, in the epic Mahabharat. He camp which is at receiving end on national political arena.
well as in the mythologies of dif- There are many examples in the mythologies, ernance. He debunked the caste was no saint, but no despicable Dr DVG Sankararao, Vizianagaram
ferent civilizations, have been de- system, as described in the Vedas, warmonger either. His sense of
picted, as villains or heroes, de- and histories, of many countries and was a pioneer who was way justice was exemplary, and there
pending on similar ahead of his times. He built a so- was much good, and magnanim- III
considerations. Very often, a his-
torical, or even mythological,
character is recognized as a vil-
manded a good deal of respect in
his own country. However, his
staunch opposition to the Indian
Discoveries, inventions and
preachings of great people which
have altered the course of human
ciety whose people had pride
swelling in their hearts, and who
believed in nature worship and
ity in his character. The way he
stood up for Karna, the son of a
charioteer, during the coming-of-
B oth Congress and RJD forgot the past that they were deceived by
Nitish they are shamelessly ready to join with Nitish to grab the power.
is proves that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. Now
lain in one version of an epic, struggle for freedom, and its lead- history, and contributed substan- universal identity without any age weapons exhibition was really BJP is also crying that Nitish has cheated the BJP and people of Bihar.
while being characterized as a ers, is a bitter memory for Indians tially to the development and bias for caste, creed or gender. In commendable. After all, not ey have also forgotten that they have cheated the people's mandate
hero in another version, else- who also hold him responsible, growth of civilizations have, fact ‘Raksh Neeti’, which he prop- many princes would have had the previously. BJP should know that what goes up must come down. However,
where, at a different time in his- perhaps not entirely fairly, for the many a time, also caused totally agated, meant equality for all. He courage, to tell their elders, that Nitish Kumar braking alliance with BJP is a strong indictment of the pol-
tory, or by different sections of great Bengal famine of 1943. In unintended tragedy and suffer- was an erudite, and learned, man the idea of barring someone from itics of intimidation practiced by BJP. Whether the opposition parties' vi-
people. There are many examples Joan of Arc may have been a great ing. The atom bomb, for instance, who had mastered all the ten a competition, based on birth, sion to fight with BJP has got momentum or not, time will tell. But one
in the mythologies, and histories, heroine instance, but the English was an indirect result of the dis- 'Vidyas,’ or known forms of was wrong. thing is clear all political parties are naked in political bathroom.
of many countries. regarded her as a witch. Likewise covery, by Einstein, of his cele- knowledge, each one represented In one of the novels of the Zeeshaan, Kazipet
Mahatma Gandhi, who is re- Lenin and Mao Zedong, who brated E=MC2 equation. But he by one of his heads. (According inimitable PG Wodehouse, there
garded as the Father of Indian Na- were greatly adored by their own could never have imagined that to one version of Ramayana) such is this actor who is bragging about
tion, and was responsible for the countrymen, were intensely dis- unfortunate consequence of his was his mastery over Vedic wis- his histrionic prowess, and the VI
country‘s liberation from colonial
oppression, through an unprece-
dented bloodless and peaceful
liked for their characters and their
actions in the western world.
Again, Kit Carson was a great ex-
work. The centuries of strife, and
conflict, between different sects
of the same religion, such as
dom, and knowledge, that Rama,
his enemy, consulted him to sug-
gest an auspicious time to con-
important roles assigned to him
in plays, from time to time. When
asked to name one important
N itish snapping ties with BJP and allying with RJD goes to show that
he is an opportunistic politician who would change sides to stay
afloat in power to nurture his ambition. Despite the sharp dip in JD(U
movement, could not have been plorer, and scout, for the Ameri- Christianity or Islam, arising struct the bridge being built to character he had portrayed, he numbers and BJP gaining an upper hand with a higher tally in 2020 as-
very popular in Britain at that can whites, while the Native from the preaching of great reach Lanka and fight against Ra- replies, “oh! I sort of rush in and sembly polls, BJP honoured its commitment to support Nitish for the
time. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Americans only knew him as a prophets such as Jesus, or vana. Rama, goes that version, rush out in Scene 4 of Act 5!” post of chief minister but Nitish's ingratitude act showed that he would
known as ‘Bangla Bandhu', who brutal oppressor. There have, Muhammad, could also never again sought Ravana’s advice go to any length for power. erefore, the accusation by JD(U) that BJP
led the erstwhile East Pakistan to however, been many great per- have been the purpose for which about the best time. And when, (The writer is former Chief was trying to weaken the party is baseless and nonsense.
freedom from Pakistan, and the sons in history, with no one un- those great Messiahs sent out in the dying hours of the battle, Secretary, Government K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad
birth of a new nation’ Bangladesh,’ happy on account of their actions, their messages to humanity. Sim- having tired of all other of Andhra Pradesh)
would obviously have been an en-
emy in West Pakistan. Then there
such as mother Teresa. On the
other hand, people like Osama
ilarly, Das Kapital by Karl Marx
has, at once, been the source of
weaponry, Rama picked up the
Brahmasthra, the modern equiv-
(The opinions expressed in this
column are that of the writer.
[email protected]
was the example of Winston bin Laden and Saddam Hussain the profoundly humane labour alent of a nuclear weapon, Ra- The facts and opinions
Churchill, who was widely ad- are unlikely to have many people theory of value and the concept vana, who also had the same expressed here do not reflect
mired in the USA and com- remembering them fondly! of a classless and egalitarian so- weapon, desisted from using his the views of The Hans India)
Critical challenges to UN peacekeeping

OWEN GREENE Since 2011, the international support acted to protect civilians from vi-
olence, such as in South Sudan.
for UN peacebuilding has weakened.
U N peacekeeping missions
aim to build sustainable se-
curity and peace in countries af-
Some influential states including
India and China remain lukewarm
UN and associated staff have also
abused their positions to obtain
sexual and other services, as is Bar timings: Bengaluru police tighten the
fected by conflict. They must also about comprehensive UN highlighted in this new Conver-
deal with the complex interna- peacebuilding approaches. Western sation report from DRC. noose on errant establishments
tional politics, resourcing, and support has also become more BENGALURU: e Bengaluru city police have begun cracking down on
management of the mission itself. patchy, particularly after changes in Reduced support the pubs, bars and liquor stores in the city, warning them of severe action if
Since the end of the cold war, UN US policy and funding under the Since 2011, the international they overshoot their business timings allotted to them in the licence. In a
peacekeeping operations have support for UN peacebuilding notice to the excise department, the police have asked the department to
been designed to bring wars to
Trump administration. In this context, has weakened. Some influential strictly adhere to the timings allotted to the bars, pubs and liquor outlets in
an early end, protect civilians, efforts to recognise and address risks states including India and China the city which is between 11 am to 11 pm. e police have already booked
and actively support longer-term of bad or abusive practices in order remain lukewarm about compre- nine bars in Bengaluru police central for overshooting their timings and
peace and security. This requires to improve future UN peace missions hensive UN peacebuilding ap- one more bar in the western section of the Bengaluru city police. e police
military action and diplomacy to can also be used to discredit the proaches. Western support has have also warned that those pubs and bars that allow the underaged person
help enforce peace agreements. whole peacebuilding approach also become more patchy, partic- inside their establishment under severe sections of the excise act and their
Large military and police can be ularly after changes in US policy licences could also be repealed if found entertaining underaged consumers.
deployed to help protect civilians. manitarian operations, UN mis- departments and agencies, but most This can quickly add up to hun- and funding under the Trump
Major programmes are often sions have increasingly included are drawn from international ros- dreds of organisations employing administration. In this context,
needed to address human needs, other roles. These range from ters of specialists and consultants. tens of thousands of expatriate efforts to recognise and address Various govt departments owe
support the implementation of policing, justice and the demobil- UN member states are requested to staff and many more local staff – risks of bad or abusive practices
the peace agreement, and tackle isation and disarmament of contribute military and police per- all more-or-less seeking to con- in order to improve future UN `147 crore to Water Board
the causes of conflict. armed groups to establishing le- sonnel under UN command, for tribute to the UN mission, but peace missions can also be used BENGALURU: e water supply and sewerage management fee is the
However, international sup- gitimate and stable post-conflict which they are paid from UN with their own specific ap- to discredit the whole peace- main source of revenue of the Jalamandali. However, the departments under
port for UN peacekeeping is wan- government and public services, funds. is is a major source of in- proaches and priorities. It is not building approach. the central and state governments have kept the due of Rs 147 crore and
ing – and challenges, such as in- refugee return, the protection and come for the armed forces of several surprising that UN coordination A return to more modest UN pushed the Jalamandali to a loss. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage
creased international tensions empowerment of women, and job developing countries. Other inter- of this complex peacebuilding en- peacekeeping missions might Board currently provides water connection to 10.55 lakh households. Also,
and critical scrutiny, are increas- creation. In the process, the UN ested states, such as the US, UK or terprise is often more an aspira- seem politically and financially sewerage board service is being provided. From all this, annual income of
ing. Protests against UN peace- moved from previous “peacekeep- France, may send their own sepa- tion than a reality. convenient. However, this would Rs 1,300 crore is generated to the board. However, the cost of expenses has
keepers in the Democratic Re- ing” doctrines to more robust and rate armed forces. ese forces sup- While a UN high representa- mean less attention on sustainable also increased, and all the income is being spent on various purposes. us,
public of Congo (DRC) in recent comprehensive “peacebuilding” port the UN mission objectives but tive is appointed to lead and co- peacebuilding, human security, the Water Board is facing losses.
weeks have resulted in violence approaches. The decision to send are not under UN command. ordinate each mission, in practice and the protection and empow- For the past few years central government-owned banks, educational
and deaths. The experience of a peacekeeping mission to a coun- they are at best “first among erment of women, minorities and institutions, departments including the Railways and several state govern-
peace missions run between 1991 try is made by the UN Security Organisational challenges equals” in a continuous process other vulnerable groups. These ment institutions, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and statu-
and 2011 showed that in order to Council, and the UN secretariat UN and other international of negotiation and persuasion. have been key parts of improving tory bodies have added up huge arrears of Rs 140 crore in water charges.
have a good chance of success, is then responsible for developing and local agencies establish proj- Inconsistent and bad practices the effectiveness of UN peace- An interest of Rs 7 crore has been charged on this. A total of Rs 147.50
they needed to address a wide and implementing the detailed ects and programmes to support have arisen. There have been building over the last 30 years. crore has to be paid till May of the current year.
range of issues in countries strategy for the mission. the range of issues addressed by scandals where the UN missions (Writer is Professor of Interna-
emerging from war.
In addition to military peace-
ey typically appoint thousands
of staff to lead and manage the mis-
each mission. State governments
and international NGOs similarly
appear to have not done enough
on corruption. In other cases, UN
tional Security and Development,
University of Bradford; Courtesy:
Read more at
keeping, reconstruction and hu- sion. Some are seconded from UN set up their own programmes. military peacekeepers have not The Conversation) https://epaper.thehansindia.com (Bengaluru edition)
>
OPINION 13
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Volume XXVI Number 253 ILLUSTRATION: AJAYA MOHANTY

MUMBAI | THURSDAY,11 AUGUST 2022
major tax. In the monetary domain, the RBI and its
Monetary Policy Committee at last acted decisively
Nitish returns, again in early May to raise the policy repo rate by 40 basis
points and followed up with further increases of 50
bps in June and another 50 bps last week (for a
Talk of his national role is premature cumulative 1.4 per cent point increase). Increasingly,
the RBI has accelerated the withdrawal of its accom-
T
here is rarely a dull moment in Indian politics. Nitish Kumar took modative policy and made that a focus of its atten-
oath as chief minister of Bihar for the eighth time on Wednesday, a tion, going forward, in its most recent policy
day after resigning from the post. On Tuesday, Mr Kumar and his announcement.
party, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), walked away from the National The authorities have allowed the rupee to depre-
ciate to some extent against a sharply strengthening
Democratic Alliance (NDA) and decided to form a new government with the
US dollar, although keeping “some brakes on”
Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the through RBI dollar sales has entailed a fall in our
Congress, and some other smaller parties. Going by the numbers in the Bihar forex reserves of over $50 billion. Such high market
Assembly, the new Nitish Kumar government should not face any problems.
However, in today’s political environment, the numbers in the house can
change very quickly, as has been witnessed in several states in recent times —
Maharashtra being the latest example. Political alignments and formations
Macroeconomic intervention has also meant that the rupee has
appreciated against the British pound, the euro, the
Japanese yen and some other significant currencies.
In overall trade-weighted real effective exchange
challenges revisited
rate (REER) terms (allowing for differential changes
that look stable on paper often prove to be extremely fragile. Thus, the real
in nominal exchange rates and inflation across a
question in this context is: What happens to governance? currency basket) the rupee’s value has held roughly
Although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD(U) contested the 2020 constant. Against the background of sharply rising
Assembly elections together, discomfort in the alliance was visible even before deficits in foreign trade and the current account of
the first vote was cast. The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), led by Chirag Paswan, the balance of payments (now widely expected to
which was part of the NDA at the Centre, decided to field candidates in seats
Policies are moving in the right direction, but exceed an uncomfortable 3 per cent of GDP in the
present fiscal year), it would be better to “ease the
where the JD(U) was contesting. The move is estimated to have affected the
outcomes in over two dozen seats and diminished the JD(U)’s tally. Although
vulnerabilities remain brakes” and allow some depreciation in REER terms
to ensure medium-term viability of our external pay-
Mr Kumar became chief minister, it was not a smooth ride, with the BJP having
F
our months ago, I wrote that India’s macroeco- 2023, which would put global expansion in the ments situation.
a significantly higher number of seats. It was also alleged that the BJP was nomic challenges deepened (Business lowest decile of rates experienced since 1970. There has been no progress with RCEP; nor does
trying to break the JD(U), a charge that has been denied by the BJP. Apparently, Standard, April 14) as inflation rose sharply in Inflation has increased markedly in nearly all coun- any look likely in the near-term. Our weak engage-
fearing a Shiv Sena-like split, the JD(U) left the NDA. While the JD(U) may the US and European countries, triggering tighter tries and external financing pressures have mounted ment with regional preferential trading arrange-
have opted for what was in its best interests for now, it’s unlikely to be easy monetary policies, China’s lockdowns to combat the in many developing countries. ments and our relatively high customs tariffs (rel-
spreading Covid infections damaged economic activ- Back in April, I had suggested some policy ative to both East Asian nations and even our own
working with the RJD either, given that it has a much larger presence in the
ity, and the Ukraine war, then seven-weeks old, actions by the government and RBI (together position in 2015) continue to impede the growth of
house. Meanwhile, the state is likely to witness a reorientation of priorities and spawned unprecedented economic sanctions against referred to as “the authorities” in standard IMF parl- exports, output and employment. So does our unen-
it’s reasonable to assume that some of the ongoing projects and programmes Russia, leading to soaring prices for oil, gas, wheat ance) to minimise the damage to the Indian econ- viable legacy of an unprecedented three successive
will suffer. Also, it’s not easy for political parties to focus on governance with a and other commodities and to significant disruptions omy. These included: Steps to hold the fiscal deficit years of 10 per cent plus consolidated (centre and
consistent threat to survival. of supply chains. I went on to out- to the budgeted target; an immedi- states) fiscal deficits and government debt-to-GDP
At the national level, however, the shift in Bihar is being seen as a ray of line some macroeconomic con- ate increase in the policy repo rate ratios near 90 per cent.
hope by the larger opposition. Some commentators have also argued that sequences for India, including likely and swifter normalisation of excep- Somewhat intriguingly, the RBI’s latest monetary
outturns in key macroeconomic tionally accommodative monetary policy statement’s projections for growth and infla-
Mr Kumar could emerge as a consensus opposition candidate against Prime
indicators in fiscal 2022-23, and policy; a willingness to allow rupee tion remain unchanged from those in May, despite
Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Although theoretically, listed some desirable policy depreciation “with brakes on” to all that has happened in the world in the last three
anything is possible in politics, this may not happen for a variety of reasons. responses by the government and contain volatility; sustained execu- months. Notably, economic growth is expected to
For instance, Mr Kumar walked out of the NDA not because of differences but the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). tion of public investment plans; average only 4.8 per cent in the latter three quarters
to ensure his own political survival. Further, in the national context, the JD(U) Four months later, it may be timely upgrading of our observer status to of the current fiscal year, after a 16 per cent “statisti-
is still a small party and may not be able to offer a sizable number of seats. to revisit these issues and take stock. membership in the proximate, cal” bounce in the first quarter from the previous
More importantly, as things stand today, it is unlikely that a united opposition To state the obvious, the inter- mega-regional free trade agree- year’s Delta-hit first quarter low GDP base. The latest
national economic and political ment, the Regional Comprehensive WEO update projects India’s growth at a higher 6.1
will be able to project a candidate at all, which is essential for it to have any
environment remains fraught by A PIECE OF Economic Partnership (RCEP), to per cent in 2023-24. This is possible, but growth could
chance. The nature of the Lok Sabha elections has changed completely since
2014. Although this can affect its tally in Bihar, the implications of the political
conflict, economic disruptions and
high uncertainties. The Ukraine
MY MIND enhance our future trading pro-
spects and restore sustainable
easily be closer to 5 per cent if the expansion of world
output and trade is closer to the WEO’s gloomier sce-
shift and problems for the BJP are likely to remain limited to the state. The BJP war continues unabated, as do spo- SHANKAR ACHARYA dynamism to our exports and asso- nario or our own policies weaken significantly.
had struggled to project a face against Mr Kumar in the past and this could radic Chinese lockdowns of major ciated investment and productivity; Finally, anyone suffering from complacency
remain a challenge for the party. urban centres and further tighten- and measures to promote expansion about India’ s macroeconomic resilience should note
ing of monetary policies by major central banks. of low-skill employment. that the latest June quarter estimate (from CMIE’s
Last week’s avoidable flare-up of tensions in the It’s heartening to note that substantial progress rolling surveys) shows India’s employment rate (total
Taiwan Straits doesn’t help. The negative impacts has been made during the past few months in sev- employment divided by working age population)
Fair share on global economic growth and inflation are eral of these areas. Despite the unavoidable increase
increasingly apparent. In its fortnight-old July in the fertiliser subsidy and certain other expendi-
Update of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) the ture commitments, the government has acted to
languishing at a very low 36.6 per cent, by far the
lowest among “all large economies”. It means that
less than two-fifths of the working age population
Dependence on cess and surcharge must come down IMF projects global economic growth to slow raise revenue resources to maintain the credibility in India today is actually able to find any work! And
R
ecent years have seen growing tensions between the Union govern- sharply (from 6.1 per cent in 2021) to 3.2 per cent in of the budgeted fiscal target. The measures include let us remember that employment was the central
ment and many state governments on the matter of the proper shar- 2022 and 2.9 per cent in 2023, with major slowdowns the recent taxes on windfall profits and exports in focus of John Maynard Keynes, the acknowledged
in the US, China and Europe. More ominously, the the oil sector (since reduced in step with some easing parent of macroeconomics.
ing of tax revenue. Some of this has been caused by the transition to WEO states “the risks to the outlook are overwhel- of international oil prices), the reduction of exemp-
goods and services tax (GST), which has reduced the space available mingly tilted to the downside”, and presents an tions and other rate rationalisations in the goods The writer is Honorary Professor at ICRIER, former chief
to state governments to raise their own revenue. This has been exacerbated by “alternative plausible scenario” that foresees global and services tax (GST) by the GST Council and con- economic adviser to the Government of India and author of
the end of the GST compensation payments. It is essential that the guaranteed growth at 2.6 per cent in 2022 and just 2 per cent in tinuing efforts to improve the administration of this An Economist at Home and Abroad. Views are personal
increases in state revenues under the GST bargain come to an end at some
point so that states are incentivised to collect indirect taxes properly. Yet the
broader argument made by states, that the Union government is taking too
large a share of the tax revenues, has some merit when examined against the
data. As Business Standard has reported, the states’ share in taxes collected by
the Union government has been range-bound between 29 and 32 per cent since
The WFH-WFO faultlines
T
the pandemic hit in 2020-21. This is about 10 percentage points lower than the here’s an episode in that timeless American showed that at IT companies, three out of four aversion to a more active WFH policy is that man-
recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. sitcom Friends in which Rachel, the ambitious employees chose not to attend office even though agements have equipped their employees with lap-
At a recent meeting of the governing council of the NITI Aayog, the state fashion executive, decides to take up smoking. their organisations have resumed partial WFO rou- tops, mobile phones and sophisticated software so
This momentous (and short-lived) life-choice is dic- tines. The survey added that many IT companies that they can work from anywhere, all the time.
governments indicated that their resources to fund spending were dwindling.
tated by the habits of her boss and a colleague. Every are treading softly on the issue of re-imposing full In 2013 Marissa Meyer set off a storm when she
Part of the responsibility for this situation lies with the Union government, day, both would head for the designated smoking WFO rules for fear of resignations — this at a time ditched the partial WFH policy at Yahoo!, suggesting
which has developed an excessive dependence on various kinds of cess and area to hang out over a cigarette or two. Rachel, a when the Big Four all reported higher attrition rates that it somehow weakened team spirit and produc-
surcharge in the tax mix. These, unlike regular taxes, do not have to be shared committed non-smoker, finds herself excluded from for the quarter just gone by. tivity. For all its virtues, corporations that feel com-
with the states, and are not part of the divisible pool. The proportion of revenue this variant of the water cooler confab and decides Corporations now recognise that WFH cannot be pelled to offer WFH, even partially, will find them-
raised from cess and surcharges has risen from about 6 per cent when the to join the gals, as it were, by lighting up. Career- wished away. It is a fair bet that all those Great Places selves coping with a less cohesive culture that no
National Democratic Alliance government first took office in 2014 to almost a wise at least, it proves an eye-open- to Work surveys of the future will amount of online meetings can repair. In that sense,
ing decision after she discovers dur- include a metric for employees to Ms Meyer was right to point out that an organisation
quarter of the tax collection now. This is due also to the decision to increase the
ing one of these sessions that her rate their employers on their WFH is more than a sum of its functions. Big corporations
taxes on fuel. co-workers had been planning an or WFA (Work From Anywhere) pol- can partly paper over the cracks by organising the
The fact is that the states’ administrative machinery is in the front line of overseas junket without her. icies — or lack thereof. But you can usual pre-Covid-19 calendars of get-togethers and
delivering growth and development. It is the main touchpoint between the cit- Like Rachel, employees in the see the WFH-WFO fault-lines hard- offsites. Smaller companies may not have the where-
izen and the government. Underfunded states lead to poor public provision of post-pandemic corporate world will ening. From the point of view of withal to do so. Like Rachel in Friends, WFH
services, with deleterious effects on both citizen welfare and the growth poten- discover that the issue of inclusion workplace culture this dichotomy is employees will inevitably discover that the work-
or exclusion within office culture unlikely to create a healthy environ- space can become exclusionary — not just in terms
tial of the economy. The tendency for fiscal and spending power to be accu-
just got a whole lot more compli- ment. Most obviously, it will produce of access to junkets, office gossip or access to the
mulated in New Delhi through various measures such as cess or centrally spon- cated on account of the emerging a division between the WFH-haves boss but in terms of career progression too.
sored schemes could affect the delivery of quality services to citizens.
Although the quality of spending in some states is being debated, the
organisational confusion over work
from home (WFH) versus work from
SWOT and have-nots, with the balance of
advantage lying with the latter. For
Those who stand to both gain and lose from the
WFH/WFO dichotomy are women. WFH has proved
fact remains that state governments have the right to prioritise. It is under- office (WFO). Most employees KANIKA DATTA HR and line managers, the issue has hugely useful for professional Indian women who
standable that the Centre also has spending commitments and needs embraced the WFH culture for created new challenges beyond are typically saddled with family and household
resources to finance, for instance, national security needs and also run wel- obvious reasons. But now that the determining whether employee X or responsibilities. It significantly expanded the talent
threat of Covid-19 has receded, corporations that Y is skiving off or doing other things when she should pool for corporations that would otherwise hesitate
fare programmes. However, the division of fiscal resources should be done
had once championed the virtues of WFH — includ- be at her desk. Rewards and increments will increas- to employ women (especially younger women). But
more transparently. The imposition of cess and surcharge also distorts the ing the potential cost saving to be derived from less ingly have to move beyond judging quality of work now that brief honeymoon has ended, and gender
tax system and creates inefficiencies. Excessive dependence on cess and real estate, electricity and maintenance bills — are or metrics such as standard Key Performance dynamics are bound to come into play. Men have
surcharge with the aim to corner more resources could increase resentment suddenly discovering its downsides. Indicators (KPIs) to include the WFH/WFO dynamic. long been adept at setting up workplace practices
among states and lead to greater friction between the Centre and the states. Stipulations that employees attend the office at You can almost predict the resentment building up that exclude women. The obvious struggles of new
Since it is important in a country like India that the Union and state govern- least twice or three times a week are being met with for well-rewarded WFHers from the WFOers. mothers to physically attend office has offered male
ments work together to take the development process forward, such potential mulish pushback — and exits. As early as September The problem is that the notion that WFH equals bosses an incentive to downgrade them. Likewise,
last year, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported less pay and perks has been hardwired into corpo- the proclivity for calling after-hours or weekend meet-
points of friction should be avoided. In terms of spending, reforms are needed
that 3 per cent of employees decided to quit after rate thinking not least because of the manner in ings that women with children find difficult to attend.
at both levels of the government. WFO rules came back into play. In India, a survey which salaries are structured around differential Online meetings certainly reduced those pressures,
by staffing agency CIEL as recent as June this year cost of living in cities. Yet the irony of the current but WFO rules will neutralise them soon.
An uprising and its discontents people’s lives by grinding them into a

vicious cycle of debt. The cycle starts
with slaveholders hijacking tribal
people’s lands, depriving them of any
But land conflicts are seldom easily
solved. When the structure is set to
benefit the upper-castes, how can one
expect an easy fix? Fast forward to the
“No more exploitation, no more torture.
We now unite to fight; we now unite to
be free.” This precipitates a
confrontation in which one person
and contemporary slavery at the In the introduction, Ms Murphy source of livelihood, which forces them 21st century. The J P Narayan Movement (Virendra Pal Singh) dies.
Helena Kennedy Centre for writes, “Most people have only recently to ask for loans — from the landlords. is at its peak, and one Uday Pratap Singh, That’s where the story gets
International Justice at Sheffield come to realise that slavery still exists.” The loan often remains unpaid, and nicknamed Kanchuki, to whom the interesting. Dr Murphy’s relentless
Hallam University in the UK. She then supplies data and names of an interest keeps piling book is dedicated, pursuit towards understanding whether
The book is about the “Azad Nagar array of countries (including India) up, the perfect ruse Azad Nagar: The Story starts working for a this was an actual death or murder
Revolt” in the Sonbarsa village in where slavery persists in multiple ways. for slave lords to of a 21st-Century non-profit signals how difficult it is to maintain
southern Uttar Pradesh. Divided into (Walk Free Foundation’s 2018 Global prosper and Slave Revolt organisation called objectivity in narratives where the
BOOK REVIEW seven chapters, it introduces parallels Slavery Index “estimates that there are creating a vicious Author: Laura T Sankalp, thus humane impulse encourages bias
between the 19th century abolitionist around 8 million people living in cycle of slavery. Murphy entering the “Slave towards disenfranchised people. But as
SAURABH SHARMA movements in the United States and modern slavery” in India.) “India’s Publisher: Revolt” landscape. a researcher and seeker of truth, she
Azad Nagar’s uprising—halla bol —in This is a great segue for her to independence HarperCollins Instrumental in continues to dig deeper. This pursuit
L
aura T Murphy’s latest book Azad the beginning, to contextualise the dire establish the conflict between the Patel from the British “gossip organising” distinguishes this book from others as it
Nagar: The Story of a 21st-Century situation in which a group of landlords and the Kol tribals, who Empire in 1947 Pages: 145 and inviting several dares to question the narrative-building
Slave Revolt justifies the idiom “transgenerationally enslaved” people migrated to several parts of northern did not mean Price: ~299 influential officers around a struggle or an ambitious
“big things come in small packages”. in India’s poorest quarters continue to and central India from the Chota independence for to liaise between revolt. It asks pertinent questions,
Not only does this slim volume help live before fighting their oppressors. Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, the Kols,” writes Dr Murphy. She notes the Kol people and Patel landlords, he which are often pushed aside because
unpack several layers of class and caste It’s the sheer depth of understanding debunking the popular myth that most that although minor revolts “every few tries to get Kol people land leases. they can not only potentially misdirect a
conflicts playing for eons in the country of the country, its politics, and in upper-caste people have come to hold years” have been traced as far back as Naturally, this interference in the power revolution but can also feed on to the
but also sheds light on the institutional particular its caste politics—and close to their hearts — that the caste the 1770s, the fight against landlords structure disturbs the Patel landlords. notions of oversimplifying a fight for
corruption that has only exacerbated atrocities that go unnoticed every day— system doesn’t exist anymore. peaked in 1831-32. It was known as the By the early 2000s, the abolitionist rights. Or as Dr Murphy notes, “the
the problem in recent years after the and a recognition of the more insidious It takes only a tiny chapter for “Kol Insurrection,” in which “over the movement sees a great shift in the revolt—and its consequences—are far
government-backed entry of forms of slavery that exist in India, that Dr Murphy to explain how the landlord- course of [a] bloody four-month conviction of the Kol people more complex” than it seems.
multimillion rupee mining companies enable Dr Murphy to set up a Kol conflict has existed since colonial rebellion, the Kols killed hundreds of demanding their rights, hundreds, or
in India’s most mineral-rich regions. challenging narrative in simple and times, and how upper-caste people settlers and burned more than a according to some reports thousands, The reviewer is a Delhi-based writer and
Dr Murphy is professor of human rights accessible language. enjoyed brutal control over Adivasi thousand homes.” of Adivasi labourers gather and chant freelance journalist. @writerly_life
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll
end up having more. If you
concentrate on what you don’t have, Oprah
you will never, ever have enough Winfrey
06 HYDERABAD THURSDAY 11 08 2022

� �
The difference between transactional management and

INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN transformational leadership is about how change is
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. managed. However, the two approaches can overlap
THE HOLISTIC
— Ramnath Goenka
BIHAR REALIGNMENT TRANSFORMATION

TRIGGERS BUZZ ON LEADERSHIP
NITISH’S BIGGER GOAL
B
ihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s
turnaround may catapult him into be- R GOPALAKRISHNAN Author and business commentator
coming the face of opposition in the
2024 Lok Sabha election. As congratula- SOUMYADIP SINHA
tions poured in from across the country
for Nitish Kumar after he was sworn in for BUILDING BUSINESSES sponded that unless TISCO was
modernised urgently, leaders
ing, productivity, sustainability, large groups, in the factory and in
the record eighth time as the chief minister, and so on. their community setting. Ques-
opposition leaders did not fail to mention would soon be standing at the Taking a systems-approach, the tions were answered with empa-
I
s holistic transformation leader- ered and engaged, they feel a sense factory gate, selling tickets to visit leadership realised that their thy, but also with firmness. For
how the Bihar realignment would unite the
ship another jawbreaker of mum- of self-identity, and take owner- a steel museum. It was a grim, grandiose plans required rational- example, at one town-hall meeting,
opposition, and how a united opposition bo-jumbo? No, in the context of ship for their results. This is the but forthright assessment of the ising the manpower from 80,000 to a senior employee questioned Dr
would now take on the BJP in its Hindi heart- this article. It is akin to holistic big difference. future. 40,000; simultaneously, the employ- Irani, “This company has a com-
land bastion. life. The two approaches overlap. Then the environment changed. ee profile had to transform to mitment to employ one son of each
Nitish himself said those who won in 2014 With the deep impact of technol- They deploy rationality and empa- Liberalisation was announced by younger, differently skilled man- family. What happens to that?”
should now worry about 2024. Analysts claim ogy on productivity and ways of thy in different proportions: trans- the government. It was an “aha” power. In contemporary times, Irani responded, “I understand
working, executives rely on ration- actional management requires moment for Dr Jamshed Irani and this same challenge is faced by the your anguish; please appreciate
he has a much larger acceptability among op-
ality in change management, may- dominantly rational skills, while his leadership team. defence forces for which they de- that the issue at hand is not about
position parties than, say, Mamata Banerjee be to a fault. As machine learning transformational leadership re- Very quickly, TISCO’s efficiency vised the Agnipath scheme. employment for your son, it is
or K Chandrashekar Rao, who have taken the and artificial intelligence emerge, quires dominantly empathy skills. was benchmarked by comparing it The fact is that an intimate about your own employment!”
lead to unite the opposition parties. Mamata this trend of left-braininess could Both skill sets are relevant. with top global companies. A sys- cause-and-effect exists between A scheme was devised whereby
has fought bitterly against the Congress and gather pace. It is great for opera- A holistic leadership approach tem of Total Business Excellence technically sound ideas on the one employees above certain criteria
Left, which would play key roles in deciding tional managers for whom effi- is akin to a systems-approach—the was adopted to rapidly improve hand and individuals and social of age and service received the full
the opposition face. Her recent attempt to cre- ciency and delivery of results are impact of one decision on every wherever TISCO was lagging. The systems on the other. TISCO would basic salary right up to their re-
key. MBA students, in fact, are ed- other part of the moving system is old plans were updated with con- have to adapt to unprecedented tirement age. Younger employees
ate a non-Congress front did not go down well ucated on transactional change, contemplated in advance. Rather temporary ideas of technology manpower reduction in Jamshed- were given a lump sum and guided
with opposition parties such as the National- and during the first half of their than describe the differences, I il- and productivity, thus producing a pur, perhaps even unparalleled towards entrepreneurship. Coun-
ist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and the careers, are rewarded for their lustrate through the exceptional fresh modernisation plan. Huge anywhere in any Indian company sellors were engaged to speak to
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which are allied rationality. and noteworthy example of ra- funds were required, so funding at that time—halving the manpow- distressed families, sparing no ef-
to the Congress. As for K Chandrashekar Then their career meets a cross- tionalisation in TISCO in the early ideas too were developed. In a er in what was essentially a com- fort to do the surgery with the fin-
Rao, his acceptability beyond Telangana is road. One straight path continues 1990s when Dr Jamshed Irani led sense, these were all in the realm pany township! est bedside manners of a doctor-
to demand dominantly rational Tata Steel. In this short article, I of the rational—technology, fund- A deeply thought-out set of patient relationship.
yet to be tested. Nitish, on the other hand,
management, while the other ap- do not intend to analyse or com- schemes were devised by opera- Finally, TISCO did modernise
already has the Congress and Left as allies in pears like a steep, winding gradi- ment on every aspect of the rather tional and human resources lead- technologically and its productiv-
his new government. ent. This second path demands massive transformation, but to ers to implement this manpower ity rivalled the best in the world
His appeal stretches across the Hindi belt empathetic leadership in addition merely narrate what a ‘holistic’ rationalisation. The CEO, leader- within a few years. In addition, the
comprising Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, to rational decision-making. approach looks like. ship team, and the board chair- company rationalised manpower
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar The difference between transac- TISCO has had a long history of man spent hours on discussion. from 80,000 to 40,000. No leader felt
tional management and transfor- harmonious and trusting indus- TISCO has had a long history of harmonious The leadership did not regard it as good about this surgery, but the pa-
and Jharkhand. Some of these states, such as
mational leadership is about how trial relations. In the late 1980s, Dr and trusting industrial relations. In the late a headcount reduction, but rather tient, viz the company, was saved.
UP, MP, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, have a siza- change is managed. In transac- Irani recalled a conversation with as an unavoidable and delicate
1980s, Dr Irani recalls a conversation with Mr J The example illustrates the
ble population of Kurmis, a caste to which tional, the manager is reacting Mr J R D Tata outside the Jam- R D Tata outside the Jamshedpur steelworks. surgery on the delicate body of the distinction between transforma-
Nitish Kumar belongs. The BJP had swept with a near-term horizon, per- shedpur steelworks. J R D be- J R D bemoaned the fact that chief engineer, company. This triggered thinking tional leadership and transaction-
these states in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha suading people to follow action moaned the fact that chief engi- about the employees with great al management.
Mr Firoze Tarapore, had “submitted
elections. plans. Transformational leader- neer, Mr Firoze Tarapore, had empathy. How could the company (The author was Director, Tata
ship, on the other hand, requires “submitted as many modernisa- as many modernisations for the achieve the result with the least Sons and Vice Chairman,
Kurmis are OBC and vote largely in favour company as the years in his life”. But
adaptive responses, concerning in- tions for the company as the years pain—though pain and bloodlet- Hindustan Unilever)
of the BJP, except in Bihar where Nitish con- dividuals and social systems. In in his life”. But where was TISCO where was TISCO to get the funds? ting could not be avoided? Employ- (www.themindworks.me)
trols this chunk, and Chhattisgarh where the this mode, followers feel empow- to get the funds? Irani doggedly re- ees were met in small groups and ([email protected])
vote of this caste goes to Congress as chief
minister Bhupesh Baghel is a Kurmi. Nit-
ish’s projection as the opposition’s prime
IMAGING HOLY COW AS MOTHER INDIA

ministerial candidate will not only make a
dent in the BJP’s Kurmi vote bank but also
has the potential to unite all the opposition
parties.
tional emblem (July 20), I would like cred and identified as Cow Mother. picture of the cow, of a kind calcu-
to draw attention to a brilliant In doing so, the cow becomes not lated to appeal strongly to the reli-
TN PROVES ITS METTLE study by Christopher Pinney, The
Nation (Un)Pictured? Chromo-
only a sacred symbol, but also a sa-
cred space—the Mother India. Its
gious sentiment of the people.
One of them, for instance, de-
AS OLYMPIAD HOST CHANDRAN T V Art critic & author. Teaches art history at the
College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram lithography and ‘Popular’ Politics
in India, 1878—1995, which, in some
details make this sense explicit.
Near the udders are seen a cluster
picts a cow in the act of being
slaughtered by three Muham-
A
part, focuses on a series of posters of figures comprising the Hindus, madan butchers, and is headed ‘the
W
t the closing ceremony of the 44th Chess hat was probably the religious or ‘representation’, enquiring into the of a ‘Cow Mother’. These posters a Sikh, a Parsi, a Christian, a Euro- present state’. Another exhibits a
Olympiad on Tuesday, several dignitar- political ideology which deter- style, iconography and patronage were endlessly reproduced and pean and a Muslim accepting milk cow, in every part of whose body
ies of the chess world pointed out that mined the choice of a theme, based on religious and textual widely circulated across the sub- from the milkman. It suggests an groups of Hindu deities and holy
Tamil Nadu (and India) had hosted the narrative structure, style, and sources. Its reluctance to shrug off continent, particularly in north In- assumed equality and communal persons are shown, being assailed
event to great success with just four why certain images or themes its habitual practice, in short, dia in the late 19th century. He anal- harmony. by a monster with a drawn sword
months’ notice. The world’s largest chess were recurrent and popular in a shows its prolonged interest to con- yses them to show how a sense of However, the Muslim is shown in entitled the ‘Kali Yug’ but which
particular time and space have to tinue with the notion of history nation was articulated through its a double role. Breaking the peaceful has been largely understood as typ-
event was originally scheduled to be held in
be addressed in an art historical and art that the nation had ‘imag- visual strategy. and harmonious moment of the sa- ifying the Muhammadan
Russia, which had four years to prepare for enquiry. ined’ in the late 19th and early 20th In the first instance, the poster cred land, a butcher is shown with community.”
the Olympiad, but after the country invaded Only by seeking explanations to centuries. looks innocent and harmless with a drawn sword heading towards the Lansdowne also notes that the
Ukraine, FIDE had to look for a new host. these self-imposed questions can As a nationalist project, certain an image of a holy cow. But it has Cow Mother. With dark skin, di- Muslims were agitated and felt in-
When the All India Chess Federation threw art history reinvigorate itself in or- memorable episodes from history certain encoded meanings to ex- shevelled long hair and a full- sulted because they heard of a pic-
its hat in the ring, the Tamil Nadu govern- der to look at ourselves in the were selected to construct glorious press through its imagery, which teethed open mouth, this demonic ture in circulation representing a
present and the past as well with a cultural pasts. By the same token, were apparently decoded in the figure is meant to be identified with Muslim with a drawn sword butch-
ment expressed keen interest to host the
critical eye. However, rethinking it also either forgot or suppressed backdrop of a series of violent anti- a meat-eating Muslim. This inter- ering a cow.
event, if India was picked. art and art history in these terms something ‘bad’ from its history. As cow-slaughter agitations of the play of meaning is further made Posters and calendars with the
TN, after all, has a long history with the must acknowledge from the very a result, innumerable riots and re- 1880s and 1890s, the prime cause of explicit through a caption near its motif of a cow as a sacred symbol
sport. Chief Minister MK Stalin said that outset the fact that “human culture bellions were either entirely forgot- its production and circulation. head: “he manusyaho, kaliyugi of a nourishing Mother and Moth-
36% of India’s grandmasters hail from the is made up of signs, each of which ten or brushed aside from the main- Covered with gods and rishis all mamsahari jivomko dekho” (Oh! er India had continuously been re-
State. Still, hosting the event was a gamble. stands for something other than it- stream history to make it a “Wonder over its body, the bovine is made sa- mankind, look at the meat-eating imagined and reproduced in subse-
The Olympiad is possibly the largest interna- self, and the people inhabiting cul- that was India” or “Incredible souls of the kaliyug). quent periods at the length and
ture busy themselves making sense India”. There are innumerable records breadth of the country in ever-ex-
tional sporting event hosted in the State since of those signs.” (Mieke Bal and Keeping pace with this sense of showing that its viewers did not panding rhythm.
the South Asian Games were held in Chennai Norman Bryson). In this sense, to wonder and splendour, traditional miss the point. A revealing one is a As the religious sentiments and
in 1995. Over 2,000 players from more than 180 get into the socially constituted art history remains disdainful to- memo from 1893 prepared by the the communal politics involved in
countries would be participating in the event, meaning of a work of art, it has to wards popular visual culture of the Indian Viceroy Lord Lansdowne it had gained wider acceptance in
held at Mamallapuram. In the end, the State be placed in a context which weaves past and therefore fails to offer an (1888–1893). As a response to the the 20th century, it continued to
government acquitted itself. Barring testy it into a text out of a sign-system. insight to look at ourselves sur- query of the Earl of Kimberly proliferate uninterruptedly till the
This insight has recently re- rounded by similar images which about the ever-increasing commu- 1970s. Since the 1980s, too, it began
moments with the media, following an ac-
moulded the approach in the study pervade our every quotidian nal riots, Lord Lansdowne, as to pervade our visual culture but in
creditation process that went haywire, the of social sciences. Despite this, art space. quoted by Christopher Pinney, new incarnations altogether. I will
event went by with nary a hiccup, garnering history as an academic discipline In this context, as a part of ex- Poster representing the Cow Mother. observes: return to it in my next turn.
praise from players and administrators from in Indian universities is largely tending the central point of my last Printed probably at Ravivarma “[wandering ascetics] have dis- (chandrantv67
other countries. Further by conducting the found to be fixated on the study of discussion Roaring lion of the na- Lithographic Press, Lonavla near Pune tributed throughout the country a @gmail.com)
event outside Chennai, at picturesque Mamal-
lapuram, it ensured that local residents had
plenty to celebrate but little to complain
about in ter ms of traf fic or other
disruptions. A shocker for BJP Nitish defects While from the BJP’s point of view Describing Nitish differences aside and unite for the
The State government has also leveraged This is with reference to Chameleon After he decided to exit his alliance it could be opportunistic, from the I like how apt the headline ‘Chameleon common goal of keeping the nation
the opportunity to offer itself as a suitable Nitish does it again (August 10). In with the BJP to join the Congress, RJD JD(U)’s side it could be seen as coming Nitish does it again’ is. Nitish did all secure.
venue for other international sporting events, an attempt to retain his position as and the Left, Nitish appears to have no home to one’s roots. Nitish Kumar this just because he wanted to stay on Hemanth Bhide, Mangaluru
Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar has principles at all. By defecting, he may would have learnt the hard way that the throne and retain his power. The
that will no doubt boost the local economy exited his alliance with the BJP and grab power, but he has also betrayed unity is strength and his new avatar defection is shameful. TN must be sensitive
and burnish its reputation in the sporting joined the Mahagathbandhan. The BJP voters in the process. This is not just could create a big upheaval in Bihar Suresh Kumar, Chennai Thirteen shutters of Mullaperiyar Dam
world. The success is also a boost to the DMK is suddenly in a fix even though it has limited to him. In the recent past, politics if youngsters like Tejashwi have been raised, but there is a lot of
government, facing a thornier second year in formed a government in Maharashtra many leaders have chosen the path of and the rest give him enough legroom India’s defence worry in Kerala that Tamil Nadu may
power, coming as it does after a massive riot after toppling the Sena government. defection. This defeats the purpose of to function. It is a known fact that Apropos of India beyond 75: Revamping release more water. That would be very
in Kallakurichi. The party must not rest on All this just goes to show that there democracy. in the world of politics, there are no our security needs (August 10). It insensitive to people. The catchment
are no permanent friends or foes in Shreeram Paranjpe, Bengaluru fixed allegiances. All the best to a new makes a sound analysis of the country’s area has been receiving a lot of rainfall
its laurels, however, and instead must right
politics—coalitions, defections and alliance—hopefully, this new formation security. I agree that the main focus for the past few days. Immediate
the wrongs and perceived complacency that chameleons—are all a part and parcel of All the best to MGB will roll out decisions which are in the should be to have a politically stable opening of shutters has to be avoided so
has crept into administration to pursue its the big game. Nitish Kumar’s change of allegiance can best interests of the people. Centre. One can only hope that that people downstream do not suffer.
agenda of social justice in letter and spirit. M Y Shari�, Chennai be seen both positively and negatively. Elizabeth Koshy, Pathanamthitta political leaders keep their ideological Bijumon PN, Idukki
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Telangana) : T Kalyan Chakravarthy* Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., at H.No.6-3-1113/1, B.S.Makta Lane, Somajiguda, Near Grand Kakatiya Hotel, Punjagutta, Hyderabad – 500 016 and printed by him at Sakshi Press, Plot No.D-75 & E-52, Industrial Estate (APIE),
Balanagar, Medchal-Malkajgiri District, Telangana. Hyderabad: Vol. 46, No. 191 RNI Reg. No. 32179/77. Phone: 040-23413908. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
MUMBAI
4 THINK BusinessLine
THURSDAY • AUGUST 11 • 2022
0
xyz
thursday, august 11, 2022

India must spend more on agri research
Houses of disorder Investment in research delivers higher returns than any other form of support to farmers, including subsidies
was told to locate breeders of these
Disruption in Parliament has undermined cattle varieties on his own though.
Even an inquiry as to where he
effective scrutiny of government actions could source a gobar gas plant was
met with silence — even though the
T
he second leastproductive session of the State had an ongoing programme
of subsidising them.
17th Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die
R SRINIVASAN The point of this story was to
this Monday, four days ahead of the show the disconnect that exists
schedule — with just six sittings more ON THE OTHER HAND between the government and farm
than the mostcurtailed session at the peak of the ers at the grassroots level. When
farmers rose up against the pro
A
Covid19 wave in 2020. Compared to the last Budget
few years ago, a friend of posed farm laws, there was consid
Session, during which MPs had spent a consider mine, a technology entre erable heartaching in government
able 178 hours debating various issues, the mem preneur who decided to circles over this. It was widely felt
bers this time decided to sit barely for about 45 sell off his businesses and that farmers were being “misled” by
hours and passed merely seven Bills. Crucial issues rediscover his roots as a farmer, de vested interests and forces inimical
cided that he will do not only nat to development.
such as low rabi output, unemployment and the ural, organic farming but also tradi The BJP even galvanised its con
ramifications of the RussiaUkraine war were not tional farming. siderable grassroots organisational
deliberated upon. The stature and role of Parlia This meant that he would grow strength to try and reach out to
ment has been run to the ground in recent years in traditional crops historically grown farmers and “educate” them as to The connections between the government’s agriculture machinery and the actual farmer have steadily weakened
in the area /where his farm was situ the benefits of the new laws, but to
an extraordinary display of irresponsibility and
ated, without using artificial aids to no avail. The administration — par there has been a widening diver lion over the study period (between increase investment in agricultural
cynicism by our representatives. The regular sus boost output or support nonnative ticularly those arms of which dealt gence between what public re 1978 and 2012) yielded returns of research and development amid
pension of Question Hour and Zero Hour, forums crops. This meant he did not do any with farmers and their issues — search is focusing on and what over $10 billion in economic im the challenges of climate change
that are precisely meant for the Opposition to raise mechanised farming, nor did he were also ordered to reach out and farmers are grappling with in the pact. The authors found agricul and expected increase in food de
matters of importance, is regrettable. It suits any have powered irrigation. He also de convince. field. India’s problem is no longer tural research was more successful mand by 2030.
cided that, like a traditional Indian outputrelated — rather there is a at lifting larger populations out of In this year’s Economic Survey, the
government if its policies and actions are not de farmer, he will keep a few cattle. But Growing disconnect problem of oversupply. The bigger poverty. This is borne out by the In chapter on Agriculture noted: “Re
bated seriously in the House. But for the sheer me there was a catch — he wanted to All to no avail. The trust deficit was challenges today are market access dian experience as well. search shows that every rupee spent
diocrity and routine bedlam in Parliament, legis rear only breeds native to that area simply too great to have been and remunerative reasons, dealing on agricultural research and devel
lators across the board are to blame. and not hybrids. bridged by any lastminute out with climate change and rising wa Marginal returns opment, yields much better returns
When he went looking for more reach programme. But this was no ter stress. A study by ICRIER and the Syngenta (11.2), compared to returns on every
To be sure, the government, with its 303 MPs in information on this, though — overnight development. The con All this calls for a sharply stepped Foundation found that the mar rupee spent on fertiliser subsidy
the Lok Sabha, does not need the Opposition to about which crops were native/tra nections between the govern up outlay on research. There is a ginal returns in terms of number of (0.88), power subsidy (0.79), educa
push through critical Bills. The Opposition can be ditional to the area, and which ment’s agriculture machinery and very simple reason why countries people brought out of income tion (0.97) or on roads (1.10). Increas
ignored and important Bills be passed in the din, breeds of cattle were local, he ran the actual farmer had steadily de like India, where large pools of poverty or higher agriGDP growth ing R&D spending on agriculture is,
into a blank wall. The district and teriorated and weakened from the poverty exist and where agriculture are 510 times more if the public therefore, not only a vital necessity
which helps avoid avoid scrutiny and criticism. Yet,
even the State agriculture depart heydays of the Green Revolution, is the sole means of sustenance or money is spent through invest for ensuring food security, but also
precisely because of its thin strength in the House, ment office could supply him with where the government’s — and I livelihood for the largest segment ments in agriR&D, or roads, or irrig important from the socioeco
the Opposition must make every question and in no information. He was unable to principally mean the State govern of the population, need to substan ation, etc., compared to if the same nomic point of view.”
tervention count, in terms of rigour and serious meet with anyone in the govern ments here — agricultural exten tially step up investments in agri money is spent as subsidies on fer The talk is fine but it is high time
ness, instead of falling back on the lazy option of ment who had either researched sion services had as much a role to cultural research and extension — tilisers, power or irrigation. that the government walked it. This
these topics or had any play in that turnaround of India’s rupee for rupee, it delivers a higher The study concluded: “This is particularly true of State govern
raising a din. Disruption can be a parliamentary information. agricultural fortunes as the devel return on investment than any clearly indicates that, at the margin, ments, whose primary responsibil
strategy only when the government does not have At the State animal husbandry de opment of highyielding varieties in other form of support to farmers, there is an urgent need to increase ity is agriculture.
the numbers in the House. With a majority govern partment, after much persistent the research labs. including subsidies. investments in agricultural and Over the years, they have deem
ment, a different strategy needs to be thought of knocking on doors, he was eventu That was back then, when India A recent study by Timothy J contain input subsidies for faster al phasised research, and cut back on
ally given an old poster — presum had one of the largest publiclyfun Dalton from Kansas State University, leviation of poverty and boosting extension, in favour of more popu
for enforcing scrutiny and pushing debates. The ably printed for distribution to ded agricultural research systems which looked at USAID’s research growth in agriGDP.” listic quick fixes. This needs to
Opposition has failed to act as a check on the ac rural schools a few decades back — in the world. While the system re projects on agricultural develop The government realises this. At change.
tions of the executive by critically evaluating its de which had the names and pictures sponded to the crisis of food short ment and food security found that a the G20 Agriculture Ministers meet
cisions. The debate on price rise was marked by Op of some local breeds of cattle. He age in the 1960s, subsequently, total outlay of a little over $1.2 bil last year, India stressed the need to The writer is a senior journalist
position walkouts and notable absentees in both
Houses, including former Finance Minister P
What’s driving the current bout of inflation?

Chidambaram. One has to only consider the minis
cule number of 98 matters raised in this session, as
compared to 696 issues of public importance
raised during the Zero Hour in the eighth session
and 563 during the Zero Hour in the seventh ses
sion to gauge the callous disregard for the legitim Fruits and vegetables, and not LPG and prepackaged food items, are driving up prices. A supply crunch is primarily at work
ate platforms available for critiquing government
NILANJAN BANIK has been an increase in real income nual growth of India’s agriculture empted from GST. So there’s a need
actions. It is inexplicable that legislators, with the (and hence, consumption) result output has been hovering around 3 to focus on factors raising the
O
resources, financial and human, at their command ver the last two weeks, ing in a shift in preference towards per cent. With around half of the prices of fruits and vegetables.
cannot perform with diligence what is expected of the Opposition has been consuming high protein items country’s agriculture still rainfall In addition to poor agricultural
them. Yet, if the primary responsibility for running blaming high LPG prices such as meat, milk and eggs. Advoc dependent, belownormal or ex productivity and shrinkage in net
and GST on prepack ates of demandside factors believe cessive rain affects production. sown areas, another factor which is
the House lies with the government, acts that alien aged food items as key factors be that increase in food price is be Lower agricultural produce also contributing to price rise is climate
ate the Opposition cannot serve that purpose — hind the current bout of inflation. cause of higher income resulting means higher fodder prices for live change.The rise in lemon and to
such as suspension of 23 MPs in the Rajya Sabha However, ask economists and they from the India growth story. stock, leading to increase in meat, mato prices in June also has to do
and four Members of the Lok Sabha. The suspended would dismiss the impact of the But consumption of food items egg and milk prices. with heat waves in the northern
two factors as minimal. cannot move beyond the steady part of the country. The apple grow
MPs, of course, provoked the presiding officers From a layman’s perspective, in state level. This is particularly true Statistics don’t lie ing orchards in the foothills of Hi
with their disorderly conduct, including waving flation occurs when there is a mis for basic cereals and vegetables. Weathering the price rise Coming back to the Opposition’s machal Pradesh are fast vanishing.
placards in the well of the House, despite warnings. match between demand and sup Moreover, real wage rate data sug grouse, let us see if the rise in prices Unseasonal rains and excessive
During the debate on price rise both Rahul ply of output. Managing inflation is gest that there has been a marginal demand are missing. Clearly, the of LPG and prepackaged food items heat damaged production of lem
to manage demandside factors, increase for nonagricultural work root cause of inflation is not is fuelling inflation. Examining the ons, mangoes, and tomatoes. Even
Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were absent from the Lok
supplyside factors, or a combina ers post2015. For construction demanddriven. weights of various commodities in wheat output has suffered because
Sabha. For the main opposition party, catching tion of both, affecting availability of workers, there has been a fall, par On the supply side, there has the current Consumer Price Index of excessive heat.
more eyeballs through street protests seemed a output (GDP). ticularly post2019. been a fall in net sown area. As per (CPI) series, LPG (belonging to Fuel Capacity constraints in the form
better option to sparring with the Finance Minister Demand management refers to Also, last fiscal, there has been a latest estimates, the net sown area and Light category) contributes a of a lack in cold storage facilities
in Parliament. In the Upper House, star speakers on the use of fiscal and monetary reduction in MGNREGA outlay — a in India is 139.3 million hectares meagre 6.84 per cent, whereas the and an imperfect market due to
policies when inflation is character 34 per cent fall in FY22 over FY21. The (Annual Report 202122, Ministry of Food and Beverages contribute 45.8 lack of reforms in the APMC Act
the economy were either absent or preferred to ised by a positive output gap (differ rural economy employs 350 million Agriculture). Ten years back it was per cent of the total weight. So the have made matters worse.
stay silent. Such indifference to the role of Parlia ence between demand and supply). people (around 54 per cent of the 141.1 million hectares. inflation, as explained by CPI, is As an aside, since May, the RBI has
ment as a body that is meant to debate policies to Agricultural output gap, the cause total workforce) and contributes Technology is also not coming to driven more by the rise in price of been trying to fight inflation by
ensure the best outcomes, does not bode well in a of food price inflation, can happen nearly half of India’s total GDP. The the rescue. For long, output per hec food and beverages and not LPG. raising interest rates. Rate hikes
because of an increase in demand slow growth in FMCG and two tare, a common measure of agricul Within the Food and Beverages cannot curb inflation when it is not
democracy. side factors or a reduction in supply wheeler sales in rural areas testifies ture productivity, remained low in category, a large chunk (more than driven by demandside factors.
of outputs. to the lack of demand. Additionally, India. For example, in potato farm 10 per cent) is contributed by fruits Fiscal initiatives such as reforms in
Among the demandside factors, procurement of foodgrains at Min ing, the productivity of Indian and vegetables, whereas the newly the agriculture, and putting in
consumption expenditure is im imum Support Price (MSP) has farmers is less than half that of added prepackaged items will have place climate policies may help.
portant. In India, it contributes fallen from ₹2.87 lakh crore in FY21 their counterparts in the US, Ger less than 1 per cent weight. In fact,
POCKET RAVIKANTH close to 60 per cent of GDP. Since to ₹2.37 lakh crore in FY22. The many and the Netherlands. prepackaged food of more than 25 The writer is Professor, School of
the start of this millennium, there factors which may have crankedup Over the last one decade, the an kg in a single packet would be ex Management, Mahindra University
LET TERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to [email protected] or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
Two classes of creditors amendment is required in the law ends meet must undergo a radical hunting, one is the lack of faith in gainfully modernised, can meet
This has reference to ‘A raw deal to eliminate the differentiation change if India is going to be ma the government to provide em several challenges facing crucial
for operational creditors in IBC’ between the two classes of credit jor force in world agricultural ployment. sectors like space research, de
(August 10). The operational cred ors so as to give a fair share of cash exports. YG Chouksey fence and banking.
itors, by design, get only second flow to operational creditors. Anthony Henriques Pune MG Warrier
ary treatment. They do not have M Raghuraman Mumbai Mumbai
place or voting rights in the Com Mumbai Subsidy management
mittee of Creditors (CoC) and have No room for complacency This refers to ‘Sowing a crisis’ (Au Curb fertiliser subsidies
least priority in the waterfall Boosting agri exports This refers to ‘IMF paints a gloomy gust 10). Our country is known for At a time when the Centre is aim
mechanism in distribution of In an increasing hungry world, growth picture’ (August 10). The governments at all levels vying to ing to do away with the subsidy
realisations. there is a splendid opportunity for silver lining in the gloomy forecast play politics in the distribution of component, its plan of increasing
If the company goes for revival India to step in and become an im about the world economy is that public resources, especially reven the fertiliser subsidy outlay by 115
and if the services of the opera portant player in agriculture ex India would become the fastest ues raised through taxes. While per cent is disturbing. The sugges
tional creditor are essential for the ports. For far too long, agriculture growing economy with a growth governments in developed coun tion of initiating inflationlinked
going concern, the CoC may share has played poor cousin to the ser rate of 6.1 per cent, much ahead of tries camouflage subsidies and ‘ex price hikes on all fertiliser
some money. But this is not the vice and manufacturing sector the US and China. penses on marketing’ (which in products to narrow the gap
case if the company goes for li and it is time it takes its rightful However, this should not make some cases we call bribe) under between production cost and sales
quidation. Operational creditors place in the GDP of the nation. us ignore the looming dangers of different heads, we consider sub price is worth following. In paral
play a significant role in running The government has under high unemployment among the sidy as a bad word, which has res lel, the Centre must extend fertil
of a company and their support taken many initiatives to boost educated youth and inflation. The ulted in poor management of pro iser subsidy directly to the
strengthens its working and im agri exports. However, the main CMIE puts the unemployment rate duction, marketing and prices. farmers.
proves recovery chances of finan drawback is the general unwilling around 8 per cent. Also, the num Policymakers are yet to recon However, it is time that agricul
cial creditors also. ness of the farmers to change over ber of job seekers as measured by cile to the need for better manage tural experts advised the Centre to
There is no logic in treating from traditional crops and adopt labour force participation rate has ment of domestic gold stock, land frame timebound strategies for
them as subservient to financial more scientific and modern tech dropped from 46 per cent in 2020 and agricultural production and the gradual migration of farmers
creditors and fixing the distribu niques of production. to 40 per cent in 2022, according marketing. The only silver lining is to organic manure.
tion with reference to the realis The idea and image of a poor to World Bank data. Of the many a well developed public sector, RV Baskaran
able value on liquidation. An farmer struggling to make both reasons for this apathy for job which, if skilfully managed and Chennai
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai600002 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No. 22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai400701 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 7528
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BusinessLine
THURSDAY • AUGUST 11 • 2022 THINK 5
Russia is milking oil

In the energy markets, Putin is winning the war
India may not benefit from Industry 4.0
JAVIER BLAS ing Russian crude ahead of the planned In the absence of a data regulatory framework, foreign tech firms can control the AI/IoT space, with IP rights to boot
introduction of official sanctions in
N
SMITHA FRANCIS
o matter what indicator you early November. Everyone who bet that frastructure provision are not sufficient
T
use, Russian President Vladi Russian oil production would continue he recently concluded 5G spec to increase the national value addition
mir Putin is winning in the to drop — myself included — got it trum auction is viewed as a re share of the productivity gains expected
energy markets. Moscow is wrong. flection of India’s determina through digital industrialisation. If In
milking its oil cash cow, earning hun The second indicator is the price of tion to be a leader in the dia does not promote indigenous tech
dreds of millions of dollars every day to Russian oil. Initially, Moscow was forced adoption of the socalled Industry 4.0. nologies in old and new smart products,
bankroll the invasion of Ukraine and to sell its flavours of crude at huge dis But is the BigTech pushed Industry 4.0 the former may only serve to subsidise
buy domestic support for the war. counts to other varieties to entice buy narrative blindfolding India into being a foreign digital corporations’ innova
Once European sanctions against Rus ers. In recent weeks, however, the Krem forex draining ‘digital consumer eco tions and end up increasing their mar
sian crude exports kick in from Novem lin has regained pricing power, taking nomy’ rather than a leader? ket power across product segments.
ber, the region’s governments will face advantage of a tight market. It is reckoned that production is in As digitalisation spreads across sec
some tough choices as the energy crisis ESPO crude, a category of Russian oil creasingly moving into an era of auto tors, there will be increased demand not
starts to bite consumers and companies. from the Far East, is a good example of mated processes and controls among only for electronics products, but also for
Electricity costs for homes and busi the new trend. At the low earlier this connected devices, machinery and infra All kinds of data are increasingly being used for analyticsbased product innovations ISTOCK
new smart devices and machinery in dif
nesses are set to soar from October, as year, it sold at a discount of more than structure, which are also ‘smart’ because ferent industries; for instance, smart en
the surge in oil income allows Putin to $20 a barrel to Dubai crude, the regional of being aided by datadriven insights or also enabled through softwareembed providers of cloud, platforms, etc. These ergy products, smart health devices, etc.
sacrifice gas revenue and squeeze sup oil benchmark for Asia. Recently, ESPO digital intelligence. The resultant cyber ded products such as computers, digital corporations are able to continu Given the increased embeddedness of
plies to Europe. UK prices are likely to crude has changed hands at parity to physical systems is being popularly re laptops, smart phones and other soft ously improve their software by exploit software in digital devices, machinery,
jump by 75 per cent, while in Germany Dubai. Urals crude, the flagship Russian ferred to as Industry 4.0. wareembedded equipment and ma ing their unilateral access to data extrac etc. intelligentisation will worsen the ad
some municipal utilities have already oil export to Europe, isn’t benefiting as But the narrative of Industry 4.0 — as if chinery, including robots. ted over service provision for generating verse consequences of India’s existing
warned prices will increase in excess of much as ESPO, as its key buyers have tra we were in an era of radically new tech Intelligence is based on data analytics digital intelligence. This also enables structural issue — the dichotomised ex
100 per cent. Russia has successfully ditionally been countries such as Ger nologies with a total break from existing driven insights derived from realtime them to offer new value added services. istence of our software product industry
weaponised energy supplies; Western many rather than India. But it’s also re technologies — is dangerously mislead data collected through connected entit Apart from the cloud layer and sec from the electronics ‘hardware’ industry.
governments will come under increas covering in price, selling recently at $20 ing. All the major digital technology sys ies and other domains. Once again, IT toral platforms in ecommerce/financial Increased risk of further waves of for
ing pressure to spend billions to $25 a barrel cheaper than tems enabling these cyberphysical sys hardware and software are deployed for payments/mobility, etc., there is signific eign exchange outflows from the manu
either subsidising household the Brent benchmark, after tems have built on the earlier data analytics. However, this inalienable ant domination of global tech compan facturing sector — which was already sig
bills or, as is already the case in trading at a discount of al technology systems under the ongoing link between cyberphysical production ies in India’s other critical digital infra nificant in the preintelligentised era —
France, by taking control of most $35 in early April. information and communication tech systems (for digital transformation of in structural layers such as will not only be on account of growing
power companies. Moscow is finding new nology (ICT) revolution. dustry) and electronics industry inclus telecom/network equipment and other import of new softwareembedded
commodity traders, often op The latter had erupted in the early ive of ICT products, involves drastically digital value chain segments of ICT smart devices, equipment and ma
Production climbs erating from the Middle East 1970s around microprocessors and other closer intertwining between software devices and electronics products. There chinery, but also increased forex out
The first indicator showing and Asia and probably fin semiconductors, and their early applica and ‘hardware’ than in the earlier ICT/di are also foreign acquisitions not only of flows on the services account for techno
how Putin has turned the oil tide is Rus anced by Russian money, willing to buy tions across various electronics sectors. gital technology systems, especially for Indian startups, but also of older com logy payments for embedded AI and
sian crude production. Last month, the its crude and ship it to hungry markets. It is the further advancement in micro the generation and deployment of di panies across different spheres. other proprietary technologies across
country’s output climbed back to near With Brent crude hovering at close to processors and related technology sys gital intelligence derived from data. In the absence of a national data regu foreignowned digital value chain
prewar levels, averaging almost 10.8 $100 a barrel, and with Russia able to of tems around computers, consumer/ latory framework to enable data protec segments.
million barrels per day, only marginally fer smaller discounts, there’s plenty of space/military electronics, telecom and Databased insights tion and more equitable data sharing, If the benefits from catalysing acceler
down from the 11 million pumped in money coming in to the Kremlin. For the Internet, software, internetbased All kinds of personal and nonpersonal foreign firms obtain de facto control over ated digitalisation through Digital India
January immediately prior to the inva now at least, energy sanctions aren’t services, etc., which has led to the emer data are increasingly being used for ana the data in whichever activity they move initiatives and high shares of value addi
sion of Ukraine. Based on industry es working. gence of strongly interrelated new ICT/ lyticsbased product innovations. This is into. Given that product design and de tion from even ‘domestically produced’
timates, oil production is slightly higher The final indicator of Russian success digital technology systems since the why digital business models focus on velopment increasingly come on top of digital devices/machinery have to accrue
so far this month. is political, rather than market related. 2010s. collecting client/consumer and public data analyticsbased digital intelligence, to the national economy, India must pro
It isn’t a blip: July marked the third Back in March and April, Western policy The latter include cloud computing, data of all kinds, and monetising the ex this provides enormous firstmovers’ ad mote domestically ownedsoftwareem
consecutive month of oil production re makers were optimistic that the OPEC digital platforms, telecom and network tracted data in different ways. vantages to these foreign firms in devel bedded products across industries.
covery, with output up significantly cartel, led by Saudi Arabia and the technologies like 4G/5G, the Internet of But revenue generation through sale oping new goods and services with more This is a critical reason why the rev
from this year’s low point of 10 million United Arab Emirates, would ditch its al Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), of the extracted data for marketing is intelligent functions. enuebased incentives in the produc
barrels set in April, when European buy liance with Russia. The opposite has etc. only one part of unfolding digital trans In any value chain, those owing tionlinked incentive (PLI) schemes for
ers started shunning Russia and Mo been the case. The ‘cyberphysical’ or networked, formations. Across industries and activ product design patents extract the max various industries must be reoriented
scow scrambled to find new buyers. Despite a trip by US President Joseph automated and intelligent production ities, possibilities for improving per imum revenue share. This huge eco towards designoriented incentives.
After that initial struggle, Russia has Biden to Riyadh, Putin has retained his systems are nothing but the transforma formance and undertaking product nomic value to be derived from data for Equally critically, government pro
found new customers for the million influence inside the OPEC+ alliance. tion of production and value chains innovations based on intelligence de current and future revenue generation is curement of ‘national’ products that in
barrels a day or so that European oil re Soon after Biden departed from Saudi through the deployment of these new rived through data analytics have in why India’s policy success in regulating corporate nationallyowned designs/pat
finers have stopped purchasing due to Arabia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister ICT/digital technology systems. creased manifold. data will be a critical determinant of ents also has a foundational role within a
selfsanctioning. Most of that crude is Alexander Novak, , flew to the kingdom. Networking is achieved through tele Currently, without a national data reg how inclusive our digital industrialisa strategic digital transformation policy
ending up in Asia — notably India — but A few days later, OPEC+ announced a com and network products and other ulatory framework that prescribes rights tion will be. Expanding public digital in needed for increasing India’s technolo
also in Turkey and elsewhere in the minuscule oil production increase, softwareembedded devices/machinery and access to data, data is largely en frastructure provision is a second pillar gical sovereignty.
Middle East. And some is still showing keeping pressure on global energy mar connected as IoT, along with cloudbased trapped in the IPprotected algorithms/ needed for inclusive digitalisation.
up in Europe, with buyers still purchas kets. BLOOMBERG software architecture. Automation is software of foreign digital infrastructure Data governance and public digital in The writer is an Economist based in Delhi
SHORT TAKE
BusinessLine
China consumer It’s a rocky road ahead for electric vehicles TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
inflation hits JAYAKRISHNAN K
diesel run vehicles. Currently, sheen off EVs. Already electric working after that period, the
E
August 11, 2002
lectric vehicles have taxes on petrol and diesel are a cars are costlier than their fossil buyer will be forced to change it
2year high started playing a big
role in reducing emis
major source of income for
States. In the first half of the fin
fueldriven counterparts. at a cost which often amounts to
half the price of the car.
Govt in fix over Ministry's waiver move on farm loans
The Centre is in a fix over the Agriculture Ministry's proposal
C hina’s consumer inflation

accelerated in July to the
highest level in two years, largely
sions and reducing the
use of fossil fuels. NITI Aayog has
predicted that by 2030, 80 per
ancial year 202122, Karnataka
earned ₹9,720 crore on this ac
count, so the annual figure
Power pressures
A greater number of EVs on the
roads will severely strain the
Laws need to be enacted to
protect the interests of the buyer
on the warranty issue and the
for a complete interest waiver on all farm loans for the period
from July 2002 to July 2003. The demand — mooted in the
context of the present nationwide drought — is expected to
due to surging pork costs, while cent of the two and threewheel would have been present power supply system. So price of the battery. result in the banking sector forgoing interest income of over
weak consumer demand kept ers, 40 per cent of the buses, and around₹20,000 crore. A 25 per more investments are needed in Besides there have been re ₹6,000 crore, which would have to be made good by the
overall price pressures in check. 3070 per cent of the cars in the cent fall on account of EVs will be power infrastructure. ports of EVs catching fire, raising exchequer. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already
The consumer price index country will run on electricity. ₹5,000 crore. The additional in Another matter that needs to fear and doubts among the pub directed banks to restructure their agricultural advances, so as
rose 2.7 per cent last month from So the government needs to come from electri be looked into is lic. Laws to ensure the good qual to convert all 90day crop loans made during the current
a year earlier as pork prices create an ecosystem conducive city used to charge the potential un ity of battery and other electrical kharif season to termloans of 35 years and also defer recovery
surged 20.2 per cent, National to the smooth operation of EVs. EV batteries will, at employment of components are important. of principal and interest amount in respect of the converted
Bureau of Statistics data showed But the challenges ahead for the present rates, people working Relying on imports for battery loans.
Wednesday. The pickup in CPI both the Centre and States are be nowhere near in the auto can also lead to issues related to BPCL, Petronas in talks for crude supply deal
was lower than the 2.9 per cent formidable. this figure. mobile servi energy security. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is in talks with Petronas of
median estimate in a Bloomberg Several States have welcomed EV buyers get in cing industry as As important as production of Malaysia for sourcing crude oil, BPCL’s Chairman and
survey of economists and com EVs with exemption from road come tax exemp the number of batteries is their recycling. Managing Director, Mr S Behuria, told a press conference here
pares with 2.5 per cent growth in tax. tion of up to ₹1.5 EVs on the road Already India has a huge prob on Saturday. Until April, all the crude needed by refineries in
June. lakh on the vehicle loan. rises. There are tens of thousands lem of dead mobile phone bat the country was canalised through the Indian Oil Corporation.
Producer price inflation, States’ revenues The above losses can hurt the of them, staff of service centres teries. They contain, among But since the beginning of this financial year, refiners such as
meanwhile, slowed to 4.2 per Road tax is an important source exchequer if the incentives are and roadside mechanics put to other metals, lithium, a costly BPCL have to buy crude themselves. BPCL has tied up about 55
cent in July from 6.1 per cent in of revenue for States. Karnataka continued indefinitely. So more gether. Electric vehicles require natural resource that is not per cent of its crude oil needs with various suppliers.
June as commodity prices is likely to suffer an annual loss EVs on the roads could lead to less repair than fossilfueldriven abundant in the country. Battery Govt to seek bids for airport projects by Sept
weakened. of around ₹1,500 crore. tensions between the Centre and ones. recycling should be considered Bids for expressions of interest (EOI) from private players for
In contrast to other major eco Further, goods and services tax States on the revenue front. No discussion on EVs is com seriously as a business proposi ₹16,000crore worth of developmental projects, already
nomies, consumer inflation in (GST), which is at 28 per cent on Given the poor health of Dis plete without recording the con tion though it may not be very identified for airports in the four metros, will be sought by the
China has been relatively sub petrol or dieseldriven automo coms, will they be able to supply cerns of consumers. The most profitable in the beginning. end of September this year. According to Mr SK Narula,
dued this year as strict Covid biles, is only at 5 per cent for EVs. power at the present rate to a crucial component of an electric Once EVs come, it will have a Chairman of Airports Authority of India, the Union Civil
control policies and sporadic So a renewable push can lead to growing number of EVs? They car is its battery. As of now war bright future. Aviation Ministry will not make any investment in these
outbreaks curbed consumer and substantial loss of revenue for will have to charge higher tariffs ranty on batteries is mostly for projects, but will instead enter into detailed agreements with
business spending. Those virus States given the decline in petrol which can take much of the eight years. If the battery stops The writer is an advocate the private players on revenue sharing.
flareups — along with global
headwinds and an ongoing real
estate crisis — have kept China’s
economic recovery fragile, with
factory activity unexpectedly
contracting last month and easy bl twoway crossword 2092 not so easy
property sales continuing to
DOWN ACROSS DOWN
shrink. ACROSS
01. Regal residence (6) 01. A street in a chaste setting 01. Grand home for friend and
Rising pork prices and an im 01. Grazing land (7)
02. Inundated (7) where grazing takes place (7) distinguished airman (6)
proving economic picture, 05. Fish, mackerel bait (5)
though, are expected to push up 03. Employ (3) 05. Fish one got out of one's 02. In three ways electric measure
08. Those in top positions (7)
CPI this year, and may test the 04. Doublecurves (5) mouth right in the middle (5) is to a degree overrun (7)
09. Unbending (5)
government’s ability to deliver 05. Throttled (9) 08. Newspaper columns for the 03. Uncle sells expensive starters
10. Warhorse's rich cloth
more stimulus. At the same time, 06. Correct (5) top people (7) as a matter of habit (3)
covering (9)
core CPI, which excludes the 07. Monarchs of Elizabeth I's 09. I'd follow right American 04. Letters that give one the bends
12. Bituminous stuff (3)
volatile prices of food and en house (6) private back without bending – doubly so (5)
13. Foot control (5)
ergy, remains weak at 0.8 per 11. Stand for (9) (5) 05. Deprived of air, good man
17. Throw, hit high (3)
cent in July, suggesting very little 14. Ornamental flowering 10. Richly bedeck table bird telephoned and went ahead
19. Hurried on its way (9)
demand pressure in the eco plant (7) including a variety of airs (9) (9)
21. Whin, furze (5)
nomy to warrant concern from 15. Power of flying (6) 12. A mariner will try all 06. Tory one is entitled to (5)
22. Act of mortification (7)
policy makers. 16. Stick to (6) reasonable openings (3) 07. Monarchs made out with
24. Taking crime (5)
“Inflation will likely rise past 3 18. Carried (by) (5) 13. Ring of bells around 1st doctors, in short (6)
25. To position (7)
per cent in the next two months, 20. Supreme pontiffs (5) December will get cycle going 11. Stand for a gift that's been
due to a low base and the lift 23. To harvest from sea (3) (5) reopened (9)
from pork prices,” said Bruce 17. By quitting the vestibule, aim 14. Flower got from a net up and
Pang, head of research and chief high (3) about one (7)
economist at Jones Lang LaSalle 19. Having sign for 13 in way out, 15. Dart has one for a set of steps
Inc. SOLUTION: BL Twoway Crossword 2091 editor got it shifting (9) (6)
“But core inflation will likely 21. Furze goes wrong right in the 16. Stick small advertisement
stay benign as domestic demand ACROSS 1. Rapid 4. Servant 8. Truce 9. Recline 10. Rug 11. Diversion centre (5) where I am standing (6)
remains weak. This won’t cause 12. More 13. Scut 18. Terminate 20. Toe 21. Holdall 22. Miami 22. How quietly men dance heads 18. Brought into world at end of
much restriction to the monet 23. Sisters 24. Theme off by way of expiation (7) line and got carried along (5)
ary policy.” DOWN 1. Return matches 2. Plunger 3. Dreads 4. Strive 5. Recurs 24. Article a foot short: it's a crime! 20. Occupants of the Vatican work
Fresh fruits and vegetables 6. Alibi 7. Toeing the line 14. Citrate 15. Visage 16. Faults 17. Permit
(5) among half the grapes (5)
surged 16.9 per cent and 12.9 per 19. Rolls
25. Place it on the turn in South 23. Capture one without a head
cent, respectively, from a year Africa with half the team (7) that is without a hat (3)
ago. BLOOMBERG
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India’s untapped resource: jobless youth

Educated unemployed young people have o�en accumulated a store of useful
Success - keeping your mind awake and your desire asleep.
info and capabilities in their e�orts to navigate schooling and job markets
Walter Scott
Turnout positive,
rural Goa has CRAIG JEFFREY JANE DYSON
spoken at polls
>Professor of >Associate Professor
Geography, The in Social Geography
University of & Development
Melbourne Geography, The
T
University of
Melbourne
he 78.70 per cent voting percentage at the panchayat
election is a very positive sign and shows an increasing
Conversely, the proportion of young peo- they bring urban thinking into rural ar-
level of people’s involvement in grass-root bodies. Im- ple in agriculture has been increasing in eas to encourage schooling, agriculture
Y
ages of elderly people being brought in to vote, some in oung people have been taking to recent years. and gender empowerment. In turn,
wheelchairs, only go to highlight how seriously these the streets across India, demanding These trends have stopped India from they enhance the viability of rural lives.
governments act to provide more experiencing the “demographic divi- By improving schooling, unemployed
elections have been taken by candidates and voters. The polling jobs. In the northern state of Bihar, large dend” predicted by economists, where- young people ensure villagers remain in
may have gone o� peacefully, but it has le� bitter rivalries between numbers protested on February at delays by the productivity of a large youth pop- rural areas rather than migrating to ur-
in �lling public sector vacancies. Some ulation promotes economic growth. Not ban areas. By campaigning for better in-
individuals and groups that only time could heal. While in sever- of them had passed the required exami- surprisingly, this dividend e�ect only frastructure, they enable new business.
al panchayats there has been a no-holds-barred contest between nations but waited several years for their operates if young people actually are in
friends, family members and aides of legislators, all eyes would job to commence. jobs.
now be focused on the Friday results since allegiances will surface In July and early August, hundreds of Harnessing the energy
young people walked more than 900km Should jobs come �rst? Attempts to build on this work could
only then. from Nagpur in central India to Delhi, Harnessing the energies of young peo- usefully look at formalising unemployed
Much against the initial expectation of the Opposition parties again focusing on the problem of govern- ple in India could be part of a solution to young people’s involvement in advising
ment posts lying vacant. unemployment. Social research in India, children about education, work, and oth-
launching an o�ensive, the election turned out to be a contest be- Behind these headlines is one of In- including our own work in Uttar Pradesh er issues. The government might identi-
tween individuals of varied a�liations except for a few segments dia’s most pressing problems: wide- and Uttarakhand, suggests young peo- fy, support and remunerate a group of
where the BJP and some legislators �exed muscle. Parties have spread, entrenched unemployment. ple, while frequently frustrated, o�en “guides” who could help young people
Youth unemployment rose sharply from have the skills, motivation, and time to navigate the changing landscapes of
stayed away from taking a direct plunge for political reasons, and about 6% in 2011-12 to more than 17% in assist their communities in processes of schooling and employment.
that is obvious. 2018-19. By then, nearly 40% of young development. This is especially important since
graduates were unemployed. Educated unemployed or underem- teenagers’ and pre-teens’ parents, who
Interestingly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who cast his vote Equally troubling has been an increase ployed young people have o�en accu- are typically in their forties and ��ies,
at Kothambi-Pale stated that panchayat polls are not about poli- in the number of young people trapped mulated a store of useful information o�en lack a close recent understanding
tics while maintaining that the grass bod- in part-time, insecure work that doesn’t and capabilities in their e�orts to nav- of how contemporary schooling and em-
re�ect their aspirations. igate schooling and employment mar- ployment markets work.
ies are key centres for rural development.
We only hope that kets. They also have experience in a The government could also partner
There is no denying that panchayats are Diverging trends range of places: rural, small town and with unemployed youth to develop new
the purpose of being High levels of unemployment and big city. Re�ecting these skills and ex- platforms for providing practical advice
elected as a ward indeed crucial in Goa’s village develop-
underemployment re�ect two related perience, they are o�en called on to as- on rural entrepreneurship, skills, the use
member, or even a ment story, but the question is why are trends: the very large numbers of young sist their families and communities in of technology and other issues.
successive governments not heeding Indians drawn into education over the Even if they ha- gaining access to healthcare or educa- In the parts of northern India where
Sarpanch, has sunk past 40 years, increasing demand for ven’t yet been tional opportunities, for example, or to we have worked, young people frequent-
in with the aspirants. pleas for devolution of powers — from Zil- salaried jobs; and the Indian economy’s able to yield attract infrastructure and development ly emphasise the need to develop portfo-
Social work is la panchayats to village panchayats. Con- failure to respond with large numbers of an economic schemes. lio careers rather than relying on a single
community service and trary to the CM’s statement, panchayats new jobs.
dividend, many
Unemployed young people, especial- line of work. The state could learn from
not self-service. That is in Goa have been powerless centres. Development theory suggests that ag- ly young women, are o�en involved in their experiences to develop new online
riculturally based countries will make a young people challenging gender norms that have lim- materials and revise school and univer-
the commitment that The enthusiasm re�ected in the election transition into manufacturing and servic- are producing a ited women’s participation in schooling sity curricula to re�ect new landscapes
is needed from each would largely be attached to attaining a es, opening up jobs for young aspirants.
social and cul- and paid employment. By advising on of work.
one, no matter which political or a social status that is attached
But this transformation isn’t occurring in
tural dividend
relationships, health and other issues, Such schemes could assist in allowing
India. they also act as interpreters of change for unemployed youth to be change makers.
party or alignment one to it and may be for some, it could open The number of people working in ser- for India, and the generation coming a�er them (teen- Even if they haven’t yet been able to yield
belongs to vices in India rose only marginally from more should agers and pre-teens). an economic dividend, many young peo-
up avenues of corruption. However, in the
about 35 million in 2005 to 39 million in Unemployed young people o�en have ple are producing a social and cultural
larger frame, development via grass root 2018-19. The number of manufacturing
be given the exciting ideas about how to bring about dividend for India, and more should be
bodies remains a myth, because till now panchayats are handling jobs in India declined over this period. chance to do so social change. Our research has shown given the chance to do so.
ordinary jobs that are not even remotely connected to the overall
development. Goa is among the very few States that have not em-
powered its panchayats to take decisions on 29 subjects, including THE INBOX >> I
land reforms, health, family welfare and education. If we may re-
call, it was in February 2020 that Panchayat Minister Mauvin God- Farewell Olivia, you didn’t prevent her from rising through the
inho assured us that devolution of powers will happen beginning shall be sorely missed Lawmakers should never be law breakers ranks in the Council of Scienti�c and In-
dustrial Research ; she had also headed
with the maintenance of government primary schools. Olivia Newton -John who sang some of
Politicians should be ever so truthful in all that they speak the Electrochemical Research Institute
and do. It is obnoxious when people we have elected as our earlier. Kalaiselvi will also hold charge
Interestingly, CM’s assertions of panchayat elections not being the biggest hits of the 70s and 80s while
representatives lie so blatantly and break promises at the drop
recasting her image as the virginal girl as secretary, Department of Scienti�c
political come against the backdrop of the BJP making grandiose of a hat. and Industrial Research of the Science
next door into a spandex clad seduc-
plans to celebrate wins of candidates in Panaji with its customary Those elected must be accountable for their acts of omission & Technology Ministry, joining a list of
tress -- a transformation reflected in her
and commission. Lawmakers must never be law breakers. We women scientists who have occupied
garlanding and photo ops with Sawant. If this is not a re�ection of starring role in ‘Grease’, one of the most
elect them to conscientiously serve the community and not to key positions in other agencies like ISRO
popular movie musical of its era died
politics, what is? this week in US at the age of 73. The
swi�ly rise from rags to riches. Politicians must not do what is and the Department of Biotechnology.
The fate of over 5,000 candidates has been sealed, and may the politically expedient but do what is right. The rule of law has She is currently involved in the develop-
British born, Australian raised performer
gone for a total toss with the selective targeting of political ment of practically viable sodium-ion and
deserving emerge as winners. We only hope that the purpose of whose album sales topped 100 million
foes so very blatant. Can the ED, IT and CBI not openly see and lithium-sulfur batteries and has more
records had lived with a breast cancer
being elected as a ward member, or even a Sarpanch, has sunk diagnosis since 1992. Olivia amassed
investigate those within the BJP who have amassed abundant than 125 peer reviewed research papers
wealth by wrong doings? In a small state like Goa itself we have published in international journals be-
in with the aspirants. Social work is community service and not numerous no 1 hits, chart topping al-
one too many. It is now a known fact that if one wants to be in-
bums and 4 records that sold more than sides holding 6 patents. Kudos again to
self-service. That is the commitment that is needed from each one, sulated from the rigors of law, joining, or even aligning with the Kalaiselvi for reaching the apex against
2 million copies each. During 1973-83
no matter which party or alignment one belongs to. It’s time to she was arguably the world’s most pop-
BJP is the only way to be in a safe haven, temporarily shielded all odds in a patriarchal society.
from the long arm of the law.
shun the rhetoric of development and get down to the basics. ular entertainers with 14 top 10 Billboard VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
singles, won 4 Grammys, starred with AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
John Travolta and Gene Kelly in Grease
and Xanadu respectively. Newton John’s
Successful Chess Olympiad
peppy, upbeat songs were a marker of top sports honour to cherish
our younger years, so much so that if The just concluded 44th FIDE Chess
you hadn’t heard Olivia you hadn’t heard we need to be careful. To go on a spree
Olympiad in Chennai has proved many
OPEN SPACE >> anything. Thank you for the music Olivia building airports nook and corner of
the country will only turn most airports things. India is capable of conducting
and continue to entertain in heaven. Adi- such a coveted Olympiad in great gran-
Besides waterfalls in State, os friend, you shall be sorely missed.
REKHA SARIN, Benaulim
into white elephants, but also cause
environmental hazards. China, with
deur and with all precision and perfec-
tion if only handled by the right state and
more and more white elephants is an
springs too need faceli� Aviation industry needs
example in front of us. India needs an
infrastructural push but not at the cost
right people. Among the many greats
of the event, that the mission has been
I
planned meticulously and executed with
n an attempt to give a push to ecotourism, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on
Tuesday said the environs of waterfalls in Goa will get a faceli�. The forest
infrastructural boost of its own people and environment. all precision without any flaw within a re-
As our country is set to surpass China DIOMEDES PEREIRA, Corlim cord time of just four months is the most
department will be instrumental in protecting the waterfalls and enhanc- appreciable one. Moreover, the gratitude
ing visitors’ experience at these places of attraction. This is a step in the right as the world largest populous country in
direction towards developing hinterland tourism. Since many deaths due to 2023, as estimated by United Nations, Shattering glass ceiling in expressed by Arkady Dvorkovich FIDE
President and Sanjay Kapoor, President
drowning have been reported at the waterfalls it would be prudent to post life-
guards at these sites just like they are posted on the Goan beaches. Goa can
it is the right time for air travel in India
to become the fastest growing aviation nation’s scienti�c bodies Send your of All India Chess Federation to TN gov-
ernment and particularly Chief Minister
also boast of several freshwater springs. In the past these were popular picnic market in the world and also be more Breaking yet another glass ceiling letters to us M K Stalin for organizing such an event of
a�ordable. If that happens, the heavy in the country’s scienti�c bodies,
sites and were visited by the elderly citizens for a bath which had medicinal
burden on railways will lessen to a great electrochemical scientist N Kalaiselvi at editor@ huge magnitude within four months and
value. However, now most of these springs are in a dilapidated condition. The thegoan.net. acknowledging with all grace that the
contamination of the underground water has made the water from the springs extent. Regional connectivity schemes has become the �rst woman Director
dangerous for a bath. The garbage strewn near the spring has become a sore like UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) General of CSIR, India’s premier public Letters must 44th Chess Olympiad conducted in Chen-
nai was the best of all the Chess Olympi-
sight. Besides improving the environs of the waterfalls the government also which aim to develop smaller regional sector R&D organization which controls be 150-200 ads speaks for the good e�orts taken by
airports might help achieve 40 crore air multiple state run institutions across
needs to take necessary steps for upkeep of these springs so that they regain
traveller target by 2027. Though I agree the country. Hailing from an humble words and all the stake holders of the event. This is
their past glory.
that India needs more airports which family in Ambasamudram, a small town mention the indeed a very proud moment for all Indi-
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco today stands at 136, there are many who in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu writer’s name ans, particularly the people of Tamilnadu.
say we need 200 airports in the country, Kalaiselvi had tough beginnings but that and location ANNA MARY YVONNE, Chennai
Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
Printed at: Elegant O�set Printers Pvt Ltd, Plot No 2/3/4, Thivim Industrial Estate, All Rights Reserved. concerned authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Goan Everyday’s Editor,
Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. Editorial O�ce: Third Floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panaji 403 001, Goa. Publisher and Owners.
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10 MUMBAI
THURSDAY
AUGUST 11, 2022
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Focus on the base
Handle personal of the pyramid
data with care There are many Indias
encapsulated in India.
of the world. Europe and Indonesia will account
Just in terms of per capita, there for over 70% of the total consump-
are three Indias. If we go by pur- tion spending. In 2030, there will
The new rule on international passengers must
However, just in terms chasing power parity (PPP) esti- remain 200 million people living
be rolled out carefully and further checks built in mates for per capita in India, there is below sub-Saharan Africa levels.
of per capita, there are a Europe of about 50 million people All of India must care about this To be fair, the government has initiated many schemes for the poor.
three. While businesses with a per capita of $45,000 per dynamic. We are a thriving democ- However, it must also continue strengthening delivery, using technological
T
he government on Monday notified the annum; an Indonesia of 425 million racy where such growing inequality tools to ensure that the schemes reach their intended beneficiaries AP
Passenger Name Record (PNR) Information will focus on the top people (double the size of Indonesia) will cause major social tensions and
Regulations, 2022, making it mandatory for two, the State must with a per capita of $9,500 per fundamental instability. As the to this, agricultural incomes have migration from rural to urban areas.
annum; and a sub-Saharan Africa of Europe and Indonesia in India grow, not grown. The need to improve In the coming decade, govern-
any operating flight to share details of
empower the last tier by over 900 million people with a per products and services will target productivity in agriculture is criti- ment expenditures and schemes
international travellers with a customs agency. capita of $3,300 per annum, includ- them, akin to the dynamic that one cal. After a spurt during the Green should aim to lift India’s sub-Saha-
Among these are details of a person’s ticket — when providing water, health ing about 300 million people, whose can witness in the research budgets Revolution, agricultural growth ran Africa into the Indonesian seg-
it was booked, date of travel and billing information care, school education, income levels rank even below sub- of the global pharmaceutical indus- slowed to around 3.5% in the 1990s ment. To be fair, the government has
Saharan Africa. The first two Indias try. Basic ailments will continue to and 2000s. India’s rice yields are a initiated many schemes for the poor.
— and data about their travel, such as origin, and skills training are good enough for busi- affect poor parts of the third of China’s and are about half However, it must also continue
destination, and how many bags they are carrying. ness. It’s a consuming world due to neglect, while that of Indonesia. The same is true strengthening delivery, using tech-
C
ambridge economist India, growing rapidly with the needs of the rich get of other agricultural commodities. nological tools to ensure that the
Also included will be their seat numbers and co- Joan Robinson once increasing aspirations. attention because of their India’s sub-Saharan Africa schemes reach their intended bene-
passenger data. The government, in the notification, remarked: “Whatever The challenge for policy- economic clout. requires water for irrigation and ficiaries.
said the objective is to create an advance risk you can say rightly about makers and the govern- Technology does offer continuing innovation and research In addition to providing the living
India, the opposite is also ment is to address the Janmejaya hope for all, but the way in seeds and fertilisers to help farm- basics to the needy through subsi-
assessment to combat crimes under the excise law true.” To this day, the dic- opportunities for the India things are in India, technol- ers improve their yields. One of the dies, we need to, as the saying goes,
and for sharing of intelligence with other law tum has explanatory power. One of that business does not care
Sinha ogy adoption in the sub-Sa- sad political realities of our democ- “teach them how to fish” rather than
enforcement agencies. As safeguards, the the difficult things to explain, espe- about. This India has aspi- haran part of India is low, racy has been the supply of free provide the fish. Welfare schemes
cially to foreign CEOs building their rations that are not being smartphone penetration water and power to agriculture. This are important, but empowering this
notification says such data will be subject to privacy company’s presence in the country, met. As the consuming power of the poor, connectivity spotty, and there has distorted incentives and has led segment by fixing water, providing
laws in force, avoid certain types of information (like is that many Indias are encapsulated top two Indias grows, businesses is an increase in digital apartheid. to large transmission losses in primary health care and nutrition,
race and religion) and be processed only within a in India. There are many cuts to worldwide focus on them and cater This is evident in the fall in chil- power generation and poor power school education, and skilling, will
India — the 28 states, 22 official lan- to their needs. These segments are dren’s learning outcomes in the sub- supply. Indiscriminate use of free be required to sustain the country in
secure system. guages; urban and rural; the differ- powering the Indian economy, Saharan segment during Covid-19. water and power has led to steep the long run.
India isn’t the first country to set up such as ent communities, castes, and reli- already the world’s third-largest in One of the flaws in our develop- falls in the water table. Improper What a great India it will be if, in
system. In 2016, the European Union (EU) adopted gions; and the salaried and self-em- PPP terms. Yet, India cannot achieve ment model compared to China, cropping patterns in growing crops its 100th year of Independence, we
ployed workers. However, the most its potential, or ever be called a another large population country of that use a lot of water in areas lack- can’t find any Indian inhabiting sub-
the PNR Directive for all its member countries. Even critical India they need to funda- developed country, without improv- continental size, has been our ing water have further compounded Saharan Africa in India.
before the directive, the EU and the United States mentally grapple with is one span- ing the lot of those living at sub-Sa- neglect of water. After the initial this problem. One of the critical sus-
(US) signed a pact in 2011 to share PNR records. A ning different development stages. haran levels. What is worse is that investments in irrigation and dams tainability goals India should focus
An India that spans and demon- the growth rates in the income of in the early years after Independ- on is providing water security, espe- Janmejaya Sinha is chairman,
veritable data dragnet, such systems became strates the characteristics of the the top two segments are faster than ence, there has been salutary neglect cially for improving agricultural BCG India
expedient in the aftermath of the September 11 most developed to the poorest parts the bottom, so by 2030, India’s of water between say 1970-2010. Due productivity and cities to facilitate The views expressed are personal
attacks in 2001 and the terror strikes that followed in
parts of Europe later that decade. The US operates an
even more sophisticated system called the
Automated Targeting System. While little is known
about the American system, the data sought by India
Prioritise electric buses { NITISH KUMAR } BIHAR CHIEF MINISTER
P
suggests Delhi’s requirements may lie somewhere in
between the European and the American models in
terms of scope.
over all other fuel types Those who came to power in
Experts in India rightly point out that the purpose he 2021 World Air Quality report listed and the vehicle speed ranges require that
2014, will they be victorious
and safeguards of the country’s new model need to
be better explicated, at least for two factors. First, the
nature of the data sought qualifies as personal
information and at times even as sensitive personal
T 63 Indian cities in the top 100 cities in buses run at urban speeds (0 – 40 kmph) for
the world with the worst air quality. only 20% of the total test time; the remaining
Motor vehicle exhaust is one of the 80% of the time is spent at rural (40 – 60
prime reasons for poor air quality in Indian kmph) and motorway speeds (> 60 kmph),
cities and research published by the Interna- and this distances the test requirements from
in 2024? I would like all
[Opposition] to be united
for 2024. I am not a
information. The EU rules require data protection tional Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) the real-world operations typical of buses. contender for any
A
estimated that India experienced around To better understand real-world emissions
officers to oversee the functioning of PNR-sharing 74,000 premature deaths in 2015 due to trans- performance, ICCT conducted a detailed such [PM] post.
systems and have a provision for an independent portation-related pollution. Still, the amount investigation of a BS VI bus, which led its mar-
of exhaust emanating from cars, buses, ket segment in sales. Emissions were meas-
supervisory mechanism to mitigate the scope of trucks, rickshaws, scooters, and other vehi- ured on three routes: (1) the test route defined
abuse and harm that such databases can lead to. cles is increasing. in India’s current regulations; (2) a suburban
Second, five years ago, this month, the Supreme In this context, India’s nationwide transi- route; and (3) an urban route that represented
A 75-year-old bond of
tion to cleaner Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) emis- a typical public transport route in a city. The
Court laid down a broad principle that personal data sion and fuel standards on April 1, 2020, was emissions from the three routes were tested
can be accessed by the State only in manners that are a milestone. The leapfrog from BS IV to BS VI based on two approaches, the regulatory
“just, fair and reasonable”. With no statute still in standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles approach where data was excluded as
place to codify this, the new rules may
need to be implemented carefully, and further
checks built in.
required coordination from all stakeholders, described above, and the second, where all the
and is a laudable step. The most notable data was included.
improvement in fuel standards
was the reduced the sulfur limit,
The results were surprising.
When following the regulatory
Maitri exists between
from 50 ppm to 10 ppm.
For vehicles, the new standard
includes an approximately 85%
reduction in the nitrogen oxides
methods, the urban route showed
virtually no NOx emissions, but
this wasn’t because there were no
emissions. Instead, it was because
India and Netherlands
(NOx) limit, a 70% reduction in Bharadwaj all the emissions data was he year 2022 is special as it marks strengthening global institutions and are
A mega push for the

cooperative sector
the hydrocarbons (HC) limit and, Sathiamoorthy excluded from what counts for
for the first time, a limit on parti-
cle number (PN) emissions. Fur-
ther, to help combat the known
gap between emissions reductions
evaluation. In the suburban route,
the NOx emission is within limits;
the same is the case with the test
route. However, when we didn’t
T the 75 years of India’s Independ- committed to the rule of law and diplomacy
ence, and also 75 years of the estab- as the only ways to improve security in our
lishment of diplomatic relations multi-polar world.
between India and Netherlands, a celebra- As we can see again in Europe, with Rus-
tion of our friendship between the people, sia’s war against Ukraine, only strong inter-
approximated inside a vehicle test exclude any data, the urban route the values we share, and the inspiration we national cooperation can bring peace back
lab and what happens in real- shows more than six times the draw from each other. The relations to the continent. This is how we work
wo months after the Union Cabinet approved world driving, India will imple- limit, the suburban route almost between India and the Netherlands date jointly on global societal challenges like
T the registration of cooperatives as buyers on

the Centre’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
portal, Union home and cooperation minister Amit
ment on-road compliance stan-
dards for buses and trucks on
April 1, 2023.
These are great initiatives, but a
Amit
Bhatt
three times the limit, and the test
route, twice the emission permit-
ted in the standard.
For particulate emissions, the
back to the early 17th century. zero hunger, good health, gender equality,
In 1947, the Netherlands established dip- clean water, sustainable cities, clean energy
lomatic ties with newly independent India, and peace, justice, and strong institutions.
becoming the third country after the United Working on the Sustainable Development
Shah launched the onboarding of cooperatives on big question is: Are the BS VI urban route has no emissions due States and China to do so. The Goals is a team sport. It
on-road compliance standards to data exclusion, while the subur- two nations stand together as requires collaboration between
Tuesday. This step, the Centre hopes, will enable effective in their current form, or do they ban route has insignificant emissions due to proud democracies and have governments, companies, civil
India’s cooperatives to purchase goods and services require a relook to capture real-world per- the same reason. The emission of the test strong political, cultural, sports, society, and universities. In the
at competitive prices. The minister also asked formance, in particular performance com- route just about meets the regulatory stan- economic, science, and technol- Netherlands, we call this our
mon in India’s cities? dard; however, if all the data is included, then ogy relations. The DNA of our polder model — a method of
cooperatives to register themselves as sellers on the To answer, let’s understand how on-road the test route has four times the permissible relationship is based on Marten van-den consensus decision-making
platform to sell their products to government emissions measurement happens in the case emissions while the suburban route that over addressing societal challenges among all relevant stakehold-
of buses. Under the Indian regulatory frame- three times the emission, while the urban through innovation and collab- Berg ers.
buyers. The plan to re-energise the sector has been in
work, emissions will not be evaluated when route is barely within the limit for particulate oration. Successful high-level The close ties between India
the making for some time. Last year, the government vehicles operate at power levels lower than emission. visits in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and the Netherlands is illus-
created a ministry to provide an administrative, 20% of maximum engine power, usually at India largely adopted its testing require- and 2022 reflect and reiterate the commit- trated by more than 250 Indian companies
legal, and policy framework to strengthen the sector. speeds less than 30 kmph. ments from what the European Union (EU) ment to take the strong bond foward. and institutions in the Netherlands and
This is the case even though the average implemented back in 2016, but the EU has During the Prime Ministers’ Virtual Sum- between 350 and 500 Dutch companies and
This was a vital step since there are nearly 8.54 lakh speed of buses in cities is around 21 kmph. subsequently revised its requirements to mit in April 2021, a strategic partnership on institutions in India.
cooperatives, with a membership count of 29 crore. Similarly, emissions from the vehicle when it address the several shortcomings identified. water was launched between the two The Netherlands has the largest Indian
India’s cooperative movement, which started in is not warm (coolant temperature less than 70 To reduce the gap between what BS VI vehi- nations. We work together to address floods diaspora in mainland Europe. Bollywood is
degrees Celsius) will not be measured. But cles are currently allowed to emit in real- in Kerala. We are joining hands in Chennai well known in the Netherlands. From a dis-
the British era, was born out of the distress of the last buses operating inside a city deal with conges- world conditions and the full potential of the to close the water loop. Similarly, Dutch and tance, India and the Netherlands look differ-
quarter of the 19th century when the Industrial tion and traffic signals, and given the frequent BS VI technology, the Government of India Indian companies have a strong collabora- ent: India with 1.4 billion people, the Neth-
Revolution crippled village industries and pushed passenger pick up and drop off, they will often should immediately consider adopting the lat- tion on renewable energy. We together chal- erlands with 18 million; India with high
not be warm enough for their emissions to est standards implemented in Europe and lenge Indian designers to work on circular- mountains and glaciers, only lowlands in
back people to agriculture. The movement gained count. Manufacturers are also allowed to developing its regulatory pathway to eventu- ity. the Netherlands; India with 3.287000
strength during the freedom movement. It continued eliminate the worst 10% of emissions data ally eliminate this gap. Ideally, manufacturers In sports, the Dutch hockey coach Sjoerd square kilometres, the Netherlands with
to do so after Independence, drawing sustenance from the measured data before evaluating val- would have to certify their vehicles using real- Marijne and the Indian women’s hockey 41,500 square kilometres. But our societies
ues for compliance evaluation. world emissions tests without any data exclu- team were successful in the Olympics. are vibrant democracies, and our friendship
from the Gandhian thought that underlined the The regulation also defines the test route, sions. Ultimately, though, while BS VI vehicles Today, the Indian women’s hockey team has is getting closer.
necessity for cooperation to create a socialist State. offer large emissions benefits when compared become not only an inspiration for many India and the Netherlands together can
But over the decades, many cooperatives have failed with BS IV vehicles, for cities struggling with young women to build a career in sport, but be the change we all would like to see in the
OUR RESEARCH SHOWS high pollution levels, even small additional also a role model for their position in India. world. Did you know that the former Presi-
to deliver. Studies have shown the cooperative BS VI BUSES ARE GOOD amounts of tailpipe emissions could be dan- India and the Netherlands are establish- dent of India, Ram Nath Kovind, during his
structure has flourished in a handful of states. But ON EMISSIONS FOR gerous. ing Centres of Excellence in India in the trip to the Netherlands in 2022, named a
many cooperatives need a fresh infusion of funds. This is a reason to prioritise electric buses agricultural sector: Horticulture, flowers, new yellow tulip “Maitri,” a symbol of the
LONG ROUTE INTER-CITY over any other fuel type, especially in cities and dairy, making the Indian agricultural rich historical bond of friendship between
The government’s move can restore the importance OPERATIONS, BUT THEY continuously struggling with poor air quality. sector more sustainable and productive. In the two nations?
of the critical cooperative structure and provide it UNDERPERFORM addition, we are working with two multilat-
with a new lease of life, help the sector to innovate Bharadwaj Sathiamoorthy is researcher consultant, eral organisations — the International Solar Marten van-den Berg is ambassador of the
WHEN IT COMES TO ICCT, and Amit Bhatt is Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Kingdom of The Netherlands to
and diversify its product range, and ensure better CITY BUS OPERATIONS managing director (India), ICCT Resilient Infrastructure — on the climate India, Nepal and Bhutan
income opportunities for its members. The views expressed are personal crisis. The two nations work together on The views expressed are personal
RNI No. MAHENG/2005/15186, AIR SURCHARGE : Ahmedabad, Nagpur and beyond by Rail or Road - Rs. 2 /-.
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PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022
04
Why India frowns on Chinese IN-DEPTH
IT IS UNFAIR TO
ship docking at Lankan port? PRE-JUDGE THE
CJI-DESIGNATE
JUSTICE UU LALIT
India, whose cross-border relations with China have soured, is worried that the Chinese-built
and leased port of Hambantota will be used by Beijing as a military base in its own backyard
and economic interests and
take all necessary measures
to safeguard them. To which
China gave a rebuttal that it
hoped “relevant parties”
would refrain from interfer-
ing with its “legitimate mari-
time activities”.
HOW’S SRI LANKA DOING
J
THE BALANCING ACT? ustice UU Lalit has
Sri Lanka has had to main- been appointed the
tain a fine balancing act be- 49th Chief Justice of
tween China and India. As India for a brief ten-
the country battles with an ure of less than three
economic crisis with zero for- months. He will demit office on
eign reserves, it needs the November 8 when he turns 65.
cooperation from Beijing, Even before he has taken over as
which is its key creditor. It the CJI, Justice Lalit is being
has now turned to the Inter- prejudged by his detractors who
national Monetary Fund to fear that he will show a pro-gov-
bail it out of this crisis and ernment bias in his functioning.
restructure its huge debt. The reasons cited are that he
Meanwhile, India too has was Amit Shah’s lawyer in the
provided nearly $4 billion in Tulsi Prajapati and Sohrabud-
aid to Sri Lanka this year, in- din Sheikh murder case, he was
cluding shipments of fuel appointed judge three months
and food. after Narendra Modi govern-
ment came to power in 2014.
WHAT IS BEIJING Critics allege that his appoint-
SAYING NOW? ment came at the cost of former
A
fter India voiced its deep con- with China after a clash in Sri Lanka, which is Predictably, China was upset. Solicitor-General Gopal Subra-
cerns over the docking of the Galwan valley in June It described India’s opposi- manium whose name was also
Chinese research and survey 2020, is worried that the Chi- currently tackling a very tion to the docking of a Chi- recommended for appointment
vessel Yuan Wang 5 at Sri nese-built and leased port of serious economic crisis, nese ship at a Sri Lankan by the collegium along with UU
Lanka’s Hambantota port, Hambantota will be used by port as senseless. It was Lalit’s.
the beleaguered island na- Beijing as a military base in had initially brushed aside “morally irresponsible” and It would be unfair to pre-judge
tion, which first tried to un- India’s backyard. India’s anxiety over against the norms of inter- the CJI-designate for what he
derplay the ship’s visit as Moreover, the $1.5 billion national relations for coun- did as a noted criminal lawyer
“nothing unusual”, finally port is near the main ship-
“security concerns”, tries to “exploit vulnerabili- and when he has yet to give any
backtracked and requested ping route from Asia to Eu- saying the Yuan Wang ties” of Sri Lanka at a time judgment. It was not the govern-
China to defer its arrival. rope. Situated in the home- 5 was only stopping when it is dealing with eco- ment which asked the SC colle-
But, the Chinese ship’s town of the ousted but power- nomic and political crises, gium to include his name.
visit, scheduled for Thursday ful Rajapaksa family, most of at the port for said Beijing.
(August 11) at the Hamban- the Hambantota port was “bunkering” China urged relevant par-
tota port, which is financed constructed using loans from ties to see its scientific explo-
with Chinese loans, built by a China. It is currently leased rations in a reasonable and SPIRITUAL SPEAK
Chinese firm and currently to China Merchant Port Hold- tracking and with specific us- sensible way and stop dis-
leased to China Merchant ings after Sri Lanka could age in intercontinental bal- turbing normal exchanges
Port Holdings after Sri Lanka not repay the debts. All of listic missile launches. between Beijing and Colom-
Therefore I tell you,
was unable to repay the loans, this has led India to fear the It may not be a military bo. Chinese foreign ministry whatever you ask for in
will not happen for now. potential use of the port for ship but it can be sent to car- spokesman Wang Wenbin prayer, believe that you
The Sri Lankan foreign military purposes. ry out missile tests, said said, “Sri Lanka is a sover- have received it, and it
ministry spokesperson shared India remains suspicious of news reports. With an aerial eign state. It can develop rela- will be yours.
with the media on Monday China’s growing influence in reach of more than 750 km, tions with other countries in
(August 8) that they have sub- Sri Lanka, which owes large the ship can allegedly spy on the light of its own develop-
—Bible
mitted a request to China to amounts of money to Beijing Kalpakkam, Koodankulam, ment interests. The coopera-
defer the ship’s arrival. for the construction of its in- and atomic research centres tion between China and Sri
Chinese foreign ministry frastructure projects. Also, within Indian borders. It can Lanka is independently cho-
spokesman Wang Wenbin India wants to protect its stra- also track ports of Kerala, sen by the two countries and
slammed Sri Lanka’s decision tegic interests in the Indian Tamil Nadu, and Andhra meets common interests.” TOP TWEETS
and blamed the “gross inter- Ocean region, wary of China’s Pradesh and gather vital in- Sri Lanka is a transport
ference” of other countries. He constant efforts to increase its formation from installations hub in the Indian Ocean, Bhupender Yadav
said Chinese research ships influence in the area. in south India. Wang said, adding that many @byadavbjp
have regularly stopped in Sri scientific exploration ships
In 2014, Sri Lanka allowed
Chinese nuclear-powered Lanka for resupply and that IS SPACE-TRACKING INDIA’S OFFICIAL STAND including those from China
submarine Changzheng 2 cooperation between the two SHIP WORRISOME? ON VESSEL’S VISIT have stopped at Sri Lankan
in Colombo and it had led countries is normal. Wang Foreign security analysts External affairs ministry ports for resupplies. “China
to diplomatic tensions added that it was “unreasona- have labelled Yuan Wang 5 spokesperson Arindam has always exercised the free-
soaring with New Delhi. ble” and “senseless” for a third one of China’s latest space- Bagchi told the media that dom of navigation in the
Former President party to put pressure on Sri tracking ships, which can be they were aware of reports high seas and fully respects
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who Lanka on the grounds of so- used to monitor satellite, of a proposed visit by this and fully respects the juris- A forest without lions is destroyed
was then secretary to the called security concerns. rocket and intercontinental vessel to Hambantota in Au- diction of coastal states of and lions without forests will perish.
ministry of defence, had to #WorldLionDay
even fly down to India to ballistic missile launches. gust. And that the govern- the scientific exploration ac-
meet with National WHAT ARE INDIA’S Some reports alleged that it ment will carefully “monitor tivities within their jurisdic-
CONCERNS? is a dual-use spy vessel, em- any development” that has a tion waters,” Wang added. Kiren Rijiju
Security Adviser Ajit Doval @KirenRijiju
to discuss the matter. India, whose relations soured ployed for space and satellite bearing on India’s security SOURCE: THE FEDERAL
AIR PRICE BANDS GO I

In a decision which will
n a decision financial relief. The ATF ac-
which will bene- counts for about 40 percent
fit both domestic benefit both domestic of operational costs. The jet
In exercise of the power conferred by
IN RELIEF FOR FLIERS

airlines and fli- airlines and fliers, DGCA fuel price touched new highs
the Constitution of India, the President,
ers, the Directo- this year with a hike of 16.3
rate-General of Civil Avia- has decided to percent to Rs 123.03 per litre
is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Uday
Umesh Lalit, Judge of the Supreme
tion (DGCA) has decided to remove the upper and or Rs 1.41 per kl. That hefty Court as the Chief Justice of India with
remove the upper and lower surge in the price of jet avia- effect from 27th August, 2022.
price bands notified in May,
lower price bands tion fuel is in keeping with
2020, during the pandemic, notified in May, 2020, the global energy prices.
from August 31. The price during the pandemic, With India being dependent l Vol 4 l Issue No. 66
bands became necessary to on fuel import, it is for the
prevent domestic airlines from August 31 government to cut taxes to
l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.
Printed and published by
from charging exorbitant give relief to the aviation in-
Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of
fares from passengers. The dustry. First Express Publishers. Printed
lower band was to help the their overhead costs. Air- Aviation fuel is charged at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B.
airlines struggling due to lines expect the govern- an 11 percent ad valorem Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk
travel restrictions. The up- ment’s move to boost de- rate of excise duty which Road, Jaipur. Published at 304,
per price band was to save mand in a win-win situation goes up each time there is a 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das
passengers from being for all. rise in global oil prices. Be- Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001,
fleeced when the demand Airlines hope that the avi- sides, it also is taxed by Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.
was high. Now with price ation turbine fuel (ATF) will states in the form of sales Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra
bands gone, the airlines may be brought under the Goods tax. The government may Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan
offer competitive prices to and Services Tax (GST) to want to consider domestic responsible for selection of news
attract passengers to meet provide them with further carriers’ demand. under the PRB Act
CMYK
2
From
AHMEDABAD THURSDAY 11/8/2022
Editorial
Editor’s Hair Damage during Monsoon is real
Desk Okay, we've seen enough to know
that this season makes our hair more
vulnerable to damage, but surely we
nents like Hair & Care, which comprises
plant-based extracts of Aloe Vera and
Green Tea.
Use the towel-dry method
rather than blow-drying your hair
as this may cause it to become
can take preventative measures when Regular champi once a week more frizzy and dry. After sham-
the time is right? So here are five strat- The scalp can benefit greatly from pooing, it is ideal to dry your hair
egies to cure monsoon-related hair a 15-minute champi, which is similar with a microfibre towel. Instead of
damage. to a spa treatment and one of the vigorously combing your damp
Apply Aloe Vera and Green tea- greatest ways to heal damaged hair. It hair, gently squeeze it and fold it
At CWG, India’s track and

based hair oil enhances the oil's ability to penetrate into a turban to maintain your styl-
Do you recall the "nuska" your the skin and deliver its active elements, ish hairstyle for 15 minutes.After
grandmother used? "Your Hair is ready speeding up blood circulation and hair shampooing, it is ideal to dry your
field athletes made a By IANSlife
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANSlife) After enduring the op-
to travel; just apply oil." Making oiling
a regular part of your hair care routine
growth.
Reduce the use of Hard Water
hair with a microfibre towel. In-
stead of vigorously combing your
mark, women’s cricket and
pressive heat of summer, we are all in agreement that the will help prepare your hair. Twice a The quality of the water decreases damp hair, gently squeeze it and
monsoon season is pure delight. It is a warm experience week, apply hair oil before shampoo- during the monsoon season due to fold it into a turban to maintain
hockey teams showed
to travel to a local hill station in the rain and chilly air. ing to strengthen hair strands from the the high concentration of minerals in your stylish hairstyle for 15 min-
During the monsoons, we often enjoy our lazy week- roots, lessen frizz, and avoid hair break- hard water, such as calcium and mag- utes.
ends by practicing self-care and simply concentrating on
they are on right track
age. To help repair the damage and nesium, which coats the hair and pre- Use the right comb
how to improve our bodies and skin. Not only do we ne- crucial to choose an oil with caring vents moisture from penetrating, caus- When you attempt to comb
glect our haircare regimen, but it frequently falls lower components like Hair & Care, which ing damage over time. through tangles after washing
For India, the Commonwealth on the priority list.Although we have liked getting soaked
in the rain throughout the monsoon season, it will soon
comprises plant-based extracts of
Aloe Vera and Green Tea.Twice a week,
Reduce the number of times you
wash your hair since harsh water
your hair, you risk significant dam-
age. Because of how delicate your
Games give a chance to assess come to an end. This has been the most difficult time of
year to take care of our hair. Our hair becomes frizzy, dry,
apply hair oil before shampooing to causes it to become dry and crinkly wet hair is, brushing it vigorously
how they are likely to fare when loses its lustre, and develops dandruff and an itchy scalp
strengthen hair strands from the roots,
lessen frizz, and avoid hair breakage.
and cause significant hair loss. The
other option is to use a filter to remove
might cause hair loss. It's prefer-
able to towel-dry your hair before
tougher assignments come as a result of rising air humidity and improper haircare
practices. These symptoms are all telltale signs of hair
To help repair the damage and make the hard water and stop the harm. using a wide-toothed comb, jade
along.
it smooth, silky, and bouncy, it's crucial The Best way is to towel-dry your comb, or wooden comb as these
damage. to choose an oil with caring compo- hair will be less harsh on your strands.
Another edition of the Commonwealth Games is
over, and though some would term it a relic of the past
and an anachronism, Birmingham showed it remains
relevant. Colonial legacy and history are sensitive sub-
jects — in the UK as well as the erstwhile outposts of
the British Empire — and many argue that nations
don’t need to be reminded that they were once sub-
jugated. But giving a sporting platform for elite ath-
letes to showcase their prowess is a good enough ar-
gument for these Games, even if the level of competi-
Ganjam, Odisha: What does it take to
tion in many sports is a few rungs below what is seen
at the Olympics, the World Championships or even the
continental Games.For India, the Commonwealth
Games give a chance to assess how they are likely to
fare when tougher assignments come along. In Bir-
be friends with the Indian antelope?
By Prativa Ghosh been involved in this conservation, so Maharana, who says villagers spend Rajasthan and the Vala Rajputs
mingham, the performance of India’s track and field Ganjam (Odisha), Aug 10 (IANS/ 101Reporters) much so that their work has drawn the time rescuing and rearing the of Saurashtra, the people of
athletes came as a breath of fresh air. Triple jumper "We heard of a time when the village was hit by a eyes of several parties. Not only has blackbuck despite adversities. Ganjam have been enthusiasti-
Eldhose Paul and 3,000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable drought for three years. People hardly had any food. there been an increase in the number Furthermore, members of various cally protecting this animal.
showed they can mix it with the best in the world. The And as they starved, wild animals migrated from of blackbuck in the district, tourists, women-led self-help groups (SHG) When the whole community
latter took on, and left behind, a few Kenyans, consid- the forest to the village. Among them were the too, have flocked to the region to and anganwadi workers in Bhetanai works to protect them, it runs
ered the royalty in middle- and long-distance races. blackbuck, which had arrived in Bhetanai for the catch a glimpse of the animal, giving are also involved in the process. Inci- on auto-pilot with no major
Weightlifting, table tennis and badminton were other first time," narrates Suresh Maharana, an elderly it a unique identity. dentally, it is the women of these SHGs government involvement re-
sports which provided big medal hauls to India. And resident of the village. The local conservation story who collect data on blackbuck, their quired."
though, on the mat, the competition was arguably The very next year, Maharana adds, it rained in Nearly 90 per cent of Bhetanai's movement, changing food habits etc. Efforts of the forest depart-
weaker than what is seen in domestic trials, there were Bhetanai, and everything returned to normal. residents say they have lost crops to A Vana Surakhya Samiti was also set up ment
other commendable achievements.At 40, paddler "Since then, people have believed that these blackbuck, but they hardly have any to protect the species with the help of In India, the blackbuck is
Sharath Kamal continues to mint medals, while a sport animals are lucky for the village. So we never stop complaints. The reason being, new the Odisha government's forest de- protected under Schedule I of
previously unknown in India, lawn bowls, also added blackbuck from eating our crops," he says, describ- employment opportunities -- some- partment. the Wildlife Protection Act,
to the country’s gold tally. Boxer Nitu Ghanghas, whose ing the close bond their ancestors share with the thing they desperately needed as ag- Usha Rani, an anganwadi worker in 1972. It is also included in the
father has been on unpaid leave for three years and is blackbucks. riculture couldn't be relied upon as a Sadhhi Nayapally village, says their International Union for Conser-
facing a departmental inquiry for long absenteeism Maharana then goes on to share another folk- primary livelihood means. As in- centres play a crucial role in blackbuck vation of Nature ? Red List.
to look after his daughter’s blooming career, showed lore: "Since Lord Ram chased a deer and lost Sita, formed by Pratyush Mahapatra, a sci- conservation in Ganjam. While its numbers in India had
the kind of sacrifices needed for sporting glory at the it's believed that bad luck will fall upon anyone who entist at Zoological Survey of India, a "In our village, around seven SHGs dwindled by the 1990s, conser-
elite level. They didn’t necessarily have to win gold to harms the blackbuck." 2010 report by the department on dedicate themselves to the conserva- vation efforts for this rare spe-
point to a bright future. The women’s cricket and True or not, this relationship with the endan- blackbuck stated that around 25 per tion of blackbuck."Bishnu Majhi, who cies gathered pace due to pub-
hockey teams showed that they are on the right track gered animal, steeped in lore and tradition, has cent of the fields in Bhetanai were has been involved in conservation lic participation, and their num-
to be considered one of the best in the world. Any such pinned rural Odisha on the map. barren. work for the past 20 years, says women bers are now on the rise again.
event is a kaleidoscope of emotions and memories, In Bhetanai, around 50 km from Berhampur, The villagers here have set an ex- of the SHGs have been distributing Odisha is the prime ex-
and one of them that will stay is the bonhomie shared blackbucks -- the herbivores that need large graz- ample for public participation in wild- leaflets to improve public awareness ample of such community ef-
by Pakistani weightlifter Muhammad Nooh Dastgir ing land -- get a free pass to roam on the farmlands life protection, with every villager act- on blackbucks. In addition, several fort. According to a survey con-
Butt and India’s Gurdeep Singh, both of whom finished of the villagers and despite the crop loss, villagers ing as a guardian. It is because of these paintings adorn the walls of govern- ducted by the state forest de-
on the podium in the 109kg-plus category. The cama- believe that the Indian antelopes are the reason for community efforts, that Bhetanai is ment schools to create awareness partment, the blackbuck popu-
raderie and affection they displayed proved that sport their wealth and happiness. moving past the agri-sector and look- among children. lation spiked from 1,533 in 2011
can indeed be a vehicle to bring people closer. That’s Over the last decade, locals in Ganjam have ing at tourism as a dependable alter- Furthermore, Dilip Kumar Rout, the to 2,809 in 2018 and 6,875 by
what adds to the relevance of the Commonwealth nate livelihood. One such 'guardian' is Ghumsura divisional forest officer, says: 2021.
Games. 52-year-old Kailash Chandra "Just like the Bishnois of western
By IANSlife
Explore India this Independence Day weekend
lay testament to the travels, explora- ences and instagrammable holiday! the environmental and cultural heri- nificant legacy in the family. archaeological museum for a dose of
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANSlife) With tions, global design and aesthetic sen- Jehan Numa Palace, Bhopal: tage forward are the Jehan Numa Pal- The Jehan Numa Museum located the latest findings on the legendary
a lengthy Independence Day weekend sibilities of the otherwise traditional It is easy to see why the Bhopal city ace and the Jehan Numa Retreat, and in the central courtyard embodies the community.
coming up, make plans to honour Chettinadu traders. and the surrounding regions are so the people behind them, the direct unique story of Bhopal and the Royal Spice Coast Cruises:
India's history while enjoying some Visalam is authentic through its well-planned, clean roads, elegant ar- descendents of the Begums. Family, tracing their engagements and Explore Kerala differently!
downtime. Take some time out to ex- entire fabric of offerings and serves as chitecture (Taj-ul-Masjid and others), Jehan Numa Palace stands at the efforts. Jehan Numa Palace is synony- Kettuvallams were once used to carry
plore India's vast cultural and geo- a perfect base to explore the well-placed administration, thought- foot of Shyamla Hills with sweeping mous with an understanding of cargoes of rice and spices up and
graphic variety up close and personal Chettiand landscape of local traditions fully laid of greens and water bodies, views of the city. Built by the last son Bhopal's history, so much so that all down these Kerala waterways for cen-
and to feel proud of our country's ac- and rich heritage of arts - cycle/walk- walking tours begin at its door. turies. CGH Earth Spice Coast Cruises
complishments. ing tours of luxurious architecture and Chittoor Kottaram, Kochi, dress these traditional houseboats as
The largest exhibition of the interiors of Chettinad homes, meet the Kerala: gorgeous floating hotels for authen-
world's countless cultural ideas, each cotton weavers in action, learn the pro- Earthy Kerala luxuries and el- tic experiences of Kerala's backwaters
with its own customs, traditions, lan- cess of making the traditional, vibrant egance mark every inch of this 200 cultural and natural heritage.
guage, and cuisine, can be found in Athangudi tiles, observe the local vil- year old King's abode, a royal mansion Offering single and twin cabins,
India. And we don't even need visas to lage life. Hyperlocal experiences have of devotion by the picturesque back- the bedrooms are private and tradi-
travel to explore and enjoy this mind- been crafted within the property, in- waters. Built by the Rajah of Cochin as tionally luxurious with serene water
blowing legacy?literally it's only a cluding the fiery, nutritious and dis- a getaway from his routine and to pay views; the houseboats also comprise
short drive or flight away! Celebrate tinctive Chettinad cuisine cooked by homage to the family deity temple a living space and front deck. Charm-
India this year by travelling to one of the local village women. closeby, Chittoor Kottaram is a desti- ing local fisherfolk form your personal
these locations for a glimpse into Samode Haveli, Jaipur: nation by itself.Entering the single-key entourage, serving cuisine and craft-
some seductive, some ancient, and A visit to Rajasthan isn't complete heritage palace with a mystical boat ing activities that truly capture the
some eclectic cultural and natural his- without a taste of the much-spoken- ride through the Kerala waters and story and lifestyles of the people for
tory while you indulge yourself, soak about Rajasthan's royalty. What better one is already transported to a whom the waterways serve as a source
up traditional hospitality, and have a way to experience this than to stay at fantastical bygone era. Carefully and of life. CGH offers some extraordinary
well-earned, mindfully opulent vaca- one of the truest reflection of meticulously restored by Lady Halyn's itineraries on these exquisite house-
tion. Rajputana hospitality located just Trust, this true-blooded legacy lies in boats. However, even a weekend get-
Check in at these beautiful prop- within the Old city of Jaipur, the 200- an embrace of mystical gardens and away on these boats is a unique expe-
erties to savour the best of India: year old Samode Haveli. With gor- the stunning backwaters with swaying rience in serendipity and cultural in-
Visalam, Kanadukathan, Tamil geously intricate walls murals, some palms and flowering creepers. Airy, sights. And one that you can pack with
Nadu 100s of years old, art and furnishings well-lit and most aesthetically deco- water activities such as standup pad-
Explore 19th century Chettiar way of colourful flowing fabrics, and el- rated, 3 bedrooms and living quarters dling and canoeing for that extra zing
of life with this exquisite 15-roomed egant rooms and suites spread across are dotted with wooden windows, a to the fun!
heritage-boutique property in the bougenvilla fringed courtyards, ter- beautiful verandah and backyard to sit Fazlani Natures Nest, Lonavla,
Chettinad village of Kanadukathan. races and alcoves, the Haveli is what with a legacy in enriching literature of the Begum, General Obaidullah back, relax and enjoy the most gor- Maharashtra:
Visalam is a 100-year-old labour of fairytales are made of. Indulge in local and arts. Respect for the local tribes, Khan in the early 19th century, the Pal- geous greens and waters. Overlooking the majestic moun-
love, a gift from a father to his eldest Rajasthani cuisine, there's much to ex- the natural environment and Bhopal's ace beautifully captures the family's Enjoy dishes that are Kerala's best- tains of the Western Ghats and sur-
daughter - a progressive and rare oc- plore for plant and meat lovers, as well history is evident on the streets, in legacy and history of Bhopal and the kept secrets, as carefully planned and rounded by dense green lands with a
currence in those times. A veritable as other International cuisines and their civic sense, their museums (Tribal royal's way of life. The royal Bhopali personalised to suit tastes and dietary plethora of flora and fauna, Fazlani
museum, Visalam is one of the finest don't miss the morning guided walks museum and Museum of Man) and cuisine with a treasure trove of dishes needs, and let Mervin, the traditional Natures Nest resort offers a breath-tak-
examples of a typical Chettiar home, around the old-city curated by the their demeanor. created using centuries-old recipes are karyasthan (royal caretaker) regale ing display of lush green lawns beside
Burmese teak woodwork and ornate hotel; step outside the gates to revel After all, Bhopal was ruled by the served along with the global, modern with you anecdotes and stories of the azure lake waters in a tranquil hamlet
ceilings, chandeliers from Europe and in the city markets, museums and art powerful women of the royal family for cuisines, heritage rooms open onto Palace. Do keep a day to explore the called Takwe near Lonavala in
the Far East, Belgian glasswork, Italian centres, Samode Haveli is perfect for a over 400 years, and is popularly known balconies with views of the pool of the UNESCO protected town of Fort Kochi, Maharashtra. The visual delight is
marble, and beautiful handmade tiles, whole-some flavour of sophisticated as 'The land of the Begums'. Carrying royal stables and racecourse - unde- for its eclectic history and food! The therapeutic. Conveniently located be-
as well as a beautiful heritage pool, all royalty, binge-eating, Jaipur experi- the Bsgums' philosophy of preserving terred love for horses has been a sig- history lovers can also visit the Muziris tween Mumbai and Pune.
More ambitious emissions reduction targets will help Indian fossil fuel giants: IEEFA
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Global nies, NTPC andTata Power are role mod- transition-vulnerable sectors. plaining how they plan to adapt their works, known as sustainability-linked sions by 2040 or earlier.
green capital presents a multi-billion- els for charting successful pathways to IEEFA's report notes that NTPC and business models, establishing ambi- finance frameworks, to raise capital to IEEFA's report comes at a time when
dollar opportunity for Indian power transforming their business models Tata Power may be able to meet their tious targets and outlining financing achieve these targets would send the decarbonisation plans of countries and
sector giants such as NTPC and Tata and attracting foreign private capital," capital requirements through tradi- strategies to achieve their targets." right signals to ESG investors. It would companies are coming under increased
Power to fund their clean energy tran- says the report's co-author Saurabh tional financing. However, if the RBI's The report notes that NTPC and unlock new avenues of capital," says scrutiny. Assessments such as the
sitions. Trivedi, Research Analyst at IEEFA. recommendations are implemented Tata Power have commendable clean Trivedi.To follow the IPCC's proposed NewClimate Institute's recent report
A new report by the Institute for "However, successfully engaging the companies are likely to face rising energy deployment plans that will re- emissions reduction pathway or the help governments and corporations
Energy Economics and Financial Analy- serious green investors would depend financing costs. quire significant capital expenditure. SBTia¿s recommendations to keep glo- find gaps and address them.
sis (IEEFA) on Wednesday said robust on the companies' ambition and the "Global investors are increasingly However, their plans to reduce bal warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, "Increasing non-fossil energy ca-
decarbonisation plans that align with transparency of their transition plans." concerned about climate risk," say emissions intensity by 17 per cent and NTPC would have to accelerate the de- pacity to 500 gigawatts and the reduc-
climate science-based net zero targets The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has Trivedi and co-author Christina Ng, Re- 20 per cent, respectively, by 2030 fall commissioning of coal mines and ex- tion of projected carbon emissions by
will be critical to mobilising this rising recommended that financial institu- search and Stakeholder Engagement short of the Intergovernmental Panel isting coal-fired power plants and stop one billion tonnes by 2030 were not
tide of sustainable finance. tions voluntarily mitigate the potential Leader, Debt Markets, at IEEFA. on Climate Change's (IPCC) proposed constructing new ones, while Tata included in India's updated Nationally
IEEFA's report compares the clean climate risk in their portfolios. Such a "To access new financing instru- pathway -- a key consideration for glo- Power would have to disclose and set Determined Contribution (NDC)," he
energy deployment and greenhouse move would require their clients in the ments in foreign capital markets, such bal ESG investors.Tata Power is ex- out a plan to divest from stakes in In- says."Yet renewable capacity additions
gas emissions reduction pathways of emissions-intensive industries to set as sustainability-linked bonds and pected to publish revised emissions donesian coal as well as accelerate de- will have to expand at a far faster rate
NTPC and Tata Power with those of Ital- sustainable energy transition strate- loans, Indian fossil fuel-based compa- reduction targets, which are currently commissioning of its coal-fired power for India to be on a pathway towards
ian energy company Enel, which, as a gies. nies must convince foreign investors, in the validation stage with the Science- plants. limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees
pioneer of sustainability-linked finan- The RBI's recent consultation paper especially environmental, social and Ba
des Targets initiative The UN-backed Race to Zero cam- Celisus. This requires fossil fuel compa-
cial structures, has raised billions of also recommended that financial insti- governance (ESG) investors, that they (SBTi)."Adopting more ambitious emis- paign and the SBTi recommend that nies to redouble their efforts to transi-
dollars to fund its decarbonisation. tutions start factoring in climate risk are taking big steps to become clean sions reduction targets alongside for- power companies commit to achieving tion to a clean energy future."
"As India's leading power compa- while investing in or lending to energy energy companies."This involves ex- mal outcome-based finance frame- net zero across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emis-
CMYK
t h e da ily gua r dia n r eview
we d n e s day | 10 augu st 2 0 2 2
new de l h i comment & analysis 7
GEOPOLITICS
PERSPECTIVE
United States still searching

‘PALTU UNCLE’
NITISH DOES
for a regional role ANOTHER U-TURN
There’s a good reason why Tejashwi Yadav used to
Through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the United States

refer to the JD(U) leader as Paltu Uncle (someone
who does U-turns). Tejashwi was referring to Nitish
Kumar’s habit of changing coalition partners to suit
tends to assure its Indo-Pacific partners that it still has geo-economic his moods and personal ambitions. Certainly, Nitish
has been vacillating between the BJP and the Opposi-
clout in the region, but the US has been continuously compelled by tion. In 2013, he ditched the BJP with whom he had a
cordial rapport during the Vajpayee-Advani era, pro-
China to find a regional role in Asia-Pacific at least since 2009. testing against the elevation of Narendra Modi as the
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Two years later,
and the initiative continues ally i.e. the UK, along with he tied up with the RJD and the Congress to form the
to remain in political vacuity. Australia, but by excluding Mahagathbandhan for the 2015 polls. Although the
Interestingly, B3W was ap- Japan and India which are al- NDA got only 58 of the 243 seats in the Assemblypolls,
parently positioned against ready there in Quad. Quad’s the JD(U) was pushed to the second position with the
opinion China’s Belt and Road Initia-
tive (BRI).
mandate has been gradually
diluted since 2007, so the
RJD winning 80 seats, while the JD(U) got only 71,
though both had contested 101 seats each. However,
Today, for the IPEF, the real question remains if AUKUS as a senior leader, Nitish Kumar became the CM with
FAISAL AHMED & challenge is whether it can complements its security role Lalu Yadav’s son and heir apparent, Tejashwi as his
ALEXANDRE LAMBERT create a win-win situation or not. deputy CM. That alliance did not last very long and
for other developing coun- Therefore, the Indo-Pacific Nitish was soon back with the BJP. He contested the
tries in the region, or is it all countries need to exercise 2019 Lok Sabha with the NDA, at a point when the
about the agenda of restoring caution in approaching the Opposition needed a face and Kumar could have
“American exceptionalism”. IPEF. Through IPEF, the emerged as a leader uniting all the opposition parties
Instead of laying down a con- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and United States tends to assure together. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls, the JD(U)
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Indo-Pacific
crete geo-economic roadmap Economic Framework for Prosperity event, in Tokyo on 23 May its Indo-Pacific partners that came third with RJD emerging as the single largest
for the B3W, and for instance, 2022. ANI it still has a geo-economic party and even the BJP getting more than the JD(U),
how private sector capital as framework like IPEF, it is not a congregation that seems to clout in the region and that but again it was Nitish who was made the CM.
mandated can be mobilised easy to define concrete deliv- be yet another non-serious China has yet not displaced it. However, his having walked back to the Mahagath-
to finance it, the United States erables e.g. on standards, or American effort after BDN Perhaps, it is largely mistak- bandhan has happened at a time when the Opposition
has brought its partners into for that matter, supply-chain and B3W. It’s no longer about en because it has been contin- still lacks a viable face to take on Narendra Modi. As a
a new bandwagon–the IPEF. resilience. The propositions geographic eligibility because uously compelled by China to six-term CM representing a state in the Hindi belt, cer-
Interestingly, IPEF carries envisaged under the Supply United Kingdom which does find a regional role in Asia- tainly Nitish’s bid would have a certain appeal that is
some overlapping agenda Chain Resilience Initiative not share the Pacific has al- Pacific at least since 2009. missing from Mamata Bannerjee or K. Chadrasekhar
on similar lines as the B3W, (SCRI) and China+1 policy, ready applied to join the CP- Moreover, IPEF is a unique Rao’s candidature. Nitish also has a cross-party good-
amid its call for supply chain both aiming to reduce de- TPP. And China, too, which deal for the United States, will for his 2015 swearing-in ceremony had seen lead-
T
he United States-led the United States. It sug- resilience, clean energy, or pendence on China, are yet to was deliberately kept out but “just another” plan for ers from various parties, including the Abdullahs,
Indo-Pacific Eco- gests that trade with the digital economy. In 2019, the yield any pragmatic outcome. from President Obama’s TPP its partners especially India Kejriwal, Mamata Bannerjee, Yechury and Rahul
nomic Framework Indo-Pacific supports more United States launched a Blue Such deliverables, however, owing to stringent TRIPS- and Southeast Asian coun- Gandhi present. Given the fact that the Congress is in
(IPEF) is calling for prosper- than three million American Dot Network (BDN) as a cer- can be defined only in case of plus commitments has also tries. IPEF can make sense no shape to lead the charge against the BJP and Modi,
ity in the region. It, therefore, jobs and attracts approxi- tification system that aimed mega-regional trade agree- expressed its interest in only if it advances “region- a united opposition would do well to throw its weight
solicits a critical assessment. mately $900 billion FDI to ensure transparency in ments. joining it now. With such re- building” in the Indo-Pacif- behind Nitish’s candidature.
We need to evaluate if it is a in the United States. So, in infrastructure financing. Third, IPEF cannot even configurations, a rule-based ic, but without prioritising That is not to say that Nitish’s popularity has not
serious effort toward “region- congruence with a previous This was also positioned be compared with congre- system can’t be determined American interests. Also, the waned. Certainly he is not the same leader that he
building” in the Indo-Pacific American initiative viz. Build against the BRI –reflecting gations like Asia-Pacific by economic frameworks like American narratives against was in 2013 when he took a stand against Modi’s
or just another geopolitical Back Better World (B3W) an American impatience to Economic Cooperation IPEF, but by mega-regional China, even if appealing for candidature as PM. Much water has flown under
manoeuvring by the United that aimed to create Ameri- counter China even through (APEC) that was formed in blocs which not only hosts few Indo-Pacific countries, that bridge since then, his own credibility has also
States to find a regional role. can jobs, IPEF, too, carries frameworks with unmatched 1989 and includes countries China, but also Australia, Ja- cannot help sustain their taken a hit after he tied hands with Modi after first
The context has to be how similar ambitions. In fact, mandate. The IPEF dis- on both sides of the Pacific pan, South Korea, and others. geo-economic interests. opposing him. Neither is the JD(U) the single largest
the American partners in countries which supported course, too, is moving in this Ocean. Almost all the issues Fourth, on a strategic note, Faisal Ahmed is a Professor party in the state. Riding on Nitish’s coat-tails, the BJP
the region would benefit, the B3W are yet to decipher direction. that comprise the core man- a crucial issue for the Asian of International Business at has made considerable inroads—which makes you
and not what the United any pragmatic gains. B3W, Second, IPEF is not posi- date of both B3W and IPEF allies of the United States is to FORE School of Management, wonder about the former’s political smarts. But the
States thinks it must do. The a G7 backed $40 trillion in- tioned as a traditional free are already there on APEC’s decipher for themselves the New Delhi. Alexandre Lambert Opposition is currently so bankrupt that any viable
members must, therefore, ap- frastructure plan launched trade agreement. And can- agenda, and all countries relationship between Quad- is the Academic Director at Ge- alternative to the Gandhis will do, even if it’s one with
proach this framework with in June 2021, was positioned not be compared with a currently in IPEF except rilateral Security Dialogue neva Institute of Geopolitical a slightly damaged political aura. Over to 2024, and
adequate caution. Here’s why. to focus on four potential ar- mega-regional bloc like Com- India are also APEC mem- (Quad) and Australia-Unit- Studies, Geneva. They are au- we may see a Modi Vs Nitish face off, that is, of course,
First, a White House state- eas viz. climate, health and prehensive and Progressive bers. So, at least for India, ed Kingdom-United States thors of the book The Belt and if Nitish remains put in one place till then and doesn’t
ment of 23 May clearly as- health security, digital tech- Agreement for Trans-Pacific joining APEC would create (AUKUS). AUKUS was Road Initiative: Geopolitical do another U-turn.
serted the significance of nology, and gender equity. It Partnership (CP-TPP). This more geo-economic gains formed by the United States and Geoeconomic Aspects PRIYA SAHGAL
the Indo-Pacific region for has been almost a year now, is because, for a cooperation instead of relying on IPEF– last year by including its old published by Routledge, c.2022.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Remittances are the lifeline for many developing countries

For more than 60 nations, international remittances represent at least 5% of their GDP.
remittances. On the other tain countries (Europe and India is the largest recipient of remittances significantly to 35.2% (from it can lead to appreciation of
hand, developing countries, Central Asia in particular) 16.7% in previous survey), the currency, thereby mak-
India and China received and certain workers (those in the world. The data from the balance of pushing Kerala to the second ing its exports less competi-
the maximum remittances engaged in severely affected payment indicates that private transfers position (10.2% share com- tive. However, these costs
opinion ($83 billion and $59 billion sectors as travel and tour-
respectively) in 2020, fol- ism) being affected more mainly representing remittances by Indians
pared to 19% earlier). Tamil
Nadu (9.7%), Delhi (9.3%)
are not of value when seen
in the context of resource
lowed by Mexico, the Phil- than others. Many workers Karnataka (5.2%) are the oth- scare low income develop-
DISHA KHETERPAL ippines and Egypt. Even lost their jobs or had to come
employed overseas remained at $83 billion er major recipients of remit- ing countries. Remittance
though in absolute terms the back to their native coun- in FY19 and FY20. After declining modestly tances. These top five sates inflows for low and middle
remittances are significantly tries while others got stuck account for around 70% of income countries are even
higher in India and China, in foreign countries with no to $80 in FY21, it again improved to $89 the total remittances. The higher than FDI and aid. Ef-
Furthermore, the data shows their share as % of GDP is job and money or had to un-
that the top destinations of very low (3.1% of GDP and dertake pay cuts. However,
billion in the financial year ending March 22. remittances are the major
source of foreign exchange
forts should thus be made
by the authorities to reduce
international migrants were 0.1% of GDP respectively). some migrants benefitted for India besides being used transaction costs. As per the
the USA, Germany, Saudi But certain smaller countries due to various welfare pro- by 5% with the remittances as per the previous survey to finance our huge trade World Bank, global average
Arabia, Russia and the UK. like Tongo, Kyrgyz Republic, grams of their respective from Russia expected to fall 2016-17 and it has been re- deficit. This necessitates cost of sending the remit-
Meanwhile, the largest num- Tajikistan, Lebanon, Nepal host countries and sent back by a third. Coming to India, placed by the USA now. building and developing a tances is currently 6.09%
ber of international migrants depend significantly on re- more money. it is the largest recipient of Apart from that, the UK and conducive policy ecosystem of the amount sent for US$
in 2020 originate from India mittance flows. The share of Another incident which remittances in the world. Singapore too emerged as for these flows such that they 200 and the UN SDG target
followed by Mexico, Russia, remittances in GDP of these is likely to have a negative The data from the balance important source, replacing flow to India at lower cost. In is to reduce it to 3% by 2030.
China and Syrian Arab Re- countries is more than 24%. effect on remittance flows of payment indicates that Qatar and Kuwait from the line with the crucial role that In this context investment in
public, with Syria having a When travel restrictions is the Russian invasion of private transfers mainly top 5 sources of remittance NRI remittances play in our digital technologies by remit-
large number of refugees due were imposed due to the Ukraine. It is more than 5 representing remittances by inflows. In fact, the share of country, the RBI has recently tance service provider will
Remittances are an impor- to widespread displacement pandemic, it was thought months with no signs of Indians employed overseas Gulf Cooperation Council liberalised NRI deposits. help a long way in reducing
tant part of the national over the last decade. that remittances would the war drawing to a close. remained at $83 billion in (GCC) group together has To conclude, remittances the cost of remittance flows
income of developing and Meanwhile, global remit- be badly hit. However, the Countries of Central Asia FY19 and FY20. After de- declined to 30% from more are the lifelines for low in- and will also ease the KYC
low income countries. They tances have increased more overall decline in 2020 was including Tajikistan and clining modestly to $80 in than 50% in 2016-17, owing come developing countries. process.
play a significant role in eco- than 5 times over the past 2 only modest when compared Kyrgyz Republic where the FY21, it again improved to to various factors, including This can be supported by The author works as a senior
nomic development of these decades. Of the total inter- to 2019, -2.4% yoy. This has dependence on Russia for re- $89 billion in the financial low oil price and slow pace the fact that for more than economist in the Indian bank-
countries. As per the World national remittances of $702 been possible due to policy mittances is quite high (82% year ending March 22. The of migration amidst stricter 60 countries, international ing sector with core interests in
migration report 2022, there billion recorded in 2020 response to support remit- for the latter and 76% for the RBI survey-based remit- labour laws, higher work remittances represent at public administration, external
were 281 million (or 3.6% of (decline from $719 billion tance flows together with former) will be impacted sig- tance estimates 2020-21 permit renewal fees and least 5% of their GDP. Those sector dynamics and global
the world’s population) in- in 2019 owing to Covid-19 shift from informal channels nificantly by the persisting shows that India received taxes. The pandemic fur- against migration and re- economics. Previously, she has
ternational migrants glob- pandemic) around 77% or (movement of cash through war. As per the World Bank, maximum remittances from ther led to lower demand for mittances argue that there worked on country risk analysis
ally with 169 million (60% $540 billion was received borders) towards more the remittances flowing to USA, followed by the UAE, white collar workers in these are potential costs to the of emerging market economies
of total migrants) labour mi- by low and middle income formal channels through Tajikistan from Russia are UK, Singapore and Saudi countries. country receiving remit- with a French consulting firm.
grants in 2020. Assuming countries. High-income increased digitalisation of likely to fall by more than a Arabia. These top 5 coun- If we look at the state wise tances if moving out from She holds a Master’s degree in
an average household size countries including the financial transactions. The fifth, thereby leading to tries accounted for 59% of distribution of remittances, the country creates labour economics from the Jawaharlal
of four, more than 1 billion USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, impact of the pandemic on shrinking of its economy by the total remittances flow Maharashtra is the top recip- shortage in the home coun- Nehru University and a bach-
people benefited from the Switzerland and Germany remittances, though limited, 2%. Even Kyrgyzstan econ- to India. Interestingly, UAE ient with its share in total in- try or if the remittances sent elor’s from Sri Venkateshwara
remittance flows in 2020. are the top countries sending has been uneven with cer- omy is projected to decline was the top source country ward remittances increasing are significantly high, then College, Delhi University.
Editorial Director: Prof. M.D. Nalapat; Managing Editor: Pankaj Vohra; Editor: Joyeeta Basu; News Editor: Bikash C Paul; Printed and Published by Rakesh Sharma for and on behalf of Good Morning India Media Pvt. Ltd.; Printed at: Good Morning India Media Pvt. Ltd, Khasra No. 39, Village Basai Brahuddin Nagar, Gautam Buddha
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8 legally speaking the daily guardian review
wedne s day | 10 augus t 2022
new delhi
tax matters
analysiang section 194r of the

income tax act perquisites” are not defined
under the IT act. If they re-
ceive any such perquisites or
incentives, whether in cash
analysis or in kind, they must deduct
TDS. In cases where the
benefit is wholly in kind, the
KAUSHIKI KESHARI person providing such a ben-
efit or perquisite is required
to pay TDS on the value of
such benefit or perquisite out
duction will be 10 percent if of his own pocket. In this case,
the aggregate value doesn’t benefits and perquisites are
exceed INR 20,000. In such a determined as per the value
case, tax will not be deducted. of the purchased price and
Such conditions will not be manufactured price. How-
applicable in If the turnover ever, no taxes to be deducted
of business doesn’t exceed u/s 194R on sales discount,
INR One Crore, If the turn- cash discount, or rebate are
over of the profession doesn’t allowed to customers.
exceed INR fifty lakhs, For In the matter of ACIT Vs
instance, if a person is a sales Solvay Pharma India Ltd,
agent and he exceeds the tar- the court held that free
get allotted by the company samples provided by the
R
ecently, Section 194 and receives a new car worth pharmaceutical company
R was inserted by INR 5, 00,000/-the value of for promotion purposes
the Finance Act 2022, INR 5,00,000 will be taxed would be taxable income.
which came into effect on under the head of Profit. As such, free samples cannot In the matter of ACIT Vs Solvay Pharma India Ltd, the court held that free samples provided by the pharmaceutical
July 1st, 2022. CBDT made The intention of this sec- be treated as a freebie. The
certain recommendations tion is to expand the scope complimentary sample of company for promotion purposes would be taxable income. As such, free samples cannot be treated as a freebie.
via Circular 12 from the day of deducting tax on benefits medication serves solely to The complimentary sample of medication serves solely to demonstrate its effectiveness and to win the doctors’
of the addition of this section, or perquisites and to increase demonstrate its effectiveness
it has become highly debat- transparency in the report- and to win the doctors’ con- confidence in the high quality of the pharmaceuticals. Again, this cannot be regarded as gifts given to doctors
fidence in the high quality of
able. Before touching the is-
sues of this section, we need
ing of benefits and perqui-
sites received by an individ- the pharmaceuticals. Again,
as they are intended to promote the company’s goods. The pharmaceutical corporation, which manufactures
to understand the legal pro- ual. Because this particular this cannot be regarded as and markets pharmaceutical products, can only increase sales and brand recognition by hosting seminars
vision of section 194 R. incentive is in kind rather gifts given to doctors as they
In simple terms, the new than cash, recipients of such are intended to promote and conferences and educating medical professionals about recent advances in therapeutics and other medical
section mandates a person
who is responsible for pro-
kinds of transactions do not
include it in their income
the company’s goods. The
pharmaceutical corpora-
fields. Since there are daily advancements in the fields of medicine and therapy taking place throughout the
viding any benefit or perqui- tax return. As a result, inac- tion, which manufactures globe, it is crucial for doctors to stay current in order to give accurate patient diagnosis and treatment.
site to a resident to deduct tax curate income information is and markets pharmaceutical
at source at 10% of the value provided. Such an incentive products, can only increase advancements in medicine, pany would need to deduct lated by deducting expendi- a social media influencer. She There is no further require-
or aggregate value of such or bonus in kind ought to ide- sales and brand recognition which is advantageous for TDS on it. ture incurred on their busi- received an offer from a comment to check whether the
benefit or perquisite before ally be reported as income by hosting seminars and both the pharmaceutical in- Another question that pops ness. Filming costs, such as pany for product promotion amount is taxable in the
providing such benefit or under the 1961 Income-tax conferences and educating dustry and the doctors treat- up is that in the case of gifts cameras, microphones, and in another city. She charged hands of the recipient or un-
perquisite. The benefit or Act (ITA). Also, according medical professionals about ing patients. Free medication and perks received on spe- other equipment; subscrip- her fee of Rs 88,000 and the der which section it is taxable.
perquisite may or may not to Section 28(iv) of the ITA, recent advances in thera- samples provided to doctors cial occasions like birthdays, tion and software licencing travel expense incurred by The Supreme Court took the
be convertible into money, any benefit or perk received peutics and other medical by pharmaceutical corpora- marriages, and festivals, un- fees; internet and commu- her was Rs 25,000. Here, the same view in the case of PIL-
but it must result from such from a business or profes- fields. Since there are daily tions cannot be considered der such circumstances, Sec- nication costs; home office company will reimburse her COM vs. CIT in reference to
resident’s business or profession, whether convertible advancements in the fields of freebies in light of the afore- tion 194R will only be applied costs, such as rent and utili- travel expenses. So, the travel the deduction of tax under
sional activities. As per this into money or not, must be medicine and therapy taking mentioned value. if they arise out of business ties; office supplies; busi- expenditure incurred by the Section 194E. It was held by
section, tax will be deducted reported as business income place throughout the globe, it Hence, under such circum- or profession. ness costs, such as travel or company is covered under the Hon’ble Supreme Court
by business or profession on in the hands of the receiver. is crucial for doctors to stay stances, for such a sales effort, As we know, we are head- transportation costs; and the benefits and perquisites that tax is to be deducted un-
any benefits or perquisites of Now Section 194(R) gives the current in order to give ac- the pharmaceutical company ing towards digitalisation. others are examples of what provided to Nandini. Hence, der section 194E at a specific
a person who is residing in right to the payee to deduct curate patient diagnosis and may deduct its expenses. The There are many social media can be written off as a social TDS is to be deducted under rate indicated therein, and
India. The benefit or perqui- the amount, whether in cash treatment. The main goal of promotion would, however, influencers who are playing media influencer. To illus- section 194R at the rate of there is no need to see the
site can be in the form of cash or kind, arising out of busi- these conferences and semi- be taxable income in the a crucial role in marketing trate how Section 194 R will 10%, i.e., Rs 2500 is deduct- taxability under DTAA or
or kind, or partially in cash ness promotion. nars is to keep doctors up hands of the receiver, and strategy. Income received be applicable in such a situa- ible from the fees payable to the rate of taxability in the
and partially in kind. Tax de- The terms “benefits and to date on the most recent the pharmaceutical com- by an influencer is calcu- tion, let’s consider Nandini is Nandini. hands of the non-resident.
power issues
Electricity connection cannot be denied only

because dispute regarding ownership of land
is pending: Gujarat High Court
The bench of Justice Supehia noted that the Petitioners were owners of the concerned agricultural land for which electricity was sought.
However, it was observed that the electricity was denied on the ground that the Petitioners were illegally occupying Government land.
TDG NETWORK
were occupying was in the observed that the electricity
name of the Government. was denied on the ground
The Gujarat High Court in However, the proceedings that the Petitioners were il-
the case Yogesh Lakhman- were initiated by the Mam- legally occupying Govern-
bhai Chovatiya v/s PGVCL latdar against them u/s 61 of ment land.
Through the Deputy Man- the Gujarat Land Revenue Further, the bench of
ager observed and has clari- Code for removal of en- Justice Supehia concluded
fied that occupiers of a land croachment. Further, to bol- while perusing Sec 43 that
cannot be denied electricity ster their contention, it was the provision stipulated that
connection only because a relied by the petitioner on the licensee shall supply
dispute regarding owner- an order of the High Court electricity to those premises
ship of the land is pending. and Sec 43 of the Electricity where the application had
The bench comprising of Act, 2003 which mandates been filed by the owner or
Justice AS Supehia observed the supply of electricity to the occupier. Consequently,
and referred to a division any occupier or owner of a reference was made to the
bench judgment stating that premises. order of the Division Bench
right and title and owner- The Petitioners could be of the High Court in LPA No.
ship or right of occupancy said to be ‘occupier’ of the 91/2010 wherein it was ob-
has no nexus with grant of land in question and the served:
electrical connection to a connection could not be The Court stated that such
consumer. denied by the Respondent. power being not vested un-
In the present case, the The bench of Justice Su- der the law with the com-
petitioner current occupiers pehia noted that the Peti- pany and as the company
of the land and submitted tioners were owners of the cannot decide the disputed
that they were denied an concerned agricultural land question of right and title occupancy has no nexus While keeping in view of Supehia that the Respon- Petitioners in the premises list maintained by the name
electricity connection only for which electricity was and this court is of the view with grant of electrical con- the aforesaid provisions, dent-Company to supply of the property at the earli- containing the names of the
because the land that they sought. However, it was that ownership or right of nection to a consumer. it was directed by Justice electricity connection to the est in accordance with the Petitioners in the list.
t h e da ily gua r dia n r eview
w e dne sday | 10 augu st 2 0 2 2
new de l h i policy & politics 9
75th independence day
pRadhan MantRi awas yojana:

Rs 8.31 lakh cR investMent appRoved cial security of having their GST, and affordable hous- complaints, paving the way
own homes - a significant ing projects are levied with for a stronger and more re-
sea-change in a once highly GST of only 1% to keep the silient real estate sector.
patriarchal society. momentum of demand high. RERA is in many ways
Smart Cities Mission: The REITs: Real Estate Invest- still a work-in-progress,
analysis Smart Cities mission aims to
develop 100 cities that are
ment Trusts (REITs) have with loopholes and lacunae
emerged as another option getting addressed along the
technology-enabled to drive for Indian investors to add way. However, it is safe to say
ANUJ PURI economic growth and offer real estate to their portfolios that it is the one regulatory
significantly improved qual- for better diversification and reform that has genuinely
ity of life to citizens. Currently, risk mitigation. The REITs empowered real estate end-
there are 5,151 projects under operational in India today users and investors.
world order. The real estate this mission across the identi- are mainly in the commercial
sector features prominently fied cities, with investments office segment. The total mar- THE ‘AMRIT KAAL’
in this revitalized avatar of a to the tune of INR 2,05,018 ket cap of these REITs is esti- WAY FORWARD
country on the move. Let’s re- crores. mated at INR 60,584 crores. As the nation progresses
flect on what has transpired RERA: Perhaps the most rapidly and requirements
over the years and take a CRITICAL REFORMS significant post-indepen- evolve, real estate products,
look at what lies ahead for Various reforms and struc- dence reform to impact the services, and assets will
the sector. tural changes implemented Indian real estate sector was grow too. Many new-age
The Winds of Change in the government have been implementing the Real Estate real estate asset classes such
As India’s population grew instrumental in altering the Regulation Act. This Act aims as senior living and student
over time, cities expanded to real estate sector. Today, we to safeguard the interests of housing are already gaining
create habitable localities and use terms such as governance, homebuyers and investors momentum. Data centres,
industries for its economic transparency, and account- and make developers ac- warehousing, and industrial
I
n Finance Minister Nir- upliftment. Chandigarh ability, and stakeholders are countable for their projects. parks are the new buzzwords
mala Seetharaman’s was the first planned city of evaluated on these param- The Act makes all relevant in the sector. They will gain
words, India stands on independent India - one of eters. project details, including further traction as the incum-
the threshold of Amrit Kaal, the successful trials of ur- Many corporate business the approvals and permis- bent government focuses on
or the ‘Era of Elixir’. Regard- ban planning and modern houses have also ventured sions, available at homebuy- its visions of Atmanirbhar
ing the country’s real estate architecture. To address into the sector. Prominent ers’ fingertips and provides Bharat and India becoming
sector, we can be a little more the ever-increasing need for and listed real estate play- a mechanism for redressing a USD 5 trillion economy.
restrained with such defini- housing, the government set ers are successfully gaining complaints and grievances.
tions. Still, there is little doubt up institutions like the Hous- market share and helping RERA establishes specific NOT A HOME RUN YET
that the industry has made ing and Urban Development the industry consolidate - a standards for the construc- As these sectors and econom-
remarkable progress since Company (HUDCO), City The rapid growth of the try of global investors. This In the country’s urban areas, much-needed process that tion and development of real ic activities rev up, housing
it attained independence 75 Industrial and Development IT-ITeS sector resulted in catalysed the development of the development has been steadily eliminates unwhole- estate that aim to improve for the workers they employ
years ago. Real estate has not Corporation (CIDCO), and the expansion of new urban malls and other organized re- tangible. some elements and the she- transparency in real estate will pose a significant chal-
been left behind - quite the the National Housing Bank centres across major cities tail spaces across the country. CLSS: To provide momen- nanigans for which they were transactions. It has given lenge. The government has al-
contrary. (NHB). like Bengaluru, Chennai, PMAY: With the Pradhan tum to affordable housing known. homebuyers several rights ready laid the framework for
This once hugely belea- The liberalization of policies Hyderabad, Kolkata, MMR, Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and generate demand for it, Some of the significant and has set forth specific affordable rental housing and
guered sector has made in the 1990s facilitated signifi- NCR, and Pune. These cit- program, the social housing the government has provided reforms in recent times and laws and regulations that invites private participation,
history-defying forward cant changes in the real estate ies were the first to witness sector - mainly aimed at the for subsidized interest to be their effects: all developers must observe. but there is still a lack of clari-
strides, especially in the last sector. Many international changing skylines and rapid economically weaker sections paid to financial institutions GST: This taxation reform In the five years of its ex- ty. ARHCs (Affordable Rental
8-10 years. companies jostled to establish vertical development. - has gathered momentum lending to borrowers in this was conceived and imple- istence, 87,124 projects and Housing Complexes) are now
Today, massive transforma- businesses in India, trigger- At the turn of the century, over the last decade. PMAY housing category. The cost of mented to enable a uniform 65,500 agents have been among the most urgent needs
tion across sectors and indus- ing a consistently increasing the sector was further invig- was launched with a specific ownership became easier on tax code across the coun- registered across the coun- in post-Independence India
tries has assured India a rec- demand for commercial and orated when foreign direct and ambitious target to pro- prospective buyers and em- try. Completed real estate try. The regulator has suc- - and the government’s Hous-
ognizable position in the new residential real estate. investments allowed the en- vide Housing for All by 2022. powered women with the so- projects are exempted from cessfully disposed of 97,404 ing for All vision.
Right to education
Delhi HC facilitates school admission

by the Court. The child is then brings out in para 5 then mandates in no un- then notes clearly in para discretionary powers un- tion at this stage. Permis-
just about 8 years of age and that, “During the course of certain terms in para 7 that, 10 that, “This court is of the der Article 226 of the Con- sion is sought to withdraw
so definitely the mother’s arguments on the bail ap- “Once it comes to the notice opinion that the child must stitution of India and take the same.”
presence is inevitable to get plication a query was put of the court that a child or get admitted in a school at suo-motu cognizance to fa- In this context, the Bench
analysis the child admitted to school.
This was considered seri-
forth by this court and the an individual is deprived
court was informed that the of a fundamental right, the
the earliest so that shadow
of no unpleasant happening
cilitate the child’s admission
in a school so that the child
then quite ostensibly directs
in para 16 that, “In terms of
ously also by the Court! presence of the applicant/ courts have to ensure that falls upon the child’s life to does not lose out on the cur- the above, the application is
SANJEEV SIROHI To put things in perspec- mother is not required for the fundamental right is darken her future.” rent academic year i.e. 2022- dismissed as withdrawn.”
tive, the Bench then envis- admission of the child in enforced and there is no im- Most significantly, the 23. It is therefore directed Finally, the Bench then con-
ages in para 2 that, “The the school and the Aadhaar pediment for any individual Bench then state in para 11 that the SHO concerned cludes by holding in final
interim bail application Card of the mother shall suf- to enjoy the same. The court what constitutes the cor- will get the child admitted para 17 that, “Ordered ac-
of the petitioner has been fice. The same has been duly should not fail in its duty at nerstone of this learned to the school adjacent to the cordingly.”
While emerging as a very cases dealing with fam- dismissed by the ld. ASJ, verified by the Investigating any point of time in this re- judgment that, “At the cost senior branch of the school All told, it definitely merits
strong voice for the voice- ily disputes but also like the Dwarka Court, vide order Officer (IO) who has filed a gard.” of repetition, it is opined in which the older sibling of no reiteration that all the
less, the Delhi High Court present one. dated 21.05.2022 wherein reply from the Principal of Most remarkably, the that in the present case, the the child is already enrolled courts must in similar such
in an extremely laudable, At the outset, this most the ld. ASJ opined that the SDMC, Co-Ed Pry. School, Bench then further adds in child is an individual In- and pursuing her educa- cases emulate what the Sin-
learned, landmark and lat- commendable, cogent, cou- ground on which the peti- West Zone, New Delhi – para 8 that, “Right to Educa- dian citizen and enjoys her tion.” gle Judge Bench comprising
est judgment titled Kamini rageous, composed and con- tioner has approached the 110059, wherein it is stated tion is a fundamental right own Fundamental Rights Furthermore, the Bench of Hon’ble Ms Justice Swa-
Arya Through Perokar vs vincing judgment authored court for bail, i.e. getting that the child’s admission guaranteed to every citizen given to her by virtue of her then lays down in para 13 rana Kanta Sharma of Delhi
The State NCT Of Delhi in by the Single Judge Bench her daughters admitted to can be done without the under Article 21-A of the being born in India, Right that, “The Principal of the High Court has laid down so
Bail Appln. 2165/2022 pro- comprising of Hon’ble Ms school, is not of such a na- Aadhaar Card if the child Constitution. A child must to Education is the child’s school will extend full co- elegantly, eloquently and ef-
nounced as recently as on Justice Swarana Kanta ture which can be termed as has a certificate bearing the not suffer the consequences, fundamental right. In the operation for the admission fectively in this noteworthy
August 3, 2022 has taken suo Sharma sets the ball roll- a compelling circumstance child’s date of birth from on account of their parents present unpleasant situa- of the child. A compliance case! In essence, the Courts
motu cognizance to facili- ing most promptly by first or intolerable grief. The any government institution. having been in judicial cus- tion of the case, the court report will be filed within must definitely become the
tate admission of an 8 year and foremost putting forth application was thus dis- It is further stated that any tody for a crime which is has to become the voice of 10 days. The identity of the voice of the voiceless as we
old child to school which in para 1 itself that, “The missed by the ld. ASJ.” local guardian of the child yet to be adjudicated upon the voiceless child. The par- child and the school in ques- see so very ostensibly in this
could not be facilitated for present application has As it turned out, the Bench can also get him/her admit- by the court. This court is ents are in judicial custody tion is not being mentioned leading case. It also must be
the reason that her parents been filed by the petitioner then points out in para 3 ted in school.” duty bound to enforce fun- and the prime concern of in this order to protect the definitely underscored that
were in judicial custody in a seeking interim bail for two that, “The court is informed While unequivocally un- damental rights of every citi- the parents is education of privacy and dignity of the the Courts must also prima
murder case since July 2021. weeks in FIR No. 323/21 by the learned counsel for derscoring the huge im- zen and in this case right to the child. It is not only in child.” facie ensure that the process
It must be mentioned here registered at P.S. Mohan the applicant that the elder portance of education in a education of the child.” cases dealing with family What’s more, the Bench itself does not become the
that the Single Judge Bench Garden under sections sibling of the child is study- child’s life, the Bench then Most forthrightly, the disputes that the rights and then aptly points out in punishment due to which
of Hon’ble Ms Justice Swa- 302/365/292/397/411/120- ing in the secondary school opines in para 6 that, “In Bench then also unambigu- welfare of the child should para 14 that, “It is submitted the long term interest of the
rana Kanta Sharma minced B/201 & 34 of the Indian branch of Co-Ed Pry. School, my opinion, education ously maintained in para be considered but also in by the counsel for the peti- child gets jeopardised. No
just no words to espouse Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’). West Zone, New Delhi – is the first step towards 9 that, “The Constitution the cases as the present tioner that the petitioner is doubt, we saw how in this
child’s cause while observ- The petitioner and her hus- 110059. It is prayed that the tackling social evils, espe- guarantees protection of in- one, the courts can become satisfied with the relief that case the Delhi High Court
ing that, “The court is of the band, who is the co-accused child in the present case cially poverty, inequality dependent identity and in- and act as the parent of the has been granted. Consider- so very commendably took
opinion that the child must in the aforementioned FIR, may be admitted in Nursery and discrimination. Every dividuality to every Indian child and ensure that the ing the petitioner was seek- suo motu cognizance to fa-
get admitted in a school at have been in judicial cus- Class in the aforementioned child, irrespective of caste, citizen. Constitution of In- child is not deprived of its ing bail only on the ground cilitate the school admission
the earliest so that shadow tody since 11.07.2021. The school.” religion, sex, or economic dia is the supreme law of the Fundamental Right to Edu- that she needed to fulfil her of the child whose parents
of no unpleasant happen- application has been moved As we see, the Bench then background has been guar- land and this court is bound cation. Depriving any child responsibilities as a parent are in custody and thus en-
ing falls upon the child’s life by the mother of the child discloses in para 4 that, “In anteed right to education. to protect the rights of every of education due to family and get her child admitted sured that the paramount
to darken her future.” It is on the ground that she is the present case, it has An educated individual can individual enshrined and circumstances should not to school, permission is now interest of the child to edu-
also most pleasing to learn concerned about the admis- come to notice of the court make informed decisions, guaranteed by the same. Es- be allowed to every extent sought by the counsel of the cation is safely protected. Of
that the Delhi High Court in sion in a school of her child, that the applicant, i.e. the first for themselves, and pecially in the present case, possible. An educated child petitioner to withdraw the course, it must be said that
this notable case made it ab- who is about 8 years of age. mother of the minor child, then be able to contribute where the right to educa- educates the entire family present application.” this is definitely the best
solutely clear that the child, It is stated that without her is in judicial custody due to constructively towards the tion of a child is at stake, it and becomes an asset to the As a corollary, the Bench way in which ideally all the
being an individual Indian presence, she cannot be ad- her alleged involvement in progress of the nation and is imperative that the court nation.” then reveals in para 15 Courts in our country must
citizen, enjoyed the Funda- mitted in any school.” the murder of an old lady society at large.” intervenes timely and up- Quite forthrightly, the that, “In view of this order, always act and not just turn
mental Rights including the No doubt, the grounds whose body parts were While sending out the holds the right envisaged in Bench then directs in para the learned counsel for the away their face citing pro-
Right to Education and that forwarded by the mother of severed and disposed of in most simple, straightfor- the Constitution to protect 12 that, “In the circumstanc- applicant states that she is cess, procedure etc! There
the welfare of child should the child are bona fide and a drain.” ward and strong message the future of the child.” es, at this stage, this court satisfied with the order and can be certainly just no de-
not only be considered in worth considering seriously As things stand, the Bench to all the Judges, the Bench Needless to say, the Bench feels the need to exercise its does not press her applica- nying or disputing it!

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022

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