Professional Documents
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6 EDITORIAL DELHI
A nod to recognising the value of housework
This is an agenda all political parties, and not just the Makkal Needhi Maiam, could incorporate in their manifestos
was rooted in the essential nature spheres of social life, including or not they combine household
of women who were performing a paid employment outside the hou work with paid work.
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
no links to capitalist production. men’s unpaid work adds to nation not be missed, as the historical ex
T
he timing of Pakistan’s arrest of Zaki Ur Rahman
In a concrete sense, this meant al economies have grown more so perience of the women’s move
Lakhvi, the LeT operations commander, and
I
n the context of the forthcom linking the exploitation of the phisticated. ment shows us. In this context, it is
linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, just ahead of ing State Assembly election in worker in the factory to women’s However, the underlying issue, worth mentioning that an impor
the next meet of global watchdog, the Financial Action Tamil Nadu, the Makkal Needhi work at home. which is the disproportionate tant campaign on the question of
Task Force (FATF), has been greeted with scepticism in Maiam (MNM), led by veteran ac As Mariarosa Dalla Costa and share of women’s responsibility household labour has been taking
India. Whenever Pakistan has faced a decision on its tor Kamal Haasan, has made an Selma James wrote in their semi for the work that sustains human place in India. This is the ongoing
“grey list” status, it has carried out similar actions that eyecatching election promise that nal piece in 1972 (https:// life and reproduces labour power, struggle for national legislation for
appear to be aimed more at ensuring a better outcome is evidently targeted at a large con bit.ly/2X6cU3B), the woman work housework with their partners remains as pressing as ever. A re domestic workers. These are pre
stituency of voters — women who ing at home produced ‘the living were seen as ‘nagging b******’ and port published by the Internation dominantly women who perform
for itself at the FATF. Its arrest and conviction of Hafi z
are fulltime homemakers. The human being — the labourer him not as workers in struggle’. For the al Labour Organization in 2018 ‘women’s work’ but in other peo
Saeed and other LeT leaders in terrorfi nancing cases, party has promised to recognise self.’ From the ninemonth period advocates of ‘wages for house (https://bit.ly/2Xbiim1) shows that, ple’s homes. They are, therefore,
the passing of antiterrorism and money laundering housework as a salaried profes of gestation in the womb, women’s work’, the wage that the state globally, women perform 76.2% of uniquely positioned to make this
laws in the Pakistan Assembly to bring them in line with sion by paying homemakers ‘hith daily chores of cooking, cleaning, ought to pay women would make total hours of unpaid care work, work visible and demand that its
FATFmandated international norms, and the publica erto unrecognized and unmone washing, ironing clothes, prepar them autonomous of the men on more than three times as much as conditions be regulated, minimum
tion of new lists of terrorists at various times, all timed tized’ for their work at home. ing lunch boxes and so on pro whom they were dependent. More men. In Asia and the Pacifi c, this fi wages guaranteed, and the work
before FATF reviews of Pakistan’s status, have been cit A recent political entrant in the duced the labour power that was fundamentally, the very demand gure rises to 80%. ers’ status and rights protected.
electoral fray, the MNM’s promise daily consumed in the shopfl oor for a wage was a repudiation of The question of how to measure
ed as more of the same. The FATF’s Asia Pacifi c Joint
to directly pay women a monthly or the assembly line and had to be housework as an expression of wo Defi ning this constituency and account for the value of hou
Group is to meet in January to prepare recommenda amount may be viewed as a strate reproduced afresh every day. By men’s nature. It was a revolt To return to the MNM’s election sework has been seriously ad
tions for a fi nal decision on Pakistan’s status to be pre gy to grab attention in an over providing free services in the ho against the assigned social role of promise, would the payment of a dressed by women domestic work
sented to the FATF plenary session in February. Pakis crowded, highly competitive elec me,women made possible the sur women. Therein lay the radical na wage by the state to homemakers ers and their trade unions in Tamil
tan was brought back onto the grey list in June 2018, toral landscape. Nonetheless, the vival of workingclass households ture of the demand for wages, not redress the situation? This raises Nadu and elsewhere. Their de
and given a 27point action plan list to be completed by promise bears close examination at subsistencelevel wages, with in the money itself. the tricky question of how this mands include an hourly mini
October 2019. Since then, it received at least four re as it fl ags off an important issue obvious benefi ts for industry and constituency is to be defi ned. Is it mum wage, a weekly dayoff , an
and one that has had an interest capital. An unresolved issue to be only women who are full annual bonus and the protection
prieves, and was judged at last count to have completed
ing, if chequered signifi cance in Despite the links between the There was disagreement among time homemakers? Many women of their bodily autonomy in the
21 of 27 points, with six outstanding. The plenary ses the history of women’s ‘housewife’ and the factory work the women ideologues of the Se earning a wage outside the home workspace.
sion can choose one of three options therefore, in keep movements. er, the unwaged status of the form cond Wave on what payment of a also perform the bulk of house This is an agenda that all par
ing Pakistan on the grey list, where it is subject to some er accounted for crucial diff erenc wage would actually mean for wo hold work. On what ground are ties, and not just the MNM, could
fi nancial restrictions, to downgrade it to the black list, Origins of the demand es between them. As feminist men. The sociologist, Ann Oakley, they to be excluded? What about incorporate in their election ma
where it will face stringent sanctions, or close the re The demand for ‘wages for house scholar and writer Silvia Federici who studied the history of house women workers who earn an in nifestos, should they take serious
view and let Pakistan off the lists altogether. Pakistan work’ arose in the context of strug wrote (in 1975), in “Wages against work in her pathbreaking books come from home by stitching ly the mandate of ‘recognizing and
gle and consciousnessraising as housework”, it was possible for published in the 1970s, was among clothes, selling cooked meals or monetizing’ housework. If domes
will now hope that its progress in the action plan and
sociated with the Second Wave of wageearners to bargain around those who believed that ‘wages for are engaged in petty trade? They tic workers emerge as a strong
having key terror fi gures in prison earn it a reprieve. the women’s movement in North the terms of their paid work and housework’ would only imprison often selfidentify as ‘housewives’ force that succeeds in asserting
The fear for India is that if Pakistan earns that re America and Europe. Alongside the quantity of the wage. ‘But ex women further within the house given the meagre and variable the dignity of housework and mak
prieve, it can reverse all its actions. India has watched other demands for social and pol ploited as you might be, you are hold, increase their social isola wages they earn and periods of ing it a visible and valued form of
the arrests of all these men and other terrorists on In itical equality, women’s rights not that work’, she pointed out tion and dissuade men from shar seasonal unemployment. labour, this can only be a good
dia’s “most wanted” lists in the past, only to fi nd that campaigners made visible and al (https://bit.ly/38UShNm). House ing housework. These are issues that cannot be thing for all women performing
they are released on bail, or let off over prosecutorial so politicised women’s everyday work, on the other hand, had Others too argued that the goal easily resolved. It would be better housework in the long run.
lapses once the world’s gaze is averted. Last month, a experience of housework and come to defi ne the very nature of a of the women’s movement must to strengthen the demand for a un
child care in the ‘private’ realm of woman. This disallowed women be, to not ask for wages, but to free iversal basic income for income Kalpana Karunakaran teaches in the
Pakistan court’s decision to overturn the conviction of
the household. In doing this, they from seeing it as ‘real work’ or as a women from the daily drudgery of poor households and make sure Department of Humanities and Social
al Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Sheikh Saeed, a terrorist challenged the assumption that a social contract. And,therefore, the routine domestic chores and ena that the cash transfer to the family Sciences, IIT Madras. The views expressed
India was forced to release during the 1999 IC814 hi ‘natural’ affi nity for housework women who sought to negotiate ble them to participate fully in all reaches women directly, whether are personal
jacking, for the 2002 murder of American journalist Da
niel Pearl, shows how Pakistan’s investigating agencies
and judicial system treat terrorism. Hafi z Saeed has
been convicted only of terror fi nancing charges and fac
es concurrent sentencing of about six years at the most,
Quality gigs, a solution to urban unemployment
as would Lakhvi, who faces similar charges, despite a With no urban equivalent to the NREGA as yet, there must be a focus on supporting new forms of employment
long record in transnational terror attacks. Others like
Masood Azhar continue to evade any kind of prosecu increased ₹ 86,4000 crore alloca further complicated by the risk of Guarantee peg daily worker wages
tion by the month of November, a onesizefi tsall regulatory strate at approximately ₹ 300 (https://
tion despite UN sanctions. For India and its battle to
while still being unable to fulfi l de gy unintentionally hurting the si bit.ly/2Mt1moR), at a cost of ₹ 1
have Pakistan’s establishment held accountable on this mands for nearly 13% of the 75 mil milar, yet distinct, market for high lakh crore to the exchequer. Col
issue, the FATF grey listing (from 20122015 and 2018 lion households that demanded ly skilled (and highly paid) laborating with platforms to em
now) is a necessary lever to keep that process going. work. freelancers, that continues its ra ploy workers, would not only
Vineet John Samuel In several Indian cities however, pid growth due to pandemic relat bring down costs signifi cantly (for
W
ith the Indian economy er had to leave or have had to take then would involve conditional go ronment where fi rms would be
Governors should not exceed constitutional
GETTY IMAGES
T
he misuse of the Governor’s offi ce to undermine tion of negative 23.9% in the April my to be their only source of em schemes. Here, the successful pi antagonistic position in what
duly elected State governments is a particularly June quarter, economic commen ployment. It is here that the Fair lot (https://bit.ly/3pMNggC) of could prove to be a longwinded
tators have busied themselves work Foundation’s annual review at hand remains evaluation. Our Swiggy’s Street Food Vendors pro legal battle.
mischievous disruption of federalism. Kerala Go
with debating the need for fi scal of platform labour gains promi current understanding of gig work gramme under the PM SVANidhi,
vernor Arif Mohammad Khan’s frequent use of his po expansion and the viability of a “V nence. and workers remains constrained or PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirb Symbiotic ties
werful oratory to defend the Centre and question the shaped recovery”. These debates, to the limited disclosures made by har Nidhi scheme, may prove to be As the new year rolls in, and India
State on sensitive topics makes him partisan and under however, have shifted focus away The metrics used the platforms themselves. Fur an illustrative example. While looks to convince the world that it
mines democratic processes. His refusal to convene a from the employment question, The report (https:// thermore, with very few indepen Swiggy has announced the on has turned the corner on its eco
special session of the Kerala Assembly on December 23, considered resolved after a sharp bit.ly/2X5nZSu) evaluates the well dent studies evaluating the scale boarding of 36,000 street food nomic woes, it must look to step
as initially requested by the government, yet again rally following the collapse in em being of gig workers on 11 digital and impact of these platforms, vendors onto the platform under outside the box to tackle the chal
ployment numbers in April. More platforms and does so by evaluat most regulators continue to re the scheme this month, it has also lenge of urban unemployment. Li
proved this. He questioned the urgency of the special
recent data from the Centre for ing them on fi ve metrics of Fair main in the dark on basic ques looked to ensure that each vendor mited fi scal space and a growing
session, and thought the Assembly lacked “the jurisdic Monitoring Indian Economy Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Con tions surrounding platform la is registered and certifi ed by the need to fuel the country’s con
tion to off er a solution” to the farmers’ protest, an issue (https://bit.ly/3hEnl7Z), however, tracts, Fair Management and Fair bour. As of now there exists no Food Safety and Standards Auth sumption base, must push the go
which the Assembly wanted to discuss. This is an en point to a gradual slowdown in Representation. In its fi ndings ho authoritative estimate on the total ority of India. The simultaneous vernment to build symbiotic rela
croachment upon the powers of the legislature and the employment recovery from the wever, only two fi rms (Urban number of gig workers in India, creation of jobs, alongside the vo tionships with new partners. With
elected government and an abuse of his authority as a month of July, with the latest num Company and Flipkart) score grea though the centralised nature of luntary adoption of quality stan Industry 4.0 platforms absorbing
nominal head under the Constitution. His conduct was bers pointing to a sharp rise in the ter than fi ve (out of a maximum of the platforms, and the larger plat dards is an example of a mutually increasing numbers of the urban
comparable to that of his counterpart in Rajasthan who national unemployment rate from 10) while seven score only 2 or form labour market should make benefi cial partnership between workforce, evaluation, collabora
6.51% in November to 9.06% for less. Most concerning perhaps, is the collating of this data relatively the state and a platform that tion, and regulation must be the
refused to convene a session of the Assembly in July last
the month of December. the fact that the bottom of the straightforward for the Labour Mi creates jobs while incentivising government mantra. As the pan
year as demanded by the Chief Minister. Kerala Chief rankings are rounded off by India’s nistry. greater levels of compliance. demic forces India to defi ne its
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Mr. Khan stating the NREGA outlay four largest platform giants, name own understanding of the future
Governor had no discretionary powers in the matter For labour fl ocking back to rural ly, Uber, Ola, Swiggy and Zomato. Issue of regulation Urban employment of work, it falls upon the state to
and that his actions were unconstitutional. This posi India, employment support came With no urban equivalent to the The next step is signifi cantly more Similar collaborations on urban ensure that this future is defi ned
tion was supported by the Opposition too. Thankfully, in the form of an increased outlay NREGA on the horizon, there must sensitive and involves regulation. employment, that require labour not only by the quantity of jobs it
the government made an amended request for conven for the National Rural Employ be an increased impetus on eval The reason for the sensitivity pri platforms to comply with disclo creates but also by the quality of li
ment Guarantee Scheme (NRE uating, regulating and supporting marily revolves around the varied sure norms and worker compensa velihoods they provide for .
ing the session and the Governor accepted it. Mr. Khan
GA), which witnessed a 243% in new forms of employment that nature of gig work. While some tion standards to access govern
had earlier questioned a resolution passed by the Kera crease in person workdays. This may currently be serving as an in workers use these platforms as a ment support, could be one way Vineet John Samuel is a German
la Assembly on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, be increased dependency on NREGA, formal safety net for those desper “side hustle”, for others it conti for the government to kill two Chancellors Fellow based out of the Hertie
sides making public statements supporting the CAA has seen the Rural Development ately in search of work. nues to serve as a primary source birds with one stone. Current pro School of Governance, Berlin. The views
and the farm laws. To assume that an Assembly is acting Ministry spend nearly 90% of its The fi rst and most critical task of employment. This dynamic is posals for an Urban Employment expressed are personal
unconstitutionally if it disagrees with Parliament is dis
ingenuous. By lending himself and his offi ce to such
partisan confl icts, Mr. Khan is also besmirching his per
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
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THE HINDU
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
DELHI
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OPED 7
Hasty approval, no transparency Care is the standard of a vaccine trial
India has squandered an opportunity to build trust in COVID19 vaccines We need a vaccine but not at the cost of the safety of study participants
unknown: how informed the informed
consent will be, who is going to inform
the recipients about the intricacies of
the “trial”, how well the “participants”
are going to be monitored, and how the
effi cacy will be determined in the ab
R. Prasad sence of a control arm. Anup Agarwal
REUTERS
REUTERS
ield and Covaxin — tested and manufac that they would not seek premature ap rum Institute of India a legal notice af
tured in India by the Punebased Serum imperative that Serum Institute collects proval from regulatory authorities. ter experiencing neurological impair
Institute and Hyderabadbased Bharat effi cacy data from the Indian trial be Bharat Biotech’s haste in seeking appro ment following administration of
Biotech, respectively, could have fore seeking full approval. val stands in contrast. The Indian regu Covishield, the COVID19 vaccine being
played a vital role in ending the pan Though no published data are availa lator had earlier stipulated that at least produced by the company in partner standing of trust; integrity; agreed Covishield by funding and encouraging
demic in the country. However, the reg ble, the U.K. regulator has found some 50% effi cacy is necessary to grant EUA. ship with AstraZeneca. In response, the upon ethical and moral norms; and, the U.K. group to set up an advance col
ulator’s haste and lack of transparency evidence that effi cacy improves when Compare this with the manner in company, the largest producer of vac most importantly, care and respect for, laboration with Serum Institute, failed
in approving the vaccines for “restrict the second dose of the AstraZeneca vac which the FDA upheld the sanctity of cines in the world, hit back with a consent of, and fair compensation to to make a statement. Likewise, it seems
ed” use do not inspire confi dence. The cine is delayed. Accordingly, it has re the approval process. Despite pressure threat to countersue the study partici the participants. It is this cooperation Gavi, the vaccine alliance, and the
regulator did not wait for suffi cient safe commended that the second dose be from U.S. President Donald Trump to pant in excess of ₹ 100 crore, calling the that allows trials across countries and World Health Organization have also
ty and effi cacy data to be collected and administered 412 weeks after the fi rst. make vaccines available before election allegations “malicious and miscon ensures that the results of a study in chosen to remain silent publicly.
did not share information about the Serum Institute has wasted an oppor day, the FDA made it clear that it would ceived”. one part of the world can be reasonably
clinical trials before granting approval. tunity to test the protection off ered by require phase3 data with a “median While the recent results of successful applied to other countries. The coer The science of vaccines
Transparency is vital for gaining peo the fi rst dose and determine the effi ca followup duration of at least two vaccine trials are a cause for celebra cive attempt to falsify a study partici Vaccination as a science has come a
ple’s trust so that they don’t hesitate to cy of a delayed second dose and the months after completion of the full vac tion, these successes ought to be cou pant’s claims and intimidate him or her long way. We have been able to eradi
take the vaccine. However, the conduct best time to administer it. It is now for cination regimen to assess a vaccine’s pled with transparency in information violates the agreed upon rules of clini cate smallpox and we are close to erad
of the Indian regulator in no way helps the government to decide, without evi benefi trisk profi le”. The FDA also said and communication for vaccine pro cal trials, jeopardises the whole pro icating polio simply due to the eff ective
in building trust in vaccines. If there is dence, the timing of the second dose. EUA would be granted only “based on duction to translate into vaccination. cess, and puts a question mark on the use of vaccines. Millions of lives are
already some degree of apprehension In the case of Covaxin, the phase3 data from a phase3 trial that demon The legal counterclaim and lack of tran validity of the particular trial. saved by the simple act of timely vacci
about the safety and effi cacy of CO trial began in midNovember 2020. strates the vaccine’s safety and effi cacy sparency by Serum Institute coupled In order to protect human subjects nation. However, vaccine hesitancy is
VID19 vaccines, given the rushed man Since the second dose is administered in a clear and compelling manner”. with silence from AstraZeneca and oth from harm in clinical trials, multiple on the rise, and diseases like measles
ner in which the trials have been con 28 days after the fi rst, the median fol er stakeholders in this deal fuels the no checks and balances are put in place and whooping cough are coming back
ducted, the opaque nature of the lowup after the second dose would A lost opportunity tion that facts are being suppressed. such as the formation of a data and safe in epidemic proportions as vaccination
approval process has done little to miti have been just a few days and that too While daily fresh cases and deaths have Considering the diffi culty of imple ty monitoring board, institutional eth rates drop. The claims and counter
gate such concerns. from a very small number of partici been increasing sharply in the U.S., the menting eff ective nonpharmaceutical ics committees, and regulatory bodies claims and lack of transparency around
Contrast this with the manner in pants. In short, the approval for “res new variant that has been spreading ra interventions, primarily physical dis for clinical trials such as the Central Covishield threaten public faith in a life
which the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis tricted” use granted to Covaxin was not pidly in the U.K. has been causing ha tancing and mask use, fi nding a silver Drugs Standard Control Organisation in saving, simple, costeff ective interven
tration (FDA) and the U.K. regulator ap based on any effi cacy data. What level voc. In India, on the other hand, the bullet remains the most attractive op India. These same regulatory bodies tion. The reputation or fi scal health of
proved COVID19 vaccines. The FDA of protection is off ered by the vaccine number of daily fresh cases and deaths tion to combat COVID19. However, des had failed to protect the rights of HPV one institution is not worth a setback to
had a live telecast of the advisory com and whether it protects against severe has been steadily dropping since mid pite the major contribution of vaccines vaccine study participants in India in the idea of immunisation even if the in
mittee’s examination of Pfi zer’s and disease and prevents infection and September. The companies and the reg in eliminating the infectious scourge of 2007, leading to the death of seven girls stitution in question is one of the largest
Moderna’s vaccine data before granting transmission are all not known. ulator should therefore have taken ad our age, the antivaccine undercurrent in the HPV vaccine study. suppliers of vaccines across the globe.
emergency use authorisation (EUA). It By giving approval to Covaxin with vantage of the situation here to ensure still runs strong. This particular inci The very act of developing and test
also made the detailed briefi ng docu out data on its effi cacy, the Indian regu that EUA is backed by data. dent only furthers these sentiments. Maintaining silence ing a vaccine in less than a year since
ment of the clinical trial of each vaccine lator has joined the ranks of China and Not only has India squandered a While the study sponsor, Serum Insti the emergence of COVID19, a novel vi
and its assessment public. The U.K. reg Russia. When the Chinese regulator ap great opportunity to collect robust data What clinical trials do tute, which has fi nancial interest in the ral pathogen, is revolutionary. This has
ulator also made the assessment of the proved CanSino Biologics’s vaccine that and build trust in COVID19 vaccines Clinical trials employ various scientifi c COVID19 vaccine, has made multiple changed the way we look at vaccine
two vaccines — by Pfi zer and AstraZene had not undergone a phase3 trial, it at but has also set the stage to potentially methodologies to test novel drugs and statements about the neurological inju science, timelines, and policies. As res
ca — publicly available. least limited its use for the military. In reverse decades of hard work in build vaccines on human participants and as ry to the study participant, these regu ponsible healthcare providers, we want
midNovember, three months after ap ing vaccine confi dence. In 2019, a single certain whether such drugs are safe and latory bodies and committees have re a vaccine, we want this pandemic to
No effi cacy data proval, Russia’s claim of 92% effi cacy mistake in preparing the measles, eff ective against a particular disease. mained silent. By doing so, they give end, and we want to return to a normal
The phase2/3 trial of Covishield was for Sputnik V was based on a review of mumps, and rubella injection that led They are probably the most important the impression that they are not inde life but not at the cost of the safety of
carried out on 1,600 participants and just 20 COVID19 cases. to the deaths of two infants in Samoa inventions that help us develop drugs pendent and are failing in their duty of study participants. We want a vaccine
was intended to study only safety and Also, the assertion that Covaxin will led to a sharp drop in vaccine uptake and vaccines against diseases. Further ensuring the safety of research partici which is rooted in integrity, transparen
immunogenicity, as the details availa protect people against the new variant and a measles outbreak there. more, it is the human subjects who are pants. It is not only the bodies in India cy, respect for study participants, and
ble on the clinical trial registry indicate. of the virus is not backed by evidence. In India, a December 2018 study in at the heart of these trials more than which have maintained a silence, but al agreed upon ethical standards.
According to the informed consent doc No effi cacy data against any SARSCoV2 121 districts that have higher rates of un the trial investigators or sponsors. It is so other important international stake We urge the regulatory bodies, ethics
ument made available to trial partici virus strain are currently available. immunised children found that 24% of because of clinical trials that we know holders. AstraZeneca, which has pro committees and international stakehol
pants, safety was to be tested on 1,200 What makes the approval for Covax children did not get vaccinated due to now that hydroxychloroquine and con mised not to profi t from the vaccine ders to not overlook this as a singular
participants and immunogenicity on in all the more galling is the explicit per apprehension about adverse eff ects. If valescent plasma do not reduce mortal during the pandemic, is the original de event. Ignoring this one event is a slip
400 individuals. The trial did not study mission to administer the vaccine in a there is vaccine hesitancy among the ity due to COVID19, and that steroids veloper of the vaccine in association pery slope which may set us back in our
the effi cacy of the vaccine. Approving “clinical trial mode”. This is nothing four highrisk groups which will get vac save the lives of COVID19 patients. with Oxford University. The Bill and fi ght against COVID19.
Covishield based on safety and immu but a largescale phase3 clinical trial cinated on priority, the companies and More than being a scientifi c metho Melinda Gates Foundation, leading ad
nogenicity data from the trial in India carried out on people belonging to the the regulator have themselves to blame. dology, clinical trials are a method of vocates for all major vaccines across the Anup Agarwal is a physician at Rehoboth
and effi cacy data from the U.K. might four priority groups consenting to re human cooperation. The sanctity of globe, which had the vision of increas Mckinley Christian healthcare Services, Gallup,
be suffi cient for emergency use. But it is ceive the vaccine. The following remain prasad.ravindranath@thehindu.co.in this cooperation rests on a tacit under ing both accessibility and availability of New Mexico, U.S.
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Embracing energy effi ciency
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Doing so can bring down household energy bills
FIFTY YEARS AGO JANUARY 5, 1971
and reduce the fi nancial stress of discoms
‘Constitution not a static document’
Shalu Agrawal er appliances like water pumps and
induction cook stoves. The President, Mr. V.V. Giri, told chief justic
The Power Minister, R.K. Singh, re es of the Commonwealth countries holding
cently announced the Electricity The way forward their third conference here today [New Del
(Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. First, we need to improve the availa hi, Jan. 4] that they should not restrict them
The rules lay down uniform perfor bility and aff ordability of energyeffi selves to a consideration of issues of techni
mance standards for power distribu cient appliances. For instance, des cal justice but extend that consideration to
tion companies (discoms) and make pite a voluntary labelling scheme “the larger canvas of problems which agitate
them liable to compensate consum since 2009, less than 5% of ceiling the minds of men.” He said that problems
ers in case of violations. The wellin fans produced in India are starrated. connected with ensuring an “effi cient and
tentioned rules come at a time when While the Bureau of Energy Effi cien eff ective” legal system should receive their
Indian discoms are struggling to cy (BEE) plans to bring ceiling fans attention “in order to provide justice to the
manage their fi nances. This is partly under mandatory labelling from community it serves”. Mr. Giri, who was in
linked to drop in payment rates, as 2022, the high upfront cost will be augurating the Commonwealth conference
consumers are struggling to pay their another barrier. At present, the most of Chief Justices, meeting in India for the
bills amid rising consumption and effi cient fans cost more than double fi rst time, referred in particular to the Indian
tight fi nances. The Indian govern the price of conventional models. We Constitution and said: “A constitution is not
ment has sanctioned liquidity relief need innovative business models that intended to be a static document. In a deve
to help discoms tide over this crisis, can attract manufacturers to pro loping society, its provisions must lend
but these are just shortterm fi xes. duce effi cient technology at scale and CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
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themselves to meeting the changing needs
India’s residential electricity con bring it within purchasing capacity. DATA POINT and requirements of society.” The adaptabil
sumption is expected to at least dou Second, India needs a nationwide ity of constitutional provisions to the chang
ble by 2030. As households buy more consumer awareness campaign on ing times gave them strength and also made
electric appliances to satisfy their energy effi ciency. Only a fourth of In “dubious” their appropriateness for judicial
domestic needs, concerns about the dian households are currently aware enforcement.
ability of discoms to provide reliable of BEE’s star labels. While awareness
supply at aff ordable rates will also levels are high among residents of A HUNDRED YEARS AGO JANUARY 5, 1921
rise. Embracing energy effi ciency metros and tier1 cities, the majority
can be a winwin solution as this can in small towns and rural areas re Jews and Scotsmen
bring down household energy bills main unaware. To bridge this divide,
and reduce discoms’ fi nancial stress. we need a decentralised and con “A Jew, I suppose?” This question, put by Sir
sumercentric engagement strategy. Ernest Wild, K.C. to a witness at the Central
Tryst with energy effi ciency State governments, discoms and re Criminal Court, drew reproof from the Lord
In recent years, India has seen signif tailers need to be at the forefront of Chief Justice (Lord Reading) when the case
icant adoption of energyeffi cient ap our renewed eff orts to create mass came before the Court of Criminal Appeal.
pliances, especially those covered awareness about energy effi ciency. The question referred to a moneylender. “It
under the mandatory labelling pro Finally, we need to monitor supply creates on me,” said the Lord Chief Justice,
gramme, according to the India Resi quality and changing consumption “an unpleasant impression that it was not in
dential Energy Survey conducted by pattern on a realtime basis. As dis the appellant’s favour that it was put.”
the Council on Energy, Environment coms in India deploy smart meters, Sir Ernest Wild: I did not intend to be in
and Water and the Initiative for Sus these must be used to measure actual sulting to Jews generally, but Your Lordship
tainable Energy Policy. The survey, savings and demonstrate the benefi ts knows there are Jews just as there are Chris
covering nearly 15,000 households of energyeffi cient devices to build tians. Some Jew moneylenders are not peo
across 21 States, found that more consumer confi dence. The smart me ple one would care to deal with if possible.
than 75% of airconditioners and 60% tering network would also be crucial The Lord Chief Justice: My experience is
of refrigerators used in Indian homes for enforcing consumer rights rules. that that remark applies to all moneylen
were starlabelled. Further, nearly India has tasted success in recent ders. (Laughter.)
90% of Indian homes used LED years by embracing energy effi cien Mr. Justice Darling: Only the other day in
lamps or tubes. cy. The government’s UJALA scheme a case I was trying counsel asked a man
However, there has been limited transformed the market for LED whether he was not a Scotsman, obviously
uptake of energyeffi cient ceiling fans bulbs, while also helping India re with the intention of discrediting him.
and televisions. While 90% of homes duce its annual carbon emissions by (Laughter.) I took occasion to help him by
use fans, only 3% have effi cient fans. nearly 82 million tonnes. A similar fo saying, “Well so am I! (Laughter.)
Similarly, 60% of our television stock cus towards other energyeffi cient The Lord Chief Justice: I don’t think that
comprises the big old energyguz appliances would allow India to en question was understood in the same way as
zling CRT (cathode ray tube) models. sure 24x7 power for all. the question I am referring to. To ask a man
Desert coolers, used by 15% homes, if he is a Scotsman does not refl ect on him,
are not even covered under the la Shalu Agrawal (shalu.agrawal@ceew.in) is a but there are people who imagine that when
belling programme. Signifi cant effi Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, the question is asked, “Are you a Jew” it is in
ciency gains are also possible for oth Environment and Water tended to be prejudicial.
CM A ND-NDE
YK