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6 EDITORIAL DELHI

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021


THE HINDU
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One­state solution, the way forward in Palestine 
The whole premise of the two­state solution is wrong, providing Israel the immunity to continue its ethnic cleansing
would not be content with just half were  put  under  the  Palestinian doubled and tripled and took over
of  the  country  and  intended  to Authority,  which  optimistically the  fertile  land,  leaving no  space

Calibrated closures take as much of it as possible and


leave  in  it  as  few  Palestinians  as
calls  itself  the  state  of  Palestine,
but in essence has no power what­
for  Palestinian  expansion.  The
presence  of  more  than  600,000
possible. This ominous prediction soever, unless the one given to it, Jewish  settlers,  with  a  very  high
With no short road to universal vaccination, turned  out  to  be  chillingly  accu­ and withdrawn from it, by Israel. rate of natural growth, means that
lockdowns should be precise and painless  Ilan Pappé rate and true in less than a year af­ Israel will never consider moving
ter  the  UN  insisted  that  partition A Bantustanisation them out; and without that, even a

S
everal States have extended the coronavirus lock­
downs beyond May 31, while fresh cases appear to was  the  only  solution  for  Pales­ The  Gaza  Strip  was  divided  too. soft version of a two­state solution

F
or more than 50 years, well­ tine.  Under  the  guise  of  UN  sup­ But the Jewish part was small and is impossible. 
show a downward trend, but India’s COVID­19 bat­
intentioned  and  more  cyni­ port, the new Jewish state took ov­ could not be defended from the lo­
tle lacks strategic focus. Although a cessation of activity cal, local and external actors er  nearly  80%  of  historical cal  national  movement’s  wrath. Decolonise, build a new state

AFP
has been imposed, there is not much clarity on the fu­ involved in the attempts to bring Palestine and ethnically cleansed So, the settlers were taken out in The  whole  premise  of  the  two­
ture threat from virus variants, notably B.1.617 that now peace and reconciliation to histor­ almost  a  million  Palestinians the  majority  in  historical  Pales­ 2005 and Israel hoped that anoth­ state solution is wrong and that is
has three sub­types and the dominant one, B.1.617.2, is ical Palestine have religiously ad­ (more than half of Palestine’s pop­ tine.  er Bantustan, like the one in areas why  it  did  not  materialise.  It  is
estimated to be 50% more transmissible than another hered to the two­state solution as ulation),  and  in  the  way  demol­ A and  B,  would  be  established based on the assumption of parity
variant of concern, B.1.1.7. Neither is there a road map the only way forward. ished  half  of  Palestine’s  villages It is Israel that decides there under the Palestinian Auth­ and of framing the conflict as one
The  idea  of  partitioning  Pales­ and  most  of  its  towns  in  nine The two­state solution, offered for ority’s  rule  and  under  the  same fought  between  two  national
for vaccine availability ahead, with direct imports by
tine  between  the  settler  move­ months  in  1948;  an  event  known the  first  time  by  liberal  Zionists conditions. But the people of Gaza movements. But this is not a “con­
States  hitting  a  roadblock  and  vague  assurances  of  a ment  of  Zionism,  and  later  the by the Palestinians as the Nakba, and the United States in the 1980s, opted to support a new player, Ha­ flict” as such. This is a settler colo­
domestic ramp­up from July substituting for firm com­ state of Israel and the indigenous the catastrophe. is seen by some Palestinians as the mas, and its ally, the Islamic Jihad, nial reality which began in the late
mitments. Some States are unwisely taking the foot off population of Palestine is not new. best way of ending of the occupa­ which resisted this offer. They sup­ 19th  century  and  continues  until
the testing pedal, making it that much harder to map It was first offered by the British in Incremental cleansing tion of the West Bank and at least ported  them  not  only  because today.  The  late  scholar,  Patrick
the course of transmission. A miasma of confusion has 1937  and  rejected  by  the  Palesti­ In 1967, Israel occupied the rest of the partial fulfilment of the Palesti­ there  was  a  return  to  religion  in Wolfe,  described  settler  colonial
come to pervade COVID­19 policy, where the Centre no nians  already  then.  The  Zionist historical  Palestine,  and  in  the nian  right  for  self­determination the  face  of  the  ongoing  predica­ movements as motivated by a logic
movement was hardly 50 years old process expelled another 300,000 and independence. This is why the ments but also because there was he  called  “the  elimination  of  the
longer has an appetite for leadership, even if it means
and  was  already  offered  by  the Palestinians.  Like  all  settler  colo­ Palestine Liberation Organization big disappointment from the com­ native”. Sometimes it led to geno­
shunning responsibility for universal vaccination, and new British occupiers of Palestine, nial  projects,  it  had  to  navigate was willing to give it a go in 1993, pliance  of  the  PLO  with  the  Oslo cide,  as  it  happened  in  North
the only tool available with States is a lockdown. But as a chunk of the Palestinian home­ between a wish to take over indi­ by  signing  the  Oslo  Accords.  But arrangements.  Israel  responded America, sometimes it  translated
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has pointed out, land as a future state. This in the genous territory while downsizing the Palestinian position has no im­ by  imposing  a  callous  siege  and to an ongoing ethnic cleansing op­
a lockdown  does  not  provide  a  solution,  and  comes 1930s and 1940s would have been the number of native people living pact in the current balance of pow­ blockade  on  the  Gaza  Strip  that, eration, which is what has unfold­
with its own economic side­effects that hit the working akin to an offer to decolonise India on it. It was impossible after 1948 er. What mattered is how Israel in­ according to the UN, made it  un­ ed in Palestine. The two­state solu­
class poor the hardest. The time has come for a pan­ by partitioning it between a British to repeat a massive ethnic cleans­ terprets the idea and the fact that liveable.  tion is not going to stop the ethnic
India and local India or to propose ing, so it was substituted by incre­ there is no one in the world that To complete its strategy that in­ cleansing; instead, talking about it
demic  policy  reset  that  reflects  scientific  insight,  en­
the decolonisation of Algeria by di­ mental  ethnic  cleansing  (the  last could challenge its interpretation. cluded  the  partition  of  the  West provides  Israel  international  im­
courages  safe  public  behaviour  through  persuasive viding it between a French Algeria stage in this process was one of the The Israeli interpretation, until Bank,  its  Bantustanisation,  and munity to continue it.
communication, monitoring, and, importantly, incor­ and a local Algeria. Neither the In­ root causes that ignited the cycle the rise of Benjamin Netanyahu to the siege of Gaza, Israel passed in The only alternative is to deco­
porates medical interventions of scale. dian  anti­colonial  movement  nor of  violence  last  week  —  the  pro­ power in 2009, was that the two­ 2018  a  citizenship  law,  known  as lonise historical Palestine. Which
The medium­term outlook does not point to a steep the Algerian one would have ever posed  eviction  of  Palestinians state solution is another means of the  nationality  law,  which  made means that we should aspire to a
rise in vaccination by the end of the year to cover most consented to such a post­colonial from  Shaykh  [Sheikh]  Jarrah,  an having  the  territories,  the  West sure  that  the  Palestinian  citizens state for all its citizens all over the
of  the  population,  making  it  imperative  for  States  to arrangement;  nor  did  the  British East Jerusalem neighbourhood, as Bank and the Gaza Strip, without who live in Israel proper (which is country, based on the dismantle­
and French dare to offer it when part  of  an  overall  attempt  to  Ju­ incorporating most of the people Israel prior to the 1967 occupation ment  of  colonialist  institutions,
prepare  for  potential  future  surges.  Although  claims
they reconciled with the fact that daise East Jerusalem).  living there. In order to ensure it, of  the  West  Bank  and  the  Gaza fair redistribution of the country’s
have been made of a large volume of three vaccines be­ they will have to leave their colo­ Incremental ethnic cleansing is Israel  partitioned  the  West  Bank Strip)  and  who  are  supposedly natural  resources,  compensation
coming available between August­December, the road nial  empires  and  go  back  to  Eu­ not the only way of achieving the (which is 20% of historical Pales­ equal citizens of the Jewish state, of the victims of the ethnic cleans­
to universal immunisation is going to be long. The pro­ rope.  old Zionist goal to turning histori­ tine)  into  a  Jewish  and  an  Arab will in essence become the “Afri­ ing  and  allowing  their  repatria­
cess is complicated by the finding in Britain that it takes cal  Palestine  into  a  Jewish  state. part. This was in the second phase cans” of a new Israeli Jewish apar­ tion. All this will be so that settlers
two doses of Covishield for 60% protection against the Catastrophic event Imposing military rule in the West of the Oslo Accords, known as the theid state: living in a permanent and natives should together build
dominant virus variant that is also found in India; the But even when decolonisation was Bank and the Gaza Strip after they Oslo II agreement of 1995. The Pal­ regime that discriminates against a new  state  that  is  democratic,
second dose, therefore, should be administered after achieved in India in 1947, not only were occupied was another means estinians were forced to accept it them in all aspects of life on the ba­ part  of  the  Arab  world  and  not
the British but also the so­called ci­ which  enclaved  the  people  there under  American  and  Egyptian sis of their nationality. against  it,  and  an  inspiration  for
eight  weeks,  not  12  or  16.  What  States  can  do  imme­
vilised  world  through  the  United without  basic  human  and  civil pressure. One area, called area C, The endless negotiation on the the  rest  of  the  region  which  des­
diately is to arrive at a good lockdown protocol, sparing Nations  insisted  that  the  Palesti­ rights.  Imposing  a  version  of  an which consists of 60% of the West two­state solution  was  based  on perately  needs  such  models  to
people frequent shocks. Tamil Nadu’s recent move to nians should give half of their ho­ Apartheid  regime  on  the  Palesti­ Bank) was directly ruled from 1995 the  formula  that  once  the  two push  it  forward  towards  a  better
intensify the lockdown, and, inexplicably, allow even meland to the settler movement of nian minority in Israel is another until  today  by  Israel.  Under  Mr. states become a reality, Israel will future. 
jewellery and clothing shops to open for a day before Zionism. The Palestinians attempt­ method  and  the  constant  refusal Netanyahu, Israel is in the process stop these severe violations of the
that, led to massive crowding triggered by induced de­ ed  to  convince  the  international to  allow  the  1948  refugees  to  re­ of  officially  annexing  this  area Palestinian civil and human rights, Professor Ilan Pappé is the Director of the
mand. Clearly, measures to shut down everyday activity community that the problem was turn completes the matrix of pow­ while at the same time ethnically wherever they are. But while the European Centre for Palestine Studies and
not  only  about dispensing  with er that allows Israel to retain the cleansing the Palestinians living in wait continued, more Palestinians Senior Fellow of the Institute of Arab and
lead to fear and panic, and leave less affluent sections,
half of their homeland but that the land and disregard a demographic it. The remaining 40% of the West were expelled and the Jewish set­ Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, U.K.
the disabled, migrant workers and many single indivi­ settler  movement  of  Zionism reality by which the Jews are not Bank, areas A and B under Oslo II, tler community in the West Bank He is the author of 20 books
duals  unable  to  cope.  The  golden  mean  would  be  to
shut all non­essential shops, encourage remote transac­
tions, open street sales and home deliveries, actively
monitor compliance with COVID­19 protocols in public
places  and  vaccinate  workers  in  services,  including
Slowing the pace of India’s mucormycosis threat 
domestic workers, on priority. Free food distribution The experience of oncologists who rely on steroid­based protocols offers lessons in preventing and managing cases 
must be a central feature of lockdowns. most 70 times higher than what is sections. Additionally, there are li­ cial  to  avoiding  mucormycosis.
reported  in  other  countries.  In  a mited  antifungal  drugs  available When  patients  are  medicating

Rules and rulers multi­centre  study  across  several


tertiary­care hospitals in India, pu­
for mucormycosis. The gold stan­
dard drug is liposomal amphoteri­
themselves  at  home,  monitoring
of capillary blood glucose is essen­
The Govt. must hear out the social media blished  in  Clinical Microbiology cin B, which is priced out of reach tial.  If  high  blood  sugars  are  en­
and Infection (https:// for many. Amphotericin B deoxy­ countered,  a  tele­consult  with  a
industry, and shed its arbitrary rule­making
VIJAY SONEJI

Nikita Mehra bit.ly/3fkLzV8), the rough estimate cholate (conventional) is cheaper, doctor  is  advisable.  Going  a  step

I
t does seem that most if not all global social media of  proven  mucormycosis  was but is associated with an unfavour­ further,  health  authorities  may
giants will miss complying with the new IT rules of around 40 cases on an average ov­ able toxicity profile including kid­ consider arranging for blood glu­

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intermediaries,  which  come  into  effect  today.  It he alarming rise in India re­ er a 21­month period observed at ney  problems,  abnormalities  in cose  monitoring  for  patients  at
cently  in  the  incidence  of each centre. unfortunately, only worsening this electrolyte  levels;  reduced  sodi­ home  on  steroids,  and  also  pro­
would be unfortunate if this non­compliance were to
mucormycosis — a rare fun­ situation. In a lab study published um, potassium, calcium and mag­ moting  awareness  campaigns  on
trigger a further worsening of the already poor relation­ gal  infection  —  in  patients  who Focus on diabetes in  Nature Metabolism (https:// nesium  levels  can  lead  to  other the  importance  of  controlled
ship between some  social media players and the Go­ have been diagnosed and treated It  must  be  made  absolutely  clear go.nature.com/34dEn6L),  SARS­ toxicities.  Some  other  expensive blood sugar levels.
vernment. The new rules were introduced in February. for COVID­19 has come as no sur­ that mucormycosis is not transmit­ CoV­2  can  potentially  multiply  in treatment options include posaco­ Patients  on  steroids  for  CO­
Among other things, they require the bigger social me­ prise to those of us in the medical ted from one individual to the oth­ pancreatic cells and contribute to nazole  and  isavuconazole.  All VID­19 should report symptoms of
dia platforms, which the rules referred to as significant oncology  community.  This  out­ er, the way COVID­19 is. The most increased blood sugar levels in CO­ these medicines often have to be mucormycosis  at  the  earliest.
social media intermediaries, to adhere to a vastly tight­ come was our greatest fear as the common  cause  is  uncontrolled VID­19 patients. Steroids form a ve­ administered for prolonged dura­ Among other  symptoms,  they
administration of dexamethasone diabetes mellitus (raised blood su­ ry important aspect of treatment tions, making treatment protocols should look out for facial swelling
er set of rules within three months, which ended on
and  other  steroids  began  to  be­ gars).  Other  causes  include  the for  COVID­19  because  they  lower difficult to sustain on a large scale, on one side, protrusion of the eye­
May 25. They require these platforms to appoint chief come  common.  As  oncologists treatment  of  some  cancers;  ste­ death rates by reducing the cyto­ given the cost implications and dif­ ball, new­onset visual disturbanc­
compliance officers, in order to make sure the rules are who  rely  on  steroids  in  many  of roids,  chemotherapy  or  immu­ kine storm phase which can deve­ ficulty in drug administration due es,  headache  and  vomiting,  new
followed, nodal officers, to coordinate with law enforce­ our  protocols,  and  having  man­ notherapy,  and  solid  organ  or lop in some patients. However, ste­ to its side­effects. onset  swelling  or  ulcers  with
ment agencies, and grievance officers. Another rule re­ aged several cases of mucormyco­ stem­cell  transplantations.  The roids  when  used  excessively  or When  a  patient  is  recovering blackish discolouration, and pro­
quires messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to trace sis, we are acutely aware that treat­ common sites of presentation in­ prematurely, and without medical from COVID­19 infection, it is cer­ longed fever. COVID­19 treatment
problematic messages to its originators, raising uneasy ment protocols need to differ from clude rhino­cerebral involvement supervision  can  be  harmful.  Be­ tainly  going  to  be  a  challenge  to experts  and  policy­makers  may
patient to patient due to the com­ (i.e.,  the  fungus  can  damage  the sides  causing  reduced  immunity perform debilitating surgeries and consider  widespread  training  of
questions about how services that are end­to­end en­
plexities  in  clinical  presentation nose, paranasal sinuses, the eyes levels,  steroids  can  also  increase administer these antifungal drugs health­care  personnel  including
crypted can adhere to this. There are indeed many pro­ and  an  individual’s  tolerance  to and the brain), and pulmonary in­ blood sugar levels which can cause for  a  prolonged  duration.  In  the Accredited Social Health Activists
blems with the new rules, not the least of which is the treatment.  volvement  (i.e.,  the  fungus  can additional harm if left unchecked. case  of  rhino­cerebral  mucormy­ (ASHAs) and nursing professionals
manner in which they were introduced without much However, we find ourselves in a cause pneumonia).  Dexamethasone, methylpredniso­ cosis especially, surgery is usually to raise awareness on mucormyco­
public  consultation.  There  has  also  been  criticism different position today because of Raised  blood  sugars  being  a lone or prednisone are among the required in addition to antifungal sis while educating people locally.
about bringing in a plethora of new rules that ought to the  magnitude  of  cases  being  re­ cause is of particular concern for steroids used in the treatment of drugs. If these surgeries cannot be The prolonged requirement for
be normally triggered only via legislative action.  ported, and the inability of treat­ multiple  reasons.  According  to  a COVID­19. performed, the outcome is dismal. hospital  admission  linked  to  CO­
ing physicians to create individual­ study  in  The Lancet (https:// It is also important to keep in mind VID­19  will  also  lead  to  a  rise  in
But non­compliance can only make things worse, es­
ised  treatment  protocols  under bit.ly/3bV2fAC), the number of pe­ Treatment approach that  treatment  for  mucormycosis other hospital­acquired infections
pecially in a situation in which the relationship between this burden. Some States, includ­ ople with diabetes increased to 65 Mucormycosis  is  associated  with will require prolonged hospital ad­ necessitating  the  use of  multiple
some platforms such as Twitter and the Government ing Tamil Nadu, have declared mu­ million in 2016 in India. The high­ very high morbidity and mortality. missions.  Given  the  health­care antibiotics.  We  are  staring  at  the
seems to have broken down. The latest stand­off bet­ cormycosis as a notifiable disease est prevalence of diabetes was ob­ Its treatment requires a multi­dis­ constraints we are faced with, this grim  reality  of  managing  large
ween them, over Twitter tagging certain posts by BJP under the Epidemic Diseases Act. served in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and ciplinary  team  approach  that  in­ infection should be avoided at all numbers  of  patients  with  other
spokespeople as ‘manipulated media’, has even result­ Guidelines and protocols need to Delhi.  The  crude  prevalence  of cludes  microbiology,  pathology, costs. long­standing  side­effects  of  ste­
ed  in  the  Delhi  Police  visiting  the  company’s  offices. be  adapted  and  modified  rapidly diabetes above 20 years of age has radiology, infectious diseases, sur­ roids. Additionally, the concern is
Separately,  the  Government  has  been  fighting  What­ to arrest this growing epidemic. increased  to  7.7%  in  2016,  from gery,  pediatrics,  hematology,  in­ Monitoring is essential the  alarming  increase  in  multi­
Why did the risk of mucormyco­ 5.5% in 1990. Further, there is an tensive  care,  dermatology,  and What  can  be  done  to  reduce  the drug resistant bacterial infections
sApp over its new privacy rules. Whatever the back­sto­
sis  overwhelming  us  come  as  no underlying higher genetic suscep­ pharmacology.  A  multi­disciplin­ number of cases and the intensity for  which  we  are  grossly
ry, it is important that social media companies fight the surprise? The estimated burden of tibility  to  diabetes  in  Indians; ary approach is simply not feasible of  mucormycosis?  Steroid  use  at unprepared.
new rules in a court of law if they find them to be pro­ mucormycosis  in  India  is  14  per some of these cases could get un­ on a large scale, especially in areas home for COVID­19 should be only
blematic. The other option, that of engaging with the 100,000  in  a  study  published  in earthed only after exposure to ste­ with limited medical access. under the supervision of a health­ Dr. Nikita Mehra is Associate Professor of
Government, may not work in these strained times. But Current Fungal Infection Reports roids.  Surgery  for  mucormycosis  can care worker. The control of blood Medical Oncology, Adyar Cancer Institute
stonewalling on the question of compliance can never (https://bit.ly/3oOe4xv). This is al­ The  treatment  of  COVID­19  is, be debilitating requiring major re­ sugars during steroid intake is cru­ (WIA), Chennai
be justified, even if it is to be assumed that the U.S. Go­
vernment  has  their  back.  Facebook,  on  its  part,  has 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.
made  all  the  right  noises.  It  has  said  that  it  aims  to
To read more letters
comply  with  the  new  rules  but  also  needs  to  engage Toolkit hunt country. One wonders how Remarks on allopathy slams Ramdev’s view”, May medical world and online, scan the QR code

with the Government on a few issues. What is impor­ The ruling party’s a social media site would Yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s 24). The facts and motives progressive­minded


tant is that the genuine concerns of social media com­ obsession, and also the have more information derogatory and illogical behind such utterances by individuals and such remarks. 
panies are taken on board. Apart from issues about the Government of India’s, with about an alleged conspiracy remarks against allopathy the yoga guru should be organisations must express Dr. Surinder Singla,
“toolkits” is absurd. In the than India’s elite should not stop the central exposed. Intellectuals, the their strong protest against Sangrur, Punjab
rules, there have been problems about creating condi­
midst of a raging pandemic, investigation agency itself. government from initiating corrections & clarifications:
tions for compliance during the pandemic. As reported
the urge to engage the One hopes that the legal action against him — A report headlined “Thousands from Karnal reach Singhu” (May 24, 2021, some editions) talked
by The Hindu, five industry bodies, including the CII, police and central agencies government gets down to even if he did express about farmers from Punjab’s Karnal and nearby areas reaching the Singhu border to join a protest
FICCI and the U.S.­India Business Council have sought to investigate so­called setting the country right regret later — for causing against the farm laws. Karnal is in Haryana.
an extension of 6­12 months for compliance. This is an toolkits ends up being a rather than look for a fear and confusion besides A front­page report titled “Gujarat emerges as hotspot of mucormycosis in India” (May 23, 2021) 
opportunity for the Government to hear out the indus­ facade to divert an ordinary toolbox. deeply hurting the feelings erroneously referred to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1857. It should have been Epidemic Diseases Act,
citizen’s attention from the of health professionals 1897.
try, and also shed its high­handed way of rule­making. Aswin S.,
real problems haunting the Thiruvananthapuram (Inside pages, “Vardhan The Readers’ Editor’s office can be contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300; E-mail:readerseditor@thehindu.co.in

CM A ND-NDE
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THE HINDU
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
DELHI

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OPED 7

Vaccination is our only weapon Interpreting deaths in Chennai 
Excess deaths data show that COVID­19 causality is being underplayed 
It is important to hold manufacturers to account on efficacy data
for emergency use and is expected to
do the same for Sputnik V shortly. Ho­
wever, absence of transparency in clin­
ical trial protocols and of the data and
its analysis have cast doubts on appro­
val  of  these  vaccines  in  developed Rukmini S.
Joseph Britto countries  with  access  to  other  vac­
cines.  Chennai saw over 12,000 more deaths
in 2020 than the average of the five pre­
On  May  14,  2021,  the  Indian  govern­ Surge in the Seychelles ceding  years  —  a  20%  increase  over
PTI

ment announced that over two billion Policymakers and vaccine manufactur­ those years and a 10.66% increase over


doses  of  vaccines  against  SARS­CoV­2 ers  would  be  wise  to  pay  close  atten­ 2019  alone,  the  highest  single  year
will be produced in India from August the large population groups which re­ tion  to  what  is  happening  in  the  Sey­ change in a decade. Officially, the city
to December. The government can be main unvaccinated or under­vaccinat­ chelles with respect to the efficacy of recorded  just  4,000  deaths  from  CO­ deaths  were  reported  than  the  pre­ to estimates of ‘excess mortality’ — the
applauded on its intent: vaccinating a ed, the virus is spreading, replicating, vaccines. Despite being the most vacci­ VID­19 in 2020. It is unclear how many vious  five­year  average.  With  the  de­ difference  between  deaths  from  all­
billion  Indians  with  two  doses  each and mutating. Unless it resorts to mass, nated nation in the world, with more of these ‘excess’ deaths were uncount­ cline  of  the  first  wave  by  September causes in pandemic years and those in
should  in  theory  give  India  herd  im­ rapid  vaccinations,  India  will  be  con­ than 60% of its population fully vacci­ ed COVID­19 deaths or were due to oth­ 2020, excess mortality in Chennai be­ ‘normal’  years.  Countries  around  the
munity. But while the number 2.1 bil­ demned to new variant pandemic cy­ nated, the Seychelles is battling a surge er  causes  including  lack  of  access  to gan to fall too, but remained more than world  including  several  Latin  Ameri­
lion doses makes sense, little else does. cles that will keep surging and receding of the virus and has had to reimpose a health services. This pattern is likely to 10% above the five­year average. From can,  European and  North  American
Vaccines don’t save lives; rapid, mass, with  cyclical  and  devastating  conse­ lockdown. In the fully vaccinated pop­ repeat itself in 2021. More deaths have February 2021, this ‘excess mortality’ countries  publish  updated  data  on
repeated vaccinations do.  quences on lives and livelihoods. ulation in the Seychelles, 57% were gi­ been reported in the first four months began  to  rise  too,  and  in  April  2021, their  usual  and  current  mortality.  In­
Like influenza, SARS­CoV­2 is here to ven Sinopharm (donated by the United of the year than during any similar pe­ deaths were over one­third higher than dia, however, has not published mor­
Vaccinate on a war footing stay.  There  is  a  high  possibility  of Arab Emirates), while 43% were given riod  in  the  last  decade.  The  ‘excess the five­year average. The data for April tality statistics since 2018. Some better­
In the 2019 general election, in just five another wave of infections, with anoth­ AstraZeneca (produced by the Serum mortality’ in 2021, which could include 2021 in particular are likely to be an un­ run  States  and  cities  have  published
weeks, about 610 million Indians voted er strain if not this. Many more will get Institute of India). On a per capita basis other deaths, is also nearly four times derestimate as people have up to a year this data themselves. Mumbai’s ‘excess
at  one  million  polling  stations  that infected.  The  aim  is  to  downregulate of reported cases, the Seychelles out­ the reported COVID­19 death count of to register deaths. mortality’  for  2020  closely  mirrors
were supervised by 10 million election the virus with rapid, mass and repeat­ break  is  worse  than  India’s.  All  vac­ 730 deaths for the same period. All over the world, cities and coun­ these findings about Chennai; in 2020,
officials. If the nation can be mobilised ed vaccinations from an epidemic to an cines do not necessarily demonstrate tries have accepted that the official toll Mumbai  reported  1,12,000  deaths  as
every  five  years  for  the  general  elec­ endemic  infection  that  has  seasonal the  efficacy  that  the  manufacturers Excess mortality from COVID­19 does not represent the against  its  2015­19  average  of  90,100
tion, there is no reason why India can­ outbreaks with lower number of cases, tout. Manufacturers must be held to ac­ Chennai’s  municipal  corporation accurate or full toll. The U.K. and some deaths, an increase of nearly 20%.
not vaccinate one billion Indians in five morbidity and mortality, allowing us to count not just on their production tar­ maintains information on every death jurisdictions in the U.S. like New York These findings on Chennai raise im­
weeks. On a war footing, India needs to safely open up and keep the economy gets but on efficacy data. Transparency certificate  issued  for  over  a  century. City  report  both  confirmed  and  sus­ portant questions. One, even relatively
vaccinate 75% of the population in five open.  in clinical trials including post­vaccine The data presented here are based on pected  or  probable  COVID­19  deaths. well­administered  cities  like  Chennai
weeks, not five months.  Sadly, many decision­makers forget rollout analysis is mandatory. deaths counted by the date on which The  latter  category  includes  people and Mumbai reported a 20% increase
Up to May 23, only 10.9% of the pop­ that vaccinating the nation is not a one­ Until all Indians are protected, none the actual death took place, as report­ who  did  not  test  positive  prior  to in  mortality  in  2020,  and  Chennai  is
ulation had received one dose and only off; we will have to repeat this hercu­ of  us  is  protected.  The  government’s ed in the death certificate. The city cor­ death. Despite this being part of India’s seeing  a  further  rise  in  2021.  This
4% had been fully vaccinated with two lean exercise every season with updat­ announcement  that  2.1  billion  doses poration says that it registers virtually official protocol on the counting of CO­ should put an end to speculation over
doses.  On  average  1.5  million  Indians ed and re­engineered booster vaccines will be provided in five months, with­ every death that takes place within the VID­19 deaths, it is not being followed whether  or  not  the  pandemic  drove
have been vaccinated every day since to  prevent  the  next  pandemic  cycle out  any  mention  of  a  central  vaccine city corporation limits. in practice. Officials in States including death rates up. Two, these differences
the vaccination programme started on which  will  be  driven  by  new  and agency managed by experts to govern With the rising population, the num­ Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and cannot be explained away by the offi­
January 16. If in the 150 days between emerging variants. the  purchase,  procurement  and  pro­ ber of registered deaths has gradually Delhi  have  told  this  author  that  they cial death toll from COVID­19. London,
August and December this year, about All vaccines are not equally effective duction  centrally  for  all  States,  will gone  up  every  year.  While  data  since only count deaths among people with a a city  of  comparable  population  to
2.1 billion doses are produced, India re­ – high  efficacy  equals  high  economic create  and  promote  vaccination 2010 have been analysed, the five most positive test prior to death as COVID­19 Chennai, has reported over 15,000 ex­
quires not just the production but the benefit.  The  primary  driver  of  the asymmetry. It will exacerbate the pre­ recent pre­pandemic years (2015­2019) deaths. Reporting from States includ­ cess  deaths  from  March  23,  2020  to
administration of at least 14.4 million choice of a vaccine manufacturer is not existing healthcare iniquity and inequi­ provide  the  best  comparison  as  their ing  Gujarat,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Bihar now,  an  increase  of  nearly  30%.  Ho­
vaccines per day. But it lacks the infras­ just the ability to produce large quanti­ ty in India. To the rich­poor, rural­ur­ mortality statistics are closest to what a has indicated similar trends. wever,  the  city  has  seen  over  19,000
tructure  to  administer  the  produced ties in the time frame required; it is the ban, digital divides we now appear to ‘normal’ year should have looked like. To get past this lack of data, some re­ deaths  with  COVID­19  mentioned  on
vaccines at 10 times the current rate. It efficacy of the vaccine following peer be adding a new vaccination divide. Between 2015 and 2019, Chennai saw porters have attempted to collate data the death certificate. That is a clear in­
will fail in this critical task unless it mo­ reviews,  publications  and  rollout. India  has  to  learn  from  its  colossal 62,457  deaths  every  year  on  average from  crematoria  and  burial  grounds. dication that although mortality has ri­
bilises  the  armed  forces  for  logistics. Equally important is the ability of the mistakes.  It  must  set  aside  its  hubris (the  average  was  substantially  driven However,  this  method  too  is  fraught sen, the city is certifying many of the
Every health worker not working in a manufacturer  to  quickly  re­engineer and exceptionalism. It must on a war up by high mortality in 2019, which re­ with error — crematoria do not main­ deaths as COVID­19­related, unlike In­
hospital and every medical, paramedi­ and produce updated vaccines against footing coalesce behind the only wea­ gistered an increase of 7% from 2018). tain complete records; in some cities, a dian cities. Finally, Chennai’s data sug­
cal, and nursing student will have to be the  prevalent  strains  and  future  ‘var­ pon that works — vaccination. The pan­ In  2020,  Chennai  saw  over  74,000 few crematoria are carrying out all CO­ gest that other cities and States would
on vaccine administration duty. Unless iants of concern’. demic cycles have left in their wake in­ deaths  —  an  increase  of  19%  over  the VID­19  cremations  giving  the  impres­ do well to release their all­cause mor­
every Indian is protected either by vac­ Both the Russian Sputnik V and the calculable but preventable loss of life, five­year  average  and  10.7%  over  the sion of a greater increase in cremations tality  statistics  and  provide  estimates
cination or herd immunity, India will Chinese  Sinopharm  vaccines  were human  suffering,  financial  ruin  and 2019  figure.  From  the  end  of  March than the data warrant; and many cre­ of excess mortality. Cities like Chennai
remain unprotected.  rolled  out  widely  and  ahead  of  suffi­ economic decrepitude. If we fail, gen­ 2020  through  April  and  part  of  May, mations and burials are being carried and  Mumbai  with  strong  administra­
Spreading viruses mutate. The only cient phase 3 trial data. Mostly low­ and erations  of  Indians  to  come  will  ask the city was under lockdown. As would out following COVID­19 protocols even tive  systems  are  also  likely  to  have
way a host can break the cycle of repli­ middle­income  countries  have  given why we did not come together and do be  expected  for  a  city  that  sees  over when the death in question is not ne­ stronger health systems — they might
cation and mutation is if the host’s im­ emergency  use  licence  to  both  these the right thing. 100 deaths in road accidents alone ev­ cessarily from COVID­19. be missing some COVID­19 deaths, but
mune system neutralises the virus. Im­ vaccines and millions have been vacci­ ery month, monthly deaths in Chennai we  have  greater  reason  to  fear  that
munity is acquired in only two ways – nated with them. Both vaccines remain Joseph Britto is former consultant and declined in March and April. However, Mortality statistics States with under­developed capacity
either by natural infection or vaccine­ under  review  by  the  European  Medi­ honorary senior lecturer in Paediatric Intensive from  May  to  September,  there  was  a Given  the  inadequacy  of  official  data might be missing many more. 
derived  immunity.  The  problem  with cines  Agency.  On  May  7,  the  World Care at Imperial College at St. Mary’s Hospital, large  spike  in  deaths,  particularly  in and  the  loopholes  in  novel  sources,
the current rate of vaccination is that in Health Organization listed Sinopharm London June,  when  more  than  50%  more many researchers are turning instead Rukmini S. is an independent journalist

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Still grappling with online classes


FROM THE ARCHIVES
State universities require funding if online
FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 26, 1971
education is to continue in India
Milind Kumar Sharma
Recognition of Bangla Desh
colleges,  3.73  crore  students  and
14.16 lakh teachers in India, accord­ External Affairs Minister, Swaran Singh de­
A year  since  the  outbreak  of  CO­ ing to All India Survey on Higher Edu­ clared in the Rajya Sabha to­day [New Delhi,
VID­19,  online  education  remains  a cation (2018­19). If such a drastic de­ May 25] that the Government had not taken
chimera  in  India.  Notwithstanding cision was to be taken, there should any “fixed position” on the question of re­
their preparedness, higher education have  been  wider  consultation  bet­ cognition of Bangla Desh. “If at any stage we
institutions were directed by the go­ ween the government and all the aca­ feel recognition is necessary we will not hes­
vernment  to  shift  from  classroom demic stakeholders to find a way for­ itate to do so.” Replying to a five­hour discus­
education to online education. This ward. With Internet penetration still sion on Bangla Desh, Mr. Swaran Singh said
was  mandated  even  though  the  go­ low in India, it is incumbent on the the  Government  would  not  hesitate  to  ac­
vernment  spent  merely  3.2%  of  its government  to  allow  suitable  finan­ cord formal recognition if it was in the “in­
GDP on education in 2020­21. Univer­ cial aids to state universities to obtain terest of peace, our national interest and in
sity administrations too released or­ appropriate IT tools, platforms, dev­ the interest of the people of Bangla Desh.” In
ders  overnight  in  haste.  They  in­ ices, provide training, etc. before in­ the Lok Sabha a strong demand for recogni­
structed  teachers  and  students  to itiating such an exercise. Else, given tion of Bangla Desh followed by material aid
move to online classes without taking the difference in students’ access to to the freedom fighters was made by several
cognisance of changes needed in in­ digital education, their performanc­ members.  Mr.  Swaran  Singh,  however,
frastructure, training, etc. es  are  also  bound  to  differ.  This pointed  out  that  the  question  had  to  be
creates an asymmetrical society and viewed from a larger angle. “There were cer­
Differences within institutions leads to anxiety among the students. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
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tain  norms  which  have  to  be  carefully
The financial health of state universi­ Most  importantly,  education  is  de­ DATA POINT weighed such as the extent of the territory
ties in the country is an open secret. nied  to  the  less  privileged  student controlled, the quantum of support, the ex­
While  centrally  funded  elite  insti­ community.  tent of writ and the repercussions of recog­
tutes such as the IITs, IIMs, NITs and nising a country which till now was part of
Central  universities  launched  video Study material Pakistan.” Mr. Swaran Singh also pointed out
channels and uploaded e­content on Another predicament in online edu­ that the situation continued to be fluid.
institutional websites and digital plat­ cation  is  the  preparation  of  appro­
forms, a majority of the state univer­ priate  study  material.  Policymakers A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 26, 1921
sities still struggle without proper In­ need  to  acknowledge  that  merely
ternet connectivity and bandwidth in uploading scanned  lecture notes or The Nankana case
their campuses. State universities are power point presentations does not
only able to provide salaries on time. serve any meaningful purpose. There In addition to the oral examination by the
The move to online learning especial­ is  no  imaginative  thinking  and  ex­ Magistrate,  Mahant  Naraindas  of  Nankana
ly  came  as  a  surprise  for  overbur­ ploring, no application­based learn­ who  has  just  been  committed  to  the  Ses­
dened teachers given that there are ing  for  students.  For  practical  field sions,  put  in  a  lengthy  written  statement
several  vacant  faculty  positions  in and  laboratory­based  learning,  the which was read out in the court to­day. The
universities across India. This move whole idea of online education could Mahant said that he had been apprehending
also came as a shock for the students, prove to be a disaster. attack from Akalis and renovated the gates,
many of whom are distressed by the Given that there is talk of more CO­ walls and entrances of the Nankana temple
COVID­19 situation. Many of them al­ VID­19 waves, it is imperative for the not  with  a  view  to  attack  but  for  his  own
so lack the facilities to attend online government to embrace a pragmatic shelter  and  protection.  Holes  in  the  doors
classes. Teachers and students had a approach  by  engaging  all  academic were  made  in  order  that  he  might  watch
sense of déjà vu as they had a similar stakeholders and investing generous­ what  was  happening  outside  and  not  for
experience when the annual scheme ly  in  online  education  as  suggested shooting. He was asleep on the 20th Febru­
of teaching and regular courses was by the Fifteenth Finance Commission ary  morning  when  he  was  roused  by  the
replaced by the semester scheme of in its report. Development of massive noise of shots. He stirred out only once to in­
teaching and the choice­based credit open online courses (MOOCs), direct­ form the police but Akalis chased him. So he
system earlier.  to­home  (DTH)  content  develop­ concealed  himself  in  his  house  for  fear  of
A transition  from  conventional ment,  digital  classrooms  and  provi­ Akalis. It was only when the Deputy Com­
classroom  teaching  and  learning  to sion of devices (laptop/tablets) for 25 missioner arrived that he came out and saw
online education needs to be done in lakh students belonging to the social­ Akalis lying dead. More than two cans of ke­
a phased manner.  State universities ly and economically weaker sections rosene  were  daily  used  in  the  temple.  He
should first equip their infrastructure of society, especially in state universi­ therefore  bought  oil  in  large  quantities
(both  hard  and  soft)  with  whole­ ties, would help.  which cost him cheaper. He denied having
hearted government support. A sled­ shot anybody or ordering firing. He also stat­
gehammer  approach  to  adapt  to  a Milind Kumar Sharma teaches in the ed  that  he  had  approached  the  Local  Go­
new setting won’t serve anybody’s in­ Department of Production and Industrial vernment, members of the Executive Coun­
terests. On the contrary, it may prove Engineering, M.B.M. Engineering College, Jai cil,  Commissioner,  Mahatma  Gandhi  and
to be a counterproductive exercise.  Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, erstwhile others for advice and assistance, but without
There are 993 universities, 39,931 University of Jodhpur. Views are personal avail.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
CHENNAI

4 THINK BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • MAY 26 • 2021

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xyz

wednesday, may 26, 2021


No ready solutions to Covid’s rural surge
Safety net Training, testing and tele-consultation look good on paper, but finally the decrepit rural health system needs to be restored
PREETI MEHRA ing.  It  also  spoke  of  a  home  isola­
As lockdowns begin to bite, governments need tion kit to be provided to all active

T
ill fairly recently, Covid­19 cases, which would include the ap­
to roll out schemes for the poor and migrants was  popularly  perceived propriate medicines and a detailed
to be purely an urban con­ pamphlet  indicating  how  to  deal

G
iven  the  surge  in  cases  and  deaths  in cern.  This  notion  rested with the infection.
on the fact that the first wave of the On paper the recommendations
Tamil Nadu, it does not really come as a
pandemic largely bypassed India’s look good. But does the hinterland
surprise  that  the  newly  elected  DMK villages. But the second onslaught have  a  working  infrastructure  to
government  was  forced  to  go  for  a of the virus this year has confirmed implement these SOPs in real time?
stringent  lockdown  from  May  24  that  shut  even the worst fears of medical experts — At the village level the first stop is
grocery and vegetable shops. The two days preced­ that  the  under­prepared  rural the Primary Health Centre (PHC). If
populace is extremely vulnerable. it is barely functional, then the link­
ing the lockdown saw surging crowds out shop­ There are as yet no official figures age  to  tertiary  hospital  care  is
ping for essentials across the State leading to fears that  plot  the  rural  impact  of  the broken. It is at the PHC that medical
of a ‘super­spreader’ event; it has raised questions pandemic. But field reports in the advice  is  first  sought.  If  that  is  ab­
as to whether it was really a good idea to go for a media from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya sent  or  inadequate,  then  it  is  a  re­
Pradesh,  Bihar,  Karnataka,  Punjab, cipe for disaster.
total  shutdown.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  more  im­ Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Significantly, the SOPs suggest, to
portant  point,  though,  is  that  if  stringent  lock­ and West Bengal paint a dismal pic­ ensure  that  community­based  ser­
downs are to be enforced as the only way to curb ture.  Bodies  abandoned  in  the vices  and  primary  health  infra­
the spread of Covid till vaccinations pick up, the Ganga, mass cremations on riverb­ structure  in  rural  areas  are
anks,  panic  stories  about  deaths equipped to manage infections. But
poor  and  vulnerable  need  to  be  protected,
after a cough and fever, fears of the given the intensity with which the
whether  in  Tamil  Nadu  or  elsewhere.  They  need black  fungus  infection  spreading, virus  is  spreading,  it  may  be  a  bit
both food and cash to tide through what looks like lack of oxygen, and hardly any pro­ too late to start building infrastruc­
another long summer of dwindling incomes and vision  for  vaccines  or  even  testing ture  or  finding  personnel  on  the
rising expenses, as lockdowns of varying degrees for  the  virus.  According  to  estim­ ground to deal with the pandemic. 
ates,  48  per  cent  of  the  case  load “In  every  village,  active  surveil­
of  severity  are  likely  to  persist  for  the  next  few burden is now rural. lance should be done for influenza­ Creaking care The pandemic has ravaged rural India in its second wave turning the spotlight on healthcare infra REUTERS
months. Tamil Nadu has done well in sanctioning All this points to poor or non­ex­ like illness/severe acute respiratory
a sum  of  ₹4,000  for  every  family  with  a  ration istent  medical  infrastructure,  lack infections (ILI/SARI) periodically by it is clear that in areas where there continues and so does the despair. ours  and  7.5  crore  of  it  below  the
card. Maharashtra  and of awareness and overall ignorance ASHA workers with the help of Vil­ was  some  semblance  of  a  rural We are nowhere near the end of the poverty line, according to 2020 es­
about responding to the crisis. The lage  Health  Sanitation  and  Nutri­ health structure, it has been easier disaster  story,  with  even  a  third timates, it is critical that we put in
Scan & Share Karnataka  have  devised  their feedback has one common thread tion  Committee  (VHSNC),”  the to  manage  patients  at  PHCs  itself, wave  being  predicted.  Even  now place  a  robust  health  system  that
own cash transfer schemes. But — in  this  crisis  rural  India  sorely guidelines say. while  sending  those  who  need there is a lack of testing and tracing. our people can access.
more needs to be done, both at misses the footprint of basic health emergency care to tertiary facilities. Practitioners  spoke  of  how  pre­ Undoubtedly,  there  has  to  be  a
the State and at a national level, and  medical  services.  There  is The ground reality But in others even a pulse oximeter scriptions  were  being  given pronounced  rural  focus  when  it
clearly  a  lack  of  planning  for  a But  this  is  more  easily  said  than or an oxygen cylinder are difficult without testing for the virus, so the comes to health planning. As things
to  help  the  informal  sector
second  wave,  despite  the  fact  that done.  A  series  of  webinars  organ­ to  come  by.  How  does  one  even cases do not even enter the national stand,  doctors  and  health  officials
workers  and  migrants  by  de­ alarms bells were rung in ised by Impact and Policy monitor saturation levels? statistics. Ditto the death toll: data rarely  visit  rural  areas  removed
ploying the Centre’s schemes and datasets to max­ many quarters. Research  Institute  and The webinar series and the media discrepancies  in  some  regions  are from district headquarters. 
So, what must be done Scan & Share some others focus on dif­ relate many stories of sheer grit, of too stark and worrisome. In fact, reporters who went into
imum effect, setting aside political differences.
An  increase  in  ration  entitlement  under  the to improve rural health­ ferent  States  and  capture medical professionals, schoolteach­ the  villages  were  appalled  to  see
care — in the short term the reality on the ground. ers, self­help groups, ASHA workers, Rethinking health policy PHCs  which  had  remained  closed
Garib Kalyan Yojana will help, as it did last year — to combat the onslaught They  reveal  how  villages, sanitation staff, and even ordinary But while the pandemic plays out, it for  weeks.  The  pandemic  has  ex­
foodgrain stocks of about 80 million tonnes can of  the  virus  and  in  the civil society and some ad­ citizens risking their safety to save is  imperative  that  we  think  of  the posed the dark underbelly of med­
be deployed to good effect. However, the real chal­ long  term  to  help  villa­ ministrations  are  strug­ lives.  But  there  are  unfortunately future; how we need to rethink our ical care in the country. The need for
lenge is to reach out to the urban poor, which in­ gers  access  their  basic gling  to  provide  services even more stories of total helpless­ health policy and the Budget alloca­ a well organised public health sys­
right  to  medical  care?  The  Centre and reduce fatalities.  ness, of desperation, of running to tion for it.  tem is possible if there is a will. It is a
cludes migrant labour employed in construction recently released a new set of SOPs ‘Rural Realities: Practitioners’ Ex­ get services and failing miserably, of For the last few decades, with the crucial index of the ‘development’
projects,  in  terms  of  providing  food  and  cash. for  Covid­19.  This  includes  village­ perience  in  Tackling  the  Second seeing  loved  ones  die  without  be­ accent on privatisation and special­ that we strive to achieve.
Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in community kit­ level surveillance, tele­consultation Wave in Indian Villages’ gives voice ing  able  to  provide  them  medical ised care, basic health care and pre­
chens, and there can be no better occasion than with  community  health  officers, to speakers who have been working help. ventive  health  care  have  been  ig­ The writer is a senior Delhi-baed
and training in rapid antigen test­ at ground zero. Through the series Unfortunately,  the  pandemic nored. With a population as large as journalist
now  to  ramp  up  scale  through  its  Amma
Canteens, which have been doing a wonderful job
catering to the urban poor. For instance, Karnata­
ka’s  Indira  Canteens,  which  have  been  allocated
extra  funds  in  the  Yediyurappa  government’s
latest ₹1,200­crore package, have played a salutary
role. For cash transfers, the Jan Dhan Yojana bank
accounts can be used for assistance over the next
‘Domestication’ of the Chinese economy
six  months  as  this  will  cover  even  those  who  do ‘Dual circulation’ marks China’s transition from an export-led economy to a domestically driven, services-led one
not have ration cards, such as migrants.  other nations as well as itself. Then of  a  large  economy  like  China,  a cent of the GDP of the US and Japan
ANIL KUMAR KANUNGO
For  construction  workers,  the  Building  and why  has  China  proposed  to  carry higher  percentage  of  its  products respectively  (Statista).  This  in­

A
Other Construction Workers’ cess fund must be ef­ t  a  time  when  the  world out domestic circulation? were absorbed in domestic circula­ creased  to  11.7  per  cent  for  the  US
fectively used. The Supreme Court has bemoaned economy is reeling under China’s  exports  were  hit  hard tion.  In  addition,  a  proportionally and 18.5 per cent for Japan in 2019
the  Covid­19  crisis,  China during global financial crisis (2007­ larger  service  sector,  and  higher (https://data.worldbank.org/indic-
its  poor  implementation  by  States,  a  fact  that
has  embarked  on  a  new 2012),  and  it  did  turn  to  domestic non­tradeables,  points  to  a  higher ator/).  Hence  in  both  these  major
came cruelly to light in the context of the exodus development paradigm to re­estab­ consumption  to  promote  growth, percentage of its GDP (53.3 per cent) economies  domestic  consumption
of  construction  workers  from  cities  during  the lish  its  position  as  a global  eco­ but around 2013­14 it had again be­ in domestic circulation in China. plays a major part in absorbing pro­
first Covid wave. The registration of workers un­ nomic  power.  This  is  evident  in  its come export oriented.  China’s advantage is that it has at­ duction. 
der this Act has remained cumbersome, as a result 14th  Five­Year  Plan  (2021­25)  an­ tained  large  economies  of  scale Another important factor is that
nounced by the government in July ‘Homeward’ bound making  its  manufacturing  sector the services sector accounts for 70­
of which barely half of the estimated 60 million 2020 which is enshrined with novel Given how the pandemic is playing more  modern  and  productive. 80 per cent of the GDP in the US and
construction  workers  are  registered.  A  combina­ concept called ‘dual circulation.’ havoc  with  the  world  economy, Smaller  economies  with  lower  do­ Japan,  whereas  the  corresponding
tion of cash support, free foodgrains through the This  development  paradigm  is China  is  perhaps  looking  inwards mestic  absorption  will  have  to  ne­ figure  for  China  is  only  53.6  per
PDS  and  community  kitchens  needs  to  be  de­ centered  on  domestic  circulation again. China On revamp mode BLOOMBERG cessarily rely on imports to develop cent. 
with  a  “dual  circulation”  model  in With  the  advent  of  Covid­19,  the their industrial sector.  Since the services sector is largely
ployed  to  help  the  poor  tide  through  the  lock­ which domestic circulation and in­ WTO  in  April  2020  had  predicted analytical perspective suggests that A bigger  economy  means  a  big­ non­tradable in nature, most of it is
down. At a time of national crisis, it is necessary ternational  circulation  promote world trade to shrink by 13 to 32 per China  experienced  its  peak  of  ex­ ger  capacity  for  domestic  absorp­ utilised  in  the  domestic  market.
for  governments  to  shed  their  differences  and each  other.  China  adopted  since cent and most likely in the current ports  during  2006  and  accounted tion. In 2019, Singapore’s exports ac­ This means a higher percentage of
pool in their experience.  1979  an  ambitious  export  driven situation closer to 32 per cent. With for  35.4  per  cent  of  GDP  which  in counted for 104.9 per cent of its GDP the  service  sector  in  an  economy
model  by  making  full  use  of  do­ the spread of Covid­19, many coun­ April  2020  came  down  to  17.7  per while for Taiwan’s exports were 53.9 means  a  lower  percentage  of  ex­
mestic  and  international  markets tries  have  slowed  reopening,  and cent  (https://www.statista.com/abou- per cent. In contrast China’s exports ports  in  its  GDP.  Currently  China’s
and resources. As the new model is some  are  reinstating  partial  lock­ tus/our-research-commitment).  This were merely 35.4 per cent during its exports  to  GDP  are  17.65  per  cent
emphasising  on  domestic  circula­ downs  to  protect  susceptible means in 2006 a little more than a peak  in  2006,  reflecting  its  eco­ (Statista) which may go down to 11
FROM THE VIEWSROOM tion, many key China watchers have populations. third  of  its  products  were  sold  to nomic  size.  As  the  world’s  second per cent soon. So in the current con­
started  pondering  whether  China The rising US­China trade friction foreign countries.  largest  economy  now,  China  has text  there  is  a  clear  case  for  the
The Chipko Man will be missed plans  to  transition  from  export
driven growth model to a domestic­
in the last few years has hit Chinese
exports hard forcing the country to
To put it differently, by 2020, 82.3
per cent of China’s production had
much  more  capacity  for  domestic
absorption. Looking from this per­
Chinese  government  and  policy­
makers  to  adopt  ‘Dual  Circulation’
In the passing away of Sundar Lal Bahuguna, India has lost its ally consumption driven economy. turn  to  domestic  demand  and  en­ been  domestically  absorbed  and spective, it makes eminent sense for as the new development paradigm .
most beloved environmentalist China has been a major player in courage ‘domestic circulation’.  circulated  before  the  proposal  for China  to  adopt  the  new  develop­

I
global trade. So its shift from export This in turn takes care of the un­ new paradigm was framed. So, what ment paradigm. The writer is former senior faculty, IIFT,
n the 1990s when the economy had just opened up to
orientation  to  domestic  driven employment problem and ensures accounts for the change? Basic laws Around 2008­09, exports accoun­ and currently Professor, Lal Bahadur
trigger an avalanche of growth and bustling metropol­
model,  will  hamper  world  trade, social  cohesion.  However,  a  more of economics suggests that in case ted for only 11.1 per cent and 12.6 per Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi
ises beckoned with what seemed like unbridled poten­
tial, the sight of a frail man staging yet another fast to
block the big dam in Tehri was just plain annoying. 
Curled up in a small hut along the unfinished dam in what
is known as New Tehri, Sundar Lal Bahuguna was unyielding
yet bemused by a cub reporter’s needling. Didn’t we need to LET TERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
ramp  up  power  production,  did  he  know  that  the  gap
between  demand  and  supply  widened  with  each  passing
Unfair, unwarranted staff) are not even getting a quar­ to rise further in coming days too, Many of them are engaged in so­ second  wave  of  the  pandemic  —
year, why shouldn’t India harvest its hydro­power potential,
At a time when India has lost 1,100 antine break. Yet, they have to face based  on  average  price  of  bench­ cial  service.  The  media  reported weak public health system and the
was he opposed to growth itself? We went over the paradox
doctors  fighting  a  battle  against such accusations. Should the med­ mark  fuel  in  the  international two  instances  —  a  17­year­old  girl fragility of the economy in which
of growth over a period of a week. 
Covid­19,  without  adequate  per­ ical profession, battling an unseen market  in  the  preceding  15­days, (Swadha  Prasad)  working  with  a millions lost their livelihoods than
“Anyone  who  believes  that  exponential
sonal  protective  equipment, enemy, endure such indignities? and foreign exchange rates.  group of volunteers in their teens have been harmed by the virus it­
growth  can  go  on  forever  in  a  finite  world  is
should  a  yoga  guru  deride  allo­ Kaushik Bhattacharya Kumar Gupt to  find lifesaving  oxygen,  drugs self.  India  has  miserably  failed  to
either  a  madman  or  an  economist,”  he  said, Panchkula (Haryana)
pathy and its practitioners as use­ Senior General and Laparoscopic Surgeon and  beds  in  hospital  and  inform build up infrastructure for public
quoting  economist  Kenneth  Boulding.  The Siliguri, West Bengal
less and prescriptions of death? the  needy  through  s  digital  data­ health  and  education  like  other
conversations  went  through  sustainability,
Even  though  the  country  has  a Soul lifting Tales base;  in  a  24/7  operation.  32­year­ developed countries. 
nature’s equilibrium and Gandhiji’s socio­eco­
qualified  medical  doctor  heading Oil blues Apropos ‘A silver lining amidst the old,  Shanawaz  Shaikh  has India ought to focus on  ease of
nomic vision. 
the Ministry of Health and Family This refers to the news report 'Pet­ Covid horrors’ by Rasheeda Bhagat provided  free  oxygen  to  thou­ living  rather  than  the  ease  of  do­
In  the  last  three  decades  when  a  seismic  sociological
Welfare,  it  has  served  as  little  de­ rol hits record ₹99.71/litre in Mum­ (May 25) a crisis of unheard­of pro­ sands  of  people  in  the  slums  of ing  business  for  international  in­
change accompanied iniquitous but burgeoning growth, he
terrence for Baba Ramdev to make bai  after  another  fuel  price  hike' portions  brings  out  the  stories  of Mumbai. His group gets over 500 vestors.  The  marginalised  people
was a constant reminder of the ecological disharmony it had
such accusations. (May  25).  Ironically,  this  happens both  cruelty  and  empathy.  While calls every day. and the migrant labourers are the
caused. It was a consciousness he and his erudite wife, Vimla,
The  Indian  Medical  Association to  be  the  13th  increase  in  fuel there  are  some  who  are  callously The media needs to give such an­ main  victims  in  the  pandemic.
had  striven  to  create  along  with  comrades  Chandi  Prasad
has lodged a strong protest, but it prices since May 4. While the fuel making  money  out  of  a  crisis, gels of kindness top billing — they Ease of living with strong medical
Bhatt, Gaura Devi, Suraksha Devi and countless others in the
is  unlikely  to  have  any  effect  on prices differ from State to State de­ there are other kind souls who go retain our faith in the goodness of and  education  system  and  provi­
Himalayas  where  they  carved  out  history  with  the  Chipko
Baba Ramdev, who appears to have pending on the incidence of local out of their way to help the needy humanity. sion  of  livelihoods  for  millions  is
movement  against  large­scale  deforestation.  These  were
all the right political and bureau­ taxes  such  as  VAT  and  freight patients voluntarily and quietly. YG Chouksey of utmost need. Strengthening the
people who truly believed that small is beautiful and dedic­ Pune
cratic  connections.  It  is  indeed charges, Rajasthan currently levies High  praise  is  due  to  the  new health  system  and  overhauling
ated  their  lives  to  creating  profound  public  conversations
galling  for  medical  professionals, the  highest  value­added  tax  (VAT) generation  of  today  who  despite the  education  system  with  re­
about the delicate balance of nature and the disastrous im­
who  are  losing  their  colleagues on petrol in the country, followed facing personal trauma, serve fam­ Making living easy vamped policies are imperative to
pact it could have on human life. In Sundar Lal Bahuguna’s
daily as they soldier on in the fight by  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Maha­ ily  members  afflicted  with Apropos  ‘Time  to  look  at  ‘Ease  of build  a  strong  and  permanent
passing last week, India has lost one of its most beloved envir­
against  this  virus.  With  an rashtra.  But  sadly,  there  does  not Covid­19  and  continue  to  work Living’ (May 25), the writer clearly structure to fight the pandemic.
onmental activists and thinkers.
abysmally­low  doctor­patient  ra­ appear any light at the end of the from  home  with  rare  equanimity brings to the fore the key reasons NR Nagarajan
tio, doctors (and other healthcare tunnel  since  fuel  prices  are  likely and resilience. for  the  failure  to  combat  the Sivakasi
Poornima Joshi

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., and Printed by D. Rajkumar at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209. Group Editorial Officer: Krishna Prasad. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528

CM . ..... .... ...


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CHENNAI

BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • MAY 26 • 2021 THINK 5

Averting future pandemics


Investing in preparedness and use of digital tech are vital
It’s raining billionaires in the UK
MEENA GANESH strengthening their public healthcare laws The pandemic has turned out to be a boom year for the super-rich. The UK has 24 more billionaires than a year ago
in anticipation of future pandemics. For in­

T
he UN General Assembly recently stance, in Australia, Section 51 of the Consti­ 700  luxury  boutiques.  Its  Portuguese­
organised  an  event  around tution  provides  the  Federal  government British owner Jose Neves is now worth
breaking  the  panic­then­forget with legislative powers to quarantine. The £2 billion. Britain is also riding high in
cycle  around  responsiveness  to US Department of Health and Human Ser­ the  unicorn  stakes.  Neves  of  Farfetch,
health  emergencies.  The  strong  underly­ vices  (HHS)  has  issued  specific  guidelines and  second­hand  car­site  boss  Cazoo
ing  message  conveyed  during  the  event to provide assistance to states for prevent­ Alex Chesterman made a splashy debut
was that the Covid­19 pandemic is unlikely ing the spread of communicable diseases. in the Rich List. Cazoo, looking to list in
to be the last health emergency globally.  On the contrary, in India, we have a curat­ the US this year, could be valued at $7 bil­
Once  an  outbreak  is  controlled,  atten­ ive  approach.  The  current  government PARAN BALAKRISHNAN lion. Another newcomer is Ben Francis
tion  is  again  directed  to  other  concerns, spending on public health staggers at less whose  firm  Gymshark  makes  gym
discounting  the  possibility  of  another than 1 per cent of GDP — a figure that is dis­ THE WIDER ANGLE clothes that have grown even more pop­
health  emergency  until  it  occurs.  Several mal as per global standards. While Indians ular  due  to  the  lockdown  with  stylish

I
reports  indicate  that  investments  in  pre­ put  their  faith  on  the  public  health  sys­ t may seem like a terrible injustice “athleisure”  becoming  a  wardrobe
paredness  would  only  cost  $5  per  person tems,  they  became  under­resourced  and but even under the long shadow of staple. 
annually. The cost of the current pandemic overwhelmed.  the pandemic, the rich have been The UK is believed to have 27 unicorns,
has  exceeded  trillions  of  dollars  and  the The  private  sector  offered  innovation getting  richer  just  when  most  of putting it just behind India which had
number  continues  to  increase.  There  is  a around  home  healthcare  and  using  tech the world has been getting poorer. Proof 32 at last count. The US has 288. Online
need for a transformative and proactive ap­ for better access. However, regulations and of that biblical adage is on display yet games also prospered, including gam­
New online opportunities showed there were fresh worlds waiting to be conquered ISTOCK
proach  to  prevent  future  pandemics  —  or approvals are a huge roadblock making it a again in the latestSunday Times’Rich List ing  millionaire  Debbie  Bushwick
even  becoming  more  resilient  against challenge for them to go that extra mile. In­ of  the  UK’s  wealthiest  people.  Sure ago. That’s the most billionaires added Amazon’s  Jeff  Bezos  and  luxury­ founder  of  Teams17  which  makes
them. dia’s  frontline  workers  must  be enough,  airline  owners,  star  travel since the newspaper began publishing products czar Bernard Arnault of LVMH. Worms, turn­based artillery games with
When  the  first  nationwide  lockdown strengthened.  The  ASHA  and  Anganwadi agents, restaurateurs and mall­owners its  list  33  years  ago.  What’s  more,  the Bezos  and  Arnault  are  neck­and­neck. each  player  controlling  a  team  of
was  announced  by  the  Prime  Minister  in workers  have  been  phenomenal  in  their suffered  as  customers  were  forced  to combined fortunes of these billionaires Many business analysts predicted a pan­ worms. Bushwick is worth £196 million.
the  thick  of  the  pandemic  last  year,  there work and must be formalised. stay  home­bound.  But  new  online  op­ soared to £597 billion, 24 per cent up on demic­hit  world  would  not  be  in  the The Sunday Times Rich List also high­
was panic and chagrin. Although much did portunities emerged and showed there the previous year, the biggest leap in a mood  to  splurge  on  luxury  products lights  still­strong  links  between  India
go wrong initially, things sorted out even­ For better health were  fresh  worlds  waiting  to  be decade. but they were wrong. and Britain, starting right from the top.
tually.  Masks  and  social  distancing  were Pandemic  response  demands  participa­ conquered. The  Elon  Musk  effect  rubbed  off  on In second spot are brothers Simon and
mandatory,  testing  went  up,  and  aware­ tion from all elements of society. A PPP ap­ Ageing rock star Mick Jagger raked in Across the globe many  electric  vehicle  manufacturers. David  Reuben.  Both  India­born,  they
ness  around  the  disease  spread  like  wild­ proach  will  be  key  in  improving  capacity $35 million last year and he didn’t have Obviously, the rich getting vastly richer The prime example is The Sunday Times’ moved to the UK and their interests in­
fire.  Even  private  players  pitched  in  with and efficiency of early warning and scope to  leave  his  mansion  once  to  become isn’t  solely  a  UK  phenomenon.  The new  star  mover,  Russian­born  Denis clude real estate, technology and finan­
their  offerings  to  supplement  govern­ control  for  infectious  disease.  Healthcare substantially  wealthier.  The  money Hurun Rich List, usually more generous Sverdlov,  based  in  Banbury,  who is cial investments. In third place are the
mental  efforts.  We  were  the institutions  must  strengthen came  rolling  in  via  booming  music­ in its net­worth calculations than Forbes worth an eye­watering £6.1 billion even Hinduja brothers and in the fifth posi­
second­highest  producers  of  PPE their emergency response and im­ streaming  services  like  Spotify  and Magazine,  the  veteran  of  wealth­spot­ though  his  company  Arrival’s  first tion,  there’s  steel  magnate  Lakshmi
kits  in  the  world  within  just  two plement measures on a war foot­ Apple  Music.  People  at  home  under ting, reckons there are now 3,228 billion­ vehicle won’t hit the road till next year. Mittal.
months of the pandemic and the ing for better care and treatment. lockdown  had  music  constantly  play­ aires in 68 countries. Hurun’s a newbie Sverdlov’s  unique  proposition  that
healthcare  workforce  set  an  ex­ A tie­up  with  home  healthcare ing  in  the  background.  And  Jagger is in a business dominated globally by For- would  upend  the  auto  industry  is  to Happiness quotient
ample  in  dealing  with  the  situ­ companies can become beneficial one mega­star who’s still listened to six bes and  by  The Sunday Times.  All  three eliminate  mega­factories  surrounded Anyone who believes vast riches make
ation at hand, working tirelessly. on this front.  decades after the Rolling Stones belted concur it was a great year for wealth ac­ by  components  manufacturers.  In­ for  an  outsized  amount  of  happiness,
A huge  gap  in  the  response  to There  is  also  a  need  to  use  di­ out  their  first  numbers.  Jagger’s  now cretion.  stead,  electric  vehicles,  which  have though, should look at Danish billion­
the  pandemic  was  the  disruption  of  gen­ gital  technology  to  its  full  potential. worth — $438 million. Closer  home  also,  billionaires fewer parts, would be assembled in mi­ aire  Anders  Povlsen,  who has  suffered
eral health services with several people to Healthcare  personnel  including  doctors, It’s been a good year for British e­com­ Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani ad­ cro­factories around the world. Yes, In­ an outsized amount of tragedy. Povlsen,
receive  healthcare  outside  the  ambit  of nurses,  technicians  and  even  the  support merce  entrepreneurs  Dan  and  Mel ded hugely to their wealth. According to dia is very much in Sverdlov’s sights.  worth £4.73 billion, owns 25 per cent of
Covid­19. This was more in cases of elderly staff must be trained to come together as a Marsden whose booming lingerie busi­ the  2020  Forbes  Rich  List,  Ambani  be­ The Sunday TimesRich List gives a snap­ online retailer Asos, which has boomed
and  those  with  non­communicable  dis­ virtual  disaster  prevention  and  manage­ ness  soared  stratospherically  during came $37 billion wealthier and at $88 bil­ shot of the new world of wealth. Prop­ in the last year and he also snapped up
eases and other common conditions.  ment  unit.  At  the  national  level,  services lockdown — from £13.8 billion to £55 bil­ lion was Asia’s richest man. Amazingly, erty giants, of whom there are 39, still ac­ high­street  retailers  Topshop,  Topman
India legalised telehealth guidelines but that need to be scaled up include telemedi­ lion. Once again, it was people stuck at Forbes last year put Adani’s wealth at $25 count for the most billionaires. But as and Miss Selfridge. 
providers were scrambling to adjust infra­ cine, video­conferencing, and webinars.  home  with  their  credit  cards  at  hand billion.  But  rising  stock  markets  now the pandemic made it impossible to go Povlsen, an ardent environmentalist,
structure to suit the requirements.  The  current  pandemic  is  nothing  less who set cash registers ringing at their have lifted him to $67 billion, making out, online retailers boomed while the is  Scotland’s  largest  landowner  and
Although from an in­limbo situation, we than  the  biggest  stress  test  for  India’s company  Lounge.  Apparently,  there’s him Asia’s second richest. high­street stars stayed shut. So, e­retail­ wants  to  re­wild  some  of  the  land.  In
shifted to a futuristic connected care eco­ healthcare ecosystem. The focus should be nothing like buying frilly lingerie to alle­ The billionaire who got richer at an ers  like  Asos  and  Boohoo  thrived  and April  2019,  three  of  Povlsen’s  children
system  in  light  of  the  virus,  the  access  to on  reimagining  the  health  system  as  a viate boredom and the Marsdens had to unmatched  pace  globally  was,  of even bought up stricken one­time high­ were killed in the Sri Lanka bomb blast
health for all Indians continues to stay be­ comprehensive and equitable entity where search for a new mega­sized warehouse course, wunderkind Elon Musk who in street stars.  that claimed 290 lives. In March 2020,
low par. This is because of the deficit in the every person has access to quality care. This at the peak of the British lockdown.  early 2020 was worth a relatively mod­ Another online retailer on a winning Povlsen and his wife became parents of
doctor­to­patient ratio in the country and a is what it will take for Covid­19 to become The UK rich list makes it clear just how est $24 billion. By this January, he was streak is Ocado which now calls itself an twin  girls  they  called  “two  little  mir­
lag in introducing healthtech as a special­ the singular inflection point in India’s his­ much  wealth  the  super­rich  accumu­ the world’s richest man, worth $189 bil­ online  supermarket  and  has  a  tie­up acles.” It was a cause for celebration but
ised subject in medical education. There’s tory of battles against diseases. lated  during  what  turned  out  to  be  a lion, up a staggering $165 billion since with Marks & Spencer.  also  a  reminder  all  the  wealth  in  the
need for a workforce that is digital savvy. pandemic boom year. The UK now has March 2020. Since then, Musk has fallen Then, there’s upmarket clothing plat­ world  doesn’t  always  guarantee
Many  countries  have  focussed  on The writer is MD and CEO, Portea Medical 171  billionaires  —  24  more  than  a  year to  third  spot  and  he’s  now  behind form Farfetch which sells clothes from happiness.

SHORT TAKE
BusinessLine
US calls for new TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
investigation into May 26, 2001
Covid origins Indian Bank picks Tatas for MF sell-of
Indian Bank has zeroed in on Tata Mutual Fund to sell off

T he  United  States  called  for


international  experts  to  be
allowed to evaluate the source of
its mutual fund subsidiary IndFund Management Ltd and
the proposal is awaiting SEBI approval. Details of the deal
are not available except that the bank had set up a
the  coronavirus  and  the  “early committee to vet proposals from many mutual funds.
days of the outbreak” in a second Indian Bank has three subsidiaries — IndBank Merchant
phase  of  an  investigation  into Banking Services, IndBank Housing and IndFund
the origins of the coronavirus. Management. The M.S. Verma­led Working Group on
US  intelligence  agencies  are Restructuring Weak Public Sector Banks had suggested
examining  reports  that  re­ Indian Bank drop its subsidiaries to focus on core banking.
searchers  at  a  Chinese  virology MSEB requests MERC to rescind Dabhol PPA
laboratory  were  seriously  ill  in The Maharashtra State Electricity Board has filed a petition
2019  a  month  before  the  first with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission,
cases of Covid­19 were reported, asking it to rescind the power purchase agreement (PPA)
according  to  US  government with the Dabhol Power Company. The move is expected to
sources  who  cautioned  that shift arbitration proceedings between the two companies
there is still no proof the disease to an Indian forum. “MERC will now give us instructions
originated at the lab. whether parallel action should continue. We are praying to
“Phase  2  of  the  Covid origins the commission that arbitration proceedings be
study  must  be  launched  with discontinued,” a senior MSEB official said. 
terms of reference that are trans­ Affinity to acquire 8.65 pc Gujarat Ambuja stake
parent,  science­based,  and  give Mauritius­based Affinity Investments Ltd is set to acquire
international  experts  the  inde­ an equity holding of 8.65 per cent in the Indian cement
pendence  to  fully  assess  the major, Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd (GACL), for a
source of the virus and the early consideration of ₹360 crore. GACL, which needs long­term
days of the outbreak,” US Health funds for executing its capital expenditure programmes,
Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a proposes to offer 80 lakh equity shares of ₹10 each at a
video  message  to  the  annual price of ₹225 per share and another 80 lakh warrants
ministerial  meeting  of  the convertible into equity shares of ₹10 each at a price of ₹225
World Health Organization. per share to Affinity on a preferential offer basis. 
Becerra  did  not  mention
China  directly,  where  the  first
known human cases of Covid­19
emerged  in  the  central  city  of
Wuhan in December 2019.
The origin of the virus is hotly
contested.  In  a  report  issued  in easy bl two-way crossword 1878 not so easy
March  written  jointly  with
Chinese  scientists,  a  WHO­led ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
team  that  spent  four  weeks  in 02. Concise (5)  01. Early evening meal (4,3)  02. Only half set of underpants 01. Cha up? (4,3) 
and  around  Wuhan  in  January 05. Detest (4)  02. Combmaker (3)  prepared for barrister? (5)  02. Thing with a sting in a bonnet
and February said the virus had 07. Shivering fever (4)  03. The perfect insect stage (5)  05. Love the opposite one is obsessed by (3) 
probably been transmitted from 08. Unbeliever (8)  04. Money backing (7)  combination of articles (4)  03. I am endlessly allowed to
bats to humans through another 09. Mule­like (8)  05. Owns (3)  07. It makes one sick, being so depart for Butterfly (5) 
animal,  and  that  “introduction 11. African river (4)  06. Fabric showing diagonal sketchy when topless (4)  04. Can be upset in the penalty, but
through  a  laboratory  incident 12. Mayonnaise, vinaigrette lines (5)  08. Not believing a song to be finds necessary money (7) 
was  considered  to  be  an  ex­ etc (5,8)  10. Smooth, suave (5)  wrong, tick the end off (8)  05. Being one of the ‘haves,’ he’s
tremely unlikely pathway.” 15. Light cloud speeding 11. Of the nose (5)  9. Mulish way to put fag out when suffered a change of heart (3) 
A WHO  spokesman,  Tarik  Jas­ before wind (4)  13. Endearment (7)  brought into the world (8)  06. Material to work the land
arevic,  told  Reuters  the  agency 17. Was in arms against 14. Pine leaves (7)  11. River that counts for nothing around the West (5) 
was reviewing the recommenda­ authority (8)  16. Old woman (5)  with the East (4)  10. Orchestra of about fifty can
tions from the report at the tech­ 19. Towards lower slopes (8)  18. Model­making wood (5)  12. Does it make tomato redden, appear smooth (5) 
nical level. “The technical teams 21. Volition (4)  20. Snooze (3)  seeing it? (5,8)  11. Nail one out as being put in
will  prepare  a  proposal  for  the 22. Pile (4)  21. Misfortune, calamity (3)  15. Copper in heartless, sad setting about the nose (5) 
next studies that will need to be 23. Serious; tomb (5)  to run before the wind (4)  13. Grace, perhaps ­­ such a dear! (7) 
carried out, and will present that 17. Ringer, taken in by 14. Pine trees may drop them, but
to  the  Director­General  for  his mouthpiece, was up in arms they have their point (7) 
consideration,” he said. SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 1877 (8)  16. The old girl has an icecream,
Jasarevic,  noting  Tedros’  re­
19. Who’ll din shatter if not on the which is about right (5) 
marks on March 30, said that fur­ ACROSS 1. Remuneration 8. Abdicate 9. Star 11. Dodge 12. Immense
way up? (8)  18. Wood for modelling, a chunk of
ther studies would be needed in 13. Earn 15. Asia 19. Tipping 20. Knack 22. Cook 23. Helmsman 24.
Safe and sound 
21. In short, Shakespeare deals which turns up (5) 
a range  of  areas,  including  on
DOWN 2. Ended 3. Uncles 4. Entail 5. Intends 6. Nerve­racking 7. with disposal of effects (4)  20. Break the top off cloth surface
the early detection of cases and
Candlesticks 10. Imp 14. Reproof 16. Dip 17. Agreed 18. Akimbo 21. 22. A whole lot taken out of the (3) 
clusters,  roles  of  animal  mar­
kets, transmission via food chain Ammon  apparatus (4)  21. Misery waged over European
and  the  laboratory  incident  hy­ 23. Serious sort of accent the leaders (3) 
pothesis.  REUTERS French use (5) 

CM .. .... .. . ...
YK
12 WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2021
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM

OUR VIEW GUEST VIEW

The country’s big conundrum of


vaccination priority and equity
A well-aimed vaccination strategy in the face of a shortage can help us emerge from this pandemic

hield, Covaxin, Sputnik, ZyCov-D, If we use Karnataka as an example,


Novavax and J&J’s until December 2021. then Bengaluru would be the obvious
Imported vaccines from Pfizer, Sputnik place to start, followed by Mysuru, Bel-
and Moderna could possibly add another lari, Dakshin Kannada, Dharwad, Hassan
100-200 million doses, but no more. Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Belgavi, Gul-
Vaccination rationale: The country’s barga, etc. Maharashtra would have a
challenge is to formulate a vaccination graded weightage starting with Mumbai,
strategy that protects the vulnerable Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, etc. Punjab
whilst stopping transmission. would prioritize Ludhiana, Amritsar,
KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW Based on the latest census, approxi- Jalandhar, Patiala, and so on.
is chairperson, Biocon, and co-chair, Lancet mately 63% of our population are over In Karnataka, it makes eminent sense
Citizens Commission on Reimaging India’s 18 years of age and hence eligible for vac- to deploy 50% of vaccines in Bengaluru
Health System cination. This would mean we need to and the other half in high-load districts.
vaccinate about 820 million across the We could theoretically stop the spread

The perils of an aircraft


country. If we assume that 180 million within 3 months by deploying 5 million
have received at least one jab, we are doses per month with at least one jab per

H
ailed as the world’s largest vac- now down to 640 million. Factoring in person. In order to vaccinate 5 million
cine producer, India is struggling the need to cover 70% of our population per month, we would need to vaccinate
to vaccinate its waiting popula- to gain wide-scale protection for all, we about 150,000 per day across the state. If

put at a client’s disposal tion during a deadly second wave of


covid, which is costing us both lives and
livelihoods, severely impacting our
economy that was showing strong signs
are down to 450 million vaccinations, or
900 million double doses. Current pro-
duction, therefore, could help us reach a
very safe place by the end of the year and
Bangalore has to vaccinate 2.5 million
per month, approximately 500 vaccina-
tion centres would be required, each
delivering 100-250 doses per day, or,
of recovery only a few months ago. From avert a third wave. Starting January better still, organize camps for mass vac-
a promising start to the year 2021, which 2022, we can start giving booster doses cination of 1,000 per day in slums, local
Sunday’s wedding aboard a SpiceJet flight wasn’t a worry just for the covid risk of maskless saw two vaccines being approved and at 200 million doses per month. markets and construction sites that
covid caseloads at an all-time low, we are Vaccination prioritization: In order to would accelerate the pace of vaccination
crowding. There are strict rules for aviation safety and public security that mustn’t be flouted now battling the world’s highest number ensure that every vial and every dose of as well as tackle vaccine hesitancy.
of cases, and more importantly, deaths. vaccine is used efficiently, we need As for occupation-based prioritiza-
Unlike the first wave, when the virus highly streamlined logistics, which can tion, those most at risk would be delivery
mostly hit the elderly and those with only happen with decentralization at the service personnel, cab drivers, market

L
ike high-altitude air, evidence of far beyond the risk of exposure to infection comorbidities, this time it has taken state level. Today, the central govern- vendors, provision shop staff, slum-
marriages being made in heaven has caused by crowding. There are other safety young lives: 20% are below the age of 45, ment has announced a model that is split dwellers, construction workers, and
which is challenging our vaccination 50% between central procurement and on-site employees, followed by residents
always been thin. Even if done at a norms that must not be flouted. Beyond a limit, strategy. When India initiated vaccina- the balance between state governments of high-rise buildings, gated communi-
considerable height above the for example, any huddle to one side or sudden tion in mid-January, we followed an age- and the private sector. In my view, a pub- ties and then single dwellings.
ground, a whole set of temporal rules motion involving a large group of people on a tiered strategy, coupled with inoculating lic private partnership model at the state Once urban centres are secure, perim-
apply, as the Madurai couple that got plane designed for an even distribution of our frontline health workers. Starting level of pooled vaccine procurement and eter protection can be deployed through
married on Sunday aboard a SpiceJet Boeing weight could unsettle its balance. An aircraft with over 60-year-olds from 1 February, deployment with shared responsibilities entry-exit protocols, and the focus can
we moved to 45 years and above by 1 will allow us to vaccinate ourselves out of then shift to vaccinating the rest of the
737 chartered for the purpose would have dis- must never serve as a party hall, especially not March, and announced 18 years and this pandemic. state. Such a strategy could stop the
covered. The groom, a businessman, arranged with any activity that converges a crowd, with- above starting 1 May. However, we soon We also need the science of epidemi- spread of viral infection in Karnataka
a special flight for over 150 guests to circle the out its pilot’s explicit consent. While chartered realized that this was untenable, as we ology to lead our vaccination strategies. with as few as 15 million doses over three
city’s Meenakshi temple while rituals were flight services are a legitimate business, there is didn’t have the quantum of vaccines nec- At a time of vaccine inadequacy, effec- months, and the entire state could be got
performed mid-air, before the aircraft also a point of public security to consider. An essary to vaccinate our adult population. tive impact rather than equitable access under control with an additional 30 mil-
The government has shared an estimate ought to drive our decision-making. For lion doses thereafter, which would
returned to Madurai airport some two hours aircraft given on hire cannot be turned into an of over 2.2 billion doses of vaccines that example, we must prioritize vaccination include second jabs, and by which time
after take-off. A celebratory gaggle around an instrument at the disposal of a client in any can be produced between now and on a formula of district-wise population vaccine supplies would increase. This
exchange of garlands is a common sight of ter- way, no matter how harmful or harmless its use December, but many have called this density, case load, fatality rate and dou- model may be worth adopting across the
restrial matrimony, but a video clip of similar turns out to be. A rental deal does not entitle aspirational and unrealistic. Another bling rates, followed by occupation- country. A strategy of dealing with vac-
festivity (without masks) on this plane drew the anyone to temporary ownership rights, let private sector estimate puts this at half or based prioritization depending on risk of cine inadequacy through well-targeted
about 1.2 billion doses between Covis- exposure and infection. priority inoculation is the way forward.
attention of India’s Directorate General of Civil alone authority over a company’s employees, a
Aviation (DGCA). In response, the regulator distinction often lost in a country where those
took the flight’s pilots and cabin crew off the who fork out big lumps of money tend to attract
flying roster, directed the ‘no-frills’ airline to genuflection. And planes need to have some-
file complaints against passengers who flouted one in charge. So, who let us down? The flight
covid safety norms, and launched a probe of was under the command of a SpiceJet pilot
the incident. On its part, SpiceJet claimed that empowered by the flight manual to take tough www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Friday, May 27, 2011 Vol.5 No.125 `3.00 32 PAGES
36

its staff tried to ensure adherence to pandemic action in the interest of craft stability, even CORP: DE Shaw’s Salkind on
joint venture with Reliance >8
TERRORISM: Delhi, Bollywood were
among many targets on LeT hit list >4

protocols and DGCA guidelines against photo- have the ill-behaved strapped to their seats if EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
CORPORATE: Girish Paranjpe joins Bloom
Energy, to head global operations >3
TECHNOLOGY: Google starts mapping
Bangalore for its Street View feature >4
Aviation in itself is
and videography, but to no avail. The carrier, need be. Instead, we saw dereliction of duty. SENSEX 18,044.64 Æ 197.40 NIFTY 5,412.35 Æ 63.40 DOLLAR `45.32 ® EURO `63.62 ® GOLD `22,385 æ `135 OIL $114.60 Æ $0.05

not inherently dangerous.


PSU DIVESTMENT
UPTIGHT NATION Gas supply to QUICK EDIT

Govt may some fertilizer Food, fuel


A research paper published in Friday’s edition of ‘Science’ tabulated
the result of a 33-nation survey of 6,823 people to gauge their
firms may be cut
however, has much to answer for. What hap- What occurred was far more serious than a and fire
perception of what social behaviours were considered appropriate and
the rigidity of their social constraints. The researchers conclude that
countries with a history of invasions and ecological threats were more
B Y U TPAL B HASKAR

dilute norms
&
rigid, or “tight”, compared with “looser”, or more permissive nations
with relatively lesser historical baggage. India, which ranked third on
the list, was among the “tightest" of nations and far separated from
A MAN M ALIK
·························
NEW DELHI
I ndia’s inflationary
woes, it seems, are
unending. Data released

But to an even greater


Ukraine and Estonia, which were among the “loosest” of countries.

Country Number of participants Tightness score


T o compensate for the loss
of gas production from Re-
on Thursday showed
that prices of food

pened was not a minor lapse, must not be client’s novel idea of a destination wedding. for i-banks
liance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) articles galloped 8.55%
THE TOP TEN Krishna-Godavari (KG) D6 for the week that ended
field off the eastern coast of In- on 14 May, up from
Pakistan 90 12.3 dia, the petroleum ministry 7.47% for the week before
may, despite the fertilizer min- on a year-on-year basis.
Malaysia 202 11.8 istry’s reservations, reduce the This is contrary to
allocation of the commodity to expectations that food
Conflict of interest rule tion Corp. Ltd (NBCC). India 222 11 fertilizer units that also manu- prices were cooling and
that curbs investment The clause had been intro- facture chemicals. the bigger danger now

degree than the sea,


Singapore 212 10.4

viewed in a relativist context of social empathy, SpiceJet has been under pandemic pressure,
duced after allegations of con- The existing policy defines was from core inflation
bankers’ bids for share flict of interest surfaced when the fertilizer industry as a pri- and not food prices.
sales of public sector bankers to a follow-on public South Korea 196 10 ority sector and is hence enti- This may just be
offer (FPO) of state-owned tled to preferential access to the start of another
units may be revised SAIL took up a similar assign- Norway 252 9.5 the gas supplied from the KG inflationary round.
ment from Tata Steel Ltd in field at `4.2 per million British The government is likely
B Y A NIRUDH L ASKAR January. Turkey 195 9.2 thermal unit. to take a decision soon
anirudh.l@livemint.com This disqualified bankers If the government goes on increasing the price
························· with share-sale mandates from
Japan 246 8.6 ahead with this move, then it of diesel. If the price is

and those responsible deserve no leniency. as have all air carriers since covid began to suf-
MUMBAI private firms in a particular could impact the profitability raised, it will inflame
China 235 7.9
T he government may di- sector from bidding for the di- of such fertilizer companies as the price of food items

it is terribly unforgiving
lute disinvestment rules vestment issues of PSUs in the they will have to depend on al- very quickly—diesel
to make merchant bank- same industry.
Portugal 207 7.8 ternative sources. Alternative- being the fuel of choice
ers more enthusiastic about The bankers are required THE BOTTOM FIVE ly, companies will have to cut for the transport sector.
pitching to manage asset-sale under this to certify that there back on production, which It is a moot point
plans that are key to raising the is no such conflict of interest. Netherlands 207 3.3 could impact the supply of fer- now as to when and how
money that’s needed to meet There also has to be a six- tilizers. fuel prices should have
deficit-paring targets. month gap between working Israel 194 3.1 “Reducing allocation to fer- been raised to minimize

All flights must operate under a strict set of focate traffic last year. It has searched for new
Discussions are on to revise on asset-sale mandates and tilizer units, which also pro- their inflationary impact.
a critical clause on the so- floats by non-state companies Hungary 256 2.9 duce chemicals, may be one of Clearly, no thought
called conflict of interest in the in the same industry unless the the things that may be consid- was spared for this
existing divestment norms that banks gets government con- Estonia 188 2.6 ered,” said a petroleum minis- important sequencing

of any carelessness,
comes in the way of invest- sent. try official, who did not want to issue. Inflation is now
ment bankers seeking man- These rules have been keep- Ukraine 184 1.6 be identified. the No. 1 threat to
dates to manage the sale of ing investment bankers away Source: ‘Science’ magazine
macroeconomic stability.
shares in public sector units from bidding for PSU floats as SANDEEP BHATNAGAR/MINT
TURN TO PAGE 2®
(PSUs), according to four per- they earn more fees from the

DGCA rules, and for good reason. On 13 March avenues of revenue, pressed ahead with cargo
sons familiar with the matter. private sector. According to
Current norms stipulate that many of them, it does not
bankers handling PSU floats make business sense to forfeit HERO NO. 1
cannot take up any issue by a higher fees just to top the
private firm in the same sector
till the sale is completed. This
league table.
As a result of this, the gov- New plant, expansion signal Honda’s intent

incapacity or neglect.
disqualifies many investment ernment is finding it difficult
bankers from bidding for the to get investment bankers to
disinvestment mandates and hawk PSU issues. B Y A MRIT R AJ statement it would build a fac- `1,500 crore on the new facto- not comment on the invest-

this year, the regulator issued a circular saying operations, and focused commendably on the
delaying the divestment pro- According to the persons amrit.r@livemint.com tory with a capacity of 1.2 mil- ry and the expansion that to- ment.
cess. quoted earlier in the story, ························· lion motorcycles a year in Nar- gether will increase the com- An expert said HMSI’s move
The government plans to there have been several rounds NEW DELHI sapuram near Bangalore and pany’s capacity from the cur- was expected given its recent
raise around `40,000 crore by
selling stakes in at least six
state-owned firms in fiscal
of discussions on the norms
with merchant bankers, in-
cluding one on Wednesday,
H onda Motorcycle and
Scooter India Pvt. Ltd
(HMSI) will build a new factory
double capacity at a factory in
Tapukhera in Rajasthan, which
will start production next
rent 1.6 million two-wheelers a
year to 4 million a year by 2013
(the capacity expansion will
split with the Hero group and
sporadic worker strikes at the
Manesar plant. “This is a very
2012—Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, and the government will soon near Bangalore and expand ca- week, from 600,000 motorcy- kick in next year and the new strategic move. The company
Steel Authority of India Ltd revisit them to ensure that the pacity at one of its other facto- cles a year to 1.2 million. The factory will be ready in 2013). has had labour issues in Hary-
(SAIL), Hindustan Copper Ltd, asset-sale plan does not suffer. ries as it gets serious about In- existing factory at Manesar in “Our parent company is very ana, which has affected it in

that a flier refusing to comply with covid proto- carriage of vaccines and medical supplies. Its
Power Finance Corp. Ltd, Oil None of the officials wanted dia and enters the market for Haryana has a capacity of 1.6 serious about India opera- the past,” said Akshay Bhalla,
and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd and to be identified as the issue is entry-level motorcycles after million motorcycles a year. tions. We’re aiming at the No. managing director of Protiviti
National Buildings Construc- sensitive and the discussions breaking with its joint venture Two persons familiar with 1 position in the country by Consulting Pvt. Ltd. “This will
are are yet to be completed. partner of 26 years Hero Hon- the matter, but who did not 2020,” said one of the persons, help it continue production (at
Mint is also available for R5.50 with da Motors Ltd earlier this year. want to be named, said the a top official in the company.
Hindustan Times under a combo offer TURN TO PAGE 3® On Thursday, HMSI said in a firm will spend a total of An HMSI spokesperson did TURN TO PAGE 2®

cols in spite of repeated warnings should be finances remain stretched and it faces notices A L F R E D G I L ME R L A MP LU G H
classified as “unruly”, which could have the from lessors for an alleged failure to honour
offender barred from flying for at least three lease contracts. Yes, times are tough. But that’s
months. The issue at stake here, however, goes no reason to let itself be taken for a ride.

MY VIEW | EX MACHINA

Digital intermediary rules confuse more than clarify


were notified, the government announced diaries that provide services “primarily in fication? If the government’s real objective Github) or offer niche collaborative services
RAHUL MATTHAN that social media intermediaries with more the nature of messaging” are required to was to be able to trace online activity back to within organizations (like Slack)—simply do
than 5 million registered users in India were comply with various stringent obligations. a real-world identity, it should have insisted not need to be in India to provide their servi-
to be classified as significant social media In a previous article, I discussed why I on the mandatory verification of all users. ces. As large as their registered user base in
intermediaries. While this might appear to believe that the traceability obligations that Given its insistence that these platforms India is, their operations are designed to be
be a clear standard, there are several practi- these provisions impose are antithetical to ensure everyone who wants to be verified neutral on where users reside, since the core

W
hen the Indian government noti- cal challenges that arise while trying to apply our constitutional notions of liberty. But actually does get verified, I can’t help but service they offer is truly virtual. Now that
fied its Information Technology that standard. even if we set that aside for wonder whether this is just India’s new intermediary guidelines are in
(Guidelines for Intermediaries For instance, many social media interme- a moment, by making the a case of some official being force, all these entities will have to either
and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, diaries have informed me that even though rule applicable to entities India’s new rules sore about not getting a reduce the number of registered users in
2021—its intermediary guidelines, for they have more than 5 million registered whose services are prima- blue tick. India to under 5 million or actually set up
short—last February, it gave significant users in India, the number of active users on rily in the nature of mes- for big online The reason all this is so operations here.
social media companies three months to their site is far lower. Platforms that offer saging, the new rules could important is that any busi- I can understand the government’s inter-
comply with its additional due-diligence effortless online publishing facilities have well apply to businesses
services apply ness which qualifies as a est in regulating social media companies

is a partner at Trilegal and also


requirements under the new rules. That
grace period just ran out, and from today
thousands of registered users who, having
set up their website, are no longer actively
that allow messaging as just
an ancillary offering. Every
so broadly that significant social media
intermediary is obliged,
more strictly. We are all witness to the
power and influence some of these plat-
has a podcast by the name Ex
Machina. His Twitter handle is
these companies are going to be held to far
higher standards than ever before.
tending to them. Platforms that offer once-
in-a-lifetime services (online matrimonial
online service has a mes-
saging feature. As a result,
they could under the new intermedi-
ary guidelines, to signifi-
forms wield—the manner in which their
algorithms shape the news we consume and
@matthan As soon as the intermediary guidelines sites, for example), actually consider it a even if it is not the primary result in net cantly localize its opera- also the products we purchase. And yet, as
were notified, I pored over its provisions to measure of how good they are at what they focus of the service, direct tions. Not only are they much as these platforms deserve to be regu-
try and figure out how exactly these new reg- do if they have more inactive users regis- messages on a popular value reduction required to have a physical lated, we need to do so with finesse. If we
ulations would affect the wide range of busi- tered than active. Yet, all these entities will online service could con- address in India, they are really want to design regulations so that
nesses they applied to. The deeper I dug, the now have to comply with the onerous obli- stitute a significant chan- also required to appoint a they influence societal interactions, we
more obvious it became that rather than gations of being significant social media nel for communication. This lack of clarity as chief compliance officer, nodal contact per- need to fashion them like a scalpel—finely
clarity being provided, things were about to intermediaries simply because the size of to whether in-app messaging would also be sons for coordination with law enforcement, honed, so that they can excise the patterns
become significantly more confused. their registered user base in India is greater subject to the obligations of Rule 4(2) is a and a grievance officer, all of whom must be of behaviour we are trying to change with
To start with, let’s take a closer look at the than 5 million. cause for concern. physically resident in India. Many of the due precision. In contrast, the intermediary
threshold above which a social media inter- And then there is also ambiguity around There is also a new, rather inexplicable, companies that qualify under the thresholds guidelines, I am sorry to say, are a blunt
mediary will be deemed to be ‘significant’. what constitutes a messaging service. Under obligation to offer users the ability to volun- set out under the guidelines—such as those instrument that—if enforced—will end up
Shortly after the intermediary guidelines Rule 4(2), significant social media interme- tarily verify themselves. Why voluntary veri- that provide repository services for code (like destroying more value than it creates.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2021
NEW DELHI 13

THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R

Current leaders and laggards of America’s delayed acceptance


of airborne covid transmission
a global post-pandemic recovery Health authorities must put out clear guidelines to reduce its risk

Some economies will see a revival but others risk slipping into a depression that could stir unrest and geopolitical instability

GETTY IMAGES

FAYE FLAM
is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and host
of the podcast ‘Follow the Science’.

NOURIEL ROUBINI
is chairman of Roubini Macro Associates and
host of the ‘NourielToday.com’ broadcast.

Y
ou know something is wrong with
the public health messaging in the
US when a tow truck driver is giving

A
fter the most severe global recession out better information on covid transmis- The US and WHO officially took note of
in decades, private and official fore- sion than the World Health Organization airborne risk only recently REUTERS
casters are increasingly optimistic (WHO) or Centers for Disease Control and
that world output will recover Prevention (CDC). His words of wisdom to Indoor restaurants, therefore, are not
strongly this year and thereafter. me, when he came to tow my car back to rendered safe by rules that dictate people
But the coming expansion will be the dealer earlier this spring, was that if put on a mask when they’re not eating, or
unevenly distributed, both across and within econ- you’re indoors with people and one of by most of the plexiglass dividers between
omies. Whether the recovery is V-shaped (a strong them is infected, you can still get infected tables. Opening windows does help, of
return to above-potential growth), U-shaped (a even if everyone is wearing a mask. And if course, as would offering a warning that
more anaemic version of the V), or W-shaped (a you’re outdoors and someone is infected, unvaccinated people are taking risks by
double-dip recession) will depend on several you’re probably not going to get it. dining inside.
factors across different economies and regions. He was speaking from direct experi- This has long been known, though offi-
With the coronavirus still running rampant in ence, having done essential work through cials were slow to admit it. Last May, I
many countries, one key question is whether the the worst of the pandemic. He said he had interviewed Muge Cevik, an infectious dis-
emergence of virulent new strains will trigger seen co-workers get sick and that his boss ease specialist at the University of St.
repeated stop-and-go cycles, as we’ve seen in had died. Andrews in the UK. She had been collect-
some cases where economies reopened too soon. And he was right. The Sars-CoV2 virus ing all the data she could find from contact
One particularly ominous possibility is that more can travel on very small particles that dis- tracing around the world to see how the
vaccine-resistant variants appear, heightening the perse quickly outdoors, but can build up disease was actually being transmitted.
urgency of vaccination efforts that have so far been inside. Indoors, these particles can affect There were reports that so-called super-
too slow in many regions. In China and the economies closely linked to it, Olympic Games in Tokyo on track. Japan, too, is in people who stay more than six feet away. spreading events had happened primarily
Beyond the virus, there are a number of related the recovery owes much of its strength to the desperate need of structural reforms to increase And the hodgepodge of masks Americans in offices, at business conferences, in retail
economic risks to consider. A recovery that is slow authorities’ success in containing the virus early, potential growth and allow for an eventual fiscal have adopted may provide some covid stores where people lingered, and indoor
or insufficiently robust could result in permanent and to the effects of macro stimulus, all of which consolidation. And its massive public debt may protection, but they do not render an restaurants. Beyond super-spreading,
scarring if too many firms go bust and labour allowed for a rapid reopening and restoration of eventually become unsustainable, notwithstanding unsafe situation safe. there was lots of transmission in homes.
markets start exhibiting hysteresis (say, if long- business confidence. But high levels of debt and persistent monetization by the Bank of Japan. Though scientists have been discussing She found that the amount of time peo-
term unemployment renders some workers leverage in some parts of the Chinese private and Finally, the outlook is more fragile for many airborne transmission for months, it was ple spent in a closed environment matters.
un-employable owing to an erosion of skills). public sectors will pose risks, as China tries to emerging and developing economies, where high only last week that the WHO and CDC And the greater the number of people in an
Another question is how much deleveraging there maintain stronger growth while reining in exces- population density, weaker healthcare systems, made this official. With the vaccine roll-out enclosed space, the higher the odds that
will be among highly indebted firms (small and sive credit. More broadly, the prospect of an and lower vaccination rates will continue to allow still in its early days across the world, those one of them is contagious.
large) and households, and whether this effect will escalating rivalry—a colder war—between the US coronavirus to spread. In many of these countries, officials should follow up this belated That’s why in Japan, people have long
be fully offset by the release of pent-up demand as and China will threaten Chinese and global business and consumer sentiment is depressed; admission with guidance that unvaccinated been warned to avoid the three Cs: crowds,
consumers spend down pandemic-era savings. growth, particularly if it leads to a fuller economic incomes from tourism and remittances have dried people can use to minimize their risk. closed spaces and close contact. Useful
Another area of concern is sociopolitical. Will decoupling and renewed protectionism. up; debt ratios are already high and possibly un- Clarifying the word ‘airborne’ would be public health messages don’t need to be
rising inequality become an even more salient Europe is worse off, having suffered a double- sustainable; and financial conditions are tight, a good place to start. The scientific mean- complicated.
source of instability and depressed aggregate dip recession in the last quarter of 2020 and the owing to higher borrowing costs and weaker ing is not the same as its common meaning, It’s never too late to do a better job on
demand? Much will depend on the scale, scope and first quarter of 2021, owing to a new wave of covid currencies. Also, there is only limited space for and so people may wrongly assume that public-health messaging and prioritizing.
inclusiveness of policies to support the income and infections and lockdowns. Its recovery will remain policy easing, and in some cases policy credibility outdoor air is dangerous. As a recent article In countries where people are returning to
spending of those left behind. Likewise, it remains weak through the second quarter, but growth could be undermined by populist politics. in the New York Times reported, news offices and other workspaces, ventilation
to be seen if the macro-policy stimulus (monetary, could accelerate in the second half of the year if Among the more troubled economies to watch about the concept of airborne transmission should be a higher priority than sanitizing
credit and fiscal) implemented so far will be suffi- vaccination rates continue to rise and macro around the world are India, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, was making some people in India close surfaces. In India, where the pandemic has
cient, insufficient, or actually excessive, leading to policy remains accommodative. Phasing out fur- South Africa, many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, their windows rather than open them. been raging, officials should stop wasting
sharply rising inflation and expectations of it in lough schemes and various credit guarantees too and the more fragile, oil-importing parts of the Indeed, reports on airborne transmission resources on drones spraying disinfectant
some cases. early, however, could cause more permanent Middle East. Many countries are experiencing a can unnecessarily induce panic, implying on parks.
Keeping all of these uncertainties in mind, the scarring and hysteresis. Moreover, without long- depression, not just a recession. More than 200 that this risk is nearly unavoidable and that Here in America, we have worried too
recovery currently looks like it will be stronger in needed structural reforms, parts of the eurozone million people are at risk of falling back into there’s no safe distance from our fellow much about 15-minute grocery store trips
the United States, China and the Asian emerging will continue to register low potential growth and extreme poverty. Compounding these inequities, humans. and have taken false comfort in a six-foot
markets that are part of Chinese global supply high public debt ratios. As long as the European the countries that are most vulnerable to hunger It’s true that the virus can build up in distance. We have spent far too much
chains. In the US, a decline in new infections, high Central Bank keeps buying assets, sovereign and disease also tend to face the greatest threat indoor environments in a way that can still mental energy enraged at each other for
vaccination rates, increased consumer and busi- spreads (namely, the difference between German from climate change, and thus are likely to remain pose a risk even if people wear masks and going unmasked to the beach, or taking
ness confidence, and the far-reaching effects of and Italian bond yields) may remain low. But potential sources of instability. stay more than six feet apart. But that risk masks off in a parking lot, thus assigning
fiscal and monetary expansion will drive a robust monetary support eventually will need to be While overall confidence is recovering, some can be mitigated by opening windows and other people’s behaviour an outsized role
recovery this year. phased out, and deficits will need to be reduced. financial markets are irrationally exuberant, and wearing N95 masks, and by keeping expo- in our own risk. A better understanding of
In the US, the main risk is overheating. The And the spectre of populist eurosceptic parties there is much underlying risk and uncertainty. sure short. A quick trip to the supermarket what airborne transmission really means
recent increase in inflation there could turn out to looking to exploit the crisis will constantly loom. The covid crisis will likely lead to increased ine- is going to be safer than a long meal in a can help us better manage our own risks
be more persistent than the US Federal Reserve Japan, too, has had a much slower restart. After a quality within and across countries. The more that restaurant or an exercise class. And and preserve our ability feel good about
expected, and today’s frothy financial markets lockdown to control a new wave of infections, it vulnerable cohorts are left behind, the greater the because the virus is primarily travelling on our fellow human beings. And, of course,
could undergo a correction, thereby weakening experienced negative growth in the first quarter of risk of social, political and geopolitical instability in smaller particles, the risk is tiny outdoors, should motivate more of us to go get a jab
confidence. this year, and is now struggling to keep the summer the future. ©2021/PROJECT SYNDICATE even if someone passes within six feet. of the vaccine. ©BLOOMBERG

THEIR VIEW

Slip into lean mode to raise the odds of startup success


lack unique business models, as the majority ideas, one can’t know the result a priori. five basic steps that are not difficult to follow: architecture of a business model. A unit of
RITA MCGRATH & M. MUNEER simply copy successful models from else- Instead, the goal is to learn as much as possi- Frame the challenge: Help frame a growth business is literally the unit of what you sell—
where without unique local insights. ble at as low a cost as possible, while always challenge at the founder level and define the what the customer pays for. You may find, as
Startup India should not subscribe to the being ready to redirect activities as and when growth frame for the startup. The outcome is you progress on the discovery-driven plan,
myth that startups are a sort of ‘Steve Jobs new information unfolds. Here, one invests a set of guidelines for the types of initiatives that the unit of business you started off with
arrives on a clamshell and the world is resources that one can afford to lose for the to be pursued. As a result, everybody will be doesn’t deliver what you wanted, and so

W
ithin three years of its inception, changed forever’ story. As the doyen of the generation of knowledge needed to commit clear about what kinds of opportunities are needs correction. A rethink is often necessary
Startup India, like most govern- lean startup movement Steve Blank puts it, a more. It begins by specify- legitimate and aligned with to define the metrics of success.
ment initiatives, was claimed to be disciplined approach, like a discovery driven ing a performance outcome the business. Connect plans to financials: Keep the plan
a runaway success. Without setting targets at disruption (DDD) framework, can reduce the that would make growth The strategic Create an opportunity connected to reality. Construct a reverse
the beginning, how could one know? failure rate dramatically—and at lower costs. efforts worthwhile. Define portfolio: Analyse how income statement and reverse balance sheet.
An IBM Institute study finds that 90% of The core idea of DDD is that rather than success upfront, as well as use of low-cost resources are being allo- Tie together the decisions made in the earlier
Indian startups fail within the first five years creating an expensive, risky plan for an what-next guidelines after cated to the business and steps and simulate future business, allowing
of inception. Wasn’t it premature on the part uncertain venture, one must break it into these goals are met. There-
disruption trials consider how these alloca- for speculative what-if scenarios, and see that

are, respectively, professor at


of Startup India to pat itself? According to
the programme, over 27,000 startups were
stages. At each stage, identify and test
assumptions, ideally at lowest possible cost
after, other discovery-
driven tools are used to get
instead of grand tions would need to change.
Take a portfolio-view of dif-
it’s realistic. All this while investment in the
future business stays extremely small.
Columbia Business School
and founder of Valize; and
registered till 2020, with over 150,000 jobs
created. For a country with over 12 million
and time. That will de-risk ventures and
make an early exit possible if things don’t
closer and closer to that
goal, containing risk and
plans can keep ferent types of growth
opportunities. How much
Convert assumptions into knowledge: The
identification, documentation and testing of
co-founder as well as chief graduates entering the job market annually, turn out as expected. Instead of fearing fail- downside exposure until new businesses profit and cash flow must assumptions is done here. Develop a checklist
evangelist of Medici Institute. does this sound like a grand success? What ure, one can then turn the question into: uncertainty is reduced to a the core business generate? for operation specifications and assumptions,
are the goals of Startup India for 2022, when ‘What is it worth to our organization to learn point that one can confi- from failing How much to scale up? How and also the financial logic that underlies the
it completes six years? That could tell something?’ Whatever the outcome, if the dently invest more to cap- much should go into low- business model. Work out how operational
whether India is an “innovation nation”. answer is found to be worth the investment, ture the targeted business. cost, high potential oppor- activities and assumptions are linked. Some-
Of the numerous reasons why Indian start- it need not be written off as a failure. As the plan unfolds, the assumption-to- tunities for future platforms? The typical times projects need to be redirected, even if
ups fail early, almost all are related to innova- The framework is about driving growth in knowledge ratio gets reduced. When it is portfolio of initiatives will contain a mix of business founders vaingloriously try to exe-
tion and leadership: weak business models, uncertain times, such as now, when it is easy high, there is high uncertainty. As the ratio short-term projects designed to enhance pos- cute an increasingly unrealistic idea.
poor planning, faulty customer insights, or to freeze in the headlights of the realization shrinks, one must focus on hard outcomes. itive cash flows with low cash-drain, and high Unlike numerous management frame-
lack of original ideas, focus, agility and tech that this covid downturn will be worse and Startup India and similar Startup Missions potential projects poised for rapid growth. works that find examples to fit their theory,
capability, apart from leadership gaps. Nearly longer-lasting than earlier estimated. One run by Indian states could switch into this Manage strategic projects: Start with identi- DDD has worked well even for big enterprises
80% of venture capitalists feel Indian startups must recognize that with uncertain business lean startup mode by teaching their cohorts fying a ‘unit of business’ that will create the in disrupting their own businesses.
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OPINION 9
STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM

Volume XXVII Number 182


ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA
NEW DELHI | WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2021 lives in rural areas, where only twenty per cent of
the nation’s doctors work ... shortages of nurses ...
can be even worse”. There are about one million

Tough audit rules physicians of Indian origin in the US, most of whom
received their medical education in India but there
was no mention of that number. Significant numbers
RBI must consider the concerns of financial services players of nurses of Indian origin are also settled in the US
and the UK.

A
bout a month ago, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular On a positive note, despite the possibility of emi-
that substantially altered the ground rules under which financial serv- grating to developed countries to receive higher sal-
ices companies of significant size are audited. These changes have set aries and breathe cleaner air, so many doctors and
off concern that has been gathering momentum in recent weeks. While nurses have chosen to work and settle in India. For
the RBI’s intentions are sensible, and the reasons for the changes are clear and the past 14 months, doctors, nurses, and the support
staff in India have worked impossible hours in dan-
comprehensible, the central criticism is that these new rules will be difficult,
gerously infectious conditions in Indian medical facil-
costly, and complex to implement. The regulator will have to do more work, ities. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) reported
together with audit firms and large financial services companies, to figure out in mid-May that of the doctors registered with it, 728
how the principles underlying the new rules can successfully be applied. died due to the first wave of Covid-19 and another 420

India a dysfunctional
The RBI circular, dated April 27, mandated that the auditors required by passed away during the second wave. It is not clear
statute to examine the books of financial services (finserv) companies with assets from the information in the public domain how many
greater than ~1,000 crore should be changed every three years, and there should nurses have succumbed to Covid in India. India’s cen-
be a six-year cooling-off period before they are attached to the same institution tral and state governments should identify the fam-
ilies of doctors and nurses who have passed away due

anarchy?
again. Larger finserv companies, with assets greater than ~15,000 crore, would
to Covid. In addition to public acclamation of their
need joint audits, in which two or more firms would share the task, so as to
supreme sacrifice, taxpayer funds should be used to
ensure more eyes on the same books. There were also restrictions on audit firms’ provide generous compensation to surviving relatives
other activities; the non-audit services they could provide their audit clients or as a token of homage from a grateful nation.
associated companies were restricted by the guidelines, and auditors themselves On a separate note, in the Cairn Energy retrospec-
had a cap placed on the number of financial services companies they could It is the people who lost as the government scored self-goals tive taxation saga we are again witness to the short-
audit. These changes were to go into force in 2021-22. Naturally, the largest audit sightedness of a central government that is penny

A
firms — the so-called “Big Four” — will see a significant diminution of their bout 60 years ago, John Kenneth Galbraith, ment functionaries were aware of the heightened wise and pound foolish. According to media reports,
business opportunities, and some might place far greater emphasis on their non- the US ambassador in New Delhi between dangers posed by the possibility of a second wave, Cairn has now targeted Air India in a US court to
1961 and 1963, characterised India as a “func- why did it not raise vaccine production in India recover the $1.2-billion arbitration award it won at a
audit consulting activities. But it is not just the auditors who are worried. The
tioning anarchy”. There have been so many heart- instead of signalling that it had enough vaccine shots tribunal at the Hague in December 2020. The Indian
Finance Industry Development Council, which represents India’s non-banking breaking reports about Covid-19 patients having to for domestic needs by sending over 60 million vac- government is reported to be preparing to challenge
financial companies, has asked for the deadline to be pushed back to 2022-23. scramble for oxygen and hospital beds in Delhi and cines to foreign destinations? this arbitration award and there seems to be little con-
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also argued that “retrospective” several other states for over a month since April 2021. Currently, there is considerable back and forth cern about a likely adverse impact on India’s image
application to the ongoing financial year is unjust. The CII also makes the point The pandemic has brutally highlighted the inade- in official statements about a waiver of intellectual as an investment destination. Consider a hypothetical
that, for larger firms and particularly corporate groups, the new regulations quacy of India’s administrative systems. And, the property rights (IPR) on vaccines developed in for- discussion in a board meeting of a major multinational
would require an enormous increase in the number of auditors over time. But government has demonstrated its culpable inability eign jurisdictions. Even if IPRs on vaccines that are in the final stages of a large investment in a greenfield
there is simply not enough capacity in the system for this to happen. The CII to speed up vaccination in a timely currently not being used in India were project in India. The board could well decide that it is
also highlighted problems of coordination between the different auditors of manner. Further, the reports about to be waived it would take six months better to wait till the Cairn and the Vodafone retro-
desperation at mass funerals and or more to start sizeable production spective taxation issues are settled. Incidentally, in
different group companies.
bodies thrown into rivers may make of those vaccines. At the end of May calendar year 2019, prior to the pandemic, gross
These criticisms are well-meant and must be taken on board by the RBI. Indians wonder if the country is in a 2021, India’s best bet is to ensure that inward foreign direct investment that India and China
Certainly, the transition period could be extended fairly easily. But the larger state of dysfunctional anarchy. Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, (including Hong-Kong) received was $50.5 billion and
point must also be considered. If the RBI has actually modelled the capacity The government may claim that the two Indian companies producing $209.5 billion, respectively. Source: United Nations
increase at the top of the auditing profession required by the new regulations, the virulence of the second Covid wave the AstraZeneca and Covaxin vac- Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
then it should share its assumptions and conclusions in order to satisfy these was impossible to anticipate. However, cines in Pune and Hyderabad, respec- Since the 1960s, when Galbraith characterised our
concerns. If it has not, then this policy change itself needs re-examination. The the need to take concerted action in tively, have adequate capital and gov- country as a functioning anarchy, India has made
expansion of the audit space and reducing its dependence on non-audit fees collaboration with the private sector ernment support to ramp up considerable progress in most fields. However, major
and medical research establishments production sharply. Indian political parties have often diverted attention
and the largest firms are a worthy end. But it cannot be accomplished by fiat
to contain the deadly Covid-19 virus JAIMINI BHAGWATI A BBC report dated May 5, 2021, from the inadequate progress on public health, pri-
overnight. A clear transition plan is needed, which takes into account the supply should have been obvious. That should commented that there were “fewer mary education, and job creation by fostering divi-
constraints on top of the line human capital for the audit business, and the have included allocating adequate gov- than 10 doctors per 10,000 people (in sions based on religion, community, caste, and lan-
returns to investment for small and medium audit firms wishing to transition to ernment financial support for vaccine production India) and in some states that figure is less than five”. guage. It is tempting to use punchy expressions such
the big leagues. The RBI can and must do the additional work, or the guidelines latest by mid-2020. Instead, the tone of Prime Minister The BBC chose not to mention that the United as a functioning anarchy or a dysfunctional one to
themselves will eventually fail in their ends. Narendra Modi’s address at the World Economic Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has about describe India. A more accurate summation would
Forum’s Davos dialogue as recently as January 28, 26,000 doctors of Indian origin who received their be that India continues to score self-goals and sur-
2021, sounded self-congratulatory and complacent. medical degrees in India. An article in the New prises even sympathetic observers by often snatching
By mid-May 2021, spokespersons for the govern- Yorker magazine dated May 13, 2021, mentioned that defeat from the jaws of victory.

Myanmar’s great leap back ment and NITI Aayog were scrambling to suggest that “India has nine doctors for every ten thousand
they had anticipated a second Covid-19 wave and people — about half the global average, and only a
made public pronouncements to this effect. The sheer third as many as the US. There’s also the issue of
j.bhagwati@gmail.com
The writer is a former Indian ambassador and
The coup underlines the limits of quasi-democracy effrontery of this claim is deeply galling. If govern- maldistribution: two-thirds of India’s population World Bank professional

T
he reassertion of brute military rule in Myanmar, including the possible
forcible dissolution of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy (NLD) after just five years in power, offers an object lesson
in the fallibility of its “hybrid” model of governance. The 2008
Constitution, which followed a referendum widely regarded as rigged, embedded
Limitations of India’s Covid response
the Tatmadaw, or the military, in the structures of power, reserving 25 per cent of

T
he second wave of the pandemic has been It is often argued that unprecedented situations ing the vaccines and a large manufacturing base is
the seats and key ministries of defence, internal security, and border affairs, plus absolutely devastating. Although the number call for unprecedented action, but it can also result in perhaps the biggest policy error of recent times. The
freedom from oversight. Ms Suu Kyi’s NLD and other ethnic parties strongly of cases is coming down, the level is still unprecedented consequences. Faster than expected government has also attracted a lot of criticism for
opposed this but agreed to participate in the 2015 general election — the first uncomfortably high. Most states have imposed lock- economic recovery in advanced economies and opening up the vaccination programme for the pri-
since 1990, which the NLD had also won — on the assumption that they could downs to contain the spread of the virus, which is tighter global financial conditions could increase risks vate sector. It is obvious to argue that vaccination
effect change from within. But the NLD and Ms Suu Kyi have rapidly discovered affecting economic activity. Consequently, analysts for emerging market countries like India with should be free for everyone. But India needs scale
the limits of this ambition. are revising their growth projections. The decline in stretched government finances and rising public debt. and the private sector can provide that. Given the
economic activity this time is not as severe as last Another significant increase in government borrow- capacity constraints in the public sector, if a section
The unexpectedly shocking support that Ms Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel
year, but that is hardly a consolation. The second wave ing will also be difficult to handle domestically. A of the population — which is also willing to pay — is
Peace Prize, extended to military atrocities against the Rohingyas, and her inability would significantly increase the quantum of output recent study showed that poverty has gone up sharply. handled by the private sector, it will ease pressure
to control military action against ethnic armed groups raised doubts about her that will permanently be lost because Unfortunately, India doesn’t have on government infrastructure. Further, higher prices
independence of action. Equally, her party’s attempts to “demilitarise” the of the pandemic. The government the capacity to run large income in the private sector would enable manufacturers to
Constitution meant that the relationship with the Tatmadaw remained uneasy, has also made a number of errors in support programmes. supply to the government at a lower cost. Besides,
not least because its economic interests had expanded widely during this period handling the situation and should However, in terms of dealing the private sector would be able to import separately,
of pseudo-democracy. An all-party constitutional review committee suggested now focus on containing the dam- with the pandemic, lack of institu- which will augment overall supply.
over 3,000 amendments, which were passed by Parliament but rejected by the age. Economic recovery will remain tional and medical capacity has
military, and that was a factor precipitating the coup when the NLD returned feeble till the pandemic is convinc- weakened India’s fight far more than Centre-state coordination: The Union government
ingly controlled. The International the availability of financial did well to not impose a nationwide lockdown this
strongly to power in the 2020 elections. In the absence of robust institutional
Monetary Fund’s Chief Economist resources. Delhi and other cities, for time. States are in a better position to make such deci-
checks and balances, Ms Suu Kyi and her party were overthrown for the second Gita Gopinath and others have rightly instance, did not suffer oxygen sions. States will need to respond differently, depend-
time in 30 years. Though the elections were certified by the Election Commission, noted that pandemic policy is shortages because of a lack of funds. ing on the caseload. However, leaving everything for
which has since been replaced by a less independent one, allegations of voter economic policy. In this context, this Also, money can perhaps buy more states is not a wise strategy. The Centre should be
fraud offered a thinly disguised excuse for the military to protect its vested interests.
The chronic insecurity of the military and the depths of its unpopularity can be
column assesses three aspects of
India’s response to the second wave:
REAL TERMS testing kits or ventilators, it cannot
ensure proper usage. It has been
coordinating with states more actively. This will
enable quicker adoption of effective practices in dif-
seen in the vortex of violence that has erupted since. Over 800 people have been Fiscal policy, vaccination policy, RAJESH KUMAR widely reported that testing capacity ferent states. The Centre has also opened up vaccine
killed — including children — and more than 3,300 detained as anti-coup protests and Centre-state coordination. in a number of states, particularly procurement for states. Opening up the vaccination
in rural areas, is extremely limited. programme for the private sector is one thing and has
broke out all over the country.
Fiscal response: Unsurprisingly, it is being argued In several areas there is no one who knows how to use sound reasons, but asking states to procure separately,
As the military ratchets up the violence and Ms Suu Kyi remains a prisoner, that the government should increase spending to sup- the existing stock of ventilators. Another big example including from international markets, made no sense.
the question is where Myanmar goes from here. The earlier junta relinquished port the economy. The government has done well by of India’s low institutional capacity is even in the mid- Unsurprisingly, requests from states have been turned
power under the pressure of a waning economy and sanctions from the US. This restarting free distribution of food grains to the most dle of a pandemic, it could not set up sanctioned down by several foreign manufacturers. Covid vac-
time, US sanctions are unlikely to have much impact since Myanmar’s major inves- vulnerable sections of the population. It should also oxygen plants for months. All this is not to suggest cines are not something that states will be able to buy
tors are Asian in general and Chinese in particular, through Singapore and Hong be open to increasing allocation to the rural employ- that the government should not spend on building by floating tenders. It will require negotiations and
Kong. But the prolonged unrest will undoubtedly damage an economy that has ment scheme as required. However, a large-scale medical infrastructure. But it is critical to note that bargaining power.
been hit, like all others, by the pandemic and has been relatively slow to recover. spending increase to boost demand would not be fea- money alone cannot bolster India’s medical capacity Therefore, the Centre should do all government
Analysts expect growth this fiscal year to be a paltry 3 per cent and poverty to grow sible. Government finances are far more stretched overnight to the level desired. procurement and transparently distribute it among
compared to the beginning of the pandemic. The cen- states. Financing should not be an issue in this context.
from 24 per cent in 2019 to 27 per cent. A relatively well resourced national unity
tral government ran a fiscal deficit of 9.5 per cent of Vaccination policy: The pace of vaccination has The government may not be in a position to make
government in exile and parallel Parliament have been set up and its representatives gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020-21. Given the been a big disappointment. Vaccinating a large pro- large cash transfers to boost demand, but spending
received in several capitals (though not Beijing) even as fierce clashes between the contraction in economic activity, revenues would portion of the population in a quick time was doable on vaccines is unlikely to have a material impact on
military and northern and eastern ethnic groups are guaranteed to keep Myanmar again be under stress and containing the deficit at 6.8 for India. The government not only avoided nego- its finances. In fact, it will boost revenues by increasing
as a failed state of roiling civil war. From Pakistan to Turkey, it remains a cautionary per cent of GDP in the current year could become dif- tiations with foreign firms, but it also didn’t place economic activity. Without a quick increase in the pace
tale of the limitations of quasi-democracy. ficult. Besides, India’s public debt has expanded to sufficient orders with domestic manufacturers. Not of vaccination, lockdown relaxations would be hesitant
about 90 per cent of GDP. being able to secure sufficient supplies despite hav- and escalate the overall economic cost.

Rules to judge leaders by want to see the human side. It is crucial


for leaders to show their human side.
n Capitalise on the urgency. How can
the leadership team use the emergency
about listening to the whole ecosystem
in which you operate.
n Break the denial mode. Do not escape
the hard truth that you have not handled
you most likely already know before
you spent money on buying. Yet, I
would assert, the book is worth buying.
Don’t just skim through it, whatever
many leaders miss these lessons, so misfire, that is for sure. Exemplary to revamp the system that failed during things well enough. Stop pontificating the temptation.
such books continue being written. leadership is that which slows down the the crisis? from the corner office without a bead of Management comprises
That is because a reader needs to absorb act, allowing you to reflect on the n Embrace the ambiguity. People sweat on your forehead. “hardware” which comprises explicit
the lessons in a context. So, before you moment rather than recall every piece of must believe that you are giving them n Do not take scrutiny as an affront to knowledge like legal matters,
read it, set yourself a context. advice heard in the past. accurate information, including what your credibility. Above all, avoid finger- productivity, information technology,
But, first, what is the book about? To help the reader make sense of this you know and, pointing. You need financial analysis and so on. It also
BOOK REVIEW Slim at about 50,000 words, book, let me review the lessons with a more importantly, THE CEO TEST: Master everybody on your comprises “software” which embraces
arranged into seven neat chapters, with specific context. The tips from last three what you do not the Challenges that side if you are implicit knowledge like human
R GOPALAKRISHNAN each chapter representing a “test.” For chapters concern crisis management know. going to get over behaviour, listening, communications
Make or Break All
example, can you develop a simple and listening. I read these in the context n Reimagine your Leaders the crisis. and so on. When the crunch comes,

A
dam Bryant and Kevin Sharer plan for your strategy? Can you build of the pandemic we are all experiencing. organisation. Can These bullets very often, leadership relies on the
are well-established manage- true teams that are true teams? Can you Apply the leadership tests mentioned in your organisation Author: Adam are not exact software, not the hardware.
ment writers, and this book has handle a crisis? And so on. As the the book to the pandemic handling in be better prepared Bryant and Kevin quotations from As it so happens, parallel to reading
been published by HBR Press. So the authors observe in their introduction, India — you will, of course, be for the new normal Sharer the book, but every this book, I read No Rules Rules by
credentials of the book are gold stan- “there is so much leadership advice in influenced by your own opinion on the whenever the Publisher: HBR Press one of what Netflix founder, Reed Hastings and
dard. The subject being what the title the world that it can quickly lead to success or otherwise of the leadership. crisis subsides? Pages: 224 appears above is “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer —
states, the book recommends itself as paralysis by analysis of trying to n Uncertainty is the new certainty. The single biggest Price: ~1,250 derived from what three soft, squishy books
a must-read for leaders. So go ahead remember the hundred different Hence, a good leader must have mistake that the pages of the simultaneously. Maybe the soft stuff is
and read it. things you are supposed to do at any established a simple plan, fostered a leaders make is that they say book state. Judge our national leadership the essence of leadership.
As you read the book, however, you given moment.” strong culture, developed a cohesive things that go beyond what they by applying these yardsticks and you
might ask yourself, “What is so special Leaders who lead by trying to team, and ensured that the team is really know. arrive at your own conclusion on The reviewer is a best-selling author and
about this advice or insight?” Welcome remember the hundred different lessons listening to weak signals if they are to at n Listening is not about listening to the whether the national leadership has corporate advisor. His latest book is titled
to the leadership literature club. As a will lead as successfully as golfers who all tackle the unforeseen crisis. person across the table from you. People succeeded or failed. Wisdom for startups from grownups. He was
general rule, meaningful leadership recall every tip before constructing their n Show up and be human. People want close to you will tell you anything but By now, you have a pretty good idea Director of Tata Sons and Vice-Chairman of
messages appear obvious in print. Yet, fairway shot. Both performances will to see a confident leader, but they also the hard truths. Go out and listen. It is of the value of the book. It states what Hindustan Unilever
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FODPRXUIRUR[\JHQF\OLQGHUVZRQGHULQJKRZFDQWKHUHEHVKRUWDJHRIR[\JHQZKHQ
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*RGKDVILOOHGWKHDWPRVSKHUHZLWKLW7KHGRFWRUVWRRNXPEUDJHDWKLVZRUGV7KH,QGLDQ more accommoda-
0HGLFDO$VVRFLDWLRQ ,0$ IRUPDOO\SURWHVWHGDQGVRXJKWDFWLRQDJDLQVWKLP7RSGRF tive as compared to
WRUVVDLGWKHGLVSDUDJLQJUHPDUNVZHUHIUXVWUDWLQJ the Pakistani politics of today —
WRIURQWOLQHPHGLFDOZRUNHUV7KHGRFWRUVVKRXOGQRW he nominated JN Mandal, a
Hindu, as the first Law Minister;
IDOO LOO DW DOO LI DOORSDWK\ LV DOOSRZHUIXO 5DPGHY Zafarullah Khan, an Ahmadiyya,
UHPDUNHG KLV DWWDFN DJDLQVW DOORSDWK\ XQFHDVLQJ as the Minister for Foreign Affairs
8QLRQ+HDOWK0LQLVWHU+DUVK9DUGKDQILQDOO\LQWHUYHQHG and many Shias (like Jinnah
DQGZURWHDOHWWHUWR5DPGHYFULWLFLVLQJWKHUHPDUNV himself) — a plurality that is
unthinkable now. The Pakistani
DQGDVNLQJKLPWRZLWKGUDZWKHP7KH0LQLVWHUVDLG Military shared the spirit of the
WKH\RJDJXUX·VUHPDUNVZHUHGHPRUDOLVLQJWKHPHG times with the rise of General
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KLVH[SODQDWLRQVZHUHXQVDWLVIDFWRU\5DPGHYPXVW Commander-in-Chief of the
Pakistan Army (1958-1966).
KDYHUHDOLVHGKHKDGJRQHWRRIDUWKLVWLPHIRUKH Another mercurial officer was
SURPSWO\ LVVXHG D VWDWHPHQW ZLWKGUDZLQJ KLV Air Marshal SA Changezi, who
UHPDUNV7KHZLWKGUDZDOZDVKRZHYHUQRWXQFRQ famously refused to meet Afghan
GLWLRQDOZLWKKLPLQVLVWLQJWKDWKHDQGKLVZRUNHUVKDYHDOVRE\XVLQJD\XUYHGDDQG King Zahir Shah during a visit to
Pakistan, owing to the perceived
\RJDVDYHGOLYHVGXULQJWKHSDQGHPLFDQGWKLVVKRXOGEHUHVSHFWHGDVZHOO mistreatment of fellow Hazaras
7KHYHU\QH[WGD\KHSRVWHGDQRSHQOHWWHURQKLV7ZLWWHUKDQGOHSRVLQJTXHVWLRQV in Afghanistan. Now, Pakistan’s
WRWKH,0$LIDOORSDWK\RIIHUHGSHUPDQHQWVROXWLRQVIRUDLOPHQWVOLNHGLDEHWHVK\SHU slide towards religious intoler-
WHQVLRQDVWKPDWK\URLGDUWKULWLVDQGFROLWLV7KHSRVWUDJHGDORQJWKRVHOLQHVUHSHDW ance has constitutionally declared
HGO\SRLQWLQJRXWWKDWDOORSDWK\ZDVXQDEOHWRILQGSHUPDQHQWFXUHVGHVSLWHEHLQJD Ahmadiyyas as “non-Muslims”, formed by a Pakistani Taliban solidify itself. However, the 1998 — thousands of Hazaras
whereas Shias and offshoots (20- commander, Hafiz Saeed dangers to suchlike “minorities” were searched out and killed in
\HDUROGVFLHQFH6WUDQJHWKDW5DPGHYFKRVHWKHSDQGHPLFWRUXQGRZQDOORSD 25 per cent of Pakistan’s popula- Khan — most members were are multiplied when the sover- a systemic house-to-house
WK\7KHUHDSSHDUVQRUHDVRQRWKHUWKDQWU\LQJWREUDQGD\XUYHGDDVDVXSHULRUVFL tion) are routinely attacked and formerly with the Pakistani eign Government itself runs the killing frenzy as the Taliban
HQFHE\FULWLFLVLQJDOORSDWK\DQGSURPRWHKLVRZQSURGXFWV+HKDGQRRSWLRQEXWWR persecuted. However, given the Taliban (Tehrik-i-Pakistan), risk of passing on to the likes was believed to shoot “any-
ZLWKGUDZKLVUHPDUNVWKRXJKKHQHYHUPHDQWWREHVRUU\JLYHQKLVFRPEDWLYHWZHHW even more conservative moorings mostly from the Orokzai of the Taliban, which seems thing that moved”. As always,
across the Durand Line in Pashtun stock. Irrespective of likely with the leaving of the Pakistani hand in the Talibani
,WLVEXWQDWXUDOIRUFRPSHWLQJDOWHUQDWLYHVFLHQFHVWRSRVWXUHEXWWKDWLVQHYHUDWWKH Afghanistan, the discrimination of the groups, the Hazaras and US/NATO troops from advance was omnipresent as
FRVWRIUXLQLQJWKHUHSXWDWLRQRIWKHRWKHU,Q,QGLDZKHUHPHGLFDOFDUHLVKDQGOHGSUL minorities is more intense — the other Shias like Ismailis have Afghanistan. many Pakistani soldiers had
PDULO\E\DOORSDWK\WKHUHLVD0LQLVWU\IRUSURSDJDWLRQRILQGLJHQRXVDOWHUQDWLYHPHG imminent return of the Taliban in faced the brunt of relentless While sectarianism is one accompanied the Taliban
LFLQHV\VWHPVFDOOHGWKH0LQLVWU\RI$<86+³ $\XUYHGD<RJD1DWXURSDWK\8QDQL Kabul signals not just the return persecution throughout histo- cut of endangered “minority” march. The Hazaras were
of puritanical absolutism and ry, but for the relative reprieve status in Afghanistan, ethnic- apparently made to pay a price
6LGGKD6RZD5LJSDDQG+RPRHRSDWK\:RXOGWKH\RJDJXUXKDYHUHFRPPHQGHGDQ\ revisionism, but also the target- in the Hamid Karzai-Ashraf ity is the other. Therefore, the for the killing of several thou-
RQHRIKLVRZQSHRSOHVXIIHULQJIURP&29,'WRUHMHFWDOORSDWKLFWUHDWPHQWDQGVHHN ed brutality onto its Shia/Hazara Ghani dispensations. Tajik and Uzbek, who may be sand Taliban soldiers a year
RQO\DOWHUQDWLYHPHGLFLQHWKHUDS\"7KLVLVWKHWLPHRIWKHSDQGHPLFZKHQDOOPHGLFLQH populace (approximately 15 per Across the unaccepted bor- essentially of Sunni denomina- earlier, after a failed attempt by
V\VWHPVDUHGRLQJWKHLUEHVWWRFRQWUROLWRUDQ\DVSHFWRILW7KHVHV\VWHPVGRQRW cent of the population). ders with Pakistan, the Shias tion, are not spared the wrath the Taliban to takeover Mazar-
FRPSHWHZLWKRQHDQRWKHUEXWFRPSOHPHQWRQHDQRWKHUMXVWDVWKH\RXJKWWR
The recent car bombing in
front of the Sayed-al-Shuhda
and Hazaras in particular, face
the brunt of terror groups like
8AA4B?42C8E4 of the Taliban or the Islamic
State-Khorasan Province. Such
i-Sharif in 1996.
Now the dangerous snake
school in the Hazara-dominated Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who remain >5C746A>D?B persistent animus and dimin- pit created and abetted by the
?82D1<; neighbourhood of Kabul horrif- committed to exterminate the C7470I0A0B0=3 ishment led the Hazaras to Pakistani “establishment” has
ically killed 85, mostly schoolgirls
between 11 and 15 years, in an
Shias. These virulent sectarian
groups have close ideological
>C74AB780B;8:4 form their own militias like the
now-fragmented, Abdul Ali
managed to wear out the
US/NATO troops, the sectar-
augury of the times ahead. ties with the Taliban (on both 8B<08;8B70E4 Mazari’s Hezb-e-Wahdat, or ian and ethnic minorities in
Despite the timeline of this attack sides) and have conducted 50243C741AD=C the comparatively new Hazara Afghanistan are left vulnerable.
coinciding with the holy month
of Ramadan, this area had earli-
spectacular and deadly attacks
against the Shias — even the
>5A4;4=C;4BB warlord, Abdul Ghani Alipoor,
who is now popularly seen as
Pakistan has bequeathed its
cancerous and manipulative
er seen similar bloodshed with suicide bomber who killed for- ?4AB42DC8>= an effective vanguard against approach onto the warlords
attacks on maternity hospitals, mer Pakistani Prime Minister C7A>D67>DC the fury of the Taliban. But and other terror groups oper-
these ethnic warlords are reck- ating in Afghanistan, and like
schools and tutoring centres.
While the Afghan Taliban did
Benazir Bhutto (who too was a
Shia) belonged to Lashkar-e- 78BC>AH1DC5>A lessly volatile, fickle and its blood-soiled streets of
deny any role in this specific Jhangvi. Quetta in Baluchistan C74A4;0C8E4 known to shift allegiances Quetta — the augury of future
attack and attributed it to anoth- is home to biggest settlement of A4?A84E48=C74 with the proverbial “exchange Afghanistan for “minorities”
er group, Islamic State–Khorasan the oppressed Hazaras in of suitcases”, exposing their (like in Pakistan) is dark and
Province, the beleaguered fate of Pakistan, as also the unfortu- 70<83:0AI08 community to severe persecu- foreboding.
minorities like the Hazaras looks nate killing ground for most 0B7A05670=8 tion. The endless cycle of sec- (The writer, a military vet-
ominous. Like the Taliban, which
is a project of the Pakistani
sectarian terror attacks — relay-
ing the inevitable dangers of the
38B?4=B0C8>=B tarian wars in Afghanistan
was exemplified by the reprisal
eran, is a former Lt Governor
of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
“establishment”, the Islamic State- State recklessly pandering to attacks by the Taliban in and Puducherry. The views
Khorasan Province was also majoritarian-sectarianism to Mazar-i-Sharif township in expressed are personal.)

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HUVZHUHJHWWLQJIUXVWUDWHGZLWKWKHRQJRLQJLPSDVVH vulnerable and empower them. This is how with a huge deficit in the fiscal of 2020-21. S^]^cZ]^fW^f8
ulation, has become a sick country in all
DQGKDGVWDUWHGWXUQLQJEDFNIURP'HOKL·VERUGHUV%KDUDWL\D.LVDQ8QLRQOHDGHU5DNHVK we’ll all grow together. One wonders as to why no efforts are still aspects of the word, what with the second
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7LNDLW·VFRSLRXVWHDUVVXFFHHGHGLQKDOWLQJWKHLUKRPHZDUGSURJUHVV%HWKDWDVLWPD\ N Soumik | Bhubaneswar being made to address the issue of growing wave of the Coronavirus now giving way to U^[[^fX]V2>E83]^a\b
WKHSDUWLDOORFNGRZQDQGWKHUDYDJLQJVHFRQGZDYHRIWKH&29,'SDQGHPLFGUHZ unemployment even as restlessness among the White, Black and Yellow fungi. This is
DZD\IURPWKHPZKDWHYHUOLWWOHDWWHQWLRQRUV\PSDWK\WKH\KDGEHHQJDUQHULQJ1RZ 3?>DB?<B9C9>7@B935C:?2<5CC>5CC the youth and jobless people is growing by over and beyond the lack of medical facil-
Sir — In the aftermath of the pandemic’s leaps and bounds. ?PZXbcP]Q^f[Ta
VHL]LQJWKHFKDQFHWKDWWKHKDOI\HDUPLOHVWRQHSURYLGHVWKHPWKHIDUPHUOHDGHUVDUH outbreak, the Centre and the State All in all, COVID’s second wave rav-
ities in the country, like vaccines, medical ¯=PbTT\BWPW
RXWRIWKHLUVHOILPSRVHGKLEHUQDWLRQ7KH\DUHRVWHQVLEO\PDNLQJJUDQGSODQVWRPDUN Governments were engrossed in working aging the nation has doubled people’s pain oxygen and hospital beds. The result: More
than 3 lakh people dead. India is being con- 8WPeTS^]T
WKHRFFDVLRQDQGWRWKLVHQGYDULRXVSURWHVWVKDYHEHHQSODQQHGDFURVVWKHFRXQWU\ out a strategy in pursuit of electoral victo- and sufferings; it is time the Centre pon-
sidered as the most unsafe country across \d]SP]Tbcd_XS
ry, following which they took their eyes off dered over the growing anger and unease
WRREVHUYH0D\DV´EODFNGD\µ&RQJUHVVOHDGHU1DYMRW6LQJK6LGKXKDVEHHQIO\ the other pressing issues like rising unem- amongst the unemployment people and the the globe. The other countries have asked UX[\bQdc8^f]P[[^U
LQJDEODFNIODJRQKLVKRXVH6$'FKLHI6XNKELU%DGDOVD\VWKDW3ULPH0LQLVWHU1DUHQGUD ployment and economic slowdown. Amid rising prices of essentials. It must come out their citizens to leave India, besides banning cWT\fXcW_aXST8
0RGLVKRXOGEHWDONLQJWRWKHIDUPHUV.LVDQ0RUFKDOHDGHUVKDYHUHQHZHGWKHLUFDOOWR the raging virus, the Government was left with a focused plan for revival of the econ- their flights to and from here. It is time we ^f]P[[^U\h
Indians united to beat the virus. X]bXV]XUXRP]cf^aZ
REVHUYH:HGQHVGD\DV´EODFNGD\µDQGDWOHDVW2SSRVLWLRQSDUWLHVKDYHFRPHRXW with no option but to impose night curfew omy on a war footing so that it opens the
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and then switch over to partial lockdown. door for employment as well as arrest the Bhagwan Thadani | Mumbai
LQVXSSRUWRIWKHIDUPHUV·SURWHVWFDOO%XWLQWKLVFULWLFDOSHULRGRIWKHUDJLQJSDQGHP The truth remains that rapid job loss- price rise, otherwise the political cost for the _Pac^U\hY^da]Th
LFLVWKLVZKDWWKHQDWLRQUHDOO\ZDQWVGHVHUYHV"6KRXOGQ·WZHXWLOLVHRXUHQHUJLHVRXU es on account of shutdowns and the rising Government would be substantial. BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) 0Rc^a
UHVRXUFHVWRGRVRPHWKLQJEHWWHUIRURXUQDWLRQDQGLWVFLWL]HQV"7KLQNDERXWLW prices of essential commodities are due to KR Srinivasan | Secunderabad [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯0]d_P\:WTa
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he raging COVID pandemic is a test of lead-

1F>9B01;>: T ership all over the world. There are countries


that have battled the virus and emerged
stronger and there are those that have been

6
LQFHWKHRXWEUHDNRIWKH&RURQDYLUXVLQGLIIHUHQW found lacking in preparedness, empathy and gover-
ZDYHVKDYHFRPHWRDIIHFWGLIIHUHQWFRXQWULHVLQGLIIHU nance. It is regrettable that India falls in the catego-
ry of countries where the government completely
HQW ZD\V DQG GHJUHHV 7KH LPSDFW RI WKH VHFRQG abdicated its responsibility and looked the other way
ZDYHZKLFKKDVUHFHQWO\KLW,QGLDLVPXFKJUHDWHUWKDQWKHILUVW as millions were left to fend for themselves, fight the
ZDYH,QGLDVXFFHVVIXOO\PDQDJHGWRFRQWDLQWKHYLUXVYLVj virus and die. This unprecedented crisis worsened
YLVWKHPRUHGHYHORSHGFRXQWULHVLQFOXGLQJ86DQG(XURSH on account of the government's ignorance, ego and
LQWKHILUVWZDYH,QWKLVSURORQJHGSKDVHRIJOREDOSDQGHPLF incompetence.
ZKDWDUHWKHPDLQOHVVRQVWKDWWKHJOREDOFRPPXQLW\KDVFRPH There are four ways to combat the COVID- 19
WROHDUQSDUWLFXODUO\IURP,QGLDQLQLWLDWLYHV"'XULQJWKHILUVWZDYH virus - testing, tracking, treatment and vaccination.
It is a foregone conclusion that for a country like India,
,QGLDXQGHUWKHOHDGHUVKLSRI3ULPH0LQLVWHU1DUHQGUD0RGLQRW the biggest global manufacturer of vaccines, inocu-
RQO\VXFFHHGHGLQWLGLQJWKHFKDOOHQJHEXWDOVRSURYLGHGPHG lating our people on priority would be what any elect-
LFDODQGRWKHUDVVLVWDQFHWRPRUHWKDQFRXQWULHV$QGYDF ed government would opt to do. But not the Modi
FLQHWRFRXQWULHV6XFKJHVWXUHVGLVSOD\WKHWUXHVSLULWDQG government. So the focus here would be on what
VWUHQJWKRI,QGLDQVDQGWKDW,QGLDFDUHVIRUWKHZRUOGDSDUWIURP could have been our most potent ammunition in this
battle - vaccination- how we failed - and there are
no signs of course correction yet. month, while Bharat Biotech produces The Central Government's acute shortage. It isn't just the oppo-
After first warning of the COVID Tsunami as about 60 lakh doses a month. Both shameful neglect of duty has result- sition but people all across the coun-
early as February 2020, Rahul Gandhi had suggest- companies can ramp up production ed in the States being forced to out- try are enraged and want to know why
ed in August last year about a sound vaccine strat- only by end of July or beginning of bid each other. This insane competi- were Serology Surveys, warnings
egy, that ensures equitable vaccination for all. The August. Sputnik V, the Russian vac- tion among the States is a creation of from experts, scientific advisors even
Prime Minister and his team even failed to calculate cine approved by the government will the Central Government's failure to the Parliament's Standing Committee
the dosages of vaccine required for our population. 1DC4E4=0BDB be manufactured in significant quan- procure vaccines for our people and on Health ignored? Why did we waste
They had no idea as to how much vaccine could be 8=380=B70E4C> tities by Dr Reddys and six other labs instead putting the burden entirely on a year electioneering when we should
produced in a month and were clueless about the F08C8<?0C84=C;H also by July end. No other foreign vac- States - both monetarily and in terms have instead been preparing for the
investment and incentive manufacturers would 145>A4148=6 cine has yet been approved for use or of availability. Ironically, at a time second wave? Why is the government
need. So while most countries bought ample vaccines 8=>2D;0C43 imported for inoculation. Pfizer was when African nations have formed a so averse to sound advice? Why did
SURWHFWLQJKHURZQLQWHUHVWV7KLVLVDZD\RIUHLQIRUFLQJWKH and had finished placing their fourth and fifth rounds dragged for lack of permission in Union to procure 22.2 crore doses of Dr Shahid Jameel, an eminent virol-
,QGLDQSKLORVRSK\RI´9DVXGKDLYD.XWXPEDNDPµ WKHZRUOG ?A8<4<8=8BC4A ogist on government's genome task
of orders by August-October 2020, Indian govern- February itself. This explains the vaccine from Johnson and Johnson,
=0A4=3A0<>38
LVRQHIDPLO\ ,QWKHILUVWZDYHWKHUHVSRQVHRIWKHLQWHUQD ment placed its first order of just 1.60 crore doses on complete lack of vaccine strategy that a move that collectively gives them force quit? But the question that is on
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would ensure enough and equitable better bargaining power, India's everyone's mind now is about how
VHFRQGZDYHRIWKHSDQGHPLFXQDQWLFLSDWHGDVLWLVHQJXOIHG The world tapped multiple vaccines in the mar- distribution of the vaccine. Central Government has created a prepared are we going to be for the
ket but the Modi government ended up creating a E0228=43>B4B The only way to increase vacci- fastest fingers first situation for India's third wave, that's expected to hit chil-
,QGLDLQDQRYHUZKHOPLQJPDQQHU*LYHQWKHYLUXOHQFHRIWKH >E4AB40B0=3 dren hard? What paediatric arrange-
State duopoly - relying on just two vaccines - Covaxin nation is to either manufacture more States. Putting the onus on States to
YLUXVDKLJKQXPEHURISHRSOHJRWLQIHFWHGLQWKHVHFRQGZDYH made by Bharat Biotech in partnership with ICMR =>=>C0;;>5 or allow more foreign vaccines to be pay higher prices for vaccines is ments are being made, given the many
ZLWKLQDVKRUWWLPH$V,QGLDJUDSSOHGZLWKVKRUWDJHRIHVVHQ and Oxford University-Astra Zeneca's Covishield pro- C74B44G?>ACB imported. Both suggestions have immoral and unethical. warning bells that have been issued?
WLDOPHGLFDOUHTXLUHPHQWVGXULQJWKHVHFRQGZDYHWKHUHZHUH duced by Serum Institute of India. Even these two F4A4D=34A been repeatedly made by the Congress It is the irrational and premature Unfortunately, instead of focus-
PDQ\FULWLFLVPVRQWKHZD\,QGLDDGGUHVVHGWKHVLWXDWLRQ sources were not fully utilized. India is presently vac- 8=C4A=0C8>=0; leadership. But such letters haven't celebration that one needs to warn ing on the task at hand to save lives,
2QH KDV WR FRQVLGHU DQG HYHQ WDNH D UHORRN DW PDQ\ cinating under 16 lakh people everyday, which is 38?;><02H;0A64 even been acknowledged - and some- against. Even as vaccination numbers the government, its key ministers and
DVSHFWVRIWKHVLWXDWLRQ)LUVWPDQ\GHYHORSHGFRXQWULHVLQFOXG steeply down from the peak in April. E>;D<4BF4A4 times insolently responded to by fall steeply, the government's ambi- the BJP has chosen to indulge in cheap
False claims won't mask the truth. As on May 2><<4A280; junior ministers. tious claims of 200 crore vaccine doses politics. Even after its lies have been
LQJ86WKRXJKSRVVHVVLQJDGYDQFHGLQIUDVWUXFWXUHIRXQGLW
23, only 15.29 crore people got their first shot and 2>=B86=<4=CB Meanwhile, a confused Modi to be available by December seems called out, its forgery flagged and its
WRXJKWRDGGUHVVWKHVLWXDWLRQLQWKHLQLWLDOSKDVHRIWKHILUVW only 4.31 crore Indians have been fully vaccinated, 0;;>5C78B government, which is lobbying for unreal. Experts are not willing to buy fraud termed as manipulated media
ZDYH,PSOLHGJLYHQWKHYLUXOHQWQDWXUHDQGWUDQVPLVVLRQUDWH which is around three percent of our population. This 5>A<><4=C0AH patent waiver by global vaccine majors this yet. Some senior virologists have by independent fact checkers and
RIWKHYLUXVLQIUDVWUXFWXUDOQHHGVDUHIDOOLQJVKRUWWRWDFNOHWKH pales in comparison to America's 39% fully vacci- 6;>AH0=3 at the WTO, argued against compul- in fact already raised the red flag on social media giants like Twitter - the
VLWXDWLRQHYHU\ZKHUHLQFOXGLQJ,QGLD&ULWLFVRSLQHWKDWYDF nation rate or UK's 33%. What is even more worry- 0??;0DB45>A sory licencing at the Supreme Court, nasal and DNA vaccines that are being ruling party refuses to give up. It has
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VLQWHUHVWV,WVKRXOGQRWEH ing is the fact that under one crore out of 62 crore <A<>38. a position it changed after much pub- spoken about and given the past track now resorted to intimidation. But it
RYHUORRNHGWKDWWKHDVVLVWDQFHWKDWPDQ\FRXQWULHVUHFHLYHG Indians between the age group of 18-44 years have lic furore. Sections 92 and 100 under records, they are rightly apprehensive will refuse to answer pertinent ques-
received the first dosage, a task that has been callous- India's Patent Act 1970 provide for of the targets being achieved. tions on the disease, series of missteps,
RQDFFRXQWRI,QGLD
V9DFFLQH0DLWULIDFLOLWDWHGWKHSURFHVVRI ly left for States to perform. While this goes to print, Compulsory licences. Simply put, gov- To top it, a beaming picture of the misgovernance, acute shortage of life
YDFFLQDWLRQLQWKHZRUOG7KLVHQVXUHGWKHVKDUHGJRDORIFUH States like Delhi and Telangana have suspended vac- ernment can declare compulsory Prime Minister on the vaccine certifi- savings drugs, vaccines and oxygen.
DWLQJHTXDODQGDIIRUGDEOHDFFHVVWRPHGLFLQHVDQGYDFFLQHV cination drive for those under 45 years, due to the licensing for any patented product cate is a grim reminder of the single It has no answers for mismatch in
SDUWLFXODUO\IRUSHRSOHOLYLQJLQWKHZRUOG
VSRRUHVWFRXQWULHV paucity of vaccine availability. during national or extreme emer- nuggets reason why India has failed ground realities and the official death
DUHIOHFWLRQRIWKHSKLORVRSK\RI¶9DVXGKDLYD.XWXPEDNDP· But even as Indians have to wait impatiently gency-which will allow domestic - OVER CENTRALISATION. Be it figures across some of the BJP-ruled
$V,QGLDUHHOVXQGHUWKHVHFRQGZDYHPDQ\OHDGHUVLQFOXG before being inoculated, Prime Minister Modi manufacturing of patented items and procurement and mapping of oxygen, States. The party is tongue tied about
LQJ$XVWUDOLDQ3ULPH0LQLVWHUDQG863UHVLGHQWDSSODXGHGJHQ exported over 6.63 crore vaccine doses overseas. And ensure steady supply. Royalty to the distribution of vaccines, essential dead bodies buried across river beds.
no, not all of these exports were under internation- The author is All patent holder is paid by the controller drugs and ventilators - the central gov- Its sheer shamelessness to level charges
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VIRRWVWHSVDQXP al diplomacy, large volumes were commercial con- India Congress general of patents or the High Court, ernment has refused to treat States as against the opposition is a desperate
EHURIFRXQWULHVKDYHFRPHIRUZDUGWRSURYLGHKHOSWR,QGLD signments. How can an elected government commit Committee General if negotiations fail. After procrastinat- partners in this battle. PM's mono- attempt to divert attention- but its all
LQFOXGLQJ$XVWUDOLD86*HUPDQ\6DXGL$UDELD)UDQFH8. the sin of prioritising anyone before its own citizens? Secretary and Chief ing for nearly a month, the govern- logues after every meeting with the in vain - the destruction on account
.D]DNKVWDQ6LQJDSRUHDQGRWKHUV6LQFHWKHODVWZHHNRI$SULO All of this for momentary glory and applause for Mr Spokesperson of ment finally invited applications to Chief Ministers exemplifies why dia- of government's apathy is apparent all
ZKHQ WKH SDQGHPLF VLWXDWLRQ LQ ,QGLD WXUQHG VHULRXV ,QGLD Modi? the Congress Party. manufacture patented vaccines, but logue is so essential. around us.
UHFHLYHGLQWHUQDWLRQDODVVLVWDQFHLQWKHIRUPRIVXSSOLHVVXFK Before moving any further - let's take stock of The views expressed who is responsible for precious time It is ironic how India, the largest Mr Modi, call yourself what you
DVYHQWLODWRUVDQGR[\JHQFRQFHQWUDWRUVDQGPHGLFLQH7KHUH the vaccine availability in India. Serum Institute's pre- are personal. that has been wasted and the lives this manufacturer of oxygen, drugs and may. But you are the system that has
sent production capacity is about six crore doses every indecision has cost? vaccines has lost precious lives due to failed us all.
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he COVID-19 pandem- fear. Who could have imag- Majority of passenger trains varietymay start thriving. ture is likely to alleviate

T ic is all about social dis-


tancing and curbing
travel to the extent of restrict-
ined that bright wintry morn-
ing that the coronavirus would
soon start wreaking havoc.
are docked since COVID-19
onset and there is palpable fear
among people of getting
People may travel for a differ-
ent experience, a change of
environment and feeling the
decades of congestion on the
tracks and increase overall
capacity. On the aviation front,
ing movement beyond the March 22, 2020, when the infected in this mode of trav- outside, but they may not the UDAN scheme has already
front door of homes. Travel in lockdown was first announced el. This fear may weigh heavy exactly like visiting tourist given a new dimension to air
these times is almost an oxy- is a date difficult to forget. on the minds of travellers sites. And obviously for rea- travel and going forward
moron. With no end of the 1C8G1>9 ;>70=8 Suddenly we were confined who are likely to prefer air sons of social distancing, would add to the same in
pandemic yet in sight, the indoors. But people adjusted travel that takes much less resorts would take precedence increasing measure.
options are either to sit at fairly quicklyto the first wave time and is safer with con- over conventional hotel type Regardless of the forecasts
home, or move about with of coronavirus and eventual- trolled air flows and HEPA fil- accommodation and traffic by different soothsayers, we
precautions and restrictions or ly resumed going out, even out ters. Short distance Shatabdi to non-city hotels may witness need to prepare for a future
be an eternal optimist and plan of cities on short-term holi- type travel may sustain but an increase as compared to city that would definitely witness
for the post COVID-19 era days. Going to Maldives, a long-distance travel is likely to hotels. a resurgence in tourism, albeit
when pent up desiresto go out nation that remained unaffect- habits of people with the tances from their homes. Delhi be impacted in the short to The efforts of of a changed mix. We need to
would suddenly find an ed by the virus for a long time, majority seeking an experience and its surroundingswould medium term. International Air Transport focus on and build tourist
uncontrollable opening. became a fashion statement. within the country's tourist perhaps witness a lot of road Domestic air travel may Association towards initiating infrastructure innovatively and
I clearly remember the But the virus returned with a destinations, at least in the travel to hill stations in even go up now, but interna- Covid passportsare commend- put in place systems for
30th and 31st of January last vengeance this April. short-term. Himachal and Uttarakhand. tional travel may continue to able and need to be imple- improving tourist informa-
year when the first rescue International travel is like- The “Aas Paas” brand of And similar could be the state be impacted for sometime. mented at the earliest after tion and facilitation. Incidents
flights took off majestically ly to be affected for quite tourism piloted by the state of of affairs almost all round the And both aircrafts and trains working out the modalities. like the ongoing pandemic
from the Delhi airport for The author is former some time, atleast till the vac- Madhya Pradesh almost a country. Cross-country move- would have to aggressively The operation of private must be regarded as tempo-
Wuhan, to bring back the Chairman & Managing cination drive gathers momen- decade ago is likely to witness ment for tourism in all prob- follow COVID-19 sanitation passenger carrying trains may rary setbacks; the sector would
stranded Indians. There was a Director, Air India and tum and covers the majority of a resurgence. People are more abilitymay witness a decline by protocols regardless. in the future give a new bounce back much faster than
nationalistic fervour and a former Chairman, our population.Till then likely to feel safe and confident train or road in favour of air Visits to tourist sites would dimension to passenger com- others once things improve.
feeling of accomplishment Railway Board. The views domestic tourism may witness in exploring nearby places travel. definitely remain affected fort and overall experience. With vaccination gathering
when the Boeing 747s took off expressed are personal. a surge. Many of us visualize and seeking a different expe- Rail travel in my view though tourist destinations And the planned rapid pace of pace, good times have to
and there was no feeling of a distinct change in the travel rience within drivable dis- may take a long-term hit. especially of the hill station adding to the fixed infrastruc- return.
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY, 2021 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL Digital divide
A wave of trouble The right to health and well-being should not be restricted to an individual’s

W access to digital devices and faster internet services; writes Nayan Jyoti Nath
e live in troubling times. Over the last few
weeks, India has seen a surge in the num-

T
bers of fungal infections being reported
across the country. With over 9,000 cases he current scenario of cally compete with the already-
of mucormycosis or the so-called ‘black fungus’ being COVID-19 in India favoured citizens. This displays
reported, many states in India have now deemed the has forced the gov- a lack of empathy towards the
fungal infection an epidemic. But that isn’t all. In recent ernment to roll out more significant section of
weeks, we have also seen cases of ‘white fungus’ in Mum- vaccination drive for all adults society.
bai and parts of Bihar. White fungus, possibly the infec- above 18 years of age. The mag- Viewing every citizen on
tion known as aspergillosis, particularly affects the lungs nitude of this crisis has also led a similar pedestal will further
and has symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. And the government to ramp up the widen the gap. Letting the not-
now there is ‘yellow fungus’, a fungal infection that early production of vaccines to 65 so-smart phone users book
reports claim could be even deadlier than white and black million doses per month, from slots for themselves through
fungus as it attacks various different organs and does not 50 million doses per month. a mobile application is a total
initially have any obvious symptoms until things become India has started importing disregard of the demographic
more serious with pus leakage and organ failures. There is vaccines to cover shortages. fabric in India.
plenty of confusion in the nation in regards to these fungal The Government of India The race to book the vac-
infections. Randeep Guleria, the chief of AIIMS recently inaugurated its vaccination cine slot reminds one of the
even said that the naming of these infections is confusing drive on January 16, 2021, social Darwinism theory pro-
and misleading. There is also plenty of debate on which for an estimated 30 million pounded by Thomas Henry
of the three known infections are more deadly. Regard- health and frontline workers. Huxley. Social Darwinism
less, what we do know is that fungal infections are not a Later, senior citizens above propagates that society as an
new thing and we generally live alongside these fungi just Mandatory 50 years and people under-50 organism survives by eliminat-
fine, even breathing them in on a regular basis. What is years with co-morbidities were ing the poor and the rich sur-
different usually is that our immune systems are in good online vaccinated. vive as the fittest.
shape to tackle these fungi and thus fungal infections are registration Now, the government has Unfortunately, despite
not usually a problem. Right now though, things are quite mandated registration for vac- understanding the propor-
risky. A combination of COVID-19, medical drugs like over the walk- cination through a dedicated tion of the rural population in
steroids and antivirals and untreated or poorly treated in facility for website and mobile application. Assam and India, the policy
comorbidities are making many people fall prey to these The process looks straightfor- blindness of access to ICTs by
fungi. In particular, a major factor behind India showing
vaccination has ward and user-friendly out-
Data (as of May 20, 2021) from CoWin has exposed the darker side of digitalisation in India
every citizen of the country is
abnormal rates of such fungal infections is the incidence widened the wardly. However, the ground The great divide In the context of Assam, Nalbari, Goalpara and Barpeta, merely ignorant of the ground
of untreated or poorly treated diabetes in the nation. Dia- inequities in reality is vastly different. ‘Digital divide’ is defined it has been observed that the have recorded a higher number reality. The framing of pol-
betes already impacts the system but the use of steroids Data (as of May 20, 2021) as the economic and social online registration process for of administered doses com- icy decisions should be data-
on top of that in the course of COVID-19 treatment is a access to the from CoWin has exposed the inequality experienced in the vaccine has completely dis- pared to districts away from driven rather than a loosely
double-whammy. Worse still are cases when the diabetes vaccine. Most darker side of digitalisation in accessing information and regarded the digital barriers Kamrup. observed phenomenon.
is left untreated or undiagnosed. Then there is the idea of India. Harvard University’s communication technolo- among the rural population Similarly, districts close to Way forward
hygiene playing a factor in determining who gets infected slots in rural COVID-19 vaccine tracker has gies (ICT) or digital services of the state. Mandatory online Dibrugarh in Upper Assam Given the current digi-
by these fungi. General hygiene is considered an issue as Assam have compared the proportion of due to existing complex social registration over the walk-in also reflect similar trends. tal discrimination scenario
well as the cleanliness of a patient’s surroundings This is the population with the num- divisions. facility for vaccination is esti- Districts with a higher num- in Assam, it becomes perti-
still a matter of some debate but many doctors also argue been booked by ber of vaccine doses adminis- Growing inequities in mated to further widen the ber of vaccination centres have nent for government agencies
that these infections spread due to dirty ventilators and urban residents tered. It has stated that Assam’s social settings result in an inequities in access to the vac- administered fewer vaccines to intervene and ensure equi-
other such equipment. Doctors say that since there has South Salmara district ranks unequal distribution of cine. This will make the digi- than the districts with fewer table distribution of vaccines
been an oxygen shortage, people are being given medicinal the lowest in India in admin- resources, which trickle down tally disadvantaged population vaccine sites such as Dhemaji, across the rural-urban setup.
oxygen made by industrial setups not designed to produce istering the first dose, with just to a specific group of people more vulnerable to COVID-19 Sivasagar and Charaideo. The growing disparity can be
oxygen for human consumption. This oxygen can be pol- 1.96 per cent of the population based on their socio-demo- infection. When the districts with a reduced by setting up multiple
luted and sub-par with a possibility of these fungi being having been vaccinated. graphic attributes. The digital Sadly, most of the slots in smaller number of adminis- registration camps across the
found in this oxygen. Again, the idea of the quality of oxy- On the other hand, the divide in India is based on gen- the rural villages of Assam tered vaccines are compared vaccination centres.
gen driving these fungal infections is purely speculative at same report states that Kam- der, urban-rural settings and have been booked by the res- to those with a higher num- Hiring a workforce other
this point. With there being comparatively little informa- rup Metro in Assam ranks education qualifications, which idents of urban areas. As the ber of administered vaccines, than healthcare workers for
tion on the spread of these infections, doctors have recom- among the top seven districts largely aggravate inequities. urban spaces for vaccination it is found that South Salmara registration can also provide
mended that above all else, keeping your immunity up is in India that have adminis- Previous studies identified usually get exhausted within has ten centres and has only employment opportunities
key. This is, of course, the case for someone with diabetes tered the first dose. The alarm- that benefits of ICT are accu- a 10–15-minute window, the administered 12,996 doses, for the younger population.
or other comorbidities but also the case for those simply ing disparity between the two mulated among the already privileged urbanites head to whereas Barpeta, with 132 vac- Other than setting up registra-
recovering from a bout of COVID-19. Indeed, many cases districts of Assam broadens the resourceful section, whereas rural vaccine centers for their cine centres, has administered tion camps, SMS booking can
of these fungal infections are reported in cases where the digital divide narrative. the marginalised are systemati- jabs. 1,94,422 doses. be an effective way to ensure
patient has just recovered from COVID-19. Doctor’s have The recent National Family cally excluded from the whole Closely analysing the dis- This disparity endorses the inclusion for all people.
also advised health care practitioners to resist the urge of and Health Survey – 5, 2019- process of digital inclusion. trict-wise administration of fact that proximity to an urban Government departments
overusing steroids in severe COVID cases where the gen- 20 has reported that 75.4 per Digital discrimination has doses, it is found that dis- region significantly influ- such as social welfare, angan-
eral belief is that the sicker the patient is, the more steroids cent of women in urban areas posed significant concerns in tricts adjacent to major towns ences the number of vaccines wadi centres, panchayat offices
they should be given to bring the condition under control. of Assam have a mobile phone the last few years as the Gov- in Assam have a higher num- administered. can be engaged for the vaccine
What is grim about these infections is that while they are for themselves. In contrast, ernment of India has tried ber of administered doses In addition to urban-rural registration. The right to health
generally not a problem, once they are, these infections only 53.9 per cent of the rural to initiate schemes and pro- than those away from major factors, economic indicators and well-being should not be
come with high mortality rates. Treatment of such infec- women population have access grammes digitally. The vacci- cities. also contribute to widening restricted to an individual’s
tions is often difficult, expensive and more often than not to mobile phones. The Harvard nation drive through CoWin For instance, districts closer of vaccination inequities. The access to digital devices and
requires an operation. If the infection is caught early, then report thus highlights the digi- has conveniently ignored the to Kamrup (Rural and Metro), state expects citizens from the faster internet services.
a safe recovery is possible but any delay of detection or tal barriers across Assam. digital divide. such as Morigaon, Darrang, lowest quintile to technologi- Views expressed are personal
treatment can prove fatal. Even those who recover from

In testing times
mucormycosis, for instance, can be left with mutilating
damage to their face. The key is thus early detection and
avoidance. But then again, given the grim state of India’s
health infrastructure at this point, this is likely easier said
than done.

DearEditor Aid pouring in from major countries will, apart from ensuring the wellbeing of
CIVIL? Indians, address the concerns of vaccine availability in middle-income countries

T
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has taken the
right decision in instructing the removal of Surajgarh he brutal second work to ensure a steady flow
District Collector who was found slapping a youth wave is causing of raw materials required by
who was out to get medicine amid lockdown. CM’s KV PRASAD immense stress on Indian vaccine manufactur-
exemplary action is a warning to civil officers and the medical infra- ers. The occasion will also
other subordinates to be cautious while dealing with structure in the country. The allow India an opportunity
citizens. It is indeed unfortunate that a high civil officer situation turned critical with to work out modalities on the
of such rank has misbehaved with ordinary citizens, hospital beds running scarce TRIPS waiver proposal at the
showing no compassion and respect. The officer and people gasping. Within WTO. While the United States
should have shown patience to listen to the grievance a span of a few months India, endorsed the proposal, moved
of the young man, and take action accordingly if he which was exporting medi- jointly by India and South
had violated the rules. Physical assault is the last cines and vaccines elsewhere Africa, it would require some
thing expected from officials who are duty-bound to in the world, began scouting heavy lifting by Washington to
safeguard the interests of the common man. Even the for aid. convince influential members
IAS Association has strongly condemned Sharma’s Materials in the form of of the trade body to work on
medical supplies, oxygen con- the modalities.
act by remarking that ‘’it is unacceptable and against
centrators, cylinders, gener- Influential Indian-Amer-
the basic tenets of the service and civility, and civil ation plants, ventilators and ican lawmaker Rohit ‘Ro’
servants must have empathy and should provide a personnel protection equip- Khanna recently argued that
healing touch to society at all times, more so in these ment began flowing in as the United States must do
difficult times”. Let us also not forget that civil officers countries started responding much more to help India and
and other officers on duty are doing their level best in to India’s call for assistance. to make the world a safer place
these times to see that citizens simply don’t ignore rules In addition to A country that sent med- through vaccination.
and regulations and get infected with the deadly virus. icines last year to tackle the Juxtaposing the irony of
We, as citizens, have to follow the norms and avoid
vaccine and first wave spreading across India, the pharmacy of the
Countries have stepped up supplies of vaccines, drugs and medical equipment to India
unnecessary confrontations with authorities and, on medical supplies, the United States and Europe world currently struggling to
the part of the authority, they have to deal with the India will also is now receiving aids. On his UTs. The Ministry of Health policies were denounced on houses in the United States. produce vaccines to inoculate
public with tolerance, empathy and kindliness. The part, External Affairs Minis- is coordinating the efforts after two counts – lack of prepara- The United States is inoc- its millions, Khanna is of the
public definitely expects civility from civil officers. have to work ter S Jaishankar characterised the criticism that bureaucratic tion and inadequate medical ulating people in the coun- view that the US should pro-
to ensure a the government’s intervention
as an act of “friendship” and
hurdles resulted in obstruc-
tion of aid at ports and lack of
infrastructure to face the sec-
ond wave; and providing vac-
try through two vaccines,
one produced by Pfizer and
vide vaccines, raw materials
and technology used by US
— M PRADYU, KANNUR via email steady flow of not aid. Emphasising that last transparency in distribution cines to the world both as part the other by Moderna, while pharma majors to produce the
millenniumpost.in raw materials year when the time came India among the states and UTs. of commercial contracts and the country holds huge stocks doses in india.
sent medicines and vaccines After the initial tepid supplies to friendly countries of AstraZeneca (Covishield) The concern arises not just
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to required by to some countries. “What you response, the United States, including those in the neigh- doses, which is still not autho- for the wellbeing of Indians
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, Indian vaccine describe as aid, we call friend- like many other countries, bourhood, resulting in less rised for use there. Johnson but also for making vaccines
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 ship,” the minister said. swung into action. Accord- availability at home. and Johnson is also ready with available to low and middle-
manufacturers The Ministry, through ing to an official estimate, aid To address the issues, Jais- its vaccine. income countries. In order to
embassies and high commis- worth USD 100 million will be hankar reached the United With both Pfizer and deal with the tremendous chal-
sions, worked with countries flowing to India while those States on Monday with an Moderna rejecting the idea of lenge of vaccine nationalism,

Tweet of the day to source relief material. The


Government of India is receiv-
ing COVID-19 medical sup-
from the businesses and oth-
ers will add up to another USD
400 million.
objective to engage with CEOs
of vaccine/pharmaceutical
companies and business rep-
dealing with states in India,
preferring to engage directly
with the Government, EAM
the World Health Organisation
started the COVAX (Vaccine
Global Access Programme)
plies and relief materials since Aid providing succour to resentatives at the two trade Jaishankar should be able to towards which India contrib-
April 27. The latest data show the people hit hard by the sec- bodies — United States India clinch an agreement. At the uted in the first few months of
Moderna and Pfizer will not sell to as of May 23, 17,755 oxygen ond wave remains a top pri- Business Council and United same time, efforts should be this year. Now faced with its
individual states. They did however concentrators, 15,961 oxygen ority but a more challenging States India Strategic Partner- made to secure the AstraZen- own problems, India is not in
sell to the United States. Now if we cylinders, 19 oxygen genera- task before the government is ship Forum. Both these organ- eca vaccines that US President a position to resume supplies
could only unite the states....we’d need VIR DAS tion plants, 12,913 ventilators/ to ensure a steady supply of isations are organising relief Joe Biden promised to grant to in the near future unless pro-
@Thevirdas BiPAP and nearly seven lakh doses to vaccinate the major- supplies to India through con- other countries. duction is ramped up by lead-
a centre. Remdesivir vials were deliv- ity of adult Indians. tributions from various multi- The challenge does not ing countries.
ered/dispatched to states and The Modi government’s national and big business end there. India will have to Views expressed are personal
6

editorial
“The goal of the operation
is to send Gaza back to the Middle
Ages. Only then will Israel be calm
Wednesday 26 may 2021
for 40 years.”
chandigarh Eli Yi s ha i

SO MANY Maritime militia give China


VARIANTS the edge in South China Sea

A
so many viruses are constantly changing. This is / Prof Carl Schuster /
because errors sometimes occur when they copy
their genetic material. Some errors have no effect ccording to People’s Armed Forces, PAFMM oper-
at all. Some might make the virus less viable. Some reports, China re- ates under direct military command for
make it more benign, which means it can survive but cently warned the carrying out state-sponsored activities.
United States that Although they are locally supported but
doesn’t cause disease. The errors to watch for are it will face defeat if report to the head of China’s military
those that might make the virus more infectious, or the two superpow- -- Commander-in-Chief Xi Jinping.The
better able to avoid the immune system that is trying ers go to war. This
warning is a testi-
exact number of fishing vessels pos-
sessed by PAFMM is not known, but
to counter them, either driven by natural infection mony to what China thinks about its estimates put the figure at around 350,
or stimulated by a vaccine SARS-CoV-2, the virus military might. The threat to the US has out of which 225 are deployed in the
come from China in response to the South China Sea. Their vessel hulls are
that causes COVID-19, is no different. Each time it joint military exercise carried out by made up of reinforced steel, which are
divides, it rolls the dice, which could give rise to the US, Japan, Australia, and France last very strong. On the other hand, most
a more malign virus. This can happen anywhere, week amidst tension in the East China of the other fishing vessels in the South
Sea. Tension is also mounting in the China Sea are made of wood or other
anytime. So it’s important to track variants and to South China Sea with the Philippines light materials. The PAFMM vessels are
see if they are spreading more easily from person to refusing to withdraw vessels from the faster, which puts them at an advanta-
person, causing more mild or more severe disease, disputed territory. China’s Maritime geous position in an encounter. They
Militia are very often a party in these can ‘bump’ the enemy’s vessel at will
might avoid detection with current tests, or might disputes due to its bullying tactics with little risk of damaging their own
respond less well to current treatments. Perhaps along the maritime boundary with strong hull. Most of the fishermen
the biggest concern is breakthrough infections, Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan. The from other countries are unarmed,
People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia The militia threatens these fishing boats Manila to seek US support under the but PAFMM vessels have small arms
where a fully vaccinated person still gets COVID. (PAFMM) of China owes its origin to the with small arms and attacks them with US-Philippine Mutual Defence Treaty. and, in some cases, Rocket Propelled
Once a variant is spotted, it is classified as being Communist Party’s 1950 consolidation high pressure water cannons, very That is why the US calls PRC’s actions Grenades (RPG) and machine guns.
of people’s militia groups comprising often sinking them. This is particularly ‘Grey Zone Operations’, which means They are rarely used but are available
either a variant of interest, a variant of concern or mainly fishermen and coastal workers true for Vietnamese fishing vehicles. they are acts of aggression, but fall on the vessels.
a variant of high consequence. Mercifully, we have of China. Its initial role was confined The Chinese Coast Guards are often short of military actions that would The PAFMM vessels have water can-
yet to see a variant of high consequence, which are to keeping a close eye on People’s Re- seen helping these militia groups in risk triggering a military response. The nons mounted above the pilot house.
public of China (PRC)’s coastal waters their nefarious activities. In fact, due PAFMM still continues with its activities They aim the spray at the other ves-
variants against which current medical measures and reporting any suspected activities to the early gains by this militia unit, in the East and South China Sea. For sels’ pilot house to blind the crew, but
are failing. But we have at least four variants of to the Chinese Army (PLA). These China built ‘fishing shelters’ to protect occupying an uninhabited island, the sometimes they aim it at the engine
concern. That designation means there is evidence militia were recruited, trained, and
equipped by the party’s Bureau of
their fishermen in the Spratly islands.
Their activities increased further after
PAFMM does the initial seizure posing
as fishermen. When other countries
exhaust. Cold sea water hitting a hot
engine tends to damage the engine,
of increased transmissibility, more severe disease, Aquatic Products, which authorize the US Navy pulled out of the Philip- confront them with their Coast Guards leaving the craft non-functional in the
a significant reduction in antibody neutralisation former PLA officers [TS1] to train and pines in 1994. With the help of the PLA, or other law enforcement agencies, water. The PAFMM vessel can then do
direct the militias’ operations. the PAFMM isolated all the neighbour- they find themselves confronting an what it wants -- bump, ram or just leave.
or reduced effectiveness of vaccines or treatments. These militia groups operated very ing countries and captured Mischief armed militia, which is fully backed by China places greater importance to
These are B117 (first identified in the UK), B1351 close to the maritime boundary till the Reef and Scarborough Shoal. This China’s Coast Guard or Navy. The situa- claims on the South China Sea because
(first identified in South Africa), P1 (first identi- 1960s. However, their activities started compelled the US to follow a proactive tion can escalate into a full-fledged war of its strategic location. The political
expanding in subsequent years. They strategy and support the Philippines if the other party insists on vacating and strategic payoff is bigger in the
fied in Brazil) and B16172 (first identified in India). started bullying South Vietnamese fish- in the South China Sea. the island. Such is the highhandedness South China Sea compared to the East
There is evidence that all of these have increased ermen in Paracel and Spratly islands in Despite all these activities by of China that when an International China Sea and the risks and operational
transmissibility and there is a good molecular un- the late 1960s. Their first major victory PAFMM, the Chinese government Arbitration held the Chinese occupa- difficulties are less. The South China
came in January 1974 when they seized headed by Chairman Xi Jingping has tion illegal, it refused to abide by the Sea is easier to dominate. The PAFMM
derstanding of why that is. South Vietnam’s Paracel Islands. They never accepted any link between judgment saying all nations should base in Sanya is closer to the disputed
engaged the South Vietnam Naval unit PAFMM and China’s military. They ‘respect’ international law. territories in the South China Sea than
with 400 militia troops and captured claim that they are fishermen. This At the time of the real war PAFMM the PAFMM base in Guangzhou to the

Smart windows
the islands. This island remained with enables the PRC to deny any involve- may shift to supporting roles like de- Senkaku. They must pass through
China ever since. The PAFMM have ment of the Chinese government in fensive mining. They did this during Taiwan to reach Senkaku. The PRC’s
been leading the PRC’s bullying in these scuffles. The PAFMM do not the PLA Navy exercise in 2014. They military bases and airfields are closer
the East and South China Sea from regularly use firearms or other mili- would act as one of the many eyes of to the disputed territory in the South
the early 1980s. They threaten the tary weapons so their actions cannot the fleet, land militia troops in remote China Sea than they are from the US
Researchers at the Indian Insti- their relatively inexpensive alterna- Vietnamese and Filipino fishing ships, be called an ‘act of war’ which might areas or covertly land troops before bases in Japan. The East China Sea is
tute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati tives that can dynamically control which are small, slow, and less robust. trigger retaliation. It may also compel the actual war starts. A unit of the not strategically located.  / IANS /
have developed smart window the intensity of transmitted solar
material for automatic climate con- radiation, depending upon the
trol of buildings. According to the weather/climate conditions. “We
researchers, the smart window have proposed an electro-tuneable

I have always spoken out against every


material designed by them can glass made of two ultra-thin metal
effectively control the amount of layers sandwiching an electro-optic
heat and light passing through it polymer whose refractive index

government: Orijit Sen


in response to an applied voltage can be changed by applying a small
and would ultimately help in devel- voltage, which allows filtering of
oping efficient automatic climate visible and infrared radiation,” ex-
control. The results of the study plained Ashish Kumar Chowdhary,

A
have recently been published in research scholar, IIT Guwahati. Sukant Deepak to a short attention span and the Modi government, he has initially, during the early years go. It can reveal all the facets
the journal, Solar Energy Materials The researchers used this design also this habit of skimming also been critical of other gov- of BJP rule, most people were of their idea. “ An image can
and Solar Cells. “There has been to perform simulation studies to t a time when through things rather than en- ernments in the past, Sen says, scared to say anything. “They open an idea in your mind, an
increased attention to sustainable understand the light and heat trans- screen time has gaging in one particular thing. “But of course that was before were apprehensive of even idea that appeared to be like a
architectural designs for better light mission properties in response to eclipsed reading When you are browsing on the social media. So people don’t liking or sharing my posts. closed flower -- that is its pow-
and heat management in build- the applied voltage. They initially among high- screen, you swipe from one know that I have also created Sometimes, even I am myself er. Of course it does not mean
ings in recent years, and deploying considered gold and silver as the school students, to the next to the next. The works critical of the Congress scared of the consequences that any visual will do that. It
smart windows is the first step for metal layers, but later tested their Goa-based artist engagements with subjects and and other governments. It does that might come on me. But has to work at the right level,
such structures,” said Debabrata model with cheaper alternatives Orijit Sen’s new comics maga- ideas gets lost. So he felt that not matter what party is per I felt that it was my respon- with the right combination of
Sikdar, Assistant Professor, Depart- such as copper, and transparent zine ‘Comixense’ aims to take comics would be a good way to se. People think that you must sibility to speak up, because factors. But if you have a suc-
ment of Electronics and Electrical semiconductor such as indium tin them back to the written word restore the love of the printed be a Congress or Leftist stooge, people were scared and were cessful, strong and powerful
Engineering, IIT Guwahati. oxide. “At present, the COVID-19 by creating something that word.” While the first edition or whatever. By the way, re- censoring themselves. To- image, simultaneously dif-
“Conventionally, window designs pandemic has imposed an unprec- does not treat them as chil- has been printed, it is yet to cently, I got attacked by CPM day, the central government’s ferent things come together.
are static -- they are predesigned edented risk of cross-infections dren, but offers a a balance be distributed as India Post trolls because I criticised their popularity is at their lowest It is a moment of revelation
for specific climatic conditions. The through aerosols transmission in of layered stories --- in such is currently delivering only policies. This is despite the fact and people across the board you get. If the context, ele-
emergent smart windows, on the public buildings such as healthcare a way that even those in col- essential items like medicines. that I am a Marxist at heart. I are speaking out. It is not just ments and the timings are
other hand, can dynamically adjust centres, offices, transportation lege and adults would be able Sen, a NID pass-out, whose don’t hold myself back from few artists like me.” right, it can be very power-
the amount of light and heat radia- systems, workshops, laboratories to relate to them. “I was ap- ‘River of Stories’, published criticising a party, as I am not Talk to him about what is ful. If an image goes viral, I
tion entering a building in response and food storage facilities, where proached by Sanjiv Kumar, in 1994 is considered as the a member of any.” it about the DNA of an image know that I am successful as
to external stimuli, thus conserv- central air-conditioning systems are who runs numerous educa- first graphic novel of India, is Considering that BJP is the that can make it go viral im- an artist. People often feel
ing the building’s energy,” Sikdar in use. We believe that our smart tional programmes. He felt that known for visual satires, with party in power, and Sen is not mediately and he says that frustrated and angry as not
added. Noting that the design of windows can provide an alternative youngsters were perpetually his many cartoons and memes in favour of their policies, one when words are used to get everybody has the requisite
smart windows that are tuneable solution for maintaining ambient on the phone, and losing touch commenting on the present sees him attacking them ev- the layers of an idea across, resources to express what they
for all-weather conditions is chal- indoor temperature and lighting with the printed word. Their government going viral across ery day on his social media one might have to explain it feel. And when they find an
lenging, the team claimed that it inside a building or a vehicle by engagement was limited to the world. Adding that while handles. Stressing that his per- in a few sentences, in multiple image that I have created, they
has designed smart window ‘glass- integrating those with usual glass social media post school. Now he has been speaking through spective is that of an ordinary steps. An image, on the other can use it to express their own
es’ using noble metals as well as windows or walls. this kind of screen-time leads caricatures and satire against citizen, the artist feels that hand can can do that in one feelings.”  / IANS /

Bird’seyeview

Rafi inspired, PK lived humbleness! Society of Chandigarh. They He had a special ear to listen and if he was improving, or

I
organised competitions for all to Rafi numbers. Sometime otherwise. I told him that I
ages involving people sing- back PK introduced me to his was recording songs of hap-
hadn’t so intimate- night and we all were having a extent. P.K. not only copied the Rafi stories with indulgent ing Rafi numbers. I agreed doctor friend of the Phoenix piness and hope these days
ly known him until I chitchat when PK announced a subtlety of Rafi’s singing but acknowledgement and felt and that year in the pres- Hospital, Panchkula, in Dr and that if he could suggest
moved to Chandigarh in singing competition of Antak- he got enough influenced by charm about him. Rafi spoke ence of Mubarak Begum, Jitender Aggarwal, once his some. He came out with sug-
2007. When I was S.P. shri, since he knew that many the legendary singer’s simple in Punjabi and had a lament I rendered “ Suhani raat classmate. About a fortnight gestion of “ Aadmi wo hai jo
of Ambala and Dheera officers, including me were and unassuming disposition. of his life that he wasn’t an dhal chuki na jane tum kab back, I called up Dr Aggarwal khela kare toofano se !“. I re-
Khandelwal was D.C. tolerable singers. Suddenly P.K. was humble to the core. educated person—P.K. said. aaoge.” Mubarak Begum was to know something about the corded the song on Smule on
in 1996, we had occasions to he surprised us when he said He had many instance to tell When Kishore Kumar was impressed and sitting in the vaccine, when he informed his advice. A couple of days
travel to a sub-division called he would give us a Rafi song. about Mohd. Rafi. Once he told leading the hiring and Rafi audience, she asked me to me that PK had been tested back, I sent P.K. this number
Naraingarh, where P.K. Shar- In his quintessential style, he me that Rafi, while recording goat relegated to the back- give an encore. I sang, “ Ye positive for Covid-19. But with the hope of receiving
rajbir ma happened to be the Sub-
Divisional Magistrate. As the lo-
sat erect, adjusted his posture
on a chair, dipped his chin
the “ Mere Huzoor” song, “
Gam uthane ke liye main to
ground in the Seventies, Rafi
asked his protégé Mahendra
wadiyan ye fizaen bula rahi
hain tumhe.” Next day on
since he did not share the in-
formation, I told Dr Aggarwal
his comments as he always
did. His diction was as en-
deswal cal host, he invited the district a bit, and began humming. jiye jaoonga” was to reach a Kapoor, if the former had phone, PK reeted me but in that I will respect his privacy dearing as his singing. His
officers for a dinner to Nara- The song was “ Jaan-e-bahaar falsetto or crescendo expected forgotten the classy notes of his typically humble style, he and would not enquire about conduct was as heartening
EX-IPS OFFICER
ingarh when we all made it to husn tera be-misaal hai “ He of his very high range, but he good singing that his market questioned me as to why did it. But something within kept as his persona. His posturing
the small town in the Shivalik maneuvered the highs and stopped having gone up cer- was going down! P.K. was I not begin the second song me haunting and I played a was as affable as his infectious
Hills, with families. There was lows of pitch and modulated tain notches. The music direc- a living encyclopaedia on with the highest note as was prank. I sent a message to P.K. smile. In place of all this,
a beautiful Rest House facing the velvetiness of the composi- tor Shankar, of the S.K.J. duo, Mohd Rafi. in the original. I was amazed that I was waiting for his latest what I received was an Obit-
the hills and on a certain tion a la Mohd Rafi. appreciated Rafi’s decision but Having moved to Chandi- at PKs observation and touch- upload on Starmaker. Presto, flier, announcing Dr. Pawan
height. Naraingarh, having I never knew PK sang so asked him the reason. “ It’s garh, I had PK visit me with iness about Rafi Songs. Once his song came when I said it Kumar Sharma’s demise.
been part of PEPSU States had beautifully and with vocal dex- Jitender who will do lip-sync a friend. He asked me to give at my place, he listened to had been rendered heartily Another pulsating and live
quite a feudal culture prevalent terity of sorts. Thereafter we of the song, and his voice, you a Rafi number at the Tagore my rendering of “ O duniya and with vigour. He replied wire of mine to Mohd. Rafi
till then. People had great re- had many singing sessions and know, gets coarse not even Theatre on the occasion of ke rakhwale” and pointed back that the recording was and another airy window to
spect for the authorities called I found that Mohd. Rafi had going a mild steep!” Rafi had Rafi Nite. He was one of the out that I had made good about a month old. I still did him was closed for ever. Rest
‘ Hukamran’. It was a starry inspired this officer to a great laughed away. PK narrated founder members of the Rafi improvisations in the song. not enquire about his health in peace PK my friend !
EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 26 MAY 2021
pg 6

26 MAY 2021

Vaccines: Fix schedule, Subhani


focus on procurement
S
everal state chief ministers are now a frustrated lot, what with their
unsuccessful attempts to procure Covid-19 vaccines from the global
market. Some of them have demanded that the Union government pro-
cure and distribute the doses to them. This is a demand the Centre must
consider a top priority as the information from the field on vaccination is thor-
oughly disappointing.
It’s a fact that India launched the world’s largest vaccination programme in
January but its pace has been on a downward slide as it has progressed. As of
now, India has been able to fully vaccinate only around five crore people while
it has administered at least a single dose to 19 crore people. Latest reports say
that the average number of weekly administration of doses has fallen below
one crore, almost a third of the figures one month ago when the drive was at
its peak. Of this, almost half is being done by the state governments with the
vaccines they procured from the market. However, several states, including
Maharashtra and Delhi, have closed down their vaccination camps opened for
people aged between 18 and 44 years; several
The stand of the foreign others have complained that the Centre’s sup-
manufacturers exposes ply of vaccine for those aged 45 and above is
dwindling and the entire vaccination pro-
the specious argument gramme is now on a crawl. The story, in short,
advanced by the is that the programme is gasping for breath at
apparatchiks of the a time it has to pace at full throttle. This is an
ruling dispensation that unfortunate mess the government has creat-
Hubris, narcissim and HELP THE POOR
LETTERS
The Telangana state gov-
ed, and the government alone can clean it up.
the government was The first step towards this end is for the gov-
following the demand ernment to take charge of vaccine procure-
raised by the states for ment instead of making the state governments
decentralisation of scour the international market with their lim-
ited experience and resources. That is made
moment of ‘hamartia’ The PM then went then Prime Minister
ernment should seriously
think about the helpless
poor who find it difficult
to make ends meet
(Lockdown to get extend-
vaccination necessary for another reason, too: several Rajiv Gandhi. When the
on to push his ed, DC, May 25). These are
prominent vaccine manufacturers have made LTTE reneged on it, the
it clear to them that they have no plans to do business with state governments Mohan luck a bit further
by claiming that
then Indian Army Chief,
Gen. Krishnaswamy
the people who survive on
day-to-day earnings.
Guruswamy
or private companies and will deal directly with national governments. This
stand of the foreign manufacturers also exposes the specious argument India, as the Sundarji, assured the Supply of food by NGOs
advanced by the apparatchiks of the ruling dispensation that the government government that he
was following the demand raised by the states for decentralisation of vaccina-
world’s largest would be able to elimi-
will not be sufficient to all.
tion. It cannot be that the Union government is completely unaware of such vaccine producer, nate or disarm the LTTE Let the government at
setbacks. One fails to understand why the Centre makes state governments would assume the in just a few weeks. We least supply them with
waste precious time competing unsuccessfully with one another at a juncture charge of saving know what happened. It medicines and essentials

T
when they must be engaged in fighting the virus on the ground. he Greeks had Indra and the other gods the world! He continues to be sad chap-
The government must not only take over the procurement process but also words for every had to seek the interven- ter in the Indian Army’s on a regular basis so that
announce a proper schedule with definite milestones in the number of vacci- personality tion of Vishnu, who once even announced history. It even cost Rajiv they do not feel the pangs
nations to be administered before the third wave hits the nation. The schedule frailty. In the again obliged the devas that this was a Gandhi his life. The ques- even if the lockdown is
must be convincing in that it must specify how and when the government present case by consigning Bali to turning point in tion that baffles is how is
extended for a week.
plans to procure the vaccine, whether from within the country or abroad and three of these words are patala, or the nether- India’s economic it that the Indian Army
how it plans to reach the last man. of relevance to us: (1) world. ended up fighting a group Fatima Zafar
It will be too risky for this nation to think that it can ward off a third wave of Hubris; (2) Hamartia; and On April 19, 1959, history... that was fostered and sup- Secunderabad
the pandemic with an ostrich-like attitude. It must act, instead. (3) Narcissim. Hubris is Cuba’s Fidel Castro paid ported by the Indian gov-

EXTEND LOCKDOWN
described in the dictio- his first post-revolution United States. He aban- ernment? And what made
nary to simply mean visit to Washington and doned the landing force to the Indian Army think
“excessive pride or self- met then vice-president its fate. The few who sur- that it would be able to The TS government’s probable

Freedom of speech in peril confidence; arrogance”.


Hamartia is usually an
artifice in Greek drama
Richard M. Nixon for
three and a half hours.
Following this meeting
vived ended up in Cuban
jails. When asked what
went wrong, JFK’s
wipe out its onetime pro-
tégé in just weeks, if not
days? Hubris?
plan to extend the lockdown up to
June 7 is most welcome (Lockdown
likely to get extended, DC, May 25).

T
he ruling party BJP and the Union government seem bent upon escalating as the inner quality that Nixon appraised him national security adviser Prime Minister The only way to contain the spread
the “Toolkit” issue through its proxy, the Delhi Police, with its big-footed and initiates a “movement of thus: “The one fact we McGeorge Bundy replied: Narendra Modi, on of the virus is strict implementa-
ham-handed ways of investigation. But this is only a small part of a larger spirit” within the protag- can be sure of is that he “Hubris!” January 28 this year, vir- tion of the lockdown. Hope people
pattern of official India operations to regulate digital content and which aim at not onist to commit actions has those indefinable In February 1961, tually addressing the of the state cooperate.
only muzzling criticism but to erase it altogether from popular social media which drive the plot qualities that make him a Robert McNamara, a bril- World Economic Forum’s C.K. Vinaya Chandra
platforms. towards its tragic end. leader of men. Whatever liant Harvard MBA and a Davos Dialogue, had Hyderabad
An even bigger issue lies ahead as major social media platforms like Facebook, Narcissism is the pursuit we may think of him, he former head of Ford declared India as one of

IMA’S DUAL POLICY


Twitter and Instagram are yet to comply with a May 25 deadline when govern- of gratification from vani- is going to be a great fac- Motor Company, took the countries that had
ment’s new IT rules heralding a new digital ethics code, a three-tier supervisory ty or egotistic admiration tor in the development of over as the US defence successfully controlled
system and a grievance redressal mechanism were to kick in. The very founda- of one’s idealised self- Cuba and possibly in secretary. He took with the coronavirus. He said: Countless corruption cases in
tions of freedom of speech and expression are in peril as India tries to turn social image and attributes. The Latin American affairs him an equally brilliant “India took a proactive many hospitals involving medical
media intermediaries, which post the contribution of individuals, into legally term originated from generally.” In October team of systems analysts public participation services and doctors were reported
liable entities as “publishers” of content. Greek mythology, where that year, President who were to transform approach and developed a during the Covid-19 pandemic. But,
The police raids on Twitter offices in and around the capital New Delhi on a young man named Dwight D. Eisenhower the way the US fought its Covid-specific health the Indian Medical Association
Monday were clear attempts at intimidation and come in the wake of a clumsy Narcissus fell in love authorised a plan to over- wars in the future. infrastructure and (IMA) has not taken any hard-core
attempt at counter propaganda by a prominent national spokesperson of the BJP, with his own image throw Castro. The systems analysts trained its resources to action against its own institutions.
who had been adjudged to have manipulated media in making allegations against reflected in a pool of The plan called for the quantified everything. fight Covid.” He went on However, when yoga guru Baba
a person with avowed links to a major Opposition party. water. In the drama of landing in Cuba of a force Every weapons system to declare ‘mission Ramdev made comments on
Twitter may only have been responding to complaints from the Congress about Narendra Modi today, we of Cuban émigré fighters ordered was subject to a accomplished”, very Allopathy, the IMA erupted strong-
certain tweets ascribed to persons with links to the party. Twitter has the techni- see quite a bit of the armed and trained by the cost-benefit analysis. much like President ly.
cal capabilities to judge whether there was media manipulation in those tweets but hubris and overweening CIA. This force was then Even military results George W. Bush had Prasanna Venkatapur
the Delhi police put out a pedantic defence of its action on the grounds that the mat- narcissism, both fatal meant to storm its way were quantified in terms declared atop an aircraft- Hyderabad
ter is under investigation and hence Twitter should not have been pro-active in flaws. The question inland, releasing in its of “area pacified” and carrier off the coast of

50
judging the posts by BJP representatives. before us now is whether wake a popular upsurge “body count”. Iraq. He then went on the
As the BJP indulges in a blame game in these distracting sideshows while
attempting image management, the country is being deprived of consolidated
this is the moment of
hamartia which will
that would topple Castro,
just like he did the dicta-
When Clark Clifford,
who took over from
push his luck a bit fur-
ther by claiming that YEARS AGO IN
efforts against the second wave of the coronavirus. The perception is the battle drive the plot to its tragic tor Fulgencio Batista. McNamara as defence India, as the world’s
against the pandemic is being progressively lost as evidenced in the shortage of end? Fortunately for Castro, secretary, toted up all the largest vaccine producer,
medical oxygen, hospital beds and critical drugs even as mortality rates have risen The sin of hubris has Bay of Pigs, the place cho- “body count” figures of would now assume the
though positivity rates are dipping. been a continuing theme sen for the landing, suf- the war, he found it had charge of saving the
that has captured the fered from two crucial exceeded all intelligence
estimates of enemy com-
world! He even
announced that this was
69 die in pre-dawn
imagination of histori- disadvantages. The beach
DECCAN CHRONICLE ans, philosophers and was close to Castro’s batants by over half! a turning point in India’s tragedy
theologians alike. The favorite holiday home When he asked: “Why are economic history and HYDERABAD, May 25.
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR
Editor Printer & Publisher Biblical saying “pride and hence had a Cuban we then still fighting?”, that India was once again Death came in the most cruel
cometh before the fall” military unit garrisoned President Lyndon poised for greatness. way to 69 persons 34 of them chil-
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: applies equally well to on it. The shallow waters Johnson knew that he too Was this his moment of dren of Palem village, near
Ravan, the great king of of the bay also concealed was led up the path. Some “hamartia”? Will this Kothakota, 10 miles from
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256 the Rakshasas whose shoals that required the years ago I met Robert take us to the denoue- Wanaparthy; in the early hours
Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866- long years of penance landing force to wade McNamara at a seminar ment or the final part of a today.
2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234 secured him the favour of ashore from a great dis- on the Cuban missile cri- play, film or narrative in Palem is 135 kms from
Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, which the strands of the
Brahma, who rendered tance, making them sit- sis organised by Hyderabad. A truck, No. APQ
Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- him invulnerable to the ting ducks. That is pre- Harvard’s John F. plot are drawn together 4045, driven by Silarmiah, and
2417208 gods and demons alike. cisely what happened. As Kennedy School of and matters are resolved bound for Kurnool from
Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: We know what happened US warships watched Government. I asked him and the theatre ends? Hyderabad, ploughed into an
08554-276904 to him. We, the lesser helplessly, President how he had got it so audience which was wirnessing a
Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878- Hindus, also know that John F. Kennedy realised wrong. He replied with The writer, a policy ana- Bhagavatham, at around 3 am
2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433 it’s not necessary to be a that he was led up the one word: “Hubris”. lyst studying economic today. Fifty-four persons were
Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore, tyrant in order to attract path and the CIA’s urgent In 1987, Indian troops and security issues, held injured — ten of them seriously.
Ph: 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 pleas for US air strikes went into Sri Lanka at the senior positions in gov-
the malefic attentions of The injured were rushed to
Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51;
the gods. Bali, the cele- would strip whatever was invitation of the two war- ernment and industry. He Wanaparthy hospital and
Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325
Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255 brated daitya, rose to left of the fig leaf of inno- ring parties to impose an also specialises in the Mahboobnagar.
Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08 such an eminence that cence donned by the agreement midwifed by Chinese economy.

L
ooking at the Covid-19 infec- stantial. They show Covid-19 was still one. Caution would have dictated but the numbers on these dashboards political leaders as they are quite keen
tion numbers which rose raging. Again, the decrease in infec- that the fall in number of infections, can’t be used to predict the future on defeating opponents and they love
steadily from 33,610 in April tions can’t be attributed to the phased however encouraging, wasn’t good behaviour of Covid-19. The fluctuating to celebrate victories. The Covid-19
2020 to 1,82,143 in May, 5,66,840 vaccination programme rolled out on enough to believe that the trouble graph doesn’t point to either the end of pandemic is proving to be a party-
Parsa in June (these were also the months of January 16. The infection was moving had ended. the pandemic or its unrelenting pooper for them. Prime Minister

Venkateshwar
a total national lockdown) to 16,38,870 along a trajectory of its own and the For long we have believed numbers course. The infection and fatality fig- Narendra Modi, Delhi chief minister
in July, 36,21,245 in August and peaked vaccination on its own. Somewhere are sure indicators, that they don’t ures might just stop blipping on these Arvind Kejriwal and Uttar Pradesh

Rao Jr at 62,25,763 in September, it is evident


the increase was at an alarming rate.
the two trajectories should reach a
point in future, either at the end of this
deceive. Most of the time and in most
contexts the belief in numbers is justi-
dashboards. But this cannot be taken
to mean that it’s all over, or if it comes
CM Yogi Adityanath are all hell-bent
on defeating Covid-19, but their
In the same period, deaths due to year or sometime in 2022, or even fied. But this turns out to be a simplis- back against it will be easy to predict naivety in the matter is not amusing.
Covid-19 rose from 1,075 to 97,497. later, when the infections must touch tic assumption when we are dealing its patterns. The medical emergency gives them
While the total infections figure zero and the vaccinations should be at with biological phenomenon. It’s The weapons at our disposal to deal plenty of opportunity to prove their
remained high, there was a monthly a permanent peak. indeed a matter of debate whether with a pandemic like Covid-19 are the leadership skills like issuing orders,
decline in new infections afterwards. When the first wave receded in viruses are biological creatures. vaccines and therapeutic drugs, the one thing leaders enjoy the most.

As the Covid-19 For example, total infections in


September were 26,04,518, in October
19,11,356, in November 12,94,572, in
December 8,34,983. The lowest month-
January-February this year, and the
second wave surge became evident
in April, the interpreters of Covid-19
numbers made the error of believing
Though population genetics brings
mathematics and biology quite close,
we have seen that mathematical mod-
els for the coronavirus, especially
which need to be modified constantly
as mutations emerge in the virus. It’s a
constant battle, and of course it’s not
all chaos. There’s a certain stability
But dealing with a pandemic is a long-
drawn affair. It’s not just about issuing
orders. All that one can succeed is
either to contain and minimise its

pandemic rises, ly rise was in January 2021, compared


to December 2020: 4,79,509. It declined
further to 3,50,548 from February-end
things were getting better. It’s not
just the issue of learning from the
pattern seen in other countries that
Covid-19, has been a non-starter.
The infection rates and the fatality
rates can serve in inferring some kind
which allows doctors and researchers
to work with vaccines and drugs. Even
if you succeed in containing Covid-19
impact, and deal with reconstruction
work to undo the destruction it has
caused. There is no room for loud and

it’s crucial to get to March-end this year.


There was a spurt in the numbers
between the end of March and the end
of April: 66,13,641. It seems the gap
there was an imminent second wave.
The first wave numbers didn’t flat-
ten enough for even a robust opti-
mist to turn one’s back on the pan-
of mathematical modelling, but it’s
unlikely to help in predicting the pat-
terns of the spread of infection or the
rate of fatality in a definitive sense.
and some other similar coronaviruses,
the dangers of other pandemics are
not ruled out. And with every new
menace, you must fight with whatever
vulgar war cries of victory.
Meanwhile, the numbers will need to
be tracked as meticulously as possible
because they can help in a limited way

‘numbers’ right between the first and second waves


was too short. There was no room for
declaring the Covid-19 ended either at
demic. It’s unnecessary to attack
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
his team for getting the Covid num-
This poses problems for epidemiolo-
gists and for governments to manage
an epidemic. So, the Covid-19 infection
we have on hand, including drugs that
worked earlier and may not work
now, and vaccines which were suc-
to deal with the pandemic. But there
will be no magical patterns and solu-
tions in the numbers.
the end of January or end of February bers for January/February wrong. rates in India and in the world which cessful may not do the job this time
as there was just a decline in numbers The false glimmer of hope created by the different dashboards are display- around. The writer is a Delhi-based
but the monthly figures remained sub- the receding first wave was a natural ing are signs of how things happened This uncertainty is bad news for commentator and analyst
COMMENT THE AVENUE MAIL
Jamshedpur, Wednesday, May 26, 2021
4

It's time BJP rethinks


Andhra strategy
The silent malaise of malnutrition during a global pandemic
By Amit Kumar media platforms to provide
Yadav counselling and advice on feeding,
By Narendra Puppala meal preparation and diet for

M
ne out of mothers and children through call -
uch on the lines of the Dubbaka assembly bypoll in neighbouring Telangana,
where the BJP scored an upset victory and went on to rattle the ruling TRS party
in the Hyderabad civic polls by emerging as the second largest party, the Tirupati
Lok Sabha bypoll in April was expected to be the turning point for the saffron party's fortunes
O every ten
children
under the age of
based support, radio messages and
social media. Anganwadi workers
and Sahiyas or ASHA who have
five is severe acute malnourished smartphones can leverage common
in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh. (very low weight for their social media platforms to stay
However, the results that emerged on counting day, May 2, were more like a thunderbolt height/length), as per estimations, connected to parents and other
for the BJP. Its candidate, former Karnataka chief secretary K. Ratnaprabha, came in a two in every three females of caregivers even when home visits
distant third polling around 57,000 votes, far behind the TDP candidate Panabaka Lakshmi's reproductive age suffer from are curtailed or suspended because
3.54 lakh votes. In comparison, the victorious YSRCP candidate Gurumoorthy polled around anemia in Jharkhand. Over ten of lockdowns or curfews.
6.26 lakh votes. years, Jharkhand has shown only a Call to Action
Post-bifurcation in 2014, the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh remains an enigma for the negligible improvement in key As elected representatives, our
BJP which brought in Sunil Deodhar who scripted the party's stunning and historic poll nutrition parameters, like leadership and guidance are vital in
victory in Tripura, to steer the campaign for Andhra Pradesh. The mission was simple and underweight, stunting and wasting, coordinating efforts to improve the
clear -- to win Andhra in the 2024 assembly polls. compared to the national average as health and nutrition status of the
For the BJP behemoth that has gradually stamped its electoral imprint across the length per the analysis of NFHS-3 and women and children in our state.
and breadth of the country, the South, with the exception of Karnataka and Pondicherry, NFHS-4 data. For a state like We have to devise innovative
remains largely unconquered territory. Tamil Nadu and Kerala continue to resist the BJP's Jharkhand that is burdened with the strategies and ensure proper
pan-Indian allure, for obvious reasons. issue of malnutrition, the second implementation of the high-impact
It is only in the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana that the BJP smelt COVID wave is nothing short of a nutrition programmes through
potential for the near future -- read 2024. Telangana, with its traditionally strong RSS tsunami that threatens not only to percent of child deaths in the world. on nutrition the return of investment effective planning and consultation
presence, readily accepted the saffron party, and it is where it has emerged as the only reverse the recent advancements Challenges in accessing healthcare is as high as 16 times. with grassroot-level stakeholders.
opposition party worth its name. However, it's been a different story in neighbouring Andhra but push back the state into years of services healthy diets, clean water Strategies Representatives can play important
Pradesh. deprivation and incalculable losses. and sanitation, this risk gets Frontline workers like Anganwadi leadership role in ensuring quality
The BJP did get its shot at power in the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh following the Noting the virulence of the fresh amplified for a resource-poor state workers, Sahiyas/ASHA, ANMs review of delivery of Essential
2014 assembly elections. The combined forces of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the star outbreak, some states, including like Jharkhand, where 13 million must communicate the importance nutrition services and ensure local
power of filmstar-politician Pawan Kalyan, and the BJP managed to defeat YS Jagan Mohan Jharkhand, have decided to impose out of its 33 million population still of the first 1000 days through home supply chain distribution should
Reddy's YSRCP. However, disagreements -- ostensibly over granting special category a lockdown of short duration as an lie below the poverty line. visits and all contact points. not be allowed to disrupt. To ensure
status to Andhra Pradesh following bifurcation but really more to do with the BJP's growing immediate response to cope with Understanding the need for a Families bot mothers and fathers this, we have to equip all frontline
ambitions to carve out a solitary path to power in the state -- drove the allies inexorably the spiraling number of COVID multisectoral approach to need to be counselled to continue workers with smartphone devices
apart. Fighting the ensuing polls in 2019 seperately, the three erstwhile allies were routed cases. As a consequence, essential malnutrition, in 2018, the breastfeeding to their under 2 year and appropriate safety gear.
comprehensively at the hustings. Compared to 2014, when it won four Assembly and two nutrition delivery platforms like government launched POSHAN children regardless of their COVID We can demand the availability of
Parliament seats, the BJP drew a blank in 2019. Ever since, the BJP had been targeting the school and Anganwadi centers Abhiyaan which strengthened the status. Consequently, doorstep disaggregated nutrition data to help
ruling YSRCP as well as the opposition TDP on a range of issues. have, once again, been closed and service delivery systems by training delivery of services must continue better track progress and target
That Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is a Christian, missionary and conversion several community health services frontline workers on high impact through caregivers and community actions to ensure that all women and
activities are on the rise, had come in handy for the BJP. Incidentally, the last year also saw stand suspended. The supply chain nutrition interventions. frontline workers using appropriate children benefit from nutrition and
a number of incidents such as thefts, desecration, and temple mishaps in the state, disruptions caused by current The convergence between COVID-19 protection measures so health services.As an elected
prominent among them being the burning of the temple chariot at Antarvedi. The BJP never containment measures are at multiple departments and that growth monitoring, medical representative, we have a critical
lost an opportunity to target the government on these issues while alluding to the Chief loggerheads with the promises of ministries, besides health and assessment, counselling, tracking role in influencing budgetary
Minister's religious background. continuity, coverage, intensity and women and child welfare, has and delivery of nutrient-dense food decisions for nutrition. Thus, it
It was at this juncture that the Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll, necessitated by the death of quality (C2IQ) of delivery of improved the coverage and quality can continue uninterrupted. would be prudent that we in our own
YSRCP's Balli Durga Prasad, offered a litmus test for the opposition camps to test their essential nutrition services. of nutrition interventions. But the Frontline workers already have the capacities ensure that nutrition
relative strengths. It was a no-holds barred poll campaign that saw the BJP bring out the However, adopting alternative breakdown of service delivery necessary knowledge and training to becomes a political priority, which
armour, in addition to leaning on the starpower of Pawan Kalyan. But it all came to nought. mechanism, these challenges need systems due to COVID 19 counsel and guide parents to follow is percolated at all levels.Concerned
The results are basically a repeat of the trends seen in the 2019 assembly polls. The results to be controlled and strategic pandemic will put children and good nutrition and hygiene Ministries and government
show that divided, the opposition stands no choice against the might of a young Y.S. Jagan interventions need to be devised mothers at risk of becoming practices. However, these frontline departments have already issued
Mohan Reddy, who has consolidated his grip on the minorities and backward classes, apart that can tackle the devastating malnourished.Poor nutrition in the functionaries require additional COVID safety guidelines to conduct
from the forward Reddys. aftermath of this global public first thousand days - from resources and support to adjust and routine health and nutrition services.
The writing on the wall is now doubly clear after the Tirupati bypoll. With less than one per health emergency. conception to two years - has a sustain supply and surveillance It is thus our responsibility to our
cent of the popular vote in its kitty, the BJP currently lacks the ground presence and the Challenges and need of the hour pernicious impact on a child's activities amidst the restrictions of people to access their local health
infrastructure to make its presence felt on the electoral landscape of Andhra Pradesh. A recent Lancet 2020 study development. Malnourishment at the COVID safety protocols. centers and register for essential
Secondly, traditional strategies such as polarisation that helped in states such as Assam and figures suggest that there will be a this phase can lead to poor brain Existing food security schemes, services whenever the occasion
Tripura won't work here. The party needs to customise its approach more like it does in 14.3% increase in severe acute development, weak learning ability, under ICDS, take-home rations can arises. As public leaders, we have to
regions such as the Northeast, or even perhaps Karnataka, where it does not overtly rattle malnutrition (very low weight for poor metabolism, low immunity, include micronutrient urge our people to keep up their trust
the minority communities. More importantly, it must seriously work on retrieving the height) cases for children below the greater susceptibility to infections supplementation, like iron folate, and faith in healthy nutrition
credibility it lost by reneging on granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh -- age of five due to the COVID-19 and diseases, and in worst cases, calcium and Vitamin A, practices. It is the only way to resist
something that all concerned parties had agreed upon on the hallowed floors of Parliament. pandemic. Jharkhand has the even death. The damages are often supplementary nutrition packages this silent pandemic of malnutrition
Going forward, the BJP needs a strong ally, much like the Janata Dal(U) in Bihar, to help highest rates of underweight and irreversible, with millions of and fortified rations for households and prevent the future disease
it gain traction at the hustings. Under the circumstances, the only potential ally on the wasting in the country, with about children becoming stunted, that can tackle the issue of burden of our state.
horizon remains the TDP. For the TDP as well, an alliance with the BJP could make the 43%of children under five being underweight or obese. Chronic accessibility. Community (The author is an independent
difference between regaining political power or fading away to oblivion. With three years to underweight and 29% wasted . In health complications affect the life engagement is key to ensure the MLA representing the Barkatha
go before the state goes to the polls, there's ample time for waving olive branches, building another 2020 Lancet study , the chances of individuals, which then continuity of interventions since its Vidhan Sabha Constituency in
bridges and sewing up a winning alliance which includes Pawan Kalyan and his Jana Sena. findings estimate that the current sets off a cycle of generational success is highly dependent on the the Hazaribagh district of
It's definitely time for the BJP to return to the drawing board, if gaining Andhra Pradesh in wasting prevalence, indirectly deprivation, as seen especially in social and behavioral response of Jharkhand. The Views expressed
2024 is the objective. caused by the pandemic, will marginalized and vulnerable the targeted communities.So, the are personal opinion of the
(The writer can be contacted at narendra.puppala@ians.in) account for an additional 18 to 23 communities. For every rupee spent government can utilize multiple author.)

Covid-19 spread fear brews labour unrest in TN auto units How to save villages from Corona?
By Venkatachari Jagannathan By Lalji Jayswal
ovid-19 related labour unrest is

C slowly brewing in the


automobile sector in Tamil Nadu,
with workers demanding shutting down of
N
ow, corona
virus has
travelled
from the cities to
the factories during the lockdown period villages. Everyone
and maintaining social distancing at work. knows that India is a country of
On Monday, workers of country's villages where the largest population
second largest car maker Hyundai Motor of the country resides. If the village
India Ltd stopped production demanding survives, only then will the country
closure of the factory as about 750 workers survive. Even, when there was talk of
turned Covid-19 positive during April and making the country self-reliance, the
May. emphasis was on making the villages
"In the last two months, 750 workers self-reliance first. But it is true that
have turned Covid-19 positive. Seven the union said that the company has not Ford India Private Ltd's car plant near here. villages have always depended on
workers have succumbed to coronavirus. taken any steps to reduce the footfall in the Workers cite Japanese two wheeler cities. So, when Corona has reached
Hence today all the workers protested. company's plant to prevent the spread of company India Yamaha Motor as a village, then the question arises
Initially the management did not agree on coronavirus.The Renault Nissan responsible one as it has announced whether the village itself is capable of
factory closure. But when the workers Automotive is a joint venture car closure of its two plants from May 15 to dealing with this crisis?
started maintaining social distance at their manufacturing plant of French auto major May 31 due to Covid-19 spread, citing Today the condition of villages has
workstations, production stopped Renault and Japan's Nissan Motor "the health and safety of its employees is become such that one can see death
automatically," Hyundai Motor India Company."Five workers have died and the top priority for the wandering in the streets just like this.
Employees Union (HMIEU) President E. about 850 have been infected with company".According to Krishnan, the This death is different from made to break the dormancy of the Otherwise, this money will also be
Muthukumar told IANS. coronavirus at Renault Nissan Automotive RNITS had requested the factory to be government data. it is not making any village heads, sarpanches, but there is lost to corruption. Together, the task
Later Hyundai Motor India agreed to since last year," RNITS President K.Balaji closed till the workers are vaccinated or data. The biggest irony of the growing concern about the local self- of sensitizing the people of the village
close the factory for five days, from May Krishnan told IANS.He also said in 2021 the demand for beds at the hospitals come villagers is that people are not aware government's insincerity. is that of the head of the village, they
25 to May 29.Muthukumar said Hyundai alone, about 420 employees have tested down.Though the automobile and the of corona virus and after being First, there should be at least two should discharge their
Motor India has 16,450 workers - about Covid-19 positive."All our workers are component makers did not function infected the villagers consider it as a ambulances in every village. So that responsibilities. To save the villages
2,450 permanent, and about 12,000 young and they are dying. There is no during the March 2020 lockdown, they are common disease, which allows the in case of any objection, the people of from rumors, the village head should
contract labour/apprentice and social distance maintained at the factory. allowed to operate with the state corona time to spread easily. the village can be taken to the hospital give direction to the public awareness
others.Similarly, the Renault Nissan India We had suggested reducing the number of government bringing them under the Eventually the person dies and the immediately. It is often seen that in program and prepare the public for
Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS) on Monday cars produced per hour. This in turn would continuous process industries.A worker villagers do not even understand how other diseases, a person dies due to participation.
put the Renault Nissan Automotive India reduce the number of workers per said the paint shop and the foundry is all this happened. not reaching the hospital at the right Consequently, now in villages, it is
Private Ltd's management on notice saying workstation. But the management didn't classified as a continuous process and Recently, the reports of dead bodies time.Second, all schools in the village necessary to decide the responsibility.
that the workers will boycott duty from agree," Krishnan said.There are about hence the automobile factories are flowing into the Ganges and Yamuna should be used to house Corona Internet is not yet accessible in many
May 26 onwards.RNITS' Joint Secretary 8,550 workers/staff/apprentices/contract classified as a continuous process industry. rivers are also frightening. It is a patients. As in the Corona era today, parts of villages. In such a situation, it
T.Tamizh Kumaran, in a letter to the labour (about 3,547 technicians/workers, Krishnan said the Tamil Nadu matter of wondering why such a all government and private schools is true that the heads of all the villages
management, said that unless their safety is about 2,000 staff, about 2,000 contract government's order classifying situation is being created after all. The are closed. Therefore, they should be should arrange for some oxygen
ensured at the plant, workers will not come workers and about 1,000 apprentices) automobile manufacturers as Public answer is that the people of the village used to build isolation wards so that concentrator in their panchayat
to work.Citing the Madras High Court employed at the Renault Nissan Utility Service ended this February. are very scared because of wrong or the people of the village can get relief, building. Also, the treatment system
order which states steps to be taken to Automotive plant near here.It is also learnt (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be little information, which they are and Anganwadi workers and Asha that is going on in the cities should be
reduce the footfall in office and factories, that worker dissatisfaction is brewing at contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) reluctant to perform post-mortem rites workers should be engaged for their taken to the villages. Promotion of
and are immersed in 'Ganga', which is care. And all the Asha workers were rescue from Corona should also be
Letter to the editor considered a holy river, is considered in contact with the doctor of a district vigorous, people should tell each
a medium of liberation. This method hospital. other how to protect. However, if the
Ensure right usage of vaccine doses of theirs is wrong, and if this trend
continues, a different type of
Thirdly, testing and vaccination will
have to be intensified by setting up
people are to be saved, and the third
wave has to stop coming and going
he step by the Union Government to provide the access to vaccination. The feature for on-site registration
T facility of on-site registration on the CoWINdigital
platform for the 18-44 years age group is in the right
and appointment is now being enabled for the 18-44 years
age group on the CoWIN portal. The State Governments
epidemic can take terrible form in the
country, it may endanger human and
animal life again.
camps in the villages, so that the
infection can be broken by the quick
identification and treatment of the
into the villages then the measures
mentioned will have to be worked out.
(Author is journalist, writer,
direction. The Government has directed States that on-site should initiate steps to minimize vaccine wastage and Here, question arises, how to save infected patients. columnist, blogger, physical yoga
registration of a few beneficiaries may be necessary to facilitate people to get their jabs smoothly. Citizens need to the villages from this terrible Fourth, the accountability of the instructor and National record
minimize vaccine wastage. The portal provides features register online to avoid overcrowding at vaccination epidemic? How should the village head should be fixed on how holder ("India book of
such as registration of up to four beneficiaries with a centers. Today, vaccines are the only weapon to deal with management, which affects the and where the amount of eight records"2021) . The views
mobile number, facilitated registration, and appointments this pandemic worldwide, so the right usage of vaccine village the least? The top leadership thousand crores given by the central expressed are personal opinion of
through applications. It helps those without access to the doses is the need of the hour. of the country is constantly alerting government was used. It is also the author. He can be reached at
internet or smartphones or mobile phones still have limited - Amit Singh Kushwaha, Satna (M.P.) the villages and every effort is being important to have an "impact audit". laljijayswal99@gmail.com)
�������
For TV, e-paper & news visit: www.live7tv.com

��
Kolkata, Wednesday
26 May 2021

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SANKAR RAY termed as 'shameless defence of
gullible bureaucracy, "The accusa-

B
am Ganatantrik Jote (Left tion of stealing documents is an
Democratic) front com- utter lie and concoction. How could
prising Bangladesh Rozina take photographs of docu-
Samajtontri Dal, ments in purchase oh purchase of
Communist Party of vaccines when nobody is allowed to
Bangladesh, Bangladesh enter the room of secretary or his
Samajtontri Dal Marxvadi, United personal assistant? Were those
Communist League of Bangladesh, documents kept in an open place?
Samajtontri Andolan and If so, stringent action should be
Ganatantric Biplabi Dal in a joint taken against those who were
statement demanded that the crim- responsible for such act'.
inal case against the leading The Awaji League-led coalition,
Bengali morninger Prothom Alo headed by the Prime Minister
senior reporter Rozina Islam be Sheikh Hasina Wazed, is sharply
withdrawn unconditionally. The divided over the arrest of Rozina
forty-two year-old reporter was Islam, Bangladesh Foreign Minister
arrested nearly a week ago, was A.K. Abdul Moment regretted dur-
released from women's cell of ing her detention that Islam would
prison of Kashimpur Central prison get a fair justice. Apart from this
in Dhaka on Sunday after a Dhaka assurance, he admitted that her
court had granted her bail. The arrested had affected Bangladesh's
Dhaka Chief Metropolitan image abroad.
Magistrate Baki Billah granted the Actually, Islam's hard-hitting
bail upon a bond of Tk5,000 and reports on corruption involving the
submission of her . The interim bail Ministry of Health and others,
was granted till 15 July. involving millions of dollars spent
The intrepid reporter, well- on procuring health equipment to
known having filed a series of deal with the Covid 19 pandemic
investigative reports exposing cor- unnerved vested interests and the
ruption and nepotism was accused arrest and harassment inside jail
of having used her cell phone with- was its sequel. Little wonder,
out permission to photograph docu- national media, working journalists
ments related to government nego- were up in protest forming human
tiations to buy coronavirus vaccines chains covering almost all districts,
in the room of an official involved even Pabna, Tangail, Satkhira,
in the process, despite her strong Jessore and Noakhali. Global
denial and terming the accusations human rights groups categorically
as 'concocted. criticised the arrest and demanded
An FIR was filed against Islam Islam's unconditional release.
under the Official Secrets Act and Human Rights Watch appealed
Sections 379 and 411 of The Penal to the Bangla authorities to drop
Code on a complaint filed by the oppressive charges against Islam
Health Services Division with and allow journalists to work
Shahbagh police and on 18 May the freely. Its Asia director Brad Adams
court sent Islam to jail after reject- stated, "Bangladesh authorities
ing the police's demand for her should produce evidence of wrong-
five-day remand. According to the doing or immediately release
aforesaid sections under Official Rozina Islam and stop arresting PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL Buddha. Clearly, the man had learned towards those suffering, towards ani- Buddha, the propounder of
Secrets Act (framed by the British journalists for doing their job, a valuable lesson that day. mals and birds, towards those who are Buddhism , was born on Vesak

H
colonial era in undivided India in which is also to highlight gover- eartiest greetings to all This was the power of Buddha. helpless, and have empathy for one Purnima, so it is also known as
1923), Islam faces charges of vio- nance flaws. Instead of locking up countrymen on Buddha This is the essence of his wisdom: and all. We owe all this and much Buddha Purnima. It is celebrated not
lating OSA that empowers the court critics, encouraging a free press Purnima .. !! Whenever Forgiveness! Sobriety! Renunciation !. more to the invaluable teachings of only in our country but also in many
to clamp a 14-year imprisonment, should be central to the govern- Gautam Buddha's name I think these virtues are most needed Gautam Buddha. countries including Japan, Korea,
even death penalty. ment's strategy to strengthen comes to my mind, I am in the current times. Today is Buddha Through this very simple sentence, China, Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam,
According to the Bangladeshi health services in combating the reminded of an interest- Purnima. It is the time to remember 'Trishna(craving) is at the root of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri
Health Minister Zahid Maleque, pandemic." ing story. The story goes - One day his message and teachings. The Modi every sorrow', Buddha has captured Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia.
documents for the vaccine deals The New York-headquartered Buddha was interacting with his disci- government is observing it as 'Vaisakh: the greatest agony of our lives, has The Ministry of Culture and
had non-disclosure clauses, and HRW expressed concern on repres- ples. Suddenly in the midst of it, an 2565th International Buddha Purnima unravelled the greatest cause of Archaeological Survey of India have
"She was trying to steal non-disclo- sion of dissent, not sparing journal- angry man came and started using Day'. I think Buddha is very relevant human suffering. If we look at all the done a tremendous amount of work
sure documents of the agreements ists and scribes. "At least 247 jour- bad language against him. The man with his inspiring life and teachings in sufferings and sorrows of life, one will for the preservation of the Buddhist
with Russia and China, signed nalists were reportedly subjected to continued to do so for quite some time. such a difficult time. His ideal life, his find the same root cause - 'Trishna or pilgrimage sites of our country like
recently. We are committed to these attacks, harassment and intimida- All of Buddha's disciples were furious philosophy can show us the way as to Greed'. Since childhood, Gautam Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and
states not to disclose the agree- tion by state officials and others with the man but Buddha told them to how to ride out calamity and difficult Buddha was lost in search of explana- Sanchi. These places attract Buddhist
ments. The documents were confi- affiliated with the government in remain quiet. A while, the man grew times. It helps us to meet the chal- tion to such questions, for which even followers from all over the world.
dential, if they become public, then 2020. More than 900 cases were tired of shouting and came to Buddha lenges bravely. The Corona pandemic saints and seers did not have answers. Apart from the teachings of Buddha,
they may refuse to provide us vac- filed under the Digital Security Act, and said "I have been abusing for has forced us to return to several basic He was clear that the real joy of life one can also see the architectural
cines because of breach of promise. with nearly 1,000 people charged quite some time now but you haven't tenets of our great culture. lies in sharing. Sacrifice takes us on beauty of these monuments.
It could cause huge damage to the and 353 detained, many of them reacted to it at all." Buddha, in his It has reinforced that the princi- the journey of happiness. Seeing the In a nutshell ,if we imbibe the
country," Islam's attorney Ehsanul journalists', it observed. calm voice replied, "If you have some- ples and ideal life that we have talked suffering all around him, he teachings and wisdom of Buddha in
Haque Somaji flatly denied such Similar stand was taken by the thing that you want to give to me but about for centuries, the morals and renounced his princely life and went in our lives , then we shall contribute not
accusation, stating "It was a false Committee to Protect Journalists I refuse to take it, who will it be left values that we have tried to establish search of truth. Renouncing family only to establishment of a great coun-
case and the sections of the laws before Islam was released. with?" "It will be left with me," replied in our lives, are timeless. Their rele- and majestic splendour is not easy. try and a great world but also help
mentioned in the case were con- Demanding the woman reporters, the man. Then Buddha said, "See in vance in adversity has been estab- But he did it and set an example by create a great human being with val-
flicting with each other." He further CPJ's senior Asia Aliya Iftikhar the same way you kept using bad lished over and over again and will doing so. He remained tireless in his ues of the highest order. Once again,
alleged that the ministry of health issued a statement "We are deeply words against me but I didn't react, continue to do so in the future as well. search for truth. congratulations to all of you on
kept targeting Islam for her recent alarmed that Bangladesh officials hence where are your words?" The The contribution of Gautam Gautam Buddha gave the message Buddha Purnima ..!
reports that exposed alleged graft detained a journalist and filed a man replied "They remain with me." Buddha to the human values that we 'Atmadipo Bhavah', that is, 'Be a light
in the public health system. complaint under a draconian colo- Inspired by Buddha's wisdom, the have adopted in our lives, and passed unto yourself' or conquering oneself is (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL IS
The BGJ condemns her deten- nial-era law that carries ridiculous- man fell at Buddha's feet. The young down from generation to generation, the biggest victory. This pearl of wis- MINISTER FOR CULTURE &
tion for five and half hours at the ly harsh penalties." man understood, clasped his hands is invaluable and priceless. dom can bring peace to an individual TOURISM IN GOVERNMENT OF
secretariat where she was mentally Civil rights groups are deeply together and slowly bowed to the We are moved by compassion even when surrounded by adversity. INDIA)
and physically tortured, 'something worried over suppression of press
unthinkable in a civilised state. The freedom in Bangladesh in recent
health minister's denial (and his years, including unleashing of vio- MANY DIAMOND WORKERS DIE OF COVID-19 IN SURAT
�������������������������������������������
allegation that the Islam slapped lence.
the departmental secretary) was —IPA

�������������� DAMAYANTEE DHAR now, as per data gathered by our


organisation, there are 600 to 700

M
itesh Prajapati, a 30- diamond workers who have tested
������������������������������� year-old diamond polish-
ing worker in Surat,
positive and at least 150 have died
due to COVID-19,” added Zilriya.
������������������������������������� Gujarat, was the sole
earner of his family of
Bhavesh Gohil, resident of Kamrej,
Surat, and a diamond polishing work-
four. Post lockdown last year, like er, kept working despite feeling
many workers in the diamond indus- uneasy for days until he was running
try, he could not manage to get a job. a fever on April 5 this year.
For seven months, Prajapati had no “He was working in the company
job, which pushed his family into when he felt he was coming down
acute economic distress. Prajapati, a with a fever and told his manager.
resident of Nana Varachha area of However, he wasn’t allowed to leave
Surat, had to provide treatment for immediately. He had to give an
his ailing mother, his wife and daugh- account of diamonds he was polishing
ter. In early July last year, he consult- on the day before he could leave after
ed a local doctor in his area after almost an hour. On April 6, he tested
being sick with fever. He was advised a month only. Rest of the days, I stand getting between Rs 250 to Rs 350. COVID positive and was admitted to
to get tested for COVID-19. However, for hours at the circle from where Most companies who had reduced the Civil Hospital. He died on April
Prajapati, unable to bear the added contractors pick up workers as I am salaries when the government had 10,” Raju Gohil, Bhavesh Gohil’s
expense of his treatment, jumped into scared to go home without a day’s directed to pay less but not cut jobs, brother, said.
a river on July 4, 2020. pay,” shared Hitesh, as he broke still continue to pay less,” Ramesh “Bhavesh had informed his man-
“He was under immense mental down remembering his younger Zilriya, President of Diamond ager that he had tested positive and
pressure to be able to provide for his brother. Workers’ Union, hence couldn’t come to work before
����������� ����������������������������������������������������������������� family. Apart from usual expenses, The diamond industry in Surat told NewsClick. he was admitted to the hospital.
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� our mother is ailing and needs medi- employs about four to five lakh work- “To add to that, no COVID-19 pro- However, no one reached out to us
������������������������������������������������������������������������������ cines every month. When the doctor ers who primarily hail from tocol as directed by the state govern- during his treatment or after his
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ suggested he might have COVID-19 Saurashtra region of Gujarat and ment, is being followed by the compa- demise. We didn’t get any financial
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� and should get tested, he saw it as migrate to Surat for work. Post lock- nies. As per government guidelines, help for the treatment,” added Raju,
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� another expense and couldn’t bear down, when the industries re-opened, the companies have to function with who is a daily wage earner and now
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� thought of it. My brother’s wife and about one lakh workers did not 50% employees on a rotation basis, sole provider for his brother’s family
������������������������������������������������������������������������������� daughter were forced to go back to return from their native villages. maintain social distancing among the and his own.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� her (wife’s) maternal home in the vil- Amongst the about three lakh work- workers, sanitise the premises peri- “Every day, two or three workers
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� lage and mother has moved in with ers who returned, many did not man- odically, provide employees with are dying and still there are at least
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� me,” Hitesh Prajapati, Mitesh’s older age to get back their jobs. masks and sanitisers, and conduct 500 workers working in a building
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� brother told NewsClick. “Only 70% of the workers who tests of employees weekly. No compa- without following any COVID-19 pro-
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� “I have to now provide for a family returned to Surat have managed to ny is following these directives. In tocol. When one worker tests positive
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� of five including my wife, son, sister get their jobs back. However, most of fact, four workers are still sitting for COVID- 19, the other three work-
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� and mother. I too haven’t had a per- the workers are working for half their on a ghanti or a diamond polishing ers sitting on the same four-feet
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� manent job for four months. For the original salaries post lockdown. Those machine, which is about 4 feet broad. ghanti (diamond polishing machine)
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� past four months, I have managed to who used to earn Rs 600 to Rs 500 If they allow two or one worker per are not being tested by the company.
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� be employed for about 10 to 12 days for 12 to 14 hours of work, are now ghanti, their output will go down. By —IPA

MYK
4
mail us at >> desk@thegoan.net

log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Wednesday May 26, 2021

Tokyo Olympics and the risks involved


Organisers warn that athletes who violate the rules will not be allowed
Fear of death is ridiculous, because as long as you are not dead you
are alive, and when you are dead there is nothing more to worry about!
to compete, but ensuring compliance will be a Herculean task
Paramahansa Yogananda
>(The writer is
Adjunct Fellow,
Olympic Scholar

Prepared for �rd


and Co-Director
of the Olympic
Research Network,
Institute for Health

wave? But failure on


and Sport, Victoria
University)

RICHARD BAKA

�nd still haunting


W
T
ith just 60 days to go until the ganisers still plan to distribute 150,000 Tokyo, leaving one less avenue for the
start of the Tokyo Olympics, condoms. (This is at least far less than Japanese public and athletes to interact
he government appears to be gearing up for the third there are more questions than the Rio Games, when a record number during the Olympics.
wave of Covid with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant an- answers about how such a massive event of 450,000 condoms were on o�er!) One of the most popular of these ven-
will take place as the Covid-19 pandem- Ensuring compliance of the rules ues is Heineken House (a�liated with
nouncing that infrastructure is put in place while paedi- ic continues to rage in many parts of the will be a herculean task. The organisers the Dutch Olympic Committee and its
atricians are being trained. It is heartening to know that world. warn that athletes who violate the rules beer sponsor), but this iconic “party
the government is farsighted, but this doesn’t absolve it of Japan itself is struggling to contain a will not be allowed to compete, will have house” will not be found in Tokyo. It
fourth wave, with a seven-day average of their accreditation cancelled and must hosted 4,000 visitors a day in Rio.
the failures of the second wave. It has to explain why people con- new cases brie�y topping 6,000 earlier depart the Olympic Village. Yet, it’s like- Traditionally, major sponsors and
tinue to die. Daily health bulletins show a death toll of 35-45, and this month. Hospitals are overrun in the ly some athletes will try to beat the sys- other companies also o�er extensive
city of Osaka and a state of emergency has tem, particularly once their event is over. corporate hospitality programs for vis-
this is a huge number in a small state of Goa. What is going wrong, been extended in Tokyo and other areas. Another concern is the 78,000 volun- itors. Coca-Cola, for instance, brings in
and why is there so much emphasis on the third wave when the The vaccine rollout, meanwhile, con- teers, the majority of whom will not be thousands of guests – many from over-
second continues to snatch lives? tinues to lag behind most other major vaccinated and will have limited protec- seas – who receive complimentary event
economies, with just 4 per cent of the pop- tions in the way of basic cloth masks, tickets, �ights, accommodation, and
The third wave which is expected somewhere around Septem- ulation having received one or two doses. hand sanitiser and guidelines on how to food and beverages.
ber cannot be a distraction. Yes, there is no harm in getting into The key Olympic stakeholders are all socially distance. The absence of all of these
preparedness, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are sporting a brave face, insisting they are It seems a strange oversight there is crowds and amenities will certain-
receiving the best possible advice from not a speci�c “playbook” for volunteers, ly diminish the Olympic spirit in To-
far more severe issues currently that are going unaddressed. The Japanese health authorities and the World just a brief pamphlet on prevention kyo. It will be a money-loser for the
State government cannot express helplessness because the Covid Health Organisation and putting in place measures. hosts, too.
war is being waged under the Centre’s command and the CM has the proper protective measures. One study estimated staging the
The games will likely go ahead, but they A sterile atmosphere — and Olympics without spectators will result
to plead his case, just the way Delhi has will be more watered down compared to a �nancial hit for Japan in a US$23.1 billion loss for Japan —
What is going wrong, done. We need to try and save every sin- the spectacles of years past. This is what International spectators will not be both in terms of direct spending linked
a very compromised Olympics could look permitted. And there is no certainty Jap- to the games, and indirect economic
and why is there so gle life and the failures cannot be put on like. anese fans will be allowed to attend, ei- e�ects from household consumption
much emphasis on the back burner. ther. A �nal decision is expected in June. and tourism.
If vaccines were supposed to be our No sightseeing or sex (though So, what will the atmosphere be like
the third wave when condoms are on o�er) without large �ag-waving crowds? And Has drug testing been
the second continues saviour, where are these vaccines? Goa The second version of the Tokyo 2020 if those able to attend are prohibited compromised?
to snatch lives? The has received only 32,000 doses for a Playbook was recently released, with a from cheering, singing or whistling? Another concern is the absence of
population of 6.5 lakh in the 18-44 age third dra� expected by June. This spells (Clapping is acceptable.) drug testing in the lead-up to the games,
third wave which is out clearly and in great detail what is ex- The opening and closing ceremonies due to the pandemic. Mack Horton,
expected somewhere group, and there’s a faint assurance that pected in terms of Covid testing and re- will no doubt be more subdued a�airs, an Australian swimming gold medal-
around September we will get more doses in June. With this strictions. with perhaps no spectators, reduced list, said he wasn’t drug tested for nine
For example, although a vaccination team sizes and even the possibility of months during the worst of the pandem-
cannot be a distraction pace, it would take beyond 2023 for Goa will not be compulsory, everyone will be Another concern only a �ag bearer for each nation march- ic last year, though out-of-competition
to reach complete immunization. Final- tested extensively both before and during is the 78,000 ing in the stadium. A decision is expect- has reportedly picked up again at the
ly, the government has asked the cen- the games. Attendees will only be per- volunteers, ed in June. start of 2021.
mitted to eat in designated settings and During a normal Olympics, the Drug testing has been, at best, incon-
tre if it could use doses from the above 45 categories for the 18+ allowed limited movement and social in-
the majority of host city is always abuzz with many sistent during the pandemic. Well-re-
group. Why was this not considered earlier when it was clear that teraction in Tokyo. Sightseeing and using whom will not be non-sporting attractions, as well, such sourced countries with strong national
all States are facing shortages? public transportation is strictly forbidden. vaccinated and as the popular Olympic hospitality or anti-doping agencies have kept up their
In an interesting observation, the Goa Chapter of India Academy
Signi�cantly, each delegation will also will have limited partner venues set up by various nations rigorous testing procedures, while other
have a “Covid liaison o�cer” to ensure and specialised groups. countries reliant on regional agencies
of Paediatrics (IAP) contended that the assumption of third-wave all the rules are being followed, which in- protections in In 2016, there were 52 of these in Rio, have not.
impacting children is not backed by scienti�c data. They claim cludes keeping tabs on athletes seemingly the way of basic with 24 open to the public. The other However, the International Testing
at all times. cloth masks, hand 28 were restricted venues for national Agency, an independent body that will
that there is no medical data to justify that the third wave is going Within the Olympic Village, interac- Olympic committees and their athletes, handle the anti-doping program at an
sanitiser and
to attack children under 18. tions between athletes will also be greatly
guidelines on how
o�cials and sponsors, but they were Olympics for the �rst time, has pledged
restricted. The rules say no hugging, high- nevertheless an important sideshow. a robust approach in the weeks leading
There is so much medical data �owing that it has le� the com- �ves or sex, though confusingly, the or- to socially distance Most of these have been cancelled in up to the games.
mon man confused and exhausted. Against all the theories and
even a suspicion of using the third wave preparedness to mask the
current failures, it is always better to be guarded and safe than sor- THE INBOX >> I
ry. States have already swung into action based on threat percep-
tion. Delhi has announced a special task force to protect children Black fungus: Time Covid cocktails: Are we being fooled?
centre would commence jointly run by the
Directorate of Health Services and the Goa
while Karnataka plans to ramp up Covid care centres and set up to tread with care Yet another cocktail! A pharmaceutical giant has launched what is Medical College. We were assured it would
rehabilitation centres for orphans. Goa too is setting up a paediat- Black fungus, medically known as called an ‘antibody cocktail’ priced at around Rs 60000. And what is be gradually expanded to a full-fledged
mucormycosis or formerly known as zygo- it to be used against? We have had enough cocktails since the Covid Hospital.
ric ICU at GMC besides working on other logistics. mycosis, is causing a crisis within a bigger Our proposed health centre �le was ap-
struck. We have had clapping of hands, banging of thalis, lighting
The fear of the third wave appears to be weighing heavily on the crisis of Covid-19. of lamps, etc. Then we have seen cocktails from local health experts proved by the Health Minister six months
minds of the government because of the High Court’s intervention. This disease is mostly found in those promoting cow dung therapy and not to forget the great Godman ago but was stalled by the Chief Minister
having low immunity and indiscriminate Baba Ramdev’s medication. Of course, we already have the pharma- due to opposition from Union Minister
Goa hasn’t seen this kind of preparedness in the �rst and second use of steroids in Covid, HIV AIDS and ceutical industry ruling the roost. What are common people to make Shripad Naik who wants his Ayush centre
phases. It would be sad if this infrastructure is being put in place diabetes. It is caused by a fungus or molds of all these drugs floating in the market? They are already stressed there. It is an irony that Shripad Naik
only because the court asked for an account. People are dying. found abundantly in our environment out with the loss of their loved ones to Covid. We have seen enough despite being a resident of Ribandar has
called micromycetes. It is also caused as medications hitting the market. There is a need for something better. been against the centre. He should have
Stop the optics and feel the pain. a result of unhygienic way of delivering Can the health authorities come up with something more appro- at least realized that a�er his car accident
oxygen to Covid patients with unclean wa- priate, maybe provide good vaccines at a�ordable costs. Judging
ter. According to statistics, there are 8848
earlier this year, it was not Ayush treatment
from the high costs of medication for Covid, however, one wonders
cases in the country and rapidly growing. whether the whole pandemic has been engineered to promote the
but the medical expertise at the Goa Medi-
Early diagnosis and treatment of this huge pharmaceutical industry. cal College that came to his rescue.
disease are vital. Mucormycosis should MELVILEE X D’SOUZA, Mumbai AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
OPEN SPACE >> not be taken lightly as it is an aggressive
and invasive fungal infection with lethal
rami�cations and fatalities. Several cases Work on Chandor rail
Compensate Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in the state with one
fatality. It is time for us to maintain a clean
habitat at all times and at the same time
cy plan with adequate infrastructure for
hospitalisation and a properly-managed
healthcare system for the treatment of
under bridge drags on
People of Cavorim and Guirdolim

T
he government should provide ex-gratia monetary compensation work on our immunity levels. Covid patients with life-saving medi- villages in Chandor were happy when
to the deceased family members of Covid-19 patients, as provid- ASHLEY NORONHA, Fatorda. cines and equipment. Sadly, all this was Chief Minister announced that the railway
ed under Sec 12 of the Disaster Management Act 2005. The medical missing, as patients continued to die. We under bridge work would start soon and be
o�cers are not conducting post-mortem of persons who are dying due Stay ready for the cannot a�ord to make the same mistakes
again and play with the lives of people. It
done within two months. However, a�er
laying the foundation stone, the work was
to Covid-19. It is the right of the family members or relatives to know the
real cause of death to avail compensation. Certi�cates should be issued third Covid wave is, therefore, necessary for government stopped. The reason: Covid-19 lockdown.
to the deceased family members to establish that the death is due to Cov- Speculation is rife these days over a to draw up a plan of action to tackle the But despite the Coivd-19 restrictions, the
id-19. But for Covid-19 deaths, bodies are being taken from the mortu- third Covid-19 wave, which is expected to third wave and remain ready before we railways completed most of the dou-
ary to the cremation ground directly without mentioning the actual rea- hit the country in July-September. It is pre- are caught napping once again.
A F NAZARETH, Alto-Porvorim
ble-tracking project in the state. Then,
son in death certi�cates. As many families lost their members, despite dicted that this wave, likely to be intense, again, the CM, MLA Clafacio Dias and
all the e�orts. Words of sympathy aren’t enough, as they’ve su�ered ir- will a�ect children. While we are still in the
reparable losses. Now that Covid has hit lower middle class to lower-in- midst of the second wave, battling hard to The U-turn on Ribandar Railway authorities promised it would be
completed by mid-May 2021. But no sign
come group families in the country, it is necessary for everyone to remem-
ber at once whether they have paid an annual premium of Rs 330 or not.
breathe and stay alive, it is yet to be ascer-
tained whether the warning bells sounded health centre is sad again. The concrete road passing under
If recently anyone died in the family of your close relative or acquaintance, by eminent epidemiologists and medical It is very unfortunate and highly deplor- Send your the bridge is not complete and the work
able that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant letters to us is pending. The people will su�er again in
whether it is due to any illness or Covid-19, ask them to check the bank ac- experts are more of a cautionary signal or
the rains near the Chandor railway cross-
count details of the deceased. If the bank has deducted Rs 12 or Rs 330 be- an impending disaster waiting to unleash has made a U-turn and now directed that at editor@ ing gate. We are just being given dates on
tween 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 in their passbook entry, then under- itself once again. We in Goa are still the Old Ribandar Hospital premises be
line it. And ask the relatives of the deceased to go to the bank and submit paying a heavy price for the government’s given to the Ayush Ministry. thegoan.net. completion of the work like the way it hap-
a claim for an insurance amount of up to Rs 2 lakh to be claimed within 90 cavalier and lackadaisical attitude in In October, last year, he had assured us Letters must pens in court. The Village Panchayat o�ce
days. In the year 2015, the Government of India had provided two a�ordable tackling the second wave when there were that medical facilities would be restored be 150-200 of Guirdolim also has no answer when the
there for the promised health centre. On work will be completed. We request the
insurance schemes for savings account holders of most of the banks: First, enough straws in the wind to indicate the
the same day, Health Minister Vishwa-
words and government and the Railways to complete
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for Rs 330 and second, galloping rise in the number of daily Covid
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSSBY) for Rs 12. positive cases in the state. Hundreds of jit Rane along with Panaji MLA Babush mention the this under bridge on priority, as we have
K G VILOP, Chorao lives could have been saved, had the Monserrate visited the premises and writer’s name been su�ering for the past 40 years.
Goa government prepared a contingen- announced that a 30-bedded health and location RONNIE D’SOUZA, Chandor

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
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New Delhi, Wednesday, 26 May, 2021
EDITORIAL THE SIKH TIMES 6

Helping Women of Bengal unite


The ascendancy of Mamata Banerjee as the chief minister has kindled the aspiration of women in politics

hand: Good The resounding victory of the Trinamul Congress


in the assembly elections can be attributed to
the overwhelming support of women voters

samaritans across social and economic groups. Unlike


many states, West Bengal has a unique history
of women exercising their suffrage. The Left
had mobilized women through different mass
movements, giving a huge impetus to women’s
participation in elections — in the early 1980s
it touched almost 70 per cent. Given the high
turnout of women voters, they had a pivotal
role in electoral outcomes. Several post-poll
surveys in the last decade show that there has
been a steady increase in women supporters of
the TMC since it assumed power in 2011.
The ascendancy of Mamata Banerjee as the chief
minister has kindled the aspiration of women in
politics. Banerjee has also consistently created
space for women lawmakers — in the current
assembly about 15.5 per cent of the members
from the TMC are women, a remarkable
achievement compared to other parties in the
Sir — People infected with Covid or even assembly. Even amidst anti-incumbency
suspected patients are often treated as pariahs by sentiments, charges of corruption at the local
friends, neighbours, and even family members. level and high-pitched polarization, Banerjee
Frontline workers, too, have often found emerged as the preferred chief minister in
themselves shunned by the community members several rounds of pre-poll and post-poll
in spite of their yeoman service. At such a time, surveys. Across social groups, women have
we have been fortunate enough to witness the largely rallied behind Banerjee; ethnographic
selfless acts by kind samaritans as well (“At worst studies indicate that Didi enjoyed more support
of times, the best in some of us”, May 23). among Muslim women compared to their male
Without caring about whether the person was partners. Many commentators have
Covid-infected or not, civilians rushed towards highlighted that Banerjee’s welfare
the collapsed Suvamoy Dey, rejuvenated him and programmes contributed to the expansion of
sent him off to a hospital in an ambulance. Had her support base among women. Welfare cost, Sabooj Sathi saves girls from everyday harassment women responded and reacted to a plethora of schemes
people hesitated in coming to his aid, Dey’s programmes like the Kanyashree Prakalpa, Sabooj Sathi, in public transport, and ensures a sense of empowerment. specially designed for them, including the Rupashree
family might have lost him. and various educational incentives for scheduled castes, A sizeable section of students from recognized madrasas Prakalpa and educational scholarships for specific social
This reminded me of Tagore’s words, scheduled tribes and minorities yielded huge dividends. also benefited from the project. The initial cohorts of groups and widow pension schemes. Speedy redressal of
“Bishwasaathe joge jethay biharo, seikhane jog Contrary to the national trend, the educational statistics these flagship programmes are now first-time voters; grievances helped girls attain education and other core
tomar saathe amaro”. Tagore’s humanitarian lines indicate that girls in West Bengal have outnumbered boys many of them may have voted for the TMC, showing their capabilities. The overwhelming participation of women
are so relevant in this current scenario when one’s in the secondary level, significantly reducing the gender gratitude to Didi. in ‘Duare Sarkar’ — a direct outreach programme to
survival depends upon the well-being of others. gap in education. The Kanyashree Prakalpa, ensuring a In 2019, the TMC suffered a jolt as the Bharatiya Janata ensure prompt grievance redressal and service delivered
One hopes the people across the world plagued by yearly stipend of Rs 750 and Rs 25,000 upon the Party won 18 seats in the general elections and grievances at the doorstep of beneficiaries — revealed the faith in the
divisiveness can draw a lesson from this attainment of 18 years while remaining unmarried, has against welfare schemes mounted. The TMC turned the incumbent. The masterstroke was the extension of
civilizational crisis and try to cooperate with one received international accolades. As a course-correction crisis into an opportunity — a political programme, ‘Didi Swasthya Sathi — a health insurance of Rs 5 lakh, issued
another. measure Kanyashree was repurposed as a universal ke Bolo’, along with the public grievance redressal cell in the name of women heads of households, which
Cause for concern programme, cutting across social groups and economic set up in 2019, under the aegis of the chief minister’s touched lakhs of beneficiaries. On the contrary, the
Sir — Concerns over journalistic ethics have classes. This has had multiple implications; the sheer office, provided a platform to air these grievances. Over a campaign of the BJP was replete with communal venom
emerged once again, after Lord Dyson’s report number of beneficiaries has increased manifold in the short span of one and a half years, the cell appears to have and considerable misogynistic statements, largely
exposed the BBC’s shortcomings and past few years, touching over 70 lakhs. Similarly, dealt with more than 10 lakh grievances with an ruining its political ambition in West Bengal. The BJP
malpractices that Martin Bashir engaged in although the Sabooj Sathi — providing bicycles to impressive record of 95 per cent resolution rate. It is strived to win this election based on religious
during the 1995 Panorama interview (“William, secondary students — facilitated school enrolment, a encouraging to note that participation of women in airing polarization, completely overlooking the sound support
Harry slam BBC for Di interview”, May 22). study by the Pratichi Institute confirms that girls have their grievances is almost 45 per cent although most base of the TMC among women. The voting pattern of
Journalism, in spite of remarkable advancements, benefited more than boys. Besides reducing the transport households are headed by men. A large proportion of women has tilted the results in favour of the TMC.
remains susceptible to such failures of ethics and
storytelling. It is the responsibility of journalistic
platforms to bring the truth to the people. Yet, it is
necessary to acknowledge that all forms of media,
Safe house: Live-in relationships
at the end of the day, have a business aspect and
thus it is not surprising for them to adopt ways The deeming of live-in relationships as ‘immoral’ goes against the tenet of the right to life and liberty of consenting adults
that ensure profit. Against this backdrop, the need In the willingness of a democratic country’s institutions faith.
of the hour is to strike a balance between the to course-correct lies the hope of upholding rights and In brazen breaches of privacy, interfaith couples in
responsible presentation of truth and profitability. equality. This was evident most recently in the ruling Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have been harassed by
Aadrit Banerjee, by a bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Hindu vigilante groups; inter-caste marriages have
Sir — While there can be no making excuses for the which said that live-in relationships in India are also led to murder. These perhaps explain the plea
BBC’s or Martin Bashir’s conduct, it is also true neither illegal nor an offence, even though they do not for judicial protection by the petitioners in the two
that all that Princess Diana revealed in that always meet with societal approval. The progressive earlier cases that was — shockingly — denied. The
interview would have come out one way or the stance taken by the learned judges gains further previous verdicts seem to be in contravention of a
other. Prince Harry’s revelations since stepping significance because two weeks ago two other Supreme Court judgment that said that the
back from the royal family would seem to suggest benches of the same high court had refused protection “assertion of choice is an insegregable facet of
that the toxic atmosphere that Diana had spoken to live-in couples on the grounds that such living liberty and dignity”. Again, in a landmark judgment
about has remained unchanged. While the princes arrangements are ‘morally and socially in 2015, the Supreme Court had ruled that an
were right in castigating the media, the royal unacceptable’. The presence of contradictory rulings unmarried couple living together would be
family must also introspect. Sir — Recently, The on the subject is unfortunate, not least because the presumed married, and the woman would be eligible
Big Bang Theory star, Mayim Bialik, created a ambiguity could serve to fuel regressive attitudes to inherit property after her partner’s demise. The
towards the rights of consenting adults to unions in a judiciary is the hallmark of progress and liberalism.
stir on the internet by posting about steel utensils. nation where the freedom of choice, even though it is Yet, as the earlier pronouncements of the Punjab and
Indians were quick to claim that these have been guaranteed by the Constitution, cannot be assumed to be a Indeed, the deeming of live-in relationships as ‘immoral’ Haryana High Court demonstrate, there is also a need for
staples in Indian kitchens for long now. But with given. The prevalence of honour killings in India bears goes against the tenet of the right to life and liberty of law to adapt to evolving societal norms and actively strive
the advent of microwaves — metal cannot be testimony to this. While the National Crime Records consenting adults. Such a transgression can take on towards ending discrimination. The upholding of equality
used in it — steel utensils have been replaced by Bureau left out data on honour killings in a report in 2019, alarming proportions especially when matrimony has not and individual rights by the courts consistently would be a
glass, or worse, melamine utensils in most urban it showed elsewhere that ‘love affairs’ constituted the third been able to prevent the harassment of couples who have boon in a land noted for embedded discrimination.
Indian kitchens. biggest trigger for murders between 2001 and 2017. chosen to marry by breaking the shackles of caste and

Get the picture


Tackling the invisible Covid challenge
The last two months have tested the Centre for Sustainable Employment at foreign nations responded with assistance, the Indian
media’s collective ability — and Azim Premji University talks of deepening State took to suppression. By the fourth week of April,
willingness — to galvanize action for poverty in the first year of Covid. It says Twitter was hastening to take down tweets critical of the
both visible and invisible sections of incomes dropped sharply, and as many as Modi government’s handling of the second wave. A
the population. Last year’s Covid 23 crore individuals slipped below the Twitter account called “Watch the State” shared curated
crisis led to a post-lockdown working national minimum wage threshold of Rs stories from district hospitals and cremation grounds
class tragedy that unfolded over 375 a day in terms of their earnings. After across states. Twitter temporarily restricted the account,
several months. That became a the lockdown, most people got back to twice in one week. Facebook temporarily blocked posts
middle and upper-class tragedy with work, but there was a large increase in calling for the prime minister’s resignation and then said
this year’s second wave. News informal employment. Salaried workers it was a mistake.
pictures have enormous power to set moved into self-employment and daily By the end of April, The Washington Post editorial board
the agenda. Last year’s unforgettable wage work. Agriculture and trade emerged was calling for the government of the United States of
pictures came from migrants hitting as fallback sectors. Women and younger America to stand up for social media platforms being
the road with their families as soon as workers were disproportionately affected censored by the Indian government. “These companies
the lockdown was announced. and many could not return to work even by should stand up for themselves, but the United States and
India’s elite rediscovered migrant the end of the year. Of the women surveyed, its peers should stand up for them, too.” Today, there is a
labour, and public opinion turned 47 per cent suffered permanent job loss rural livelihood story and a rural Covid story, the former
against the insensitivity of a during the lockdown, not returning to work with greater long-term implications. Both had remained
government that forgot to factor in even by the end of 2020. largely invisible until bodies washed up on the banks of
these workers when announcing an As family incomes diminished, some kinds the Ganga as another grim pointer and brought reporters
overnight lockdown. But this year, of food went missing from rural diets and rushing.
trains and buses did not stop amid the hunger raised its head, according to the But something is changing. While both health and labour
regional lockdowns and if migrants Entire oxygen plants were flown across to Delhi as the panel which discussed the report online. correspondents are rare species in the media world,
were taking them to go back to their villages it made international media went to town. One worrying There is now a category of ‘new poor’. Many households Covid’s rural spread has helped to mainstream issues
them less visible. Pictures of homebound workers consequence of this urban and class skewedness as the in India, which are not traditionally poor, are poor now. such as health infrastructure so that television channels
crowding bus and train stations are not quite as heart- social sector is pointing out is that the media coverage is But is that as compelling for the media as a rolling and newspapers alike are fanning out to districts in
wrenching as those of their walking on highways in also skewing donor response, with more money being disaster story? As the founder of the NGO, Goonj, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere to report.
ragged footwear with babies and baggage. When pledged for oxygen than for restoring access to food and observed dryly in The Indian Express, for millions dal Even as the UP government has threatened to use the
migrants hit the road, they were easy to find and follow. livelihoods. This, they say, is impacting relief efforts on chawal is the oxygen needed to survive this pandemic. National Security Act and the Gangster Act against
Now workers of all kinds have become invisible again. the ground even as Covid is making deep rural inroads, But he found it difficult to convince corporate donors to anyone trying to spread fear and panic during the
The focus is elsewhere. Through April and May, the with the government reporting a positivity rate of over 10 tackle hunger in the hinterland. As for migrants who pandemic. Problems such as primary healthcare centres
unfolding oxygen and hospital bed crisis in a city with a per cent in 533 districts in the second week of May. As stayed back in the cities during the second wave, they not having Covid testing facilities in many states or ill-
concentration of journalists ensured that India’s second the Covid narrative shifts from the horror of suppressing faced hunger because the fear of a more virulent equipped Asha workers being despatched to identify
wave of Covid became an international horror story. death statistics in urban India to the challenge of infection has prevented better-off benefactors from symptomatic persons without either protective gear or
Delhi is also where most foreign correspondents and uncovering the enormity of the pandemic in rural India, a undertaking food distribution which they did last year. testing tools are emerging out of their earlier invisibility.
diplomats are located so if coming down heavily on the livelihood disaster is also emerging alongside. The 2021 No food queues, no pictures, and more invisibility. What But, ultimately, media agenda setting will only work if
Narendra Modi government was one consequence, report on the State of Working India released by the kind of action media exposure galvanizes also depends the exposure is sustained and governments respond
galvanizing aid from across the world was another. on how the State responds. The irony was that while positively. Both seem like a very tall order at this point.
EDIT
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: What is moral
is what you feel good after and what is
immoral is what you feel bad after.
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY | MAY 26, 2021 — ERNEST HEMINGWAY

SINCE 1928

The air is still heavy at Auschwitz Time to look at this


UP ‘vikas’ model
FOUNDER EDITOR: S SADANAND tionalism -- having been intoxicated with the lynching of Jews were common under the
pride of language, race and ‘super German Nazi regime. Hitler set up concentration and
blood’ by a demon called Hitler. torture camps in the countries he had in-

Trust is of the essence In Retrospect The world is flooded with books, literature,
photos and video accounts of the two
notorious Nazi concentration camps of
vaded. His Gestapo embarked on counting
Jews and dispatching them to these concen-
tration camps on special trains.
Opinion
�Arun Joshi
in medical practice Auschwitz and Birkenau, near Cracow in
Poland.
In 1938, both Germany and Russia invaded
Poland and grabbed a half each. Hitler em-
�B N Kumar

T
he second world war was nearing its However, this article is my narrative and barked on a similar, ethnic cleansing opera-

N O
othing has impacted human life more than coron- end in April 1945 as the allied forces the photos were shot by my tiny camera tion against the Polish public also. They ne may not agree with the style of functioning
avirus. When it surfaced in China in the latter part of were advancing towards Berlin. when we visited the sites during our trip to were also brought to the Auschwitz and of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader,
2019 and, soon, spread to the far corners of the globe Hitler took his own life in his secret bunker Poland with the then President of India, Dr Birkenau camps for elimination. Raj Thackeray. He once advised migrants from
by the first quarter of 2020, the medical fraternity was as dis- located below the Reich Chancellery on Shankar Dayal Sharma, in 1995. As one enters Auschwitz, an arched grill at Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that they should insist on
mayed as the general public. Few had any clear idea of how April 30. United Germany’s then capital From the Polish capital Warsaw, we drove the entrance gate catches one’s attention – it their respective governments creating jobs within
the virus spread and attacked the human body. The various Berlin was surrendered to the Allies on May to Cracow first. Our bus was crossing bears the words ‘Arbeit macht freie’, a Ger- those states and not force the unemployed to rush
systems of medicine were at sixes and sevens on how to treat 2. On May 7, 1945, the German army com- through beautiful vineyards on green, un- man phrase meaning – ‘Work sets you free’. to Mumbai. Why Mumbai alone? Increasing pressure
the victims of coronavirus. None of their texts dealt with the manders surrendered to the allied forces, even highlands. After lunch in the beautiful What criminal intentions lay hidden behind on urban infrastructure and logistics is of course a
specific virus. Nobody even knew whether the virus was a ending the long war in Europe. city of Cracow, when we began nearing these this seeming declaration of work ethic. national problem. Successive governments across all
natural phenomenon or was created in laboratory conditions In January 1945, Soviet troops had liberat- concentration camps, a shadow of gloom be- The heinous motive was to ‘free’ people of the states have been emphasising on providing
in man’s diabolical quest to perfect biological warfare. Small ed Warsaw, the capital of Poland. On Janu- gan to descend on our hearts and minds. Sen- their very lives. Both camps have a number ‘local jobs’ but doing nothing much about it. Uttar
wonder that, soon, Covid-19 became the one major disease for ary 27, the Red Army freed the world’s sitive minds can feel the air heavy with the of large barracks, rather, huge halls fitted Pradesh has been no different.
which anybody and everybody had a remedy to suggest. It biggest Nazi concentration camp of cries of spirits, who were butchered in flesh with wooden sleepers, where thousands of But the latest trends show that it is trying hard to
could be drinking hot water boiled with ginger, garlic, lemon Auschwitz-Birkenau, revealing to the world and blood all those years ago, sent to gas inmates were accommodated. The blocks shed its ‘Bimaru’ image and retain its labour force.
and turmeric. They might even prescribe steroid tablets, with- the horrors perpetrated there. Around a mil- chambers to die or shot by firing squads or were separated by electric double-barbed According to the latest report by the CMIE (Centre
out as much as batting an eyelid. The tragedy is that such pre- lion people were murdered during a period subjected to hard labour in their starved and wire fences. for Monitoring Indian Economy), the unemployment
scriptions are acted upon, unmindful of the dangers they pose of tyranny but about 9,000 starving prison- malnourished state. Around 15 lakh Jews The railway line used to carry wagons rate in the state had come down to 4.1 per cent on
to the human body. ers were found alive in the camp. and Poles were killed in these camps. loaded with inmates for torture and elimi- February 28, 2021, from 17.5 per cent in 2017. On
On their part, the doctors sought to treat Covid-19 patients A ghastly sight met the eyes of the soldiers nation has also been preserved. A Gestapo the migrant labour crisis, we have seen UP
on the basis of their symptoms. They cannot be blamed be- -- millions of clothing items that once be- police officer on each wagon would divide stretching itself to ensure that all those returning to
cause there is no medicine available that can strike the coro- longed to men, women and children, along the inmates into two groups. Children and the state were dealt with due respect. The state’s
navirus attacking the human body, making vital organs like with 6,350 kilos of human hair. The old destitutes on one side and the young and jobs-for-all policy has proved beneficial for lakhs of
lungs and heart dysfunctional and hastening death. The trial-
Auschwitz museum holds more than 1,00,000 middle-aged on the other. migrant workers who returned to UP from different
and-error method the doctors adopted in their attempt to
pairs of shoes, 12,000 kitchen utensils, 3,800 The first group would be taken to the gas cities. About 11 lakh migrants, including women,
evolve a definitive treatment plan led to laughable discoveries.
suitcases and 350 striped camp garments. chambers. The Nazis made the gas cham- were given jobs in MNREGS works. As many as
It was the doctors in the US who first found that the anti-
The museum also displays 88 pounds of eye bers look like showers. They convinced pris- 62.25 lakh MNREGS labourers were employed on a
malaria drug chloroquine was effective in the treatment of
glasses and hundreds of prosthetic limbs. oners that they were going into the gas single day on June 26, 2020. Result: Not many of
Covid-19. As doctors began using the medicine, they realised,
Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest and chambers to shower. But what came out of those migrants who went to UP have returned to
sooner than later, that it had no medicinal properties against As one enters Auschwitz, an arched
coronavirus. What was not taken into account was the pro-
the deadliest of the extermination camps set the showers was the poisonous gas Zyklon Mumbai or Delhi. Cities like Mumbai are yet to
clivity of the ordinary people-turned-quacks to prescribe
up by Nazi Germany, where millions were grill at the entrance gate catches B, killing everyone inside. A look at the roofs overcome the labour shortage that started during
tortured and murdered, in gas chambers of these chambers shows the pipes were not the migrant crisis. For that matter, even most of the
such medicines. The lax policy that allows medical shops to
while other inmates died after inhuman toil
one’s attention – it bears the words connected to any water supply but to gas security guards of UP origin and employed at
sell even prescription drugs over the counter only heightened ‘Arbeit macht freie’, a German phrase
the problem. and virtually starvation in the notorious cylinders. The bodies of the victims were in- Mumbai housing societies are yet to report back to
If, under these circumstances, patients began to believe holocaust, under the orders of Adolf Hitler. meaning – ‘Work sets you free’. cinerated in Birkenau in four crematoria. duty. So, has UP suddenly become self-sufficient in
more in their fate than the efficacy of the medicines pre- As the Russians liberated Warsaw, the Ger- All the crematoria were powered by electric terms of employment?
scribed, it could not be helped. The doctors did not improve man guards began to evacuate and flee to- furnaces. The Nazis collected kilos of gold Officials say, while battling the pandemic, UP is
matters when they began to rely excessively on a medicine wards German territories. They began to Why were the Polish and Jews were killed from such furnaces, as the Jews and Polish parallelly focusing on development. It is building the
like Remdesivir, which was available only in the black market demolishing the structures there to cover up by Nazis? people had gold dental fillings. country’s largest Rs 30,000 crore Noida International
at 10 to 15 times its market price. No, it was not a wonder drug their crimes, systematically destroying In Germany, Hitler had won the elections The second group was taken to the bar- Greenfield Airport at Jewar, with six runways, spread
against coronavirus, as doctors began to realise gradually. many of their meticulous records of camp with his effective oratory against a weak racks for hard labour until death. They across 5,000 acres. The state government has
Similarly, much reliance was made on transfusion of plasma life. They forced thousands of prisoners to and corrupt government. Gripped with an would die of disease, hunger and malnutri- signed a concessionaire agreement with Yamuna
from Covid-19-cured persons to Covid-19 patients. There was march along with them. But around 9,000 intense hunger for power, Hitler took advan- tion. Very few survived and a few daring International Airport Ltd, SPV of Zurich Airport
no certainty that transfusion of plasma was a sure-shot cure prisoners, including children and women in tage of the single religion and single lan- ones made their escape braving electric International AG, based in Kloten, Switzerland.
against Covid-19. In symptomatic treatment, antibiotics and dire health remained there, with some hid- guage of Germany to galvanise people into barbed wire fences and watch towers. Visi- Then, the series of road works, such as the 341km
steroids were weapons the doctors wielded with some effect. ing, hoping to escape. Many of the Soviet neo-nationalism, embellishing his pitch tors can see the uniforms of these inmates Purvanchal Expressway, 297km Bundelkhand
What they could not have foreseen was that many people were troops have described how those survivors with ideas of the pride of ‘high race’, ‘super displayed on the walls of the barracks. Expressway, 594km Ganga Expressway and 91km
already antibiotic-resistant, as they had been recklessly using considered them gods when they were liber- blood’, language and culture, assisted by the To return back to 1995, President Dr Gorakhpur Expressway. The highway work will not
antibiotics even for minor colds. In fact, India is one of the few ated. When the soldiers followed the scouts corporate world. Shankar Dayal Sharma laid a wreath at the only create employment along the routes but is
countries where antibiotic resistance is widespread, thanks in Birkenau, they were led to a furnace com- The most dreaded act in the name of im- memorial and we accompanying journalists bound to bring in social-economic development. The
mainly to over-the-counter sale of such drugs. plex, another chamber of horrors which proving the super blood of the Nazi race was watched the ceremony with heavy hearts. 1,500km Varanasi-Haldia waterway, said to be the
Steroids have been found to be effective in tackling certain held piles of ash that had once been human the killing of millions of Germans suffering My beautiful interpreter Tanya told me, that only national waterway in India, is proving its utility
health conditions caused by coronavirus. However, there is no bodies. Auschwitz had broad gauge rail con- from various physical disorders, disability the 20th century is known for advancement during the current corona period, as it turns out to
medicine which does not cause a side effect. Use of steroids nection to a terminus, from where Jews and disease. Reeling under their humiliat- in civilisation in all spheres of life but the be one of the safest and most useful ways to
without medical advice can worsen a person’s diabetes and from various parts of Germany were ing defeat in the first world war, Germany people of her generation were still unable to transport vegetables and fruits on a large scale. The
even hasten their death. When people are discouraged from brought in for extermination. At the end of was then in a weak economic state. But the come to terms with how such dastardly bar- Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, which has
going to hospital except in an emergency, they are tempted to the war, these developments became known Jewish community was still flourishing and baric acts were committed by a so-called faced 11 droughts in the last two decades, is
use the prescription for one patient as a prescription for an- to the rest of the world. How Germany was controlling businesses. leader-turned-genocidal maniac just decades undergoing a sea of change in terms of availability
other, little knowing that doses and medicines vary from per- divided into East and West Germany by a Hitler began targeting this community to before. I had to agree with Tanya, telling her of water, through some ground-breaking efforts for
son to person. If a penicillin-allergic patient uses a medicine wall passing through Berlin. divert people's mind from real problems. He history could not be changed, as it is a chron- rainwater harvesting and management.
that contains penicillin, it can even be fatal. No such thoughts The two Germanys were unified on Octo- incited the ordinary German against Jews icle of facts and events but the following gen- State investor summits bring in a flood of promises
ever crossed the minds of those who used others’ prescription ber 3, 1990, by demolishing the Berlin Wall. to attain his own political goal of complete erations can always take lessons from it, to and MoUs. But UP says it has a different story. While
to cure their own coronavirus problem. Many years after the Holocaust, there are dominance. Expansionism rides in the check recurrence in the future. The greed MoUs have been signed for Rs 4.68 lakh crore at a
Since all this happened in the public domain, with social me- Germans who still feel ashamed of being minds of ambitious rulers. Hitler began in- and lust for power drives people mad. recent investor summit, work has already started on
dia activists playing up what they perceive as the inadequa- German, thinking of the world's most vading countries, saying Germany needed projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore. Even during the
cies of the medical fraternity, there is now a trust deficit in the heinous genocidal crime -- of exterminating more land to settle its super race. The writer formerly worked with AIR and has pandemic, UP began working on proposals on
health sector. Of course, this does not mean any underesti- 15 lakh people in the name of pseudo-na- Atrocities, torture, public abuse and the travelled the world projects worth more than Rs 50,000 crore. We hear
mation of the stellar role played by the health workers, espe- big brands such as Microsoft, Samsung, Lulu, Ikea
cially doctors and nurses, in the war against coronavirus. The and Hiranandani are entering UP, as the state
so-called yoga expert, Baba Ramdev, who presides over a mul- The burden of our failure to connect to lakhs of hearing-impaired people should lie heavily upon our conscience improved its ease-of-doing business ranking to No.
ti-billion rupee business empire, made matters worse when he 2, from the previous 12.
questioned the very rationale of allopathic medicine, which
has stood the test of time for hundreds of years. What should
not be forgotten in all this is that, over the last one-and-a-half
years, the doctors in India have gained enough experience in
The heart is for hearing those that can’t The one district–one product scheme designed by
the Centre finds a new interesting twist in UP. There
are many UP products that are found nowhere else
– like the ancient and nutritious ‘Kala namak’ rice,
treating Covid-19. Of course, it needs to be perfected, just as aghast at his audacity, when he began ges- teach them myself.” Having studied sign lan- the rare and intriguing wheat-stalk craft, world-
sure-shot medicines like chloroquine and rifampicin were in- turing with his hands and fingers. I then re- guage, she began teaching the students basic famous chikankari and zari-zardozi work on clothes
vented. Like Rome, no medicine was made in a day! alised he was hearing-impaired. As I looked English, science, and maths. and the intricate and stunning horn and bone work
Viewpoint around helplessly, a young female police of-
ficer came up to us. She gestured to him to
Realising that academic schools were of lit-
tle use to these students who were too old to
that uses the remains of dead animals rather than
live ones, a nature-friendly replacement for ivory.
WEDNESDAY'S SWIPE
�Alka Jain show his ticket, held his hand and guided be admitted, she started a ‘Multi Skills Cen- Many of these products are GI-tagged, which means
him towards a platform, showed him her tre for the Deaf (MSCD)’. Skills like paint- they are certified as being specific to that region in
watch and then pointed towards a train. ing, cooking, stitching, and handicrafts are Uttar Pradesh. The government aims to preserve the

A
n enthusiastic author once told me The youth thanked her and set off. I was re- taught here, with help from her parents, ex- unique crafts, increase incomes and employment
that stories are strewn everywhere. lieved and ashamed at once. Relieved, for the tended family and friends. Some of Puneet’s and work on skill development to face global
Much depends on whether we choose youth had been guided so well and ashamed friends help her mission by giving her sale competition.
to narrate them or not, as, in search of the at having been reminded of the uselessness counters at exhibitions and events. The The government is running Mission Rojgar to
extraordinary, we sift and leave out exem- of my communication skills once again. MSCD has also started making meagre prof- provide jobs to the youth of the state. Five lakh
plary deeds that cross our paths every day. I On my journey back, I remembered Puneet’s its. On one of my visits, Puneet showed me youths have been employed in start-up units,
began looking around in earnest and was words, “Learning the basics of the Indian Sign the sewing machine purchased from profits whereas more than three lakh youths have been
pleasantly surprised to discover the brilliant Language should be made compulsory for made at a handicrafts stall. given jobs in large industrial units.
tales dotting my horizon, ready to see the school children. If it is important to acquire She has been carefully training her more Remember, legislative assembly elections are due
light of the day. several foreign tongues, why are we never academically inclined wards, coaching them in Uttar Pradesh in less than a year and CM Yogi
One such story looked straight into my eyes asked to equip ourselves with sign language for competitive exams. She tells me that there Adityanath will be seeking a second term. He cannot
on a bright day. I had gone to meet Puneet at instead? Are we not responsible for including are only 388 schools for the deaf in India. Not afford to take any steps that could boomerang. The
her school for the deaf, to buy crafts made by in our fold those who are different?” all deaf students can afford the accommoda- West Bengal election results show that the Amit
her students. There she was, sitting with a So Puneet it is, who will be the hero of my tion and teaching fees at these hostels. Shah template strategy would not work. The
group closely huddled on the floor. She greet- story today. Puneet requested people to fund students’ Trinamool Congress showed grassroots do matter.
ed me with her trademark enthusiasm. As we education at centres at Bhopal, Delhi, and In- Yogi has to focus on development – the ‘vikas’
talked, we discussed why the word ‘dumb’ ac- dore when they surpassed her sign language model that Modi talks about and the infrastructure
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR companies the expression ‘deaf ’.
Puneet’s twinkling eyes spoke before she
did. “The deaf are not dumb. Why should I
proficiency and required further education.
She also requested placements. Some of her
students cleared competitive exams, while a
model that Nitin Gadkari implements.
Has Yogi been able to take Covid by the horns?
The World Health Organisation reports on its
call it a Deaf and Dumb School? These kids few have also acquired good jobs. But there website that Uttar Pradesh is going to the last mile
They just don’t care are as normal as other children. They only are thousands of hearing-impaired students to stop Covid. Government teams have moved
have a language barrier and cannot under- who do not have godmothers like her; as per across 97,941 villages in 75 districts over five days,
Ref.: ‘Virus can wait, must go on increasing the price of stand our spoken words because they cannot the 2011 Census, the total population of the from May 5, in India’s most populous state with 230
control Twitter first’ (May petroleum products hear! And, as they can’t hear, they can’t hearing impaired in India is about 50 lakh. million people.
25). It seems that the Central unabashedly as a daily speak. This is all the world needs, to label Sadly, a vast majority of parents of hearing- The WHO was coordinating this till the
government has not learnt ritual. This has increased them ‘deaf and dumb! Imagine the efforts impaired children have also not learnt sign preparation of the final report. The ‘Mera Gaon
any lessons despite grave the travel costs and the price they have to put in each day to communicate Puneet runs a school for the hearing im- language. The ridicule and prejudice of the Corona Mukt Gaon’ campaign is focusing on an
criticism from all quarters, of of essential commodities. their feelings and ideas to the hearing com- paired in Jhansi, a small nondescript city of world towards those who cannot hear needs aggressive test, trace and treat strategy. The NITI
including the courts and Here they are, bothered munity.” I listened, rendered somewhat India, thriving on the fame of its valiant no words. The burden of our failure to con- Aayog’s grim predictions about Uttar Pradesh
foreign media about its about their sagging image dumb and speechless. queen, Rani Lakshmibai. She had a soft cor- nect to lakhs of hearing-impaired people regarding the spike in cases by the end of April
handling of the pandemic. and the defeat in the “The deaf have their own sign language in ner for her cousin, a child with special should lie heavily upon our conscience. have turned out to be wrong. The Aayog had
They are more interested in panchayat polls in UP, which which they communicate perfectly. It is our needs, with whom she shared a divine bond Puneet dreams of opening a primary forecast that the state would report, on average,
image-building rather than goes to the polls next year. fault that we do not know their language. We, and this inspired her to do something for school for the deaf in Jhansi. But she is wor- 119,000 cases daily by April 30, leaving even Delhi
vaccine procurement and Never before have we seen a the ‘normal’ people, choose to remain dumb other special-needs children, too. She started ried because India only has 250 certified and Maharashtra far behind in terms of number of
other medical equipment government so callous, only throughout our lives and mute our senses by a preschool that was an instant hit with the sign language interpreters, a smattering, if cases, but thankfully, this did not happen. On the
required to control the interested in capturing deciding not to pick up a few expressions kids. It was here that I met her for the first one considers the huge demand. Sadly, contrary, the state has made a drastic improvement
pandemic. As if people are power, citizens’ welfare be from their beautiful language. Vanity in- time, having entrusted my kid in her care. while people are kind enough to offer funds in the past 20 days, to reduce the numbers from
not suffering enough, they damned. K R Suresh deed! We are frustrated with them while But after a few years, Puneet closed down once in a while, no one has ever volunteered 38,000 to 7,000 daily, Yogi says.
they patiently toil all their lives to be under- her school and began volunteering at a spe- to learn sign language and let their hands do Fudging data? Not possible, says his government
stood and accepted. We are dumb, while they, cial school, where she was allowed to work the talking. machinery, as the numbers are fed into a Centrally
Foot in the mouth are only deaf,” Puneet declared. with deaf students. She then learnt that In- It would be wishful thinking to hope that monitored system. The officials do not get rattled at
Ref.: ‘Ramdev’s 25 posers for allopaths’ (May 25). Ramdev has Suddenly, I was looking at myself and my dia has the largest number of hearing-im- schools make the Indian Sign Language the criticism and say “We know our facts. Positivity
put his foot in his mouth, a feat which he is quite capable of doctorate in mockery. No one had ever paired in the world. At that particular (ISL) a mandatory subject and thereby facil- rate was high and recovery rate was low, but in the
literally also. He should remember that the Covid vaccines taught me that when I had spent hours pol- school, she experienced the challenges these itate the natural inclusion of the hearing-im- last 20 days, as many as 2.04 lakh people have
and other drugs for treating the Covid patients have been ishing my literary skills, a bit of effort students faced. They lacked formal educa- paired into the hearing community. Perhaps, recovered and discharged from hospitals across the
manufactured indigenously and their efficacy has been tested should have also been directed towards tion and had to take exams in a language we, the people, will take responsibility. state.” While dealing with the second wave of
with trials (and tribulations) by the medical fraternity. While learning the sign language that works so they could not hear and hence, automatical- As Peter Drucker says, ‘The most impor- Covid-19, the state has set up at least 100
withdrawing his statement he launched another diatribe, wonderfully for my hearing-impaired ly, could not speak. However, they were ex- tant thing in communication is hearing paediatric beds in every district, which has been
saying that allopathy has offered no permanent cure for brethren. Why should they be forced to learn pected to speak and copy text without un- what isn’t said’. Those who cannot hear will appreciated by paediatricians such as Dr Salman
ailments such as diabetes, thyroid, arthritis colitis, asthma, my speech while I made no effort to under- derstanding. perhaps never voice out our shortcomings. Khan of Lucknow’s Dufferin Hospital.
liver cirrhosis and others. Why is his Patanjali not coming stand theirs? Puneet was so troubled by this that she de- But clearly, it’s time we paid attention to For all these efforts, Team Yogi deserves to be
out with an alternative vaccine to fight the virus? Why was Puneet’s words kept haunting me, and then cided to learn sign language and overcome what they have left unsaid. given a fair chance to prove itself and it is literally
he silent for so long? Where is his regimen of breathing something happened to drive home their im- this communication barrier. “There are so running against time to show some results. They
exercises to mitigate the suffering of Covid patients? I hope port. It so happened that I was at New Delhi many schools and teachers for regular kids,” The writer is Assistant Professor of English, Rani have just eight months to go before the elections.
the yoga guru has a ‘Ram Baan’ he can pull out. Railway Station, and suddenly, a young man she smiles, “but hardly any for the deaf. So, I Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi.
Hemant Hemmady tapped my shoulder. I turned back angrily, realised I had to learn the language and She may be reached at: Alka28jain@gmail.com The writer is a Mumbai-based media professional
Letters to the editor should be sent to: The Free Press Journal, Free Press House, Free Press Journal Marg, 215 Nariman Point, Mumbai. 400021; Fax: 69028020, e-mail: mail@fpj.co.in; Type letter, leave space, write your views and name. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 EDIT DELHI WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2021

Balancing key in social media curbs


hosted by them.
As the debate over the compliance regulations rages,
Facebook said on Tuesday that it aims to comply with
the new norms and is in discussion with the govern-

A s the deadline for complying with the new regu-


lations for big social media firms approaches, con-
frontation of some degree seems to be the order of
sources in the know said that most social media gi-
ants are yet to comply with the new regulations. Only
india-born Koo has appointed a resident grievance
ment over a few issues. Whatever may be the outcome
of these discussions, the faceoff between the indian
government and significant social media platforms is
the day. On February 25 this year, the Centre an- officer, a chief compliance officer and a nodal contact not ruled out. Over the years, these platforms have
nounced rules to curb misuse of social media plat-
forms and regulate the OTT platforms. These guide-
lines covered the likes of Facebook, WhatsApp,
person yet. social media giants like Facebook, Twitter
and WhatsApp are yet to comply with these regula-
tions. Meanwhile, raids on the Twitter office in new
emerged as one of the biggest influencers of public
policy across the world. These platforms are also in-
creasingly being used by normal citizens to post their
Can State governments
Twitter, Koo, and all OTT platforms. According to the
regulations, all significant social media intermediaries
have to appoint a chief compliance officer, nodal con-
Delhi on May 24 have made matters worse. The com-
pany premises were raided after Twitter had marked
one of the tweets of BJP spokesperson sambit Patra
views and grievances. During this pandemic period,
emergency calls for oxygen, hospital beds, blood
plasma and key drugs is a case in point. Though the
do better in procuring
tact person, resident grievance officer for addressing
the concerns of aggrieved persons or institutions. The
rule also mandates that each of these people have to
as ‘manipulated media.’
The guidelines mandate that if these significant so-
cial media platforms don’t comply with the new reg-
Jury is still divided whether such non-government
organisations should be regulated or not and if yes, to
what extent, the indian government like many other
vaccine and avoid wastage?
reside in india. Apart from these rules, social media ulations, they may lose their status and protections nations across Europe and Asia wants to put a check NAGARAJU THOTA ,PRANESH BHARGAVA AND ACV SUBRAHMANYAM
intermediaries need to have a physical contact address as intermediaries and may become liable for criminal on the influence of these platforms. While the out-
in india published on its website or mobile application
or both. The central government gave three months
time period for complying with these regulations
action as per the existing laws of india. Currently,
these platforms known as intermediaries have been
exempted from liabilities under section 79 of the in-
come of the current confrontation will play out in the
near future, it will be wise to take a middle path where
accountability and free expression can be accommo-
P hAsE-3 vaccination rules and regulations, released by the Govern-
ment of india (GOi) on April 19, mention two channels of procure-
ment and distribution of vaccines from indian vaccine manufacturers.
which ended on May 25. formation Technology Act, for any third-party content dated under one roof. GOi receives 50 per cent of the monthly vaccine production from the
manufacturers, and distributes it to the states and union Territories on
the basis of their performance, infection rate, and the record of wastage
of the prior allocation. This share gets used to vaccinate the healthcare

Anandayya: The harbinger of happiness?


workers, front line workers and all citizens aged above 45 years. The
manufacturers can sell the other 50 per cent doses in the open market
to the state governments, private hospitals and industrial establishments.
This policy was effectively implemented from May 1 onwards.
Three important take-aways from this release are: (i) although the

F
MOOT POINT ROM no- Anandayya, a self-claimed Ayurvedic med- central government itself has not mentioned anything about the na-
vember 17, ical practitioner from an obscure place Kr- tionwide lockdown, the state governments have the option to take various
2019, the day ishnapatnam, is the cynosure of all eyes. lockdown measures; (ii) the allocation of GOi procured vaccines will
a 55-year-old from in an age when everyone tries to claim take the into consideration the wastage of doses by the state govern-
hubei province in credit and applies for patents, howsoever ments; and (iii) the state governments have the choice of buying the
China approached miniscule his invention, the greatness of vaccines directly from the indian and foreign manufacturers to fulfil
doctors with Covid- this man is that he has revealed the ingre- the demands within their states.
19 symptoms, the dients that go into the preparation without Compensating the central government’s reluctance in imposing a na-
health and well-be- any qualms and inhibition. tion-wide lockdown,most of the state governments have imposed the
ing of every single Putting to shade the prophets of doom, state-level lockdownsto combat the second-wave, while a couple of states
Dr Ramu individual on thousands of people are rushing to Krish- have elected for partial lock-
Suravajjula Planet Earth has napatnam. The concoction of herbal med- The only practical way forward is to downs, weekend and night cur-
been under threat. icine has reportedly revitalised individuals, come up with a flexible contract fews. With an option to buy vac-
The one-point agenda of scientists, re- who were in near-comatose state following that allows for a phase-wise cines independently, many state
searchers, doctors, and international agen- plummeted levels of oxygen saturation. delivery of the required number of governments have swiftly moved
cies is to bend the Covid curve. The eye drops given by Anandayya are doses over an extended period of to negotiate the procurement of
india wowed the world with its stringent being hailed as being nothing short of a time to the state governments. doses with the indian vaccine
measures, including the toughest lockdown miracle. Going by innumerable social me- Additionally, the contract should manufactures.some have ad-
last year. it was such a pioneering bench- dia posts and clippings, most of them by have the facility that if there is vanced to inviting the tenders
mark that even super powers like the usA the ‘beneficiaries’, the healing powers of agnostic tests, awful costs, unbearable pro- medicine was in vogue 60,000 years ago in lower than expected consumption from foreign manufacturers, yet
took inspiration from the ‘indian model’ the medicine are unimaginably quick. The cedures, suspected side-effects or a com- iraq and 8,000 years ago in China, re- of doses in the previous phases, there are others which have are
to halt the macabre. india’s reputation sky- best part of this medicine, and one which bination of all. For every ailment, there are searchers said. Abundant literature is avail-
then the state governments may yet to make any plan.since the
rocketed, thanks to the jet-speed with comes as a slap on the face of the material- alternative medical experts who are as pop- able in indian scriptures too. Kerala, Com- state governments have no com-
which vaccines were invented. istic, profit-minded hospitals is that it is ular, if not more, as modern medicine prac- munist’s fiefdom, is in the forefront of
cancel or reduce the size of the mon guiding principles or a uni-
Applauds, however, were to be short- given free of cost as a humanitarian ges- titioners. Many people adopt alternative Ayurveda treatments. orders for subsequent phases, with form strategy for procurement
lived. Attribute it to callousness or foolish- ture. it has brought a new lease of life into medical systems, after being disillusioned According to an estimate, india pos- a prior notice to the manufacturer. from the manufacturers and dis-
ness of the highest policy-makers, we were the helpless victims of private and corpo- with allopathy. sesses almost eight per cent of the biodi- This will allow significant reduction tribution of the vaccines, there is
caught off-guard when the enemy revisited rate medical system. Many argue that Anandayya’s medicine, versity of the world with around 1,26,000 in the wastage of doses a clear and present danger of the
in a more deadly manner in the form of a Caught unawares by the sudden surge notwithstanding the much-needed scien- species. Of the about 400 families of flow- vaccine drive becoming mis-co-
second wave. The governments’ ill-pre- of patients rushing to Krishnapatnam tific back up or data analysis, is a big hit be- ering plants in the world, at least 315 are ordinated, and leading to the problem of unfortunate wastage of vaccine.
paredness was exposed in the absence of straight from iCus, the state government cause of the failure of modern medical sys- reportedly native to india.isn’t that a great since wastage is a key criterion in central government’s allocation of
proper infrastructure and suitable med- has swung into action. Apparently con- tem. According to them, allopathic treasure for Ayurvedic medicine system? vaccines to the states, it is necessary that the state governments minimise
ication to deal with the pandemic. From vinced by the nellore District Magistrate’s medicine for Covid is still an illusion as What is harm in encouraging unsung he- the vaccine wastage while procuring the doses independently, and dis-
the day a Wuhan-returned 20-year-old report that states that the medicines have people are suffering in the absence of a re- roes like Anandayya? tributing them the way they deem fit. some issues can already be foreseen
Kerala woman registered herself at Thris- not shown any visible side-effects, the Ja- liable protocol. Today’s medicine (Ex: We can draw the following points from in this regard. For example, to decrease the cost of vaccination through
sur general hospital as the country’s first gan Mohan Reddy government is report- Remdesiver) or method (ex: Plasma) are Anandayya’s invention: economies of scale, the state governments will try to buy the vaccines in
Covid-19 case on January 27, 2020, the edly planning to make it available to its tomorrow’s ‘no-no’ as new diseases like 1. Blind rejection is as foolish as blind bulk to cover all of its non-vaccinated population through a common
virus cut short the lives of one million in- people after getting formal approvals from black fungus are erupting from nowhere faith. Allopathic system should accord contract or a single contract.The problem is that given the large popula-
dians, saysThe Economist. competent medical authorities. adding to the fears of the public and the importance and show respect to other tion, and the limited, even though improving, vaccine manufacturing
Amidst the gigantic humanitarian med- A top official of the Department of healthcare community, as a whole. systems. Allopathic doctors shouldn’t capabilities currently, no indian manufacturer might be able to deliver
ical crisis, the widely-accepted allopathic Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy, unani, Given the ambiguity and uncertainty, see Anandayya’s phenomenon as an im- theentirety of the demanded quantity immediately. so, even if in theory
medicine, a system in which medical doc- siddha and homeopathy (AYush) prima- there is no harm in taking Anandayya med- pediment to their ways of dealing things the state governments have the means to procure and vaccinate in one
tors and other healthcare professionals facie has given a virtual clean chit while icine since it is reportedly curing all ail- 2. inter-disciplinary rivalry should be es- go,on the ground, they are limited to onlya time-bound phase-wise vac-
treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, averring that the ingredients used in the ments related to Covid-19. The AYush chewed; knowledge sharing and regular cination over a longer time.
radiation or surgery, has come under the medicine are not at all harmful, albeit they ministry had already launched a campaign dialogue among all medical systems Another issue is that of the vaccine hesitancy. since most state gov-
scanner.Though this system is better could be classified as ‘ayurvedic medicine.’ to distribute poly herbal ayurvedic drug should be the order of the day ernments have imposed full or partial lockdowns, the infection rate will
equipped with data and case studies, com- it may be called as an ‘indigenous’ (naatu AYush 64 and sidha medicine Kabasura 3. Every effort should be made to reduce come down even if the vaccination itself has not picked up speed.This
pared to last year’s groping in the dark sit- in Telugu) medicine. Well what’s in a name! Kudineer to Covid-19 patients in home iso- the death rate and pain by way of vig- falling rate of infection may erode away the sense of urgency and instil a
uation, no protocol proved effective to con- The country’s premier scientific body, in- lation (mild to moderate cases). The effi- orous research and data-sharing to deal lull in the minds of public and administration. This may lead to a large
tain the spread and fatalities. Even as dian Council of Medical Research (iCMR), cacy of these drugs has been proved with the global humanitarian crisis proportion of the state’s population hesitant in takingthe vaccine pro-
indigenous vaccines are unavailable for all is expected to give its opinion on this med- through robust multi-centre clinical trials, 4. The common goal of all medical sys- vided by the state governments.
indians, the trial-and-error method is tak- icine soon. a ministry statement claimed, thereby giv- tems should be reducing the cost of di- To compound to the aforementioned problems, if a better vaccine is
ing a heavy toll leading to unimaginable Anandayya’s medicine is in for a severe ing enough scope to believe that indian agnostics and treatment because people launched in the market,even as the vaccination programme is going on,
devastation, destruction and distress. scrutiny by allopathic doctors, rationalists herbs have the medicinal value to deal with are vexed with exorbitant medical ex- the willing vaccine-takers may want to switch to the new vaccine, instead
The most inhuman aspect of the dance and other scientific-tempered activists. the virus. penses. of continuing with the already procured stock of the vaccines. This will
of death is the failure of the indian health- They rubbished the ‘miracle medicine’ as herbalism, in fact, is not new to human 5. Anandayya’s selflessness is worth-em- lead to further non-consumption of the state government’s vaccines.
care system. Lack of infrastructure and bogus and called for scientific substantia- beings and it should not be seen as being ulating! it is a big lesson for the money- This is not good, because the vaccines have a limited shelf-life, after
wherewithal is a small part of the larger tion and approval. i wish to argue in favour anti-science. it is a traditional medicinal minded foursome-medical equipment which the vaccines must be discarded.if the vaccines are not consumed
canvas. The worst part is the governments’ of Anandayya and call for encouraging him or folk medicine practice based on the use manufacturers, pharmaceutical com- because of the aforementioned reasons, it will lead to alarge-scale wastage
failure to rein in corporate and private hos- to continue his mission, but in a more or- of plants and their extracts. it is estimated panies, corporate hospitals and ‘com- of vaccine in india.
pitals that are brazenly committing day- ganised and scientifically-woven manner. that there are about 3,50,000 species of mercially-inclined’ doctors. As mentioned earlier, ideally, the state governments would want to
light robbery and getting away with it. A First of all, one should not downgrade plants, including seed plants, bryophytes, Rig-Veda aptly sums up limitless open come up with special contracts toget all the required doses delivered in
fear psychosis is haunting every household, the allopathic medical system just to high- and ferns, among which 2,87,655 species mindedness: Let noble thoughts come to one go, and subsequently implement the mass vaccination drive in a
thanks to abnormal virus and medical bills. light Anandayya’s reported triumph. Al- have been identified, according to a paper us from every side (Aanobhadrakrtavo yan- single phase. however, as noted earlier, this option has feasibility issues.
Even as people are suffering from lopathy has made giant strides with mind- published by si-Yuan Pan, Gerhard tuvishwatah). As of now, the manufacturers are not sitting on pile of excess vaccines
breathlessness due to the pandemic and boggling innovations and praiseworthy Litscher and others in 2004. it is time we put it in practice and make that can be delivered in one go. Additionally, the number of vaccines
infodemic, like a whiff of fresh air comes a technological advancements. Modern Written records about medicinal plants the world a more liveable place without that can be produced per day is not high enough to meet the requirements
humble soul from nellore district,who medical practitioners are doing their best date back at least 5,000 years to the sume- pain and suffering. of large and medium sized states in india. Due to this, the acquisition of
seems to have discovered a near-magic po- to ensure the overall well-being of people. rians, who described well-established me- (The author, a PhD in Communication population-sized consignments of doses in a short span of time, is out
tion to flatten the Covid curve with the help Despite this, however, it is true that a large dicinal uses for such plants as laurel, car- and Journalism, is a senior journalist, of the question. The only practical way forward is to come up with a
of locally available herbs. section of people is skeptical about this sys- away, and thyme. Archaeological studies journalism educator and communication flexible contract that allows for a phase-wise delivery of the required
The ‘miracle medicine’ inventor Bonigi tem, perhaps because of a plethora of di- have shown that the practice of herbal consultant) number of doses over an extended period of time to the state govern-
ments. Additionally, the contract should have the facility that if there is
lower than expected consumption of doses in the previous phases, then
LETTERS structive opinion and idea. The travails of the pandemic
are not confined to india alone; but are a global reality.
article " Bail to Raju exposes credibility of AP"( hans in-
dia, 25 May), the verdict of the honourable apex court, in
the state governments may cancel or reduce the size of the orders for
subsequent phases, with a prior notice to the manufacturer. This will
india is doing far better in the prevailing circumstances granting conditional bail to RRR, is seen by the Telugu allow significant reduction in the wastage of doses.
Support the Centre in its efforts by way of producing its own Covid vaccine to be able to
help other countries in this regard – which the so called
people in the state, as a lesson on political etiquette, and
a warning to the elected representatives with "barbed
Given the asymmetric lockdown and preventative measures adopted
by the various state governments, it is not inconceivable that instead of

T his refers to the write up ‘Reality is gracious’ by Tal-


itha Cherian Mathew. There is no doubt that the
present world is passing through a grim and gloomy sit-
rich and developed countries are proving to be increas-
ingly selfish to be needlessly storing vast quantities of
vaccines, beyond the legitimate requirement of their
tongue" . Be it LOP or the MP/ MLA, or the ministers ,
they are supposed to maintain decency and decorum in
their political statements and public speaking. Being a
the whole country facing a Covid wave in unison, the cases surge in few
states. in such a scenario, these surging states would require more doses
than they had ordered in the ongoing and upcoming phases. The manu-
uation – with news pouring out from all quarters to be need. MP, one is expected to talk and walk like a parliamentar- facturer may find it impossible to fulfil this sudden additional demand,
equally discouraging and dull as more and more people S Lakshmi, hyderabad ian ,but not otherwise. leaving the state in a vaccine crunch.
all over the world are gasping for a whiff of life sustaining Further , the orders of the apex court are an eye opener On the other hand, some other states with better lockdown and pre-
oxygen that the Almighty God provided us to all that has to a section of media to do it's legitimate duty with utmost ventative measures, or dwindled public willingness to get the vaccines,
been sustaining us, even without aware of this very Recipe for disaster impartiality. Therefore , in the final analysis, ,the bail to may find themselves holding on to the stocks of unused vaccines. Because
truth.The Centre and state governments are doing their
possible best in procuring and distributing the medical
oxygen by every possible source and being delivered by
D R Bharat Jhunjhunwala's " Taking loans will not pull
us out of Pandemic" clearly shows that indian econ-
omy is on a weak wicket due to heavy debt. But the reme-
MP RRR, is not a setback, but a wake-up call for political
etiquette, and to end hate filled abusive language used
in political discourse in AP today, mainly by the defeated
of the limited shelf-life of vaccines, such unused stocks may be facing
the condemnation to waste. in such a scenario,a manufacturer who sells
to multiple state governments, may procure the excess stock from one
available means. To be critical of the conduct of the au- dies suggested by him are a sure-fire recipe for fall of gov- and disgruntled political parties and their leaders. state government and provide it to the other one in dire and immediate
thorities is pretty easy which will amount to severing ernment. Already people are groaning under the high P H Hema Sagar, secunderabad need, meanwhile continuing to create fresh doses for replacement of
the last vestige of connection, in terms of rational be- prices of petrol and diesel. The professor is suggesting a the stocks in the state that has just shed its excess stock.
havior and constructive criticism. The stories of Japan, further increase to make the retail price of petrol Rs 150 This kind of mechanism with the common manufacturer at the helm
Germany, and Britain who’s impressive comeback after per litre. Diesel also is to be increased likewise. This will Brazen profiteering of coordination will simultaneously meet the extra demand while avoid-
the devastating hit they took in the second World War
is a role model for any country that is serious about show-
ing way to the world in terms of revival and regeneration
break the back of middle class who are already burdened.
To add to the misery he had suggested slashing of the
salaries of government salaries. Even if they have merit.
C OunTLEss corruption cases in many hospitals,
medical services and doctors have been reported
during this Corona pandemic. But, The indian Medical
ing the waste of unused stock on the shelf, and avoiding the excess pres-
sure on the manufacturer. This is the strength of the second strategy.
To summarise, while the economics of scale indicate that a bulk pro-
from the dismal situation. This is a true demonstration these are not workable solutions. Association(iMA) has not taken any hardcore action curement provides the least cost solution and time-bound vaccination,
to the collective will and determination of people of these instead, i suggest that the salaries of people’s represen- against its own institutions. however, when Yoga Guru it is pertinent that state governments can achieve better results by
countries who are motivated by sheer patriotism and tatives may be reduced to bare minimum. We know that Baba Ramdev made comments on Allopathy, the iMA procuring vaccines in a phased manner. They not only reduce the risk
nationalism to rebuild the country. is this true of india? most of this class are filthy rich. Professor's last line is erupted strongly. sadly, the government also is not ready of losing out on having effective vaccines down the line, but also benefit
When the Opposition is not in business its main role is poignantly true- it is a shame that supplier of the vaccines to encourage Ayurveda practitioners to come up with from minimizing the vaccine wastage. The old adage, one should not
to talk ill of the Government, and people in the country to the world is importing vaccines for her own use. medicines for Corona. The reality is, the profit of the place all their eggs in one basket, is more apt today in this situation
will be at a loss whether these political parties are part Vinay Bhushan Bhagwaty, hyderabad medical industry surged like a skyrocket in this pandemic, than ever.
of the indian Republic or the representatives of an en- and who wants to lose that business? (The views expressed in the article are personal and do not represent
emy country working against the interests of india. Even Prasanna Venkatapur, hyderabad the views of the organisations to which the authors
the citizens of the country must not be carried away by Raju bail, an eye-opener belong. The authors are Asst. Professor - Economics & Finance
the mentality and mindset of the Opposition to trust and
believe that comes out of the mouth of these irresponsi-
ble political parties who have less to suggest by way con-
i T is unfair to view every action of the AP government
in negative and uncharitable light. Contrary to the con-
sidered opinion of the legal luminary,expressed in the
thehansreader@gmail.com
and Asst. Professor - Humanities - BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus and
Research Scholar - School of Economics -
University of Hyderabad, respectively)
08 NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
MAY 26, 2021

Opinion
{ BEYOND THE BITE }

E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Rajdeep Sardesai

{ OUR TAKE }

On Twitter, For PM Modi, the


a self-goal
Delhi Police’s ‘visit’ to Twitter offices
seven-year itch As he completes seven years in with rising prices, a faltering econ-
was wrong and will be counterproductive Seven years into their office on May 26, there are visible omy and growing political unrest, cul-
terms as PM, Nehru, signs that the halo is losing its sheen. minating in the dark hour of the To believe that the Modi era is coming to an end would be foolhardy. The
Call it the seven-year itch, or more Emergency. Manmohan Singh too durability of Modi’s appeal is dependent on the disjointed state of the

O
n Monday night, two teams of the special Indira and Manmohan appropriately the one-year virus, but was fatally besieged by the anti-cor- Opposition. But complacency is a dangerous attitude in public life HT
cell of Delhi Police “visited” the offices of
Singh faced political the PM is not quite the indomitable ruption Anna movement in 2011,
Twitter India in Delhi and Gurugram. The presence of even nine months ago. seven years after becoming the “acci- rising flames in crematoriums make famously claimed that he been called
objective was to ostensibly give a notice to setbacks. It is now Modi’s While a year ago, his serial tele- dental” PM. public relations exercises look terribly by “Ma Ganga”. Today, as the dead
the company, and seek an explanation for why it moment of truth vised addresses to the nation were
similar to an all-powerful general
Modi, too, now faces his moment of
truth. His initial appeal was drawn
jarring, insensitive distractions. And
the misuse of agencies in West Bengal
wash up on the Ganga’s banks, the
stench of unclaimed bodies is a
tagged a tweet by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

I
n August 2020, when a Mood of leading the citizenry into a self-pro- from his claim to being an anti-estab- appears even more like a sore loser’s reminder of a putrefying political sys-
spokesperson, Sambit Patra, as “manipulated the Nation poll showed Prime claimed Mahabharat-like war against lishment folk hero, a man from hum- attempt to destabilise political rivals tem where the citizens were promised
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Covid-19, his less-assured public pres- ble origins who combined religio-na- at a time when unity and consensus- so much more than what was deliv-
media”. The tweet in question concerns a “toolkit”, popularity still rock solid, a sen- ence now betrays unease and uncer- tionalist zeal with the image of an building is the need of the hour. ered. The headline-grabbing dream
outlining how the government can be cornered for ior Congress leader rang me up tainty in the face of unimaginable anti-corruption crusader and a devel- The PM still enjoys a considerable merchant of 2014 must now trans-
its pandemic management. The BJP has claimed that in anger: “Why are you running grief. A year ago, the PM could opment icon. For seven years, this reservoir of goodwill. To believe that form himself into a nuts-and-bolts cri-
these farzi (false) polls? So much dis- demand obedience to his “stay at image has been artfully managed, a the Modi era is coming to an abrupt sis manager to ensure that his govern-
this is a Congress party document, which shows how tress after the lockdown and you godi home” instruction; today, even his teflon-like coating ensuring that no end would be foolhardy and akin to ment, too, like the ones led by other
the Opposition is cynically leveraging a human (pliant) media people are still trapped tears don’t seem to move those who blame ever stuck to it. The Covid-19 making the same mistake that the PMs in their seventh year, is not
tragedy. The Congress has rejected the allegation, in Modi mania.” A few months later, have witnessed a brazen disregard for surge is the first time that the glossy Congress leader made last August pushed into ventilator mode.
when the National Democratic Alli- Covid protocols while seeking votes protective veil around the PM’s per- when questioning poll numbers. After Post-script: In 2019, just ahead of
acknowledged that parts of it were taken from ance (NDA) won the Bihar elections, on the campaign trail. sona is being lifted and a governance all, the durability of Modi’s appeal is the general elections, I met an astrolo-
another genuine document while alleging the more albeit with a reduced margin, the The seven-year itch is an interest- deficit lies exposed: The optics of a also dependent to a great extent on ger on the campaign trail. “Modi will
controversial parts were fake, and filed a police leader called back, this time in a more ing prime ministerial syndrome to tika utsav, for example, cannot com- the disjointed state of the Opposition. be PM for sure, the BJP will get more
sheepish voice: “Guess the lockdown explore. Modi will be the fourth pensate for a floundering vaccine pol- But like in the Covid fight, compla- than 300 seats and the NDA will score
complaint for forgery. AltNews, a fact-checking site, didn’t make that much of a difference Indian PM to complete seven years in icy. cency is a dangerous attitude in public more than 350,” he predicted. But
based on a study of the metadata, has corroborated to voter behaviour.” office. The first, Jawaharlal Nehru, The government propaganda life. The next year is decisive because, there was a sting to his tale: “But Modi
the Congress’s version, and there has been no In the last seven years, Modi has was a much adored leader whose machine can blame the Covid-19 crisis in every state that goes to the polls will have rough time midway through
been a colossal figure in Indian poli- political graph took a significant dip on the all-pervasive, unaccountable within a year from now, the Covid-19 his term, I can’t say how and why.” As
evidence forthcoming on the entire document’s tics. He is almost like the Pied Piper to in 1959, just a little over seven years “system”; the Rashtriya Swayamsevak shadow will loom large. Nowhere are an avowed rationalist, I walked away
authenticity. Twitter then tagged the tweet as whose tune millions would happily after he won the first general elec- Sangh (RSS) can attempt to spread a the stakes higher than in Uttar Pra- with a dismissive grin. Now, the
“manipulated” (which means the media in question clap and bang utensils, light diyas, or tions. The dismissal of an elected Ker- positive spirit; the Bharatiya Janata desh, the pivot to Modi and the BJP’s words are proving uncannily pro-
even willingly lighten their pockets of ala government and the onset of a Party (BJP)’s social media cell can dominance of Indian politics in recent phetic.
was altered). ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes. And yet, the bloody boundary dispute with China focus on toolkit controversies. In nor- times.
There is the larger question on whether Twitter’s cruel Covid-19 summer of 2021 is per- tarred the Nehruvian age. By 1973-74, mal times, these moves might even In 2014, Modi carved out a national Rajdeep Sardesai is a senior
action of taking such calls affects its status as an haps a watershed moment for Modi’s seven years into her prime minister- gain some traction. But in extraordi- stature for himself when he decided journalist and author
leadership. ship, Indira Gandhi was confronted nary times, the blackened pyres and to contest from Varanasi and The views expressed are personal
intermediary. It does, after all, look like an editorial
call that a media company may make. Stung by the
decision, the government, which wrote to the
company, seems to have decided it was time to have
the police pay the company offices a “visit”, initially Covid and black fungus: { NK ARORA } NTAGI CHIEF

presented as a “raid”. Twitter’s offices have been P


closed for a year, and there are multiple channels of
communication that already exist between the A tale of two infections No reason to believe
government and Twitter. As a result, Delhi Police’s
he life-threatening infection, mucor- that serum iron and glucose together enhance children will be
T
action has reinforced the impression of democratic mycosis, informally referred to as the the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78
backsliding in India, where contesting the narrative black fungus, is currently raging as a (GRP78), the novel host receptor that medi- disproportionately
of the ruling party can invite retribution. It has done part of the aggressive second wave of ates invasion and damage of human endothe-
Covid-19. Epidemiological data suggests an lial cells by rhizopus oryzae. affected by Covid-19 in
little to establish the authenticity of the “toolkit”. It
has blurred the line between the party’s objectives
estimated global prevalence of 140 cases per Published literature, supported by the
million population, of which over 40% is con- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), rec- coming weeks, months
or in next wave.
A
and the State’s conduct. It has distorted the debate tributed by India. The fungal order responsi- ommends six vitamins (D, A, C, Folate, B6,
ble for causing it is Mucorales, the third most B12) and four minerals (zinc, iron, copper and
on regulation of big tech, which requires a careful common pathogenic fungal infection follow- selenium) as essential constituents for resist-
balance between freedom and accountability. It has ing Candidiasis and Aspergillosis. Mucorales ance to viral infections because of their ability
put the ministry of external affairs in a spot, for the like others (yeasts, moulds, mushrooms) are to enhance immune function and reduce
ubiquitously distributed fungi that exist in inflammation.
job of defending India’s actions against a big tech decaying organic matter, damp places, soil, But the addition of zinc may worsen the
firm will end up falling on external affairs minister, S
Jaishankar, currently on a visit to the United States.
There is a simple lesson — stay focused on beating
plants, water, air and animals.
At greatest risk are people with
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,
blood cancer, and those who have
course of mucormycosis. This is
supported by the fact that zinc che-
lators (compounds that bind it in
blood) like clioquinol with posa-
The cynicism at the
the pandemic, fight political wars without involving
State agencies, and remember, each action will be
carefully weighed on the scale of democratic
had organ transplantation or
receiving regular immunosuppres-
sive drugs and/or steroids. Hyper-
conazole are the most active com-
bination in ameliorating mucor in
animals. This may be relevant in
heart of the 11-day
glycemia (high sugars), especially Mohd Ashraf the Indian setting as, during the
conduct. in the presence of elevated available
serum iron and diabetic ketoacido-
sis (DKA), is the most common fac-
Ganie pandemic, there has been an
unprecedented, over-the-counter
use of drugs of unproven benefit
Israel-Hamas conflict
tor. The inability of a compromised such as vitamin C, D and zinc. The he adage “in war, truth is the first Abbas. The elections offered Hamas an

Not Ayurveda
versus allopathy
host immune system to suppress
Mucorales germination precipi-
tates infection, which, upon wide-
spread dissemination, is virtually
impossible to resolve.
latter may be doing more harm
than good and may explain the
high incidence of mucormycosis.
The key to the prevention of
mucormycosis is prompt control of
T casualty” is apt for the 11-day Israel- opportunity to launch an electoral campaign
Hamas conflict that ended last Friday. of sorts for West Bank by launching a salvo of
The doublespeak of its protagonists – its Qassam rockets from Gaza into Jerusalem
from fighting terrorism to resisting the occu- on May 10.
pation, from right to security to the right to Among the players outside the immediate
NK
The hallmark of mucormycosis hyperglycemia, maintenance of freedom – cynically conceals ulterior motives. theatre of conflict, Egypt and the United
is the invasion of blood vessels by Mehra hygiene, and judicious use of ster- The strongest impetus for the hostilities States (US) are the most important. The mili-
aba Ramdev (born Ram Kisan Yadav) is, based

B
Mucorales spores that germinate oids; the key to treating it is early that started on May 10 were two elections — tary regime of Egypt – the only Arab country
on the camps and TV shows that made him a and invade host cells causing tissue diagnosis for ameliorating morbid- for the Israeli Knesset held on March 23 and with a land border with Gaza – has no love
national figure, an excellent proponent of yoga, necrosis (death), which becomes visible only ity and mortality. It is critical to have a high the Palestinian elections after 15 years, but lost for Hamas, which was closely allied to the
at very late stages of infection. More often index of suspicion even on observing subtle postponed on April 30 by President Mah- Muslim Brotherhood it ousted. While it did
the ancient Indian exercise that is as good for the than not, diagnosis is delayed. The high mor- symptoms. For suspected cases, prompt imag- moud Abbas, citing Israeli obstacles. not mind Hamas being pummelled,
body as it is for the mind. He is, based on the success tality rates (45-60%) associated with mucor- ing (contrast-enhanced MRI of paranasal It was also the end of Ramadan – it also had to be seen as not letting
of his company Patanjali, a smart businessman mycosis are reflective not only of the aggres- sinuses/ brain or plain CT chest), with or with- when young Palestinians frequently the Gazans down. Egypt rendered
sive nature of the infection, but also of the out fungal scrapping/culture from the accessi- confront Jewish hardliners and Isra- some humanitarian assistance and
whose understanding of his own brand equity and dysregulated innate immune response seen in ble tissues, is of utmost importance. Success- eli police over access to the holy helped mediate a ceasefire between
the failsafe concept of value-for-money, is unique. Covid-19 as well as the cytokine storm ful treatment of mucormycosis requires a al-Aqsa mosque complex. It was the Hamas and Israel.
He is also a political figure — he was a key cog in the observed in the more severe disease with multidisciplinary approach involving multiple verdict day (also postponed) for the Mahesh The US labels Hamas as a terrorist
eventual immune exhaustion. specialists. controversial court case to evict sev- Sachdev organisation. While the Joe Biden
movement that resulted in the birth of the Aam A recent publication by Soliman and others General experience of treating patients eral Palestinian families from Sheikh administration had initially kept its
Aadmi Party. And because of his following and his from the University of California Los Angeles with various brain tumours, endocrine disor- Jarrah in East Jerusalem by Jewish distance from Netanyahu, it lever-
ideology, there is a certain natural alignment in Nature Microbiology (March 2021) has dem- ders such as the Cushing’s syndrome as well settlers. May 10 was Israel’s “Jerusa- aged the hostilities to ingratiate itself
onstrated that high mortality of the condition as a multitude of other medical indications lem Day” followed on May 15 by the anniver- to Israel and the domestic pro-Israel lobby by
between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. is attributed to the release of a preformed where steroids are generally prescribed in sary of Israel’s founding in 1948 – which Pal- supplying weapons and ammunition and
Perhaps confident of this association with the toxin (new venom), named Mucoricin, which high doses shows opportunistic fungal infec- estinians mark as “naqba (catastrophe) day”. maintaining frequent and closer contacts “to
regime in power — nothing else can explain the could also be the promising therapeutic tar- tions especially mucormycosis do occur, but For Israel’s Prime Minister, Benyamin Net- de-escalate the conflict”. It also stonewalled
get. in modest proportions. Why then is there a anyahu, the fourth polls in two years were a any anti-Israel moves at the UN Security
timorous letter the Union health minister wrote to The widespread reports of mucormycosis sudden spurt in cases in Covid-19 where com- disappointment as he failed, again, to put Council giving the Jewish state’s military time
the baba, reproaching him for his recent comments point to multiple factors, of which a high paratively moderate steroid doses of short together a majority coalition. Losing the job to “sanitise” Gaza. Similarly, it leveraged the
— Mr Yadav has chosen to take on allopathy, even prevalence of diabetes mellitus — over 80 mil- duration are used? Could there be a specific would also take away his legal immunity – crisis to re-engage with some influential Arab
lion known cases in India and several that affliction between Sars-CoV-2 derived viral opening him to a possible jail sentence in an leaders whom it had hitherto kept at arm’s
vaccines. But it would be a mistake to see this as a remain unreported or undetected — is of proteins and the steroid compounds? Are anti-corruption case. Donning the mantle of length.
debate between Ayurveda and allopathy. No utmost importance. Of the over 8,500 there specific host-determined factors that defender of Israel by going on the offensive The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza has
stranger to miracle cures — he has, at various times, reported cases of mucormycosis in India, over might predispose a certain group of individu- against the rocket-firing from Gaza served his embarrassed some moderate Arab regimes,
90% are in people who are either known dia- als? Clearly, further research is needed to objectives. Israel’s military too wanted a free particularly those which had recently signed
promised cures for cancer and AIDS and even betics or have new-onset (Covid-19 or steroid- understand the pharmacokinetics of drug- hand to “degrade” the asymmetric capabili- the Abraham Accords, though their respec-
suggested that homosexuality is a disease that can be related) diabetes mellitus. protein interaction, besides devising easier ties of Gaza-based Hamas and Palestinian tive overtures towards Israel were based on
cured — the baba has his own interests to push. After The injudicious use of steroids with diagnostic and prophylactic strategies. Islamic Jihad (PIJ). And regional geopolitics the pursuance of their individual national
improper dosage, duration, timing as well as Even though mucormycosis is a serious was conducive as the few remaining backers interests and are unlikely to be reversed.
all, he did try and pass off one of his company’s self-medication contributes directly or indi- opportunistic infection among patients with of Hamas and PIJ were either preoccupied or To rationalise the ceasefire, a new wheel of
products, Coronil, as a cure for Covid-19 before being rectly to this. Generalised lymphopenia Covid-19 treated with steroids and those hav- enfeebled or both. cynical calculus has to be spun. On its part,
forced to not label it as such. induced by the coronavirus, characterised by ing uncontrolled hyperglycemia, it is impor- The Palestine Authority (PA) had to con- Hamas is certain to claim having won the war
the specific depletion of killer T-cells, pro- tant to remove undue fear and anxiety by cre- tend with intensified Israeli settlement activ- by merely surviving it. Having defanged
Both Ayurveda and allopathy have their place, and vides further impetus to the deadly fungus. ating guarded awareness among health care ity in West Bank and four Arab countries nor- Hamas and PIJ, their martyrdom status is not
both need to meet the bar of evidence-based science In addition to hyperglycemia, DKA is workers and the public. malising ties with Israel. Meanwhile, a call for in Israel’s interest; it would only lead to the
(something Coronil doesn’t, for instance). It is known to predispose subjects with diabetes to PA elections after 15 years had revived the preponderance of the hardliners in Ramallah
mucormycosis, owing to the high cellular iron Mohd Ashraf Ganie is professor of dormant contest between the mainstream either within al-Fatah, or through a Hamas
worrying to think that the yoga guru’s followers may and low serum pH (acidosis). Iron is an essen- endocrinology and metabolism, Sher-I-Kashmir and moderate al-Fatah, ruling West Bank, and takeover. And so just as cynical calculations
heed his advice and recklessly shun allopathy or tial micronutrient for most organisms and Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar. the radical Hamas, ruling the Gaza Strip. led to the conflict, a cynical synergy in objec-
vaccines (or both) in the midst of a pandemic — but fungi are no exception. A report published in NK Mehra is Indian Council of Medical Al-Fatah has gradually lost its cohesion and tives has led to its end, for now.
the April 2021 issue of the Journal of Fungi Research emeritus scientist (Hon) and popularity since the death of its iconic
it is for the State to act on such reckless and suggests that iron metabolism holds the key former dean of AIIMS, New Delhi founder Yasir Arafat in 2004. It is currently Mahesh Sachdev is a retired Indian diplomat
dangerous advice. If it wants to. for the development of mucormycosis, and The views expressed are personal riven by dissidence against the leadership of The views expressed are personal

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08 HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 26 05 2021


� �

Indians have historically never had the concept of a fixed


INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN weekly day off. It was the British who brought with them
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. the idea of a mandatory Sunday holiday to our nation

TAKE A BREAK
— Ramnath Goenka

IT’S TIME WE AND RING IN


SETTLED THE CAIRN THE HOURS
DISPUTE HONOURABLY

T
here’s an embarrassing snarl that the
Indian government should resolve with JAWHAR Retired civil servant. Former Culture
Cairn Energy as soon as possible. Cairn SIRCAR Secretary and ex-CEO, Prasar Bharati
has been in the driver’s seat ever since an SOUMYADIP SINHA
international tribunal at the Hague last

T
December ruled that the Indian government ill a couple of decades ago, West- prevailed. Each day was numeri- ‘pastors’ or rabbis to lead the fortnight into two ‘quarter Commission of 1890 wanted to en-
was “in breach of the guarantee of fair and erners were surprised that Indi- cally marked after the last new whole flock. moons’, but even so, Uposatha did sure mid-day work-intervals and
equitable treatment” and awarded Cairn $1.2 ans hardly understood their pas- moon or full moon and these de- This amorphous, non-egalitar- not dominate their life. Sunday fix weekly off days. Thus, the sec-
sion for their ‘Thank God it’s cided religious festivals, life cycle ian religion felt no need to assem- holidays were enforced later by ond Factory Act of 1891 enforced
billion in compensation. The dispute harks
Friday’ syndrome and their troop- events and even project work. ble all believers every Friday for their colonial masters. one day a week off, but demanded
back to the company reorganising itself in ing out of workplaces sharp at 5 Commoners could, after all, see Jumas like Muslims do or for Sat- Though Buddhists of India also full working hours, quite rigor-
preparation of an IPO in 2006-07. A tax de- pm for the weekend. Neither wild and “read the moon” on the sky, urday Sabbaths like Jews or at observed Uposatha, there were no ously. Since Indians were not fa-
mand was raised retrospectively, invoking a horses nor unfinished work could since there were no other clocks. Sunday Church like Christians. compulsory weekly holidays for miliar with exact hours, the Brit-
change in the Income Tax Act in 2012. Cairn’s stop them. In the recent decades, The science of calculating the ex- The weekly rest day of each Abra- other Indic systems. The Hindu- ish set up bell towers or
case is that such retrospective demands are however, Indians have also picked act muhurtha or auspicious mo- hamic creed was determined by Jain fortnightly lunar pakshas ghanta-ghars in several towns,
up this weekend craziness. But ad- ment also thrived and provided its own religious necessity. Since had their own fixed days like Eka- whose gongs reminded Indians of
against international law, despite which the
vanced countries continue to take gainful employment to certain Buddhism was also an organised dasi for person-centric observanc- each hour. The term “kitna baja”
government seized its residual shares in a dim view of the liberties that In- skilled people. community-based religion, Gau- es, not community-based ones. or “how many times did it ring”
Cairn India as well as a tax refund, amounting dians take with punctuality. It Urban, Westernised Indians tama Buddha introduced Uposa- Certain cults or regional varia- entered our lexicon and continues
to approximately $1.4 billion. may appear odd, but the two phe- may now understand why almost tha (Upavasatha) as a day for tions within Hinduism could al- to mean “what is the time”.
We had reminded the government as early nomena are actually connected— all Indic festivals and observances meditation and cleansing the ways dedicate a particular day, Nevertheless, a general vague-
as mid-March in these columns not to allow since both weekend off-days and are called by their lunar dates— mind and it continues. While like Guruvar or Thursday for Gu- ness still prevails among many
the dispute to fester. However, festered it has, clock-struck punctuality are im- like Ram Navami, Dussehra, Holi some countries like Sri Lanka ob- rus, without disturbing the all- Indians and our casual attitude to
ports from the West. Purnima, Akshaya Tritiya, and so serve it only on full moon and India principle. It was left to the punctuality is proverbial. In fact,
and Cairn has now filed a lawsuit in a US court Visram or rest was surely em- on. Hinduism was always a mas- new moon days, Theravada Bud- British to impose the Sunday off- many Indians still cannot figure
in New York against Air India seeking to seize bedded in our culture and Hindus, sive, ongoing exercise in the rec- dhist countries of East and South- day in their offices, military and out why Westerners are so terri-
its assets. Cairn has said Air India is the “alter Jains and Buddhists certainly onciliation of diversity and its east Asia do it once a week. They commercial establishments. After bly obsessed with Sundays and
ego” of India and as a wholly-owned national took a few days off each month for ideology, and rituals were held to- have ingeniously split the lunar the post-Macaulay educational weekends, which is now moving
carrier of the government, it is liable for pay- festivals. That is why our impor- gether by a cadre of Brahmans. system expanded in the 1840s, in- towards three days. In the West,
ments due from the government. An appeal tant festivals run into several days The latter usually agreed on the stitutions governed by British when doctors were required to
at a time, and they come approxi- core essentials and heartily disa- rules adopted the Sunday holiday. work over weekends, many Indi-
has been filed in the Hague against the tribu-
mately once a month. Most mark greed on everything else. Their The vast majority of Indians were, ans stepped forward as earnings
nal order and the government is challenging the end of particular agricultural loyalty was essentially to their lo- however, not affected by imported were more important than week-
the jurisdiction of the New York court too. seasons when crops were already cal clientele who provided their Our important festivals run into several norms till late into the 19th cen- ends. We need to understand that
But Cairn is on the offensive, and has got in the granaries or ripe in the economic support and, of course, days at a time, and they come approximately tury. This is when mining and in- our millennia-old cultural genes
courts in five countries, including the US and fields—after weeks of continuous to their own school of philosophy, dustrialisation became quite vis- were imbedded by the needs of the
once a month. Most mark the end of
Britain, to recognise the Hague tribunal labour, often without a break. We pan-Indian or regional. Ritual ible and the Crown was duty-bound majority’s religion and culture,
need to understand that while our practitioners among them were as particular agricultural seasons when crops to ensure at least minimal justice and these neither commanded the
award. This means Indian assets—banks, were already in the granaries or ripe
solar calendar determined the professional as, say, doctors or to workers, especially to women strict cognisance of the hours nor
ships, etc.—can be seized in multiple loca- months and named each day of lawyers, who tended directly to in the fields—after weeks of continuous and small children. The first Fac- punished the lack of punctuality.
tions. At the centre of the dispute is retrospec- the week, it was actually the lunar their clients. Local societies were labour, often without a break tory Act of 1881 introduced four (sircar.j@gmail.com,
tive taxation—it is not permitted in interna- pakshas or fortnightly cycles that split by caste and did not require days off a month, but the Royal Tweets @jawharsircar)
tional law and is in breach of the UK-India
Bilateral Investment Treaty. Our own Su-
preme Court has ruled against it. Again, In-
dia’s international image is being damaged,
with our government failing to honour an ar-
bitration award of the Hague. We are on a
CHALLENGES AROUND IDEA OF LAND IN MANIPUR
weak legal wicket, and at best the seizure proc-
ess can be delayed. In this context, the govern- translate the gospel in all the dif- agent was made regent till the boy cannot do so in the hills, even
ment should settle the Cairn compensation ferent languages, so they also end- completed his education at Mayo though the hills have been rid of
ed up uniting these tribes into College in 1907 and was officially the colonial era “unadministered
issue away from the glare of international op-
larger identities, promoting a sin- made king. The new pattern of area” tag.
probrium and with the least loss of face to PRADIP Editor, Imphal Review gle lingua franca for them, etc. It land administration of the British The Koubru tussle also high-
both parties. PHANJOUBAM of Arts and Politics cannot be a mere coincidence that was introduced at this point, with lighted a peculiar history of the
the penetration of Christian mis- the British political agent, who people of the state, both those in

RELENTLESS CONG
sionaries into these non-state thereafter also assumed the title the valley as well as in the hills.

O
n an incremental basis, friction cupied it a few years earlier. It be- spaces beyond the Inner Line and of President, Manipur State Dar- Brought to the fore is also the dif-

SLIDE IN TELANGANA
between Manipur’s many ethnic came a separate Assam province the expansion of British colonial bar, taking the role of the Gover- ference in the indigenous outlook
communities is taking a new vis- under a chief commissioner in administration into them always nor in Assam and briefed to keep to the homeland and the modern
age. At the moment, this is centred 1874, but a year earlier, the British was a parallel process. The stories a broad gaze on the “unadminis- state. In the former, it is a sense of

N
around the contentious exclusive introduced the Bengal Eastern of Miles Bronson in Assam hills tered” hill territories. belonging and attachment to land,
o one envies the Telangana Congress. Its rather than inclusive administra- Frontier Regulation 1873, which or William Pettigrew in Manipur The demarcation between reve- while in the latter it is more about
fortunes have been on a downward spiral tive demarcation between its hill created the Inner Line, clearly di- hills are evidences of this, and nue and non-revenue lands in Ma- possession of the land and its re-
since 2014 and that has continued even and valley. This is especially so in viding its revenue land in the this is repeated across what has nipur coincided with its valley sources. Homelands also overlap
after the 2018 Assembly elections. The the foothills, which during the plains from the non-revenue hills. come to be termed by scholars like and hills, and the legacy from this without contradiction, for there is
hope of the Congress that its heavyweight British days had come to be desig- The territory beyond the Inner Willem Schendel and James Scott is the somewhat more hardened no friction regardless of how
K Jana Reddy will win the Nagarjuna Sagar nated as the Sadar Hills, affiliating Line was designated first as as the Zomian landscape, span- hill-valley divide in the state today. many identify with and love the
its administration to neither the “Backward Tracts”, and after 1935 ning Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam The foothills, then designated Sa- lakes, rivers, mountains and val-
bypoll and navigate the party through choppy
hills or the valley fully. Indeed, as “Excluded Areas” and “Partial- and beyond. dar Hills and now Kangpokpi dis- leys, unlike in the latter where
waters proved to be a pipe dream. He lost the much of Manipur’s land adminis- ly Excluded Areas”. These hill In 1891, the British took over trict, were not clearly in either these abstract qualities are tem-
seat by a greater margin than in 2018. tration mechanism is a legacy tracts were also not brought di- Manipur but they left the kingdom category; therefore even today this poralised and commodified, and
The party lost the historic opportunity of from the British days. rectly under the newly introduced as a Protectorate State, though af- is not a reserved constituency un- therefore can only have very defi-
coming to power in 2014, all because no one While similar frictions over the modern administration but left ter ousting the then rulers who op- like all other hill constituencies. nite owners. It is in the inevitable
wanted to work and everyone tried to become idea of land and land ownership unadministered under the broad posed them and installing a new In recent times two ugly flare- transition from the former to the
among indigenous communities is gaze of the Governor of the prov- ruler from a different royal blood- ups—following a hill community’s latter that frictions are caused.
the chief minister of Telangana, believing
common throughout the North- ince. There probably was no other line. The new king designate, Sir claim to ownership of land ac- The reverence for Koubru is
people would be left with no option but to elect east, arguably none is more com- way. Imagine having to deal with Churachand, was only five years quired by the government for con- also often interpreted as an indi-
the Congress as it had fulfilled their 60-year plex and sensitive than in Manipur. several hundred different small old then; so a British political struction of the National Sport cation of how those in the valley
dream of a separate state. As a result, the The state’s peculiar geography and villages, each independent and University, and in the objection to were also once in the hills while
party bit the dust in the polls. Since then, it history predicate this. It is a small sometimes hostile to the others. developing a mountain peak, Kou- the valley was waterlogged, as
has lost all elections, big and small. It won just state of 22,327 sq. km, mostly The British would have seen it as bru, considered a sacred worship- told in the folklore of the place,
two of the 150 divisions in the GHMC elections mountains except for a central fer- a better option to partner with ex- ping place by the valley people— and that the hilltops that valley
tile valley of 1,864 sq. km. isting states that already exer- have yet again pointed to the need people now worship were their
and finished third in the Greater Warangal After taking over Manipur, the cised control or can control these for overhauling the land revenue last stations before descending to
Municipal Corporation polls like it did in the Much of Manipur’s land administration
British introduced its tested ad- small villages, and this is precise- mechanism is a British legacy. While frictions administration in the state. As of settle. A revisit and reset of the
Dubbaka Assembly by-election. The Congress ministrative strategy in its prov- ly what they did. now, while the revenue land in the notion of land and belonging to
over the idea of land and ownership among
headquarters Gandhi Bhavan looks lost and ince of Assam in this kingdom as At about the same time, Chris- valley is open to ownership by synchronise them with the mod-
well. Assam was annexed into the tian missionaries found this out indigenous communities is common throughout anybody, people in the valley who ern state is what Manipur and the
forlorn, inspiring little hope of a comeback
British province of Bengal in 1826 their own way too. It became obvi- the Northeast, arguably none is more complex have come to be classified as non- Northeast need urgently at the
among party workers.
after the Treaty of Yandaboo with ous to them how impossible it and sensitive than in the state tribals by virtue of a majority of moment.
After the great debacle in 2018, PCC chief N
Ava Kingdom (Burma) that had oc- would be for them to preach or them following the Hindu faith, (phanjoubam@gmail.com)
Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that he would
step down from the post, but submitted his
papers to the party high command only a few
months ago. The party borrowed a few ounces
of courage and decided to appoint former Save Mother Earth Lakshadweep’s culture
management seems to have had no in a crime. One bad deed can wipe out online exams with objective papers and
minister and MLC T Jeevan Reddy as PCC
This is with reference to Bad news on knowledge of the issue till it erupted It is painful to learn about the one’s good deeds. Sushil Kumar has a proper time frame. Students without
president and working president A Revanth a conveyor belt as Yaas gets closer on social media. What’s worse is that attempted invasion of the unique proven this. access to proper internet can attend the
Reddy as campaign committee chief. But even (May 25). The editorial has rightly the teacher himself was part of the culture, symptoms and identity of R Sridharan, Chennai exams in school.
that did not come through, though an elabo- questioned whether humankind has school’s sexual harassment committee. the Lakshadweep under the guise of D Ravikumar, Visakhapatnam
rate exercise preceded the decision, with the a future. Despite significant scientific PSBB needs to work towards development by an outsider. While Disgraced his country
achievements, we haven’t managed to disciplining its system and being they need the hand-holding of the Sushil Kumar not only disgraced his The rich bending the rules
party developing cold feet once again citing
Nagarjuna Sagar bypoll preparations. Party make development more sustainable. more aware about the happenings administration for their betterment, sport but also his country. He seems to The mid-air wedding of a Madurai
It is high time we pay heed to the in the school. any attempt at arm-twisting should be not even be remorseful for his actions by couple aboard a chartered SpiceJet
leaders seem to have lost interest due to the warnings of environmentalists in saving Venugopalan S, email resisted tooth and nail. eluding arrest for 11 days. The best thing aircraft is a telling example of how the
indecisiveness of high command and contin- Mother Earth to protect ourselves from A Raveendranath, Aranmula for him would have been surrendering rich flaunt their wealth and bend the
ued politicking with their usual pattern of the fury of nature. Govt must prioritise Covid to the police back then and accepting rules at will. Last week, a 17-year-old
media conferences and press releases without A M Chakravarty, Hyderabad The prosecution of the PSBB teacher for On World Wrestling Day the consequences that he will have to boy selling vegetables outside his
much work at the ground level. The party’s his wrongdoing is certainly correct and This is with reference to When sports face now. house in Uttar Pradesh was beaten to
Disciplining the system much needed. But many DMK lawmakers stars fall from grace (May 25). It is ironic K Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam death by the police for having violated
slide in Telangana seems to be relentless and
Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan is in the seem to be overly prioritising this rather that on World Wrestling Day, a multiple lockdown rules. One wonders how the
inexorable and with the high command not Conducting Class 12 exams
news for all the wrong reasons after than controlling the spread of Covid in Olympic medal winner in the sport law enforcers are going to punish these
serious in bringing about any change of lead- a teacher was arrested for allegedly the state. The government should focus was caught by the long arm of the law. Due to the pandemic, how Class 12 mid-air revellers who have committed
ership, its fate is likely to be similar even in having made sexual advances towards on controlling Covid first. Though he was blessed with fame and exams will be conducted is still not the same offence.
the 2023 Assembly polls. some female students. The school B Hari Ganesh, Coimbatore fortune, he still seems to be involved finalised. One option is completely P G Menon, Chennai

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


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NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2021 07
BHARAT DOGRA
Mortality rates need 100 YEARS AGO

S
ome of the most distressing

careful evaluation
images of recent times have
related to dozens of dead bod-
OCCASIONAL NOTE
ies floating down the Ganges or Our London correspondent has transmit-
excessive activity at cremation places. ted a report of the striking speech deliv-
These images disturb all of us a lot, but ered by Mr. Charles M. Schwab, the Amer-
at the same time we should avoid ican “Steel King,” at a reception given in
jumping to any hasty conclusions. If his honour by the New York Chamber o
we draw hasty but flawed conclu- Commerce. After visiting Europe, Mr.
sions, then we will not be able to have Schwab has returned with a conviction
an evidence-based Covid response that the Allies are in danger of losing the
which is really needed. fruits of victory simply because of Ger-
This much is clear that there is many’s appreciation of the stern necessi-
significant excess mortality, but ties of the industrial situation. German
regarding the composition of this workmen, says Mr. Schwab, are efficient;
excessive mortality we are not yet they are eager for work; and they are giv-
sure. Careful analysis and collection ing a full day’s work for a full day’s pay;
of data is needed to get a better idea. with the result that already they are
To give an example of the factors underselling competitors. The examples
at work, we may look at the Ebola of such underselling cited by Mr. Schwab
outbreak in West Africa in 2014-15. were those of steel in England, and pneu-
As Ebola is recognized as a high fatal- matic tyres in America. Mr. Schwab thinks
ity disease and the talk of this pan- the difference in prices is solely a matter
demic had dominated the region at of labour costs. Mr. Hoover, after investi-
that time, most of the deaths were gation, has declared that the huge sum of
invariably attributed to Ebola. How- 50,000 million marks, approximately, is
ever subsequent analysis, also being devoted by Germany to subsidising
accepted and quoted by the WHO in production. If both these factors are at
its recent documents, revealed that work - economic labour on the one hand,
the mortality caused by a mix of pre- and State subsidies on the other - the
existing diseases mainly measles, consuming public is likely to reap the
malaria, HIV and tuberculosis was benefit, and the Germans will be better
even higher. occupied in replenishing the world’s mar-
What had happened was that as kets than in spreading devastation. What
the weak and inadequate health sys- does follow is that this object must be
tem had got centered mainly on pursued without impairing the keenness
Ebola, those suffering from other for his work which has made the British
important killer diseases had not craftsman pre-eminent in the world of
received normal treatment and care. industry.
Ultimately this proved so costly that
the mortality caused by four pre- NEWS ITEMS
existing diseases turned out to be
higher than the mortality caused by
Ebola. What is more, some of the
SEQUEL TO
patients suffering from these other ORIENTAL
diseases got sent initially to the spe-
cial facilities, exposing them to a NAVIGATION CASE
delay and harassment and mistreat- At the High Court yesterday, before Mr.
ment, before they could be diagnosed Justice Buckland, the rule came on for
properly sent to the proper treatment situation in India during 2020-21 pro- rupted for a very large number of vul- these aspects of mortality instead of But the situation is actually even hearing which had been issued against
place, if at all. vides adequate basis for the fact that nerable people who were not exactly being concentrated only on Covid-19 more peculiar than what is suggested Charoo Chunder Mitter, secretary of the
Now suppose that this reality, excess mortality exists and it has in good health before the pandemic aspects. This approach is likely to by this data, as the higher mortality in Oriental Navigation Co., to show cause
instead of being brought to light at a increased in more recent times. This struck. Initially, it is likely they had lead to a much higher contribution 2017 affected the younger generation why, under section 195 of the C.P.C., he
post-pandemic stage by careful excess mortality is likely to be com- some reserves on which they could to overall reduction of mortality. much more. To capture this aspect, should not be prosecuted for having, as
researchers, had been realized by the posed of a mix of factors. Covid mor- draw, but as the livelihood crisis lin- Here it may be interesting to medical statisticians calculate YLL or found by Mr. Justice Buckland, given false
health authorities much earlier. In tality is likely to contribute to only a gered and then struck again with look at some recent aspects of this years of life lost. In the USA, as men- evidence on March 22 and 23, 1920, in a
that case they would have changed part of this. Another important part more ferocity in recent weeks, peo- debate in the USA. The Centers of tioned also in calculations presented suit against the Oriental Navigation Co. In
their policy to take into account this of this is likely to consist of other seri- ple faced new difficulties with deplet- Disease Control and Prevention in the Proceedings of the National these judicial proceedings it was charged
reality and by taking corrective mea- ous diseases and medical conditions ed or zero reserves. It is likely that (CDC), USA, have put the total num- Academy of Sciences, 13.3 million that Mr. C.C. Mitter in answer to questions
sures many precious lives could have (such as those relating to complicat- higher levels of hunger, malnutrition ber of Covid-19 deaths in the USA in YLL were lost in excess mortality of put to him in the course of his evidence in
been saved. Hence it is clear that ed pregnancies and childbirths as and deprivation of other basic needs 2020 at 376,504. However, for anoth- bad flu year 2017, three times more that suit that the first four pages of the
understanding causes and composi- well as injuries) which could not have all contributed to excess mor- er recent year, 2017, which was called than the loss of 4.41 million YLL Company’s postal certificates filed and
tion of excess mortality at an early receive normal attention during the tality. In fact, the excess mortality a bad flu year, the same CDC data attributed to Covid-19 in 2020. marked as Ex. 2 in those proceedings were
stage is very important for a proper last 14 months or so. Another factor is caused by non-Covid factors may put the excess mortality numbers at This only re-emphasizes the in his handwriting. His lordship allowed
policy aimed at reducing overall mor- that uncertainty, panic and mental even be higher than that relating to 401,000. In the absence of other importance of not rushing to hasty time till June 10 when a day will be fixed
tality and distress. More detailed data tensions have increased during these Covid-19 factors, particularly if we exceptional factors, this excess mor- conclusions in pandemic times and for the next hearing.
of excess mortality at a national scale times and this can also contribute to remember that in numerous cases of tality is likely to be attributed mainly looking at a more balanced view in a
is likely to emerge much later, so we
must rely on whatever information
excess mortality directly and indi-
rectly. Non-rational medical inter-
co-morbidity, a death with Covid
virus is not necessarily a death
to the bad flu. Hence questions have
been asked as to why there was so
proper, wider perspective. This will
ensure that distorted responses to the
MAHARAJA OF
we have to get as reliable an under- ventions and self-medications caused by Covid virus, and the other much panic and extended lock- pandemic, which can accentuate dif- JAIPUR'S
standing as possible, while undue
haste, rumour-mongering and sen-
increase in times of uncertainty and
profiteering and these too contribute
aspects of co-morbidity may well be
the more dominant factor.
downs in 2020 with 376,504 Covid-
19 deaths, while there were no lock-
ficulties, are avoided.
The writer is a journalist and author. His
SUCCESSOR
sationalism must be avoided. to excess mortality. Hence policy interventions downs at all and no big panic with recent books include Planet in Peril and Man Simla, May 25
A careful reading of the evolving Livelihoods have been badly dis- should seek to control and reduce all 401,100 bad flu deaths. Over Machine. H.E. the Governor-General in Council has
passed orders recognising and confirming
under the provisions of the Canning

Where will new hotspots be?


Adoption Sanad 1862, the adoption of a
erings. Myanmar’s elections in Octo- son and successor by H.H. the Maharaja of
ber 2020 were preceded by the high- Jaipur, who has no lineal descendant. On
est spike in cases the country had March 24 last, His Highness performed
MICHAEL HEAD increasing most quickly (at time of sluggish, with less than 4 per cent of gested he may have died of Covid-19 experienced. Soon after the election, publicly the religious and customary cere-
publication), the website Our World the population having received a first amid reports of uncontrolled out- stricter policies were put in place and mony of adoption, the adopted being the

B
eneath the many complexities in Data highlights Laos, Timor, Thai- dose. In this author’s view, the breaks around the country and sharp case rates lowered. Countries that ten year old son of the Thakur of Isardha, a
of the marathon that is the land, Cambodia, Fiji and Mongolia as Olympics should not go ahead this increases in deaths. However, offi- engage in similar behaviour – or, like Rajawat family of the Jaipur State. His
Covid-19 pandemic, there is a the countries where numbers have year. cially the impact of Covid-19 in Tan- India, declare success too early – Highness the present Maharaja succeeded
simple hypothesis: if the coro- recently doubled in the shortest peri- Latin America continues to zania has been low. could well be the next hotspots. to the gaddi in 1880, being nominated
navirus is introduced into a suscepti- od of time (ranging from 16 to 23 experience a huge burden of Covid- Similarly, Belarus is reporting Of course, the next outbreak may thereto by His late Highness the Maharaja
ble population, and those people are days for these countries; for compar- 19 disease and so is also at risk. low death rates (27.8 per 100,000), prove difficult to spot. Few of us Ram Singhee shortly before he died. His
able to mix, then there will be signif- ison, the doubling rate for India Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica and having refused to consider Covid-19 a could easily point to Timor on a map. Highness before succession also belonged
icant community transmission. Across ahead of its second wave was 43 Colombia are all still in the top ten serious threat. But the Institute for This lack of knowledge influences our to the Isardha family from which the
2020 and 2021, we have seen this hap- days). When looking at the countries countries in terms of daily new con- Health Metrics and Evaluation perception over local situations and Maharaj Kumar has now been selected for
pen around the world, including, whose reported deaths are currently firmed cases per million people. On (IMHE) has modelled the country’s also the news coverage that countries adoption.
recently, in India. doubling most quickly, it’s Timor, the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa actual death rate to be one of the get. Compare Nepal and Timor to
Could we see further situations
like those in India, with cases rapidly
Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia and
Uruguay (range: four to 31 days).
has on the face of it – with some
exceptions – handled the pandemic
highest in the world, at 472.2 per
100,000 people. IHME modelling puts
Brazil and India, on which public
reporting has been extensive. Plus,
R.I.M. OFFICER'S
spiking and health systems being over-
whelmed? The short answer, sadly, is
For countries such as Laos, Thai-
land, Cambodia and also Vietnam
relatively well, with countries praised
for an early and decisive response,
Azerbaijan at the top of that list, with
a death rate of 672.7 compared with
some countries might not be report-
ing good-quality data – Belarus, Azer-
TRAGIC DEATH
yes. Globally, there’s been an encour- (highly praised so far), it’s high sus- having learned lessons from the west official numbers of 46.3 per 100,000. baijan or indeed Russia may have Rangoon, May 25
aging downturn in daily new cases in ceptibility to Covid-19 that’s the African Ebola outbreak of 2013-16. The timing of elections and much bigger burdens of Covid-19 Commander Edmund Wilmot Dawson,
May 2021, but despite this, cases are problem. They’ve had few cases in Of course, our conclusions must volatility of political governance may than appears to be the case. R.I.M., Port Officer and Collector of Cus-
still at a very high level overall, with the past, so there’s little natural be cautious. Creating high-quality be interesting factors to observe The “next big outbreak” will be toms, Moulmein, accidentally shot him-
worldwide statistics masking huge dif- immunity, and they’re now experi- real-time data during a public health when trying to predict future spikes reliant on a perfect storm of a few self while cleaning his revolver in his bun-
ferences across countries and areas. encing outbreaks amid an inability to emergency is complicated, and data in cases. Political mass gatherings in variables coming together. At the core galow on Monday evening, and death is
The global vaccine rollout is also pro- procure a large vaccine supply. Vac- is patchy and slow in most parts of India are likely to have contributed of this storm will be a slow vaccine reported to have been instantaneous. It
gressing slowly, with most of the world cine coverage therefore is low. Thai- the world. The extent of transmission to the extensive recent transmission. rollout and susceptible populations appears from the meager details to hand
still susceptible to Covid-19. These fac- land and Vietnam have given a first within refugee camps and in conflict The prime minister and health min- mixing freely. Political rallies, large- that the revolver went off unaccountably
tors mean there’s potential for further dose to just 2 and 1 per cent of their settings, for instance, is very much ister encouraged people to attend, scale festivals and protests are exam- and the bullet which entered the mouth
spikes like those seen in India. populations respectively. unknown. Some vulnerable areas wrongly believing earlier in the ples of mass gatherings that can seed penetrated into the brain. Commander
We only need look to Nepal to Elsewhere, it’s the mixing part of may slip under the radar. spring that India had reached the end new outbreaks and facilitate sufficient Dawson was a very popular official and
see a similar situation unfolding. the equation that’s more of a concern. The reporting of data may also stages of the pandemic. spread to rapidly overwhelm a health only joined the Service in July last year and
Other countries have rising caseloads Japan, for example, is soon to host the be influenced by local politics. Some Elsewhere, Donald Trump’s cam- system. But depending on where this had been stationed at Moulmein since.
too, with many eyes looking nervous- Olympics, attracting athletes, digni- countries, such as Tanzania, have paigning events caused numerous happens, we may not even notice. His tragic death is greatly mourned by all
ly at Latin America, south-east Asia taries, coaches and media from every chosen to downplay the severity of super-spreading events in the US, who know him. The funeral took place
and some of the smaller island corner of the globe. Despite a ramp- Covid-19. The former Tanzanian while in Myanmar there were report- The writer is Senior Research Fellow in Global yesterday with full honours and was
Health, University of Southampton. This
nations. ing up of vaccine distribution over the president, John Magufuli, died in ed breaches of Covid-19 protocols article was published on attended by many prominent residents of
In terms of where cases are past month, the programme has been March 2021 – and news coverage sug- due to electioneering and mass gath- www.theconversation.org Moulmein.

CROSSWORD NO 28923 PROTECTION OF


TEMPLES AND
ACROSS shortfall (6,7)
25 Angry young man rings most of 8
short of time (7)
Smack in Staffordshire town
SHRINES
1 Without notice, alter fitting (4) At a meeting of Sikhs held at Amritsar
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION 3 Charm ebbed unexpectedly in
island (7) changing hands (4)
sleeping quarters (10)
27 Drugs work: 101 Dalmatians 9 Bullied and denied more shifts (10) yesterday under the auspices of the Gur-
content to be released (7) 13 Thug wanting bit of attention dwara Prabandhak Committee, resolu-
10 Angry demand of shellfish
28 Product, primarily, in nut tree admitting twisting Trump's
gatherer heard (7)
fluid (10) slogan, wretched child (10) tions were passed expressing the opinion
11 Oblivious of finely-crafted work that the proposed Gurdwara Bill as
29 Nearly prepared to deliver (4) 14 Made responsive broadcast
by Stubbs? (7)
12 Current measures to protect the DOWN
claiming “Settle is close to Carlisle” amended was unsatisfactory, and would
(10) be unacceptable unless it was framed on
earth I designed for combatting
1 Jill's friend caught leaving 17 Most expensive ways to hold
areas with crowds (13)
appetisers for mischievous child (10) sword up (8) different lines. It was decided not to sug-
15 Fools with missing friends (6) gest any names as commissioners for the
2 Priest cuts shin up with large 19 One takes in Canadian singer's
16 Spice is new dope inhaled by Deep
Purple? (8)
knife (7) claim to be short of energy (7) purposes of the Gurdwara Bill so long as
4 Unrefined cycling centre unknown 21 Perform wearing hat, being the Sikh prisoners were not released. A
18 Relocate German in Abu Dhabi,
(6) touchy? (7)
perhaps (8)
5 Range of political blocs 22 Be next to a judge overwhelmed working committee of seven was
20 Hams it up as English test is in appointed to carry on the work connect-
announced (8) by murder (6)
Spanish (6)
23 Move by Tory leader, jerk, if
6 I'm surprised captain with 24 Fight roughly, the first to be ed with the Gurdwara legislation and the
prosthetic leg has no foot (3) thrown out (4) situation created by it. All those in Gov-
journalist recalled financial
7 British businessman in a pickle, 26 Seafood that's line caught (3)
ernment service were requested to con-
tinue in the faithful discharge of their
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
duty as the time for any other action had
not yet arrived.
06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 26 MAY 2021

China’s Buddhism card


THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
The fear is that it will translate its economic weight into spiritual might
like Thailand today. To be sure, this is
having consequences for the rest of
Asia, where 97% of the world’s Bud-

Registering migrants dhist populations live and where


Buddhism is their core values.
The fear is that China will translate
Delay in completion of national database hurting workers its economic weight into spiritual

M
might. It is already on a Buddhist
ORE than a year after the Covid-induced lockdown — P STOBDAN
globalisation spree — building spiritu-
imposed at a few hours’ notice — triggered a Partition-like STRATEGIC AFFAIRS EXPERT al links with the people of other
exodus of jobless and penniless migrants across the coun- nations and regularly hosting the

A
try, crores of such people remain atmanirbhar in the worst sense of S we celebrate the 2565th World Buddhist Forum that draws
the word. They are not even a blip on the government’s radar. Left Buddha Jayanti, it is time to thousands of monks and scholars
to fend for themselves, the labourers who are working or have reflect on how the ideas and from across the world, and is building
worked in the unorganised sector are unable to gain access to vari- symbols of Buddha have TAKING REINS: The issue is that of leadership. As India loses most of its legacy, Lingshan as the Vatican of Buddhism.
ous welfare schemes being implemented by the Centre and the gradually vanished from the land China is taking the leadership over global Buddhism. AP China controls the World Buddhist
states as they don’t even figure in the official records. Expressing where he attained enlightenment. Sangha Councils and bodies, helping
Buddha neither exists in temples to repair, renovate, and resurrect Bud-
disappointment at the slow pace of registration of the unorganised
workforce, the Supreme Court has called for expeditious completion nor is Buddhism about kneeling India needs to seriously reaffirm its central role and dhist institutions across Theravada
of the process so that the intended beneficiaries can keep them- down before a statue to save one’s embrace its own tradition of Buddha, dharma, sangha. and Mahayana countries, fervently
soul. It is not about performing rituals participating in major international
selves afloat by making the most of these schemes.
and sacrifices. Yet, this might seem events such as the UN Vesak Day.
It’s inexcusable that the all-important exercise of developing a com-
strange, given the growing relevance cal, and marketing clout, it would ior official in Hebei province. Becoming a guardian of Buddhism
prehensive national database for unorganised workers, undertaken by of Buddhism elsewhere, it is assum- come as India’s worst fears. Xi has shown bias against ideologies helps Xi promote China as an accept-
the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, continues to be a work ing less importance in India. Certainly, China and Buddhism go a that deemed foreign i.e. Christianity, able world power with a soft image.
in progress almost halfway through 2021, even though last year’s hor- But sadly, India's deviation from long way. In fact, contrary to popular Islam, and democracy. He had helped Buddhist globalisation helps Beijing
rifying chaos had underlined the dire need to speedily enumerate all Buddhism and its historical essence belief, Buddhism remained firmly rebuild several famous temples in the push its economic projects — makes
such labourers. In the absence of reliable data, it’s tough to establish could do more harm than good to its rooted in China even after the Com- past, but ordered thousands of crosses diplomacy easier to win geopolitical
the proportion of workers who have not received cash transfers or free global image, for the world outside munist Party took over power. China be pulled off the steeples of churches influence in Myanmar, Sri Lanka,
ration. The absolute numbers reeled off by ministers and government continues to relate India’s greatness, has been opposed to superstitious while he was chief of Zhejiang Nepal, Bhutan, and elsewhere. Taking
officials don’t show us the true picture on the ground. despite its modern achievements, practices but not against religion. province between 2002 and 2007. a cue from the imperial-era practice,
Though there has been no nationwide lockdown this year, vari- with Buddha’s wisdom. But, in recent years China is witness- Xi could be following a policy akin China could be even using the power-
ous states and union territories have enforced stringent restric- Surely, the builders of the Indian ing a growing passion for Buddhist to Vladimir Putin’s spiritual feat of ful Tibetan Buddhist links for expand-
tions on economic activity and public movement, forcing many nation were aware of the essence. renewal. The spectre of economic adopting orthodox Christianity, ing its outreach. Whether asserting ter-
migrant workers to again adopt the desperate measure of returning Nehru particularly elevated his pro- affluence seems to steer people’s which is seen as giving him the moral ritorial claims in the South China Sea
file through Buddhism — adopted quest for spirituality, forcing Bud- legitimacy to be the leader of the Slav- or pushing connectivity under the BRI
to their home states. Those who have willy-nilly stayed back are
Buddhist features and symbols in the dhism to make a strong comeback. ic world. This is despite Article 14 of initiative along the Silk Route, Xi
also struggling for bare essentials. A recent survey in Punjab has
making of the Indian state. According Millions of Chinese are seeking their Russia’s constitution declaring the seems working on the political geogra-
revealed the disturbing reality: one-third of the migrant workers in to historian Madhavan Palat, Nehru ‘yin guo’ (karmic) connections with country ‘a secular state’. phy of Buddhism. His approach
the state’s urban areas are illiterate; and almost 60 per cent of them viewed Gandhi as Buddha’s avatar Buddha Amitabha. From students to Nobody knows whether Xi is a prac- towards linking trade, connectivity
have a monthly income of less than Rs 8,000. What’s needed is a and himself as Ashoka’s incarnation. businessmen, ordinary Chinese are titioner, his wife is; but he has firmly with Buddhism seems to bear that out.
workable action plan — national as well as state-specific — to Both rejected dogma but stood for the beginning to link their existential been putting Chinese Buddhism on The BRI is pushed into Nepal to link
ensure adequate means of subsistence for migrant workers so that law of truth. Buddha’s ethical happiness to the interdependent the global stage since 2005. At the with the Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbi-
they can withstand repeated disruptions. approach and principles of change nature of karmic cycles. domestic level, it looks as though he ni. CPEC is being termed the ‘Gand-
deeply influenced Nehru. If Buddha Chinese Master Jingzong once said is turning to religion not just to bol- hara trail’ to link China with Buddhist
gave India a temper for peace, Nehru China’s intent to realise its economic ster his rule, but to save the party centres such as Lahore, Taxila, and
applied it to his foreign policy — to and political destiny would pale com- from falling, and to arrest the flagging Peshawar. Taxila relics are being sent

Walk in for the jab draw back from conflict and from
competing with one another.
But today the issue is that of leader-
pared to the urge amongst millions to
accomplish their spiritual fortunes.
He cannot visualise China’s future
moral values in China’s social fabric
through anti-corruption drive.
It looks as though he is reimagining
to Sri Lanka for a public exposition.
Asian monks, including those from
Bhutan, are invited to the Saidu Sharif
Reach is important, so are safeguards ship. As India loses most of its legacy, without Buddhism. China’s future along the lines of the monastery in Swat Valley (the birth-
China is taking the leadership over But, it is none other than President imperial Chinese state. With human- place of Padmasambhava).

A
FTER the states exercised their powers and imposed lockdowns global Buddhism. And, as China Xi Jinping who has been working on ist Buddhist values diffusing into India needs to seriously reaffirm its
at their own level to contain the second wave of the coronavirus, plans to become a Buddhist super- a Buddhist globalisation drive since society, China is likely to see in the central role and embrace its own tra-
the Centre has now asked them to allow walk-in vaccines for power along with its financial, politi- he was 29 years old, serving as a jun- future what we witness in countries dition of Buddha, dharma, sangha.
people in the 18-44 age group to protect the younger adults from the
virus. The decision to widen the ambit of the vaccination programme obituary
has been prompted by the digital divide as people who did not have Pushpindar Singh Chopra (1943-2021)
access to the Internet or a smartphone were finding it difficult to book
appointments for the jab. This will apply only to the government vac-

Encyclopaedia of Indian aviation


cination centres for now. That governments have realised that check-
ing the spread of Covid-19 and reducing its severity need micro-man-
aging the fight is evident from places like Panchkula in Haryana and
Mohali in Punjab where drive-through vaccinations have also been
arranged for the eligible beneficiaries after due verification. Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) interviewed aviators and IAF person- research on facts, anecdotes, pic- inum Jubilee in 2007, occupies pride
Vaccines for the younger adult age group became available from May nel in an effort to record the air opera- tures from archives, summing up of place in every Air Force library and
1, but the demand soon surpassed supplies, exhausting stocks and halt-
ing the drive in several states. In Delhi alone, 400 inoculation centres
have been shut down because of the unavailability of vaccines and talks
with some companies have hit a bottleneck because of their refusal to
P USHPINDAR ‘Pushy’ Singh
Chopra. The name brings to
mind a range of reference books
scripting the aviation history of the
subcontinent, capturing generations
tions as they happened, and also to
refute enemy propaganda. His write-
ups and records of the air battles of 1965
are a valuable source of information for
history in a nutshell, which is some-
thing every official historian would
aspire to deliver. To converse with
him was akin to engaging with a
squadron crew room.
His pioneering work, Vayu Aero-
space Review, was one-of-its-kind
aerospace journals when
deal directly with the states instead of the Central Government. While various authors who have written about human encyclopaedia of Indian avi- launched in 1974 and it continues
the availability of vaccines is expected to become broad-based in the of aircraft flown, recording treasured the war. One recalls his article, ‘Laying ation. It was perhaps for this reason to dominate readership amongst
history for posterity. It would not be an the Sargodha ghost to rest’, in Vayu that one mistook him for an Air air warriors of today.
country in the days to come, making them reachable by avoiding short-
understatement to say that the work Aerospace Reviewin November 1985 as Force veteran at many of the demi- The contribution of Pushpindar
ages will have to be ensured. The inoculation schedule for some vac-
of Pushpindar Singh has been regu- being a trailblazer amongst others, official and social gatherings of the Singh towards recording the history
cines has already been readjusted, resulting in confusion. larly used as official reference materi- which led to debunking the myth of IAF that he was invited to. and air wars of the IAF cannot be con-
The vaccination programme against the coronavirus does need a al by officers and airmen of all gener- PAF’s claim of shooting down five IAF To his distinction, he published tained in a single article. He belonged
fillip to protect lives. But it should be well organised to ward off ations, looking to learn about the Hunters on September 7, 1965. books on the occasions of IAF’s Gold- to a rare category of passionate avia-
another surge of the deadly virus. For this, the Centre and the states IAF’s past and its journey. In the numerous books he wrote en Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and tion enthusiasts, who of their own
should work in tandem. The onus will also lie on the people to min- A renowned aviation historian, Push- on the IAF, starting from Aircraft of Platinum Jubilee. The definitive reckoning decided to become a part of
imise risks by taking all necessary precautions. pindar Singh’s association with the the Indian Air Force: 1933-1973, and three-volume magnum opus titled the men and women in blue. We shall
IAF dates back to the period soon after the coffee table books of squadrons, Himalayan Eagles: History of the fondly remember him and treasure
the Indo-Pak war of 1965, when he one finds diligent professional Indian Air Force, written for the Plat- his works for future generations.

❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
He has the most who is most content with Test all medicine systems then, he tries to fool the masses for his pandemic, we want peace and social bility? Will the minister take it? Who
the least. — Lord Buddha The recent irrational statement of own gains. He is all for ayurvedic for- harmony in the country. For the sake will be answerable for the safety of
Ramdev against allopathy has mulations, not because he is a highly of sustainable farming, R&D depart- thousands of young lives? Already,
exposed the rivalry between the two qualified and experienced ayurvedic ments of the agricultural sector the healthcare infrastructure is under
systems of medicine. In an era of evi- doctor or a herbal scientist, but should study the suggestions and tremendous strain. The government
on this day...100 years ago dence-based medicine, any system of because he is successfully running a prepare a concrete action plan. must explore the option of internal
medicine must be based on evidence huge ayurvedic empire. SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, KAPURTHALA assessment for Class 12 students.
and research, and all medicines, SUNIL CHOPRA, LUDHIANA Holding exams isn’t feasible.
whether allopathic, ayurvedic, unani Dose of compassion RITISH PANDIT, SUNHET
or homoeopathic, should undergo Admonishment not enough The middle ‘From a doctor’s moist
human trials to prove their efficacy Ramdev has spoken lowly against the eyes’ aptly highlights our helpless- Exams a must
lahore,thursday, may 26, 1921
and side-effects before being used as medical fraternity which has been ness and desperation in this hour of The decision to conduct class XII
treatment modalities approved only fighting the Covid pandemic since crisis. It is true that even if a physi- exams is a welcome step. As there is
INDIA’S STATUS. by the ICMR. We should learn from last year and has saved lakhs of peo- cian cannot cure, he can always be a no replacement for classroom
AS was to be expected, the Hon. Mr. Shastri, the Indian delegate to the Imperial the Chinese who have integrated the ple, even though they had to make source of comfort to the patients. A teaching, so is the case with offline
Conference, has begun by making a declaration of policy which is as sound as it modern and traditional system of many sacrifices in the line of duty. patient listening, a caring advise exams. After class XII, students go
is clear and unequivocal. In the course of an interview with the “Manchester medicine. Instead of issuing obnox- Ramdev is known for illogical state- and a positive approach by a doctor into various fields depending upon
Guardian”, Mr. Shastri said that before India could be expected to discuss ious statements or 25-point letters, ments. He has insulted the medical can work wonders. No doubt, the their performance. Assessing the
seriously the problems of imperial defence and imperial preference, her status people like Ramdev should prove the fraternity. The government should virus is beyond our control today, no students online or promoting them
must be raised to an equality with the Dominions, and that in the present usefulness of their medicines. And take stern action against him to boost doubt, the times are tough and there based on pre-board scores or school
circumstances round table discussions on subjects of imperial interest could those making false claims to mislead the morale of doctors and other med- is a constant fear of losing our dear assessment scores would have done
not be expected to do much good to India. This has always been India’s position people should be immediately arrest- ical staff. Simple admonishment by ones, yet, we need to act humanely a great injustice to brilliant stu-
in the matter, and it is precisely because it has been her position that she has ed and prosecuted. the health minister is not enough. and with compassion. A caring atti- dents. Hence, offline exams under
never taken anything like a keen or energetic interest either in the work of these VITULL K GUPTA, BATHINDA MANJIT SINGH, LUDHIANA tude, gestures of love and affection strict supervision are a must. Keep-
Conferences or in the participation in them of the delegates sent from India. and a friendly conversation can help ing in view the safety of examinees
Indeed, the general feeling on the subject ever since Lord, then Sir S.P. Sinha Businessman baba Sustainable farming ease the pain. and staff, papers of compulsory
was deputed to attend one of these Conferences, first, to assist the Secretary of The shrewd tycoon, Baba Ramdev, Refer to ‘Innovation is the key to SUMITA KANWAR, YAMUNANAGAR subjects may be conducted. Dura-
State for India and then as a full-fledged member, has been that it was like firstly spewed venom and later clever- tackling agrarian crisis’; the Centre tion of the paper can be reduced
putting the cart before the horse. It did some good, as innovations of this kind ly twisted his derogatory remarks and state governments, with the Cancel board exams without compromising on the aim
do, but it was based upon a fallacy which made it impossible for the experiment after he was rapped by the Health active help of agricultural experts Reference to ‘Exams in limbo’; when of learning. Exams can be conduct-
to be anything like a considerable success. That fallacy in the words of one of the Minister. Should a man of his fame and institutions, must prepare nec- students and parents are against the ed in two shifts to maintain social
most brilliant Viceroys that ever came out to India, consisted in the assumption harbour such views and mentality? essary action plans to tackle the exams, why is the Central govern- distance. In cases where students
that the Indian, though he might not have the rights and privileges of a citizen He is nothing but a yoga trainer who agrarian crisis. The Centre should ment keen to hold them? It won't take are not able to take exams due to
in his own country, was already a citizen of the Empire. The thing was absurd on has been often unduly appreciated by also initiate talks on the recent three long for the exam centres to become Covid problems, separate exams
the face of it, and the hollowness of the plea was exposed by an Australian paper various ministers. Making use of his agricultural laws with the protesting Covid hotspots. If children contract can be held later.
many years ago when it asked with what consistency or propriety Englishmen political connections, every now and farmers. In view of the prevailing the virus, who will take the responsi- DARSHAN S BHATHAL, NANGAL
in India could expect the self-governing colonies to treat Indians as equal fellow
subjects after denying them the rights of citizens in their own country. 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: Letters@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 26 MAY 2021 OPED 07

Challenging, eventful two years of Modi 2.0


Prime Minister, took defeat on his ship Act to disenfranchise Muslim
chin and went about the business of Considering that electoral immigrants in West Bengal and the
governance with equanimity — it North-East and confer citizenship
looks like the party is unable to live outcomes have become an rights on the non-Muslim settlers
down the loss in West Bengal.
Indeed, as the second anniversary
index of Modi’s popularity like from Bangladesh and other countries;
and strengthened the Unlawful Activ-
approached, the Centre and the BJP never before, it looks like the ities Prevention Act (UAPA), empow-
had hoped that a success in the east- ering the state to designate an individ-
RADHIKA RAMASESHAN
ern state would be the crowning glo- party is unable to live down ual as a terrorist and impound his
SENIOR JOURNALIST ry of their record of electoral “con-
quests”, quite unlike even Uttar
the loss in West Bengal. properties. The tweaked UAPA was
employed with impunity to crush dis-

D
ESTINY deprived the Pradesh, which the BJP is used to Indeed, as the second sent, notably the protests against the
Narendra Modi-led govern- winning now and then. altered Citizenship Act from students
ment of another chance to A win in West Bengal had several anniversary approached, on Delhi campuses, some of whom are
celebrate an anniversary. In
2020, when Prime Minister Modi com-
implications, not the least being van- the BJP had hoped that a still languishing in jails.
quishing an ideology that was anathe- The pinnacle of achievements on
pleted one year of his second term on ma to the RSS from the start. There- success in Bengal would be the BJP’s core ideology was the start
May 30, the country was facing the fore, even celebrations on a limited of the construction of the Ram tem-
first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. scale were in order, regardless of the
the crowning glory of its record ple at Ayodhya with the Supreme
An unexpected and unwanted fallout devastation the pandemic wrought in of electoral ‘conquests’. Court’s green signal. Modi promptly
of the disaster was that it emptied out the countryside. Mamata Banerjee set up a government trust to oversee
the cities of their working class robbed Modi of his moment of glory. PREMATURE: Triumphalism marked the the construction that capped a
migrants, who held aloft the organ- Premature triumphalism marked approach to pandemic management. REUTERS “movement” dating back to 1984.
ised and subterranean economies, the government’s approach to pan- The other big — and unforeseen —
after the Centre announced a long demic management. The flight of political challenge was the fight by the
national lockdown. migrants, the job losses, the beating dence that the sentiment was com- possibly more severe attack were marked by callousness, that some farmers of Punjab and Haryana against
One year hence, a brief lull that taken by the economy, particularly in mensurate with hardcore efforts to issued by experts. Was the seemingly mistook for helplessness, over-cen- the new farm laws that were packaged
induced optimism and complacency the manufacturing, construction and launch mass vaccination of the scale goodwill gesture intended to enhance tralisation, giving a wide berth to the as a major step towards reforming agri-
in the government has resulted in a service sectors, and the inadequacies seen in earlier programmes. India has the PM’s image in the global commu- non-BJP states and their chief minis- culture. The protests spread to parts of
bigger catastrophe that shows little evident in the sphere of health were a legacy of successful immunisation nity? If it was, the endeavour took a ters, allowing RSS-aligned quacks a Uttar Pradesh and partially revived the
sign of subsiding. If anything, experts not factored in the “feel-good” mood policies and projects and there was no serious beating within months when free play and a curious reluctance to state’s dormant Opposition.
have warned of a third and a more which the government infused among reason why the Covid immunisation the virus spread uncontrolled, this share critical information. The farmers show no sign of backing
intense wave looming large. people after the first wave receded. would not take off. time to the rural areas that were rela- Fortified by the 2019 mandate, the off as the Centre seems equally deter-
Still, by the reckoning of the faithful Hospitals, health centres and In retrospect, the project’s begin- tively untouched in the first phase, government did not let the RSS down mined not to revise its stance.
in the large BJP fraternity, Modi’s first pharmaceutical companies man- ning was wrong. It reflected a sense of and vaccines remained short. or compromise on its ideological com- Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the
year in 2.0 was creditable, barring the aged to cope ably because the sever- misplaced priorities. The ‘Vaccine The health infrastructure col- mitment. Modi 2.0 started on the right polls in February-March 2022, will be
electoral reverses in Delhi, Jharkhand ity of the virus was less than the Maitri’ diplomacy, however well lapsed, death counts were inaccurate note from the Sangh’s perspective: the first big test of how people view
and Maharashtra. The BJP, nonethe- magnitude that followed. intentioned, saw the Centre dispatch- because the villages were largely the government passed the Bill crimi- Modi 2.0 because the BJP proposes
less, managed to put together coalition There was hope that a vaccination ing Covid vaccines to multiple coun- impenetrable and life-saving medi- nalising the practice of ‘triple talaq’ to showcase the PM more prominent-
governments in Haryana and Bihar. programme would kick off on a large tries in the belief that India would not cines and oxygen ran scarce. The among Muslims; revoked nearly all of ly in its campaign than the Chief
Considering that electoral outcomes scale with the help of indigenous man- require huge doses because it had images of cadavers floating on rivers Article 370, of which 35A is a part, and Minister, Yogi Adityanath. The only
have become an index of Modi and the ufacture and imports. The govern- “contained” the virus. and devoured by dogs and vultures which formed the basis of Kashmir’s source of comfort for the BJP is that
BJP’s popularity like never before — ment's confidence was not entirely The exercise began in January 2021, will linger on for a long time. complex relationship with India for the Opposition remains disunited
even Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP’s first misplaced but there was little evi- when forewarnings of a second and The government’s approach was nearly 70 years; amended the Citizen- and largely passive.

No evidence yet of paediatric impact


T
HERE is a lot of discussion pitalisation, people always try to ‘seek should analyse the available Covid-19
going on that the third wave care at the next level of healthcare data by age, gender and other strati-
would affect mainly children. facility’ than the one closer to them: fiers with comparison between the
In a hearing, a Bench of the those in villages go to the city, those in two waves and make it public. That is
Supreme Court has asked about the the city go to a major city, and those in essential to develop evidence-
government’s plan to protect children a major city, seek a hospital in metro- informed strategies and dispel the
from the third wave. Maharashtra has politan cities. This care-seeking unsubstantiated assertions, which
set up a separate state task force for behaviour is seen more frequently for may create fear.
CHANDRAKANT LAHARIYA Covid-19 in children. The Karnataka children. Therefore, most of the high- Also, both the Centre and states
PUBLIC POLICY AND HEALTH SYSTEMS EXPERT State Commission for Protection of er-level facilities in large cities and should prepare for all possible scenar-
Child Rights has recommended the catering to Covid-19 children might ios (informed by data and not merely
setting up of paediatric task forces on have received a higher number of sick opinion) to respond to the third wave.
Covid-19 in every district. Some children than in the other age-groups, There is merit in ensuring that Covid-
If paediatricians have seen health experts have suggested that leaving the impression (to the attend- 19 testing and treatment services for
special paediatric Covid-19 intensive ing doctors) that more children were children are also strengthened.
more cases of children in care units, catering to up to 5 per cent affected in the second wave. The genomic sequencing and clini-
of the child population, should be set Three, there is no evidence that the cal studies regularly examine trans-
the second surge, it must up. virus or the new strains have missibility or pathogenicity of the cir-
also be noted that the These developments have been BASELESS: There is no data from any country which has seen three or four waves to increased transmissibility or patho- culating strains in all age-groups.
interpreted by many as confirma- infer that children were more commonly affected in any wave. TRIBUNE PHOTO genicity to the younger age-groups or Setting up a separate task force for
overall Covid-19 cases have tion that the third wave would pri- children. Yet, we know that while Covid-19 may be an attractive idea,
marily affect children. CoV-2 binds are underdeveloped in 19 infections in children remain low. additional Covid-19 facilities were but it has the risk of a fragmented
also increased by four to A number of countries have already children and the virus fails to find its Therefore, if paediatricians have opened to cater to the increased case- response. It would be better if a single
five times and sustained for experienced three or four waves of the way to their lungs. seen more infections and cases of load, the proportion of Covid-19 facili- task force at the state level, with the
pandemic and there is no scientific Yet, why is it being thought that chil- children in the second surge, it must ties for children did not witness a pro- participation of child health experts,
a few weeks. To make any evidence and epidemiological data dren could be more widely affected in also be noted that the overall Covid- portionate increase. were to look into the strategies and
correct inference, data from any part of the world that chil-
dren were more commonly affected in
the next wave? Let us examine the
possible reasons.
19 cases in the country have also
increased by four to five times and
Therefore, due to a shortage of beds
and ventilators, only those with mod-
plans holistically.
Consideration on the opening of the
from both the clinicians any subsequent wave. In fact, states One, in the second wave, doctors sustained for a few weeks. erate or severe conditions were schools and plan for vaccination of
such as Delhi have already seen four attending Covid-19 children reported to An epidemiologist will explain admitted to Covid facilities. This children should be a part of the overall
and data experts is needed waves and the children have not been have seen more cases than in the first that to make any correct inference, triage of already sick patients for hos- plans for the pandemic response.
and they must work affected disproportionately.
Fifteen months into the pandemic,
wave. The children admitted reported
to be sicker than in the previous wave.
the data from both groups — the cli-
nicians (who have a better sense of
pital admission, to a treating physi-
cian, gave the impression that the
Health experts need to support their
assumptions not merely based on
together. This will address we have a better understanding of A few weeks ago, Niti Aayog and the admissions of children, the numer- severity of the illness was higher, their clinical experience but in the
SARS CoV-2 and Covid-19. Successive Indian Council of Medical Research ator) and the data experts (who have while it was a selection bias. broader epidemiological context to
‘numerator-denominator sero-surveys in Indian cities and (ICMR) released facility-based data a broader picture of the overall cas- In short, there is no data from India avoid any possible panic.
dissociation’ to make a states and even national surveys have
revealed that children have developed
comparing age distribution in the two
waves. It found that in the second
es in the entire population, the
denominator) — is needed and they
to support that children were more
commonly affected in the second
As of now, there is no reason to con-
clude that children would be at a high-
correct interpretation. a proportionately similar rate of infec- wave, of the total admitted patients, must work together. This will wave (in comparison to the first wave) er risk of contracting Covid-19 in the
tion as any other age-group. It is just 5.8 per cent were 0-19 years, and this address the ‘numerator-denomina- or would have a higher risk of disease third wave, as and when that happens.
that they simply don’t develop a mod- was 4.2 per cent in the first wave. The tor dissociation’ to make a correct in the third wave. However, preparation without causing
erate or severe disease. The reason is age group constitutes nearly 43 per interpretation. However, to ensure an effective pan- unnecessary alarm and panic has to
that ACE-2 receptors on which SARS cent of the population. Clearly, Covid- Two, for illnesses which require hos- demic response, the government be the approach to be followed.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast


ACROSS MAY 26, 2021, WEDNESDAY SUNSET: WEDNESDAY 19:16 HRS
1 Relative rank in hierarchy (6)
4 Fit for growing crops (6) 6 7 2 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2078
SUNRISE: THURSDAY 05:23 HRS

9 Rice-based dish (7) ■ Shaka Samvat 1943


10 Europe’s longest river (5)
11 An aspiration (5) 4 9 1 3 ■ Jyeshtha Shaka

■ Jyeshtha Parvishte
5
13
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

12 Unpaid debt (7)


■ Hijari 1442 Chandigarh 41 24
1 3 9 7
13 No laughing matter (6,1,4)
18 Landlocked south African
country (7)
2 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 15, up to 4.44 pm New Delhi 40 24
■ Shiva Yoga up to 10.51 pm Amritsar 40 23
20 Exemplary (5)
22 US Civil War general (5)
23 Expression of high regard (7)
5 9 6 ■ Anuradha Nakshatra up to 1.15 am

■ Moon in Scorpio sign


Bathinda
Jalandhar
39
41
24
22
24 Free from obligation (6) ■ Vaisakh Purnima Ludhiana 40 23
25 Military engagement (6)
DOWN
3 9 7 4 ■ Budh Purnima Bhiwani 41 24
1 A long step (6) ■ Gandmool start 1:15 am Hisar 41 24
2 Passage between rows (5)
3 Played at a fast pace (2-5) 7 2 8 ■ Moon eclipse 3:15 pm to 6:23 pm Sirsa
Dharamsala
42
29
26
17
5 Wanderer (5) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
Manali 24 11
9 8 4 5 3
6 Rampart (7)
7 9 8 1 3 4 6 2 5
7 Pass by (6) Shimla 26 17
8 Rules of behaviour (3,3,5) 4 5 6 7 2 8 9 3 1
Srinagar 26 11
14 Subjugate (7) 2 1 3 5 9 6 7 8 4
15 Caribbean country (7)
16 Deadly contagious
1 6 5 4 1
9
6
2
4
5
2
4
8
7
5
3
3
8
7
1
9
6
Jammu
Kargil
39
13
21
05
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION disease (6) 3 8 7 9 6 1 4 5 2 Leh 09 02
Across: 1 Notable, 5 Waste, 8 Burn one’s boats, 9 Eland, 10 Scruple, 11 Nylons, 12
Patron, 15 Monitor, 17 Vocal, 19 Speak one’s mind, 20 Sheen, 21 Surgeon.
17 Wool shorn from a single
sheep (6) 1 9 2 6 3 1 8 5 9 2 4 7 Dehradun 37 20
Down: 1 Noble, 2 Turn a blind eye, 3 Broaden, 4 Even so, 5 Weber, 6 Sharp practice, 7 19 Add together (3,2) 8 4 2 6 1 7 5 9 3
Mussoorie 27 14
Eastern, 11 Nemesis, 13 Adviser, 14 Prunes, 16 Token, 18 Laden. 21 Uncertainty (5) V. EASY 5 7 9 3 4 2 1 6 8 TEMPERATURE IN OC
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