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6 EDITORIAL DELHI

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022


THE HINDU
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A new road for India’s fiscal federalism 
After the ‘Mohit Minerals’ judgment, States will now be free to exercise independent power to legislate on GST 
that: recommendations that could purpose  behind  the  introduction tion would have been included in
never  be  binding  on  a  legislative of a common GST would be in jeo­ Articles 246A or 279A.” But in the

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Caution and clarity body.
Reacting to the ruling, the Un­
pardy. But the latter interpretation
effectively  entailed  a  destruction
present case, no such qualification
can be found.
The IPEF in its nascence relies more on ion  Ministry  of  Finance  has of the well­laid plans of the Consti­
claimed  that  it  “does  not  in  any tuent Assembly. Fiscal responsibil­ In perspective
promise than prospect of tangible outcomes  way lay down anything new”, and ities  that  had  been  divided  with The Court’s ruling does not mean

I
n a sudden decision not previously intimated, India Suhrith Parthasarathy
that it “does not have any bearing much care and attention between that a legislature — whether Parlia­
became one of a 13­nation economic initiative led by on the way GST has been function­ the  Union  and  the  States  would ment  or  the  States’  —  cannot

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the U.S., on Monday, as President Joseph Biden un­ n May 19, in Union of India ing in India, nor lays down anyth­ Article 246A. This provision over­ now stand dissolved. through  statutory  law  make  the
veiled plans for an Indo­Pacific Economic Framework vs  Mohit  Minerals,  the  Su­ ing fundamentally different to the rode the general dominion grant­ Council’s recommendations bind­
for Prosperity (IPEF). The initiative is touted as a sub­ preme  Court  of  India  deli­ existing framework of GST”. But a ed to Parliament and State legisla­ Not a symmetrical compact ing  on  executive  bodies.  Indeed,
vered  a  ruling  which  is  likely  to close reading of the judgment be­ tures  to  bring  laws  on  various In its judgment in Mohit Minerals, insofar  as  the  laws  today  make
stantial step by the U.S. as part of its decade­old “pivot
have  an  impact  far  wider  than lies this suggestion. Until now, go­ subjects and afforded to them an the  Supreme  Court  has  provided such  a  mandate,  rulemaking  by
to  Asia”,  and  an  attempt  at  putting  some  “economic what  the  Centre  might  have  ima­ vernments across India have treat­ express authority to make legisla­ what ought to be seen as the final the  executive  would  necessarily
heft” into its Indo­Pacific presence that has been on the gined when it brought the case up ed  the  GST  Council’s tion on GST. word  on  this  conundrum.  Alth­ have to be bound by the Council’s
decline after its decision to quit the Trans Pacific Free on appeal. At stake was the validi­ recommendations  —  even  where In  addition,  the  101st  Amend­ ough  States  had  until  now  pro­ advice. But a constitutional power,
Trade Agreement, the CPTPP, in 2017. Officials say the ty of a levy imposed on importers, they disagreed with them — as sa­ ment also established, through Ar­ ceeded  on  a  tacit  belief  that  the in the Court’s ruling, can never be
IPEF framework has four “pillars”: supply­chain resi­ of Integrated Goods and Services crosanct,  because  they  believed ticle 279A, a GST Council. This bo­ GST  Council’s  recommendations limited  through  statute.  Such
lience;  clean  energy,  decarbonisation  and  infrastruc­ Tax  (IGST)  on  ocean  freight  paid that this was indeed the law. What dy  comprises  the  Union  Finance were binding, such an approach, curbs  must  flow  only  from  the
by foreign sellers to foreign ship­ Mohit  Minerals holds,  though,  is Minister,  the  Union  Minister  of in  Justice  Chandrachud’s  words, Constitution. And in this case, in
ture;  taxation  and  anti­corruption;  and  fair  and  resi­
ping lines. The Gujarat High Court that State governments, on a prop­ State for Finance, and Ministers of would run counter both to the ex­ the  Court’s  analysis,  no  restric­
lient trade. Mr. Biden’s visit to Japan and South Korea, had  declared  the  tax  illegal.  The er  construal  of  the  Constitution, Finance from every State govern­ press  words  of  the  Constitution tions  on  legislative  power  can  be
attendance at the Quad summit and helming the IPEF Supreme Court affirmed the ruling need to hardly feel circumscribed ment.  The  Council  was  given  the and  the  philosophical  values  un­ gleaned on a meaningful reading
launch is also aimed at reassuring the Eastern hemisph­ through  Justice  D.Y.  Chandra­ by any such limitation. As such, ac­ power  to  “make  recommenda­ derlying  the  language  deployed. of the Constitution.
ere about the U.S.’s focus. India’s joining is an equally chud’s judgment and held that the cording to the Court, State legisla­ tions to the Union and States” on Our  federal  compact,  the  judg­ Today, because of the ruling in
strong statement of commitment to Indo­Pacific goals, levy constituted double taxation — tures possess the authority to de­ several different matters. These in­ ment holds, is not symmetrical, in Mohit Minerals, State governments
and to broadening regional economic cooperation, par­ that  is,  that  the  importer,  which viate from any advice rendered by clude a model GST law, the goods that there are certain areas of the will  be  free  to  exercise  indepen­
ticularly after it walked out of the 15­nation RCEP. It is was  already  paying  tax  on  the the GST Council and to make their and services that may be subjected Constitution  that  contain  a  “cen­ dent power to legislate on GST. It is
“composite”  supply  of  goods, own laws by asserting, in the pro­ to or exempted from GST and the tralising drift” — where the Union possible  that  this  might  lead  to
significant that all IPEF members, other than India and
could not be asked to pay an addi­ cess, their role as equal partners in rates at which tax is to be levied. In is  granted  a  larger  share  of  the conflicting taxation regimes, with
the U.S., are a part of the RCEP free trade agreement, tional tax on a perceived “service” India’s federal architecture. framing the manner in which the power — and there are other areas the idea of ‘One Nation One Tax’
and yet have chosen to be part of the U.S.­led initiative. that it may have received. Council’s votes are to be reckoned where  equal  responsibility  is rendered  nugatory.  But  as  the
Despite the strong signalling from all sides, however, Advent of Articles with,  the  Union  government  was vested. Court puts it, “Indian federalism is
there are many aspects to the IPEF that bear further Just recommendations When, in July 2017, the Union go­ granted a virtual veto. Article  246A,  which  was  intro­ a dialogue  between  cooperative
scrutiny. Monday’s launch only signals the willingness In making this finding, the Court vernment introduced the GST re­ As I wrote in these pages when duced by the 101st Amendment, is and  uncooperative  federalism
of the 13 countries to begin discussions on the contours. proceeded on a technical reading gime  through  the  101st  constitu­ the  Amendment  was  first  intro­ one  such  clause.  The  provision where the federal units are at liber­
of  various  laws,  in  particular  the tional Amendment, it did so based duced, there was some amount of provides concomitant power both ty  to  use  different  means  of  per­
Much  will  depend,  as  Prime  Minister  Narendra  Modi
provisions  of  the  Central  Goods on an underlying belief that tax ad­ confusion  on  whether  the  Coun­ to the Union and to the State go­ suasion  ranging  from  collabora­
stressed, on how inclusive the process is. Second, U.S. and  Services  Tax  Act.  That  read­ ministration  across  India  needed cil’s  decisions  would  be  binding. vernments  to  legislate  on  GST.  It tion to contestation.”
officials  have  made  it  clear  that  it  is  not  a  free  trade ing, in and by itself, has limited im­ unification. ‘One Nation, One Tax’, The use of the word “recommen­ does not discriminate between the GST was conceived as a product
agreement; nor  will  it  discuss  tariff  reductions  or  in­ plications.  But  the  Court  also was  the  mantra.  To  give  effect  to dations”  suggested  on  the  one two  in  terms  of  its  allocation  of of  what  some  described  as
creasing market access, raising questions about its util­ made  a  slew  of  observations, this idea, many entries in the State hand  that  its  decisions  would  be authority. That allocation, accord­ “pooled  sovereignty”.  But  per­
ity. Shorn of the rhetoric of Indo­Pacific cooperation, which, if taken to their logical con­ list of Schedule VII of the Constitu­ advisory, at best. But, at the same ing to the Court, cannot be limited haps it is only in an administrative
there must be more clarity on its framework. The four clusion by State legislatures, could tion were either deleted or amend­ time, the fact that Article 279A di­ by a reading of Article 279A, which area,  animated  by  contestation,
potentially transform the future of ed. No longer could State govern­ rected the establishment of a me­ establishes  a  GST  Council,  and where  we  can  see  synergy  bet­
pillars also lend themselves to some confusion, drawing
fiscal federalism in India. It held, ments,  for  example,  legislate  on chanism  to  adjudicate  disputes which  treats  the  Council’s  deci­ ween  different  sovereign  units,
into question whether there is enough common ground for instance, that both Parliament sale or purchase of goods (barring between  governments  on  deci­ sions  as  “recommendations”.  “If where  our  nation  can  take  a  ge­
among the 13 countries that are part of very different and  the  State  legislatures  enjoy a few  exceptions,  such  as  petro­ sions taken by the Council suggest­ the  GST  Council  was  intended  to nuine turn towards a more “coop­
economic  arrangements,  as  well  as  outliers  (the  U.S. equal power to legislate on Goods leum  and  liquor)  through  the  or­ ed that those governments would, be  a  decision­making  authority erative federalism”.
and India), to set standards together, or be open to is­ and  Services  Tax  (GST),  and  that dinary legislative route. Instead, a in  fact,  be  bound  by  any  advice whose  recommendations  trans­
sues  that  vary  for  each  country.  The  U.S.’s  statement the Goods and Services Tax Coun­ power to legislate on GST was in­ rendered  to  them.  If  the  former form to legislation,” wrote Justice Suhrith Parthasarathy is an advocate
that the IPEF is essentially focused on “American work­ cil’s  recommendations  were  just serted through a newly introduced reading  was  to  be  deployed,  the Chandrachud,  “such  a  qualifica­ practising in the Madras High Court

ers” also raises questions on whether increasingly pro­
tectionist  global  trends  will  chafe.  Each  of  the  IPEF
countries  has  considerable  trade  interests  in  China,
with most having large trade deficits. So, it remains to
The executive seems more fragile than hurt sentiment 
be seen how much they will be willing to sign on with There seems to be an increased use of Section 153A IPC and Section 295A IPC, going by data and anecdotal evidence 
the IPEF. Already three ASEAN countries, Cambodia,
were enacted. In 1927, when Sec­ not be enforced appropriately and ‘deliberate  intention  and  malice’
Laos and Myanmar, have decided to stay out of the fra­
tion 153A was already in existence, is  being  let  loose  to  chase  the cannot be objectively determined.
mework’s launch. Above all, given the fact that the U.S.’s Section 295A was brought on the dissenter. The police do not get into the legis­
previous initiatives (the Blue Dot Network and the Build demand  of  a  religious  minority lative nuances before registering a
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Back  Better  Initiative)  have  made  little  headway  in community  which  alleged  that  a Element of subjectivity criminal case or making an arrest.
changing the region’s infrastructural needs, the IPEF pamphlet  titled  ‘Rangeela  Rasul’ Unlike  bodily  harm  that  can  be Philosopher  Martha  Nussbaum
faces a credibility challenge. Negotiators will need to Shrutika & Mayank Yadav published  objectionable  content verified, sentimental hurt cannot critiqued the law by saying that it
move with both caution and clarity before making any against its founder. be tested against strict measures. invites  thugs  to  suppress  speech
big promises on its benefits for the region. The  Legislative  Assembly  de­ The element of subjectivity over­ on  anything  they  dislike;  she  ad­

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n  yet  another  brute  show  of bates  at  the  introduction  of  Sec­ rides it as a sentiment’s vulnerabil­ ded that given India’s political cli­
power,  Dr.  Ratan  Lal,  a  Dalit tion  295A  expressed  concern ity could widely vary, even among mate,  several  would  take  up  this
Serving those who serve academician,  was  arrested  for
an  ‘objectionable’  post  on  the
about its subjectivity that could be
misused. The rationale behind the would  be  flooded  with  frivolous
those of the same religion.
A critical  inquiry  of  orthodox
ugly invitation. A hazy legal para­
digm  criminalising  hurting  reli­
Health workers need better remuneration  Gyanvapi  mosque  row.  He  is  al­ provision  was  to  deal  with  inten­ cases.  Then  there  would  be  a practices and superstitious beliefs gious sentiment facilitates the rul­
and safety guarantee, not just awards  leged to have promoted disharmo­ tional insults to religion or outrag­ sweeping class of offences, where encourages  social  reforms.  The ing dispensation’s strategy to stifle

R
ecognition very often goes to those at the top of ny  or  enmity  between  religious ing religious feelings. At best, the it cannot be objectively adjudicat­ need  for  an  intelligent  counter  is all dissent and use the law to fuel
the pecking order, and stays there. Credit seldom groups (Section 153A in the Indian Assembly members found it a tem­ ed if a crime has been committed. required much more amid the ag­ divisive politics.
Penal Code) and intentionally and porary  remedy  for  a  temporary gressive assertion of religious be­ On  raging  criminalisation  of
trickles down to the worker at the bottom. The
maliciously  hurt  religious  senti­ aberration, not one that would be Some safeguards liefs  by  the  socio­political  hege­ free speech, senior advocate Indi­
World Health Organization’s act of recognising India’s ments  (Section  295A  in  the  IPC). in active use a century later. However, there were statutory sa­ mon.  Even  the  1927  Joint  Select ra Jaising said that repeated use of
ASHA (accredited social health activists) and the polio His arrest adds to the trend of in­ A more direct measure was in­ feguards  that  required  deliberate Committee appreciated the argu­ law  to  stifle  dissent  reflects  state
workers  of  Afghanistan  is  an  attempt  to  right  that creased use of the two provisions. corporated through Section 295A, intention and malice; and judicial ment that a religious insult inflict­ policy. “It is not a ‘misuse’; it is be­
wrong. It is a rare, and commendable doffing of the hat The latest annual report of the which would not require proving rulings  that  needed  looking  at  — ed in good faith, with the object of ing used the way the enforcement
for workers at the very bottom of the rung, and gives National Crime Records Bureau re­ that the speech promoted enmity words  used,  intent,  and  effect  to steering  reform,  would  bring  the agencies want it,” she added. The
credit where it is due. When WHO Director General Te­ cords  more  than  four  jumps or hatred between classes; now, a ascertain criminality. Only a delib­ follower’s  required  attention  to executive  is  seemingly  more  fra­
(458%)  of  cases  registered  under hurt sentiment would be enough. erate and aggravated form of reli­ the critique. gile than a citizen’s hurt religious
dros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the names of
Section 153A since 2014; it almost It can be argued that it safeguard­ gious insult would attract the rigor India’s  Constitution  celebrates sentiment.  It  sends  out  a  clear
six Global Health Leader awardees at the opening ses­ doubled in the last two years. This ed the spirit of tolerance amidst re­ of the provision. diversity  with  the  guarantee  of message that be it a stand­up com­
sion  of  the  World  Health  Assembly,  over  one million does not necessarily mean hurtful ligious diversity. But its enhanced The  judiciary  laid  down  two free speech. With that aspirational ic script, a remark on the belief of
ASHAs and eight volunteer polio workers found them­ comments surged all of a sudden, misuse  raises  the  question:  safe­ ways to measure the effect — one pledge, should not the answer to walking  barefooted  in  reverence,
selves being counted amidst people leading from the as  conviction  could  only  be  se­ guard for who and against what? by  establishing  a  link  between hurt  religious  sentiment  be  tole­ or taking beef to school, India is no
front. The other awardees are Paul Farmer, co­founder cured  in  merely  20.4%  of  cases. The  debates  sensed  and  cau­ speech  and  public  disorder,  and rance, and not rampant criminali­ longer the country to hold and ex­
of the NGO Partners in Health, Ahmed Hankir, a British­ Though no separate data is availa­ tioned against a looming threat ov­ by measuring the effects from the sation? This may be an unreal ex­ press  opinions  challenging  the
Lebanese psychiatrist, Ludmila Sofia Oliveira Varela, a ble  on  Section  295A,  anecdotal er free speech. It was anticipated standards  of  a  reasonable  man, pectation  in  times  of  widespread state­backed  majoritarian
evidence  suggests  its  increased that  it  could  be  misused  to  sup­ and  not  from  one  who  fears  all hate and disharmony. It is anoma­ rhetoric.
youth  sports  advocate,  and  Yōhei  Sasakawa,  WHO’s
use by the executive. press  honest,  candid,  and  bona hostile  viewpoints.  However,  no lous for a pluralistic, democratic,
Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. Dr. Te­ fide criticism, and hinder histori­ attempt was made to translate the and  secular  nation  that  runs  on Shrutika is an independent researcher
dros  who  picks  the  awardees  himself,  said  that  the Legislative history cal  research  towards  social  re­ safeguards  into  practice,  which counter­discourses to criminalise pursuing Master of Laws (LLM) from the
award recognises those who have made an outstanding The increased use of these penal form. If individuals were allowed could have shielded the dear ethos speech for hurting fickle religious Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
contribution  to  protecting  and  promoting  health provisions draws our attention to to register complaints about a hurt of  free  speech.  A  half­hearted  at­ sentiments. Mumbai. Mayank Yadav is a Delhi­based
around the world, at a time when the world is facing an the  circumstances  in  which  they religious  sentiment,  the  courts tempt left us with a law that can­ Even the statutory safeguards of lawyer. The views expressed are personal
unprecedented convergence of inequity, conflict, food
insecurity, climate crisis and a pandemic. 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.
The ASHAs were honoured for their “crucial role in
To read more letters
linking the community with the health system, to en­ The U.S. on Taiwan world. In this scenario, it is law should apply and take its especially in Tamil Nadu, time for the organising online, scan the QR code
sure those living in rural poverty can access primary It would have been better unfathomable to imagine course of action. Otherwise, were joyous.  committee to reverse its
health  care  services....”  These  workers,  all  women, had the President of the future wars. The U.S. ought there will be chaos if various Perarivalan must ponder retrograde step. Wimbledon ■ Sportsmen are the best

faced harassment and violence for their work during United States, Joe Biden, to use its ‘super power’ States implement draconian over what he has done. should not behave like a ambassadors of world peace


the pandemic, well documented in the media. While not explicitly discussed a status to bring ongoing measures to ‘punish’ N.N. Neelakantan, NATO country.  and a free and fair playing
the pandemic rewrote the rules, creating danger where hypothetical scenario in conflicts to an end — not citizens. Coimbatore M.Y. Kumar, field with the stars in the
detail (Page 1, “U.S. to imagine new ones. Bijumon P.N., Mysuru all­white Wimbledon code
mere routine existed, it must be stressed that in gener­
defend Taiwan against A. Venkatasubramanian, Mattuthavalom, Upputhara, Kerala Wimbledon move can send out a very powerful
al,  their  job,  which  takes  them  into  difficult­to­reach China: Biden”, May 24). Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu If the ATP and WTA have ■ The decision made by message. Even now it is not
places and hostile communities, confers a measure of Why create new problems Release and response decided to strip Wimbledon those who matter in too late for the men who
privations. Even as they contribute to better health out­ in these turbulent times? Flattened A.G. Perarivalan did not go to of the all­important ranking Wimbledon is unpalatable matter to reverse their
comes, this workforce continues to protest across the There are already a number The growing bulldozer jail fighting for a cause. points, it was of its own given that sportspersons decision. The world needs
country, for better remuneration, health benefits and of countries facing the culture in India leaves one Hence the joyous making. It goes without cannot be held accountable Wimbledon for high quality
permanent posts. The eight volunteer polio workers of consequences of the aghast. Who has given celebrations over his release saying that preventing or for the actions of political tennis, well­mannered
Ukraine war in terms of ‘officials’ the authority to by some political parties stopping Russia from leaders. Wimbledon is one of crowds, strawberries and the
Afghanistan (four of them women) were shot and killed
food, fuel, and supply chain destroy a residential house? have shocked many. There attacking Ukraine would the most coveted and rain. Why have a blot now?
by gunmen in Takhar and Kunduz provinces in Febru­ disruptions and other Moreover, it is for courts to are also many prisoners who have been well­nigh revered championships on Sanath Kumar T.S.,
ary 2022. Their work was crucial in a country where induced shortages. With no determine whether a have displayed satisfactory impossible for players from earth. Its decision makers Thrissur, Kerala
wild polio virus type 1 is still circulating, WHO record­ clear end to the war in person is guilty or not. The conduct for years but are still Russia and Belarus. The onus must course correct.
ed. Clearly, certain kinds of basic public health work Europe in sight, the persons alleged to have languishing in jail. Patriotic is now on Wimbledon to find Aanya Singhal, ■ Everyone knows that sport

situation is not going to get indulged in violence are citizens are upset. a way to wriggle out of a Noida, Uttar Pradesh should not be politicised.


are fraught with perils in several continents across the
world. It is the duty of the governmental agencies that any better soon. Given the only suspects. The reign of Kangayam R. Narasimhan, situation created by its True, the Russian invasion of
phenomenal economic State­sponsored terror must Chennai holier­than­thou attitude ■ Wimbledon has set a bad Ukraine is unethical, but
employ them to ensure their welfare, safety and secur­
interconnectedness of the stop. (Editorial, May 24). precedent. Sports and Russian sportspersons
ity.  While  cheerleading  about  the  award  is  rightfully world, even if war happens T. Anand Raj, ■ While I can understand C.G. Kuriakose, players have nothing to do should not be blamed and
reaching a crescendo, what matters is how the Indian in one geographical Chennai some of the justifications Malippara, Kothamangalam, Kerala with politics and the banned for this. Political
government serves its last mile health workers who are location, there will be made by the Supreme Court organisers need to be winds should not blow over
its feet on the ground, once the dust raised by their un­ global reverberations. ■ It is unfortunate that in releasing Perarivalan, ■I have been following enlightened. Centre Court.
expected recognition has settled down.  Taiwan is also located in a bulldozer demolitions are what I find atrocious is how Wimbledon since 1969 and A.V. Narayanan, S. Ganesan,
very critical region of the continuing unabated. The some political parties, would say that there is still Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu

CM A ND-NDE
YK
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THE HINDU
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
DELHI

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OPED 7

Inadequacies of the Civil Registration System Lessons from Russia for India
No amount of advanced technology can compensate for low
Facts do not support the argument that India has a robust system of registering births and deaths
morale and training, weak command, poor tactics and strategy
may not get registered at all because
the family may not require the death able better Command, Control, Communica­
certificates  for  settling  inheritance, tion,  Computers,  Intelligence,  Surveillance
insurance claims, etc. Female deaths and  Reconnaissance,  help  optimise  situa­
formed only 39.8% of the total regis­ tional  awareness,  reduce  decision  time  for
tered deaths in 2020. This was slight­ commanders from detecting threats to res­
K. Narayanan Unni ly  lower  than  the  corresponding  fi­ ponding  to  them,  and  augment  sensor  to
gure of 40.4% recorded in 2019. The Harsh V. Pant and Kartik Bommakanti shooter capabilities. The devastating losses
percentage  of  female  deaths  regis­ incurred by the Russian ground forces from
The  World  Health  Organization tered was lowest in Nagaland (26.7%) Russia’s  invasion  of  Ukraine  has  had  many drone and anti­tank attacks operating in Bat­
(WHO)’s  estimate  of  excess  deaths and  highest  in  Kerala  (44.9%).  The impacts, but one area which merits more at­ talion  Tactical  Groups,  comprising  largely
due  to  COVID­19  in  India  triggered fact  that  these  numbers  are  so  low tention  is  whether  it  has  produced  effects armour and artillery units and little infantry,
several responses. Among them was points to the need for improvements sufficient to alter our understanding of war­ seem  to  have  convinced  proponents  that
the response of several State Health in  the  registration  system.  It  is  also fare. A perusal of the evidence suggests that there is a change in the nature of warfare. In­
Ministers,  who  slammed  the  WHO well known that child deaths have ve­ there is not any significant change in the na­ fantry plays a key role in providing protec­
and asserted that India has a “robust, ry low levels of registration. This can ture of warfare. However, there are some key tion to any advancing tank column and reta­
AFP

legal and transparent system for data easily be seen by comparing the re­ takeaways  which  have  implications  for  the liating when threatened. This doesn’t herald


collection  and  COVID  mortality gistered infant/child deaths with an Indian  military,  which  uses  a  significant a change in warfare, it is just poor tactics.
surveillance”. in January as 21 days are available for law.  It  may  also  be  noted  that  this estimate based on the rates from the amount of Russian­origin weapons systems.  Finally, the failure of the Russians to effec­
This  new­found  love  for  the  Civil reporting events for registration.  number  did  not  change  much  in SRS.  COVID­19  may  have  worsened tively apply air power botched the invasion
Registration  System  (CRS),  which Events reported after 21 days can 2020 despite lockdowns. the situation to some extent, but it al­ Three claims from the outset. This has convinced propo­
was rarely being used as a source of be registered under the RBD Act. Da­ A robust system should be able to so acted as an eye­opener on the im­ There are at least three claims made by pro­ nents that air power is not consequential. In­
vital  statistics,  is  surprising.  The ta  provided  in  the  2020  annual  re­ ensure the registration of almost ev­ portance of the CRS. ponents that the conflict has heralded a shift deed,  Suppression  of  Enemy  Air  Defences
claim was not even made by the Of­ port show that the number of births ery  birth  and  death  within  a  short Only about 20% of the deaths have in warfare. The first is that the battle tank has should be the foremost requirement for any
fice of the Registrar General of India and deaths registered one year after time  after  its  occurrence.  If  we  re­ a Medically Certified Cause of Death been rendered obsolescent, because of the invading force. Russia’s failure to neutralise
(ORGI),  which  is  well  aware  of  the occurrence is quite high. For exam­ move from the 2020 data, or the data (MCCD)  that  conforms  to  the  WHO highly  effective  performance  of  anti­tank Ukrainian  air  defences  remains  a  glaring
drawbacks of the system, but by pol­ ple, in Bihar, of the 30.4 lakh births for  any  year,  the  events  registered standard. In other cases, the cause of missiles such as the American­built Javelin or weakness.  Active  Ukrainian  air  defences
iticians. As such, I thought it neces­ registered  in  2020,  nearly  7.2  lakh with  substantial  delay,  say  three death  is  provided  by  the  attending Advanced Anti­Tank Weapon System in visit­ have compelled the Russians to revise their
sary  to  place  in  the  public  domain had occurred in 2019 or earlier. In Ut­ months or more, the picture of com­ medical  practitioner  in  case  of ing  destruction  upon  Russian  T­90s.  But military aims and confine their military op­
some of the facts relating to the qual­ tar  Pradesh,  of  the  48.5  lakh  births pleteness would be very different. deaths  in  medical  facilities  and  by tanks have withstood past obituaries. Imme­ erations to Donbas and the Black Sea coast.
ity  and  completeness  of  birth  and registered in 2020, 5.8 lakh had oc­ the  person  reporting  the  death  in diately after World War I, which witnessed Russia’s invasion left long lines of commu­
death registrations in the country. curred earlier. More than 15% of the COVID-19 impact on registration domiciliary deaths. The State govern­ the emergence of the battle tank, there were nications  and  military  columns  that  could
births registered had occurred in ear­ COVID­19 resulted in prolonged lock­ ments have not issued statutory not­ voices,  especially  in  Britain,  pronouncing not  be  supplied  and  reinforced.  This  left
Actual levels of registration lier years in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, downs. These could have significant­ ifications to increase the coverage of the death of the tank, because it could not them exposed to lethal interdiction by Ukrai­
The registration of births and deaths Rajasthan  and  Assam.  In  Nagaland, ly affected the efficiency of the CRS MCCD. punch through German defences. This con­ nian forces. A corollary to this is the low mo­
is  governed  by  the  Registration  of the figure was as high as 90%. in the following manner. One, the re­ clusion proved misleading because the Ger­ rale among Russian soldiers consisting of a
Births  and  Deaths  (RBD)  Act,  1969. In the case of deaths, the propor­ gistrars could not work during lock­ Not a strong defence mans saw considerable merit in the tank and large  number  of  conscripts  and  poor  com­
While the State governments are res­ tion of delayed registration was low­ downs  in  many  areas.  Two,  people Thus, the CRS has several shortcom­ employed it to devastating effect in the form mand.  Military  effectiveness  is  critically  a
ponsible  for  the  establishment  and er.  Among  the  larger  States,  more could not travel to the registrar’s of­ ings. These facts do not support the of the Blitzkrieg in World War II. Fundamen­ function  of  troop  morale  and  command
management of the registration sys­ than 10% of the deaths registered in fice to report the births/deaths that argument that India has a robust sys­ tally, at a tactical level, for the tank to be ef­ competence. These two vital variables have
tem,  the  Registrar  General  of  India 2020 had occurred in earlier years in had occurred at home within the pre­ tem of registering births and deaths. fective requires the use of infantry in close very little to do with technology or logistics.
(RGI), who is appointed by the Cen­ Assam  (13.3%),  Jharkhand  (14.7%), scribed time. Three, in case of a de­ The CRS is yet to mature into a robust support of armoured operations. As was the
tral  government,  coordinates  and Rajasthan  (15.3%),  Uttarakhand lay of more than 30 days in report­ and resilient system that can ensure case in past wars in which the tank suffered Key takeaway
unifies the activities of registration.  (14.8%) and Uttar Pradesh (13%). ing,  the  procedure  of  getting  an that  every  birth  and  death  is  regis­ losses, this is still absent in Russia’s strategy, The key takeaway for India from Russia’s un­
Based  on  a  comparison  with  the To register a birth or death report­ affidavit or a Magistrate’s order as re­ tered even in normal times, let alone which  explains  why  the  Russians  have  suf­ impressive military performance is to invest
vital rates obtained from the sample ed after a year of its occurrence re­ quired under Section 13 of the RBD during a pandemic. fered  such  heavy  tank  losses.  As  a  standa­ more in sensors, electronic warfare, greater
survey  called  the  Sample  Registra­ quires an order of a First Class Magis­ Act is cumbersome. Since it is a re­ While  the  law  and  a  registration lone capability, the tank provides advantag­ digitisation,  satellite  communications  and
tion System (SRS), the RGI estimated trate issued after verifying the facts quirement  under  the  Act,  it  could system  are  in  place,  it  is  necessary es  in  the  form  of  a  trinity  of  elements  – unmanned  systems  not  just  for  reconnais­
that  the  country  registered  about about the birth or death. In several not be relaxed through executive or­ that  the  State  governments  put  in firepower, mobility and protection. No wea­ sance and surveillance, but also attack mis­
92.7% of births and 87.8% of deaths States, this function has been given ders. Four, in some States, the func­ more effort to ensure that all births pons  platform  for  ground  operations  can sions. This does not require dispensing with
in  2019.  Corresponding  figures  for to the Sub­Divisional Magistrates. In tionaries handling registration were and deaths are registered and more serve as a credible substitute. legacy  platforms,  but  rather  making  them
2020 are not available. Past studies 2020, about 20.5 lakh births and 7.6 deployed on COVID­19­related duties deaths have medically certified caus­ A second claim is that emerging technolo­ more  lethal  and  effective.  India  will  also
on  the  SRS  indicate  that  the  vital lakh deaths that had occurred over a and could not register the events.  es.  This  would  require  coordinated gies such as cyber and digital technology, Ar­ need greater missile forces to enhance its of­
rates  are  underestimated  by  2­3%. year  earlier  were  registered.  This The  impact  of  these  would  not action by several departments of the tificial Intelligence, remotely piloted systems fensive capability. The Indian armed forces
This would mean that the levels of re­ does not include data for Maharash­ have been uniform across the coun­ State that have a stake in the CRS. It is such  as  Unmanned  Aerial  Vehicles,  and will need to be proficient at combined arms
gistration are probably closer to 90% tra,  Delhi,  and  Sikkim.  In  2019,  the try as some areas had longer periods also  necessary  to  publish  data  in  a space­borne capabilities have rendered ob­ warfare. No amount of advanced technology
for births and 85% for deaths. corresponding figures were 21.6 lakh of lockdowns or travel restrictions. timely manner so that so that it can solescent  legacy  platforms  such  as  fighter can substitute or compensate for low morale
The number of births and deaths births and 5.3 lakh deaths. Assuming One can reasonably expect that a aid  the  formulation  of  policies  and planes,  warships,  and  artillery  weapons. and training, weak command, poor tactics
registered in a year include those of about 250 working days in a year, on large  number  of  births  and  deaths programs backed by evidence. Emerging  technologies  cannot  be  a  substi­ and strategy.
earlier years. Some births and deaths average more than 11,000 delayed re­ that  had  occurred  in  2020  would tute for legacy platforms; they can at best en­
are  registered  only  in  the  following gistrations are ordered by the Magis­ have  been  reported  for  registration K. Narayanan Unni is former Deputy hance  their  performance.  If  precision  fire­ Harsh V. Pant is Vice President, Studies and Foreign
year.  This  is  so  even  in  normal  cir­ trates every day. I am not convinced in 2021 or even later. It is likely that a Registrar General, CRS, and a retired Indian power  is  to  be  delivered  against  adversary Policy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF); Kartik
Statistical Service officer. Email: Bommakanti is Fellow with the Strategic Studies
cumstances.  For  instance,  a  birth/ that these orders are issued after ver­ reasonable number of deaths, espe­ targets, legacy systems will matter for launch
knunni@gmail.com Programme, ORF
death in December can be registered ifying  the  facts,  as  required  by  the cially  among  women  and  children, of ordinance. Emerging technologies can en­

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DATA POINT
The uproar over a hug FROM THE ARCHIVES
Stalin alone did not hail the Perarivalan verdict, yet FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 25, 1972

he has become the cynosure of public attention ‘An example to new nations’
T. RAMAKRISHAN In  fact,  the  AIADMK  claimed  credit Lautoka: Fiji’s general election had been an
for  the  release  of  Perarivalan,  as  it example to the rest of the world’s develop­
It was no surprise when certain sec­ was Jayalalithaa who, as Chief Minis­ ing countries, the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir
tions  of  society  in  Tamil  Nadu  cele­ ter, declared on the floor of the As­ Kamisese Mara, said after the conclusion of
brated  the  news  of  the  Supreme sembly  in  February  2014  that  if  the the  first  general  election  after  Indepen­
Court ordering the release of A.G. Pe­ Centre did not take a decision imme­ dence. He said that apart from the success of
rarivalan, one of the seven convicts diately,  her  government  would  go the Alliance Party, the greatest achievement
in the assassination of former Prime ahead with the decision of the State of the election was the way it was run peace­
Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But what has Cabinet to release all the seven con­ fully and without incidents. He was satisfied
triggered  a  political  controversy  is victs  in  the  case.  Perarivalan,  along with  the  Alliance’s  performance  in  the  In­
the way Chief Minister M.K. Stalin re­ with his mother, Arputham, also met dian communal constituencies, which were
ceived Perarivalan on the day of the AIADMK coordinator O. Panneersel­ won by the National Federation Party. The
Supreme Court’s decision. The image vam  and  co­coordina­ Alliance  had  increased  its  percentage  of
of the Chief Minister hugging Perariv­ tor Edappadi K. Palanis­ votes. The Prime Minister was asked by re­
alan  at  the  Chennai  airport wami. The mother and porters how the Alliance explained its unex­
went  viral,  evoking  strong son went on to meet sev­ pected successes in some of the constituen­
reactions  from  many,  in­ eral  other  leaders  be­ cies where the party fought national seats.
cluding  survivors longing  to  different  par­ He said that he did not regard the victories
and  other  persons ties.  as  unexpected.  He  expected  to  win  these
affected  by  the Yet,  Mr.  Stalin  has  be­ seats  as  the  party  organisation  was  very
bomb blast in which come  the  cynosure  of  pu­ good  in  these  areas.  On  the  failure  of  the
Rajiv Gandhi was assas­ blic  attention.  In  fact,  his NFP to attract substantial Fijian support, Ra­
sinated  in  May  1991. consultation with legal ex­ tu Sir Kamisese said the leaders of the party
While the BJP State presi­ perts on the release of the re­ did  not  understand  the  Fijian  social  struc­
dent,  K.  Annamalai,  was maining  six  convicts  on  the ture.  Its greatest error was the attempt to
forthright in criticising the death  anniversary  of  Rajiv condemn  the  chiefs  system.  The  National
Chief  Minister  for  his Gandhi  (May  21)  too  came  in  for Federation  Party  members  did  not  realise
reaction,  the  Congress, sharp criticism as the Tamil Maanila that  in  the  Fijian  patriarchal  society,  the
an ally of the DMK in Tamil Congress (M) leader G.K. Vasan said it chief was the head of the big family. When
Nadu,  simply  stuck  to  disagreeing was like rubbing salt in the wound.  someone condemned the head of a family,
with the Supreme Court’s verdict.  But the DMK’s take on the episode he condemned the whole of the family. He
Those directly impacted by the as­ is different. Commenting on Mr. Sta­ thought  the  great  support  of  the  Alliance
sassination  are  livid  that  Mr.  Stalin lin’s  reception  of  Perarivalan,  the had from the Fijians was because of the at­
greeted  Perarivalan  warmly.  “What party  spokesperson,  A.  Saravanan, tention the Government gave to rural areas
did Perarivalan achieve for the Chief recalled the submission made by the where the Fijians mainly lived.   
Minister to hug him,” asked Anusuya former probe officer, V. Thiagarajan,
Daisy Ernest, now a retired police of­ in  an  affidavit  filed  in  the  Supreme
ficer and one of the survivors of the Court in October 2017, that Perariva­ A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 25, 1922
blast. As a sub­inspector in May 1991 lan  had  “absolutely  no  idea”  about
and posted for the security of Rajiv the deadly purpose of the two nine­ Coonoor
Gandhi, Ms. Ernest had, seconds be­ volt  batteries  he  had  bought  and
fore the blast, attempted to stop the handed  over  to  the  assassins.  Con­ The unusual early outbreak of the monsoon
assassin Dhanu, “the human bomb”, tending that such was the material on in  some  way  affected  the  social  and  the
from  approaching  Rajiv  Gandhi  but which Perarivalan was convicted, the sporting fixtures of the season while the pre­
the  former  Prime  Minister  had  res­ spokesperson  also  pointed  out  that sent break in the weather condition is hailed
trained her. “Why did the Chief Mi­ the  former  police  officer  has  not with delight. The long looked for Gymkhana
nister not meet us (the affected per­ been  prosecuted  for  perjury.  Be­ races were held on Saturday and there was a
sons of the blast),” the former police sides, the judicial verdict should be multitude  of  spectators.  However,  fortune
officer asked. In the last 31 years, suc­ viewed as a victory for the rights of smiled on the middle class for the lucky win­
cessive Chief Ministers did not bother States  vis­a­vis  the  powers  of  the ners of the sweep were those of the second
to meet the survivors of the blast and Centre  in  the  present  political  con­ enclosure whose windfall will give them an
the family members of the 15 persons text, he added.  impetus to embark on a new career. A bul­
(apart from Rajiv Gandhi) who were Notwithstanding  the  strong  reac­ lock  cartman  and  an  Anglo­Indian  black­
killed in it, she added.  tion to his action, Mr. Stalin’s meeting smith won the lion’s share of the prizes. The
However, Mr. Stalin alone did not with  Perarivalan  will  remain  a  sub­ season’s fixture include a missionary Confe­
hail  the  verdict.  A  large  number  of ject of discussion for long. rence and one of the subjects for discussion
political  parties,  including  the is  the  ‘primary  education  of  the  masses’,
AIADMK,  the  principal  Opposition which the laymen too are equally enthusias­
party,  welcomed  the  development. ramakrishnan.t@thehindu.co.in tic about.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
8
DELHI

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022


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Exports rise Disposed FDIs Free and fair trade Escaping Sri Lanka Bodies in Mariupol

21 853 13 67 200
In percentage, the rise in The foreign direct The Indo­Pacific nations who The number of people The dead bodies
Indian exports to $23.7 billion investment (FDI) committed to free and fair arrested by Sri Lanka’s navy discovered in the
between May 1 and May 21, on proposals disposed of trade to promote investments for allegedly trying to travel basement of an
account of healthy growth in through the Foreign and achieve sustainable by sea to Australia illegally. apartment building in
various sectors, such as Investment Facilitation economic growth. The The navy said in a statement Mariupol when workers
petroleum products, engineering, and Portal (FIFP) in the last five years, countries include India, U.S., Japan and that 12 men were arrested near the dug through the rubble of an
electronic goods. During the second according to the commerce and Australia among others. The nations port town of Trincomalee, 260 apartment, according to Ukrainian
week of May, the exports grew by industry Ministry. FIFP was developed also agreed to identify areas of kilometres northeast of the capital authorities. The ruined city has seen
about 24% to $8.03 billion. Petroleum after the abolition of the Foreign cooperation based on consultations Colombo on Monday, while 55 were some of the worst sufferings of the
products, engineering, and electronic Investment Promotion Board in May among partners, a joint statement said. intercepted as they tried to escape in a three­month­old war between Russia
goods' exports during this period 2017. After the abolition, granting of The statement was issued after the fishing vessel. Five of them are and Ukraine. Mariupol had been
expanded by 81.1%, about 17% and government approval for overseas launch of the Indo­Pacific Economic suspected to be part of a human relentlessly pounded during a months
about 44%, respectively. In April, the investment under the FDI policy and Framework for Prosperity. The member smuggling ring. Police are still long siege that finally ended last week
exports rose by 30.7% to $40.19 Foreign Exchange Management Act nations acknowledged that the determining the motivation for the after some 2,500 Ukrainian fighters
billion. Imports during the month grew regulations was entrusted to the economic policy interests in the region illegal voyage, Navy spokesperson abandoned a steel plant where they
by 30.97% to $60.3 billion. PTI concerned Ministries/departments. PTI were intertwined. PTI Indika de Silva said. AP had made their last stand. AP
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EXPLAINER

On Quad; its origins, goals and future plans


Which countries are the core members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue? Did the rise of China in the region play a role in its formation?

THE GIST
Diksha Munjal Indo­U.S. Malabar naval exercises also saw connectivity projects.
the partial involvement of Japan, Australia Quad leaders launched the Quad Vaccine
The story so far: The leaders of four and Singapore. The exercises and Initiative (QVI) with the aim of
countries — India, the U.S., Australia, and coordination were seen by China as an manufacturing and distributing at least a
Japan — are meeting for the second in­person attempt to encircle it, which termed the billion COVID­19 vaccines for the Asia region
B India, the U.S., Australia, summit of the Quadrilateral Security grouping as trying to build “an Asian NATO”. by the end of 2022. The plan was to
and Japan are meeting for Dialogue or Quad in Tokyo which The Quad lost momentum post the 2007 manufacture U.S. developed vaccines in
the second in­person
commenced yesterday on May 24. A lot has meeting as the effort “dissipated amidst India with financing provided by the U.S.
summit of the Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue or Quad in
changed, since the first in­person meeting of member leadership transitions, concerns and Japan, and delivery undertaken by
Tokyo which commenced the Quad in September last year.  about economic repercussions from China, Australia and Japan to countries in Southeast
yesterday on May 24.  The ongoing Russia­Ukraine crisis has and attention to other national interests,” Asia. The plan, however, has had trouble
triggered geopolitical shifts, driven up global according to the U.S. Congressional Research taking off for multiple reasons including
B The Quad is an informal
inflation, and affected supply chains amid a Service.  legal indemnity issues with Indian law,
multilateral grouping of slew of western sanctions on Moscow. In The grouping was only revived an entire safety concerns around the vaccine facility
India, the U.S., Australia, March this year, Quad leaders discussed the decade later in 2017, at a time when all four (of Pharma Biological E in Hyderabad), and
and Japan aimed at situation in Ukraine in an unscheduled countries had revised their assessment of lower demand for vaccines in South East
cooperation for a free and virtual meeting called by U.S President Joe the China challenge; and India had Asia. As for emerging technologies, the four
open Indo­Pacific region. A Biden.  witnessed the Doklam standoff. Leaders of countries aimed to work on the
major basis for the grouping all four countries met in the Philippines for development and diversification of 5G
is to check China’s growing What is the Quad and why was it the ‘India­Australia­Japan­U.S.’ dialogue, not telecommunications and the creation of
influence in the region. 
formed? referred to as a Quad dialogue to avoid the supply chains for critical minerals and
The Quad is an informal multilateral notion of a “gang­up”. Even at this point, a technologies for making semiconductors
B Mr. Biden unveiled the grouping of India, the U.S., Australia, and set of objectives, areas of cooperation, and used in smartphones, another area where
‘Indo­Pacific Economic Japan aimed at cooperation for a free and even the definition of Indo­Pacific were not China is a leader. 
Framework’ (IPEF) on May open Indo­Pacific region. The region, fixed among Quad members. Quad nations had also agreed to build
23, which, according to
Reuters is a programme to
composed of two oceans and spanning It was in March 2021 that Mr. Biden, Mr. joint connectivity projects and transparent
bind countries in the region multiple continents is a hub of maritime Modi, Australia’s outgoing Prime Minister infrastructure funding for countries in the
more closely through trade and naval establishments. While not Scott Morrison, and then Japanese PM region. The emphasis on connectivity saw
common standards in areas stated explicitly by the leaders, a major basis Yoshihide Suga met virtually, for the first the Quad challenge China in another sphere: that has not joined sanctions against Russia, Forming a collective: U.S.
including supply­chain for the grouping is to check China’s growing time as an official Quad summit, releasing a a coordinated effort to provide financing and while also ramping up its intake of Russian President Joe Biden,
resilience, clean energy, influence in the region.  set of objectives for the grouping in a joint sustainable alternatives to China’s Belt and oil — an estimated 40 million barrels more Japanese Prime Minister
infrastructure and digital After the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 statement called the ‘The Spirit of the Quad’.  Road Initiative (BRI), which has led many than it had in all of 2021). Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime
trade. wreaked havoc in the region now called the nations to take loans and accept Mr. Biden also unveiled the ‘Indo­Pacific Minister Narendra Modi
Indo­Pacific, India stepped up its rescue What were the objectives of the infrastructure bids from Beijing. Economic Framework’ (IPEF) on May 23, and Australian Prime
efforts not just on its own shores but also grouping? The Quad also created a working group which, according to Reuters is a programme Minister Anthony Albanese
provided assistance to its maritime The March 2021 virtual summit gave rise to for combating climate change which would to bind countries in the region more closely at a Quad meeting. AFP *

neighbours: Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the main objectives of the Quad, outlined oversee efforts to foster green shipping by through common standards in areas


Indonesia. Soon, the disaster relief effort was actionable goals, and formed expert working decarbonising maritime supply chains and including supply­chain resilience, clean
joined by three other naval powers — the groups in multiple areas. promoting the use of clean hydrogen. energy, infrastructure and digital trade.
U.S., Australia and Japan, with then U.S. Coming together to foster a free and open Mr. Modi, who attended the launch,
President George W. Bush announcing that Indo­Pacific formed the bedrock of What are the future plans of the Quad? signalled India’s readiness to join the
the four countries would set up an cooperation. “We recommit to promoting According to a statement released by the economic initiative. Indian officials had
international coalition to coordinate the the free, open, rules­based order, rooted in Ministry of External Affairs about the agenda earlier expressed, however, that India was
massive effort. international law and undaunted by of the May 24 summit, “The Leaders will likely to be cautious about its participation in
While the charge of the rescue operations coercion, to bolster security and prosperity review the progress of Quad initiatives and the Indo­Pacific Economic Framework as it
was handed over to the United Nations in the Indo­Pacific and beyond,” the joint Working Groups, identify new areas of could be seen as a counter to the 15­nation
shortly after, it led to the birth of a new statement said. Emphasis was laid on “rule cooperation and provide strategic guidance Regional Comprehensive Economic
framework: the Quadrilateral or Quad. Then of law, territorial integrity, freedom of and vision for future collaboration”. The Partnership and the 17­nation Trans­Pacific
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who navigation and overflight, peaceful Quad summit is expected to discuss the Partnership that China is a member of. Quad
had been promoting the idea of an “arc of resolution of disputes, and democratic Russian war in Ukraine, and the impact of members also launched a maritime
prosperity and freedom” that brought the values” in the region. three months of Western sanctions. Mr. monitoring plan to curb illegal fishing in the
Quad countries closer together, further The other areas of immediate focus were Biden said yesterday that the world was Indo­Pacific. Several countries have objected
developed the concept and discussed it with the pandemic through strengthening “navigating a dark hour” with Russia’s attack to Chinese fishing vessels often violating
then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh equitable vaccine access for the Indo­Pacific, on Ukraine, adding that the war made their exclusive economic zones resulting in
during a summit in December 2006. The combating climate change, sharing critical evident the need for decent international economic losses, while also engaging in
grouping held a meeting in May 2007 but did technologies, cyber security, supply chain order. deep­sea trawling, which causes
not release an official statement. The 2007 resilience, and infrastructure and (India is the only member of the Quad environmental damage.

EXPLAINER

The controversy around the Jagannath temple Heritage Corridor Project


Why is the Odisha government and the ASI at loggerheads over the temple redevelopment project?
due permissions and clearances.  temple “illegal”, she said: “It is a matter authority”.

THE GIST
Special Correspondent
The Jagannath temple has been of great concern.... Massive demolition Moreover, the apex conservation
The story so far: The Archaeological designated a monument of national and construction works are taking place agency said: “It was informed during the
Survey of India (ASI) on May 17 said that a importance by the ASI and is a centrally within 100 and 200­metre area of the discussion that no heritage impact
sculpture of a lion, which possibly dates protected monument. As per the Ancient temple. No permission from NMA and assessment studies have been conducted
back to the Ganga dynasty, was found Monuments and Archaeological Sites and ASI has been taken. The work which is a before commencement of the project. No B The Puri Heritage Corridor
during excavation for the controversial Remains (Amendment and Validation) threat to the temple must stop.” Ground Penetrating Radar Survey (GPRS) Project is a ₹3,200 crore
heritage corridor project around the 12th Act (AMSAR), construction is prohibited Responding to Ms. Sarangi, BJD MP has been conducted to ascertain the redevelopment project of
century Jagannath Temple in Puri, within a 100­metre periphery of a Pinaki Misra said that no digging was archaeological and historical importance the the 800­year­old
Jagannath temple in Puri by
Odisha. This is the third such lion protected area. The area extending to being done. “Only four toilets are being lying buried in the subsoil of 75m radius
the Odisha government to
sculpture found during the excavation 200 metres around the monument in all constructed... No additional construction (Construction Zone) of Centrally create an international
work. The Odisha government’s directions is called a regulated area. If is taking place,” he said. Protected Monuments.” heritage site.
ambitious temple corridor project in Puri Construction work outside the Jagannath construction has to be undertaken in the
has become a subject of intense political temple in Puri. BISWARANJAN ROUT
*
regulated or prohibited area, permission What has the ASI said? What is the stand of the Odisha
B In February, when the
controversy in the State.  from the National Monuments Authority After the petition was filed in the High government?
OBBC started excavation
around the temple — the security of the (NMA) is required. Notably, the term Court, the ASI was directed to conduct a The Odisha government refuted the ASI work within 75 metres of
What is the controversy? temple, the safety of devotees, and the “construction” as defined in the AMSAR joint inspection of the site along with the report in court, saying that it had the temple to build public
The Puri Heritage Corridor Project is a creation of a religious atmosphere for Act does not include the construction of State government. In its affidavit acquired an NOC from the NMA in amenities, experts objected
₹3,200 crore redevelopment project of devotees. In all, 22 development projects public toilets, urinals, and “similar submitted to the court in May post the September 2021. The NOC was granted to the use of heavy
and around the 800­year­old Jagannath are planned under the scheme. conveniences”. It also does not include survey, the ASI observed that there was for constructing a cloakroom, three machinery for digging, citing
temple in Puri by the Odisha government In February this year, when the Odisha works for the supply of water, electricity “every possibility that the agency OBCC toilets, an electrical facility, a pavement, the possibility of an adverse
to create an international heritage site.  Bridge and Construction Corporation or “provision of similar facilities for during the excavation or soil removal and a shelter pavilion in the 75­metre impact on the 12th century
temple.
Plans for the corridor had been in the (OBBC) started excavation work within 75 publicity”.  might have destroyed the archaeological zone as it did not come under
making since 2016, with the State metres of the Jagannath temple to build Raising concerns about the structural remains of the heritage site”. It pointed “construction” as per the AMSAR Act.
Assembly unanimously passing a public amenities such as toilets and safety of the temple in the wake of the out that the construction work fell partly The NMA had no objection as long as the B The ASI later observed

resolution for the effective cloakrooms, experts and members of excavation in the prohibited area of the within both the prohibited and regulated work was carried out under ASI that there was “every


possibility that the OBCC
implementation of the project in civil society objected to the use of heavy temple, Dilip Baral, a resident of Puri, areas of the centrally protected supervision. However, the ASI said that
during the excavation or soil
February last year. Soon after, the plan machinery for digging, citing the filed a plea with the Orissa High Court in monument. no such permission was taken from it. removal might have
was approved by the Shree Jagannatha possibility of an adverse impact on the March. The ASI had found that the ongoing In a move seen by the opposition as a destroyed the archaeological
Temple Administration (SJTA). The 12th century temple. Questions started BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi also raised construction work had “no valid “cover up”, the government on May 21, remains of the heritage
Odisha government has listed three being raised about whether the the issue in a Parliament session in permission or no objection certificate started a GPRS to trace any site”.
objectives for the revamp of the area construction around the temple had the March. Calling the work around the (NOC) issued by the competent archaeological treasure beneath the soil.
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& Context
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
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KEYWORD

Glass cliff 
FROM THE ARCHIVES

Know your
A phenomenon that explains how women are promoted to leadership positions during times when an
organisation is underperforming, ensuring their failure.
English
THE GIST
Rebecca Rose Varghese positions were better. Thus, counter to Judge’s she took over, when she resigned in 2017 after “Good morning, sir.” 
claims, the appointment of women was not failing to improve the company’s performance, “Good morning. Why are you late today?” 
The term ‘Glass Cliff’ was coined by researchers related to the decline in company performance. critics attributed the failure of the company to her “Well,  there  was  a  procession  and  buses
from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom The study further showed that , even during times performance and effort, rather than to the were prevented to ply. That’s why I am late,
after studying the disparity between the of crisis, womens’ appointment to leadership environment in which she was promoted. She was sir.” 
B The term ‘Glass Cliff’ was promotion of men and women in corporate positions despite its precariousness and risk, later replaced by Thomas McInerny, a white male.  “I  see.  I  am  sorry  buses  were  prevented
coined by researchers from organisations. They looked at the 100 companies proved positive for the company, because in many from  plying. You are prevented from  doing
the University of Exeter included in the Financial Times Stock Exchange cases its performance improved. Theories behind the effect something. 
after studying the disparity (FTSE) Index and found that women were more There are many possible explanations as to why I was prevented from going to office yester­
between the promotion of
men and women in
likely to be promoted to higher positions when Made a scapegoat this effect prevails. One of the theories explains day. 
corporate organisations. the company was performing poorly or going The glass cliff is a phenomenon that reinforces that when situations of stress or crises occur, He was prevented from meeting her. 
They found that women through a crisis. By doing this, women were set stereotypes about women not being ideal in women are preferred over men. This ‘think crisis They prevented him from entering the of­
were more likely to be up for failure which was likened to standing at the leadership positions. Although glass cliff mainly think female’ theory perceives women to possess fice when the Manager was away.” 
promoted to higher edge of a cliff. refers to the obstacles faced by women, the term the qualities that help them deal with stressful “What’s the difference between ‘specially’
positions when the company also applies to the challenges faced by minorities situations better than men. Since stressful and ‘especially”, sir?” 
was performing poorly. By Origins of the term and other marginalised groups when promoted to situations involve emotional management, “Specially”  means  “for  one  purpose  and
doing this, women were set On November 11, 2003, an article titled, ‘Women leadership roles. The phenomenon occurs in women who are assumed to be better managers of no other.” 
up for failure.
on board: help or hindrance?’ was published in many different fields, including finance, politics, people's feelings and problems, are expected to I have brought these mangoes specially for
The [London] Times, where author Elizabeth technology, and academia. When a company is make better leaders during such periods. you. 
B The Glass cliff is a Judge claimed that despite all the discourse on performing poorly, it is associated with bad press, Contrasting this, the ‘think crisis think not He came specially to attend the function. 
phenomenon that reinforces breaking the glass ceiling, women’s participation financial difficulties, and the need to restructure. men’ theory explains how women are perceived I have come specially to meet you. 
stereotypes about women
as members in London’s boardrooms worsened During such periods, the company protects its to be less valuable than men, making it easier for ‘Especially’ means ‘to an exceptional de­
not being ideal in leadership
positions. 
the companies, especially its share price male employees and promotes female employees the companies to throw them under the bus.  gree.’ 
performance. She came to the conclusion that to leadership positions. By promoting women, the A third theory explains how when a company is I like Hyderabad, especially in winter. 
appointing more women to company boards was company seems progressive but also sets them up going through a crisis, bringing about a significant He is kind to all his students, especially the
B When situations of stress detrimental to an organisation’s performance.  for failure. Further, when the company fails to change in its structure can hold positive weak ones.
occur, women are preferred
It was this article that prompted Michelle Ryan succeed, women can be replaced with their male connotations. Thus, in order to signal a drastic I enjoy  reading  novels,  especially  Ameri­
over men. This ‘think crisis
think female’ theory and Alexander Haslam from the University of counterparts, with the company also having a change, especially to their relevant stakeholders, can novels of this century.’
perceives women to possess Exeter to study the phenomenon in 2005. Taking scapegoat to blame for their failures. women or people from minority communities are “Is it ‘plain silly’ or ‘plainly silly’ sir” 
the qualities that help them the sample of 19 companies in the London FTSE Despite circumstances and studies that show promoted to positions of leadership as it deviates “Plainly silly” means ‘obviously silly’. 
deal with stressful situations 100 that appointed male and female board that precarious positions do not necessarily from the conventional idea of leadership. What he says is plainly silly. 
better than men. members in 2003 and looking at their appeal to women compared to men, women are While the ‘glass ceiling effect’ hinders women ‘Plain silly’ means ‘nothing but silly’. 
performance five months before and three more likely to take up these leadership roles and people from minority communities from There  is  no  sense  in  it  at  all.  It  is  plain
months after board appointments, it was found because they rarely get other opportunities for advancing in their careers after a certain level in silly.”
that there was greater variability in company advancement. Men, on the other hand, tend to various organisations, the ‘glass cliff effect’ “Which is correct sir? ‘My last week’s arti­
performance preceding and following the turn down risky roles, as they are sure to get ensures that even when promoted, the leadership cle’ or ‘my article of last week’?
appointment of a woman. It was also found that better opportunities for leadership positions positions given to these groups are during periods “Both  are  correct.  But  they  are  not  the
women were appointed as board members mostly elsewhere or when the companies return to of crisis, so that the company can look progressive same. ‘My last week’s article’ means your arti­
during an overall market slump or when the stability. and yet replace and blame them for the cle is one of a series. Your article appears ev­
company was experiencing turbulence or when One of the notable examples of the underperformance of the organisation. Both ery  week.  You  are  referring  specifically  to
there was a decline in performance. Men, on the phenomenon was when Marissa Mayer was processes thus, help maintain the status quo and that article that appeared last week. ‘My arti­
other hand, were appointed when the company appointed as the CEO of Yahoo! in 2012 after the prevent women and members of minority cle of last week’ means you wrote an article
was relatively stable, making sure that their company lost significant market share to Google. communities from reaching positions of and it was published last week. It was not part
success rates as board members or in higher Despite the condition of the company in which leadership. of a series. This is the difference. I hope you
understand.” 
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC “Yes, sir. What is the meaning of ‘tantalise’
sir??” 
THE DAILY QUIZ “To  tantalise”  is  ‘to  torment  with  unob­
tainable prospects’. Suppose your child is ill.
On May 25, 1961, then U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of sending an American to the Moon Others  at  home  eat  ice  cream  and  there  is
before the end of the decade. Here is a quiz on space and space programmes from across the world. plenty of ice cream. But the child can’t eat it.
The  child  sees  ice  cream  being  eaten  but  it
can’t have it. This is a tantalising situation. Ice
F She is known for being the youngest woman in space, having flown a solo
1 What was the first human
spaceflight programme of the
U.S. that launched its first
European Space Agency, primarily
designed to take UV electromagnetic
spectrum. What is this satellite called? 
mission in 1963. Identify her. 
cream is there but is beyond the reach of the
child. You can think of a better illustration. 
In Greek mythology, Tantalus was the son
astronaut, Alan Shepard, on a
Please send in your answers to the dailyquiz@thehindu.co.in of Zeus and Pluto. He was thrown into a river
suborbital flight called?
5 Explorer 1 was the first satellite
launched by the U.S. in 1958. What in Hades as he had revealed the secrets of the

2 NASA launched a space probe
in 2018 with the mission of
making observations of the outer
is the name of the American space
launch vehicle used to launch Explorer
1? 
Questions (abridged) and Answers to the daily quiz: 1. The name of the system,
under which Alexandrina Victoria was brought up, devised by John Conroy. Ans:
gods  to  human  beings.  When  he  tried  to
drink, the waters receded from him. The fruit
Kensington System on the branches above him became beyond
corona of the Sun. What is it
2. The year in which Queen Victoria ascended the throne. Ans: June 1837, four his reach when he wanted them. Hence ‘tan­
called? 
6 This was the first human
spaceflight mission of the Chinese weeks after turning 18 talise’ has come to mean ‘to excite a hope and

3 Kalpana Chawla was the first
woman of Indian origin to go
to space. In February 2003, at the
space programme, launched in 2003.
With this mission, China became the
third country in the world to
3. The number of sons and daughters of Queen Victoria. Ans: Four boys and five
girls
disappoint  it’.  Well  let’s  call  it  a  day.  Good­
bye.” 
4. The year in which Queen Victoria officially become the Empress of India. Ans: 1876 “Thank you sir. Goodbye.”
end of its final flight, the independently launch human
spacecraft disintegrated during its spaceflight. What was the mission 5. Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister and her close friend. Ans: Lord Melbourne
re­entry into the Earth’s called?  6. The common thread between Edward Oxford, John Francis, John William Bean, and
atmosphere, killing Chawla and six Robert Pate. Ans: They all tried to assassinate Victoria during her long reign
other crew members. What is the
name of the spacecraft?  7 This was the first U.S. space station,
launched by NASA. Unable to be
re­boosted by the Space Shuttle, the
7. The wedding apparel which became a status symbol after Victoria and Albert's
nuptials. Ans: The white wedding dress For feedback and suggestions for
8. Queen Victoria's eldest son and heir. Ans: Edward VII (born Albert Edward)  Text & Context, please write to
4 This satellite was a
collaborative project between
NASA, the U.K.’s SERC, and the
station’s orbit eventually decayed and
disintegrated in the atmosphere. What
was the name of the space station?
Visual: The State capital where this Victoria Public Hall is located. Ans: Chennai letters@thehindu.co.in with the
subject ‘Text & Context’
Early Birds: Jahnavi Taak| Aashish Sharma| Puja Bhartiya| Disha Sisodia 
Compiled by: Sindhu Nagaraj

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OPINION 11
STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM

Volume XXVI Number 197

Why the states are grumbling


MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2022

Message from Tokyo The structure of central levies on petrol and diesel needs a For instance, the Centre’s revenue from road and
The Quad meet upped the ante against Beijing infrastructure cess rose sharply from ~51,266 crore in
review followed by their inclusion in GST ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA 2018-19 to ~1.24 trillion in 2020-21 and ~2 trillion in

C
hina has found no direct mention in the Quad Joint Leaders’ 2021-22. Note that the share of road and infrastructure
Statement of more than 3,000 words, but a read-out of the document cess rose from 24 per cent in 2018-19 to 33 per cent in
and events around the meeting point to a toughened tonality even as 2020-21 and to well over half of the total excise reve-
the scope of the grouping was sought to be widened. This much was nue from the petroleum sector in 2021-22. What this
clear in both Quad obligations and related developments at Tokyo. Of imme- also meant was that as much as 94-96 per cent of the
total excise revenues from petrol and diesel were not
diate consequence is the commitment in the joint statement that Quad partners
shared with the states, in accordance with the devo-
would spend $50 billion-plus of infrastructure assistance and investment in lution formula mandated under the Constitution.
the Indo-Pacific over the next five years, a direct challenge to China’s mammoth Thanks to the rising international crude oil prices
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The timing of this announcement can be con- and its impact on retail prices of petrol and diesel,
sidered opportune not least because of the serious questions that have arisen the Centre cut the road and infrastructure cess twice
over the manner in which China has gone about implementing the BRI, a in the last six months — once in November 2021 and
weakness that the pandemic years have accentuated. It also committed to again last week. The cess thus declined from ~18 a

T
address debt issues, which the pandemic has exacerbated in several countries. he Union government’s decision last week to ~17.33 in the same period. This was a smart move. litre to ~5 a litre for petrol and to ~2 a litre for diesel.
Also well-timed was Monday’s announcement, outside of the Quad, of a 13- reduce the road and infrastructure cess on The government’s excise revenue from the petro- As a result, the Centre lost about ~50,000 crore of
petrol and diesel has given rise to a debate leum sector as a result shot up from about ~78,000 revenue in 2021-22 and is expected to lose another
country Indo-Pacific Economic Forum (IPEF). As an economic partnership that
over whether the states too should cut their value- crore in 2013-14 to ~1 trillion in 2014-15 and to ~ 2.43 ~86,000 crore in 2022-23.
moves beyond the security-focused Quad grouping, the IPEF can also be consid- added tax or sales tax they impose on these fuel trillion in 2016-17. But the two-stage reduction has made little dif-
ered an adroit diplomatic move, enabling participation by smaller Asian countries items. The Centre’s expectation is that just as it has Even though the price of the Indian basket of crude ference to the huge share of cess and surcharge in
that have similar apprehensions about Chinese regional hegemonic intentions. recognised the need to combat inflation by reducing oil moved up and down from 2017-18 to 2020-21, the the Centre’s excise revenue from petrol and diesel.
Though the IPEF agenda is yet to be fleshed out — it appears to be a standards- the levies on petrol and diesel, which it had raised incidence of central taxes was on the rise. By the end Their share continues to be 93 per cent and 89 per
and process-setting coalition rather than a trade-oriented one — Beijing has read when the international crude oil prices were low, of March 2021, they rose to ~32.90 a litre for petrol and cent, respectively.
the intent clearly enough by describing it as an “economic Nato”, an extension of the states too should reduce their levies to bring to ~31.80 a litre for diesel. The Centre’s excise revenue This is also the reason why the states seem to be
its long-standing description of the Quad as an “Asian Nato”. A specific reference down fuel prices. from this sector did not see an immediate jump grumbling. The states could be arguing that just as
The response from the states so far has been because of weak demand following the Covid pan- the Centre enjoyed the full revenue bonanza, it should
in the joint statement to championing the “maritime rule-based order including
muted. Only Maharashtra and Rajasthan have cut demic, but by 2020-21, it went up to ~ 3.73 trillion. now share the burden of the revenue loss also on its
in the East and South China Seas”, when read with US President Joe Biden’s their VAT rates on petrol and diesel, Quite apart from this revenue own. As for rolling back some of the past increases in
somewhat injudicious declaration that the US military would defend Taiwan if while others are either not sure or are bonanza for the Centre, a more signif- VAT rates when international crude oil prices were
China invaded it, signals a substantial upping of the ante against China. opposed to a reduction. Are the states icant change took place during this low, the states could argue that they can decide when
For India, the outcome of the Tokyo visit was mixed. Though the Quad at fault? Or is the Centre unjustified in period. This was in the composition and how those levies should be reduced. In a federal
members appeared to have obliquely accepted the constraints that dictate expecting the states to cut the duties? of the levies on petrol and diesel. In structure, the states enjoy the freedom to fix duties
India’s outlier position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there are other points Remember that just as the Centre, 2017-18, the incidence of cess and sur- on products that are outside the framework of the
of departure on broader policy issues. The current data location controversy, the states too had raised duties when charges accounted for about 56 per goods and services tax or GST.
for instance, is at odds with the Quad commitment to collective cybersecurity, international crude oil prices were cent of the total central levies on petrol Two issues arise from these developments. One,
modest. Ideally, the states too should and about 35 per cent for diesel. By the the Centre must review its preference for raising more
and India’s growing de facto dependence on coal may be out of sync with the
reduce their taxes on petrol and die- end of March 2021, the share of cess revenue through the instrumentality of cess and sur-
group’s climate change adaptation and mitigation programme under the acro- sel. What then explains this reluc- and surcharges went up to 96 per cent charges. It appears that this is driven more by the
nym, Q-CHAMP. The prime minister’s crowded schedule of meetings with the
Japanese business and investment community presented an opportunity to
tance? To understand the states’ per-
spective on this issue, it is important
RAISINA HILL for petrol and 94 per cent for diesel.
Two factors were responsible. One,
desire to not share the revenues with the states and
less by the need to provide adequate funds for proj-
lay out the government’s massive infrastructure and asset monetisation pro- to recognise how the Centre’s duty A K BHATTACHARYA the surcharge levied by way of special ects, for which such cess and surcharges are levied.
grammes and to assess the progress of signature projects such as the Bullet structure for petrol and diesel has additional excise duty and the agricul- In any case, the Centre is yet to explain how the reduc-
train, which involves Japanese collaboration. evolved over the last few years. ture infrastructure and development cess rose to tion in the road and infrastructure cess would starve
Perhaps the biggest point of contention may be India’s commitment to The formation of the Narendra Modi government about to ~13.5 a litre for petrol and ~12 a litre for diesel. the central road fund for development of highways
the IPEF when it has chosen to stay out of an explicit trade agreement like the coincided with the fall in the price of the Indian bas- Two, the Finance Act of 2018 replaced the road cess and roads and what steps are being contemplated to
ket of crude oil. From about $105 a barrel in 2013-14, with the road and infrastructure cess, imposing a make good the shortfall.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Though it is true that
its average price per barrel dropped to $84 in 2014- new combined levy of ~8 per litre for both petrol and Two, this development is yet another reason to
the IPEF is likely to be focused on such issues as standards, trade facilitation, 15 and $46 in 2015-16 before marginally moving up diesel. In the following three years, the road and consider including petrol and diesel under the GST
and other best trade practices, the fact that several RCEP member-countries to $47 in 2016-17. The government used this oppor- infrastructure cess was raised to ~18 a litre for both framework. It is possible for the GST Council to agree
have signed on to the IPEF suggests that India may find itself more isolated in tunity to raise the excise duty on petrol and diesel to petrol and diesel. on appropriate rates and surcharges on these petro-
one of the world’s most dynamic trade networks. bolster its finances. For consumers, it made no dif- Thus, by April 2021, the total levy of cess and sur- leum products in a manner that there is no revenue
ference as the duty increases did not result in any charges rose to ~31.5 a litre for petrol and ~30 a litre shortfall and, at the same time, allows the sharing
change in the retail prices of petrol and diesel. for diesel. But the basic excise duty was kept at only of these revenues among the Centre and the states.
For petrol, the excise duty per litre went up from ~1.4 a litre for petrol and ~1.8 a litre for diesel. The The Centre’s over-reliance on cess and surcharges
Combating desertification ~9.48 in April 2014 to ~21.48 in April 2017, and for overdependence on cess and surcharge for raising
diesel the increase was equally steep from ~3.56 to excise revenue from petrol and diesel was stark.
to mobilise more revenue from petrol and diesel
must end.

Past experience can help reclaim degraded land

T A Vyapar Credit Card for MSMEs


he recently concluded 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) at Abidjan
has called upon nations to invest in restoring degraded land for future

T
prosperity. This counsel is especially relevant for a land-stressed coun- he Standing Committee on Finance has pre- attractive lighting, air conditioning, comfortable low-cost financing to NBFCs serving the MSME sector.
try like India, where close to 30 per cent of the land falls in the degraded category. pared a multi-year road map to strengthen chairs, and other shopping conveniences. By bringing down borrowing rates, we should be able
More worrying, the process of decline in the quality of land is still apace despite credit flows to the micro, small and medium To enhance affordable credit flows to the MSME to provide much more affordable rates to MSMEs and
the government’s avowed resolve to achieve “land degradation neutrality” (zero enterprises or the MSME sector. Currently, more than sector, the Standing Committee has proposed a multi- wean them away from informal lenders.
addition to degraded land) by 2030. According to the data collected by the Indian 60 per cent of India’s 6 crore-plus MSMEs are not year action plan, which includes: (1) using the VCC Once MSMEs have been digitised and classified by
borrowing from the formal financial sector, leading to bring MSMEs into a digital ecosystem; (2) linking location and industry, it becomes much easier for the
Space Research Organisation through satellite imagery, the extent of deteriorated
to a credit gap of ~20-25 trillion. Moreover, MSMEs together the goods and services tax (GST) network central and state governments to provide them targeted
land has risen from 94.53 million hectares (mha) in 2003 to 97.85 mha in 2018- are borrowing at high rates and have access to only with trade financing platforms to improve payment credit guarantees and interest subvention. The central
19. India has set a target of reclaiming 26 mha of this degraded land by 2030. But limited financial products. We need to roll out a integrity; (3) massively increasing wholesale financ- government is now running various programmes to
going by the progress made till now, the goal may remain elusive. Vyapar Credit Card (VCC) that can deliver cash-flow ing of non-banking financial companies or NBFCs encourage the dairy and animal husbandry industries
The country is paying a heavy price for laxity on this front. New Delhi-based based lending to every MSME —from the footpath that target MSMEs; (4) developing targeted credit through NABARD; similar such targeted initiatives
The Energy and Resources Institute had assessed the losses due to decline in hawker to the saree weaver. Just like the Kisan Credit subvention and guarantee programmes; and (5) scal- could be created for the labour-intensive MSME indus-
land productivity at worth around ~3.17 trillion in 2014-15, amounting to about Card drives the agricultural financing system, the ing up SIDBI to anchor the integrated MSME digital tries such as shoe-making and textiles. State govern-
2.5 per cent of gross domestic product in that year. About 82 per cent of these VCC can drive the MSME financing system. financing ecosystem. ments could also use this digital infrastructure to pro-
The MSME sector is indisputably the backbone The VCC, a revolving line of credit, would serve as vide additional support programmes such as urban
losses were attributed to the deterioration in the quality of land under agriculture,
of the Indian economy. This sector, according to a powerful incentive to bring every MSME into the employment guarantees and capital subsidies.
forests, and pastures, and the remaining to the changes in the land-use pattern MSME ministry data, consists of an digital ecosystem. MSMEs could sign SIDBI must drive this MSME financing ecosystem,
— diverting land to less productive use. This study, significantly, had also under- estimated 6.34 crore enterprises, up on the Udyam portal run by the just like NABARD drives agricultural financing.
scored the need to expedite implementing land improvement projects as the contributing about 45 per cent to MSME ministry to get a VCC. The por- NABARD’s loan portfolio was ~6.03 trillion in FY21 and
cost of land reclamation could rise above the potential economic gains by 2030. manufacturing output, more than tal would be linked to the PAN, it caters to 18-20 per cent of India’s GDP. SIDBI’s loan
Among the major factors responsible for land degradation, the most sig- 40 per cent of exports, about 30 per GSTIN, Aadhaar, and the Ministry of portfolio was only about ~1.56 trillion in FY21 and it
nificant ones are soil salinity and water-logging in agricultural fields due to cent of gross domestic product Corporate Affairs databases. Once an supports about 30 per cent of India’s GDP. SIDBI needs
flawed agronomic practices, and water and wind erosion in the areas that have (GDP) while creating employment MSME is registered with a universal to grow its balance sheet over the next few years, which
lost their vegetative cover. In the Northeast, a hilly region, the continuation of for about 110 million people, which digital KYC, the account aggregator will require annual equity contributions of ~5,000 crore
is next only to the agriculture sector. framework would collect financial to 10,000 crore.
the outmoded and environmentally ruinous practice of shifting cultivation,
In contrast, the corporate sector information, including invoicing data Along with expanding financing to NBFCs, SIDBI
also known as slash-and-burn agriculture or jhum, is the main cause of land employs 60-70 million people. for each MSME. Over time, this data also needs to build up its organisational capabilities.
degradation. Under this system, the farmers clear the forested land, cultivate Government data indicates that JAYANT SINHA could be used by financial institu- SIDBI should have adequate, competent staff in every
it for a few years, and then move to another spot, leaving the old patch barren. less than 40 per cent of MSMEs bor- tions to fully digitise and massively district. Major industry clusters, such as Morbi or
Globally, about 40 per cent of the land, supporting about half of humanity, row from the formal financial system. The rest are scale up their underwriting function. Moradabad, could have larger SIDBI offices. These
is facing the threat of desertification. In the business as usual scenario, an borrowing from the informal financing system, which The GST Council is already working to make GST field offices will also provide on-the-ground feedback
additional area equivalent of the size of South America, might get degraded by is extortionary as well as unreliable. invoicing data available (with full privacy safeguards) to SIDBI on how various MSME financing programmes
2050, warn the papers presented at the COP15. This global summit has, there- Furthermore, MSMEs are not able to borrow at for various trade financing platforms. With MSMEs are actually working. SIDBI staff should participate in
globally competitive rates since sufficient and sending their GST invoices through a trade financing district-level meetings on credit delivery and industry
fore, urged the 196 participating nations to reclaim 1 billion hectares of degraded
affordable financing is not available to financial platform and providing information on when they promotion along with other financial institutions and
land by 2030. India is fortunate to have time-tested technologies capable of institutions that target the MSME sector. MSMEs actually got paid, it will be possible to identify which NABARD. SIDBI should also work closely with the
rejuvenating problematic lands. These have already been tried successfully in must also contend with delayed and erratic pay- companies pay on time and which companies habit- MSME departments of various state governments.
reclaiming the sprawling salt-affected tracks in Haryana and the lime quarry- ments from their customers, which make working ually delay payments. A payment score, akin to a credit Better financing to the MSME sector is key to
ing-hit slopes of the Mussoorie hills in Uttarakhand, besides stabilising the capital management and financing very difficult. score can then be prepared for each enterprise. unlocking employment-generating growth. Large cor-
shifting sand dunes in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. These should now come Since few MSMEs have sufficiently predictable cash Sophisticated trade financing products can be devel- porations are able to tap the formal financing system
in handy for the country to achieve its self-determined target of restoring 26 flows, it becomes difficult for them to access afford- oped using this data. easily, but they tend to pursue capital-driven growth.
mha of degraded land by 2030. However, more important would be to make able financing. Currently, NBFCs serving the MSME sector have to By providing accessible and affordable credit to the
soil conservation an integral part of all land-related programmes to curb further MSMEs have indicated that they find it difficult raise their wholesale financing from banks and the cap- MSME sector, we can ensure much faster job growth
to fund working capital requirements as well as cap- ital markets. As a result, after factoring in their inter- in India’s smaller towns and cities.
deterioration in this limited natural resource and contribute to meeting the
ital expenditure. Consider the plight of a saree shop mediation costs and default risks, they find it difficult
COP15’s main objective of combating desertification and acquiring resilience that is neither able to fund its inventory of attractive to offer competitive rates to MSMEs. Just like NABARD The writer is the Chairman of the Standing Committee on
against droughts. wedding sarees in anticipation of the wedding season is able to provide affordable financing to NBFCs serving Finance in Parliament and a Lok Sabha MP from
nor improve the shopping experience by putting in the agricultural sector, SIDBI should be able to provide Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The views are personal

In search of CEO excellence mindsets and 18 practices — that is what The theme of this book follows in the
is some role for the board chairman!
However, the lessons from the inter-
views of the exemplars are laudable.
Consider the quote from Jamie Dimon,
in boards, it is the informal power that
you really must understand.” Reflect on
what happened or could happen in
Larsen & Toubro, Tata Sons, Britannia
ship, and following best practices. The
fourth is customers—impact on them,
making their life easier by providing
superior products. The last source of
the book is all about. They have also genre of several books like the Lessons of who told his JP Morgan Chase board, Biscuits, ITC, and several promoter-led purpose and motivation is society—
included CEO excellence assessment Excellence by Tom Peters and Bob “Just so you know, I am going to do the companies to appreciate the full import impact on markets and making the
and prioritisation tools in the appendix. Waterman — both also, coincidentally, right thing for this company. I am going of this advice by the authors. world a better place.
What more can authors provide? The McKinsey consultants. Also, the terrific to tell you the whole The When I was making a career switch
book writing style is thorough and book, Good to Great, by academic Jim truth and nothing CEO Excellence: The Six Stakeholder from Unilever to Tata, I sought advice
Mindsets That
BOOK REVIEW exhaustive— even exhausting in parts.
However, as always, it will remain a
Collins. This reviewer has himself co-
authored six books on how good Indian
but the truth to the
best of my ability Distinguish the Best
Connections
Mindset also is a
from my late sister. Since she knew noth-
ing about the corporate sector, she
mystery to a manager about how he or companies have been built into institu- every time…. if I am Leaders from the Rest welcome read, responded that joining Tata must be
R GOPALAKRISHNAN Author: Caroline Dewar,
she can practically implement those tions during the last 50 years. However, wrong, I am going especially in the good “because they are good and benign
Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra context of chang-

A
uthored by three experienced practices, and become an excellent there are, for sure, two “uncommon to tell you that too.” people.” Occasionally, many people
McKinsey consultants, this book CEO. Unless, I reckon, you hire the firm mindsets”, titled Board Engagement In a milieu where Publisher: Nicholas ing societal expec- wonder why Tata employees feel a great
can rightfully boast of the solid as a consultant! This is a problem not Mindset, and Stakeholder Connection former CEOs try to Brealey (Hachette) tations from enter- sense of belonging. I think it is the Tata
conceptual framework, intellect, and rig- of this book, but generically of all books Mindset. A very important addition in stay on as non- Pages: 384 prise. In the impact on society.
our that the firm is fabled for. According that describe how to perfect what are the contemporary context of board executive directors, Price: ~799 section on social Finally, as a closing remark, I should
to the authors, based on their research essentially performing arts—golf, effectiveness and governance. or worse still, as purpose practice, add my view that the market would be
interviews with 67 CEOs, there are six music, and dance, for example. Surprisingly, it places the onus of non-executive chairman, the authors the authors refer to a McKinsey Quarterly enriched by a book on how Indian com-
mindsets for CEO excellence—Direction Imagine a book based on interviews building “a foundation of trust” on the have stated, “In unfortunate situations article on how and where humans find panies, nurtured in the soil of Indian
Setting, Organisational Alignment, with Rukmini Arundale, CEO, not the chairman. The CEO is where a former CEO has become the meaning at work. Employees draw on at values and culture, become excellent
Mobilising Leaders, Board Engagement, Vyjayantimala, Mrinalini Sarabhai, advised to: (i) choose radical transpar- chair and wants to continue controlling least five sources of purpose and motiva- and perform sustainably as institutions
Stakeholder Connection and Personal Alarmel Valli and their ilk on how to be ency; (ii) build a strong relationship with the company, building individual rela- tion. The first is themselves — their of great enterprise. I doubt that the list-
Effectiveness. an excellent Bharatanatyam dancer. the board chair; (iii) reach out to individ- tionships becomes make-or-break.” development and rewards, and freedom ing and priorities of mindset and prac-
Each mindset is exemplified by three Even the best and most excellent ual directors and (iv) expose the board to The book goes on to say, “Getting on to act. The second is fellow employees— tices would be identical to American or
supporting practices. Thus the reader research, commentaries, and work- the chairman. As a former CEO and now top of board dynamics is one of the real feeling a sense of belonging, caring for European companies.
will find 18 practices that characterise books may not create another dancer serving as an independent director and challenges for the CEO early on. There’s one another. The third is the company—
the six mindsets of the excellent CEO. Six like those interviewed. chairman, I am nonplussed. Surely there informal power and formal power, and beating competition, industry leader- The reviewer is an author and corporate advisor
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A change and elected a
new Prime Minister,
Anthony Albanese,
Member for Grayndler in New
South Wales since 1996.
India’s relevance which has
been elevated to 63rd in ‘doing
business with ease’ rankings in
the World Bank’s Doing
Business 2020 Report, making
GLDFDUUHVWFDQGHJHQHUDWHLQWRGHDWKZLWKLQVHYHQ Nicknamed “Albo”, his substantial it the sixth fastest growing
WRPLQXWHV$Q$('PXVWWKHUHIRUHEHXVHGLQ rise in the party eventuated under economy, surpassing France.
Kevin Rudd’s Kevin07 dispensa- It is now the ninth largest
WLPHDQGHIIHFWLYHO\,Q,QGLDSHUFHQWRIDOOGHDWKV tion in which he was given a min- recipient of Foreign Direct
DUHFDXVHGE\VXGGHQFDUGLDFDUUHVWVDVSDWLHQWV isterial position. In the 2010 Investment destination in
DZDLWDPEXODQFHVRUUHDFKODWHWRKRVSLWDOV,QWKLV hung Parliament, Albanese was 2019 by the World Investment
FRQWH[WWKH'HOKL*RYHUQPHQW·VPRYHLVSDWKEUHDN also instrumental in securing Report 2020 of the United
the support of independent mem- Nations Conference on Trade
LQJ,QWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVDQG(XURSHWKHSROLFLHV bers when the Government was and Development (UNC-
DOORZLQJ$('VLQSXEOLFSODFHVZHUHLPSOHPHQWHG shy of the majority mark. After TAD). As per the Global
RQO\DIWHUWKHWXUQRIWKHFHQWXU\7RGD\PLOOLRQVRI the drubbing in the 2013 elec- Innovation Index (GII) pub-
WKHVHGHYLFHVH[LVWLQWKHVHFRXQWULHV$OODPEXODQFHV tions, when the Australia Labour lished by the World
Party chose Bill Shorten over him Intellectual Property
KDYHWKHP6RGRPRVWSXEOLFWUDQVSRUWV\VWHPV as the leader, he secured the Organisation (WIPO), India
+DYLQJ $('V LQ WKH KRPHV RI KLJKULVN FDUGLDF Deputy Prime Minister’s position. ranks 52nd in innovation,
SDWLHQWVLVQRZEHLQJFRQVLGHUHG Subsequently, following the improving from 57th in 2018,
7KH'HOKL*RYHUQPHQWPXVWQRWHWKDWVRIWZDUHGHYHORSHUVDEURDGKDYHGHYHORSHG shock defeat of the ALP in 2019 and topping the list amongst
when Shorten resigned from Morrison’s delayed response in mines, minerals and metals are the Central and South Asian
DSSVWKDWKHOSSHRSOHORFDWHWKHVHGHYLFHV$FFHVVWRVXFKDGDWDEDVHLVDQHFHVVL leadership, Albanese became the securing COVID vaccines and needed to build a modern nations.
W\LIWKH$('VDUHWREHRIKHOSLQHPHUJHQFLHV2QFHWKLVSURJUDPPHH[WHQGVEH\RQG party leader. There is no denying handling natural disasters. society and boost economic In market sophistication,
'HOKLZHZLOODOVRQHHGSHRSOHWUDLQHGLQ&35 FDUGLRSXOPRQDU\UHVXVFLWDWLRQ WR that Albanese took charge of the Most recently, ScoMo’s flip- growth and decoding this India ranks 20th both in terms
VLJQXSDVPHGLFDOYROXQWHHUVZKRFDQEHORFDWHGRQDSSV7KHNH\HOHPHQWRIWKH party in very challenging times flop response in dealing with remains a challenging conun- of ‘Ease of Getting Credit’ and
and needed to unite its factions, the Queensland floods gave drum for the Albanese ‘Market Capitalisation’; third in
SURSRVDOLVWUDLQLQJSHRSOHWRXVHWKH$('V(YHQEHIRUHSODFLQJWKHGHYLFHVWKH'HOKL restore public and business con- the ALP leadership in Government. ‘Domestic Market Sale’ and
*RYHUQPHQW·VKHDOWKGHSDUWPHQWDQGFLW\KRVSLWDOVPXVWWHDPXSWRFDUU\RXWODUJH fidence in Labour’s policies and Queensland the much-need- For New Delhi, bipartisan- sixth in ‘Ease of Protecting
VFDOHDZDUHQHVVFDPSDLJQVDQGRUJDQLVHWUDLQLQJFDPSVIRUWKHJHQHUDOSXEOLF7KH values and, most of all, consoli- ed ammunition to target the ship in Australia’s India poli- Minority Investors’. In business
DPEXODQFHVHUYLFHVVSUHDGDFURVVWKHQDWLRQDO&DSLWDOVKRXOGEHOLQNHGWRDFRP date his own authority as a leader federal Government. cy means the regime change sophistication, India has
— and he has done fairly well on Morrison’s mishandling of the would not disrupt policy con- jumped from 51st in 2018 to
PRQGDWDEDVH7KH*RYHUQPHQWPXVWEHVHQVLWLYHWRVRPHRIWKHLVVXHVLQYROYHGLQ all counts. The jury may differ Brittany Higgins’ rape allega- tinuity. In the wake of the 27th rank, and 23rd in
SODFLQJWKH$('VLQSXEOLFSODFHV7KHILUVWRQHLVHDV\7KH\VKRXOGEHSODFHGLQ over his leadership style, articu- tions and assault allegations Pulwama attack, new Foreign ‘University/Industry Research
FURZGHGDUHDVWKDWKDYHDKLJKFKDQFHRIRXWRIKRVSLWDOFDUGLDFDUUHVWV7KH$('6 lation and capabilities, but his against his two parliamentary Minister Penelope Wong, then Collaboration’, something that
DUHQHHGHGLQODUJHUHVLGHQWLDODUHDVDVZHOOHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHIDUDZD\IURPKHDOWK political resume certainly testifies colleagues, Christian Porter the Leader of the Opposition should interest the academic
his credentials as a peace/deal- and Alan Tudge, especially in the Senate, had condemned stakeholders in Australia. India
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maker within the Labor caucus
and in Parliament. Above all, he
inflicted a severe beating to the
party’s and his own public C749DAH<0H the “atrocious terrorist attack
against security personnel in
is a major success in
Knowledge and Technology
PDWXUHGHDWKV)LQGLQJORFDWLRQVLQVXFKVOXPVZLOOEHDFKDOOHQJHXQOHVV*RYHUQPHQW possesses a key virtue to be a suc- image, and last-ditch effort to 38554A>E4A78B Jammu and Kashmir”. In April, and ranks 1st in ICT services
VFKRROVRUSROLFHVWDWLRQVDUHFKRVHQWRKRVWWKHVHGHYLFHV7KHSURSRVDOQHHGVD cessful political leader — patience. announce Marise Payne as the Anthony Albanese, as the exports (as a percentage of total
Come 2022, biding his time, ‘Prime Minister for Women’ ;4034AB78?BCH;4 Leader of the Opposition, had exports) and also ranks 22nd
ORWRIFRRUGLQDWLRQEHWZHHQWKH*RYHUQPHQWDQGWKHSXEOLFWREHDVXFFHVV he backed his political convictions proved futile in winning back 0AC82D;0C8>=0=3 also welcomed the “deepening in the list of ‘Exporter of
and after the initial gaffes in the women voters. of ties” and signing of the Creative Goods’.
?82D1<; media, brick-by-brick built his Albanese is likely to get a 20?018;8C84B Australia India Economic As Albanese meets his
prime ministerial image in the
public. He championed change in
majority reaching 76, and thus
escape teals (climate change
1DC78B?>;8C820; Cooperation and Trade
Agreement (AI-ECTA). In
Indian counterpart Narendra
Modi in Tokyo at the Quad
the way politics was conducted, activists) and the Greens A4BD<424AC08=;H 2017, Albanese had led a par- summit, both draw comfort
inclusiveness in decision-making,
compassion for the indigenous
breathing down his neck. He
will have more space to man-
C4BC8584B78B liamentary delegation to India
to deepen parliamentary ties,
from the fact that their strate-
gic and bilateral interests can-
Australians and hope for the age the expectations of the 2A434=C80;B0B0 people-to-people relations and not be seen in isolation. This
jobless. His promise to create a resource industry and instil understand the social, eco- means they can keep an eye on
national anti-corruption com- some moderation in climate ?4024340;<0:4A nomic, governance and polit- what happens between and
mission is a big tick with the teals policy and pursuit of “renew- F8C78=C74;01>DA ical issues. He concluded his around them, simultaneously.
and also the Australian public. able energy superpower” status visit brief by writing: “…it is (The author is the CEO,
His win was also aided by a for Australia. In the post-pan- 20D2DB0=38= important that the parliamen- Institute for Australia India
strong anti-incumbency over demic recovery, the flagship ?0A;80<4=C tary officers work closely to Engagement, Brisbane,
rape and sexual misconduct; resource sector is the key for ensure that Australian parlia- National Sports Chair
rising cost of living, fuel, electric- GDP growth which the IMF mentary visitations don’t wait {Australia India Business
ity and essential commodities; has raised to 4.2 per cent in its some 17 years before the next Council} and Editor-in-Chief,
stagnating wages, waning climate latest forecast. The resource visit.” The insights gained will India News Australia. The
commitments and Scott industry contends that more prove useful now. views expressed are personal.)

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LQWKHXSSHUUHDFKHVRI8WWDUDNKDQG7KRXVDQGVRISLOJULPVKDYHEHHQWROGWR people. Some Hindus believe that sever- ²c^RWP]VT³XcCWT_aTbT]c[XcXVPcX^]Xb]^cU^a
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example, were built by demolishing tem-
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that no such temples existed in
VQRZIDOOIRUQHDUO\KRXUVQRZDQGLWVLPSDFWZDVH[SHULHQFHGLQWKHIDUDZD\ these places. b^RXP[bXV]XUXRP]RT8cfX[[aTeTP[W^fcWTR^dac 7X]SdaTeXeP[Xb\FTPaTPbTRd[PaST\^R CWXbQdaST]Xb
'HOKL1&5DVZHOOZKHUHWKHWHPSHUDWXUHVIHOOQHDUO\HLJKWGHJUHHV&HOVLXVDQGWKH It may be recollected that similar argu- [^^ZbPccWTX\_^acP]SP__[XRPQX[Xch^UcWT aPRh*fTS^]³cfXbWc^bTTcWTbPSTeT]cbcWPc QXVVTacWP]DZaPX]TX]ePbX^]
ZHDWKHUWXUQHGTXLWHSOHDVDQWDVFRPSDUHGWRWKHSUHYLRXVIRUWQLJKWZKLFKZDVQRWK ments had led to the demolition of Babri ?[PRTb^UF^abWX_B_TRXP[?a^eXbX^]b0Rc WP__T]TSX][PcT ('bP]STPa[h ((baTT]
(( ;PfhTabRP]P]SfX[[PaVdT^eTacTRW PRcTSX]cWT!!b3Xb_dcTb^eTa_[PRTb^U
LQJOHVVWKDQDVFRUFKHU:KLOH*DUKZDO·VXSSHUUHJLRQVKDYHEHHQUHFHLYLQJVQRZ Masjid. The Places of Worship Act, 1991,
]XRP[STcPX[bQdcYdSVTbRP]]^cfPeTaX]cWTXa f^abWX_ RP]]^c bdQbcXcdcT TUU^acb ]TTSTS DB?aTbXST]c
IDOOWKHORZHUDUHDVDUHEHLQJODVKHGE\LQFHVVDQWUDLQVSURPSWLQJWKHDXWKRULWLHV was legislated by Parliament to prevent ¯9^T1XST]
STcTa\X]PcX^]c^V^bcaXRc[hQhcWTTg_aTbb c^QT\PSTc^X\_a^eTcWT`dP[Xch^U[XUT^U
religious organisations from making
WRKDOWWKHWUDYHOE\GHYRWHHV7KHSLOJULPVDQGWRXULVWV claims on other mosques and shrines. For _a^eXbX^]b^UcWT[PfCWTfXbS^\^USaPf PP\PPS\X
ZHUHGLUHFWHGDW*DXULNXQGDQG6RQSUD\DJQRWWRSUR X]VPSXbcX]RcX^]QTcfTT]²STcTa\X]X]V³cWT 63PeXS<X[c^]k:P]hPZd\PaX
a long time the courts refused to hear cases
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questioning the legality of mosques.
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gives them more grants. The Shiv Sena- hunger, a crisis is looming. WFP has tice of global hunger.
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aishnavism is one of the major current affairs of past and present

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V forms of modern Hinduism, char-
acterised by devotion to Vishnu
and his incarnations. A devotee of
Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. The
Vaishnavite tradition is known for the lov-
times...
He has received several acco-
lades and awards including the
prestigious “Glory of Gujarat” award
in 2015 for promoting social well-
WKHYDOXHRIUXSHHDJDLQVW86GROODUIHOODOPRVWE\WRCLQ0D\ ing devotion to an avatar of Vishnu, and as being, Indian culture, and religion
such was key to the spread of the Bhakti as well as for His valuable contribu-
IURPCLQ6HSWHPEHU6XFKVWHHSIDOOUHYHDOVWKDWWKH tions to economics and religious
movement in South Asia in the 2nd mil-
YDOXHRIWKHUXSHHLVYXOQHUDEOHWRWKHQHWRXWIORZRIIRUH[+LVWRULFDOO\ lennium CE. For Vaishnavas, absolute research. Most recently in August
,QGLDKDVEHHQLQWKHWUDGHGHILFLW JRRGV VHUYLFHV DQGWKHUHIRUH reality is manifested in Vishnu, who in turn 2021, His Divine Holiness was
WKHIRUH[UHVHUYHVDUHJHQHUDOO\EXLOWIURPWKH´FDSLWDOUHFHLSWVµLQVKDSH is incarnated in Rama, Krishna, and other awarded an honorary doctorate by
RIGHEWDQGHTXLW\1HW´LQZDUGUHPLWWDQFHµLQWKHFXUUHQWDFFRXQW avatars. Through his avatars, Vishnu North American University, USA.
LVDERXWELOOLRQZKLFKLVFRQVXPHGLQWKHSDUWILQDQFLQJRIWUDGH defends traditional righteousness in keep- Puja Maharajshree continues to
GHILFLWDQGPRVWO\,QGLDKDGEHHQLQ´FXUUHQWDFFRXQWGHILFLWµ7UDGH ing with the moral law. travel tirelessly throughout the
Vaishnavism is the worship and accep- world. HDH Dwarkeshlalji
GHILFLWLVVRPHZKDWVLPLODUWR´RSHUDWLQJORVVµDQGWKHFXUUHQWDFFRXQW tance of Vishnu. The various sects of wor- Maharajshree enlightens the world
GHILFLWLVVLPLODUWRµQHWORVVµRI1DWLRQLQWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDOWUDGH7KLV shippers of Vishnu pray to him in differ- on the specifics of terminology
LVQRWDJRRGVFHQDULRIRUWKHVWDELOLW\RIUXSHH,GHDOO\,QGLDVKRXOG ent ways. For some, the goal of religious commonly used by
EHLQ´WUDGHVXUSOXVµIRUDVWDEOHUXSHH)RUDSSUHFLDWLRQRIUXSHHYDOXH devotion to Vishnu is liberation from the followers of the Vaishnav cult.
,QGLDVKRXOGKDYHµFXUUHQWDFFRXQWVXUSOXVµRQFRQVLVWHQWEDVLV,PSRUW cycle of birth and death. For others, it is Who is a Vaishnav? Anyone
RIHQHUJ\ 3HWUROHXP &RDO PXVWEHSDUWLDOO\UHSODFHGZLWKGRPHV health and prosperity in this life, good crops, offering divine loving services to
WLFSURGXFWLRQ,QGLDLVKDYLQJHQRXJKUHVHUYHVRIFRDODQGLWVSUR success in business, or thriving children. Lord Shree Krishna by dedicating
Vaishnavism comprises many sects and and finding refuge in Him is called
GXFWLRQPXVWEHLQFUHDVHGWKURXJKPLQHUDODQGFRDOVHFWRUUHIRUPV groups that differ in their interpretation of a Vaishnav. A Vaishnav does not
,QGLDKDVDOVRJRRGUHVHUYHVRIRLODQGJDVDVTXRWHGE\H[SHWUROH
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the relationship between the individual and
God. It has four main categories of sub-
8==4A508C78B harbor negative feelings of hatred,
jealousy, envy, etc., and treats every-
+RZHYHU WKLVQHHGV KXJH VSHQGLQJ LQ SURVSHFWLQJ  )RU UHSODFLQJ schools: the medieval-era Vishishtadvaita C7438E8=4 one with respect, equanimity, and
LPSRUWVRIHOHFWURQLFVDQGGHIHQFHLWHPV*RYHUQPHQWKDVWDNHQJRRG school of Ramanuja, the Dvaita school of ;>E4>=4 equality.
VWHSVWKDWPD\EHSXVKHG6LPLODUVWHSVDUHDOVRQHHGHGIRURWKHU Madhvacharya, the Dvaitadvaita school of What is Inner Faith?Inner faith
Nimbarkacharya, and the Pushtimarg of 4G?4A84=24B is the divine love one experiences
Vallabhacharya. The Srivaishnava sect, for 05C4A after realising Shri Krishna’s true
example, emphasises the doctrine of qual- nature. It is the recognition of the
ified non-dualism of Ramanuja, according A40;8B8=6 all-pervading nature or Brahmavad
to which, although the differentiated phe- :A8B7=0B essence of God within ourselves and
nomenal world is illusory, it is nevertheless
the medium through which devotees may CAD4=0CDA4 in the world that gives a positive out-
look and attitude towards life and
gain access to God. Another group profess- 8C8BC74 creates respect, understanding, and
es the dualism of the philosopher Madhva,
the belief that God and the soul are sepa-
A42>6=8C8>= the Universe, the Divine Grace, also
known as Pushtimarg. Jagad Guru
ious other religious establishments
around the world as an advisory.
awareness of oneself as well as oth-
ers. Unyielding faith originating
rate entities and that the soul’s existence is >5C74 Vallabhacaryaji had two Divine From a very young age, Puja from one’s experiences of God’s
dependent on God. The Pushtimarg sect
maintains the pure non-dualism doctrine
0;;?4AE038=6 Sons - Shri Gopinathji& Shri
Viththalnathji-Gosainji. Shri
Maharajshree has been an inspira-
tional religious, social and cultural
omnipotent presence can lead to
extraordinary experiences which are
of the theologian Vallabhacharya, which =0CDA4>A Viththalnathji-Gosainji had seven leader as well as a guiding force for practical and liberating. In this
does not declare the phenomenal world to 1A07<0E03 sons. His sixth son was Shri the young and old alike and strong state of liberation, one merges into
be an illusion. The Gaudiya sect, founded Yadunathji. Shashtha pithadhishwar support for the disadvantaged mem- Shri Krishna’s blissful form and no
by Chaitanya, teaches inconceivable dual- 4BB4=24>5 Param Puja Goswami 108 Shree bers of society. He has motivated caste, creed, color, sex, or age pre-
ity and non-duality, the belief that the rela- 6>3F8C78= DwarkeshlaljiMaharajshri is the thousands of youngsters to embrace vents one from attaining Shri
tion between God and the world is beyond 14th Generation of Shri Yadunathji. Pushtimarg through various reli- Krishna’s grace. It transcends all
PDMRULPSRUWV*RYHUQPHQWVKRXOGEULQJDZKLWHSDSHUIRUERRVWLQJ the scope of human comprehension. >DAB4;E4B For the past 13 generations based on gious, cultural, educational, and boundaries of identity, time, space,
H[SRUWVDQGUHSODFLQJLPSRUWVZLWKGRPHVWLFSURGXFWLRQ%HVLGHVWKLV HDH Shashth Pithadishwar Puja Pad 0=38=C74 the traditions of Shashtha pithad- charitable institutions throughout and place.
WKHUHLVDYDVWVFRSHRIH[SRUWRIVHUYLFHVLQWKHILHOGRIWRXULVPFRQ Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji India and the world. Over the What does Pushtimargiya
VXOWDQF\ OHJDODFFRXQWLQJDQGHQJLQHHULQJ VKLSSLQJHGXFDWLRQDQG Maharajshree is the chief patron - manag- F>A;3C70C hishwar, he resides on every Gaadi-
Pati (Throne) as Raj-Tilak. He is years, HDH has been honored for mean?Pushtimarg also known as
KHDOWKVHFWRUWKDWDOVRQHHGVDVHSDUDWHZKLWHSDSHU ing trustee of Vaishnav Innerfaith 68E4B0 presently residing in Vadodara as His profound philosophical and “The Path of Grace” is a Vaishnav
7KHILQDQFLDOVDYLQJVRI,QGLDDUHQRWDGHTXDWHIRUILQDQFLQJWKH Pushtimargiya Organisation (VIVO-
Global). His Divine Holiness hails from the
?>B8C8E4 Raj-Tilak in Seva of Mohini Swarup
Shri Kalyanrayji. This is the same
poetic writings as well as for His reli-
gious, social, and humanitarian
sect of Hinduism established by
Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabacharya
LQYHVWPHQWQHHGVDQGWKHUHIRUHWKHGHSHQGHQF\XSRQWKHLQIORZRI Pushtimarg tradition of Vaishnavism as the >DC;>>:0=3 Swarup that Beloved work. He is a renowned Pushti Mahaprabhuji, one of the great
JOREDOIXQGVVKDOOFRQWLQXHIRUIHZPRUH\HDUV$VDQLQWHULPPHD
VXUHWKHSK\VLFDOVDYLQJVLQJROGPXVWEHUHGXFHGWRDOPRVWQLOWKURXJK
direct descendant of Jagadguru Shrimad
Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji, the founder
0CC8CD34 Vallabhacharya ji served (Sevya).
Pujyapad Goswami 108 Shree
Margiya Propagator, Philosopher
and Teacher. He appreciates antique
Acharyas of Hinduism.
“Pushtimargiya” is spontaneous,
ILQDQFLDOLQQRYDWLRQDVVXJJHVWHGE\DXWKRULQKLV%RRN¶7XUQ$URXQG of Pushti Bhakti Marg and one of the five C>F0A3B;854 DwarkeshlaljiMaharajshri is collections and art &artistry. He is selfless, motiveless love for
,QGLD·+XJHLPSRUWRIJROGLVLQGHHGDGUDJRQWKHWUDGHEDODQFH,Q great Acharyas in Hinduism. His Divine presently the Raj-Tilak Gaadi-Pati very proficient in playing Mrudang LordVaishnavism theology, descend
WKHUHJLPHRIIL[HGH[FKDQJHUDWHZDVHQGHG7KHUHDIWHUWKH Holiness is enthroned as the 14th Gadipathi of Vadodara, Ahmedabad-Naroda (Pakhawaj) in Music Area. He is to empower the good and fight evil,
of Shashthpeeth at Vadodara, one of the (Shri Mahaprabhaji’sBethakji), articulate in preparing and adorn- thereby restoring Dharma. This is
YDOXHRIUXSHHZDVDOPRVWVWDEOHIURPWKH\HDUWRDVHYL seven thrones of Shri VitthalnathjiGusainji, ing jewelry for Shree Thakorjee. He reflected in the passages of the
Gondal, Baria, (Gujarat), Gokul
GHQWIURPWKHWDEOHEHORZ,WPHDQVWKDWLWLVIHDVLEOHWRPDLQWDLQVWD the son of Shri Vallabhacharya (Uttar Pradesh), Dhanpur, Shergad has written several ongoing poetries ancient Bhagavad Gita as:
ELOLW\RIUXSHH6LPXOWDQHRXVO\WKHUHDVRQVIRUVXEVHTXHQWIDOOLQUXSHH Mahaprabhuji. He is not only the head at (Rajasthan), Vidisha (Madhya in Gujarati, Hindi & Vraj Bhasha. Whenever righteousness wanes and
YDOXHPXVWEHDQDO\VHGDQGUHVROYHG7RWDOILQDQFLDODVVHWVLQWKH Kalyanraiji Mandir, Vadodara but also at Pradesh), Sikandarabad He is the author of various religious unrighteousness increases, I send
(The writer is
ZRUOGDUHH[FHHGLQJWULOOLRQ*OREDOLQYHVWRUVDUHLQVHDUFKRI several temples/Havelis in India, the UK, (Telangana). Likewise, in Atlanta- and philosophical articles and texts. myself forth.
the USA, and Canada. The first supreme Editor-in-Chief of Gokuldham, Ocala-Pushtidham, He has an interest in ancient & For the protection of the good
VXFKGHVWLQDWLRQVZKLFKSURYLGHWKHPDKLJKUHWXUQLQWHUPVRI86 Opinion Express.
GROODUV,QFDVH,QGLDVXFFHHGVLQDFKLHYLQJVWDELOLW\RI5XSHHWKH omnipresent Jagad Guru Shrimad Connecticut-Vallabhdham (All- modern, known-unknown Gazals’ and for the destruction of evil,and
Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji established The views expressed USA) &Leceister-Shreeji Dham collections. He displays a keen for the establishment of righteous-
JOREDOIXQGVVKDOOUXVKLQ,QVXFKFDVHLWLVLPSHUDWLYHWKDWJOREDO the Vaishnav religious system to grace upon are personal.) (UK). Moreover, he is serving var- interest in national geographic and ness, I come into being age after age.
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he composition of Rajya several states like West Bengal, it will gain all four seats. to the Upper House. The party Minority Affairs Minister

T Sabha will soon mirror


Lok Sabha giving an
advantage to the ruling BJP. But
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
Odisha, Delhi, Punjab, and
Tamil Nadu. The last three
Similarly, the Telangana Rashtra
Samiti (TRS) will gain both seats
going to the polls. Biju Janata
will get zero seats in Andhra
Pradesh, come down in
Rajasthan from 4 to 2, and lose
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will also
retire. However, they are all like-
ly to come back. The party will
it will not gain the majority yet. states are coalition govern- Dal (BJD) will continue to hold one seat each from Jharkhand be able to accommodate almost
Stakes are high for the BJP and ments. The young Aam Aadmi all three seats. In Bihar, the and Chattisgarh. Moreover, all of them after its recent mas-
the opposition parties because Party (AAP) ruling Delhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will between now and 2024, there sive win in four of the five state
;1<I1>9B70=:0A
of the upcoming Presidential Punjab has been the biggest improve its tally from one seat will be elections for 65 seats, but Assembly elections.
and vice-presidential polls in gainer in the Rajya Sabha bien- to two, and AAP will win both Congress’s chances are bleak On the contrary, Congress’s
June-July. Any changes in the nial elections. It won five seats, the seats in Punjab that and its strength will decrease footprint has shrunk geograph-
composition of state assem- with which its strength in the Congress and Akali Dal previ- further. ically. The party is ruling in only
blies will impact the Rajya House has gone up to eight. The ously held. The Jharkhand Fourthly, some senior four states-in Rajasthan and
Sabha, the House of Elders. regional parties might increase push through many contentious concerned, the Samajwadi Party Mukti Morcha (JMM) has Congress leaders might not get Chhattisgarh on its own and in
The House will witness sev- their tally to 27 from 25 seats out bills, including the abrogation of has three, the Biju Janata Dal offered one seat to Congress, a Rajya Sabha berth due to the Maharashtra and Jharkhand as
eral changes after the upcoming of the 57. Article 370 and the trifurcation four, the Bahujan Samaj Party held by the BJP. recent Udaipur resolution giv- a junior partner in the ruling
biennial elections for 57 Rajya Secondly, during Prime of Jammu and Kashmir. two, and the Telangana Rashtra Thirdly, the Congress Party, ing a 50 percent share to the alliance. The party will have zero
Sabha seats and two bye-elec- Minister Narendra Modi’s first Of the 59 members retiring, Samiti three. In contrast, the the main opposition since 2014, youth in all positions. The representation in the Rajya
tions on June 10. Some retiring term (2014-2019), the 25 belong to the BJP, while its YSR Congress, the Akali Dal, could shrink further. Electorally, tenure of senior Congress lead- Sabha from 17 states and Union
members might come back, Congress-led opposition was allies, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal the Congress Party has not ers, like P Chidambaram, Kapil Territories.
and others may not. The region- strong and created hurdles for two and AIADMK, three. The have one each. recovered from the jolt it Sibal, Jairam Ramesh and Above all, the Rajya Sabha
al parties may gain more than most bills. The BJP, which had shrinking National Democratic In Andhra Pradesh, the received in 2014 and 2019 and Ambika Soni, are set to end. is likely to have a new Chairman
the two national parties - the just 47 members in 2012, has Alliance (NDA) has 31 seats out BJP will lose the three it current- has lost one state after the other Some Union ministers includ- if the incumbent, M. Venkaiah
ruling BJP and the Congress — (The writer is a senior touched three digits. The num- of the 59. It will be challenging ly holds out of the four seats since then. Its tally in Rajya ing Finance Minister Nirmala Naidu, is either elevated as
after the biennial polls. journalist The views bers changed in Modi- 2-0, for the NDA as it will likely lose going to the polls. The YSRCP’s Sabha will dip further after the Sitharaman, Commerce President or does not get a
The regional satraps rule expressed are personal.) enabling the Government to 7 to 9. As far as other parties are sweeping victory in 2019 means forthcoming biennial elections Minister Piyush Goyal, and second term.
04 NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2022 Vol. CXXXXXVI 121

Incorporating and directly descended


from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818
Combating hazards A MEMBER
OF THE

Almost all developing countries are confronting formidable chemical safety and waste ASIAN VOICES
Inclusive move disposal problems. A large legacy of abandoned hazardous sites, unregulated waste Reclaiming our
O n the eve of the summit of Quad leaders –
only the second time they will be meeting in
person since the inception of the Indo-Pacif-
dumping and a low priority given to environmental issues are part of the history of our
country. India must take chemical safety and waste disposal issues very seriously future

T
ic alliance ~ which got underway in Tokyo on Tues- he Asia-Pacific region is at a
day with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosting crossroads today ~ to further
leaders of the USA, India and Australia, the announ- breakdown or breakthrough
cement of a new economic initiative for the region to a greener, better, safer
by US President Joe Biden set the agenda for what is future. Since the Economic and Social
likely to follow. Washington’s proposed Indo-Pacif- Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ic Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is (ESCAP) was established in 1947, the
being seen as an inclusive arrangement ~ India is region has made extraordinary
progress, emerging as a pacesetter of
among the 13 countries which have signed up as
global economic growth that has lifted
‘initial partners’ of the economic bloc ~ which also millions out of poverty.
meets its strategic objective of containing China. Yet, as ESCAP celebrates its 75th
Countries in the region looking for economic secu- anniversary this year, we find our-
rity via reliable supply chains and trusted manufac- selves facing our biggest shared test
turing hubs have welcomed the IPEF; its 13 initial on the back of cascading and overlap-
member-states account for 40 per cent of the ping impacts from the Covid-19 pan-
world’s Gross Domestic Product, which is not a fig- demic, raging conflicts and the climate
ure to be sneezed at. Beijing is, of course, opposed crisis.
Few have escaped the effects of
to the formation of this new bloc but that is neither the pandemic, with 85 million people
here nor there. An official Chinese statement more pushed back into extreme poverty,
or less doomed to failure any effort towards greater millions more losing their jobs or
economic collaboration, enhanced trade ties, and livelihoods, and a generation of chil-
closer security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific sans dren and young people missing pre-
its presence. But that only confirms what those cious time for education and training.
looking to enable a rules-based and stable Indo- As the pandemic surges and ebbs
Pacific region have been saying all along ~ an alter- across countries, the world continues
native to the economic-security architecture which to face the grim implications of failing

T
the production of polystyrene 27 June 2014 claimed the lives of training is imparted about chem- to keep the temperature increase
has de facto been put in place by China is the need he recent news of a Guja- plastics and resins. While locals 29 people, and injured vast num- ical safety. There are different below 1.5°C ~ and of continuing to
of the hour. There has been some criticism along rat salt factory wall col- clamoured for closure of the LG bers. On 15 March 2017, ammo- ways to achieve disposal, espe- degrade the natural environment.
the lines that the IPEF could be counter-productive lapse that killed at least polymer plant, the political par- nia gas leakage in Kanpur, UP cially for chemical waste from Throughout 2021 and 2022, coun-
as it would add to the multiplicity of international 12 workers and with 15 ties squarely blamed the manage- resulted in loss of many lives. In pharmaceutical factories and tries across Asia and the Pacific were
groupings operational in the region given the Quad feared trapped in Halbad GIDC ment for this accident and sought all, there are at least 130 incidents processing plants. They encom- again battered by a relentless sequ-
and AUKUS are already active in the Indo-Pacific. (Gujarat Industrial Development prosecution of senior officials of of chemical accidents in India pass incineration, chemical waste ence of natural disasters, with climate
But critics tend to miss the point that these alliances Corporation) of Morbi district in the company. including leakage from a nuclear recycling, chemical neutralization
are by no means mutually exclusive. Saurashtra (The Statesman, 19 Some leaders wanted an power plant. and land disposal.
In fact, apart from the USA, India, Japan, Austra- May 2022) is horrifying and immediate shut down of the With rapid industrialisation Adequate measures should
indeed extremely tragic. Though plant and a thorough investiga- in India, the problems of occupa- be taken to ensure recycling and change increasing their frequency and
lia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Phili-
the matter is under investigation tion into the gas leakage The tional health and safety have safety of chemical waste. The intensity. More recently, the rapidly
ppines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the and the rescue operation is National Green Tribunal (NGT) assumed alarming proportions. waste should not be allowed to evolving crisis in Ukraine will have
crucial so-called ‘missing link’ from the Quad, South underway, the factory authorities has already taken cognizance and The rate of industrial accidents is contaminate oceans, rivers and wide-ranging socioeconomic impacts,
Korea, joining the IPEF is arguably of the utmost can in no way evade their res- ordered the chemical plant to much more than any other in- ambient air. Although millions of with higher prices for fuel and food
significance. Seoul has till now been kept out of the ponsibilities. The Morbi district deposit a penalty of Rs 50 crore dustrialised country. The situa- chemical compounds are known, increasing food insecurity and hunger
larger scheme of things outside of North Asia by administration has taken prompt with the District Magistrate, tion has become worse because only a small number have been across the region.
Washington because of the unique security situa- action and hopefully corrective Visakhapatnam. of the lackadaisical attitude of tested as far as their toxicity is Rapid economic growth in Asia
tion on the Korean peninsula. But that is changing, action will be taken. According to industrial authori- concerned. Chemical hazards and the Pacific has come at a heavy
with the realisation that much like China’s proxy in The Prime Minister expres- the investigative ties and adminis- may occur during storage, trans- price, and the convergence of these
South Asia, Pakistan, is used by Beijing to keep India sed his profound grief at the loss report, it transpires trations. It is ab- portation, manufacture, han- three crises have exposed the fault
of lives and announced an ex- that a technical solutely imperative dling, experimentation and even lines in a very short time.
off-balance strategically, its client-state in North
gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each glitch in the refriger- to initiate thor- during the disposal of waste Unfortunately, those hardest hit
Asia, North Korea, is being utilised to keep the pres- to the kin of the deceased. The ation unit attached ough, effective and products. are those with the fewest resources to
sure on South Korea and its military ally the USA. Gujarat CM Mr Bhupendra Patel to the styrene tanks meaningful mea- The chemicals often find endure the hardship. This dispropor-
Korea expert Professor Andrew Yeo, in fact, has also announced compensation to was responsible for sures for industrial their way into human bodies dur- tionate pressure on the poor and most
written recently that President’s Biden’s visit to the families of the deceased this gas leakage. safety. Thousands ing breathing, swallowing or vulnerable is deepening and widening
South Korea, which preceded his arrival in Tokyo workers. Close on the heels of textile workers in when they come in contract with inequalities in both income and
for the Quad summit, is likely to be the Be that as it may, industrial of Visakhapatnam India, for instance, the skin. Inhalation or breathing opportunities.
“gamechanger” as the USA seeks to strengthen its safety in India is far from satisfac- tragedy, seven peo- suffer from lung process is perhaps the most com- The situation is critical. Many
security networks in Asia in the face of a relentless tory and needs substantive ple were admitted disease due to cot- mon route through which toxic communities are close to tipping
PARTHASARATHI
China. South Korea’s inclusion in the Indo-Pacific reform immediately. The loss of to hospital due to CHAKRAORTY ton dust, about chemical substances enter our points beyond which it will be impos-
lives of workers cannot be mean- toxic gas leakage 20,000 asbestos body and mix with the blood sible to recover. But it is not too late.
framework will have a significant bearing on how ingfully compensated merely by from a paper indus- The writer, a former Reader workers are victims streams. Some corrosive chemi- In this richer yet riskier world, we
security cooperation unfolds in the region. paying ex-gratia to the families. It try in Raigarh. The
in Chemistry, Presidency
College, Kolkata was of lung cancer cal ingredients may be responsi- need more crisis-prepared policies to

Climate in Davos
associated with the
is imperative at this juncture to International con- UGC and UNICEF because they do ble for acute skin disease that protect our most vulnerable popula-
set up a high-level committee to ference on industri- not use personal may even lead to cancer. tions and shift the Asia-Pacific region

T
investigate thoroughly the exact al safety, waste protective equip- Occupational health hazards back on course to achieve the Sustain-
he delegates at the World Economic Forum’s cause of the mishap and to initi- management and recycling con- ment. Silica, mica and Polynu- do not necessarily stay confined able Development Goals as the target
meeting this week in Davos will be focused on ate appropriate measures so that cluded in Sofia, Bulgaria a few clear Aromatic Hydrocarbons within the four wall of the facto- year of 2030 comes closer ~ our analy-
the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Covid- such tragedies do not recur. years back with particular focus (PAH) etc. are dangerous to ries. It has been reported that sis shows that we are already 35 years
19 pandemic, as both have convulsed the world for The incident in Gujarat for- on safety management, waste health. Almost all developing such hazards can often lead to behind and will only attain the Goals
the past two years. The international assembly will ces us to recall the gas leakage in disposal and recycling technology countries are confronting formi- abortion, low fertility or even in 2065.
be riveted no less to climate change, a phenomenon Andhra Pradesh last year, which transfer. dable chemical safety and waste impotence. Some chemicals are To do so, we must protect people
caused the death of 15 people Industrial safety and its sus- disposal problems. responsible for birth defects in and the planet, exploit digital oppor-
that has had a devastating effect on the world, with
and affected thousands, after they tainable management are of criti- A large legacy of abandoned new born babies. Prolonged tunities, trade and invest together,
no firm commitments either by the developed or de- inhaled the toxic vapours of the cal concern to India. The huge hazardous sites, unregulated exposure to lead, mercury, organ- raise financial resources and manage
veloping nations. The issue must of necessity tran- chemical Styrene. chemical pollution in the river waste dumping and a low priority ic lead compound and radiation our debt.
scend the multinational quibbling and the hi-falutin The high-power committee Ganga for decades is a matter of given to environmental issues are from x-rays, carbon monoxide The first task for governments
platitudes at the conclusion of conferences, whether set up by the Andhra Pradesh grave concern. Waste discharge part of the history of our country. and chloroprene are harmful. must be to defend the most vulnerable
in Paris, Cancun or Copenhagen, not to forget the government unequivocally pla- from a large number of factories India must take chemical safety Leakage of toxic chemicals groups – by strengthening health and
pow-wow in Glasgow. Indeed, climate change has ced the blame on L G Polymers, including pharmaceuticals, che- and waste disposal issues very quantification should be carried universal social protection systems.
over time graduated from an issue that is intrinsical- the South Korean company, for micals, paper mills, leather, sugar seriously and develop cogent out continuously with sophisti- At the same time, governments,
ly related to science to a menace that impinges on its poor safety protocols and and cotton industries, have aggr- ideas for underground disposal, cated equipment. In addition, civil society and the private sector
every facet of life, notably business and economics. It awareness, breakdown of emer- avated the situation. It is extrem- considering technical barriers, uninterrupted monitoring is also should be acting to conserve our pre-
gency response and inadequate ely unfortunate that the sacred legal basis, waste characterisation imperative to avoid accidents. cious planet and mitigate and adapt
is a measure of the importance that has been accord- safety management. river is being used like a drain. and conditioning. The pragmatic use of Artificial to climate change while defending
ed to climate that an estimated one-third of the 270 The committee also recom- The Gujarat mishap brings This includes assessment of Intelligence (AI) and deployment people from the devastation of natural
panels that have been formed are on climate change mended that the report should be back grim memories of the Bho- isolation of the chemical waste of robots should be considered to disasters.
and its direct effects. John Kerry, climate envoy of the placed in public domain and the pal Gas tragedy. On 2 December safely from the environment and get tangible results For many measures, governments
United States, Vanessa Nakate and Aloke Sharma, authorities should be informed to 1984 Bhopal city in India experi- the development of sophisticat- The chemical substances can exploit technological innovations.
president of last year’s climate conference COP26, take necessary legal action enced the worst disaster in the ed eco-friendly technologies. and their toxic effects described Human activities are steadily becom-
are among the climate leaders, so to speak, who are against those responsible for this world resulting from the leakage Even waste chemicals from labo- above are usually perceived. But ing “digital by default”.
expected at the Swiss resort of Davos. At the forum’s chemical disaster. In fact, it vir- of a highly toxic chemical gas ratories of schools, colleges, uni- the nature of nuclear waste is dif- To turn the digital divide into a
first “in-person gathering” in two years, the agenda tually reprimanded the authori- methyl isocyanate, commonly versities, research institutions ferent and raise specific problems digital dividend, governments should
ties of L G polymer industries for known as MIC. The massive trag- and hospitals have to be handled of disposal. Their toxic effects on encourage more robust and extensive
of the climate panels are remarkably varied. These
their insufficient knowledge of ic incident killed thousands and very carefully and need be dis- living organisms are impercepti- digital infrastructure and improve
range from assisting debt-ridden countries to financ- handling and storage of the high- several thousand others blind. posed of with caution. ble. Thus, eco- friendly and regu- access along with the necessary edu-
ing the crucial “renewable transition”. This, it is ly toxic chemical. An accident in a gas pipeline In formal educational insti- lated chemical and radioactive cation and training to enhance knowl-
hoped, will address what they call “eco-anxiety”. Styrene is primarily used in in Nagaram, Andhra Pradesh, on tutions, little or no education and waste disposal is also necessary. edge-intensive internet use.
Uppermost on the Davos agenda is to finance
“renewable transition”. Central to the task at hand is LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
the implementation of the abbreviation ~ ESG (Envi-
ronmental Social Governance). Several countries will
have to work on the investment that is needed to
improve the environment. Trillions of dollars have
GST and cooperative federalism PARADIGM SHIFT
SIR, This is with reference to Arindam Ghosh Dastidar’s incisive per-
been invested in companies that meet certain crite- SIR, Hearing a dispute over the recommendations of the Council, welcomed the verdict as it empow- ceptions in Abuse of Legacy, regarding the need to bell the cat and
ria. For individual investors and all the way up to levy of GST on ocean freight are not binding on them. ers them. The Finance Ministry replace the manual alarm bell for CCTV enabled security of Visva
companies and government agencies that analyse charges paid by importers, the This has sparked fears that has responded stating that the Bharati. In fact the informed write-up implies that there has been a
how companies operate. By that token, disclosures Supreme Court on Thursday pro- individual States can start reject- Court has only clarified on the paradigm shift in terms of Santiniketan as a world in one nest con-
and public declarations are of vital importance. nounced that such a tax was ing the Council’s proposals that Council’s present system and the ceived by Tagore and Santiniketan now as a nest of self-seekers and
Indeed, they can be the basis of evaluating a compa- unjustified. Questioning the spirit they do not agree with, and refuse same would continue. It says there their power-play, where there is so much of shameful indifference
ny’s emissions, the environmental impact and the of cooperative federalism, the to implement them, thus threat- is already a provision for states to about the theft of the Nobel prize and other invaluable documents.
financial risks that are linked to climate change. Cer- Court has held that both the Union ening the ‘One Nation, One Tax’ reject the Council’s decisions but Unless we realise that the bell tolls for each of us, Santiniketan will be
and State governments have equal formula which took years to cre- none has done so far. perceived as a dream that has turned into a nightmare.
tain questions will survive. Should the declarations
powers to make GST laws, and the ate. Opposition-ruled States have It is obvious that the non- Yours, etc., Sanjukta Dasgupta, Kolkata, 24 May.
on emission be mandatory? Should they be stan- binding nature of the Council’s
dardized and regulated, and by whom? Has the ESG proposals could lead to collapse of
paradigm already gone too far? Eventually, this can the entire GST structure.
IN CAHOOTS in ensuring BJP's victory by divid-
perhaps hinder investments, without curbing green- However, the Centre should SIR, This refers to the news report, ing the minority votes.
house gas emissions. The reactions are often linked be more considerate towards “AIMIM entry may make Guj polls These instances make it
to political compulsions. In the United States, many States’ concerns and fiscal issues, four-cornered”, published in amply clear that the Asaduddin
Republicans call them “woke”. At another remove, especially in the case of non-NDA The Statesman today. Well, there Owaisi-led AIMIM is hand in glove
many on the Left, notably environmentalists and ruled states. you go again. with the saffron outfit. This time,
campaigners, argue that ramping up the status of The Council should also meet Here is another state election the AIMIM has announced that it
more frequently to develop fiscal where minority votes are extreme- will contest all the seats in the
the environment and transparency can bring about federalism. The Centre needs to ly crucial. Get in AIMIM, make Gujarat assembly.
real change. Even the response to ESG has been less work more closely with States to it a multi-cornered battle and It is high time that members
than uniform. While that fact that it is essential to take India’s economy forward by divide the minority votes ~ as sim- of the minority community are
evaluate risk has been generally acknowledged, in working on many pending ple as that. educated in this regard and made
the reckoning of Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO, the reforms. Similar examples are the Bihar aware of the consequences.
approach has been “weaponised by phoney social Yours, etc., Sanjay Chopra, and Uttar Pradesh state elections Yours, etc., Anupam Neogi
justice warriors”. Mohali, 21 May. where the AIMIM played a big role Kolkata, 24 May.
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2022 05
Is Biden’s ‘revived Nato’
100 YEARS AGO

OCCASIONAL NOTE
History, the quarterly journal of the His-
torical Association, has thrown a good

another ‘fateful error’?


deal of new light on old subjects. The
latest of its "historical revisions," by Pro-
fessor Newton, summarises the criti-
cisms to which the story of Columbus
has been subjected during the past
twenty years, and which are still matters
of debate between the critics. Columbus
himself claimed that his great design
ATANU BISWAS Afghanistan in 2021. And now Turkey had always been to reach the coasts of
is vetoing the Nordic bids. The Ger- Cipangu, or Japan, in the extreme east of

W
hile Russia is under- man Chancellor Angela Merkel had a Asia, - having been led by scientific and
standably not quite chaotic meeting with Donald Trump theoretical considerations to the belief
happy with the Finnish in 2017. An angry Merkel declared that that by keeping a westward course for
and Swedish bids for Europe could clearly no longer count so many thousand leagues one must
North Atlantic Treaty Organization on America as an ally and must look to come at length to the Indies. Columbus
(Nato) membership and Turkey has its own resources for its security. Then, himself, one would imagine, ought to
objected to these Nordic bids, the in November 2019, French President have known best what his intentions
American President, Joe Biden, has Emmanuel Macron warned his fellow were, but it is sad to read that "his con-
already indicated support to Sweden Europeans that Nato was on the point temporaries found him a difficult and
and Finland as members of a ‘revived of ‘brain death’. impracticable person who made himself
Nato’. Then, suddenly, in the spring of a nuisance by his incessant complaints
A ‘revived Nato’ may be an inter- 2022, did Putin actually provide Nato a and his extravagant pretensions;" while
esting concept whose prospects may much-desired lifeline and revived the to his critics of the present day his claims
be looked upon through the lens of alliance from the point of ‘brain death’ do not appear to be indisputable. It is
history. In fact, the disintegration of by his ill-judged assault on Ukraine? argued, upon strong evidence, that the
the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a One of the concerns that Russia had expedition of 1492 had for its sole object
paradigm shift in the nature of Euro- cited for its invasion of Ukraine – is the discovery of new islands in the
pean as well as world politics almost that Nato is in the expanding mode Atlantic beyond the Cape Verde Islands,
overnight. Consequently, the US-led and Ukraine wanted to join it. In fact, and that the story of a search for the
Nato became interested in expanding it has now boomeranged, and Europe Indies was invented after the discovery
its wings by incorporating some Cen- has become more inclined toward the of the new lands. Still, whatever the orig-
tral and Eastern European states into alliance. The sun seems to have set on inal designs of the explorer may have
the alliance. neutrality ever since Russia invaded been, he retains the glory of the discov-
Less than one year after launch- And, at some point, Nato became and ideological – but not military. Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Ukraine, and internal debates and eries which he did actually make by his
ing the Partnership for Peace, in the more a political association than a “Expanding Nato would be the most Republic joined. Bulgaria, Romania, shifts within the mindsets of the neu- voyages to the West.
1990s, the Clinton administration, military organisation, a grouping of fateful error of American policy in the Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, tral states of Europe such as Finland,
with little debate or public prepara- countries whose commitments are entire post-Cold War US,” Kennan and Lithuania followed in 2004. In Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Ice- NEWS ITEMS
tion, introduced the goal of such a possibly more declaratory than real. wrote in an opinion piece titled ‘A 2009, Albania, Croatia, and Mon- land have intensified. Finland and
Nato expansion. Strong arguments
were put in favour of securing the
In a 1998 paper titled ‘Nattering
Nato negativism? reasons why expan-
Fateful Error’ in the New York Times
in February 1997. And it “may be
tenegro signed on although Mon-
tenegro joined the alliance in 2017. A
Sweden are now clearly willing to shed
their neutrality, we know. Overall, tec- DISASTROUS
democratic and Western orientation
of selected former Warsaw Pact states
sion may be a good thing’, published
in the Review of International Stud-
expected to inflame the nationalistic,
anti-Western and militaristic tenden-
16-member alliance became a 30-
member group when North Macedo-
tonic paradigm shifts are afoot in the
West. FLOODS IN ITALY
and hedging against political uncer- ies, Christopher L. Ball wrote: “Ameri- cies in Russian opinion; to have an nia became a member in 2020. Couldn’t Putin see this possibility? The story of the collapse of the town of
tainty in Russia. Aiding in the transi- can academics have been almost adverse effect on the development of Although the West cited stability and Future historians would struggle to Corato is an extraordinary one of human
tion of Central and Eastern Europe unanimous in opposing Nato expan- Russian democracy; to restore the democracy promotion as the prima- explain how a superb political brain vicissitudes. The town progressed rapid-
into the greater European communi- sion, but the arguments they have put atmosphere of the cold war to East- ry motivations for such expansions, like Putin failed to envisage such a ly from a tiny village to an important
ty was also cited as an important rea- forward have often been contradicto- West relations; and to impel Russian Vladimir Putin, who has been at the straightforward consequence of invad- industrial and commercial centre. Its
son. However, there were many ry. The proponents of Nato expansion, foreign policy decidedly not to (US) helm of Russia since the first day of ing Ukraine. Will the revived alliance buildings were among the finest in Italy.
strong arguments against the idea of on the other hand, have not been liking,” Kennan wrote. this century, reacted by moderniz- redefine the world order then? And, The soil was of clay and sand. Torrential
expanding the alliance as well. It was clear in their arguments, and have Importantly, Kennan never ing the Russian military and threat- more importantly, is Biden repeating rain fell after a drought of nine months,
argued that it could complicate tended to stress deterrence over reas- believed that the US could or should ening invasion. the same ‘fateful error’ by trying to and the water which accumulated made
Nato’s ability to achieve consensus. surance.” try to run the planet. Then, in an inter- A revival of Nato was possibly revive Nato that Clinton committed fissures in the earth, and filtered through
Also, there was an argument that it Since the tension between Rus- view with the New York Times in 1998 urgently needed for the sake of the when he orchestrated to expand it? under the foundations, which collapsed.
would weaken the security of those sia and Ukraine escalated, former US after the US Senate ratified Nato existence of the alliance. For Nato was Only time will tell, for sure. Just won- The first building which fell was the mag-
countries not brought in, which has diplomat George F. Kennan’s 1997 expansion, Kennan said it was “the possibly losing its grip over Europe dering, what would have been Ken- nificent new church of the Madonna.
now proved to be correct as Ukraine warning about Nato’s expansion has beginning of a new cold war.” during the last decade or so. Failure nan’s reaction to the escalation of the Some five thousand families are home-
is under Russian aggression. gained tremendous public attention. Twenty-five years on, the world and disunity were clear in the events Russia-Ukraine conflict and to the less, and sleeping in tents and huts in the
The arguments against the Kennan, known as the “architect of is possibly witnessing the effect of such as the failure of Nato interven- ‘revived Nato’, if he were still alive. open. The distress and suffering are very
expansion of Nato certainly included America’s containment of the Soviet that ‘new cold war’ induced by the tion in Libya in 2011, Trump’s unilat- No George Kennan is out there serious. The Government has sent
the problem of antagonizing a politi- Union”, was present at the creation of ‘fateful error’. Russian aggression eral withdrawal of support from the now. troops, workmen, and materials in order
cally unstable Russia. Overall, many Nato and witnessed its development. over the years can partly be inter- Kurdish forces in northern Syria, US that temporary shelters may be erected.
believed that an expanded Nato pos- He, however, believed that contain- preted as a response to the three sanctions on Turkey, and Joe Biden’s The writer is Professor of Statistics, Violent storms are increasing the suffer-
sibly diminished Europe’s security. ment should be political, economic, waves of Nato expansion. In 1999, unilateral withdrawal from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. ings of the homeless inhabitants, who
are panic-stricken.

Back to business as usual in Colombo WOMEN


COUNCILLORS
JEHAN PERERA social media providing vivid images of the Prime Minister’s residence, with Amendment and to replace it with the in the government by comparing his
the frustration of those who have wait- iron rods and other improvised 21st Amendment that would reduce situation to the famous play by Bertolt
IN MADRAS
T
he Sri Lankan government’s ed in line for hours and hours only to weapons, after being instigated by the the power of the presidency. Third was Brecht, the Caucasian Chalk Circle.
intention to appoint a full find out that stocks have run out before Prime Minister’s men, are being arrest- to conduct general elections in a new The Prime Minister has brought credi- MADRAS, MAY 24
complement of Ministers and they could get access to the fuel. ed. system that would depart from the pre- bility to the government through his A resolution by Rao Bahadur G.
State Ministers, and the The three-wheel taxi, that took me Those who are powerful because sent 100 per cent proportional repre- ability to deal with the international Narayanaswamy Chettiar to amend the
jostling for positions amongst them, to the Aragalaya protest site, opposite they are in the government are glibly sentation to one in which first-past- community and his understanding of rules so as to remove sex disqualifica-
seems to suggest an attitude of busi- the Presidential Secretariat, charged denying what is plain to be seen on the-post constituency system would the macro-economic situation of the tion in the case of women standing for
ness as usual. This is quite astonishing me nearly three times the regular fare social media. This is a continuation of account for at least 70 per cent of the country in relation to the world. The election to a councillorship in the
as it was just two weeks ago that no that prevailed before the economy col- past practices which gives impunity to seats to make the parliamentarians 21st Amendment to the Constitution Madras Corporation provoked a lively
government member felt safe from the lapsed. He justified his high rate on the powerful, whatever they do, which accountable to their electorates. Fourth that will be brought to Parliament this discussion at a meeting today. The
wrath of mobs that formed themselves the basis that he had spent the whole needs to end. At the Aragalaya site, on was to abolish the presidency that week, if passed, will strengthen the majority of councillors favoured the res-
very swiftly and, apparently, sponta- of the previous day trying to fill his Saturday, l listened to speakers who catered to the traditional ethos of rely- Prime Minister’s powers still more. olution while a certain number thought
neously, to attack their homes and vehicle tank with petrol. The Aragalaya described the hardships of the eco- ing on the saviour king rather than on Unless circumstances, and the balance that the proposed step was premature.
properties. Last week they overrode site, on Saturday evening, was not as nomic crisis, of the mother whose gas the empowerment of people exempli- of political forces, within Parliament, On a division being taken the motion
the Opposition’s demand for time to busy as it had been the previous week cylinder exploded, due to inappropri- fied by the Aragalaya youth. permit him to chart a new course of was carried by a majority. In this con-
debate the motion of censure against and nowhere near as crowded as it was ate mixing of gases by the government, Prior to the appointment of Prime governance that is consensual and nection it may be mentioned that Mrs.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for hav- two weeks ago. But the spirit of the and of the parents who saw their infant Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, when transparent, the present government Devadas, wife of Mr. Justice Devadas,
ing led the country to disaster. They Aragalaya lives in the hearts and minds die because they could not get petrol the power of the Aragalaya protest will also fail. who has been nominated by the Gov-
also scuttled efforts to nominate a of people everywhere. The physical for their vehicle to take their child to caused the entire Cabinet to step Much is at stake. Unless the econ- ernment as a Councillor, has accepted
female legislator to the post of Deputy presence of protestors may be only a the hospital in time. These were edu- down, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa omy improves fast the possibility of office and will shortly take her seat.
Speaker, disregarding the request of fraction of the turnouts that made the cated young people who spoke and pledged to set up an all-party interim violence that can suddenly erupt, as it
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,
which could have sown the seeds for
government want to put an end to it,
through thuggery, a fortnight ago. Even
there were many who listened to them
to become message-bearers to the larg-
government for a temporary period.
This has now taken on a distorted form
did on May 9, cannot be ruled out. As
Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour, India has RESIGNATIONS
consensual governance. They gave pri-
ority to their own personal concerns of
those who are protestors have to live
their daily lives and earn their daily
er population that was not present at
the site. They were all brave or had lost
in the wooing and horse-trading of
members of other political parties,
been extremely generous now with its
latest gift of Rs 2 billion worth of essen- FROM INDIAN
getting compensation from the State
for their losses.
bread. But special occasions will bring
them back in large numbers.
their sense of fear. I was also given a
private lecture by a regular visitor to
without the consent of their party lead-
erships. Both the SJP, which is the
tial commodities, gifted by the Tamil
Nadu state. The challenge will be to SERVICE
It is unsurprising, in this context, Galle Face is the site of the pas- the Aragalaya site. He explained to me largest opposition party, and the SLFP, persuade the more distant, but wealth- Colonel Yate asked in the House of
that anger against the government sion and commitment of a younger why the diminished numbers that day which is the government’s largest ier Western countries, Japan and Commons whether, in view of the fact
continues to boil within the country. generation of Sri Lankans to the eradi- did not mean that support for the coalition partner, have suffered defec- China, to be equally generous. that under the Government of India Act,
There are roadblocks and demonstra- cation of corruption and mis-gover- cause was diminishing. He had a tions to the new government. This dis- The stability of the government 1920, officers of the Crown were allowed
tions by the members of the public in nance foisted on them by the old. The vision for what the Aragalaya should play of power play is not a positive sign that is brought about by the willing to count from five to ten years in addi-
places where petrol is either not being young people know they are being achieve, which he summarized in four of stability which is necessary if the participation of the opposition political tion to the actual period of service
provided or has been pumped to pri- monitored by state CCTV systems and short points. government is to deal with the difficult parties will be extremely important in towards calculation of pension, officers
vate vehicles by officials and politi- are vulnerable to being picked up on a First, he said, an all-party interim economic issues the country confronts. demonstrating to the world, and to the of the Indian service who were allowed
cians. The lines for petrol and diesel, later date to be done away with, as government needed to be appointed It is not possible to justify how those Sri Lankan people, that the govern- to retire under the Indian Government
and for cooking gas, are longer than happened in the past. Hundreds are for a temporary period to provide the who resigned from office due to a fail- ment really intends to chart a new Act of 1919 would be granted a similar
ever before, despite announcements currently being arrested for the attacks cohesion needed for political stability ure of government can be part of a new path. The holding of elections, within concession. Earl Winterton replied that
that ships have begun unloading these that took place against the homes and that would give the government the Cabinet, as if the failure had nothing six months, and a new leadership, can the circumstances were not identical,
fuels. The lines stretch for over a kilo- properties of government members on credibility to raise the necessary eco- to do with them. Prime Minister Wick- be an example to other countries with and Viscount Peel was not prepared to
metre in the case of petrol and diesel May 9. But only a few of those govern- nomic resources from abroad. Second remesinghe has made a comparison of similar broken-down systems. revise the pension scale, which was
meant for vehicles. Videos circulate on ment members, who streamed out of was the need to repeal the 20th the predicament he is currently facing more liberal than the strict proportion
The Island/ANN. of the length of service would provide.
CROSSWORD NO 292079
DARING ROBBERY
IN COLLEGE
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
ACROSS 15 Ferocious mammal person’s habit? (6) 3 Do gets going with (4-8)
STREET
1 Airborne vampire
allowed a run back 25 Together as public Tories’ leader in 13 Fissures in bottom Yet another daring robbery of a sensa-
(5) service union charge (5) on a region in Arctic
perhaps to conduct
17 Restless as rebrewed members? (2,6) 4 Firmly rooted in Ocean (7,3)
tional nature was committed yesterday
slaughter here (8)
ale is behind time 26 Carnivorous bird hollow that holds 14 Is it necessary for afternoon at about 2 o'clock in College
5 Virginia — girl
backed as feudal
coming in (3,2,4) scattered hikers (6) unusually big lake immediate use? (5,5) Street near the Medical College. It is
tenant (6)
18 Imagine one’s 27 I call for help — (12) 16 Usurer needing stated that a durwan named Deb Prasad
brought in twice to Yankee sat back in 6 Departs from pounds has krona
9 Lament having right
stop value balanced state (8) Durham town for converted (4,5)
Panday, employed by Shaw Wallace and
leg trapped in
fluctuating (9) military cemetery (9) 21 Donkey’s over Co., was returning to the office after real-
vehicle (8)
19 Very much lacking in DOWN 7 Misshapen bullet hit there — knight ising Rs 5,000 on some bills. When near
10 Female relative
guzzling litres to be
purpose? (2,3) 1 Frame a Catholic big swallow (4) saddled for the Medical College he was approached
20 Swede covered in punched over illegal 8 Reluctant crowd starters (5)
ostentatious (6)
sauce needs stalk party? (10) beginning to 22 Voice not pure on
by two goondas, armed with lathis. He
12 Press concise with
for heavenly 2 Serving flier has hesitate (4) the radio (4) was struck from behind, and felled to the
Scot’s own political
barrier (4,7)
arrangement? (5,6) sorties to rearrange 11 Air bottle outside 23 Stole, pocketing ring ground. The robbers took the money,
24 Socially inept (3,7) for smooth movers (4) (4) hired a taxi and drove away towards
Cornwallis Street. Some people gave
chase, but could not overtake the taxi,
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
which got away at full speed. No arrests
have yet been made.
2
From
AHMEDABAD WEDNESDAY 25/5/2022
Editorial
Editor’s
Desk

SC panel’s report
sets stage for trial
of accused
Hyderabad cops
Case must not fall through
system’s cracks
The apex court has transferred the
Hyderabad encounter case to the Telangana
High Court. It's incumbent on all parties to en- Smoke billows from a burning ferry in Quezon Province, the Philippines on May 23, 2022. A ferry with 124 passengers and 10 crew members on board caught fire
sure that due processes are followed rigorously. on Monday while traveling to a town in Quezon province on the main Luzon island, leaving at least seven dead, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
The Justice VS Sirpurkar commission report has said. UNI
indicted 10 Hyderabad policemen for firing with-
out provocation on four men accused of gang-rap-
ing and murdering a young veterinarian in Novem-
ber 2019. This is yet another instance of the flag- Military took over power in February 2021
ging of outright abuse of due process by those
whose responsibility it is to uphold it. The Supreme

Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis


Court-appointed panel’s 387-page report’s criticism
of the police version of events that led to the killing
of the four suspects when they were taken to the
crime scene in the early hours of December 6, 2019,
makes for sobering reading. It has concluded that
there are sufficient grounds to believe “that the ac- New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) India has taken a find further ways to directly provide funds and resources as having reached out to the people of Myanmar.
cused were deliberately fired upon with the intent measured stance on the situation in Myanmar since to local groups doing this important work. Perhaps the leaf Challenges however will remain for both countries
to cause their death” and asked that the police per- the military took over power in February 2021. This can be taken out of the Afghanistan example, where in practical terms. These are not insurmountable
sonnel be tried for “murder, causing disappearance stance is necessitated by the need to keep in mind organisations like the World Food Programme and other and should be creatively handled. While the direct
of evidence, and providing false information”. the China factor in ties with Myanmar and continue UN organisations are distributing aid directly to the people route of connecting with the people through
In 1997, the National Human Rights Commission to keep that nation at the centre of its Act East of Myanmar. Recall that India’s vaccine diplomacy was also Naypyidaw is always there, India could also going
prescribed a set of procedures to be followed by the policy. conducted through the good offices of the International the Japan route, which has challenged aid and as-
police “in cases where death is caused in encoun- These considerations remain paramount even Committee of the Red Cross. However, the need of the hour sistance, in cooperation with international
ters by them”. However, by all accounts, these SOPs today. India needs to step up humanitarian assis- in this regard is actually bilateral cooperation. Remember organisations and the ASEAN Secretariat, taking into
are rarely implemented despite the judiciary’s prod- tance to Myanmar, where over 9 million people re- that India had provided vaccine doses to the people of account the local situation and humanitarian needs
ding on more than one occasion. In 2014, while is- main internally displaced.The Association of South- and urgency.
suing another set of guidelines to investigate ex- east Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently hosted a meet- India is best placed geographically and has the
tra-judicial killings, the SC pointed out that such kill- ing attended by high level representatives from the diplomatic advantage of being able to reach out to
ings “affect the credibility of the rule of law and the region, Myanmar, UN specialised agencies and the military government. Therefore, one option
administration of the criminal justice system”. The other international organisations to discuss the would be for do governments and international
apex court’s intervention seems to have done little humanitarian situation. The May 6 meeting held in agencies to immediately offer their help to India,
to change the trigger-happy ways of certain sec- the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh aimed to re- and to the local groups trying to reach local com-
tions of the police. According to a report in this vive the five-point consensus reached by ASEAN munities in Myanmar. The only catch here will be
newspaper, last year, the Uttar Pradesh police alleg- in April 2021, one part of which dealt with the pro- for India to be willing and able to undertake such
edly killed more than 140 people in 8,472 encoun- vision of humanitarian aid to the people of an initiative. Past experience shows that India has
ters between 2017 and 2021. The problem is also Myanmar. The issue is: Can India take a lead in this the capacity to engage with Myanmar to provide
that despite a number of probe panels incriminat- direction? aid and assistance. A similar story has unfolded in
ing policemen for extra-judicial deaths, cases fall According to the UN Refugee Agency, some Sri Lanka where India became the first responder
through the cracks of the legal system or because 9,24,800 people remain displaced across Myanmar to the island nation’s call for assistance with fuel and
of want of evidence. This anomaly was highlighted as of April 25, including 5,78,200 people who have medicines. The narrative of support is positive and
in a recent verdict of the Raipur Sessions Court. A fled their homes as a result of conflict and insecu- provides reassurance that India is willing to take the
2015 report by the Justice Anita Jha Commission rity since the military takeover. first step to help.
constituted by the Chhattisgarh government had Consequently, humanitarian access to conflict- Myanmar and earlier, had provided education, healthcare Addressing this issue will require deft diplo-
incriminated two policemen for killing a minor tribal affected and displaced people remains restricted and infrastructure development assistance. This indicates matic strategies entailing both direct and indirect
girl four years earlier. But these security men were and significant gaps remain in assistance to these that the present Myanmar government is not averse to connects to the government, NGOs and others in
acquitted by the Raipur court on April 5, despite communities despite continued efforts by humani- seeking India’s assistance when needed. Myanmar. What is immediately needed is raising
Sessions Judge Shobhna Koshta observing that tarian partners and local organisations. In the Chin The best illustration of this is the gift of one million vac- awareness of the problem and giving solutions,
“there was ample suspicion of the commission of state alone, for example, nearly one-fifth of the cine doses by former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan both bilateral and regional. At some stage, consen-
the offence by the accused”. “The court could not population have fled their homes. Estimate indi- Shringla when he visited Myanmar in end-December 2021. sus will have to be reached on the way forward.
convict the accused solely on the account of im- cates that more than 50,000 people are currently During the visit, he also held substantive discussions with There is much to be learnt from the experience of
proper investigation resulting in deficiency of evi- internally displaced across the nine townships of military leader General Min Aung Hlaing.This has to be capi- bilateral cooperation. Engagement with the military
dence,” she said. Chin State, while at least 40,000 may have crossed talised on. Just as India extended development assistance government as well as others concerned about the
The apex court has transferred the Hyderabad the border to become refugees in Mizoram. to Myanmar some years ago for the construction of houses well-being of the people of Myanmar is the first step.
encounter case to the Telangana High Court. It’s in- India realises that refugees will continue to in the Rakhine state, India could look at extending assis- For this, an invitation could be sent for Myanmar’s
cumbent on all parties to ensure that due processes come as long as there is instability in Myanmar. The tance to meet the immediate humanitarian crisis. Specifics Foreign Secretary to visit India at an opportune time
are followed rigorously. The gruesome crime com- humanitarian agencies and institutional dos must can always be worked out diplomatically. The major ben- to discuss matters.The long-term view is ready, what
mitted against the Hyderabad veterinarian requires efit of such an understanding will be that India will be seen is needed is action on the ground.
a proper legal closure, not brutish illegality..

in 38 districts of Bihar, 11 dis-

Incomplete pipelines deny Madhubani


By Saumya Jyotsna tricts were found to be “wa-
ter-stressed”,with groundwa-
Muzaffarpur (Bihar), May ter having depleted to dan-
24 (IANS/ 101Reporters) It gerously low levels. Given
was back in 2016 that the the situation, promoting
Bihar government started hand pumps, that actually
the ‘Har Ghar Nal’ (A tap in no perceptible improvement Zila Parishad when the
every house) scheme to en-
sure that people in rural
parts of the state could have
access to clean drinking wa-
in the quality of available
water.
Sangeeta Devi (33), a resi-
dent of this block explained
in Bihar access to sufficient water
scorching sun, we women of women and children, as “We had apprised the soon.“The matter is to be in-
project was initiated.”
In February 2022, follow-
ing media outrage regarding
Madhubani’s elusive water
pump out groundwater to
the surface, is questionable.
The Har Ghar Nal
scheme is about providing
that “out of 200 houses un- must go out to fetch water.” gynaecologist Kalpana chief minister, district magis- vestigated,” he added. connection on some local tap connections to all the
ter. However, to this day, the houses in Bihar, including re-
women of Madhubani der this panchayat, almost Pregnant women and Singh pointed out. trate and block development However, former sub-di- television channels, two to
150 have no access to clean mothers of toddlers are par- “Constantly using dirty officer [BDO] about the issue. visional officer(SDO) Gyan three hand pumps in the vil- mote rural pockets by
panchayat, ward no. 9 of pumping out groundwater.
Musahari block, in drinking water”. Conse- ticularly pitiable. Neighbours water for bathing can affect But our complaint did not Prakash told 101Reporters: lage, hitherto lying in a state
quently, in the absence of have to pitch in to help them, the genital areas and result elicit any response,” the 35- “There were orders issued to of disrepair, were restored. Madhubani region, the
Muzaffarpur district are com- groundwater table is really
pelled to walk nearly 3 km running water, women must as Uma Devi (name in bacterial and other infec- year-old told 101Reporters. arrange for water tankers in This, though, is small conso-
trudge down a few changed) said: “There is a tions,” she said, also warning A little activity followed, Madhubani village. All hand lation at a time when sum- high and there is no
every day to fetch water for groundwater crisis, some-
their household chores. kilometres to the Tirhut ca- pregnant woman in our pumps were to be restored mer loos rage across the
nal; an irrigation canal from neighbourhood who cannot and running until boring op- plains of Bihar, making it dif- times the water can be
The sorry state of affairs pumped out even with
isn’t because the panchayat the River Gandak which runs fetch water. So we are all erations were not com- ficult for women to keep run-
from Valmikinagar and helping her.”Poor health due pleted.” ning to the few hand pumps natural pressure here, but
hasn’t begun implementing water contamination is a
the scheme. In fact, in keep- Muzaffarpur. to dirty water Carrying water This is being looked as a in the village for precious
Local resident Mahendra over long distances has temporary option to solve water. real issue here, especially ar-
ing with the initiative, the senic contamination. To
government had installed Saha, says: “The dirty, brack- ended up taking its toll on the water crisis in the region Pumping out groundwa-
ish water collected from the women. Local resident as the pipelines of poor qual- ter, is it wise? avoid this contamination
pipelines here in 2019-20, from surface-level ground-
bringing in the groundwater canal is boiled and strained Urmila Devi (45) suffers from ity remain unconnected to Even as official papers
for drinking purposes. Many persistent pain in her hands, the taps. continue moving from one water, they (the state gov-
extracted out using ernment) dig the borewells
submersibles pumps, stored villagers often fall sick be- brought on by the need to A technical assistant who table to another at a snail’s
cause of this.” Elaborating on constantly carry heavy pots wishes to remain anony- pace, and villagers attribute as deep as 300 feet, to pro-
in the Jal Minars constructed vide water to the houses.
as per the scheme. However, the problem, Sangeeta told and buckets. Others, like 40- mous explains: “Based on a the deliberate delays in fix-
101Reporters”“The taps had year-old Uma Devi, complain model estimate, the pipe- ing the pipelines to “negli- But comparatively, in re-
the work on all of these lies gions like Gaya, groundwater
incomplete. been installed long ago. But of physical and mental fa- lines run through 1200-1400 gence and corruption”, one
in the absence of connected tigue, besides persistent that drinking dirty water can but this, too, soon ground to km stretch currently, cover- needs to question the is a huge problem. There
Incidentally, the 2019 Niti should be a policy in place
Aayog Report on Composite pipelines, we have to carry stress about running out of cause diarrhoea, nausea and a halt. All that Block Divi- ing only 50 houses, and must government’s wisdom in
bucket-loads of water home. water at home. indigestion. In 2019, local sional Officer (BDO) Mahesh be carried on further to cover pushing villagers towards for implementation of this
Water Management Index scheme in such areas,” ex-
Performance clearly states It’s a difficult situation, but we But more than discom- Right to Information activist Chandra admitted was that a total of 200 houses here. hand pumps.
women can’t do without fort, the regular use of dirty Rajesh Kumar took up the there was a funding prob- The work has been in a pend- According to a 2020 Pub- plains Suresh Kumar, a re-
that although work had be- searcher at Central Ground
gun in 60% of the rural areas (fetching) water. Whether it water for bathing can par- matter with the administra- lem, claiming that work on ing state, though funds of 16 lic Health Engineering De-
be heavy fog, biting cold or ticularly endanger the health tion. the pipeline would resume lakhs were demanded from partment survey conducted Water Board (CGWB), Patna.
of the country, there’s been

By Vishnu Makhijani and similes. He loved prov- went into the writing of the patent racy, non-preachy creed, or any other kind of
‘Alyque Padamsee New Delhi, May 24
erbs. And of course he could
quote from any of the 77
book, which has been pub-
lished by Penguin.
manner.The book is deliber-
ately designed to throw one
labelling. And he wanted to
give people some tools to

fundamentally
(IANS) A master of meta- plays that he had staged, “I think my role as a char- off-balance and then help be able to deal with those
phors and similes with a and adverts devised,” tered accountant actually one find a new, more rel- issues,” Poria elaborated.
brain so sharp that every Vandana Saxena Poria, the helped in identifying, evant centre with the help What has been gratify-

changed the way word was used for a reason, co-author of “Let Me Hijack categorising and distilling of notes on how to dream, ing for her, she said, is that
Alyque Padamsee Your Mind–Restart Your Alyque’s thoughts into ma- live and love afresh. many of Padamsee’s con-
seamlessly straddled the di- Life With Freedom” jor buckets. Distinct themes For instance, Should temporaries and proteges
people thought verse worlds of advertising
and theatre, creating iconic
Padamsee’s “parting shot” to
the world (he passed away
started to emerge, which
have formed the basis of
marriage change to a re-
newable 5-year licence,
“have said that they can
imagine hearing Alyque

about
campaigns as the Liril girl, in 2018 aged 90), told IANS each chapter. Yet overall, Should education become saying every word, when
Surfs Lalitaji, the MRF in an interview. there was an overarching edu-tainment to ensure life- they read the book”.
Muscle Man, and the unfor- “To top it all, both of us theme: He had a way of long learning, and Can The- How has the writing of

advertising, gettable ‘Hamara Bajaj. His


77 stage productions such
have ADHD (Attention Defi-
cit Hyperactivity Disorder),
making you look at life dif-
ferently, so you were ready
atre teach you what’s neces-
sary to be successful in Busi-
ness?
this book impacted Poria as
a person? Has it changed

theatre,
as“Evita”,“Jesus Christ Super- so we talked at times the to face a challenge with dif- her worldview and the man-
star” and “Tughlaq” stormed speed and crossed so many ferent ideas of how to solve “We worked out what ner in which she interacts
the box office, while his por- topics, integrating our it,” Poria explained. was going to go in each with those around her? In

themselves’
trayal of Muhammad Ali knowledge as we went Padamsee was affected chapter. Alyque was really sum, how much of her mind
Jinnah in the Oscar-winning along. Those conversations when people around him clear that he wanted the has been hijacked?
movie ‘Gandhi was well ap- with Alyque were the clos- were unhappy and this book to be short, and Socio-economic bias, for
preciated far and wide. est thing to the speed of book is his heartfelt attempt geared towards the youth, instance, where we treat a
“With someone like light that I have experi- to commandeer one from although a good read for kirana store owner or a
Alyque, their brain is so enced,” added Poria of her what makes one unhappy other ages too.The issues he street cleaner very differ-
sharp that every word used over 50 meetings and 175 and journey with them by chose for the book are all is- ently from a friend is a ver-
is used for a reason. He was hours of recorded discus- way of finding new ways to sues that face everyone, re- sion of the new caste sys-
the master of metaphors sions with Padamsee that solve old problems in his gardless of colour, gender, tem.
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 25 MAY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 5

Subhani

25 MAY 2022

Act urgently to protect


the judiciary at all costs
T
he observations made by a bench of the Supreme Court about the lack of
respect for the judiciary and security for the people who serve it calls for
serious attention of all those who have a stake in the democratic institu-
tions in this country. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has said that it has become
the fashion of late to make allegations against the judiciary and that the stronger
the judge, the worse are the allegations. He also mentioned that there is little phys-
ical security for judicial officers at the district level.
The judge’s observations have a context but their import is not limited to it; he
was in fact highlighting the larger pattern of the attitude evolving in this country
towards the judiciary. And the people at fault cannot be those in the lowest strata
of society; they find it difficult even to access the judiciary, leave alone show defi-
ance to it. He must be referring to people who have a hand on the levers of power.
It was not long ago that Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana made a similar
remark to an audience which included the Prime Minister. The CJI had pointed
out that contempt of court petitions against government officials are on the rise
and they make a major share of the total number of litigations.
Fair criticism of court pronouncements is a democratic right but turning to the
judge is not. While casting aspersions on a judge, a person is attributing a motive
for a judicial decision outside the parameters of the law
It must be and the Constitution. If this becomes the fashion, as the
ingrained into all judge pointed out, it would weaken the very institution.
levels of The judiciary may be the weakest of the three arms of
the bureaucracy the government for it has no infrastructure to implement
its decisions. It has to depend on the executive to get the
that judicial job done in this respect. In a constitutional democracy
Wheat, famine, starvation: WHOSE FAULT?
LETTERS

Some lessons for the West


orders are to be where the rule of law prevails, it thrives on the respect After a three-month-long
complied with the executive shows to its orders. If the executive is battle for supremacy,
both by the unwilling to go by judicial decisions and does not see to
people inside the it that they are implemented, it effectively means a Ukraine's first war crimes
breakdown of the constitutional scheme. trial took place in Kyiv. A
system and those The government must take the reference as a warning The world has seen country, India simply
outside it for the weakening of the institution. It must take imme- enough of the wars can’t take any chances. Ukrainian court sentenced
diate remedial action. It must be ingrained into all levels
of the bureaucracy that judicial orders are to be complied with both by the people Abhijit waged by the West.
Maintaining a healthy
buffer stock to ensure the
a 21-year-old Russian sol-
dier to life in prison for
Korea, Libya,
inside the system and those outside it, and that the erring people will have to face
the music. It is unfair to persuade the courts to intervene again to get its orders Bhattacharyya Vietnam,
food security of 1.35 bil-
lion people is India’s com- killing a Ukrainian civilian.
followed. Afghanistan, Suez, pulsion, not choice.
There are far too many issues that plague the judiciary, including lack of infra- Besides these countries,
Sgt Vadim Shishimarin was
structure and the physical security for the judges. The former involves allocation
Iraq — these were there are Argentina, accused of shooting the
of funds and the government must give it priority on its agenda. It could be a slow all in Asia and Africa Canada and the United civilian in the head in a vil-
process but there is little justification in leaving judicial officers vulnerable to anti- or on their edges States, which have rela-
lage in the northeastern

T
social elements. This must be addressed forthwith. wenty-first cen- been a cause of concern with the exception tively smaller popula-
There are complaints against the judiciary, too, but these have to be dealt with tury Europe for the biggest and of former Yugoslavia tions with a healthy Sumy region of the war-
differently. As we progress as a democracy, the legislative oversight of the execu- has once again strongest of all Western wheat surplus for export.
tive is not being strengthened, it is being weakened instead. The judiciary remains emerged as the imperial powers — It would be wise, there- ravaged country during the
the only effective mechanism that plays its role in the scheme of checks and bal- sanctum sanc- Britain — while it was $418 trillion, and 40-45 per fore, to focus on these early days of the war. He
ances. Signs of its weakening warrant the greatest urgency on the part of the gov- torum of bloodshed. forcibly ruling over cent of global GDP. In nations than on countries pleaded guilty and testi-
ernment and the people. Thirty European nations Bharat and fighting wars contrast, India’s GDP is with much bigger popula-
plus their allies are all around to maintain its less than $3 trillion. The tions which have a histo- fied that he shot the man
preparing for a prolonged empire and control of the G-7’s total population is ry of chronic man-made after being ordered to do
war through “other”, or seas. Today, India faces less than 800 million, to famines, leading to mil-
so. He told the court that
Save cities from eco disasters any, means. Supplying
weapons to and enhanc-
ing war budgets for front-
below-par crop produc-
tion and a real possibility
of diminished buffer food
India’s 1.35 billion. So,
whose responsibility is
bigger — G-7 or India —
lions of deaths. The West
needs to remember that
collateral damage has a
an officer insisted the man,
who was speaking on his

M
ost cities across the world have long ceased to be environmentally sus- line warriors are their stocks for a rainy day to feed people? How can more long-lasting effect
tainable. They may bear the bulk of economic burden of a country or main agenda. However, feed its 1.35 billion popu- anyone ignore India’s than the combat casual- cellphone, could pinpoint
region, allowing for millions of people to eke out a livelihood, or even make when the reality of the lation to stave off starva- food security? India is ties of combatants. their location to the
a good life for themselves, crucially paying the lion’s share of the taxes that finan- war’s spill-over effects on tion deaths and famine. therefore right to make Thus, despite the allega-
cially sustain the spending of nations and states, enabling welfare programmes choked food supply lines The latter was the worst tackling its people’s tions and counter allega- Ukrainian forces.
and social benefit schemes and supporting unending migration from villages, but dawned, non-belligerent, recurring gift of hunger as its topmost tions, the Russia-Ukraine C.K. Subramaniam
they have become environmentally unsustainable themselves. non-aligned India became Whitehall’s War Cabinet priority. conflict has choked the
Indian cities, especially its six big metros, have metamorphosed into ecological- the punching bag for during the last days of the Let’s go to the Second supply lines of 30 per cent
Navi Mumbai
disaster-attracting hubs, bearing the brunt of global warming. Sadly, there is little admonitions and stern British Raj in 1943. More World War famine and of the world’s wheat mov-
alternative for young, ambitious Indian youth from anywhere in the country who advisories. Do this, don’t than three million
Bengalis were compulso-
starvation death statis-
tics. The figures show far
ing from the field to the
food mart, creating an
REACH ESSENTIALS
are trying to make a career but to live and work in big Indian cities and larger do that… The explicit
towns. condemnation of India’s rily made to die as the fewer numbers died fac- imminent and unprece- THE REDUCTION of excise duty on
As over an estimated 46 million residents of Delhi-NCR realised when they woke wheat export ban was food supply lines were ing the gun than looking dented human catastro- fuel will certainly reduce the pinch on
up on Monday after a scorching summer spell with temperatures crossing 50 surprising. All the more choked off on the orders for grains. In six years phe. It’s a problem that the pocket of the people, but during
degrees Celsius. They found themselves in a rain-inundated city, with flights so as the warning came of Prime Minister (1939-1945), Britain lost has been created by the this time, every product has become
delayed or cancelled, roads impossible to ply through and, for many of the less for- from Germany’s agricul- Winston Churchill, with 3.88 lakh people US 2.96 West and not by India or costlier. Now the transport cost decline
tunate, homes invaded by rainwater and debris from their colonies, making life ture minister, represent- the help of his white lakh people, while it was any other developing will not help reduce the price of the
impossible. ing possibly the richest supremacist supporters 8.1 lakh in France; nation of the Third final product as businesses have
When temperatures fall in a city by 11 degrees overnight, the citizens may tem- member of the wealthiest and a large number of Hungary (8.4 lakh), World. The West, there- passed on the cost of fuel hike to its cus-
porarily rejoice, but the governments must be alarmed. In point of fact, they shan’t nations’ G-7 club Indian traders who acted Greece (5.2 lakh); fore, needs to reconsider tomers already. To help the poorest,
be, because cities might be economic powerhouses but are not politically too (Canada, USA, Japan, as stooges of the Raj. Romania (4.6 lakh) and its responsibility and the government has to keep the prices
rewarding, or lucrative. France, Germany, Italy Importantly, in the initial (Italy 4 lakh) people — think of ways to resolve of the three necessities, food, education
Every other major Indian city — Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and and Britain). “If everyone days of English rule too, collectively, a total of 3.71 the problem, rather than and health, stable by means of
Hyderabad — have faced similar sudden rains and floods, dry spells and every ele- starts to impose export within five years of their million deaths in six try to pin the blame on strengthening the distribution system.
ment of nature’s fury showing its carefree dance of destruction, forcing the city life restrictions or to close 1765 advent, had taken years. This was almost India or anyone else. This, and adoption of green vehicles,
on its knees or to a standstill. markets, that would place the ravaging 1770 equal to the 3.5 million The world has seen will ameliorate the crisis.
India must protect these cities, not with tactical, hyper-local green steps, like ban- worsen the crisis,” he Bengal famine, in which deaths in the man-made enough of the wars waged Suresh Venkatadri
ning plastic, planting saplings or cleaning lakes, but by creating a 100-plus-kilome- said. marauding Englishmen Bengal famine in six by the West. Korea, Tirupati
tre urban radius around to ensure these disasters are mitigated at a greater level One can offer a small made money on the com- months. Libya, Vietnam,
of effectiveness. suggestion, Let the G-7 mon man’s misery, lead- Today, as the war rages Afghanistan, Suez, Iraq
Whether one takes an optimistic view of man’s ability to fight ecological disasters
in the future, or not, we must increase the vigil and take the fight up several notch-
club of the strongest and
richest nations launch a
ing to the death of one-
third of Bengal’s then
in Ukraine and there are
fears it could spread, the
— these were all in Asia
and Africa or on their
FRIVOLOUS PETITIONS
es. India must set aside the romantic and profound view that its soul lies in villages fresh initiative to stop the population. Any apology? West is understandably edges, far removed from IT IS QUITE obvious that the 100 crore
for a moment, and introspect and find that its heart, and brain, are still urban. bloodshed in Europe. The None so far, for one of the edgy over a disruption in the developed nations of defamation suits filed against the polit-
Save your cities, India, before it is too late. markets will immediate- West’s greatest crimes food supplies. But before the West, with the sole ical class are more for publicity than
ly get back to normal. An against humanity. trying to blame India for exception of the one that for anything else. Medha Somaiya's
attack on India would Like the 1770 famine trying to protect its own raged in the European suit against Sanjay Raut falls in the
become redundant. which heralded the population, the West heartland in the mid- same category. All is fair in love and
Does the West even care West’s arrival on Indian should look at some fig- 1990s in the aftermath of politics. If all the unsubstantiated alle-
to remember, or has it soil, the British depar- ures. The 27-nation the breakup of a united gations against politicians ended up in
ever expressed remorse ture from the East too European Union is the Yugoslavia into the six courts, there would be thousands of
or apologised for the saw the worst of all world’s largest wheat independent states of such cases. Considering the pendency
price that India has been famines, that led to the producer (150,000 thou- Bosnia and Herzegovina; of the cases, there is little chance that
forced to pay for the wars death of at least 3.5 mil- sand tons) in 2020 and its Serbia; Slovenia; the defamation cases will be decided
THE ASIAN AGE started, supported and lion people in Bengal in production-consumption Macedonia; Montenegro when the petitioner or respondents are
sponsored by the West 1943, the price paid by the ratio has a surplus of at and Croatia. It’s time for yet alive. A court fee of say one per cent
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR since the mid-nineteenth East for the wars of the least 15 per cent for the West to ponder, and of the compensation amount would put
Editor Printer & Publisher
century, without being a West. export. China, in the act with sincerity and a an end to frivolous petitions.
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: direct belligerent? Today, once again, it’s a number two spot, has a sense of responsibility. Anthony Henriques
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: Though India was always story of war, wheat, star- four per cent surplus. In Mumbai
(011) 23211124. dragged into the distant vation and famine. Let comparison, India’s The writer is an
Published and Printed on behalf of and for wars of the West, the con- the facts speak for them- wheat surplus is two per advocate practising in
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New
sequential famine and selves. In 2020, the G-7 cent, and due to the long the Supreme Court. The Every Monday the best letter of
Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. starvation death of its accounted for over 50 per history of famine and views expressed here are the week wins `500. Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 population has never cent of global wealth of starvation deaths in this personal. asianage.letters@gmail.com.

W
hen the ambivalence of one’s virtue ly ought to have recognised its “sphere of regarding the maintenance of peace and secu- 2, the UN General Assembly had voted 141-5
is recognised, the total iniquity of interest”. Nothing can justify the Russian rity of Ukraine. The Security Council recalls with 35 abstentions in favour of a resolution
one’s opponent is also irreparably Federation’s President Vladimir Putin’s deci- that all member states have undertaken, under demanding an immediate Russian ceasefire,
impaired,” wrote George F. sion to invade Ukraine and pursue a war the Charter of the United Nations, the obliga- withdrawal of all its forces and protection for
Kennan, who was the American ambassador to against its hapless people. And this is not the tion to settle their international disputes by all civilians.”
the Soviet Union several decades ago, in his first time that Russia has had to face a licking peaceful means.” It said: “The Security Council Similarly, it has been pointed out that later in
A.G. Noorani book Russia and the West. His words carry
much weight, for it is he who sounded the
from a weakened neighbour.
In 1939, the Soviet Union launched a war
expresses strong support for the efforts of the
secretary general in the search for a peaceful
the month, the UN General Assembly
“approved a resolution 140-5 with 38 absten-
alarm over Nato’s expansion eastwards. It against Finland which fought back bravely. solution.” tions blaming Russia for the humanitarian cri-
brought no gains to the West. Instead, it sowed Historian William R. Trotter quoted in A The wording, of course, reflected a compro- sis in Ukraine and urging an immediate cease-
the seeds of strife. Frozen Hell: the Russo-Finnish Winter War mise of sorts after long negotiations, as a pres- fire and protection for millions of civilians and
Over the years, Russia has voiced its con- 1939-1940 a Soviet general’s bitter reminder idential statement is reached through consen- the homes, schools and hospitals critical to

The veto problem: cerns. For instance, in 2008, Russia’s foreign


ministry complained that the Ukrainian gov-
ernment was “infringing on the rights of the
Russian-speaking population of Ukraine and
that “we have won just about enough ground to
bury the dead”. Stalin did triumph and
imposed a treaty on Finland extracting some
territory. The League of Nations expelled the
sus; hence it lost much of its bite as conceded
by one diplomat. Moscow had vetoed an earlier
resolution.
The UN chief has visited areas of Russian
their survival.”
War is indeed evil and an absurdity in the
21st century, as asserted by the UN secretary
general.

Only diplomacy, deliberately eliminating the Russian language


from the country’s public life”. Russia’s actions
this year have only heightened global fears.
Soviet Union from its membership. Stalin was
furious.
Could the Ukraine crisis have been tackled
bombardment in Ukraine, including Kyiv’s
suburbs from where images of dead people and
improvised graves led to allegations of war
By its very Charter, the United Nations was
not intended, from the very outset, to use force
against a veto-wielding Great Power. Of what

& not conflict, can Quoting the ministry, the New York Times
had gone to comment that it was “difficult to
find a clearer example of interference in a
differently? Perhaps. Early in the war, US
President Joe Biden offered to talk to President
Putin. But this was not pressed.
crimes. Reflecting on the absurdity of war, he
said, “I imagined my family in one of those
houses that is now destroyed and black.”
use is denunciation in diplomacy whether
delivered in Mr Biden’s speech or the UN
General Assembly’s resolution? This was the

end war in Ukraine neighbour’s internal affairs. It would appear


that even the organisation of the Ukrainian
education system can constitute a sphere of
“privileged interests’ for Moscow”.
Instead, the recourse was to the United
Nations to pull up Russia, with the UN
Security Council issuing a statement that did
not bring in any direct war terminology, and
He managed to bring about an agreement for
evacuating citizens from Mariupol where
Ukrainian troops are now ceding control to the
Russians after holding out for weeks.
classic principle accepted at the outset. Stalin
was humiliated by the Soviet Union’s expulsion
from the League of Nations. Hence the veto
power in the United Nations. The war in the
This does not imply that the West should instead, referred to the invasion as a dispute. According to media reports, “The language of Ukraine can be ended only through diplomacy.
recognise what is regarded as Russia’s “sphere According to the UNSC statement, “The the resolution is in sharp contrast to earlier
of influence” in Eastern Europe. But it certain- Security Council expresses deep concern ones passed at the UN. For example, on March By arrangement with Dawn
THE AVENUE MAIL, Jamshedpur COMMENT Wednesday, May 25, 2022 4

Not walking alone: A bond


and macro update
Suyash Choudhary
Trade focussed Quad
Asad Mirza investment liberalisation and

T
he government announced a series of steps aimed at providing some relief against the facilitation.

T
unprecedented commodity price shocks being felt post the geopolitical escalations. Chief he first in-person meeting Indo-Japan ties
amongst these was a Rs 8 and Rs 6 cut, respectively in excise duties on petrol and diesel of the leaders of the US, Modi held separate meetings on
prices per litre. Apart from these, a Rs 200 subsidy on LPG cylinders has been provided under the Australia, Japan and India, Monday with a number of leading
Ujjwala scheme. Additionally, customs duties are being cut on some inputs for plastic and steel. termed Quad, will be held in Tokyo Japanese corporate honchos,
Finally, export duties are being hiked on items like pellets, iron ore, and some steel products. All on Tuesday. This is the first in- besides a roundtable with Japanese
told, these constitute a substantial set of measures and come at just the time when monetary policy person summit of these leaders business leaders and an interaction
was turning quite wary of the developing supply side inflation dynamics. Importantly, this also after the outbreak of the Russia- with the Indian community.
constitutes a signal that government is equally committed to the battle against inflation (media Ukraine war, worsening Sri Lankan Modi's pre-departure statement
reports suggest more measures may be taken later if required). economic crisis, and Australia stressed focussing on issues,
Some Observations getting a new Prime Minister. regional like China and global like
A government unwilling to expand fiscal deficit through resisting subsidizing parts of the The security situation in the on going Russia-Ukraine war. It
consumer basket should ordinarily be seen as complementing monetary policy action in curbing Indo-Pacific region has changed will be first time that both leaders
inflation. This is because monetary policy acts to curb aggregate demand by weighing down on significantly in the last decade and will be able to discuss the
parts of its components (Private consumption, Investments, Government consumption, Net in the post-pandemic world, it Ukrainian crisis in person. Modi
exports). As can be seen, an expansion in government spending works at cross-currents to this. becomes imperative for these will also hold separate bilateral
Thus by extension, a government unwilling to expand deficit is working in tandem with monetary partners to further commit to an meetings with his Japanese
policy. However, a different approach may have been required in case of fuel items and some other open, inclusive and resilient region. counterpart Fumio Kishida and
essential inputs owing to the risk of cascade of these prices through the entire manufacturing value The primary focus of this alliance newly-elected Australian Prime
chain. It is for this reason, presumably, that RBI/MPC members seem to have been encouraging is to thwart the increasing Chinese and cyber security. The US-led Indo-Pacific strategy Minister Anthony Albanese.
the government to act. If media reports are to be believed, it is disappointment on this front that may hegemony in the region and By focussing on the new is causing more and more strife and Modi penned an op-ed on the
have led monetary policy to come on the front foot on rate adjustments. A theoretical question may globally, both framework, Biden has made clear concern not just globally, but vibrant relations between India and
be asked to clarify the point: Would the inter-meeting hike have occurred if the government had The Modi-Biden meeting in his intention of not re-joining the especially among the countries in Japan, coinciding with his Japan
announced these steps ahead of that meeting? Tokyo will be the second face-to- Trans-Pacific Partnership-TPP, an the Asia-Pacific region, said visit. He wrote: "Ours is a
We don't really know the answer to the above question. Notwithstanding that, with a government face meeting of both the leaders Obama-era deal, which was not Chinese State Councillor and partnership for peace, stability and
now seemingly also focussed on bearing the burden (and after having made a hefty 'down-payment' within a year; they met last in supported by a large number of US Foreign Minister Wang Yi on prosperity. I trace the journey of
on the same with these latest measures) the pressure on monetary policy should lessen, ceteris September 2021. The meeting lawmakers. Since then the US has Sunday. our special friendship which
paribus. Now this statement needs to be interpreted carefully. After the April policy and before the assumes increased importance, as it been without a defined plan to He said, the Indo-Pacific completes 70 glorious years. Closer
May inter-meeting hike, the market as per the swap curves was pricing in 275 bps hikes over two will be the first time the two leaders engage with the south Asian region Strategy concocted by the US is India-Japan cooperation is vital in
years from the overnight rate of 3.75 per cent then. Around 75-100 bps of these were expected in meet in the midst of the on-going economically. And in the called "freedom and openness", but the post-Covid world. Our nations
year two. Post the inter-meeting hike, however, the market started discounting all these hikes (and Russia-Ukraine crisis. The leaders meanwhile, China has secured is keen on forming cliques; and are firmly committed to democratic
a bit more) in year one itself. It is possible, though not immediately observable, that the market are likely to focus on trade and several trade agreements with its aims to "change China's values. Together, we are key pillars
unwinds part of the frenzied pace of hikes in year one that has been priced in post the inter-meeting defence opportunities in neighbours, and has sought to surrounding environment" in an of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific
hike. On the bond curve, post the inter-meeting hike there was flattening between 1 and 4 years partnership with other countries in wield its economic influence attempt to contain China. Facts will region. I am equally glad that we
and between 4 and 10 years. While this makes sense, the residual spread left between 1 and 4 the Indo-Pacific, in the backdrop of globally through its Belt and Road prove that the so-called Indo- are working closely in various
years was still quite large given that the spread between 4 and 10 years had reduced materially. If the increasing Chinese Initiative. Pacific strategy is in essence a multilateral forums as well."
market was bringing forward all its tightening expectation to the next 1 year, then the maximum belligerence; however, this time However, this may require strategy to create division, to incite The meeting with Kishida will
flattening pressure should have been felt on the spread between 1 and 4 years. Instead it is 4 to 10 around Biden may focus more on delicately persuading countries to confrontation and to undermine provide an opportunity for the two
year spread that reduced aggressively while leaving 1 to 4 years reasonably positive sloping. This trade than defence. join, not only staunch partners like peace, he added. leaders to carry forward their
implied two things: Market was still pricing in higher forward rates (2 years and 3 years rates 1 year Indo-Pacific Economic Japan and South Korea but smaller He stressed that like other conversations from the 14th India-
from now versus where they were currently), thereby still expecting year 2 rate hikes unlike the Framework-IPEF nations, particularly in Southeast countries in the region, China Japan Annual Summit held in
swap curve; If the reason for this steepness was just bond supply premium on yields, then the 10 The new plan unveiled by Biden Asia, who aren't as closely aligned welcomes initiatives that are March, when the Prime Minister
year and beyond was heavily ignoring this supply premium. called the Indo-Pacific Economic with the US. conducive to strengthening visited India. Though the Indo-
Going Forward Framework-IPEF, which his aides The IPEF rollout is expected to regional cooperation, but opposes Pacific Strategy of the Biden
If some of market's upfronted rate hike expectations were to unwind going forward, then it is refer to as IPEF, is not a trade send across a strong signal that the attempts to create division and administration, released in
logical to expect some giving away also on the 4-10 year flattening that has occurred just over the agreement in the traditional sense. US is focused on pushing forward a confrontation. February, is widely believed to
past month. In fact, the market will likely have to price in a larger bond supply premium as well given Though, it includes one 'pillar' strong economic policy for the Which category does the US intend to build a wall of
the new fiscal uncertainties down the line post these (and later may be more) fiscal measures. This related to trade, besides Indo-Pacific to counter China's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework containment around China, but this
will likely put more pressure for this spread to expand. It is to be noted that basis recent action, this incorporating other key areas like time around it may focus more on
spread is now largely in line with the pre-Covid era and is almost completely ignoring the additional aggressive strategy on trade in the fall into, he questioned, saying
bond supply premium that needs to be built in for the new regime of higher government deficit over forging more resilient supply region. The Indian stand on the new further that in line with WTO rules, trade issues.
multiple years. Our long standing overweight 4 - 5 year strategy has been stressed heavily over the chains, an initiative becoming initiative has not been made clear, the Regional Comprehensive (Asad Mirza is a political
past month owing to the market dynamics as discussed above. However, basis our view going rather the most important one after but there are strong indications that Economic Partnership agreement commentator based in New
forward we think this segment should now start to enjoy a relative tailwind as market partly unwinds witnessing the chaos in the global India may join it along with (RCEP) was launched, a regional Delhi. He writes on Muslims,
rate hike fears and builds back bond supply premium. To be clear, there is little change in our supply chains during the Covid- Australia, New Zealand, South cooperation platform with ASEAN educational, international
underlying expectation about the likely rate hike trajectory ahead. We continue to think that pandemic, besides promoting clean Korea, Japan, Singapore and the at the centre, and it has greatly affairs, interfaith and current
monetary policy makers want to achieve a position of relative neutrality soon enough. This they energy and combating corruption Philippines. Chinese response promoted regional trade and affairs)
seem to have defined around the pre-Covid repo rate of 5.15%. However, unlike the market

Explosive audio leak details China's plan to invade Taiwan


consensus, we continue to think that the pace of hikes thereafter will be much more measured with
the repo rate probably peaking out under the 6% mark. The premise of this expectation, as
discussed many times before comes from our assessment of India's total fiscal and monetary policy
response post Covid and the normalisation already underway for monetary policy; Our underlying
growth trajectory and the characterisation of most of the inflation currently in play; Central banks' Atul Aneja
having to hike in what is a clearly slowing global cycle and the related point that most of them are

A
unlikely to have a multi-year adjustment runway. Another observation is noteworthy basis the above. n unprecedented and
We find a lot of favour in the market today for strategies anchored around the 1 year point. While explosive audio leak of a
these may sound 'surer' in an otherwise volatile environment, there are nevertheless 2 deficiencies top-secret meeting of the
in the argument here in our view: As noted above, 1 to 4 years spread is still very large thus implying Peoples Liberation Army has
quite steep forward curves (3 years 1 year from now, or 2 years 2 years from now if one were to revealed Chinas detailed plan to
consider 2 years to 4 years spread currently). By focussing on just 1 year (or 2 years) investors are attack Taiwan.
effectively not choosing to 'own' these steep forward curves. Investors are potentially courting re- Experts say that the audio clip
investment risks 1-2 years down the line by ignoring 4-5 years in favour of 1-2 years. Even if one posted on the YouTube channel of
were to consider swap pricing (which is excessive in our view) the rate hike cycle will probably be Lude media appears authentic. This
done by year 1. Most likely, given what we think and what we are observing of the global macro will be the first time since the
cycle, by then the narrative on many central banks would have materially changed. The point about formation of the People's Republic
reinvestment risk is especially applicable since, as noted above, the forward curves are so steep. of China in 1949 that a recording of
On a related note, tactical products like floating rate bonds may have limited shelf life as well given a top-secret meeting of a military
the nature of this cycle as analysed above. command has been leaked.
(Suyash Choudhary is Head, Fixed Income, IDFC AMC) Apparently, "allies" within the
Communist Party of China (CPC),
After Pakistani military and Chinese nationals, especially the military ( codename
"Thunder") carried out the
Balochistan rebels target notorious 'Death Squad' leaders recording of the meeting that took
place on May 14. No wonder the
extortion". It also issued a warning to the local knives are out to nail the source of
police and security forces "to refrain from the leak. The Lude media recording
harming those associated with the Baloch was also posted on the twitter satellite services companies, all of civil facilities including airports work priority, moving from
National Movement and their sympathizers". account of Jennifer Zeng which are real companies and these and docks." focusing on economic
People in Balochistan face severe human @jenniferatntd. companies' operations match with The contents of the audio clearly development to ensuring strategic
rights violations as well as Pakistani apathy due The leak has surfaced when the the functions that they are being point that the meeting was to victory. It discusses the
to which they are one of the poorest people in CPC is apparently experiencing a given in the meeting. discuss pre-war preparation. There introduction of measures to "guide
the country. Baloch groups now want bitter power struggle ahead of the Among others, it mentions "at are many different voices speaking and support high-tech and special
independence from Pakistan. 20th party congress later this year, present we rely on Zhuhai Orbita, in the audio which shows that it is enterprises that are included in the
The BLF said that Bangulzai was an which will deliver a new Shenzhen Aerospace more of a discussion style meeting potential resources in new
important follower of Siraj Raisani--another leadership, including the General Dongfanghong Satellite Co., in which different speakers have domains and new systems' list to
well-known Death Squad leader who was Secretary of the CPC as well as the Foshan Deliya and Ji Hua prepared their own points and are expand their production. "
killed in a massive suicide bombing in 2018 in standing committee of the Laboratory, and have formed four giving suggestions. Going by the It also focuses on ensuring
Balochistan capital Quetta. After Raisani's Politburo, comprising seven to nine satellite detachments. We have in speeches and the salutations used, stable production and ensuring the
death, his political responsibilities as the leader members, forming the core of the total 16 low-orbit satellites, with it appears that among the political security of the supply of important
Rahul Kumar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and party-state for the next five years. 0.5 to 10 meters global remote leadership, Guangdong's party strategic materials. It mentions
Death Squad activities passed on to Bangulzai. The meeting steered by the ultra-high optical resolution secretary, deputy secretary, smashing Taiwan independence

T
he Baloch rebellion against the Dwelling on the phenomenon of Death hybrid leadership of the sensing and imaging capabilities." governor and vice governor are forces and not hesitating to start a
Pakistani military and intelligence Squads, Pakistan analyst, Mark Kinra told India Guangdong Military Region "First, the mobilization tasks present in the meeting apart from war, resolutely defending national
forces has turned its attention to the Narrative that Death Squads "as a practice was reveals that during the operation issued to our province by the the others that cannot be sovereignty and territorial
notorious "Death Squad" leaders in intensified in 2010 by the Pakistani Army after against Taiwan, China will have to eastern and southern war zones identified. Among the military integrity. "This is the Party Central
Balochistan. Noor Ahmad Bangulzai- a an increase in armed attacks following the safeguard the Pearl River Delta totalling 20 categories and 239 personnel, Zhou He, major general Committee, General Secretary Xi
Pakistani politician also known to be a Death assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti by the area in the Guangdong province. A items, mainly 1,358 detachments of of People's Liberation Army, Jinping's major strategic decision
Squad leader, was shot dead by the Balochistan army". Kinra says that the Death Squads are densely populated area, it is the various types with a total of commander of the Guangdong in view of the big picture of
Liberation Front (BLF) on Saturday. local militia members, often criminals and heartbeat of the Chinese industry. 140,000 personnel, 953 ships of Military Region; Wang Shouxin, international and domestic affairs,
In a media statement released in Urdu, the smugglers, who target Baloch rebels as well as The province is majorly various types, and 1,653 units/sets standing committee member of as well as the overall strategic
BLF said that Bangulzai was killed in front of local citizens. responsible for turning China into of various unmanned equipment. Guangdong Provincial situation of the great rejuvenation
the district Hospital in Mastung, Balochistan. "Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal is credited with the workshop of the world. It Other resources include 20 Committee, political commissar of of the Chinese nation. It was made
The BLF is part of an umbrella organisation of forming the first "Death Squad" called the includes Guangzhou, a world class airports and docks, 6 repair and Guangdong Military Region is after carefully reviewing the
Baloch rebel groups called the Baloch Raaji Musallah Defah Tanzeem (MDT) in trading hub, Shenzhen, the hi-tech shipbuilding yards, 14 emergency present. timing and the situations." It talks
Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), which also has Sindhi Balochistan in 2008. Mengal is also related to capital, where giants of the digital transfer centres, and resources It says that the meeting is taking about strengthening the role of
nationalists. the mass graves discovered in 2014 in Khuzdar, age, such as Huawei and Tencent such as grain depots, hospitals, place to discuss orderly transition Guangdong (for military action). It
This is the second killing of a Death Squad where 169 bodies were recovered sending Industries are headquartered. Other blood stations, oil depots, gas from normal to war status, to says "After the meeting, the
member by Baloch rebels in barely a week. The shock waves across the world. The Pakistani major cities of huge importance stations, etc. Second, the national discuss military planning, and Provincial Party Committee
Death Squads of Pakistan are informal State- Army has employed the notorious Death include Foshan, the furniture defence mobilization recruitment mobilization. Three tasks are General Office issues the minutes
run operatives who carry out killings, illegal Squads in Balochistan districts like Kech, capital, Dongguan, Zhongshan, office will recruit new military being focused on by the meeting of the meeting. It is recommended
abductions, torture and kidnappings for ransom Panjgur, Awaran, Khuzdar, Mastung and Hong Kong and Macau. service personnel, retired military of the standing committee of the that all departments follow the
on behalf of the Pakistani State. They also others", adds Kinra.Kinra said: "Within one Stability of the Pearl River Delta personnel, and special talents Guangdong provincial party deployment of the meeting,
indulge in illegal activities including drug week, two alleged Death Squad members have would be key to the stability of totalling 15,500 people from our committee. 1. Establishing a immediately open a joint military-
dealing, smuggling of weapons, terror training been killed. BLA (Bashir Zeb) group had Guangdong and China. province. The National Defence national defence mobilization civilian command and operational
camps and even run private jails under the eye targeted Ali Mohammad Ghulamani on May The meeting also revealed vital Commission clearly stated that our command system 2. command posts, specifically plan
of the Pakistani army. 15 at which time it said it will carry out further industries that would play a central province shall coordinate the Implementation of a wartime work and deploy, and organize the
The BLF said that Bangulzai was "active in attacks on death squad members as they target role in the execution of the war. implementation of the seven types mechanism 3. To carry out province's Normal to War status
the areas around Mastung, Bolan, and was Baloch nationalists at the behest of the These include, companies that are of national level warfare wartime supervision preparation. transition work."
involved in the kidnapping and martyrdom of Pakistani Army". involved in drone manufacturing, resources, including, mainly, 64 It then notes that all levels, all (The content is being carried
Baloch militants as well as in social evils such (The content is being carried under an production of boats, as well as 10,000-ton roll-on/roll-off ships, regions, and all departments in the under an arrangement with
as robbery, kidnapping for ransom and arrangement with indianarrative.com) telecommunication companies and 38 aircraft, 588 train cars and 19 province should quickly adjust the indianarrative.com)
14 WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2022
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM

OUR VIEW MY VIEW | ON THE OTHER HAND


PTI

India’s growth story of unicorns


worked very well until it did not
Startup plans sold on the mythical promise of enormous potential have finally started falling apart

So, why is this happening? Central tremendous opportunity, we have been


banks of the rich world have decided to told. Nonetheless, as Kamath pointed
raise interest rates in order to control out, less than 30 million of these
inflation. Further, they plan to take out a accounts are active with investments of
part of the money they had printed and over ₹10,000 each. This after the stock
pumped into the financial system over market has rallied big time and fintech
the years. The US Federal Reserve plans firms have come up with huge marketing
to withdraw a trillion dollars over the campaigns and freebies.
next year. Hence, interest rates have The reason is straightforward. Most
VIVEK KAUL risen and are expected to rise further. Indians do not make enough money to
is the author of ‘Bad Money’. Further, this is why foreign institu- be investing in stocks or buying stuff
tional investors are selling Indian stocks. that most startups want to sell. As a
This has led to three things. First, most recent The State of Inequality in India
unicorns and startups that had listed Report pointed out, a monthly salary of

An agile approach has its


with a lot of hype are now down in the even ₹25,000 would put the recipient
dumps as far as their current share among the country’s top 10% in terms of

A
few years ago, I was a part of a prices are concerned. This is the stock total income earned.
literature festival where Snap- market’s way of telling such companies, Of course, all this was known all along,
deal founder Kunal Bahl was ‘Show us some cash flow.’ Second, this but no one wanted to spoil a story that

share of downside risks almost given the same billing as N.R.


Narayana Murthy, the co-founder
of Infosys. Narayana Murthy had
co-founded and successfully run an IT
has made things difficult for unicorns
and startups which were thinking of
IPOs in order to allow their founders
and investors an exit through that route.
was working. As Alice Sherwood writes
in Authenticity: Reclaiming Reality in a
Counterfeit Culture, “The word ‘story’
can mean both a narrative and a lie.
company which had created value for The days when they were going to get Every successful deceiver is aware of the
its clients, shareholders and employees. anywhere near the kind of valuation in power of a well-told tale.” Hence, those
India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman sprang a surprise on Saturday with moves to Bahl, on the other hand, had raised a the listed market as they had in the selling the idea of 1.4 billion Indians and
good amount of money from venture unlisted market are over. Third, any the huge Indian market that implies
fight inflation in an effort that was broadly welcome. But some steps taken were too hasty capitalists on a business model that was fresh fund raisers for startups will now were either selling a narrative knowing
expected to work someday. happen at lower valuations. fully well that it was a lie, or they had
Nonetheless, this was at the begin- Along with this relook, many more bought the narrative themselves. In this
ning of the era when entrepreneurs who conversations are happening around scenario, they didn’t want to be killjoys

T
he government’s surprise increase getting retail inflation back under 6%. Signals had raised money at extreme valuations the profitability and business models by poking holes in the story.
in duties on Saturday, a bid to ease of action should also lower inflationary expecta- from venture capitalists for businesses of such firms. In fact, Nitin Kamath, Also, when times are good, people like
which were unlikely to make money any founder and CEO of Zerodha, a stock to believe what they hear. As John Ken-
price pressures, could exemplify tions, a win in itself. What should be a worry, time soon were being given rock-star brokerage, recently put out a long neth Galbraith writes in The Great Crash
the “agile” approach that found however, is the suspicion that every move made receptions. Bahl’s sheen wore off a while Twitter thread on how the prospective 1929, “In good times people are relaxed,
mention in the Economic Survey last week was not weighed adequately. back, but many other CEOs of startups market for Indian fintech companies trusting, and money is plentiful… In
released earlier this year. The post- First, consider the expected benefits. While continued to be rock stars. Some even may be rather limited. depression all this is reversed. Money is
budget shake up in levies was an on-the-ball the jury may still be out on inflation as a mostly sold off their loss-making businesses The India growth story that has watched with a narrow, suspicious eye.”
and turned themselves into LinkedIn been sold to us over the years can be While we may not be in a depression,
fiscal response to a fast-shifting situation—in monetary phenomenon, it is not clear to what gurus giving full-time gyan on every- summarized in one line: There are a lots the prevailing zeitgeist has changed; the
this case, inflation. Among the measures, our extent aiming at specific items can help if it has thing from investing to how to live well. of Indians and we can sell them some- era of easy money is coming to an end
fertilizer subsidy outlay was upped, fuel tax got generalized. Second, think of hidden costs. This story is now unravelling with thing. The trouble is that many Indians and the right questions are being asked.
hikes of easy-oil times were reversed to push A sudden reset of trade norms can disrupt busi- valuations going gradually out of fash- are not in a position to buy what fintechs Finally, many more people are realizing
down retail prices, import tariffs were slashed ness plans, compress profitability and distort ion and cash-flows making a comeback. or for that matter other startups sell. that burning cash to rustle up sales can
In fact, over the last few weeks, Mint has Here’s how Kamath busted this at best be a sales trick to impress venture
on a slew of inputs for plastics and steel, and markets for affected products. This was visible regularly reported on startups firing bubble with data. There are 1.4 billion capitalists and their fear of missing out,
barriers raised for the export of iron ore and a in our steel sector. Large companies saw over- employees to control costs. A few uni- Indians but there are only 90 million but not a business model.
dozen-odd other steel-sector items. The big seas markets recede significantly enough to see corns which had planned initial public demat accounts. This means only a little In the end, it all turned out to be
objective of the exercise was to raise domestic prospective profits sag, causing a contraction in offerings (IPOs) have postponed them. A over 6% of Indians have demat accounts like the old lost-and-found formula of
supply levels and cool prices down. These off- their stock market value, even as voices within few more have decided to get out of the for investing. This can possibly grow to Hindi cinema. It worked very well,
unviable businesses they were in. 25% in the years to come. This is a until it didn’t.
calendar tweaks are consistent with the idea of the mining industry warned of iron ore stock-
‘dynamic resilience’ that has gained traction in piles being accumulated. As seen earlier with
policy circles since the covid crisis. Given the wheat, temporary export clamps for supply
uncertainty all around, such flexibility has com- retention can yield a chance for local traders
manded a premium. This is well deserved, for to buy cheap and hold on for better prices later.
the most part, but also prone to hasty decisions This week, it was the turn of ferrous-item value
with unintended consequences that can arise chains to shudder. The fact that Indian rules of www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Vol.6 No.126 `3.00 32 PAGES
+ 4 PAGES MEDIA MARKETING INITIATIVE

from top-down market interventions. play can shift overnight would also have pushed NATION: No immediate plans
to hike diesel prices: Reddy >2

Broadly, the set of calls taken were welcome. up the risk assigned to policy instability. In such EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
TECHNOLOGY: Facebook likely to
release smartphone by 2013 >8
POLICY: Andhra Pradesh high court
strikes down minority sub-quota >4
WSJ: Spain borrowing costs
hit new high >28
Wherever they may
Fuel excise cuts were long overdue and a farm an environment, anything seen as a contributor SENSEX 16,416.84 Æ 199.02

GROWING CONFUSION
NIFTY 4,985.65 Æ 65.25 DOLLAR `55.19 æ `0.19

GROWTH FEARS
EURO `69.23 æ `0.10

India a step
GOLD `29,080 Æ `185 OIL $107.60 Æ $0.76

QUICK EDIT have come from, and


DoT lends All eyes will be on the Central Statistical Office (CSO) when it releases the
closer to single Red star

sector exigency had to be addressed. The to inflation may begin to look like a potential entrance test over Shimla

wherever they may have


fourth quarter (January-March) as well as the full year (April-March) gross
domestic product growth figures for 2011-12 on 31 May. The data will not only
show how the economy fared in the last fiscal, but will also offer an indication
for engineering
new twist to
of where it is headed in the current year. Most analysts expect fourth quarter
growth of around 6%, a tad lower than the 6.1% registered in the preceding
three months. For the full year, analysts expect economic growth to be
revised to around 6.7% from the advance estimate of 6.9% by CSO. The data B Y P RASHANT K . N ANDA
T he fading fortunes
of the Left got an
unexpected boost when
will also be closely watched by the Reserve Bank of India ahead of its prashant.n@livemint.com two representatives of the
························· Communist Party of India
mid-quarter monetary policy review on 18 June.

Centre’s math may well have indicated that the target. This would go against our larger aim of 2G auction
NEW DELHI
(Marxist), or CPM, were
9.5
Year-on-year change (%)
I ndia moved closer on Mon-
day to putting in place a sin-
elected as mayor and
deputy mayor in the

gone, unicorns live inside


9.4
gle entrance test for admission Shimla Municipal
to engineering colleges nation- Corporation; a likely flash
wide. in the pan. Not only did
9.0 The move will ease the stress Sanjay Chauhan and
Dept proposes halving bilization plans on hold. On on students, diminish the im- Tikender Singh Panwar
the payment period Monday, Reliance Communi- portance of the entrance test create history, they romped

resultant fiscal crevice, placed at ₹2.1 trillion, integration with global production networks
cations Ltd (R-Com), the mo- coaching businesses and re- home by huge margins
for the spectrum, bile telephony arm of Anil Am- 8.5 emphasize the importance of over their immediate
while leaving the bani-led Reliance Group, said class XII board examinations rivals from the Bharatiya
that the proposed sale of its across the country. Janata Party and the
validity unchanged telecom tower assets will pro- After over two years of talks Congress—the two largest

the true believer’s heart.


ceed only after regulatory un- 8.0 to sort out differences, the hu- national political parties.
B Y S HAUVIK G HOSH & certainties in the Indian tele- man resource development The bad news is that this
A VEEK D ATTA com sector are resolved. (HRD) ministry, the Indian In- development came a day
························· “We continue to engage with stitutes of Technology (IITs), after a CPM leader in

could be covered by a larger GST mop-up than for a growth boost. State impositions are always
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI potential investors in order to and other leading engineering Kerala audaciously claimed
7.5

I n a fresh twist to the ongo-


ing saga on spectrum auc-
tion, the department of tel-
ecommunications (DoT) is
proposing a halving of the pay-
complete the transaction,” Pu-
nit Garg, president of R-Com,
told analysts at a conference
call on Monday. “DoT and
Trai are working on issues re-
7.0
and technology colleges finally
struck a compromise on Mon-
day and decided to adopt a
common engineering entrance
exam beginning 2013.
at a public rally that the
party would not hesitate to
eliminate dissidents. The
statement is particularly
disconcerting as it came
ment period for the spectrum lated to spectrum allocation To be sure, the move will be in the backdrop of the

Which means as long as


that an operator wins in the and licensing guidelines. Once complete only if all state gov- murder of a former CPM
coming auction, while leaving clarity emerges on various ernments sign onto the deal party member.

budgeted, given the tax buoyancy seen in costlier than made out to be. In general, private
6.5
the validity of the spectrum pending regulatory issues, and bring state-level entrance The implicit admission
and the licence unchanged at then (the) transaction will pro- 6.3 examinations for engineering of guilt has taken the
20 years. ceed further.” 6.1 institutions under the purview sheen off the party’s
The move is intended to Over the last two years, R- of the common entrance exam. unexpected success in
6.0
make it easier for the compa- Com has been looking to hive Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
Currently, each state conducts the hills. The big question
nies to pay for the spectrum off its 50,000 telecom towers in its own entrance examination. is whether the CPM’s star
FY10 FY11 FY12
upfront and thereby increase order to bring down debt, but is setting over Kerala.
Source: CSO
the number of bidders, but hasn’t been able to conclude a TURN TO PAGE 3®
PARAS JAIN/MINT
could add to the confusion deal. Garg had said during an

recent months, and so this year’s 6.4% deficit enterprises must be allowed to thrive freely we can dream, there will
that had arisen after the Tele- analyst call in February that R-
com Regulatory Authority of Com was targeting significant
India (Trai) proposed an unex-
pectedly high base price,
debt reduction by March 2013.
On 31 March, R-Com had net Tata Power
which companies believe will
threaten the viability of the
sector.
debt of `35,839 crore, 12%
higher than at the end of the
first quarter of fiscal 2012.
restructures
“The allotment will be for 20 Though analysts have said in assets to

target need not be at much risk. As for the within well-accepted bounds. No doubt, infla-
years, but the amount they pay the past that any move to sell
will be for 10 years. After this
time, they (the telcos) will
the tower assets will have to
wait till regulatory issues are placate lenders

be unicorns.
have to pay the new prevailing clarified, this is the first time
market price at the time,” a se- that R-Com’s management has B Y B HUMA S HRIVASTAVA
nior DoT official said. “There is said on record that the deal bhuma.s@livemint.com
always an auction taking place may have to wait. ·························
and there is always a current Meanwhile, Trai is expected MUMBAI

market price for the spectrum. to forward its opinion on the


I n a bid to bolster its cash

effort’s impact on inflation, last reported at tion quickly needs to be brought under control.
We have asked Trai to give us issue in time for the next meet- flows and placate creditors
their analysis of the advantag- ing of the empowered group of of its beleaguered Mundra
es and disadvantages of such a ministers (eGoM) on 5 June. project, Tata Power Co. Ltd
move for the operators and the “The operators have ex- plans to transfer three quarters
government.” pressed an inability to raise of its stake in Indonesian coal
The growing confusion over that much money in one go. mines to a subsidiary that is
the process surrounding the We are looking at various op- setting up the 4,000 megawatts
spectrum auction is beginning tions,” a second senior DoT of- (MW) plant.
to affect companies, with some ficial said requesting anonymi- The country’s largest private

7.8%, analysts estimate a reduction in a range of This is a job for the Reserve Bank of India. The
of them putting their fund mo- ty. “They will pay for a shorter power producer couldn’t meet
period.” some of its “financial cove-
The move means that the re- nants” last fiscal and is negoti-
serve price would fall signifi- ating a waiver with creditors.
cantly, making it easier for the To “provide protection” to
telcos to pay for the spectrum Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd

B RU C E COV I L L E
in one go, as banks would be (CGPL), the subsidiary build-
more comfortable lending the ing the Mundra plant, and sup-
smaller amounts. port its cash flows, Tata Power

a quarter to half a percentage point. This sounds government, on its part, can always chip in
The Telecom Commission, will transfer to it at least 75% of
its equity interest in the Indo-
TURN TO PAGE 3® nesian coal units and “contin-
ue to evaluate other alternative
NOTE TO READERS options”, Tata Power disclosed
in footnotes to the filings it
The four-page Media Marketing made to the stock exchanges
Initiative being carried with today’s after announcing its annual re-
edition is the equivalent of a sults on 22 May.

like too small a payback, but if it materializes, with fiscal relief. But it must ensure that proper
paid-for advertisement, and no Two reasons were behind
Mint journalists were involved in the restructuring, explained S.
creating it. Readers would do well Ramakrishnan, executive di-
Mint is also available for R6 with to treat it as an advertisement.
Hindustan Times under a combo offer TURN TO PAGE 2®

it would at least ease the central bank’s task of deliberation precedes every display of agility.

GUEST VIEW

Let commercial vehicles take the lead in going electric


around fleet adoption of electric vehicles (EV) shift to electric LCVs can propel the use of expected to decline by 40-45% over the next Going clean and green is the need of the
INDERVEER SINGH & for last-mile deliveries. Urban freight vehi- cleaner alternatives and improve urban air decade, accelerating this reduction would hour. A healthy ecosystem will generate
JASON WORTENDYKE cles account for over 10% of transportation-
related CO2 emissions in India, a number that
quality. Other ideas include incentives to EV
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
depend on India’s self-reliance in the fields
of battery raw materials and manufacturing.
higher economic returns from all the activi-
ties it supports. India has the potential to leap
is set to increase by about 115% by 2030 due and green taxes levied on ICE vehicles based An upfront subsidy for fleet owners to pur- into a global leadership position on the com-
the sharp rise in e-commerce demand for on emissions and time spent in urban areas chase commercial EVs could be instituted. mercial EV front. It is among a handful of
deliveries, according to the NITI Aayog. At that could deter ICE vehicle usage. An effec- Recently, the NITI Aayog recommended the countries supporting the global ‘EV30@30’

I
ndia’s air quality has been diminishing on least 30 of India’s top EV and delivery aggre- tive policy framework for inclusion of EV and campaign that aims for 30% of all new vehicle
the back of urban development and higher gator service providers have pledged their charging infrastructure EV-charging in the Reserve sales by 2030 to be electric. Prime Minister
e-commerce adoption, among other fac- support, according to news reports. would help too. As of now, Entire fleets can Bank of India’s framework Narendra Modi has urged “Sabka prayaas”
tors. The cost of this progress, as with many Meanwhile, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru no distinction is made for priority sector lending. (everyone’s effort). In this spirit, the partici-
countries, has taken its toll. Unfortunately, are upgrading their public transport facilities, between slow, medium and be converted to This would help finance EV pation of relevant industries, local govern-
some of our large Indian cities figure among albeit they are still using internal combustion fast charging set-ups, and fleet conversion, as 60-70% ments and communities in an EV-conversion
the world’s most polluted. Citizens’ right to engine (ICE) vehicles. A shift from ICE vehi- our recent battery swap-
cleaner energy of vehicles are financed drive could get India closer to that goal.
clean breathable air is a fundamental need
and is a critical parameter in global bench-
cles to EVs is crucial to reversing the impact
on air quality. China reduced air pollution in
ping policy applies more to
the 2W and 3W segments
with the right with little or no difference
in interest rates.
Incentivizing innovation among new-age
electric OEMs and helping build a talent pool
are, respectively, founder and
CEO, EVage; and managing
marks used to list the world’s happiest and
most liveable cities. Thankfully, India has set
its major cities of Shanghai and Beijing by
limiting ICE vehicles, relocating polluting
than their 4W counter-
parts. A push for a reliable
mix of policy India’s fleet vehicle
financing penetration is rel-
that will fuel this growth story are equally
important. The future of urban logistics is
director, global co-head, promising targets and taken several steps to units and using EV incentives, among other pan-India fast-charging enablers and atively robust, with nearly better served by clean and sustainable
diversified industrials, Citi bring about both accountability and action. steps. A glance at ecology-conscious markets network will be an essential all commercial vehicles energy, electricity being the front-runner
For example, the government aims to reduce like Norway and Iceland offers a clear picture driver of EV adoption incentives bought on loans. Hence, among alternate energy options. Our cities
carbon emissions by 45% by 2030. of how rapid EV adoption can meaningfully across vehicle categories. finance availability and deserve better logistics for the sake of today’s
In 2019, it launched the National Clean Air reduce pollution levels. Apart from the develop- vehicle resale value buoy- population as well as future generations. We
Programme as a strategic intervention to ICE commercial vehicles are large users of ment of charging station networks, lowering ancy will be important for mass fleet electrifi- have made seismic technology shifts with
reduce air pollution levels across the country. diesel in India, which is our most heavily used the cost of ownership and bringing in more cation. Loans for EVs could be made more smartphone proliferation, connectivity and
City-specific clean air action plans have been fuel. To be sure, 16 Indian states have pro- fleet financing options will support the EV efficient. While banks typically offer a 25-50- UPI payments, opening generation-defining
prepared and rolled out for implementation posed independent EV policy frameworks, adoption rate for commercial transport. The basis-points benefit on ESG (environmental, opportunities. Commercial EVs can give us
in as many as 132 cities. Meanwhile, the NITI but these do not include light commercial total cost of ownership (TCO) for EVs, a key social and governance) assets, lending insti- another big leap to a better future.
Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute’s vehicles (LCVs). The inclusion of policy determinant, needs parity with ICE vehicles. tutions currently take a hit on their bottom Rahul Saraf, MD, head of India investment
Shoonya campaign is building awareness incentives for logistical service providers to While the cost of battery replacement is line in providing ESG finance. banking, Citi, contributed to this column.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2022
NEW DELHI 15

MY VIEW | CAFE ECONOMICS M I N T C U R AT O R

India could be an upper middle Why goofy Princeton reunion


rituals mean even more today
income country within a decade A unifying spirit endures across political divisions over free speech

It will take us less than 10 years to attain an income per head of $4,000 on projected trends of growth and the exchange rate

MINT

VIRGINIA POSTREL
is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, a visiting
fellow at the Smith Institute for Political
Economy and Philosophy at Chapman
NIRANJAN RAJADHYAKSHA University and author of ‘The Fabric of
is CEO and senior fellow at Artha India Civilization: How Textiles Made the World’.
Research Advisors, and a member of the
academic advisory board of the Meghnad
Desai Academy of Economics.

I
t was Reunions Weekend at Princeton
University, and there’s no reunion quite
like a Princeton reunion. As many as
30,000 people descend on the small New Princeton reunion conviviality covers up a

I
ndia is currently what the World Bank Jersey town, filling every hotel and Airbnb deep divide over liberalism ISTOCKPHOTO
describes as a lower middle income country. in the area and spilling into dorm rooms at
The average income of an Indian was $1,935 nearby schools. Alumni catch up with old ate predecessor passes. Many of the Old
in 2020. The International Monetary Fund friends, meet new ones, eat, drink and Guard ride in golf carts. Retired psychiatrist
(IMF) now estimates that number will go up to dance. They go to faculty lectures and Joe Schein ’37, typically walks, leaning on
$3,769 in 2027, the latest year for which the alumni panels. They show off their kids and the engraved cane honouring the oldest
multilateral lender publishes its forecasts, which talk about their work. They oooh and ahhh returning alum. High school marching
were recently redone after the Indian government at fireworks. These are all perfectly normal bands provide music, live tigers have been
pointed out some inconsistencies in its calcula- reunion activities. They could happen any- known to show up, and some classes feature
tions. This means that per capita income in India is where. What makes Princeton reunions dis- vintage cars. But the real attraction is the
expected to cross $4,000 towards the end of the tinctive is their mastery of ritual, heritage embodied history. “We saw 1865 march,”
decade. India will thus be on the cusp of becoming and myth—all wrapped in orange and black. read a sign I saw at one reunion. At my early
an upper middle income country, according to the Princeton has no business, law or medical reunions, classes from at least as long ago as
current definition used by the World Bank. How countries leapt into the next league school. It is no football power. Yet it boasts 1909 were represented. The sight of the Old
How long have other countries taken to double China took just 4 years to double its per capita GDP to $4,000 while the Philippines took
the largest endowment per student of any Guard inevitably moves the crowd.
their per capita income from $2,000 to $4,000? four times as long. US university. Its roughly $37 billion “As they turned the corner onto Prospect
The accompanying table provides data from some endowment benefits from the university’s Street,” wrote Siddons, “the crowd rose
comparable Asian countries that have made the Country Years to double Real annual GDP growth (in %) longevity (founded in 1746), the affluence of spontaneously to its feet, sun hats off, and all
journey after 1980 and some that are on the verge China (2006-2010) 4 10.96 its graduates and savvy long-term manage- along the street they rose till the entire
of doing so. China, Taiwan and South Korea clearly Indonesia (2007-2019) 12 5.54 ment. To turn those advantages into bil- street was lined with standing people as the
maintained a scorching pace of economic transfor- lions, however, you need alumni devotion. Old Guard went marching by.” Reflecting
Malaysia (1982-1994) 12 7.05
mation when they were broadly at our current An endowment connects past, present on her essay, Marilyn Marks, editor of the
level of development. Thailand, the Philippines, Philippines (2008-2024) 16 4.97 and future. It represents a financial commit- alumni magazine, wrote in 2016, “After 15
Indonesia and Malaysia took more than a decade. South Korea (1983-1988) 5 10.87 ment to institutional continuity despite P-rades, the Old Guard still makes me cry.”
India seems on track to double its income at a rate institutional change. It requires faith, hope But without the rest of the P-rade, the Old
Sri Lanka (2008-2017) 9 5.59
that Sri Lanka and Vietnam maintained. and love. Princeton is adept at instilling Guard would just be a bunch of aged men.
For any country, average income in US dollars Taiwan (1980-1986) 6 7.85 those qualities in its alums. The P-rade is a powerful ritual because it
depends on a combination of nominal economic Thailand (1993-2008) 15 3.9 Take the costumes. Every class has its represents continuity amid change. The
growth in its domestic currency and the exchange 5.86
own, which changes every five years until presence of the old reflects belief in the
Vietnam (2012-2002) 10
rate of that currency against the dollar. How both the 25th reunion. For my fifth reunion, we young. Whatever their disagreements or
move then matters. China let its currency appreci- Note: wore a pith helmet and a shirt printed with differences, in their orange and black they
1. The year in which per capita income first crossed $2,000 to the year it first crossed $4,000
ate in the four short years that its average income 2. CAGR in domestic currency Source: IMF
palm trees and tigers. For the 10th, there are all one tribe, from the good old boys’
doubled to reach $4,000. Thailand saw its cur- was a kind of Flintstones theme, with a shirt network to the meritocratic strivers, the
rency collapse in the second half of 1997. Such SATISH KUMAR/MINT
of triangular orange stones outlined in rowdy drinkers to the quiet nerds.
sharp movements in exchange rates undoubtedly time taken in this small sample is 10 years, which is India has estimated that India can maintain an black, accompanied by Butt Fur brand Princeton’s rituals enact the conviction
affect the conversion of nominal average incomes close to what India will need, by current estimates, economic growth rate of between 6.5% and 8.5% fleece shorts with tiger stripes. For the 25th, that the Princeton of today descends from
calculated in terms of national currencies into a to reach a per capita income of $4,000. over the medium term. Rapid growth is needed not each class chooses a distinctive sports coat the Princeton of yesterday, that the many
common measure like the US dollar. There is another factor to consider: the state of just to boost our position in international rankings, to be worn at all future reunions. Ours is a eras belong to one another, and that, what-
However, no country will see its standard of the world economy, especially since export growth but also provide economic opportunities to a harlequin print with diamonds in orange, ever their differences and flaws, they are all
living shoot up or reduce sharply over long periods was such a big part of the economic strategy of young population, especially given our failure to black, white and grey. beloved and good. It’s the kind of myth
of time just based on the international value of its successful Asian economies when they were in the create quality jobs in productive enterprises. The crazy clothes identify classmates and that’s easily discarded yet desperately
currency or movements in domestic prices. That early stages of their economic transformation. But There are also shocks to consider. Indian output is give the campus a festive air. The novelist needed in our divided culture.
is because exchange rates eventually reflect infla- global economic growth is not a dominant influ- still below where it would have been if the pan- Anne Rivers Siddons, who attended her My husband and I planned to be at
tion differentials between various countries, so a ence. A quick—and perhaps simplistic—look at the demic had not struck, and is expected to remain husband’s 25th reunion in 1973, described Princeton this weekend, celebrating our
country with high inflation will see its exchange data shows that there is a negative correlation below trend for perhaps another decade. (Note: the atmosphere they create as “absurdly like 40th. Our harlequin sports coats are still
rate come down over a reasonably long period of between the number of years taken by a country to this is about the level of output rather than its Disney World, moved lock, stock and barrel spread out on the guest room bed, waiting
time, and vice versa. A lot more depends on the double its income in US dollars and the pace at growth rate.) A climate shock is on the horizon. into the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Perhaps to be packed. Life, in the form of a sudden
rate at which economic output is growing in real which the world economy expanded in the rele- This decade may see India narrow its income even more absurdly, it didn’t look absurd.” injury, intervened. And maybe it’s just as
terms, or after stripping out the effects of inflation. vant time periods for each country. gap with countries such as the Philippines and One of my classmates, who wore his reunion well. We’re currently out of sorts with our
Two of the original Asian Tigers—Taiwan and In other words, a country is more likely to Sri Lanka, especially the latter because of its jacket to travel, reports that his husband alma mater, concerned that it has sacrificed
South Korea—as well as China are good examples. quickly double its average incomes when the ongoing economic tragedy. India will need more didn’t even notice the oddity. He’d been its previously outstanding support of free
They could successfully double their average world economy is also doing well. However, this time to reduce the income gap with most of the conditioned by decades of reunions. speech to the political climate of the
incomes in terms of US dollars in six, five and four negative correlation is weak, and not the dominant other countries considered here. A lot will depend The ritual climax of reunions is the moment. We didn’t contribute to annual
years respectively. Others took far more time. Why explanation (the R-squared is 0.1203). That contin- on whether we move ahead near the lower or P-rade, held on Saturday afternoon. Begin- giving for that reason, despite the pressures
these three countries could race ahead, while com- ues to be rapid domestic growth sustained over higher end of the potential growth estimate made ning with the ‘Old Guard’ who’ve passed of a major reunion campaign. But we do still
parable countries with similar structural features long periods of time. by our central bank. their 65th reunions and ending with the love the place. We will go back, again and
and economic policies could not, is one of the great In its new Report on Currency and Finance Chetan Sinha assisted with research inputs for new graduating class, classes line up along again. And if we are lucky, we may someday
debates in development economics. The median released a few weeks ago, the Reserve Bank of this column. the route, joining the line as their immedi- join the Old Guard. ©BLOOMBERG

GUEST VIEW

Why period films are deployed as tools of propaganda


the extent popular memory becomes indis- hauntingly elegiac piece of art about friend- ever relevant. That’s why The Grand Illusion dialogue: “May the citizens of other states
RAHUL NARAYAN tinguishable from popular cinema. For exam- ships across class, nationality, language and won the admiration of US President Roosev- never forget this lesson.” Although it was pro-
ple, the popular perception that World War religion, the artificiality of human borders, elt, who screened the movie in the White moted as true history, it was largely based on
I was a “misbegotten shambles” is in no small and the essential humanity of all sides. There House and wanted every democrat to see it. a novel by Lion Feuchtwanger with anti-Se-
part due to Black Adder Goes Forth. were no cartoonish villains, just ordinary Mussolini kept a copy in his private collec- mitic tropes added by Goebbels and Harlan.
It is no wonder then that the period film— people doing their best. As Renoir believed, tion. Goebbels, that master of propaganda, It was heavily promoted by the Nazi brass.

I
nvariably, films set in the past are really with its great ‘historical truth’—is frequently everyone has their reasons. The richly etched recognized the damage this movie’s message Himmler apparently made his Schutzstaffel
about the present, reflecting either the the go-to vehicle for political mythmaking or characters are unforgetta- could do to his philosophy, watch the movie before anti-Jewish pogroms.
zeitgeist of the times or a narrative the film propaganda. Movies showing grand heroics ble: the working-class hero declared it to be “cinematic There were also incidents of violence against
maker wishes to project, whether consciously or victimhood can bolster national narratives Marechal played by Jean Movies on times enemy No. 1” and tried to Jews after screenings. After the war, the film
or unconsciously. First, history is often too and create historical ‘memories’ that engen- Gabin, the cheerful and destroy every print in exis- was banned in Germany and Harlan was tried
complicated and multi-faceted to fit a neat der ‘patriotism’ or help in getting votes. generous Jewish Rosenthal past can create tence during World War II. for crimes against humanity, though he was
narrative of heroes and villains so beloved to This need not be a bad thing. Since the played by Dalio, the lonely Goebbels also used the later released. The actors all tried to disclaim
cinema. Second, it would be almost impossi- ‘truth’ a movie shows is merely a perspective, German widow Elsa played
vivid ‘historical’ format of the period film to responsibility for the movie, claiming, like

is advocate on record,
ble to fit everything into a two-hour time
frame, so filmmakers must pick and choose
a film that highlights humanity, decency, the
principles of democracy and the essential
by Dita Parlo, the aristo-
cratic Captain de Boeldieu
memories that promote Nazi values. The
notorious Jud Suss, released
Harlan, to have been coerced by Goebbels.
Not every propaganda film works as
Supreme Court of India, and
solicitor, England and Wales
what the movie shows. Third, dialogue is
nearly always done in a way that takes the
equality of all is one that is worthy of being
celebrated by all responsible leaders.
played by Pierre Fresnay
who sacrifices his life for his
needn’t even in 1940 and a massive hit in
occupied Europe, was the
intended. Eisenstein’s expressionist Ivan the
Terrible movies made in the 1940s were
narrative forward, so material that doesn’t Perhaps the foremost movie of this type is compatriots to escape, and be true to fulfil work of director Veit Harlan intended by Stalin to show a strong leader
do that is ignored. Fourth, black and white Jean Renoir’s masterpiece La Grande Illusion above all, the tragic Captain based on the life of Joseph whose decisive leadership resulted in the
characters are far more fun than grey ones. which was released in 1937 to near universal Von Rauffenstein played by political ends Suss Oppenheimer, an Russian empire’s recapture of Estonia, Latvia
All of this means that even cinema that acclaim. The movie tells the story of three Eric Von Stroheim. The employee of Duke Karl and Lithuania. Instead, what emerged was a
claims to be “true” is often just a perspective, French prisoners of war in various German themes Renoir touches, the Alexander of Wurttemberg, thinly veiled criticism of Stalin’s paranoia,
lacking nuance and context. camps 20 years earlier during World War I, generosity with which he deals with his char- who was accused of fraud, embezzlement and absolutism and ruthlessness. The two parts
Academic history is much the same, but as and their eventual escape. It was based on acters, and the humour and pathos make La treason and was sentenced to death in the were banned in the USSR till the time of
a picture can be worth a thousand words, the Renoir’s memories of his war-time experi- Grande Illusion one of the greatest movies 17th century. The movie portrayed Suss as a Khruschev and Eisenstein could never com-
sheer visceral impact of cinema makes the ence. In the hands of a lesser director, this ever made. The movie was released 85 years sexually licentious man who was responsible plete his trilogy.
truism particularly important in evaluating it. would have been an opportunity for jingoism ago when the Spanish civil war was raging for unfair taxation and brutal oppression of When political leaders promote films, it is
It is hard to dispute that people perceive his- and rousing dialogue interspersed with and Western democracies were headed for a people. The movie ended with all Jews rarely for the truth espoused. It’s usually just
torical events through the lens of movies to action set pieces. In Renoir’s hands, it was a war against fascism. Yet, its message remains expelled from Wurttemberg and this closing an endorsement of a particular narrative.
06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 25 MAY 2022

Data and diplomacy


THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
World of Big Data has transformed geopolitical & geo-economic environment
negotiations on a number of issues
related to the digital economy, includ-
ing the handling of data. These

Indo-Pacific trade forum include the cross-border flow of data


generated within national bound-
aries, the privacy of such cross-border
India needs to tread pragmatically on US-led IPEF flows, e-commerce and the entire

W
field of cyber security.
HEN US President Joe Biden said in Tokyo on Tuesday that SHYAM SARAN
The Internet has created an inter-
Quad ‘is not just a passing fad but it means business’, the lit- FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY AND SENIOR connected and networked global
eral sense of the word ‘business’ was not lost on anyone. He FELLOW, CENTRE FOR POLICY RESEARCH
economy which is increasingly a dig-
spelt out the American agenda on the eve of the Quad summit by launch- ital economy. There is still no truly

D
ing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), an initiative aimed at ATA is often referred to as multilateral management of the
enhancing cooperation among ‘like-minded’ countries of the region in the ‘oil’ of the 21st centu- Internet. There is lopsided ownership
sectors such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade. ry. The vast volume of data INFO: Data is a resource which must be processed to yield information of value. ISTOCK and control over digital infrastructure
The US-led IPEF has 13 countries on board as of now, including Quad continually being generat- through which data flows take place.
partners India, Japan and Australia. It is apparently America’s counter ed is described as Big Data. Oil needs
to be refined before yielding products
Diplomats need to acquire familiarity with data science Financial flows take place through
digital networks which are also under
to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a China-
backed trading agreement that India has stayed away from. of economic value. Similarly, data is a and data scientists with diplomacy. the control of a handful of countries.
The global disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia- resource which must be processed to We have seen how Russia has been
yield information of value. Informa- debarred from the SWIFT payment
Ukraine war have prompted major economies to strengthen existing mul-
tion is ‘processed, organised and confirming its veracity. Information cyber security; and three, data in all system and literally unplugged from
tilateral platforms or establish new ones with the aim of ensuring trade secu-
structured data’. Analysis of informa- flow is often instantaneous, so the time its dimensions is creating an altered global economy.
rity and sustainability. While hoping that the IPEF will play a central role in tion yields patterns, which may be available for evaluation and reaction is geopolitical space, where power equa- The global digital economy is domi-
making the Indo-Pacific an ‘engine of global economic growth’, PM Modi defined as a ‘regularity in the world, much shorter. Traditionally, diplomacy tions are being influenced by the nated by high-tech platforms like
has emphasised that the foundation of robust supply chains must be based a design repletion in a predictable is associated with careful deliberation capacity of countries to gather, store Microsoft, Google, Amazon and
on trust, transparency and timeliness. These 3Ts have to be addressed by manner’. And patterns, in turn, lead and measured responses. But now and deploy data. Mega, which are US multinationals
the new economic bloc to the satisfaction of all participating nations. to insights about the phenomenon ‘ Twitter diplomacy’ is its very antithe- Data as a tool in diplomacy can have and operate largely outside national
The IPEF can be a win-win forum for all members as long as it pro- under study. From insights comes sis. Who gets in his word first is some- several beneficial spin-offs but this jurisdictions and multilateral gover-
vides a level playing field and guarantees mutual benefits; otherwise, knowledge which is the end product times more important than conveying requires cross-disciplinary approach- nance. This will be the major chal-
it will be reduced to yet another vehicle for the assertion of American of the greatest value. a carefully nuanced position. So how es. Diplomats must acquire familiari- lenge for data diplomacy.
hegemony. India has an enviable trade surplus of about $33 billion with Diplomacy is the conduct of foreign are foreign policy-makers and diplo- ty with data science, while data scien- The world of Big Data has trans-
respect to the US — from January to December 2021, the exports to policy. If policy is the weapon, then mats adjusting to the new and vastly tists must acquire familiarity with formed the geopolitical and geo-eco-
America were valued at more than $73 billion, way above imports diplomacy is its delivery system. Just transformed environment? diplomacy. The use of digital analyti- nomic environment. The distribution
as data may be the weapon, digital Diplomacy has always managed to cal tools requires the digitalisation of of political and economic power is
worth around $40 billion. The onus is on New Delhi to consolidate its
devices and digital communications, adapt itself to technological change. the vast archives and subject files in undergoing a major shift. Countries
gains and not let the initiative slip away. Both the ‘Make in India’ and
which the devices enable, may be con- The introduction of the telegraph had the Foreign Ministry. It would be of that are able to accumulate data, irre-
‘Make for the World’ initiatives need a major push to reduce the coun- sidered the delivery system. While we led British statesman Lord Palmer- immense value if all treaties, agree- spective of where such data is generat-
try’s overdependence on imports, particularly from China. A pragmat- may speak of data diplomacy, in reali- ston to proclaim the end of diplomacy. ments, MoUs were digitised and ed; countries which have the capacity
ic, long-term approach can help India thrive economically and prevent ty Big Data impacts both foreign poli- That was decidedly premature. stored in a manner allowing easy to use the data thus acquired to deliv-
it from becoming a pawn in the US-China tug of war. cy formulation as well as its execution According to studies conducted at access. Similarly, all political declara- er useful knowledge, to spur innova-
in the form of diplomacy. Data diplo- the Diplo Foundation based in tions and joint statements between tion and out-compete rivals will be the
macy in reality includes both foreign Switzerland, data and diplomacy are India and other countries could offer front-ranking powers of tomorrow.
policy formulation and execution. inter-connected in three ways: One, rich material to trace the trajectory of Data by itself means nothing unless

Health Minister arrested Diplomats and policy-makers have


always been engaged in information
gathering, management and analysis.
data can be a tool in diplomacy. It can
improve both foreign policy formula-
tion and execution through much bet-
India’s ties with various countries
and evaluate outcomes and locate
shortcomings. Digitised data can
human agency provides a context to
give it meaning and interprets it
using the existing pool of knowledge.
Clean-up required to address corruption, doctors’ shortage Earlier, there was paucity of informa- ter techniques of information gather- enable text mining using different Data may expose co-relations among
tion, in particular good quality infor- ing, diplomatic reporting, negotiation, key words enabling better analysis. phenomena, but co-relation does not

J
UST over two months since the Aam Aadmi Party government took mation, so considerable time had to be communication, public diplomacy The ability to access legacy data and always suggest causation. It is still the
charge in Punjab, the state’s Health Minister, Vijay Singla, has been spent in locating reliable sources of and consular services delivery. draw lessons therefrom makes for human mind which must make the
sacked by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the charge of corrup- information, and then, in subjecting Two, data diplomacy entails dealing better prepared and better informed judgement call. It is for this reason
tion. Even though the details of the charge are yet to be fully investigat- the information gathered to careful with data governance as an item on diplomats. This is critical to success that investment in human resources
ed, the sacking and immediate arrest of Singla send out a strong message analysis. What is different in our digi- the international agenda. This may in diplomatic negotiations. through high quality of education
that the party leadership would not put up with corruption even in the tal era is the abundance of information include the regulation of cross-border Data governance has become a remains the best assurance of future
Cabinet. The matter also underlines the urgent necessity for good leader- and the speed with which it is generat- flow of data, the privacy of such data major item on the international agen- success. It is a lesson that India needs
ship and decision-making in the health department, possibly the most ed. There is the critical challenge in and dealing with the challenge of da. India is engaged in multilateral to learn and apply before it is too late.
vital, crucial interface between the public and the government. A strong
public healthcare system is considered obligatory in a progressive democ-
racy, but India’s public healthcare is crumbling, bursting at the seams
with patients but also facing an acute shortage of health workers.
The situation is particularly fraught in rural India — according to the Rur-
al Health Statistics report for 2019-20, released last month, rural India is fac-
The mystery of flying objects
ing a severe shortage of specialist doctors, with a 78.9% shortfall of surgeons, Gp Capt Murli Menon (retd) these alleged enigmatic phenomena ing Range develops experimental air- encounter with a delta-winged UFO,
69.7% of obstetricians and gynaecologists, 78.2% of physicians, and 78.2% of are sought to be investigated ration- craft and weapon systems. Its heavy including a radar lock. As we venture

H
paediatricians. India needs around 22,000 specialist doctors for 5,000-plus OLLYWOOD’S E.T. the ally by US agencies. secrecy led to conspiracy theories into the realm of deep space explo-
community health centres, but there are only 13,637 sanctioned posts against Extra-Terrestrial, Close A US Congressional hearing on about UFOs and aliens. But the nature ration and with advancements in
this number — and 9,268 of them are vacant. There is a yawning gulf between Encounters of the Third Kind UFO showed service members have of these unknown phenomena and the radio, radar and avionics technology,
requirement and availability, compounding the misery of patients and their and Interstellar have served to feed indeed encountered what is referred intrigue surrounding them definitely we should aim to stay ahead of what
caregivers already dealing with the trauma of illness in the family. human imagination about extrater- to as ‘Unidentified Aerial Phenome- calls for a wider worldwide inquiry into possibly could unfold in the days
The situation in Punjab is dire — and despite the seriousness of the mat- restrial life. Strange radio signals non’ (UAP) and the military had been them. However, it may still be possible ahead. There have been almost 400 or
ter, even comical. As reported in these pages on Tuesday, despite 800 posts of have been picked up by NASA for tasked to investigate the origins of that the USAF and the CIA (which so UFO sightings in the US. Mostly
some time now, probably emanating such UFOs and UAPs. The US navy operates Area 51) could well be holding these have been in military-con-
doctor lying vacant, around 50 senior doctors including specialists are
from outer space. NASA reportedly has a task force in place which will back some information in this regard, trolled training areas. Though there is
engaged in administrative work. Singla, before he got exposed, had ordered
has beamed revealing human pic- investigate if UAPs are adversarial or under the garb of ‘national security’. no tangible evidence yet to prove that
all senior doctors to perform clinical duty for at least three hours a day. Some tures into space to entice any such just ‘unknown advanced technologi- The fact remains that the USAF has these sightings have anything to do
specialists are attached with bureaucrats and politicians, and at least 33 of probable entities to come calling. The cal occurrences’. Flight safety consid- been unable to give a valid explana- with extraterrestrial objects, there is
them are cooling their heels in the Directorate of Health. This is as unpardon- Life magazine in the 1960s showed erations call for such happenings to tion for nearly a 140-odd UFO sight- also no evidence that it may not be the
able as Singla’s bribery scandal since a majority of the population, especially light phenomena linked to unidenti- be ‘identified, characterised and if ings and the ongoing Congressional case. More so, if they constitute enti-
in the villages, is left at the mercy of private practitioners, or is forced to trav- fied flying objects (UFOs). Mostly necessary, mitigated’. This is even hearing is seeking to bring that inves- ties even more advanced than
el to the cities for specialist treatment. airline pilots and US naval aviators more intriguing to the uninitiated. tigation into the realm of public humans in the evolution chain. A
have reported these sightings. Now ‘Area 51’, a highly classified USAF knowledge. Seven years ago, a US Star Wars-kind of scenario could then
for the first time, after some 50 years, facility at the Nevada Test and Train- navy fighter pilot had a close-in be in the realm of possibility.

❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Without data, you are just another person with
Jathedar crosses line 2,000 borewells. The government can regulate the credit facilities of Pollution check
an opinion. — W Edwards Deming Apropos of ‘Takht chief triggers must prevent the recurrence of the banks but does not have any In Punjab, Ludhiana city is a hub of
“arm yourself ” controversy’, it is such macabre incidents due to powers to ‘rein in’ the nation’s industries. Population growth, old
shocking that the Akal Takht human negligence by awarding private lenders. The RBI and gov- vehicles, autorickshaw exhaust
Jathedar has asked Sikhs to pos- the strictest punishment to those ernment’s coordinated action to fumes, burning of crop residue,
on this day...100 years ago sess licensed weapons. People of guilty of non-compliance with cool down inflation may have lim- industries having licence in con-
Punjab expect the head of the government orders. ited impact only. gested areas, all factors are respon-
highest temporal seat of the Sikhs RAMESH K DHIMAN, CHANDIGARH VINAYAK G, BY MAIL sible for pollution. The government
to spread the message of peace has failed to check this. No action is
and brotherhood, instead of glori- Fuel taxes Struggles of Bahawalpuris taken against violators. Already
fying weapons. Is he aware that Refer to ‘Tussle over fuel taxes’; I was impressed with the stories of trees have been cut to widen roads.
lahore,thursday, may 25, 1922
his ill-advised suggestion can requests to reduce Central duties the Bahawalpuri community at the Because of pollution, many people
prompt other communities also to on fuel had fallen on deaf ears for time of the Partition (‘Bahawalpur are asthmatic. If stern action is not
MR. SASTRI AND NON-CO-OPERATION amass weapons? Punjab has quite some time now. By slashing to Rajpura’, The Sunday Tribune). possible, the only solution is to
THE speech delivered by Mr. Sastri at the Bombay Liberals’ Conference, a fairly already witnessed very dark times excise duty to some extent, the I also belong to this community, plant maximum trees by the gov-
full report of which appeared in a recent issue of this journal, is divided into three in the past in which thousands of Centre has shown that it is not and have heard painful stories from ernment to save human health.
parts. The first, in which he dealt with the non-co-operation movement and what it lives were lost. Now, when peace completely blind to the sufferings my parents when they migrated RANJIT SINGH JUNEJA, LUDHIANA
has done, suffers from the drawback which has characterised so many of Mr. and communal harmony is pre- of ordinary people. However, from Bahawalpur. After reaching
Sastri’s recent utterances — that of being completely one-sided, both in its vailing in the state, such state- many states have been affected by Hindumalkot by train, they spent Skill university
presentation of facts and in its criticism of them. If there is one man in our public ments should not be issued. the goods and services tax regime two-three years in refugee camps at It was announced in March that
life to-day, especially among the leaders of the great Liberal party, from whom BALBIR SINGH KAKKAR, JALANDHAR and, thus, cannot cut down on val- Hindumalkot, Malout, Kurukshetra Shaheed Bhagat Singh Interna-
better things might have been expected, that man is Mr. Sastri, who by his training ue-added taxes on fuel. The Cen- and were finally rehabilitated in tional Skill University will be set up
and his scholarship no less than by his temperament is well fitted to play the role Borewell tragedy tre should share collections under Shamdu camp — my birthplace. in Punjab to provide job-related
of a true critic of men and things. It was only the other day that he gave us a picture Refer to ‘No lessons learnt from the GST and other such cess with They were allocated agricultural skills and employment for youth.
of Mahatma Gandhi as a man, and those who remember him in his earlier days will 2019 incident’; the borewell the states. This could bring down land in lieu of their properties in Immediate steps can be taken to
have seen in that picture the exhibition of qualities that were essentially tragedy in which a six-year-old the fuel prices further. Pakistan. This community has establish this university in Patiala,
characteristic. Unhappily taking the last few months, it was only an exception, a child lost his life has come as a SS PAUL, NADIA unique characteristics — their lan- where the whole infrastructure can
solitary deviation from an unpleasant rule. In the present case, barring a word of shock. The government failed to guage, food, culture, customs and be readily made available by the
personal tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and a passing reference to “the way in which set up a nodal authority to moni- Interest rate hike traditions. Sadly, it is losing its government by shifting the newly
his great prestige and popularity were lent, although for the time being only, to the tor borewells being dug up in the Refer to ‘RBI Governor hints at identity, language, customs and tra- set up Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
great social causes they had all at heart,” there was not a word in the speech which state at an exponential speed, another interest rate hike’; it does ditions in the glare and glitter of Sports University to Jalandhar. The
could be said to be a true criticism of non-co-operation. It was condemnation, three years after the Sangrur inci- not come as a surprise. While the modern society. I wish we could prestigious NIS and Government
unrelieved even by an attempt to show how it was that a movement so mischievous dent claimed the life of a kid. bank could be aiming to bring keep our language, customs and Sports College already exist and
could have captivated the hearts of so large a section of the people. It is all very well There is no record of the borewells down inflation, initiating such traditions alive, as the community there is no need for a new sports
to say that people were misled. But how come so many people belonging to so after the government’s Tandrust steps can’t be of any use in con- in Pakistan has done. university in Patiala.
many communities divided by so many differences have been simultaneously Punjab mission plugged over trolling food inflation. The RBI DWARKA DASS, CHANDIGARH NARINDER SINGH, PATIALA
misled by a movement, of which we are asked to believe that there is no good and
no truth in it, and the evil character of which is by hypothesis so transparent? 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 | 25 MAY 2022 OPED 07

Consensus on GST revenue at stake Besides, the new tax was launched place just once. Otherwise, all deci-
less than a year after the demonetisa- sions have been based on consensus.
tion process, creating more chaos for Despite the SC ruling, it would be This healthy tradition potentially
small businesses that were just getting
back on their feet. At the time, a textile
in the long-term interests of the faces a setback after the court ruling.
The system was set in place by the
trader from northern India told me Centre and the states to avoid then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
that both textile and garment indus- with the aim of ensuring that everyone
tries had collapsed due to the intro- confrontation on tax issues and is on board as revenue is a crucial issue
SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN
SENIOR FINANCIAL JOURNALIST
duction of the GST and even warned help make the concept of ‘one for all states. Following the latest rul-
darkly that they would never revive. ing, the Centre needs to make greater
Five years down the line, the GST is nation, one tax’ a reality. This efforts towards consensus-building

T
HE launch of the Goods and being seen as a success story, especial- rather than trying to push through
Services Tax (GST) in 2017 ly as revenue collections rapidly
would entail giving up control over decisions with the help of the NDA-
was hailed as a path-break- picked up pace after the rigours of the both alcohol and petroleum ruled states. This would be counter-
ing economic reform that pandemic in 2020 and the disastrous productive, especially at a time when
would pave the way for ease and sim- second wave in April-May, 2021. products, along with reducing the the states are conscious that the time-
plicity of taxation throughout the Monthly collections have crossed Rs table fixed for regular compensation
country. This was to be the end of one lakh crore for the past nine
number of GST slabs. These are the comes to an end next month. Worries of
long queues at borders as trucks wait- months, giving healthy returns to both much-needed reforms that will revenue inflows are bound to be upper-
ed for octroi clearances and the end of the Central and state governments. In most in the minds of most state finance
multiple taxation as many levies were fact, the five-year period stipulated to make the single-point tax more ministers right now and any fears need
subsumed into a single-tax nation- give compensation to states for their to be allayed quickly.
wide system. Well, the reality was not loss of revenues due to the GST is
efficient while achieving the aim At the same time, states also need
as ideal as envisaged initially. coming to an end next month. IN PERIL: The healthy tradition of taking collective decisions of buoyancy in revenues. to be more fiscally responsible. The
The GST, which took 17 years to But many changes are still needed faces a setback after the Supreme Court ruling. PTI idea of fiscal federalism and ensuring
come to fruition, ended up being a to convert the GST into a single-point that the Centre and states work in
multi-layered tax, with states ensur- tax meant to boost the GDP growth. harmony on the taxation front can
ing that they got their pound of flesh First, there is a need for one tax improvement, that the future has sud- council’s decisions on taxation. be taxed differently in different only succeed with efforts on both
in terms of compensation for losing instead of the existing ones, known as denly become uncertain. The Supreme Technically, even now, these deci- states, thus defeating the concept of a sides. It has to be recognised that the
out on their own levies. It also took integrated GST, state GST, Union Ter- Court has ruled on an order related to sions are recommendatory, but so far, single nation, single tax. bonanza from the higher GST rev-
years to stabilise and the shift to dig- ritory GST and Central CGST. tax on ocean freight supporting the the states have been implementing The finance ministers of Tamil Nadu enues accrues to the exchequers of
ital payments meant that small Second, the number of tax slabs Gujarat High Court verdict calling the the decisions without any change as and Kerala have welcomed the court’s both the Centre and states.
traders and businesses struggled to needs to be cut down. levy unconstitutional. But the SC has the council functions by consensus. In ruling, indicating that they might be So, despite the SC ruling, it would be
cope with the demands of a bewilder- Finally, two key commodities — gone a step further and commented other words, the states are actually thinking on these lines. The com- in the long-term interests of both to
ing new world of computerisation. petroleum products and alcohol — that the GST Council’s recommenda- participants in the decision-making. plaints are that the ruling party is able avoid confrontation on tax issues and
There is no doubt that it expanded need to be brought into the GST fold. tions are not binding on the states and But with the SC having articulated to push through its proposals as it has help make the concept of “one nation,
the scope of the organised sector as These are cash cows being jealously only have a “persuasive” value. that these decisions are only of a per- more chief ministers in its fold. The one tax” a reality. This would entail
even tiny businesses ended up getting guarded by both the Centre and states. This does not intrinsically alter the suasive nature, it has to be seen if the Centre, undoubtedly, has a higher giving up control over both alcohol
attuned to paying taxes digitally. But The current finger-pointing over high existing legislative framework for the states would now seek to overturn weightage in voting in the present and petroleum products, along with
this was possible only after the GST oil product taxes between the Centre GST, as government officials have them. In other words, would they like system. Its vote comprises a one-third reducing the number of GST slabs.
Council and the implementing agency, and states stems from this reluctance pointed out, but it will surely embold- to shift commodities from a lower five share in the total voting, though deci- These are the much-needed reforms
the Central Board of Indirect Taxes, to move towards the GST regime. en the states, especially those ruled per cent slab to a higher one in oppo- sions are taken based on three-fourths that will make the single-point tax
made repeated changes to simplify the It is at this stage, just when it seemed by the Opposition, to take a more sition to the council’s decisions? This of the total weighted votes. more efficient while achieving the
complex rules and regulations. the GST systems were poised for an independent line on accepting the would mean that commodities would But in actuality, voting has taken aim of buoyancy in revenues.

Regional parties look for tie-ups to keep BJP at bay


A
S the Congress grapples larism” was the glue that bound the upon them to revive their protests
unceasingly with in-house disparate forces. The Left was intrin- and not back off until they got a con-
issues, India’s regional par- sic to both the coalitions. In a stitutional guarantee for the right
ties are moving around like prospective assemblage of the Oppo- price for their crops.
busy bees, wasting little time in put- sition, both the preconditions may Will Rao’s entreaty resonate
ting up a challenge of sorts to the BJP not exist. The Trinamool Congress again? For one, the agrarian
before the 2024 elections. The south- Party will be central to it and Mama- protests hardly impacted the Uttar
ern forces in particular seem to be at ta Banerjee is anathema to the CPM Pradesh election to the extent they
RADHIKA RAMASESHAN play because barring Karnataka and and its partners. “Secularism” has were supposed to, not even in the
SENIOR JOURNALIST Puducherry, the BJP has not got a foot- outlived its utility, now that nearly western districts which were the
print in the other four states, although every party has either incorporated epicentre. When it came to voting,
being the BJP, despite all odds, it nev- the BJP brand of political Hindutva the farmers were divided. A large
Rao made it clear that the er gives up without a fight. If the Tamil in its manifesto in a more benign section of the affected farmers, the
Opposition’s endeavour to Nadu Chief Minister and DMK presi- form or pays token obeisance to it. well-off Jats who sounded upset
dent, MK Stalin registered his pres- Therefore, the Opposition has to with the BJP, in fact voted the par-
put up a joint candidate ence in Delhi in early April, last week, scout for another raison d’etre to jus- ty in the name of Hindutva.
it was K Chandrashekar Rao’s turn to tify its existence. It’s apparent that For another, the BJP — which is
against the BJP/NDA in head northward. Like Stalin, a pit stop the parties are fumbling. Coopera- looking to make inroads into Telan-
electing the next President for the Telangana CM and the Telan- tive federalism, once patented by gana after two electoral break-
gana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is throughs — marshalled its argu-
this year had no place for Arvind Kejriwal’s mohalla clinics and possibly one but when two important ments barely moments after Rao
schools. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), regional parties — the Biju Janata spoke. Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the
the Congress. His southern which has governments in Delhi and CHARM OFFENSIVE: Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao’s northern foray is Dal and the YSR Congress Party rul- BJP’s feisty Telangana president,
peer Stalin will not be on Punjab, is an apparent challenger to indicative of the search for alliances by southern parties. PTI ing Odisha and Andhra Pradesh — asked the CM where he was when
the BJP after the Congress faded away are willing to negotiate with the BJP “lakhs of farmers” in his state
board because he has a in the north and parties like the Sama- The question is: are programmes gress. At best, Rao can hope to arm- every time there’s a legislative allegedly killed themselves after fail-
jwadi Party and the Shiromani Akali vested with more profound long- twist the Congress to endorse his crunch in Parliament in return for ing to sell their paddy stocks.
long-standing alliance with Dal were routed in the February- term benefits such as the Mahatma proposal and accept the candidate favours done to their states, the The crux of a regional coalition is
the Congress. At best, Rao March 2022 elections. Naturally, the Gandhi National Rural Employment the Opposition nominates, on the phrase sounds hollow. So what are this: be it the TMC, TRS, Shiv Sena,
southern leaders, ambitious to take Act and food security of no signifi- calculation that the Congress will not the issues before the Opposition? the DMK or the AAP, these forces
can hope to arm-twist the their agenda and plans countrywide, cance to the TRS? relish the idea of a splintered contest During his visit to Delhi and have to protect their own turf from
have only the AAP to cling to, in real- The answer lay in Rao’s inherent and lose badly. However, such calcu- Chandigarh, Rao harked back to the being poached upon by the BJP
Congress to endorse his ising their larger goal of unseating the dislike for the Congress which in the lations are up in the air and might year-long farmers’ protests on the which is looking to make new con-
proposal and accept the BJP through a federal grouping. recent past rebuffed a tentative not eventually materialise. Delhi border and made a political quests. The BJP may be consider-
However, Rao, infused with an attempt he made to warm up to it to In recent times, when the non-BJP statement through words and optics. ably weakened in West Bengal, but it
candidate the Opposition over-enthusiasm bordering on impa- fight the BJP. Rao made it clear that forces regrouped to form the United With Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhag- remains Mamata Banerjee’s princi-
tience, was more effusive in praising the Opposition’s endeavour to put up Front government in 1996 and the want Mann in tow, he distributed pal adversary. So too in Maharashtra!
nominates, on the the Delhi CM and AAP leader than a joint candidate against the United Progressive Alliance in 2004, cheques of Rs 3 lakh each to the fam- Kejriwal, the south’s northern light,
calculation that the Cong Stalin. Stating that Telangana had BJP/NDA in electing the next Presi- the Congress was an integral part of ilies of those who died during the agi- is up against problems in Punjab. He
borrowed the idea of a mohalla clin- dent this year had no place for the the experiments: the first time as a tation. Stressing that power flowed has to mind Delhi, so whether he has
will not relish the idea of ic from Kejriwal, he upheld the Del- Congress. His southern peer Stalin reluctant outside supporter and the from the farmers, Rao said, “If farm- the time to sally forth into Himachal
hi dispensation as an exemplar of will not be on board because he has a second time as the spearhead in gov- ers want, they can change govern- Pradesh is the big question. The lim-
a splintered contest. the governance the country needed. long-standing alliance with the Con- ernment. On both occasions, “secu- ments. It is not a big thing.” He called itations are obvious.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast


ACROSS SUNSET: WEDNESDAY 19:15 HRS
MAY 25, 2022, WEDNESDAY
1 Apparition (7)
5 Chain of reasoning (5) 3 1 6 5 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2079
SUNRISE: THURSDAY 05:24 HRS

8 Italian mountain range (9) ■ Shaka Samvat 1944


9 Snakelike fish (3)
10 Of exalted rank (4)
12 Point of full tidal ebb (3,5)
8 1 7 6 2 ■ Jyeshtha Shaka

■ Jyeshtha Parvishte
4
12
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

14 Away from the coast (6) ■ Hijari 1443 Chandigarh 34 20


15 Apprehend (6)
17 Underprivileged (8)
9 2 8 ■ Krishna Paksha Tithi 10, up to 10:33 am New Delhi 37 20
18 Dull in appearance (4) ■ Priti Yoga up to 10:44 pm Amritsar 35 22

5 4 3 6
21 Fix at predetermined ■ Uttrabhadrapad Nakshatra up to 11:20 pm Bathinda 35 19
rate (3)
22 River of southwest Asia (9) ■ Moon in Pisces sign Jalandhar 35 20
24 Hoarse (5) ■ Gandmool start 11:20 Ludhiana 34 20
25 Fugitive (7)
3 2 1 4 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
Bhiwani 36 20
DOWN Hisar 36 20
1 A pinkish-yellow fruit (5)
2 Distinct period of past (3) 7 1 9 8 4
6
9
8
2
1
1
3
7
2
5
9
8
4
6
7
3
5
Sirsa
Dharamsala
36
32
21
14
3 Melody (4)
4 A trusted adviser (6) Manali 26 12
4 9 1
4
5 7 3 8 6 2
5 Definitive statement (4,4)
6 Ursa Major (5,4)
2 1 1 3 8 4 5 7 9 2 6
Shimla 29 16
Srinagar 25 11
7 Guilty party (7) 2 4 9 6 8 3 5 1 7
11 Ecuadorean Pacific islands (9)
13 Completeness (8)
9 6 4 5 3 7 5 6 9 1 2 3 4 8
Jammu
Kargil
35
21
18
07
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION 14 Comprehensively (2,5) Leh 20 05
9 1 5 7 3 4 6 8 2
Across: 1 Abortive, 5 Cant, 9 Cheek, 10 Cuisine, 11 Creativeness, 13 Poncho, 14 Anchor,
17 Demonstrably, 20 Militia, 21 Amble, 22 Crew, 23 Mainstay.
16 A hot condiment (6)
19 Domineering (5) 3 8 9 7 8 2 4 5 6 1 7 3 9 Dehradun 33 17
Down: 1 Arch, 2 Overrun, 3 Take a shine to, 4 Victim, 6 Abide, 7 Treasury, 8 Time and 20 Smile broadly (4) Mussoorie 24 11
3 6 7 2 9 8 1 5 4
again, 12 Epidemic, 15 Halibut, 16 Strata, 18 Melee, 19 Deny. 23 Pull along (3) V. EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC
THE AVENUE MAIL, Jamshedpur COMMENT Wednesday, May 25, 2022 4

Not walking alone: A bond


and macro update
Suyash Choudhary
Trade focussed Quad
Asad Mirza investment liberalisation and

T
he government announced a series of steps aimed at providing some relief against the facilitation.

T
unprecedented commodity price shocks being felt post the geopolitical escalations. Chief he first in-person meeting Indo-Japan ties
amongst these was a Rs 8 and Rs 6 cut, respectively in excise duties on petrol and diesel of the leaders of the US, Modi held separate meetings on
prices per litre. Apart from these, a Rs 200 subsidy on LPG cylinders has been provided under the Australia, Japan and India, Monday with a number of leading
Ujjwala scheme. Additionally, customs duties are being cut on some inputs for plastic and steel. termed Quad, will be held in Tokyo Japanese corporate honchos,
Finally, export duties are being hiked on items like pellets, iron ore, and some steel products. All on Tuesday. This is the first in- besides a roundtable with Japanese
told, these constitute a substantial set of measures and come at just the time when monetary policy person summit of these leaders business leaders and an interaction
was turning quite wary of the developing supply side inflation dynamics. Importantly, this also after the outbreak of the Russia- with the Indian community.
constitutes a signal that government is equally committed to the battle against inflation (media Ukraine war, worsening Sri Lankan Modi's pre-departure statement
reports suggest more measures may be taken later if required). economic crisis, and Australia stressed focussing on issues,
Some Observations getting a new Prime Minister. regional like China and global like
A government unwilling to expand fiscal deficit through resisting subsidizing parts of the The security situation in the on going Russia-Ukraine war. It
consumer basket should ordinarily be seen as complementing monetary policy action in curbing Indo-Pacific region has changed will be first time that both leaders
inflation. This is because monetary policy acts to curb aggregate demand by weighing down on significantly in the last decade and will be able to discuss the
parts of its components (Private consumption, Investments, Government consumption, Net in the post-pandemic world, it Ukrainian crisis in person. Modi
exports). As can be seen, an expansion in government spending works at cross-currents to this. becomes imperative for these will also hold separate bilateral
Thus by extension, a government unwilling to expand deficit is working in tandem with monetary partners to further commit to an meetings with his Japanese
policy. However, a different approach may have been required in case of fuel items and some other open, inclusive and resilient region. counterpart Fumio Kishida and
essential inputs owing to the risk of cascade of these prices through the entire manufacturing value The primary focus of this alliance newly-elected Australian Prime
chain. It is for this reason, presumably, that RBI/MPC members seem to have been encouraging is to thwart the increasing Chinese and cyber security. The US-led Indo-Pacific strategy Minister Anthony Albanese.
the government to act. If media reports are to be believed, it is disappointment on this front that may hegemony in the region and By focussing on the new is causing more and more strife and Modi penned an op-ed on the
have led monetary policy to come on the front foot on rate adjustments. A theoretical question may globally, both framework, Biden has made clear concern not just globally, but vibrant relations between India and
be asked to clarify the point: Would the inter-meeting hike have occurred if the government had The Modi-Biden meeting in his intention of not re-joining the especially among the countries in Japan, coinciding with his Japan
announced these steps ahead of that meeting? Tokyo will be the second face-to- Trans-Pacific Partnership-TPP, an the Asia-Pacific region, said visit. He wrote: "Ours is a
We don't really know the answer to the above question. Notwithstanding that, with a government face meeting of both the leaders Obama-era deal, which was not Chinese State Councillor and partnership for peace, stability and
now seemingly also focussed on bearing the burden (and after having made a hefty 'down-payment' within a year; they met last in supported by a large number of US Foreign Minister Wang Yi on prosperity. I trace the journey of
on the same with these latest measures) the pressure on monetary policy should lessen, ceteris September 2021. The meeting lawmakers. Since then the US has Sunday. our special friendship which
paribus. Now this statement needs to be interpreted carefully. After the April policy and before the assumes increased importance, as it been without a defined plan to He said, the Indo-Pacific completes 70 glorious years. Closer
May inter-meeting hike, the market as per the swap curves was pricing in 275 bps hikes over two will be the first time the two leaders engage with the south Asian region Strategy concocted by the US is India-Japan cooperation is vital in
years from the overnight rate of 3.75 per cent then. Around 75-100 bps of these were expected in meet in the midst of the on-going economically. And in the called "freedom and openness", but the post-Covid world. Our nations
year two. Post the inter-meeting hike, however, the market started discounting all these hikes (and Russia-Ukraine crisis. The leaders meanwhile, China has secured is keen on forming cliques; and are firmly committed to democratic
a bit more) in year one itself. It is possible, though not immediately observable, that the market are likely to focus on trade and several trade agreements with its aims to "change China's values. Together, we are key pillars
unwinds part of the frenzied pace of hikes in year one that has been priced in post the inter-meeting defence opportunities in neighbours, and has sought to surrounding environment" in an of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific
hike. On the bond curve, post the inter-meeting hike there was flattening between 1 and 4 years partnership with other countries in wield its economic influence attempt to contain China. Facts will region. I am equally glad that we
and between 4 and 10 years. While this makes sense, the residual spread left between 1 and 4 the Indo-Pacific, in the backdrop of globally through its Belt and Road prove that the so-called Indo- are working closely in various
years was still quite large given that the spread between 4 and 10 years had reduced materially. If the increasing Chinese Initiative. Pacific strategy is in essence a multilateral forums as well."
market was bringing forward all its tightening expectation to the next 1 year, then the maximum belligerence; however, this time However, this may require strategy to create division, to incite The meeting with Kishida will
flattening pressure should have been felt on the spread between 1 and 4 years. Instead it is 4 to 10 around Biden may focus more on delicately persuading countries to confrontation and to undermine provide an opportunity for the two
year spread that reduced aggressively while leaving 1 to 4 years reasonably positive sloping. This trade than defence. join, not only staunch partners like peace, he added. leaders to carry forward their
implied two things: Market was still pricing in higher forward rates (2 years and 3 years rates 1 year Indo-Pacific Economic Japan and South Korea but smaller He stressed that like other conversations from the 14th India-
from now versus where they were currently), thereby still expecting year 2 rate hikes unlike the Framework-IPEF nations, particularly in Southeast countries in the region, China Japan Annual Summit held in
swap curve; If the reason for this steepness was just bond supply premium on yields, then the 10 The new plan unveiled by Biden Asia, who aren't as closely aligned welcomes initiatives that are March, when the Prime Minister
year and beyond was heavily ignoring this supply premium. called the Indo-Pacific Economic with the US. conducive to strengthening visited India. Though the Indo-
Going Forward Framework-IPEF, which his aides The IPEF rollout is expected to regional cooperation, but opposes Pacific Strategy of the Biden
If some of market's upfronted rate hike expectations were to unwind going forward, then it is refer to as IPEF, is not a trade send across a strong signal that the attempts to create division and administration, released in
logical to expect some giving away also on the 4-10 year flattening that has occurred just over the agreement in the traditional sense. US is focused on pushing forward a confrontation. February, is widely believed to
past month. In fact, the market will likely have to price in a larger bond supply premium as well given Though, it includes one 'pillar' strong economic policy for the Which category does the US intend to build a wall of
the new fiscal uncertainties down the line post these (and later may be more) fiscal measures. This related to trade, besides Indo-Pacific to counter China's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework containment around China, but this
will likely put more pressure for this spread to expand. It is to be noted that basis recent action, this incorporating other key areas like time around it may focus more on
spread is now largely in line with the pre-Covid era and is almost completely ignoring the additional aggressive strategy on trade in the fall into, he questioned, saying
bond supply premium that needs to be built in for the new regime of higher government deficit over forging more resilient supply region. The Indian stand on the new further that in line with WTO rules, trade issues.
multiple years. Our long standing overweight 4 - 5 year strategy has been stressed heavily over the chains, an initiative becoming initiative has not been made clear, the Regional Comprehensive (Asad Mirza is a political
past month owing to the market dynamics as discussed above. However, basis our view going rather the most important one after but there are strong indications that Economic Partnership agreement commentator based in New
forward we think this segment should now start to enjoy a relative tailwind as market partly unwinds witnessing the chaos in the global India may join it along with (RCEP) was launched, a regional Delhi. He writes on Muslims,
rate hike fears and builds back bond supply premium. To be clear, there is little change in our supply chains during the Covid- Australia, New Zealand, South cooperation platform with ASEAN educational, international
underlying expectation about the likely rate hike trajectory ahead. We continue to think that pandemic, besides promoting clean Korea, Japan, Singapore and the at the centre, and it has greatly affairs, interfaith and current
monetary policy makers want to achieve a position of relative neutrality soon enough. This they energy and combating corruption Philippines. Chinese response promoted regional trade and affairs)
seem to have defined around the pre-Covid repo rate of 5.15%. However, unlike the market

Explosive audio leak details China's plan to invade Taiwan


consensus, we continue to think that the pace of hikes thereafter will be much more measured with
the repo rate probably peaking out under the 6% mark. The premise of this expectation, as
discussed many times before comes from our assessment of India's total fiscal and monetary policy
response post Covid and the normalisation already underway for monetary policy; Our underlying
growth trajectory and the characterisation of most of the inflation currently in play; Central banks' Atul Aneja
having to hike in what is a clearly slowing global cycle and the related point that most of them are

A
unlikely to have a multi-year adjustment runway. Another observation is noteworthy basis the above. n unprecedented and
We find a lot of favour in the market today for strategies anchored around the 1 year point. While explosive audio leak of a
these may sound 'surer' in an otherwise volatile environment, there are nevertheless 2 deficiencies top-secret meeting of the
in the argument here in our view: As noted above, 1 to 4 years spread is still very large thus implying Peoples Liberation Army has
quite steep forward curves (3 years 1 year from now, or 2 years 2 years from now if one were to revealed Chinas detailed plan to
consider 2 years to 4 years spread currently). By focussing on just 1 year (or 2 years) investors are attack Taiwan.
effectively not choosing to 'own' these steep forward curves. Investors are potentially courting re- Experts say that the audio clip
investment risks 1-2 years down the line by ignoring 4-5 years in favour of 1-2 years. Even if one posted on the YouTube channel of
were to consider swap pricing (which is excessive in our view) the rate hike cycle will probably be Lude media appears authentic. This
done by year 1. Most likely, given what we think and what we are observing of the global macro will be the first time since the
cycle, by then the narrative on many central banks would have materially changed. The point about formation of the People's Republic
reinvestment risk is especially applicable since, as noted above, the forward curves are so steep. of China in 1949 that a recording of
On a related note, tactical products like floating rate bonds may have limited shelf life as well given a top-secret meeting of a military
the nature of this cycle as analysed above. command has been leaked.
(Suyash Choudhary is Head, Fixed Income, IDFC AMC) Apparently, "allies" within the
Communist Party of China (CPC),
After Pakistani military and Chinese nationals, especially the military ( codename
"Thunder") carried out the
Balochistan rebels target notorious 'Death Squad' leaders recording of the meeting that took
place on May 14. No wonder the
extortion". It also issued a warning to the local knives are out to nail the source of
police and security forces "to refrain from the leak. The Lude media recording
harming those associated with the Baloch was also posted on the twitter satellite services companies, all of civil facilities including airports work priority, moving from
National Movement and their sympathizers". account of Jennifer Zeng which are real companies and these and docks." focusing on economic
People in Balochistan face severe human @jenniferatntd. companies' operations match with The contents of the audio clearly development to ensuring strategic
rights violations as well as Pakistani apathy due The leak has surfaced when the the functions that they are being point that the meeting was to victory. It discusses the
to which they are one of the poorest people in CPC is apparently experiencing a given in the meeting. discuss pre-war preparation. There introduction of measures to "guide
the country. Baloch groups now want bitter power struggle ahead of the Among others, it mentions "at are many different voices speaking and support high-tech and special
independence from Pakistan. 20th party congress later this year, present we rely on Zhuhai Orbita, in the audio which shows that it is enterprises that are included in the
The BLF said that Bangulzai was an which will deliver a new Shenzhen Aerospace more of a discussion style meeting potential resources in new
important follower of Siraj Raisani--another leadership, including the General Dongfanghong Satellite Co., in which different speakers have domains and new systems' list to
well-known Death Squad leader who was Secretary of the CPC as well as the Foshan Deliya and Ji Hua prepared their own points and are expand their production. "
killed in a massive suicide bombing in 2018 in standing committee of the Laboratory, and have formed four giving suggestions. Going by the It also focuses on ensuring
Balochistan capital Quetta. After Raisani's Politburo, comprising seven to nine satellite detachments. We have in speeches and the salutations used, stable production and ensuring the
death, his political responsibilities as the leader members, forming the core of the total 16 low-orbit satellites, with it appears that among the political security of the supply of important
Rahul Kumar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and party-state for the next five years. 0.5 to 10 meters global remote leadership, Guangdong's party strategic materials. It mentions
Death Squad activities passed on to Bangulzai. The meeting steered by the ultra-high optical resolution secretary, deputy secretary, smashing Taiwan independence

T
he Baloch rebellion against the Dwelling on the phenomenon of Death hybrid leadership of the sensing and imaging capabilities." governor and vice governor are forces and not hesitating to start a
Pakistani military and intelligence Squads, Pakistan analyst, Mark Kinra told India Guangdong Military Region "First, the mobilization tasks present in the meeting apart from war, resolutely defending national
forces has turned its attention to the Narrative that Death Squads "as a practice was reveals that during the operation issued to our province by the the others that cannot be sovereignty and territorial
notorious "Death Squad" leaders in intensified in 2010 by the Pakistani Army after against Taiwan, China will have to eastern and southern war zones identified. Among the military integrity. "This is the Party Central
Balochistan. Noor Ahmad Bangulzai- a an increase in armed attacks following the safeguard the Pearl River Delta totalling 20 categories and 239 personnel, Zhou He, major general Committee, General Secretary Xi
Pakistani politician also known to be a Death assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti by the area in the Guangdong province. A items, mainly 1,358 detachments of of People's Liberation Army, Jinping's major strategic decision
Squad leader, was shot dead by the Balochistan army". Kinra says that the Death Squads are densely populated area, it is the various types with a total of commander of the Guangdong in view of the big picture of
Liberation Front (BLF) on Saturday. local militia members, often criminals and heartbeat of the Chinese industry. 140,000 personnel, 953 ships of Military Region; Wang Shouxin, international and domestic affairs,
In a media statement released in Urdu, the smugglers, who target Baloch rebels as well as The province is majorly various types, and 1,653 units/sets standing committee member of as well as the overall strategic
BLF said that Bangulzai was killed in front of local citizens. responsible for turning China into of various unmanned equipment. Guangdong Provincial situation of the great rejuvenation
the district Hospital in Mastung, Balochistan. "Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal is credited with the workshop of the world. It Other resources include 20 Committee, political commissar of of the Chinese nation. It was made
The BLF is part of an umbrella organisation of forming the first "Death Squad" called the includes Guangzhou, a world class airports and docks, 6 repair and Guangdong Military Region is after carefully reviewing the
Baloch rebel groups called the Baloch Raaji Musallah Defah Tanzeem (MDT) in trading hub, Shenzhen, the hi-tech shipbuilding yards, 14 emergency present. timing and the situations." It talks
Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), which also has Sindhi Balochistan in 2008. Mengal is also related to capital, where giants of the digital transfer centres, and resources It says that the meeting is taking about strengthening the role of
nationalists. the mass graves discovered in 2014 in Khuzdar, age, such as Huawei and Tencent such as grain depots, hospitals, place to discuss orderly transition Guangdong (for military action). It
This is the second killing of a Death Squad where 169 bodies were recovered sending Industries are headquartered. Other blood stations, oil depots, gas from normal to war status, to says "After the meeting, the
member by Baloch rebels in barely a week. The shock waves across the world. The Pakistani major cities of huge importance stations, etc. Second, the national discuss military planning, and Provincial Party Committee
Death Squads of Pakistan are informal State- Army has employed the notorious Death include Foshan, the furniture defence mobilization recruitment mobilization. Three tasks are General Office issues the minutes
run operatives who carry out killings, illegal Squads in Balochistan districts like Kech, capital, Dongguan, Zhongshan, office will recruit new military being focused on by the meeting of the meeting. It is recommended
abductions, torture and kidnappings for ransom Panjgur, Awaran, Khuzdar, Mastung and Hong Kong and Macau. service personnel, retired military of the standing committee of the that all departments follow the
on behalf of the Pakistani State. They also others", adds Kinra.Kinra said: "Within one Stability of the Pearl River Delta personnel, and special talents Guangdong provincial party deployment of the meeting,
indulge in illegal activities including drug week, two alleged Death Squad members have would be key to the stability of totalling 15,500 people from our committee. 1. Establishing a immediately open a joint military-
dealing, smuggling of weapons, terror training been killed. BLA (Bashir Zeb) group had Guangdong and China. province. The National Defence national defence mobilization civilian command and operational
camps and even run private jails under the eye targeted Ali Mohammad Ghulamani on May The meeting also revealed vital Commission clearly stated that our command system 2. command posts, specifically plan
of the Pakistani army. 15 at which time it said it will carry out further industries that would play a central province shall coordinate the Implementation of a wartime work and deploy, and organize the
The BLF said that Bangulzai was "active in attacks on death squad members as they target role in the execution of the war. implementation of the seven types mechanism 3. To carry out province's Normal to War status
the areas around Mastung, Bolan, and was Baloch nationalists at the behest of the These include, companies that are of national level warfare wartime supervision preparation. transition work."
involved in the kidnapping and martyrdom of Pakistani Army". involved in drone manufacturing, resources, including, mainly, 64 It then notes that all levels, all (The content is being carried
Baloch militants as well as in social evils such (The content is being carried under an production of boats, as well as 10,000-ton roll-on/roll-off ships, regions, and all departments in the under an arrangement with
as robbery, kidnapping for ransom and arrangement with indianarrative.com) telecommunication companies and 38 aircraft, 588 train cars and 19 province should quickly adjust the indianarrative.com)
4 EDIT DELHI WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2022

LETTERS
Startup space set for course correction KCR ignoring Modi at own peril
S tartup ecosystem in India has
emerged as the crown jewel
of India Inc. From job creation
new initiatives.
Such subdued sentiment is not
limited to India. US, which is
Such caution indicates that
startups have to prepare for the
worst as exuberance overgrowth
more) now but the pace of cre-
ation of such unicorns has slowed
down substantially in recent
will go through intense pain in
the coming years. Some will sur-
vive and some will not. And this
A s things stand today ,Telangana state is facing severe financial crisis as
necessities are increasing day by day due to payments for many welfare
measures which are vote catching. Many bills of contractors, hospitals for
to innovative business model, home to the greatest number of and valuation seem to have taken months. is the nature of business world. Arogya Sri, college fees reimbursements pending ,late payments of salaries
startups have leveraged technol- startups, is also witnessing such a pause for now. Many experts Difficult time forces people, But whoever survives from this for govt employees , pensioners etc are the talk of the people.
ogy to solve myriad problems of tightening of belt. Silicon Valley’s are of the opinion that startups and organisations to do some downturn, will emerge stronger. In view of these issues, it is not proper for KCR to treat BjP and Modi as
the Indian subcontinent. Many famed startup accelerator, Y have seen a 13-year long bull run soul searching. Current craze for Once the basics are put in place, enemies as it affects adversely prospects for the state in all aspects with
have gone global. Of late, how- Combinator has cautioned its so far with investors pouring in valuation without clear path to those startups will not chase in- people becoming bitter with TRS government. When any one in crisis,
ever, there are rumblings. Some portfolio companies about fund- billions of dollars. is has led to profitability is not a sustainable vestors for fund raising, rather tries best to be friendly with many with goodwill to get support and coop-
startups like Unacademy, ing dearth in the coming years. valuation going through the roof. model. is is the clear lesson of their internal accruals will take eration to tide over crisis.
Vedantu, Trell, Meesho, and “e safe move is to plan for the With an expected downturn, val- current environment. Basics of care of their future growth plans. But unfortunately TS CM KCR going on wrong track of bitterness and
a few others have started laying worst. If the current situation is uations of companies receiving a any business are rooted in value India has high hopes from its enmity with Union government and Prime Minister with unpleasant and
off staffers. More than 4,000 as bad as the last two economic reality check. Stock prices of creation. So, there is a limit to budding entrepreneurs who have harsh comments on Modi and BjP which even his close aides donot agree.
people lost their jobs so far due downturns, the best way to pre- listed startups have corrected 50- the extent, startups can sell a $10 shown the world that they can As Modi is visiting Hyderabad for an official programme at a prestigious
to such firing. As funding pare it is to cut costs and extend 70 per cent in the last two years worth product at $7 for grabbing leverage technology to solve Business School ,many eye brows have been raised at the absence of KCR
environment is likely to be your runway within next 30 days. across most global exchanges. the market share. At some point many problems faced by the as he has taken up Bharat Yatra for his political interests to dislodge BjP at
difficult this year amid economic Your goal should be to get to de- Even large funding rounds are of time, the basics will catch up. mankind. ey should now take Centre by proposing his new philosophy to the political parties ,for the
uncertainty, many startups are fault alive,” Y Combinator said in becoming rare. India is home to It seems like the current situation a vow to make the ecosystem sus- country as he feels BjP and Modi are destroying the nation in almost all
optimising their cost structures a note to founders of its portfolio 100 unicorns (startups with a val- is one such time. So, like any tainable for long-term wealth fields. But it looks KCR has lost vision of recent election results to five
by shedding many non-core and companies. uation of one billion dollar or other business, startup ecosystem creation. states where Modi factor worked more than BjP as analysed by many polit-
ical observers. KCR also is not taking serious the image of Modi in interna-
tional platform as in his comment a few days ago Pakistan former PM
Imran Khan said that none can dictate India and supported reduction in

Don’t impose Hindi, learn


oil prices and continuing oil deal with Russia against USA ‘s appeal against
it. Is it not enough to indicate how Modi getting popular not only in India
but abroad too getting glory to India.
Let us hope people of Telangana and state will not become a victim of
bitterness of CM with Modi and all expect goodwill between two sacrificing

bitter lessons from Pakistan


bitterness for the welfare of people and state. Governments and politicians
come and go but people are forever bearing all.
J P Reddy, nalgonda

Revamp ‘The Places of Worship Act 1991’


While Pakistan was created for Muslims in 1947, it was split in 1971 mainly
due to their extremely flawed language policy
I s "e Places of Worship Act 1991" ordained by any Divinity and sacro-
sanct as such, so as to be not touched upon at all forever? Or its idea of
amendment, a democratic taboo?
It is obvious that the ever changing environment, political, religious, eco-
able to people of East Pakistan Hindi as its official language, and nomic and historical continue to leave a tremendous influence on the sub-
(now Bangladesh). And aer jin- by each house of the Indian Par- jects and their ruling dispensation from time to time.e system needs to
nah's announcement, unending liament. e position was thus that be suitably tailored to meet the ever changing scenario.. Hence the Act
protests against imposition of the Union government continues needs, a comprehensive, detailed and exhaustive re-look into its continued
Urdu became part of East Pakistan to use English in addition to Hindi maintainability or otherwise to cope up with the changing situation to
Vivek Shukla life. Dhaka university campus was for its official purposes as a ‘sub- fulfill the aspirations of its subjects.
the bastion of pro-Bangla protes- sidiary official language’. Seshagiri Row Karry, Hyderabad

P
UnjABI neglected in its tors. Like any other day, they were As we know, language question
own land since 1947 in Pak- making protests although peaceful was most debated in the Con-
istan. A silent but a powerful on 21 February, 1952. And then stituent Assembly of India. As Double standards of secularists
movement is spreading thick and
fast there under the banner of
‘Punjabi Prachar.’ It is an apolitical
suddenly, Pakistani police started
firing on those young guys, killing
dozens of students. at
many as twenty-two major (in-
cluding only two tribal ones) lan-
guage were recognized either as
A group of intellectuals, politicians like Adil Ahmed (Adjudicate on reli-
gious matters carefully, e Hans India 24.5.22) has started a new tune
in the light of Kasi mosque case asking the judiciary to be careful on religious
movement. ose who are in the was the day when East thanks to founding fathers of our state official languages in the re- issues. But the same groups were vociferous in their demand to go into
forefront of the movement are de- Pakistan decided to constitution. e Indian constitu- gions where they are spoken by the Sabarimala temple issue and the opening of underground vault of Ananta
manding compulsory education of snap ties with rest The creation of tion declared Hindi in Devanagari majority population. Padmanabha Swamy temple issue. ey were also religious issues but secu-
Punjabi in schools. Further, they of the Pakistan. Bangladesh and neglect of script to be the official language of And it speaks volumes about the larists and activists saw them as empowering women through the entry into
argue if Punjabi as a subject is not And to com- the union. Unless Parliament de- sagacity and far-sightedness of au- Sabarimala temple and knowing the truth behind iruvananthapuram
introduced in schools, the lan- memorate the
Punjabi in Pakistan are an eye opener cided otherwise, the use of English thors of our constitution for giving temple respectively. As the issue came regarding the mosque which was in
guage of the land would vanish. supreme sacrifices for us too. We must not impose any for official purposes was to cease official status to Sindhi language dispute since Aurangazeb time, suddenly the writer finds virtue in not hur-
Can you imagine Punjabi can’t of lovers of their language on any particular group. 15 years aer the constitution even though there is no State rying of courts in religious issues. What an irony.
be spoken even in the Punjab as- mother tongue, Those who try to impose Hindi came into effect, i.e., on 26 january where Sindhi speakers are in ma- Duggaraju Srinivasa Rao, Vijayawada
sembly of Pakistan? While Pak- United nations has on non- Hindi speaking 1965. e prospect of the jority. Sindhis had migrated from
istan was created for Muslims in decided to cele- changeover, however, led to much Pakistan aer partition. at
1947, it was split in 1971 mainly brate February 21 as people must think twice alarm in the non Hindi-speaking shows our commitment in terms Stop erecting killer fences
due to their extremely flawed lan-
guage policy. us, it is all the
more important for Pakistan to
International language
day.
Arguably, language is a
have
started
areas of India, especially Dravid-
ian-speaking states whose lan-
guages were not related to Hindi
of giving space to all the major lan-
guages. e creation of Bangladesh
and neglect of Punjabi in Pakistan
I llegal electric fencing in Kerala’s forest fringes erected by farmers to keep
away wild animals from destroying their precious crops, which are their
livelihood, has turned their own undoing, and that of others, especially
wake up before it would be too very emotive issue and we have claiming Hindi as their mother at all. As a result, Parliament en- are an eye opener for us too. We forest officials and the police. Instead of erecting these killer fences, basic
late. Can you believe that the seed seen even in India lot of acrimony tongue in various censuses though acted the Official Languages Act, must not impose any language on reasons that have wild animals' destructive foraying into human habitat
of split of Pakistan was sown by mainly in Punjab. And if we talk they speak Punjabi. Same way, 1963, which provided for the con- any particular group. ose who must be addressed.
none other than Mohammad Ali about Punjabi, it has suffered in its Muslims used to identify with tinued use of English for official try to impose Hindi on non- Hindi Dr George Jacob, Kochi
jinnah himself on March 21, 1948 backyard. Punjabi did not receive Urdu though they speak Punjabi purposes along with Hindi, even speaking people must think twice.
in Dhaka. Less than one year aer a proper status even under Ma- in the pre-partition days. Arguably, aer 1965. ey are doing disservice for the Govt schools in Delhi
jinnah managed to carve out sep-
arate nation for Muslims of India,
he consciously or unconsciously
haraja Ranjit Singh time. Persian
was the court language of Ma-
haraja’s time in Punjab. And in the
it was only the Sikhs who identify
with Punjabi. Unfortunately, lan-
guages became integral part of dif-
In late 1964, an attempt was
made to expressly provide for an
end to the use of English, but it
country. As somebody who loves
Hindi and writes in Hindi for my
livelihood, I strongly feel that if
T he conditions of the MCD run schools in Delhi must make the entire
nation cringe with shame. While the BjP must accept its responsibility
for the shameful condition, most schools across the nation will not be much
divided Pakistan on language is- later period, Urdu became the offi- ferent religious groups in Punjab. was met with protests from States Hindi is imposed on others, it different. Since only those from the poor and marginalised classes attend
sue. Of course, it took around 25 cial language of Punjab though e real trouble in Punjab such as Maharashtra, Tamil nadu, would create huge issues for the civic schools, the standards of hygiene are unlikely to match those of private
years for actual division of Pak- Punjabi was spoken by one and all. started with the census operations Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, country. Let us give fair deal to and convent schools. erefore extra attention has to be paid to this aspect.
istan. To cut the long story short, the of 1951 and 1961 when, aer in- Puducherry and the then Andhra all the native languages. Even as the nation is immersed in the task of restoring past glories,
On March 21, jinnah an- Punjabi got its legitimate status in dependence, the Hindus of Punjab Pradesh. As a result, the proposal how about paying a little more attention to the state of the civic schools?
nounced in Dacca’s Race Course India once States were carved out decided to record their mother was dropped, and the Act itself was (e author is Delhi-based e discovery of syringes and liquor bottles must worry the administra-
Ground, "Urdu, and only Urdu" on linguistic basis. Of course, very tongue as Hindi instead of Punjabi. amended in 1967 to provide that senior journalist and writer. tion and further checks are needed across the nation to see if the problem
embodied the spirit of Muslim na- acrimonious events took place in e Punjabi language became an the use of English would not be He is author of Gandhi's Delhi is widespread. Otherwise, centres of learning are in danger of becoming
tion and would remain as the state this journey. Hindus of Punjab un- instrument of political struggle. ended until a resolution to that ef- which has brought to the cradles for criminals!
language. der the influence of Hindu organ- It is good that now we have set- fect was passed by the legislature forth many hidden facts about Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
is was absolutely unaccept- isations like Arya Samaj and RSS tled the issue of our languages of every State that had not adopted Mahatma Gandhi)
thehansreader@gmail.com

Climate Change challenges for Deccan Region of Telangana


DR RAMESH CHENAMANENI

I n a hot environment, the body re-


lies mainly on two mechanisms
for cooling off and maintaining a
safe temperature: evaporation of
sweat from the skin and increased
skin blood flow. ese processes can
place strain on the heart and lungs.
Excessive heat can result in a range
Denied ticket by BJP for Council poll,
of adverse health impacts, including
heat cramps, heat edema (swelling), main web-GIS) enabling us to considered in spatial planning so
Yediyurappa's son appeals for calm
heat syncope (fainting), heat ex- analyse spatially and temporal ex- as to implement relevant recom- BEnGALURU: B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former chief minister B.S. Yediyu-
haustion, and life-threatening heat plicit climate change impacts for mendations. rappa, on Tuesday urged his supporters to exercise restraint aer they
stroke. Risk Factors also increase different combinations of scenarios Dr Ramesh Chennamaneni along with Principal Scientist Prof Elena Suryovatkina launched a social media campaign against the BjP for denying a ticket to
heat vulnerability. e elderly are in an interactive manner. It is called What measures State from PIK Germany participating at the climate change and monsoon forecasting him for the june 3 MLC bypoll. Aer the candidates' list was announced
especially susceptible to heat-related the Climate Assessment Tool for govt needs to take system workshop conducted by Indo-German Climate Research Group at PJS sans Vijayendra's name, his supporters expressed anger and criticised BjP
illness. e body’s ability to physi- Hyderabad (CATHY) With its help, Hyderabad Metropolitan Devel- Telangana Agriculture University in Hyderabad on June 4, 2016. high command and national Organisational Secretary B.L. Santhosh,
cally cope with heat is impaired by climate variables which are relevant opment Authority (HMDA), Min- who is known as a sworn enemy of Yediyurappa. "All are common party
the aging process. Additionally, a for the urban functioning of Hy- istry for Municipal Administration constructing modern houses contribute to the enrichment workers. e party has never disappointed the capable and everyone
number of chronic medical condi- derabad can be projected with a and Urban Development (Mo- with old, ancient building ar- of the tool by adding data on should restrain and maintain calm and dignity," Vijayendra said.
tions can increase vulnerability to good deal of certainty. e study MAUD) and Government of Telan- chitecture as in villages). different socio-economic di- "My father always believed that Sangh's discipline, party organisation
heat stress: obesity; vascular disease; clearly shows that a global emission gana State (GoTS) • Adapt informal settlements to mensions. as real service and went on that path. e party and people of Karnataka
multiple sclerosis; hyperthyroid; di- reduction is beneficial for Hyder- • Include and consider the cli- the effects of climate change. have enabled him to take oath as chief minister for four times for the
abetes; heart, kidney, or breathing abad and would reduce adaptation mate change predictions for • Traffic planning has to consider Literature used same reason," he explained.
problems etc. Very young children costs. Spatially explicit projections Hyderabad in the Develop- increasing flood frequencies in for the article
are also especially susceptible during of climate change impacts are pos- ment Master Plan 2031 for the presently unproblematic loca- Mathias K.B. Luedecke, Martin
heat waves, as we have seen in the sible and must be considered in Hyderabad metropolitan re- tions and should also rely on Budde, Oles Kitt and Diana Reck- ‘Sorry’ painted all over Bengaluru school,
past days. spatial planning. e results of this gion and their impacts on var- the spatially explicit CATHY ien: Evaluating Climate Change
Geography can also increase a kind of assessment then need to be ious functions of the city. results. Road and track plan- Scenarios, from AOGCMs to Hy- hunt on for culprits
community’s vulnerability to heat made available for the planning • Check the decisions of plan- ning has to be adapted respec- derabad. In: Hagedorn, Werth- BEnGALURU: In a bizarre development, unknown miscreants painted
waves. In cities, buildings, pave- processes which encompass a wide ning and development against tively. mann, Zikos and Chennamaneni: "sorry" all over the premises of a Bengaluru school on Tuesday, police
ment, and dark roofs tend to ab- variety of institutional actors their compatibility with future Imperatives for Emerging Megacities, 05/2009 said. e graffiti, appearing all over the steps of school entrance, and
sorb more heat during the day namely, the administrative and climate change scenarios. civil society Weblink:https://www.snapdeal.com walls, of Shanthidhama School, under the Kamakshipalya police station
and retain more heat during the planning authority of the metro- • Avoid development in future • Civil society has to engage ac- /product/climate-change-scenar- limits, as well as on the surrounding roads, shocked the students and
night than does the surrounding politan region, elected council of flood-prone areas and/or cre- tively in assessing and debating ios-for-hyderabad/665084591136) teachers as well as the school management in the morning.
countryside—referred to as the the corporations and municipalities ating adequate drainage infra- the development plans of Hy- e school authorities informed the police and a police team visited the
“urban heat island in the region, other elected gover- structure. derabad against the backdrop (is is the concluding spot and are checking CCTV footage to track the miscreants. ere is sus-
effect”— which can compound nance units, researchers, industries, • Settlement planning must take of climate change. part of the article; picion that the miscreants would have arrived in the guise of delivery boys
the intensity of high temperatures nGOs and other associations in the into account the likely increase • e capacities of Resident Wel- Writer is Telangana Legislative and done this around midnight. DCP, West, Sanjeev Patil said that no case
for city dwellers. civil society. in heat waves by creating ven- fare Associations and other Assembly Member, was registered in connection with the incident but investigation is on.
In order to enable planners to Spatially explicit projections of tilation corridors and shading. nGO’s need to be built so that Chairman, Indo-German Climate
deal with the complex circum- climate change impacts, such as • Buildings should be prepared they can tap the development Change Project and Humboldt
stances, the Project has developed heat wave impacts and high precip- with insulation and passive of newly developed knowledge Expert in Agriculture,
Read more at
a soware tool (based on public do- itations, are possible and can be cooling measures (How about platform CATHY and also Environment and Cooperation) https://epaper.thehansindia.com (Bengaluru edition)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Mediocrity knows
nothing higher than itself, but talent
instantly recognises genius.
— ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
EDIT
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY | MAY 25, 2022

SINCE 1928

When native population feels politically intimidated


FOUNDER EDITOR: S SADANAND tag and demonstrate that their em- ting the names withdrawn from concludes close to 150,000 voters come calendar events of the land
igrated population has smoothly the roll. They succeeded in deleting would be out of the fray. He funda- where they are settling. Assimila-
assimilated with the culture and more than 30,000 voters with bogus mentally believes his relentless tion of civilisations can enrich the

China to be blamed Head On ethos of Goa.


A new political party got regis-
tered just a couple of months be-
addresses, dual voting cards, or
questionable credentials. This ex-
ercise stunned most of the estab-
work is sanitising the state's elec-
toral landscape.
Kannada Mahasangh's political
socio-cultural common sense of
the land. However, at no stage, the
original essence of the native civil-

for its own isolation � Pramod Acharya fore Goa's assembly election last
February - Revolutionary Goans. It
began as a mass movement a cou-
lished politicians.
In a small state like ours, where
each constituency has roughly
endeavours have emerged on this
backdrop. There are several public
representatives in Goa from the
isation should get diluted, wiped
out, or threatened. Possibilities
like these can only lead to conflicts

K
annada Mahasangh in Goa ple of years before the election es- 30,000 voters, conventional politi- panchayat level upwards who are and unrest.

T
hat India lays a great store by Quad is by now quite unexpectedly declared their pousing the cause of nativism. cians assemble vote banks using not 'original' Goans. But they never Kannada Mahasangh or any such
obvious. Prime Minister Narendra Modi empha- intentions of fielding candi- Their public meetings were draw- the migrant population. Irrespec- contested with identity tags. group should embrace a very
sised the importance of the quadrilateral grouping, dates for ensuing panchayat elec- ing huge crowds. The gatherings tive of their domicile status con- Demographic imbalances are straightforward approach. If you
while attending the first in-person summit meeting held in tions. This declaration received revolved around one central figure siderable individuals are enrolled bound to happen in the times we want to contest an election, at any
Washington. The meeting assumed significance for not plenty of criticism and brickbats. - Manoj Parab - one of the founding as voters. Those temporarily resid- live in. But these imbalances level, do not hop into the fray with
just articulating their shared beliefs and values, but also There was a massive uproar about members of the organisation and ing in the state are bestowed with should not upend the social, cul- identity tags or your caste, creed,
for the plan of action, India, the US, Australia, and Japan 'non-native' inhabitants attempting the face of the movement. In his water, electricity, and other essen- tural, and interpersonal fabric of or region. Any native population
have been chalking out. US President Joe Biden has taken to conquer the corridors of power. rabble-rousing style, Manoj ap- will view these tags with complete
the initiative to unroll the Indo-Pacific Economic Frame- The general population was not
comfortable. Everyone conceded
pealed to the 'sons and daughters of
the soil' to retake the political, eco-
If you want to contest an election, at any level, do suspicion and absolute disdain. It
is always in the interest of society
work for Prosperity (IPEF). India has already welcomed
the initiative and said that it would be an active partner in that the Mahasangh was within its nomic, and social hegemony of not hop into the fray with identity tags or your that no elections are fought based
constitutional liberty and one can Goans. on such sectarian divides. Every
this new international effort. Seven out of the 10 ASEAN
countries, all the four Quad nations, and New Zealand are do nothing legally to stall their in- There were three distinct compo- caste, creed, or region. Any native population will candidate ought to have the same
members of the IPEF. As Biden has explained, the IPEF is tentions. However, a considerable
chunk of the community did not
nents of this pitch that made the
public meetings eyesore for every
view these tags with complete suspicion and goal - progress.
So, contest an election if you de-
not a conventional trade organisation and it would, there-
fore, not even discuss trade tariffs among member nations
want them to contest. Why? political party in the land. The par- absolute disdain. Every candidate ought to have sire to. Go to the people. Seek their
This, presumably, is a tribulation ty attracted an enormous chunk of blessings. Present your agenda.
or fix quotas for imports or exports. Among themselves,
with every small state. The aborig- youngsters aged between 18 to 30. the same goal - progress. Seek votes. Win by popular man-
these countries represent 40 per cent of the world GDP. inal population is limited (in the The throngs grew bigger with date and get elected.
This, itself, is a pointer to how important the new grouping case of Goa it is merely a 15 lakhs every new meeting purely by word Postscript: During this election
is. The four main areas of concern for the IPEF are besides population and 10 lakh voters) and of mouth and their mascot Manoj tial connections registered in their any state. When an aboriginal pop- campaign, considering his hardlin-
trade, supply chain resiliency, clean energy, and decarbon- it feels intimidated by the in- Parab started attaining a status of name. Many politicians have creat- ulation starts feeling like a minori- er agenda, everyone wondered
isation. As Modi pointed out, trust, transparency, and time- tractable influx from the other a cult leader. ed slums or mohallas in their re- ty in its land and gets politically en- whether Manoj Parab will end with
liness are key to the success of the initiative. states. Demographic imbalances Now, the Revolutionary Goans spective constituencies with hun- dangered by sheer overwhelming Raj Thackeray's model of a political
There can be no denying that China is not happy with the start surfacing in every sphere of Party has one MLA in the Goa as- dreds of such voters. These vote numbers, the reactions are usually party or Arvind Kejriwal's model of
formation of either Quad or the IPEF. In fact, it should not daily life and suddenly a statement sembly. They are the third-largest banks determine who wins an elec- drastic and severe. electoral success. Interestingly, Rev-
hold grudges in the formation of either. For instance, the like that of Kannada Mahasangh political party in the state, now tion in close contests. Revolution- If a large population from one olutionary Goans have landed up in
IPEF is still in its infancy. The member nations have to for- flares the controversy. with approximately a 10% vote ary Goans precisely pounded this state, settles in another, in a geo- the middle. They won only one seat
mulate the rules and regulations that will govern their Following a fierce reaction from a share. They have arrived in the an- base of many established satraps graphically concentrated area, it is but emerged as the third-largest
functioning. As Biden mentioned and Modi underlined, it cross-section of the society, the Ma- nals of the power structure. under the guise of weeding out du- of paramount importance that the party in terms of the popular vote -
is not aimed at any non-member, including China. The rea- hasangh has chosen to shelve their The party carried out a tremen- bious migrant voters. Getting relocated populace imbibes the val- a very potent combination.
son why China is upset is not far to seek. At one time, Chi- plan to contest under the banner of dous exercise before the election of 30,000 doubtful voters nullified is ues and ethos of the land. Original
na was the favourite destination for foreign direct invest- Kannada Mahasangh. They do identifying dubious voters (mostly the statistical equivalent of getting cultural practices and traditions of Pramod Acharya is a senior journalist
ment. Over the years, it also earned the status as the want to contest the elections but as migrants) in the electoral roll, con- an entire voting roll of a con- the migrated population should be and columnist and the Editor of
world’s manufacturing hub. Name any consumer item like Goans, they say now. They want to veying these specific cases before stituency in Goa wiped off. Manoj carried forward, rather, such festi- Prudent Media, Goa. He tweets at
computers, mobile phones, and cameras - they might have do away with the region-specific the election commission, and get- Parab asserts that by the time he vals and celebrations should be- @PramodGoa
American or European, or Japanese names but they were

BJP rids one of its own CMs to douse infighting


all assembled or manufactured in China. If China’s econo-
my has grown larger than Japan’s and if it is likely to
emerge as the world’s largest economy in the foreseeable
future, it is because of the shift of capital to China. Many
multinational companies like Apple have found that India ra. Top leaders flew from Delhi to man left the BJP party and joined liament from Tripura. This raises minister of the Biplab Deb cabi-
is a better manufacturing hub. It has a very large qualified Agartala for Deb's swearing-in the Congress, there were no signs the question of why, if the BJP had net, Jishnu Deb Barman, was also
workforce and a democratic system that exercises its own
checks and balances that rule out violations of labour Here, There, ceremony. On the stage, Modi-
Shah was accompanied by Lal Kr-
of a decline in infighting.
Meanwhile, the Mamata Baner-
a plan to get him as the CM of the
state, did they appoint him to the
absent. This indicates the de-
plorable organisational condition
rules. Small wonder that more and more companies are
now shifting their factories to India. True, other countries Everywhere ishna Advani, Rajnath Singh,
Murli Manohar Joshi, and Vijay
jee-led Trinamool Congress is try-
ing to woo the voters. This party
Rajya Sabha?
However, the ground reality is
of the BJP.
The disenchantment of IPFT is
in the region have also been attracting foreign direct in- Rupani. Everyone on the stage speaks the language of the peo- different. The appointment of a big issue for the BJP because
vestment. China has only itself to blame for its own grow- �Sayantan Ghosh witnessed that "Baiplabik" (revo- ple, and Banerjee has great mass Saha has not brought an end to this party has the support of the
ing isolation. It has border disputes with virtually all its lutionary) moment. appeal. If the BJP's infighting the infighting within the tribal community. Without the

F
neighbouring countries. Instead of resolving the differ- our years ago, the This victory of the BJP was sig- continues, the TMC will benefit Bharatiya Janata Party‘s Tripura support of the tribals, the return
ences, China has with India, it has been creating more and Bharatiya Janata Party se- nificant not only because of the de- because, unlike the CPIM and the unit. This kind of decision from to power for the BJP could be dif-
more problems on the India-China border. It does not re- cured a significant victory feat of the Left, but also because Congress, Banerjee has become Delhi does not help to douse the ficult in the state. Meanwhile, the
alise that India is not the same as in 1962 and it is more than in the state of Tripura. A state this was the BJP's first grand vic- an expert at luring political lead- infighting at the state level be- royal family's Pradyot Bikram
willing and capable to counter any challenge from across which has mostly been under Left tory within the Bengali communi- ers from other parties. In Tripu- cause the issues are regional, Manikya Deb Barma's party is
the border. China considers the South China Sea virtually rule voted for the saffron party ty. Following this victory, the BJP ra, the strength of the Left and community-centric, and grass- also targeting tribal-dominated
as its own territory. To put it differently, Beijing claims al- and the BJP chose Biplab Kumar did well in the Lok Sabha elections areas. There is a sense that if the
most all of the 1.3 million square miles of the sea as its sov- Deb as the Chief Minister of the
party. However, within four years,
in Bengal too. These two victories
gave the BJP the confidence to
The saffron party had a good political strategy disenchantment of the IPFT does
not go away, then they might sup-
ereign territory. It has been building military bases on ar-
tificial islands in the region, also claimed by Brunei, the top brass of the BJP had to re- launch a massive campaign to con- but failed to understand the sentiments of the port Barma's party.
move him as the CM. While for quer Bengal during its assembly Meanwhile, internal reports of
Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Is it any
wonder that they resent China’s attempt to control the re- the BJP, replacing a CM a year be- elections of 2021. But, the BJP community. The factionalism in the party has the state reached the central lead-
gion as a superpower without even becoming one? For
fore the elections is not new, the
case of Tripura is much different
failed miserably.
A few days ago, Amit Shah him-
reached its peak and the BJP itself has become ership and they panicked. What
will the BJP's fate be in Tripura
once, the US has clarified that it would go to the rescue of
Taiwan if it was threatened by China.
from the other states. The grow- self spoke of making Tripura a the enemy of the BJP. Even after Sudip Roy when the time comes? Only time
ing infighting within the saffron model state under the leadership has the answer to this.
What President Joe Biden said is not a contradiction of party is the key reason why the of Biplab Dev. Before 2016, the Barman left the BJP party and joined the But, the lesson for the BJP
America’s own “one China” policy. All it means is that Chi-
na cannot outrightly annex Taiwan. In other words, the
BJP had to remove Deb and bring
in Manik Saha as the new CM.
BJP received reports that the
winds of change were blowing in
Congress, there were no signs of a decline should be that understanding the
ground realities is key to any suc-
people of Taiwan will have the right to decide what destiny
they should have. It cannot be dictated by China. It is
Prime Minister Narendra Tripura and that the BJP may in infighting. cess. The centralised way of run-
Modi's campaign slogan for the come to power. After receiving ning state units has played havoc
against this backdrop that China has been resenting the 2016 Tripura Assembly Election this report, the central leadership on the Congress party, and now
formation of Quad and the IPEF. One concern the US ad- was "Mujhe Hira Chahiye, Manik of the saffron party decided to Congress is also significant. In roots level. the BJP is heading towards the
ministration has is the protection of the interests of the Nahi" (I want Hira, not Manik). put its full strength into this such a situation, the BJP wanted A significant number of the same. The infighting of the
American people. Many of them have reservations about After four years and three northeastern state. The BJP won to stop the infighting and brought BJP leaders were unhappy with Tripura BJP is increasing, the
the Chinese policies and they would like American com- months, Modi wanted Manik. But the election and handed power in the new CM. this decision. There is a growing need of the hour is not hasty po-
panies to shift their manufacturing bases to countries in this is, of course, not the veteran over to the RSS. Changing a chief minister before sense that many BJP leaders who litical decisions but patience and
the IPEF. If a company had the freedom to invest in China, CPIM leader and former CM But in less than four years, the elections is not unlikely for the were close to Biplab Deb might empathy towards the issues they
it should also have the freedom to shift to another country. Manik Sarkar, but Saha. By HIRA BJP's dream was shattered. The Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP leave the party and join other po- are raising.
For instance, what motivated it to go to China was the PM Modi did not mean diamond saffron party had a good political has done this in Uttarakhand, Kar- litical parties like the (Congress
cheap labour available there. They also relied on the dicta- though. He meant Highway, Iway strategy but failed to understand nataka, and Gujarat. In Tripura, or the normal Congress). Signifi- The author is an independent journalist
torial style of functioning of the Chinese system. Howev- (Digital Communications), Road- the sentiments of the community. the saffron party followed the cantly, during the oath-taking cer- based in Kolkata and a former policy
er, they could not realise the long-term political and other ways, and Airways. The factionalism in the party has same trend, but this decision was emony of Manik Saha, several research fellow at the Delhi Assembly
implications of the investment. Now that they know it, After the victory, the BJP made reached its peak and the BJP it- not preplanned. For example, just MLAs and cabinet members of Research Center. Views expressed are
they cannot be blamed for looking for alternatives. If the Biplab Deb, the handiwork of the self has become the enemy of the 40 days ago, Manik Saha was nom- Dev were absent. It is also impor- entirely personal. He tweets at
RSS, the Chief Minister of Tripu- BJP. Even after Sudip Roy Bar- inated to the Upper House of Par- tant to note that the deputy chief @sayantan_gh
IPEF provides better investment opportunities, why
should China complain?

FPJ Archives COUNTDOWN TO 75 YEARS


OF INDEPENDENCE Sarve Jana level, if one is better off than the previous state, then it is con-
tributing to the collective (macro’s) betterment.

Sukhino Bhavantu
What is being forgotten here is the micro (individual’s)
MAY 27, 1947 deep embeddedness in the macro (world). The efforts of the
micro (individual) to become better than the previous state
— Dr. S. Ainavolu may result in other micro (individuals) possibly becoming
worse off. Thus, the ‘new normal’ collective happiness levels

T
he mahavakyas tell us that there is no difference be- can be lower than the original! Caution, please.
tween THAT and each of THIS and each of us is not The prevailing consumerist approach to life is resulting in
the bodily/egoistic “I” we identify with. ‘Seeing one in splash and materialism and emphasis on truer dimensions
all and all in one’ is the desired ‘ONENESS’ state. The has reduced. Spending uncertain ‘future earnings’ in cur-
whole journey is around the realisation that ‘there rent times on ‘false goods’ (craved but not needed)
can’t be any second but the source of all’. This ONE- leads to long-run disengagement and poor sustainabil-
NESS realisation is the proof-point that one’s spiritual ity anchoring. Current ‘growth-based develop-
journey has reached the pinnacle. ment’ models have limitations at the macro level.
With this, the inner life reaches a new orbit. The Strain is already visible in the form of climate
outer life too shall be qualitatively different as one change-related challenges. Sustainable consump-
sees nothing but the ‘spark’, and hence, tion alone shall lead to better outcomes
one can’t have insular conduct with any. GUIDING LIGHT for all stakeholders at the macro level, is a
‘Life is continuous’ is the belief one has fact that needs to be appreciated. Spiritu-
to have when one commences the spiritual journey. Else the ally filled lives with lesser ‘resource footprints’ shall alone
Charvaka tenet shall prevail and ‘enjoy the moment’ be- lead to a better context and facilitate a deeper journey for in-
comes the sole guideline; the soul shall go missing. A similar dividuals.
‘school’ was witnessed in the last century wherein ‘enlight- Hence, our wish for “Sukhino Bhavantu” has to be more
ened self-interest’ was supposed to drive the average levels of inclusive and aimed at “Sarve Jana”.
happiness to higher levels. (Dr. S. Ainavolu is a professor at VPSM, Navi Mumbai. Views
The underlying belief behind such a hypothesis is ‘macro’ are personal. You can find more articles are at:
(the world) is full of ‘micros’ (individuals) and at the micro- https://www.ainavolu.in/blog)

(Spiritual organisations keen to be featured in this space contact : features@fpj.co.in)

One flew over the nest #QutubMinar WEDNESDAY'S SWIPE


It is unbelievable, the amount of court time being spent on these irrelevant issues
when there are lakhs of pending cases stuck in the system!
Dr. Kailash Koppikar @koppik
Pity that Shri ex-ASI is so totally ignorant about history! #QutubMinar has a twin,
in Afghanistan. Both towers were erected by the same dynasty to commemorate
their battle victories. Do the zealots now claim that Vikramaditya also built
#JamMinar in Afghanistan?
Don't Meddle With Map of India Rakesh Sharma @rakeshfilm

GANDHIJI'S WARNING TO BRITAIN India is heaven for Muslims.


Muslim Spaces @MuslimSpaces
NEW DELHI, May 26. MAHATMA GANDHI in his after-prayer
speech this evening urged "every patriot and certainly the British Quite a few liberals believed that Sangh Parivar would be satisfied after the
power to face out the worst violence and leave India as it can be BabriMasjid verdict went in their favour. But, it clearly was a beginning. Now they
left under the Cabinet's Mission document of May 16 last year" are going after #GyanvapiMosque, #qutubminar, #Tajmahal...the list will never
and expressed the hope that India free will not give the world an be complete. That's their true nature.
additional object lesson in violence with which is it already sick S.R. Praveen @myopiclenses
almost unto death."
MUMBAI

4 THINK BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • MAY 25 • 2022

0
xyz

wednesday, may 25, 2022


Taking ESG reporting to the next level
Some order in chaos SEBI’s amendments in 2021 mark a significant departure in reporting norms for listed firms. But more needs to be done
GAURAV DAYAL/SHYLLA SAWHNEY Recently, in 2021, SEBI by amend­
Sri Lanka’s PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is right in ing  the  SEBI  (Listing  Obligations

T
raditionally,  investment and Disclosure Requirements), 2015
focussing on resolving economic issues first decisions  have  mainly (LODR  Regulations)  vide circular
been  driven  by  financial dated May 10, 2021 replaced the ex­

A
faint glimmer of hope for some order parameters.  However, isting  BRR  reporting  requirement
with growing concerns around cli­ with  a  more  comprehensive  integ­
is  slowly  emerging  amid  the  chaos
mate  change  (and  its  impending rated mechanism, the Business Re­
that has engulfed Sri Lanka. The lifting global  impact),  adapting  to  and sponsibility  and  Sustainability  Re­
of  the  state  of  emergency  by  Ranil mitigating  its  consequences  by port  (BRSR),  and  mandatorily
Wickremesinghe shows that he’s in control of the transitioning  to  sustainable  mod­ applicable  to  the  top  1,000  listed
besieged  nation’s  affairs.  This  should  offer  a els of development (and therefore, entities  (by  market  capitalisation)
investment) have emerged as major from  financial  year  2022­23
measure  of  comfort  for  India  as  Sri  Lanka  was concerns on an international scale. onwards.
seen as drifting towards China under the leader­ There is an increasing investor fo­ The  BRSR  seeks  disclosures  from
ship of the Rajapaksas. The proposed 21st amend­ cus  on  sustainability  investing, listed entities on their performance
ment  to  the  Constitution,  aimed  at  curbing  the shifting  from  finance­centric  in­ against  the  nine  principles  of  the
vestment  models  to  more  socially ‘National  Guidelines  on  Respons­
unfettered  powers  of  President  Gotabaya  Ra­ and  environmentally  responsible ible  Business  Conduct’  (NGBRCs)
japaksa,  was  presented  to  the  Cabinet  this long­term investing trends. As a res­ and reporting under each principle
Monday.  Prime  Minister  Wickremesinghe  sens­ ult, the demand for Environmental, is segregated into essential indicat­
ibly  decided  it  should  be  studied  by  all  parties. Social and Governance (ESG) invest­ ors  (mandatory  disclosures)  and
ing has gained significant traction leadership  indicators  (voluntary
Two  lawmakers  from  the  principal  opposition
globally which focusses on non­fin­ disclosures).
party,  the  Samagi  Jana  Balawegaya  (SJB),  broke ancial  factors  as  a  metric  for  guid­ The  BRSR  is  a  significant  depar­
ranks last week to join the new Government led ing  investment  decisions  wherein ture from the erstwhile BRR report­
by Wickremesinghe, the five­term Prime Minister increased  financial  returns  is  no ing.  It  is  more  focussed  on  having
and  perhaps  the  only  politician  with  the  band­ longer  the  sole  objective  of quantifiable  metrics  and  is  out­
investors. come oriented. Some of the key dis­
width and maturity to steer the island nation to­ closures sought in the BRSR include Green way The reporting standards have evolved over time but some glitches remain/ISTOCKPHOTO
wards any semblance of stability from its current Reporting rules (a)  an  overview  of  the  entity’s  ma­
sorry state. An  increasing  demand  for  ESG  in­ terial  ESG  risks  and  opportunities, line  with  the  objective  of  seeking and  environmentally  conscious and  extensive  ESG  reporting  re­
The  demands  for  President  Gotabaya  to  step vesting  means  a  growing  need  for approach  to  mitigate  or  adapt  to greater transparency on sustainab­ businesses  is  increasing  signific­ gime,  with  the  aim  of  encom­
adequate disclosure and reporting the  risks  along  with  financial  im­ ility issues. antly.  Implications  of  not  taking passing all listed as well as unlisted
down are still vociferous but there seems to be a mechanisms  to  be  put  in  place  to plications of the same, (b) sustain­ Indian  investors  are  showing  in­ ESG  factors  into  consideration  in entities  and  bringing  them  within
gradual realisation among the political class that keep pace with the changing invest­ ability  related  goals,  targets  and creased  interest  in  ESG  compliant business  strategy/policies  may  res­ the  purview  of  the  ESG  reporting
the  country  desperately  needs  a  contingent  ac­ ing trends leaning towards goals of performance,  (c)  environmental companies  and  investment ult in business processes becoming framework,  moving  towards  the
tion plan on the economy front first. To either im­ long­term  sustainable  returns,  by disclosures  covering  aspects  such products  and  companies  are  pro­ redundant  in  future,  due  to  legal goal  of  a  more  sustainable,  trans­
incorporating  risk  assessment  and as  usage  of  resources  (energy  and actively taking steps towards incul­ and  regulatory  changes  which parent, and long­term viable invest­
peach a President who led his party to a two­third
mitigating  measures  of  environ­ water),  air  pollutant  emissions, cating  ESG  in  their  corporate  gov­ might forbid particular ways of do­ ing trend. 
majority or to oust him through a no trust vote mental,  social  and  governance waste  management  practices,  (d) ernance  strategies.  For  instance, ing  business,  thereby  reducing  its However,  this  does  not  come
would entail long drawn out processes; in the in­ challenges. social  disclosures  such  as  gender Tata  Consultancy  Services  revealed viability in the eyes of investors.  without  challenges.  The  lack  of
terim, essential supplies, fuel and food shortages In  India,  the  one  of  the  initial and  social  diversity,  corporate  so­ plans to reduce its absolute green­ Therefore, investors are not only standardisation  of  reporting  re­
can hardly be left unaddressed. Wickremesinghe milestones towards identifying ESG cial responsibility, (e) disclosures in house gas emissions to achieve net oriented  towards  securing  in­ quirements  across  borders  may
disclosure  requirements  for  com­ relation to product labelling and re­ zero emissions by 2030. creased  financial  returns  but  are pose  difficulties  in  harmonising
has  the  experience  and  acceptability,  most  not­ panies  was  the  release  of  the  Na­ call,  consumer  complaints  in  re­ Similarly, Hindustan Unilever set looking  to  align  their  portfolios ESG  principles,  frameworks  and
ably with the international community, the IMF, tional  Voluntary  Guidelines  on  So­ spect of data privacy, cyber security, up a centre in Mumbai to cater to is­ with  sustainable  development. considerations.
the World Bank and the neighbouring countries, cial,  Environmental  and  Economic (f)  Governance  related  disclosures sues  of  lack  of  personal  hygiene, Thus,  integrating  ESG  disclosures Further,  challenges  relating  to
particularly  India.  He  seems  to  have  hit  the Responsibilities of Business (NVGs) such as a statement from the direct­ non­availability  of  clean  drinking with  corporate  governance  prac­ transparency, consistency, material­
in 2011 by the Ministry of Corporate ors  highlighting  sustainability  re­ water and poor sanitation in slums.  tices of companies is becoming ex­ ity and comparability of ESG stand­
ground running. In his first address to the nation, Affairs (MCA).  lated  challenges,  targets  and  per­ In  a  first  of  a  kind  move,  the tremely  consequential  from  an  in­ ards  may  pose  roadblocks  in  the
the five­term PM came out with a set of proposals Following this, in 2012 the Secur­ formance and so on. Ghaziabad  Municipal  Corporation vestment  standpoint  as  it  plays  a seamless implementation of ESG re­
for economic revival including a new alternative ities  and  Exchange  Board  of  India Having  quantitative  and  stand­ became  the  first  ever  civic  body  in significant  role  in  assessing  the porting  framework  ahead.  These
budget, privatisation of the loss­making national (SEBI)  formulated  the  Business  Re­ ardised  disclosures  on  ESG  para­ India to issue green bonds listed on valuation of companies. concerns  must  be  addressed  in  or­
sponsibility Reports (BRR) emanat­ meters  would  ensure  a  more  hol­ the BSE for an environmentally sus­ der to formulate an effective and ef­
carrier  Sri  Lankan  Airlines,  and  printing  more
ing from the NVGs which mandated istic  approach,  providing tainable  project  for  wastewater  re­ The way forward ficient mechanism of ESG reporting
money to pay state sector employees. top  100  listed  entities  by  market stakeholders  with  both  financial use,  raising  ₹150  crore,  the  pro­ ESG  regulatory  framework  is  rap­ in future.
While India has transferred aid in terms of fuel capitalisation to file BRR as part of and non­financial information and ceeds of which will be utilised for a idly evolving in India and there has
(40,000  tonnes  each  of  petrol  and  diesel)  rice, their annual report.  concise communication about how tertiary  water  treatment  plant  to been a marked upward trend in the Dayal is a Partner and Sawhney a
medicines and milk powder, it can also play a role This  requirement  was  progress­ an  organisation’s  strategy,  gov­ benefit industries in Ghaziabad. incidence and quality of reporting Senior Associate with
ively extended to the top 500 listed ernance,  performance  and  pro­ From an investment perspective, by companies. The aim is to gradu­ Lakshmikumaran & Sridhran
in  the  negotiations  with  multilateral  agencies. entities in 2015. spects will create value over time, in the demand for investing in socially ally  build  a  more  comprehensive Attorneys
There  is  popular  anger  in  the  island  nation
against China and its debt­trap diplomacy, which
has led to assets such as the Hambantota port vir­
tually  becoming  its  own  piece  of  land  in  that
country – this has converged with anger against
the  Rajapaksas.  China  ‘holds  more  than  10  per
cent  of  the  over  $50­billion  debt  owed  by  Sri
Apex court’s ruling on GST is a watershed
Lanka,  which  is  a  conservative  estimate.  Mean­ The judgment is likely to have some impact on the GST Council’s functioning. Collaborative decision making is the way forward
while, the Lankan Cabinet has approved seeking a
$500­million loan from Exim Bank of India. It has MOHAN R LAVI Parliament intended for the re­ define reverse charge and prescribe interest of federal balance. 
commendations of the GST Council the  entity  that  is  to  be  taxed  for

I
already  received  $500  million  from  Exim  Bank n  tax  laws,  every  once  in  a to only have a persuasive value, par­ these purposes. The specification of Impact of the judgment
and another $200 million from State Bank of In­ while,  a  Supreme  Court  de­ ticularly  when  interpreted  along the recipient — in this case the im­ This judgment of the apex court is
dia.  Sri  Lanka’s  central  bank  has  imposed  trade cision gets the ‘landmark’ tag.  with the objective of the GST regime porter  —  by  Notification  10/2017  is bound to have some impact on the
credit restrictions on exports to bolster its forex The  recent  Supreme  Court to  foster  cooperative  federalism only  clarificatory.  While  import  of working of the GST Council. Collab­
reserves – now at barely $2 billion, while its debt ruling  in  the  Mohit  Minerals  case and harmony between the constitu­ services qualifies for reverse charge orative  decision  making  would  be
has  earned  that  tag.  The  issue  be­ ent units.  under this notification, this cannot the way forward — this is easier said
obligations this year are estimated at $8.6 billion. fore  the  apex  court  was  whether Parliament and  the  State  legis­ be extended to cases where IGST has than  done  since  a  few  States  have
Its  foreign  debt  is  about  60  per  cent  of  its  GDP, GST  could  be  levied  on  ocean latures  possess  simultaneous already been paid.  strong  views  on  certain  aspects  of
while inflation arising out of shortages rages at freight  when  IGST  has  been  levied power to legislate on GST.  The apex court has observed that GST  taxation  and  the  decision  in
40 per cent. India should do everything it can to on  the  total  transaction  value The ‘recommendations’ of  the the impugned levy imposed on the Mohit  Minerals  gives  them  more
which included freight.  GST Council are the product of a col­ ‘service’ aspect of the transaction is teeth. 
bail Sri Lanka out of its crisis. A reset away from The  apex  court  struck  down  the laborative  dialogue  involving  the in violation of the principle of ‘com­ It is expected that the GST Coun­
Chinese  dependence  would  work  to  the  benefit levy as unconstitutional and ended Union  and  States.  They  are  recom­ posite supply’ enshrined under Sec­ cil would not recommend anything
of India and Sri Lanka. In Wickremesinghe, India the  controversy  over  double  taxa­ mendatory  in  nature.  To  regard Judgment time on GST RV MOORTHY tion 2(30) read with Section 8 of the that could turn out to be controver­
has an ally. tion  on  ocean  freight.  What  inter­ them  as  binding  edict  would  dis­ CGST Act. Since the Indian importer sial. 
ested everyone during the course of rupt  fiscal  federalism,  where  both the provisions of the CGST Act and is liable to pay IGST on the ‘compos­ While the decision in Mohit Min­
this  decision  was  the  observations the  Union  and  the  States  are  con­ IGST  Act,  is  bound  by  the  recom­ ite  supply’,  comprising  supply  of erals  does  not  give  State  govern­
of the Court on the GST Council. ferred  equal  power  to  legislate  on mendations of the GST Council.  goods  and  supply  of  services  of ments  unilateral  powers  of  taxa­
GST.  However,  that  does  not  mean transportation, insurance, etc. in a tion, it sends a message to the GST
The judgment It is not  imperative  that  one  of that  all  the  recommendations  of c.i.f. contract, a separate levy on the Council to listen to all voices includ­
POCKET RAVIKANTH
The operative part of the court rul­
ing was that the recommendations
the  federal  units  must  always  pos­
sess a higher share in the power for
the  GST  Council  made  by  virtue  of
the  power  of  Article  279A  (4)  are
Indian  importer  for  the  ‘supply  of
services’ by the shipping line would
ing  those  of  protest.  The  States’
powers  to  tax  may  not  extend  to
of the GST Council are not binding the federal units to make decisions.  binding on the legislature’s power be  in  violation  of  Section  8  of  the items outside the GST Act. 
on the Union and States for the fol­ The  government,  while  exer­ to enact primary legislation.  CGST Act. In essence, the Centre can­
lowing reasons:  cising its rule­making power under The  IGST  Act  and  the  CGST  Act not a tax a transaction twice, in the The writer is a chartered accountant

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.

Banking on policy rates Politicking must be shunned age on the revenue front. But they committee. Had the well meaning the stick. The commission paid to


With  reference  to  media  reports This refers to the news report ‘Ra­ can certainly do a better job of bal­ reports of its previous committees them has also not seen much hike
indicating that RBI Governor Shak­ jasthan,  Maharashtra  and  Kerala ancing  economic  considerations been implemented in their 'letter and  in  their  alacrity  to  improve
tikanta Das has hinted at another taking undue credit for fuel price and political compulsions to keep and spirit', things would not have the  bottomline,  these  operators
interest rate hike at the next MPC cut’, (May 24). In a bid to tame in­ the  wheels  of  growth  moving come to such a pass. further stifle these workers by pay­
meeting, all this was all but expec­ flation,  the  Union  Government rapidly. But,  sadly,  a  majority  of  them ing them low. 
ted.  slashed excise duty on petrol and N Sadhasiva Reddy have remained confined on paper The  gig  workers  having  ac­
While  the  central  bank’s  focus diesel  by  ₹8  and  ₹6  per  litre, Bengaluru only,  necessitating  the  setting  up quired  the  domain  knowledge
would  be  on  curbing  inflation, respectively. of yet another ‘committee’ led by and  customer­centric  skills,  are
which  has  been  consistently The  Centre  has  now  put  the Customer services in banks its former Deputy Governor.  now  fast  shifting  to  other  jobs.
breaching  its  tolerance  level  for onus  on  States  to  reduce  VAT  on Apropos  ‘RBI  sets  up  6­member Kumar Gupt Post the Covid scenario, when the
the  past  four  months,  it  is  also  a fuel  to  provide  relief  to  con­ committee to review customer ser­ Panchkula (Haryana) economy  has  eased,  business  es­
fact  that  the  current  steps  taken sumers.  In  an  unsavoury  war  of vice standards’ May 24), while the tablishments  are  scaling  up  their
are  unlikely  to  control  runaway words, the Union government and “terms  of  reference”  of  this  all Woes of gig workers businesses to the pre­Covid levels.
food inflation. the Opposition­ruled States are ac­ powerful  committee  appear  to Most  gig,  aka  platform,  workers However,  in  the  post  pandemic
The  RBI  has  little  leverage  in cusing each other of fleecing hap­ have been “designed and devised” work  in  a  impersonal  environ­ period,  the  consumers  now  have
reining  in  credit  extended  by less  end­users.  But,  no  political for completely overhauling as also ment.  The  employing  firms  not become ‘virtual­centric’ — be it vir­
private banks.  party  can  afford  to  take  an  am­ ‘revolutionising’  the  extant  poor only try to shrink the value chain, tual  dining,  shopping,  or  movie
Moreover,  despite  the  RBI  and biguous  stand  on  fuel  prices  and shaped ‘Customer Services’ in the but  never  care  about  the  woes  of watching.  Under  such  a  scenario,
the  government  having  entered taxes as their fluctuations impact Indian  banking  industry  (mainly these workers. A case in point is Zo­ it  makes  business  sense  to  pay
into another phase of coordinated the voting public on a daily basis.  PSBs) but it also goes without say­ mato’s promise of 10­minute food more  to  these  experienced  gig
action  to  cool  down  inflation, However,  with  the  political ing that the effective implementa­ delivery to its customers. workers by loosening their purse.
their  actions  may  only  have  lim­ battle­lines so sharply drawn, it is tion of its imminent suggestions, However,  in  all  these  cases,  the Otherwise  they  will  lose  experi­
ited impact.  naïve  to  expect  Central  and  state remains the usual suspect.  vulnerable  constituents  of  the enced workers. 
Vinayak G governments to agree on a fuel tax It is not for the first time that the value chain i.e. the platform work­ PSS Murthy
New Delhi structure that minimises the dam­ RBI  is  setting  up  a  'pro­customer' ers  always  get  the  wrong  end  of Hyderabad

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No. 22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528

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BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • MAY 25 • 2022 THINK 5

For a robust supply chain


India Inc must discover where investments are needed
Climate change threatens food security
DEEPAK SOOD must use this challenging period to dis­ With more heatwaves predicted, India must make the farm sector less vulnerable to climate effects
cover  where  investments  are  needed.

T
he disruption in global supply For  instance,  in  supply  chain  procure­ tiated  a  contract  with  a  Canadian  sup­
chains  in  the  wake  of  the ment,  areas  for  immediate  attention plier  and  secured  substantial  nitrogen
Covid­19  pandemic  has  cre­ would be to develop a revitalised digit­ volumes through tenders. “Thus, India’s
ated  a  challenging  situation ally  powered  procurement  operating immediate needs have been met, but it is
for countries across the globe. Many na­ model and new systems of functioning likely  to  need  to  take  action  again
tions  have  experienced  severe  short­ with the entire supplier ecosystem.  in coming months,” Rabobank said.    
ages  of  goods  and  commodity  prices Also,  there  is  a  need  to  minimise Beyond  the  war,  climate  change
have  shot  up.  This  has  adversely  im­ wastage in terms of expenditure and to presents an array of challenges. Agricul­
pacted countries, including India.  conserve cash for future growth meas­ PARAN BALAKRISHNAN ture  expert  Devinder  Sharma  suggests
While  the  situation  sounds  grim,  it ures. Investments must be made to bol­ we  look  at  growing  hardier  crops  like
offers India with a lifetime opportunity ster infrastructure to engender a strong THE WIDER ANGLE millet  (which  are  also  reckoned  to  be
to  strengthen  its  manufacturing supply  chain  management  system, more nutritious) that requires less wa­

I
prowess and position itself as a critical which  would  be  in  sync  with  the  cur­ t’s been a perfect storm, combining ter.  Millet  is  already  grown  in  large
hub in global value chains. rent global scenario. climate change with an unexpected quantities in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
In fact, in May 2020, when the coun­ Companies  need  to  adopt  cognitive war  in  Europe.  Yes,  we  lived  from and  Madhya  Pradesh.  We  can  also  de­
try was in the throes of the pandemic, planning,  AI­driven  predictive  analyt­ “ship­to­mouth,”  as  the  phrase velop new seeds and improve our tech­
Prime  Minister  Narendra  Modi,  in  his ics,  advanced  track  and  trace,  and went, back in the bad old 1960s. But then nology. We also have to fix the problem
address to the nation, shared his vision blockchain technologies to be an effect­ came  the  Green  Revolution  and  grain of grain storage, improve irrigation cov­
of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or a self­reli­ ive part of global supply chains. mountains for which we had no proper Blistering heatwave and extreme low rainfall have shrivelled wheat yields PTI
erage, make more effective use of fertil­
ant  India  to  strengthen  the  country’s Notably, it is significant to check and storage. The spectre of widespread hun­ iser and manage soil better. 
social and economic pillars. He defined validate  Business  Continuity  Planning ger was banished forever, so we believed. treme weather events, once thought to scheme  for  six  months  till Our irrigation coverage is just 45 per
the  economy,  infrastructure,  system, (BCP).  Covid­19  was  an  unprecedented Suddenly,  though,  we’re  talking  about occur  once­in­100  years,  are  now  30 end­September. cent which means a bad monsoon can
demography,  and  demand  as  the  five event.  In  the  pre­pandemic  era,  busi­ India’s food security in real­time and be­ times  more  likely  than  before  (or But India and Pakistan aren’t alone in spell disaster. Can we increase our grain
pillars to build the “new normal”.  nesses were not designed for such dis­ ing bombarded with warnings of global between  every  three­to­five  years). having extreme heat events. France ex­ output?  Let’s  look  to  China  which  has
ruptions. Corporates must un­ hunger.  What’s  equally  alarming  is  March  was perienced  record  temperatures  of  30­ around 127.9 million hectares of arable
Slew of reforms derstand  that  inadequately The immediate trigger has been Rus­ also  one  of  the  driest  recorded,  and 35C  on  several  days  in  May.  “We’re land, according to state figures, and pro­
In terms of investments, the planned or costly BCPs will fail sia’s invasion of Ukraine that’s gummed April’s rainfall was also way below nor­ already in an anomaly of plus 2.7C com­ duced 682.9 million tonnes of grain in
government  undertook  a to  support  any  business. up supply chains and sparked shortages mal  in  North  India’s  crop­growing  re­ pared  to  the  average,”  a  France  Meto 2021. India, meanwhile, has 156.4 million
slew  of  reforms  which  has Hence,  they  need  to  calculate of everything from wheat to barley and gions. In parts of Kerala, by contrast, un­ spokesperson  said.  Also,  rainfall  was hectares  of  arable  land  and  in  the  last
made  India  a  much  more to  safeguard  cost,  customer edible oils and also fertiliser. Russia and seasonal rains forced cultivators to wade down by a third from normal and this crop  year  produced  an  estimated  316
easier  place  to  do  business service, financial impacts, and Ukraine account for nearly one­third of through watery fields to harvest paddy. would impact winter cereals like wheat million tonnes of grain. 
in. Easing of FDI norms and risk factors. the world’s wheat exports. The more pro­ Again,  the  result  was  a  reduced,  low­ and  barley,  the  government  said. Sharma insists India must also move
opening  up  of  sectors  such  as  defence During  the  pandemic,  customers’ found,  long­term  worry  is  climate quality crop.   France’s wine­growers have been living to make farming more remunerative for
and  manufacturing,  agricultural  re­ buying  behaviour  changed  as  online change and what will happen to crops It’s  hardly  surprising  the  blistering climate change over the last decade with farmers — a global problem. For obvious
forms,  and  progressive  labour  laws, buying  took  off.  The  traditional  de­ and food self­sufficiency as the mercury heatwave coupled with the extreme low warmer winters and unseasonal spring reasons, the government tries to ensure
along with initiatives in the infrastruc­ mand patterns of the past are now his­ rises. That’s no longer a down­the­road rainfall shrivelled wheat in much of In­ frost. Other parts of the world, too, like that consumers don’t have to deal with
ture sector such as the launch of the Na­ tory.  Customer  expectations  have concern, it’s happening now as anyone dia’s  grain­basket  of  Punjab,  Haryana, Canada and the US have experienced un­ very high prices. Sharma insists this has
tional  Infrastructural  Pipeline  (NIP), changed  as  they  think  anything in North India and Pakistan can attest, Western  Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh. usually dry, warm weather over the last to change. “We have to make agriculture
will  greatly  boost  Indian  engagement ordered online can be returned. There­ thanks  to  a  scorching  heatwave  that Crop yields are down by 20 per cent and two­three  years.  The  other  big  uncer­ economically viable and profitable,” he
with overseas companies.  fore, businesses need to plan to signific­ gripped the region for March, April and that led to the government withdrawing tainty is whether La Nina will go into a says.
Due  to  the  gradual  liberalisation  of antly  enhance  the  return  on  invest­ much  of  May.  In  a  study  released  this its  offer  to  “feed  the  world”  and  slam­ third year and further hit grain output in Looking at the larger canvas, India, as
its FDI policy, and robust domestic eco­ ment of any future financing in supply week, a global group of climate scient­ ming the brakes on wheat exports. the Americas. the third­biggest greenhouse gas emit­
nomic  performance,  India  has  attrac­ chain infrastructure. ists,  the  World  Weather  Attribution At another level, the Ukraine war has ter and one of the most vulnerable coun­
ted higher FDI flows. For the corporate Significantly, Indian businesses need Group  (WWAG),  offered  grim  predic­ Mounting danger thrown  the  world’s  food  and  fertiliser tries to climate change, has a deeply ves­
sector, this is a crucial time when they to  plan  investments  for  new  technolo­ tions  about  future  heatwaves  in  the We aren’t in a crisis situation yet. But the supplies out of gear. Even more crucially, ted  interest  in  making  our  economic
must develop strategies to re­engineer gies  and  additional  logistics  commit­ subcontinent. danger is mounting and doing nothing Russia and next­door neighbour and ally growth less carbon­intensive. 
themselves  and  become  an  integral ments,  offering  them  as  variable  cost The India Meteorological Department isn’t  an  option.  The  government  must Belarus. which are under sanctions, pro­ With progress made on renewable in­
part of global supply chains. solutions  for  flexibility  and  cost  con­ had already declared March the hottest ensure  we’re  prepared  and  don’t  edge duce 17 per cent of the world’s nitrogen­ stallations, adoption of electric vehicles
As  the  economy  revives,  business trol. Consequently, building a more di­ since  record­keeping  began  122  years closer to a precipice. Spot prices for ex­ based  fertilisers.  “The  direct  impact  of and heavyweights Mukesh Ambani and
leaders in India need to make quick de­ versified and robust supply chain with ago.  The  WWAG  added:  “Temperatures port wheat had risen as much as 60 per the war on fertiliser markets will first be Gautam  Adani  setting  their  sights  on
cisions  to  sustain  business  operations greater potential for risk and cost mit­ were consistently 3C­8C above average, cent  month­on­month  but  eased  after felt in the food­production seasons in In­ turning India into a green energy power­
to serve the interest of their customers, igation in the future. breaking  many  decadal  and  some  all­ the  government’s  overseas  sales  ban. dia  and  the  southern  hemisphere house, we’re making a start. At the same
clients and employees. Hence, to man­ The time is ripe for Indian industries time records in several parts of the coun­ Crucially, the government understands (mainly Brazil),” Rabobank said in a re­ time, we have the urgent need to lift mil­
age  the  impact  of  Covid­19  on  India’s to augment investments in critical sec­ try.” In Pakistan, Jacobabad recorded 49 that  in  the  wake  of  the  pandemic, port.  “Sowing  of  the  kharif  crop  takes lions out of poverty. It’s not an easy circle
supply chains, resilience and responsib­ tors such as electronics and find ways to degree  C  on  April  29  and  India  experi­ people’s  spending  power  has  fallen place  in  June,”  says  the  report,  noting: to square but we must address it now or
ility are needed by corporates to tackle tap into global value chains. enced some 300 forest fires around the steeply and for some, hunger is an ever­ “India depends heavily on imports of all declining agricultural productivity and
financial and operational challenges. same time.  growing  worry.  That’s  why  the  govern­ three  nutrients,  nitrogen,  phosphate resulting higher food prices will mean
Among  other  things,  companies The writer is Secretary General, Assocham Alarmingly, the report concluded ex­ ment has  extended  the  free­ration and potash. However, it adds India nego­ more economic hardship, not less. 

SHORT TAKE
BusinessLine
BoE tells banks TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
to speed up May 25, 2002

climate action Ministry moots IPO prior to BPCL divestment


The Government is set to seek the approval of the Union
Cabinet for launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Bharat

B anks and insurers that fail to
manage  climate  risks  as  a
“first­order” issue could face a 10­
Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) aggregating ₹1,000 crore,
prior to the planned disinvestment in the company. The IPO
will be preceded by a stock split involving conversion of each
15 per cent hit to annual profits share having a face value of ₹10 into 10 shares, each having a
and  higher  capital  require­ face value of ₹1, according to senior company officials. The
ments,  the  Bank  of  England public offering will involve a fresh issue of shares of 50 crore
(BoE) said on Tuesday. shares having a face value of ₹1 and a premium of around ₹19. 
In  its  first  comprehensive Reliance, 3 others allowed to sell petrol, diesel
stress test of how Britain’s finan­ The Government has granted approval to Reliance Industries
cial  system  will  cope  with  cli­ Ltd (RIL), Numaligarh Refineries Ltd (NRL), Oil and Natural
mate  change  and  the  shift  to  a Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Essar Oil Ltd (EOL) for marketing
net  zero­carbon  economy  by petrol and diesel. The Petroleum Minister, Mr Ram Naik, said
2050,  the  BoE  said  action  now that these companies would set up 8,659 retail outlets. Of this,
would lower future costs. 923 outlets will be set up in remote or low service areas. There
“The first key lesson from this are currently 18,401 retail outlets in the country, with the
exercise is that over time climate public sector undertakings in the process of setting up 2,900
risks  will  become  a  persistent new ones. 
drag  on  banks’  and  insurers’ Gold at new high on global rally
profitability  —  particularly  if Gold moved to a new high primarily on account of a surge in
they  don’t  manage  them  effect­ the prices of the precious metal on the overseas markets. In
ively,” said BoE Deputy Governor Friday’s trade, gold was fixed at $320.90 per troy ounce, the
Sam Woods in a speech. highest since October 14, 1999, on the London Metal Exchange.
“While  they  vary  across  firms In Mumbai, 24­carat gold ended at ₹5,315 per 10 gm (₹5,270)
and  scenarios,  overall  loss  rates and 10­tola bar moved up to ₹62,400, gaining ₹400
are  equivalent  to  an  average overnight. International gold prices have been on a short
drag on annual profits of around burst of a bullish phase, mainly because the precious metal
10­15 per cent.” provides safety in the backdrop of uncertainties globally,
The  Bank  of  France  was  first economic as well as political. 
among  central  banks  to  under­
take a climate stress test of banks
and  insurers,  but  Fitch  said  the
BoE  test  was  the  toughest  by  a
central  bank  so  far.  The
European  Central  Bank  has
planned a test for this year, while easy bl two-way crossword 2037 not so easy
the  US  Federal  Reserve  has  not
begun such an exercise. ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
Banks  across  the  world  face 1. Show clothing (5) 1. Act of disclosing what is 1. A pattern of fashion at end of April 1. Appearance of ghost might
pressure  from  climate  activists 4. Shaped like dunce's cap (7) dark (13) (5) have caused famine at
to cut financing to fossil fuel pro­ 8. She­goat (5) 2. An inhabitant (7) 4. Round at the bottom, pointed on Waterloo (13)
jects.  “Outright  restrictions  on 9. African country (7) 3. Beds, strata (6) top, coil can be unravelled (7) 2. Inhabitant of New Zealand I
lending  to  new  fossil  fuel  pro­ 10. A tarboosh (3) 4. Savoury morsel with 8. Billy's mate is a children's nurse need to exchange (7)
jects must now be on the table,” 11. Top up again (9) drinks (6) (5) 3. Strata of pullets and hens (6)
said  David  Barmes,  senior  eco­ 12. Scullery basin (4) 5 . Lump as of gold (6) 9. Country may be given an airing 4. Snack with drinks one is able
nomist at Positive Money, which 13. Use spoon (4) 6. Welsh dog (5) around the East (7) to 21 (6)
campaigns for a sustainable eco­ 10. Tarboosh from somewhere in 5. Valuable chunk of egg turned
18. Wormwood, 7. Larva of crane­fly (7,6)
nomy. But Woods said banks and
southernwood etc (9) 14. Material for Morocco (3) up in Brazil (6)
insurers would need to continue
20. Tea (3) mattress­cover (7) 11. Her spline being crooked, fill it up 6. Dog from Chinese capital
financing  more  carbon­intens­
21. Copy (7) 15. To transfix (6) again (9) opera Prince turned to (5)
ive  sectors  of  the  economy  to
22. Jail (5) 16. A view, look (6) 12. Go to the bottom of the cesspool 7. Hide coat from crane­fly grub
help  them  transition  to  a  low
23. Fail to attend to (7) 17. Talisman (6) (4) (7,6)
carbon future.
In  the  most  severe  scenario 24. Intoxicated (5) 19. Making a knot (5) 13. Some agitation in 22 (4) 14. The making of a
posed by the BoE, where no addi­ 18. Wormwood is a term used by half mattress­cover is going like
tional measures are taken to re­ of Asia (9) clockwork (7)
duce the rise in global temperat­ 20. Tea found in leaving where it 15. Transfix me, and a lip gets
SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 2036
ures,  banks  and  insurers  tested comes from (3) broken (6)
could face total losses of £334 bil­ ACROSS 1. Legerdemain 8. Gloom 9. Audible 10. Trestle 11. Orbit  21. Copy a time it takes to compile (7) 16. A way of viewing one's
lion  pounds  ($417  billion)  over 12. Easily 14. Isobar 18. Chain 19. Envelop 21. Armhole 23. Regal  22. Sound of glasses touching in attitude in the air (6)
three decades. 24. Rattlesnake prison (5) 17. Mother's bed ­­ lucky for
Properties  at  risk  of  flooding DOWN 1. Legatee 2. Growers 3. Remit 4. Enamel 5. Arduous  23. Fail to attend to carbon in gentle some! (6)
would  become  prohibitively  ex­ 6. Nub 7. Cheat 13. Line­out 15. Bologna 16. Repulse 17. Repeal  shake­up (7) 19. Achieving a draw with a
pensive  to  insure  under  the 18. Crass 20. Virus 22. Mir 24. It is mean to be closely fought (5) Granny? (5)
severe scenario, the BoE said. RE-
UTERS

CM .. .... .. . ...BM-BME
YK
WITHOUT CRAFTSMANSHIP, INSPIRATION IS A
MERE REED SHAKEN IN THE WIND. EITHER MOVE OR BE MOVED.
JOHANNES BRAHMS EZRA POUND
8

YUGMARG, CHANDIGARH, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022

EDITORIAL DNA contained in honey


Forced shot
in the arm
n 2021, companies and governments announced
reveals honeybee health
I new vaccine policies, requiring people to get vac-
cinated against Covid-19 in order to attend office,
dine out, shop at malls or attend gatherings. In the last
R
esearchers from Greece's B.S.R.C.
'Alexander Fleming' have optimized
a method for characterizing DNA
traces in honey, revealing the species with
few months, the world witnessed a sudden withdraw- which honeybees interact.
al of these vaccine mandates. While the policies The findings of the research were pub-
seemed to have persuaded some people to get their lished in the journal 'Molecular Ecology
shots, dissenters argued that they infringed upon an Resources'.
individual’s rights and civil liberties. Researchers sug- This collaborative work led by re-
gest that the policies will have a spill-over effect on searcher Dr Solenn Patalano allowed the
vaccines for years to come. How these policies are de- monitoring of the variability of bee diets
signed and applied are questions worth pondering.
Covid-19 poses a major public health risk. These across the year, revealing bee microbiota in
vaccine mandates are usually looked at for their posi- a non-invasive way, as well as identifying
tive effects. However, we fail to consider the large pathogenic species they are confronted by.
number of people losing their jobs, ignoring a central Why understanding the honeybee's
feature of these policies that affect individual liberty ecological niche is important?
and public good. Vaccine mandates are devised to What defines an organism's ecological
slow the spread of the virus. But they have also in- niche is a delicate balance of interactions
creased social inequalities and reduced access to and adjustments to other species coexisting
healthcare. Earlier this year, the American Supreme within the same habitat. By pollinating
Court struck down the Joe Biden-led administration’s trees and flowers, honeybees exploit a large
controversial mandate for large businesses. The ruling number of flowering plant species for their
provides a false sense of relief as the law is clear on own food resources and growth.
vaccine mandates — employers and states can legal- On the other hand, honeybee colonies
ly mandate the Covid19 vaccine. Interestingly, the are also weakened when environmental
United States of America has a legal precedent for conditions favour the propagation of path-
mandatory vaccination for over a century. The ogenic species, such as Varroa mites. The
Supreme Court famously upheld, in Jacobson v. species dynamics of the honeybee ecologi-
Massachusetts, the State’s authority to mandate vac- cal niche are therefore inextricably linked
cinations (in this case, for smallpox) as protecting with the type of habitat the bees live in and
public health is a State power. its seasonal changes.
In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Faced with the increasing restructuring pollen from the flowers they forage and allow us to increase sensitivity and speci- grains for characterization). Beyond the
Union disagreed that vaccine mandates violate civil of agricultural areas and the effects of cli- then placing it in the cells of their hive un- ficity; thus, we can be quite confident about great complementarity of the two analyses,
liberties. It mentioned that the mandates protect the mate change, bee ecological niches are be- til enough water evaporates. Through this the identification of certain species". the study revealed that the metagenomic
most vulnerable, including people with disabilities coming more vulnerable. A better under- process, honey comes into contact with a In this study, researchers analysed sev- approach also reveals non-pollen foraging
and fragile immune systems, and communities of standing of the dynamics of interactions be- variety of organisms and, therefore, con- eral samples of honey from an apiary lo- behaviour, such as the foraging of pine
colour hit hard by the disease. This legal opinion has tween bees and surrounding species will tains DNA from multiple species, collec- cated in a typical Mediterranean landscape. honeydew, an important food resource for
been consistent throughout American history, regard- help to identify risk periods and zones for tively called environmental DNA (eDNA); They identified more than 40 species of the survival of bees in early autumn.
less of an individual’s feelings toward the shots or bees. "This is extremely important in rural this originates from foraged plants, the gut plants that reflect all the botanical diversi- Anticipating disease and spread of
mandates. Various Indian states enforced vaccine and agricultural environments, where bacteria of bees, and potential hive ty surrounding the hives. "What was very pathogens Contrary to what one might
mandates through administrative orders. These were species interactions influence the produc- pathogens. striking", said Dr Patalano, "is to see how think, the ecological niche of bees extends
observed to be violative of an individual’s personal tivity of crops. It's compelling how much of The now published, optimised method variable the abundance of plant eDNA is well beyond plants. In the analysed honey
liberty and the right to livelihood by various high our food and survival depends on the prop- called 'direct-shotgun metagenomics', in- over the seasons, reflecting perfectly the samples, the researchers revealed an even
courts across the country. On January 16, 2022, the er functioning of tiny insects!" commented volves sequencing and comprehensive behavioural foraging adaptations that fol- greater number of bacterial DNA species,
Centre informed the apex court that it has ruled out Anastasios Galanis, the first author of the identification of the DNA fragments found low plant flowering." the vast majority of which emanates from
mandatory vaccines and that ‘no person can be forced study. Honey, a unique marker of environ- in honey. As explained by Galanis: "The Researchers also compared the differ- microorganisms considered to be harmless
to be vaccinated against their wishes’. mental plant diversity Honeybees make design and testing of a bioinformatic ent samples of honey by the use of melis- and which comprise the core species of the
honey by regurgitating the nectar and pipeline tuned for honey metagenomic data sopalinology (using the shape of pollen bee microbiome.

Better mental health The deadly puff: Illness,


among children who play impoverishment and death
POEMS
adventurously DR. RAVI SHANKAR products are khaini, gutkha,
betel quid with tobacco and
My Song
s the world celebrates zarda. Smoking forms of to- This song of mine will wind
A No Tobacco Day this
May, 31st we would
be on the way to lose around 8
bacco used are bidi, cigarette
and hookah. If we talk about
Haryana, the latest report of
its music around you, my
child, like
million precious lives owing to Global Adult Tobacco Survey
this tobacco epidemic. Known states that 33.1% of men, 4.8%
as the biggest public health of women and 19.7% of all the fond arms of
threats the world has ever
faced, it kills around 7 million
adults currently smoke tobac-
co. Adding fuel to the fire, the love. This song
people as a result of direct us-
age while around 1.2 million worldwide live in low and
report also points out that the
prevalence of any tobacco use
of mine will
non-smokers lose their lives
being exposed to second-hand
middle-income countries,
where the burden of tobacco-
23.6%. Another fact that raises
concern is that the prevalence
touch your fore-
smoke. Not to blame cigarette related illness and death is of tobacco use among persons head like a kiss
smoking alone, all tobacco heaviest. It contributes to aged 15-17 years has increased Rabindranath
products including water pipe poverty by diverting house- up to 4.0%. of blessing. Tagore
tobacco, various smokeless to-
bacco products, cigars, cigaril-
hold spending from basic
needs such as food and shelter
Globally, tobacco use is
one of the biggest public When you are alone it will
ccording to new research, chil- they are out of adults' sight. The study los, roll-your-own tobacco, to tobacco. health threats. It leads not only sit by your side and whisper
A dren who spend more time play-
ing adventurously have lower
symptoms of anxiety and depression,
sought to test theories that adventurous
play offers learning opportunities that
help build resilience in children, there-
pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks
are harmful, and there is no
safe level of exposure to to-
As per WHO only, India is
also the second largest con-
sumer and producer of tobacco
to loss of lives but also has
heavy social and economic
costs. As per the latest data
in your ear, when you are in
and were happier over the first Covid-
19 lockdown.
by helping to prevent mental health
problems. With funding from a UKRI
bacco.
Millions of tobacco users
as we have an easy access to a
variety of tobacco products at
available, the total economic
costs attributed to tobacco use
the crowd it will fence you
A study, published in Child Psychi- Future Leaders Fellowship, the research around the world damage their very low prices. With 64.5% from all diseases in India for about with aloofness.
atry and Human Development, led by
the University of Exeter asked parents
team surveyed nearly 2,500 parents of
children aged 5-11 years. Parents com-
health and are exposed to can-
cer-causing toxins falling prey
users, Tripura leads the tally
while almost all the states in
persons aged 35 years and
above amounted to INR 177 My song will be like a pair
how often their children engaged in
play that was "thrilling and exciting",
pleted questions about their child's play,
their general mental health (pre-Covid)
to cancers of the head, neck,
throat, oesophagus and oral
India add to the tobacco usage
statistics. Nearly 267 million
341 crores (USD 27.5 billion).
The economic costs of tobacco
of wings to your dreams, it
where they might experience some fear
and uncertainty. The study comes at a
and their mood during the first Covid-
19 lockdown. The research was carried
cavity (including cancer of the
mouth, tongue, lip and gums)
adults (15 years and above) in
India (29% of all adults) are
use are substantial and include
significant health care costs
will transport your heart to
time when today's children have fewer
opportunities for adventurous play out
out with two groups of parents: a group
of 427 parents living in Northern Ire-
as well as various dental dis-
eases. As per the latest report
users of tobacco as per the lat-
est statistics available. The
for treating the diseases caused
by tobacco use as well as the
the verge of the unknown.
of sight of adults, such as climbing land and a nationally representative of the World Health Organiza- most prevalent form of tobac- lost human capital that results Rabindranath Tagore
trees, riding bikes, jumping from high group of 1919 parents living in Great tion (WHO), over 80% of the co use in India is smokeless to- from tobacco-attributable
surfaces or playing somewhere where Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). 1.3 billion tobacco users bacco and commonly used morbidity and mortality.

umra Quraishi, a Delhi based


Khalil gibran - Immortal Genius ing are permanent, obscure, dark….na- senior, named Mary Haskell who ran an Life" and "The Tempest" a short story the annals of English and Arab literary
H celebrated columnist, writer and
journalist, in her book, "Views,
yours and mine" specifically mentioned
ture of infinity", Gibran was no excep-
tion as he was engulfed by tragedies
and pains since childhood. His father
all-girls school. She become her life
long patron paying for him to study art
at the Academine Julian in Paris and
has impressed me too much and some
lines from the poem are reproduced
here
world but cruel hands of death snatched
this extraordinary human being and a
marvellous author too early merely at
the greatness of a splendid book that Khalil Sa'dJubran, a violent drinker and hundred of his works and painting re- Do not love half lovers the age of 48 due to cirrhosis of the liv-
,"prominent on my study table is a copy a gambler, who worked as a tax collec- ceived high acclaim and regards. Their Do not entertain half friends.. er, though he himself responsible for
of Khalil Gibran's 'The Prophet', and it tor was arrested for financial irregular- relationship was never consummated Do not live half a life this early end being excessively alco-
is there for a specific reason. For each ities and their ancestral property was but his proposal for marriage, Haskell and do not die a half death.. holic like his father. After his death, the
time I go through turmoil or pain, I can also confiscated. His mother along with called if off making is clear to him that You are a whole that exists to live a 300 love letters addressed to his
count in Gibran's verses laced with his his siblings immigrated to America, she preferred his friendship to any bur- life beloved Helsinki which were kept by
simple philosophy to help me out". This Boston and worked as a seamstress, for densome tie of marriage. So Gibran re- not half a life. Gibran with himself, exhibits the in-
superb book has been written by Khalil livelihood. mained unmarried throughout his life. And in "The Tempest", Fakhri, quit tense and unusual relationships with her
Gibran, a Lebanese American writer, In 1902, he lost his half-brother, He was influenced by the Bible, the worldly life saying," I sought a soli- who was not aware of such enormous
poet and visual artist. This book of 26 Peter and after 1 year lost his mother Friednick Nietzsche and William Blake tude because I became tired of render- eternal love. The following love quote
prose poetry fables, translated into 100 and his younger sister, Sultana, relying and all his writing are expression of his ing courtesy to those multitudes who wrapped with heart rending cry and
different languages making it the most life - love, marriage, children, eating, mainly on his sister Mariana's income deeply religious and mystic nature. believe that humility is a sort of weak- concealed love will be a befitting trib-
translated work in world history and drinking, joy, sorrow, crime and pun- for her work at a dress maker's shop for He has been the 3rdbest selling au- ness, merely a kind of cowardice and ute to him:-
one of the best-selling books of all the ishment and what not and his percep- some time. He was enrolled at a local thor after Lao Tzo and William Shake- snobbery a form of strength…. Civi- "One day you will ask me which is
times. It has never been out of print. It's tions and perceptive imbibed with uni- school where his creative abilities were speare. He wrote over 300 literary lization, a corrupt tree its blossoms are more important?
about prophet Al Mustafa, who lived in versality made this book indispensible quickly noticed by a teacher who intro- works and painted more than 700 pic- greed and crime and its fruit is of woes My life or yours? I will say mine
the city Orphalese for 12 years, as he is and a literary treasure. duced him to a photographer and pub- tures. Besides The Prophet, there are so and misery …" and you will go away
about to leave for his home, people He was born on 6th January 1883, lisher, F. Holland Day. It was through many fascinating literary works, though Gibran's genius and exceptional not knowing that you are my life".
gathered to bid him farewell but asked at Bsharri, Lebanon. As per Day that Gibran's art work attracted the every critic or reader has his own works have achieved sky rocketing
his guidance for important aspects of Wordsworth's universal quote, "suffer- attention of a woman, nine years his choice, but his poem "Do not love half popularity and made him immortal in Jaspal Garg 'Karan'
All attachment implies fear, for all things
are transient. And fear makes one a slave.
Freedom from attachment is natural Nisargadatta
when one knows one’s true being Maharaj

06 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM WEDNESDAY 25 05 2022


� �

An endless civil strife between Hindus and Muslims is


INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN not good for the country. What, then, is the way out? Both
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. sides should sit across a table to work out a compromise

GYANVAPI ROW:
— Ramnath Goenka

BETTER TAX PLANNING THE FUTURE


NEEDED TO KEEP FUEL OF THE PAST
INFLATION IN CHECK

T
he Union government excise duty cuts
have effectively reduced retail prices by
MAKARAND R Professor of
`9.5 and `7, respectively, bringing wel- PARANJAPE English at JNU
come relief to the common man. Prices of
SOUMYADIP SINHA
LPG cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme
have also been reduced by `200 a cylinder.
These slew of measures will hopefully slow
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE Masjid, is built on a destroyed
Hindu temple. Even the walls of
again. What we see today is only
its latest ruination and metamor-
strife between Hindus and Mus-
lims is not good for the country.
raging inflation. Retail inflation has touched the latter are intact for all to see phosis at the hands of Mughal What, then, is the way out? Both

A
an eight-year high of 7.79% in April and has fter the discovery of what resem- Indian Constitution, must pro- to this date. Evidence from the emperor, Aurangzeb, in 1669. sides should sit across a table to
been hovering above the Reserve Bank’s upper- bles a Shivalinga in the Gyanvapi tect the interests of all citizens time of Aurangzeb’s demolition Therefore, for Muslims to work out a compromise. The
well on the premises of a mosque equally. Either the Constitution of the temple, including pictorial imagine that whatever was compromise, as far as I am con-
level target of 6%. Some Opposition-ruled
by the same name in Varanasi, must be changed so that Hindu records by eminent Indologists demolished, conquered or rebuilt cerned, should be based on the
states have also obliged with a welcome reduc- the nation has once again been rights are placed above those of such as James Prinsep, amply at- upon in the past should remain in return of at least those struc-
tion in state taxes or VAT on petrol and diesel. thrown into legal and religious others or we must abide by both test to this. their possession until eternity tures that are of paramount im-
The price of fuel contributes as much as turmoil. This, as is inevitable, is the letter and spirit of the law. What is more, the looting, des- because that is enjoined in Mus- portance to the Hindus, includ-
4.7% to the inflation basket. If one calculates always accompanied by social, If we must take the latter ecration and spoilage of Varanasi lim law is unreasonable. Non- ing Kashi and Mathura. The
the cascading effect on transport and cost of cultural, and of course, in India’s course, how can these Hindus de- is as old as the invasions of Mah- Muslims, who have been victims former is associated with Shiva,
case, political overtones. How to mand that the party in power, mud Ghazni. As Abu al-Fazl al- of Islamic conquest, plunder and the latter with Krisha, both of
manufacturing, the impact is probably higher.
make sense of this tangle, not BJP, even if it is a Hindu majori- Bayhaqi records, Ghazni’s Indian vandalism, cannot be expected to whom are major Hindu deities.
In this context, taxing gasoline as a revenue necessarily from a Hindu, Mus- tarian party, use the state ma- “governor”, Ahmad Niyaltigin, respect the very law that was the This, in addition to Ayodhya,
source must always be carefully balanced. lim or secular—all of which, as I chinery to turn thousands of looted the city in 1033 CE. “The cause of their ruination. should be the bare minimum.
However, the historical record shows succes- shall show, are sectarian points mosques into temples? Would markets of the drapers, perfum- Now let us turn to our secular- As to the rest of the mosques
sive governments have used this turbulent of view—but instead, from a per- this be feasible, let alone legal or ers and jewellers were plundered” ists and champions of the rule of that are built on ruins of Hindu,
commodity as a cash cow to balance its deficits. spective that benefits India and desirable? Instead, wouldn’t from “mor ning to mid-day law. The Places of Worship Act, Buddhist and Jain temples, there
Central excise and state-level tax or VAT even secures its future as a stable, vi- such a move lead to a permanent prayer”. Since time was short, he 1991, which asserts that “the ought to be a national and inter-
able, multi-religious republic? civil war between feuding Hin- says, “it was impossible to do character of a religious place national evidence-based acknowl-
now accounts for 37% of the price on petrol, First of all, let us examine the dus and Muslims, thus opening more”. Far from any regret over cannot be altered from what it edgement of this historical truth.
and 32% on diesel. matter from the three positions us up for interference and inter- such marauding, there is a note was on August 15, 1947”, is only a Signage by the Archaeological
While the Ukraine war has pushed up inter- outlined above, Hindu, Muslim nal weakening by foreign powers of regret in the text that only so relatively recent ordinance, from Survey of India or even by
national crude oil prices, it must be remem- and secular. Some Hindus, for in- in addition to the possibility of little plunder and sacking was the point of view of a 5,000-year- mosque authorities in case of a
bered that between 2014 and 2016, when crude stance, not only want to reclaim internal collapse? possible. Therefore, when it comes old civilisation, enacted by the place of continuing worship
oil prices plummeted from $106 a barrel to the Gyanvapi masjid for Hindus Let us turn to the Muslims to the Gyanvapi itself, that sacred Indian Parliament. There is noth- should acknowledge this. No
to worship. That would not, per now. There is a major majlis (as- site was likely to have been de- ing in our Constitution to pre- more denialism, rationalisation
around $75, the Centre, instead of passing on
se, be an unreasonable demand. sembly) planned at the conserva- stroyed and rebuilt over and over vent it from being modified or or plain falsehood in the name of
the benefit to consumers, repeatedly raised the But they want all 40,000 or so tive seminary of Deoband where even scrapped by the well-laid appeasement or conciliation.
excise duty on petrol and diesel and made mosques allegedly built on the many stakeholders will congre- out procedure of the amendment What is more, Hindus should
windfall profits. When the Union government ruins of Hindu temples to be re- gate to take stock of matters. We of such laws. If proponents of be allowed to visit disputed
now claims it has to forego over `1 lakh crore stored to Hindus, thus reversing shall have to wait and watch to secularism or constitutionalism premises when prayers are
in revenue with the excise cuts, it must be re- the vandalism and cultural geno- see what pronouncements are cite the law, then they should not being offered by Muslims.
cide of centuries of Muslim rule made or policies framed. But one abide by the law if or when it is Even better, as in the present case
membered, in FY2022, tax collection from pet- Hurt Hindu pride is easily understood. We
in India. faction, as represented by modified. Instead, as with the of the Gyanvapi, both communi-
rol and diesel stood at over `3 lakh crore, an Hurt Hindu pride, which may Asaduddin Owaisi, has already may even sympathise with it. But the fact Constitutional Amendment Act ties can offer worship at disputed
88% jump from the previous year. Even after be behind such a sentiment, is gone on record to say that not a remains that Hindus could not defend their or Article 370, they will cry foul. shrines. This would send a far-
the cuts, central excise duty still makes up easily understood. We may even single masjid will be returned to places of worship in times past. Now, a How can they have it both ways— reaching signal of Hindu-Muslim
`19.9 a litre on petrol, and `15.8 a litre on diesel. sympathise with it. But the fact the Hindus. praise the law when it suits them, friendship to the whole world.
democratically elected government,
For comparison: When the BJP government remains that Hindus could not Those Muslims who think this denounce it when it does not? Are we ready for such a rap-
defend their places of worship in way need to ask themselves the which rules as per the provisions of Let us now look at the issue prochement? Why not be hope-
took over in 2014, excise duty on petrol was just the Indian Constitution, must protect
times past. Now, a democratical- implications of such a statement, from the perspective of what is ful—where there is a will, there
`9.48 per litre, and that on diesel `3.56 a litre. ly elected government, which especially when the structure, as the interests of all citizens equally good for India, that is Bharat. It is a way.
Increasing fuel prices have a galloping impact, rules as per the provisions of the is obvious with the Gyanvapi should be clear that endless civil (Tweets @MakrandParanspe)
and the government must thus strive to pro-
vide more relief on this front.

THE SORRY STATE OF ONLINE GAMING WILL BENEFIT FROM ROBUST REGULATION
ODISHA’S HEALTHCARE bling and hence deemed unethi- names and team lo gos on the use of virtual currencies.
cal and illicit. As betting and

L
their platforms. Globally too Since there are no rules, players
ast Saturday, a holiday, the Orissa High gambling is a state subject as per there is no clarity over the regu- also indulge in match-fixing and
Court held a special sitting to hear a PIL on the Constitution, some states latory authorities. However, there is also the problem of un-
MANAVENDRA The writer is a have placed restrictions on countries like Russia, China, derage gambling. Importantly,
healthcare in the state. A Division Bench PRASAD policy analyst
games of skill as well. Turkey and the Philippines rec- the mental health of players will
of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice There have been numerous ognise esports as a real sport. be addressed and exploitation
R K Pattanaik took note of the inspection cases filed by groups and organi- Even the International Olympic can be prevented.

T
reports of district legal services authorities on he ubiquity of technology has are either a game of chance sations to classify their offering Committee has tested the poten- In addition to the dramatically
government hospitals and healthcare centres. led to numerous new avenues of where the end result is strongly as a game of skill and get legal tial for esports through exhibi- increased screen time, there is
The Bench voiced serious concern over the business—e-commerce, enter- determined by random activity s t a t u s. T h e r e h ave b e e n tion games. the risk of adverse impact on
state of affairs and directed the government to tainment, education, communi- such as rolling the dice (and if many public interest litigations This industry’s regulatory our people, especially the youth.
cation, etc. This has called for money is involved, it is consid- questioning the legality of on- muddle needs a comprehensive There are increasing indications
take immediate corrective measures. The court
the management of the respec- ered gambling), or a game of line games, especially fantasy makeover. It was hoped that an- of young people becoming com-
found that doctors on roll were absent in many tive sectors and the need for skill that requires physical and platforms. In August 2021, a nouncements in the Union Budg- pulsive gamers. Addiction of
places; availability of nurses and other staff their regulation has been felt. mental strategies to win. Madras High Court verdict (Jun- et would accelerate the move- any kind can be destructive for
was poor; ambulance service did not exist and One less noticed sector is the This new-age industry suffers glee Games India Pvt. Ltd. v. ment down this path but it was the individual and society. A
stock register on drugs was not maintained. area of online gaming, which re- from a complex regulatory State of Tamil Nadu) struck not to be. regulator can be expected to ad-
Bereft of basic facilities, the HC observed that ceived a massive boost during muddle. Given the pan-India op- down a TN government law that And there are benefits from dress such societal issues too.
the pandemic. As per a report erations and reach, a central put a blanket ban on all forms of good management and efficient The current wide disparity
even the minimum quality of medical care
published by consulting firm regulation could take things for- online gaming, including games regulation—according to the in rules and regulations poses
could not be provided to the poor. KPMG, more than 43 crore Indi- ward. But there is no clarity on of skill. KPMG report cited above, the a huge compliance burden
For a state where the healthcare has always ans have spent time on gaming. who should regulate it—while But there is another issue that online gaming industry is ex- for the companies. The ambigu-
been bad, Odisha has not shown any marked To appreciate this better, it is im- the IT ministry is responsible surrounds online gaming— pected to have 66 crore users by ity results in users having varied
improvement at all. That the state government portant to understand what on- for the information technology IP rights including image rights FY 2025, leading to thousands of rights and remedies against
has failed to deploy a sufficient number of doc- line gaming is. system, the Act governing the violation, and using players’ new jobs and a revenue genera- the platforms. Without clear
tors in even some of the most backward re- There are essentially three sports ministry did not envision tion of `29,000 crore. The sector guidelines as to what constitutes
types of online gaming—fantasy electronic gaming. And the will also attract a higher Foreign a game of skill or a game
gions speaks volumes about its intent. There is sports, esports and online casual IT ministry limits itself to Direct Investment (FDI) and the of chance, innovation in the field
a vacancy of 43% in general duty medical offic- games. Fantasy games allow us- the content, leaving the online experience of the gaming indus- is stifled.
ers deployed in districts across Odisha. The ers to create a team consisting of gaming industry with no clear try points to that. Online gaming The disparity in regulations
vacancy among specialists is equally poor at players from real sports teams nodal ministry. businesses will benefit from poses a compliance burden for
44%. There are eight government medical col- (for example, the IPL or NBA) Here is the fundamental issue This industry’s regulatory muddle needs a proper regulations as they will the gaming companies. This
leges and hospitals. Yet, patients from weaker and then win points according to confronting the online gaming comprehensive makeover. It was hoped that augment investment and reve- ambiguity can lead to users hav-
how they perform in the real industry—whether it is a game announcements in the Union Budget would nue. The sector will also be able ing varied rights. Indian gaming
economic backgrounds are forced to seek serv-
tournament. E-sports are video of skill or a game of chance. to attract talent and potential severely requires a robust regu-
ices in the private sector in the absence of basic accelerate the movement down this path but
games of yesteryears now played From this issue arises the legiti- professional players will also latory revamp. It will be appro-
amenities and diagnostic services. online in an organised fashion. macy of online gaming. While it was not to be ... Online gaming businesses profit from it. priate for the Central govern-
The Naveen Patnaik government may They have tournaments for pro- games of skill are allowed in will benefit from proper regulations as they Regulations will also curb il- ment to step in to create an
have been bragging about a unique health as- fessional players, individually or most parts of the country, games will augment investment and revenue legal activities that have created omnibus regulatory framework
surance service under which the people from as teams. Online casual games of chance are considered gam- a black market, supplemented by for the industry.
weaker sections can avail best medical care for
free from top-of-the-line private hospitals
across the country. But what about its own
medical college and hospitals (MCHs)? The
SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, Written by victors way round. So we should read could be after-effects. The onus also Implementing helmet rule announced strict implementation with
the biggest and oldest state-run medical This is with reference to Contextualising history with caution. lies on parents. Every time there is news of some immediate effect.
college, will be converted into an AIIMS-Plus history—Right & Left (May 24). It is a Dr M Haneef, Kottayam Sanath Kumar T S, Thrissur bike rider dying of head injuries P G Menon, Chennai
well-known fact that history is always due to not wearing a helmet, the
institute, says the government. But the ground written by the victors. Naturally, the Hate speech using kids Why celebrate release? Chennai traffic police wake up Olympic medal ahead
situation is pathetic with a crippling faculty vanquished would always be looked This is with reference to the This is with reference to from their slumber and shout from The editorial Nikhat boxes away sports
shortage in many departments. What use are down upon. The British would write news report Boy’s hate rhetoric the editorial Perarivalan verdict the rooftops about their decision to ceiling (May 24) makes an Indian’s heart
massive buildings if there are no specialists to only coloured stories about their at PFI rally viral, triggers outcry a wake-up call for Governors (May 24). implement the helmet rule. Helmet fill with joy and pride. After Mary Kom,
take care of desperate patients? Sample this: predecessors to justify their own acts. (May 24). Children should not The editorial has rightly reminded wearing was made mandatory long another boxing sensation has emerged
There are over 50 vacancies in professor In a democracy too, the same thing be made to say such derogatory the Governors of their role. We ago, but the rule was respected more in India. She is young and has a long
happens as is happening in India now. things. They are innocent and would have to remember that he has been in its breach than observance. If past life in sports ahead of her. With the
posts in the government MCHs alone. The HC
There is nothing unusual in it. Russia imitate others without being able to released only on technical grounds. experience is any guide, the police authorities providing good coaching and
observation must serve as an alarm for the 22- would never accept that they attacked dissect the rights and wrongs of the So it is sad that there are parties will go back to their inertia in a infrastructure, Nikhat is surely destined
year-old BJD government and wake it out of its Ukraine unjustly when they write history matter. When the subject of the hate celebrating his release. while. In fact, I have lost count of to bring Olympic laurels to the country.
long slumber. later on. Ukraine would write the other speech is caste, creed or religion, there Shankar G, Chennai the number of times when officials Hemanth Bhide, Mangaluru

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: G S Vasu Executive Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Kerala): Kiran Prakash* Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited at TC-1X/1321 & 1322, Unnithan Lane, Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram-695010 and printed by him at Ideal Printers, Ideal Publications Trust, T C 53/822-1, Industrial Estate , Pappanamcode P O, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 018
Thiruvananthapuram. Vol. 29, No.121. RNI Reg. No. 63431/95. Phone: 0471-2729759, Fax: 0471-2729379. * Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY, 2022 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL Bottomless pyramid
In ‘safe’ hands An Indian earning a monthly wage of Rs 25,000 is among the top 10 per

J
ust a couple of days after being sworn in as Austra- cent of earners in the country; what about those at the bottom?

A
lia’s 31st Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese is there in
Tokyo to attend the Quad summit. His articulations n Indian earning a the last two years of the pan-
will be watched closely as the world is eager to monthly wage of Rs demic, he has survived with
get a glimpse of the new Labour government’s outlook 25,000 is among the just bare meals of rice and
towards China with reference to the Western world — par- top 10 per cent of pickle.
ticularly the United States. Geopolitics apart, it will also earners in the country. This is Now he has been hit by
be interesting to see whether Australia manages to take RICHARD what the recently released State the pandemic of food infla-
up the leadership role in tackling climate change glob- MAHAPATRA of Inequality in India report tion. On May 19, I spoke to
ally and domestically — one of the core factors that led by the Institute for Competi- him. “I can’t buy even the rice
to the ouster of Scott Morrison. The Labour government tiveness found, using available that I would love to eat a day.”
has come to power after toppling the right-wing Liberal- government data. Doing an inflation-adjusted
National coalition led by former PM Scott Morrison, but As if dissuaded from div- analysis of his lifetime income,
it has received merely 31.2 per cent of the first preference ing deeper into inequality in his income can be termed as
votes — less than what it received in its losing bid in the India, the report cautioned: “If “zero”; he doesn’t have any dis-
2019 elections. Notably, Australia has a preferential vot- an amount like this comes in posable income.
ing system. Albanese’s successful bid this time around can the top 10 percentile, then the “How do you see your
partly be attributed to the large number of second or third bottom-most condition cannot future earnings? Can you
preference votes he may have received. The prominent be imagined.” aspire to earn Rs 25,000/
choices before Australian voters were — Liberal-Nationals The Economic Advisory month?” He replied: “I can
led by Scott Morrison, the Labour party, Greens and the The World Council to the Prime Minister never imagine that amount. I
Teal Independents. Scott Morrison had come under heavy Inequality commissioned this study. This don’t have any base for further
public criticism due to his laid-back approach to tackling demonstrates the wide chasm earning. My capital of labour
climate change and ambiguous response to high-profile Report 2022 between the top and bottom is diminishing as I am ageing.”
sexual misconduct allegations against his parliamen- termed India as earners. And this is getting Last year when I spoke to
tary colleagues. Morrison’s losing grip was impressively wider. him, he cited the pandemic
grabbed by Teal Independents — a group comprising the most unequal Incomes of the top 1 per What run-away food inflation is doing to inequality can be anybody’s guess and the lockdowns pushing
mainly women — clad in blue-green (teal). Their elec- country: India cent earners grew 15 per cent him further into the poverty
tion campaign was financially supported by Climate 200 during 2017-18 to 2019-2020 country: India stands out as a wealth, their children would be He is among the 50 per abyss. “Can’t express,” he told
which backed candidates with a scientific vision for han- stands out as while that of the bottom 10 poor and very unequal coun- without any inheritance thus cent of Indians who don’t me.
dling the climate crisis and gender imparity. Teal indepen- a poor and per cent declined 1 per cent — try, with an affluent elite. stifling their progress. own any assets. He didn’t The food inflation rate has
dents stunningly dislodged Liberal-Nationals from their a “failure of the trickle-down In a conversation with me “People accumulate wealth inherit anything from his more than doubled in the last
home turfs — winning at least 10 seats. Teals were the very unequal approach to economic growth”, last November, Lucas Chancel, across generations through parents. Arguably, he doesn’t year. A recent World Bank esti-
major gainers of Scott Morrison’s unpopularity but oth- country, with an the report concluded. the lead author of the World inheritance. It has a snowball even inherit the constitutional mate shows that a one per cent
ers too were contesting to acquire their share of votes in If wealth does not trickle Inequality Report 2022, said effect. This is why the rich sec- Right to Life. As a child, he increase in the food price will
the new vacuum, including the Greens and Labour party.
affluent elite down, what happens to those over 50 per cent of India’s pop- tion’s wealth grows faster. But moved out of his village in push 10 million people into
So, while the Teals lent a strong momentum for political at the bottom of the pyramid? ulation are without any signifi- it also creates a gap between the face of starvation. Some- extreme poverty. And, these
change, sharing of first preference votes among the three Will they ever rise towards the cant wealth at all. He put this at people,” he told me. how, in the district headquar- are the people who are at the
progressive parties led to the right equation in favour of top, or even aspire to reach the core of widening inequality I have been tracking the life ters town, he got a few days of bottom of the income pyramid.
the Labour party as Coalition (Liberal-National) was kept the top 10 per cent bracket — in the country. of 57-year-old Sukru Ojha, a daily wage. This means they would never
at bay. This helps us understand the psyche of Australian attaining a monthly income of It’s like a billionaire’s chil- resident of Koraput (one of Since then, he has been be able to bridge the income
voters and allows us to analyze where Anthony Albanese Rs 25,000? dren would inherit wealth that India’s chronically poorest dis- surviving on that. His income gap because of the severe unfa-
and his party stand in terms of delivering upon voters’ Last year, the World would be that critical capital tricts), Odisha. I met him way in the last 25 years effectively vourable situations they are
aspirations. Crumbling under the plight of a steep eco- Inequality Report 2022 termed to further pursue prosperity. back in 1996 in Koraput while remains zero. In a good month, growing with. DTE
nomic downturn, high food inflation, low wage rates, and India as the most unequal For those who don’t own any reporting a severe drought. he earns currently Rs 2,000. In Views expressed are personal
increasing instances of climatic disasters (including forest

A risk multiplier
fires), the Australians appear to have voted for a transfor-
mative change. This lies in sharp contrast to Albanese’s
idea of “safe change” — which, in a way, denounces radi-
cal transformation. Like in the case of the United States
where cautious Biden took over flamboyant Trump, it
remains to be seen whether calculative Albanese will stand
up to the expectations of the people at large? Now com-
ing to the question of Australia’s role in South Asia and
the Indo-Pacific, the new dispensation’s approach towards
India and China will be critically important and deci-
Modern slavery converges with climate change, particularly climate
sive. Indo-Australian relations have marked a significant
improvement over the past decade, particularly under the shocks and climate-related forced displacement and migration

M
leadership of Scott Morrison. Will the change of guard in
Australia have a negative impact on Indo-US relations? ore people across Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the
It is very less likely. Reasons are twofold — first, the rela- the world are organisation mentioned.
tions between the two countries have been built purely on now displaced Thailand also saw a rise in
merit following a somewhat disjoint past; and second, the due to climate human trafficking after this
leader at the helm may have changed but those responsible change-induced disasters than typhoon hit. Drought-affected
for chalking out plans — the strong national security team TARAN DEOL conflicts, reversing a histor- migrants have also reportedly
— remain by and large the same. A particular reference to ical trend, noted the World been smuggled from Cam-
Foreign Minister Penny Wong can be made here. Widely Migration Report 2022. This bodia to Thailand, the IOM
acknowledged and regarded for his deftness, finesse and has created a vulnerable group report showed.
foreign policy credentials, Wong had been very instru- of population that is targeted Droughts in African
mental in forging Indo-Australian ties. In the context of for trafficking, studies have nations have resulted in a
China as well, Anthony Albanese has very little scope for shown. rise in marriages of children
experimentation. Being a central part of the Quad group- Some 30.7 million dis- as young as nine years old,
ing and further caught up in the AUKUS framework, there placements in 2020 were trig- solely because their parents
appears to be little left for the Australian government if it gered by natural disasters in don’t have the money to feed
even wishes to deviate from the US’ handholding and bal- 145 countries and territories, another mouth, it added.
ance ties with China. Australia, however, has the option to according to the report pub- Young girls of age 13-18
parallelly engage with South Asian forces for addressing lished every other year by the years were sexually exploited
Chinese dominance. But, for the time being, AUKUS and United Nations International “by some members of a non-
Quad — with domineering influence from the US — have Organisation for Migration. governmental organisation,
come to a point from which return will not be easy. The Storms accounted for 14.6 humanitarian staff, secu-
ambit of Albanese ‘safe’ change is highly limited. million displacements glob- rity forces and men in posi-
ally, floods for 14.1 million, tions of power and influence
extreme temperatures for in exchange for money, food

DearEditor 46,000 and droughts 32,000, it


added. India reported nearly
4 million new displacements Natural disasters triggered 30.7 million displacements globally in 2020
or other goods,” a 2002 study
by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature
due to climate-induced disas- (IUCN), citing a survey by
HEALING HILLS ters in 2020, the UN migration to Andaman & Nicobar islands cult’, Mondira Dutta, former Review. “In the decades to UNHCR and Save the Chil-
data showed. for work. My mother began professor and chairperson of come, climate change will very dren, UK showed.
This is in reference to the article ‘The Softer Side’ (May Human Total internal displace- work as a maid at another the Centre for Inner Asian likely lead to a large increase in Evidence of forced early
23). The author has brilliantly conveyed a whole new trafficking is ment across the world due to house,” she added. Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru the number of people who are marriages were found in Iran
outlook towards tourism. Travelling is more than just disasters, conflicts and vio- Their financial situa- University’s School of Inter- displaced and thus vulnerable after an earthquake and floods
visiting places and more so the hills — they have a a result of lence increased to 40.5 mil- tion was dire, with the fam- national Studies, wrote in a to trafficking.” hit Bushehr and Mazandaran.
different sort of romanticism within them. Travelling exploitation lion in 2020 from 31.5 million ily of seven managing just one 2017 paper published in the Around 143 million peo- In Fiji, after a flood wreaked
is healing that’s why people love to travel, break from in 2019, despite containment meal a day, and sometimes not European Scientific Journal. ple will migrate within their havoc, children were forced
the monotony of work and life and escape the glass
of existing measures to curb the COVID- even that. “We would drink “This leaves women and chil- countries by 2050 due to cli- to stay home to look after
cascades of cities for the refreshing cool winds of the vulnerabilities 19 pandemic, the study added.
Manika Kamthan, assis-
water and force ourselves to
sleep. The fatigue helped,” she
dren vulnerable to kidnap-
ping, sexual exploitation and
mate change related events
in sub-Saharan Africa, South
their younger siblings in the
day and indulge in sex work
hills. And that’s what we should develop them as, places in society such tant professor at Symbiosis added. Their condition did not trafficking.” Asia and Latin America, the at night, as per the IUCN
of healing and rejuvenation. But the sad reality is that as gender, Law School Pune who has improve for several years after “It is an extremely organ- World Bank estimated in Sep- study.
we have neglected our hills and their potential for long. authored papers on this topic, and Anjali tried in her own ised crime that thrives in the tember 2021. The Pacific Islands, where
Instead of developing them into iconic places where poverty, place told: Human trafficking is the ways to help. absence of a watchdog mecha- Droughts could lead to the erratic rainfall, droughts,
both domestic and foreign tourists go for retreats and of residence and result of exploitation of exist- An eager student of dance, nism, at both the community migration of 22 million more floods and cyclones occur fre-
unwinding, our hill stations are mere relics of the glory ing vulnerabilities in society she embraced the artform. In and state levels,” said Prab- people in Africa, 12 million quently, combined with per-
they held in the British era. It is time that we adopt a
geographical such as gender, poverty, place 2013, her dance teacher told hat Kumar, deputy director of in South America and 10 mil- sisting gender-based violence,
systematic and holistic approach towards rebuilding locations. These of residence and geographical her about a programme in child protection at the non- lion in Asia by 2059 (in com- is another place where the
locations. These vulnerabilities Kolkata where she could earn profit Save the Children. parison to the 2000-15 period), crime has gone up, but evi-
our hills. vulnerabilities are aggravated during natural some money. She had no rea- The UN Environment Pro- the UN Convention to Combat dence remains thin.
— GAURAV GUPTA, GURUGRAM via email are aggravated disasters. The devastating situ- son to say no. gramme estimates that glob- Desertification estimated. Modern slavery and human
ation acts as a breeding ground “I left my home thinking ally, human trafficking rises Such displacement after trafficking are on the rise in
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY during natural for traffickers. I’m going to Kolkata but my by 20-30 per cent during a disasters leads to people India, among other countries,
This is in reference to “Umran Malik selected for T20s disasters “Women and children are dance teacher turned out to be disaster. A changing climate becoming easy targets for traf- warn the UK-based non-prof-
primarily trafficked in the garb a trafficker. Taking advantage will only augment this trade, fickers, the UN High Commis- its International Institute for
vs SA”. As expected, young fast bowling sensation from of employment opportunities, of my parent’s absence, he took experts said. sioner for Refugees noted. Environment and Develop-
J&K, Umran Malik, has got the nod from the BCCI assuring safe habitats, among me to Delhi, where I was raped “There could be up to 325 The link of trafficking with ment (IIED) and Anti-Slav-
selection committee for the upcoming South Africa others,” she added. and tortured for three months,” million extremely poor peo- extreme weather events has ery International in a recent
T20 series. He has been outstanding in the ongoing Anjali (name changed) was she told DTE. ple living in the 49 countries been observed across the globe report.
IPL season, surpassing his fastest bowling speed match 12 when Cyclone Aila hit West Anjali was rescued by the most exposed to the full range in the past decades. Rising Modern slavery — includ-
after match. But he should not forget that international Bengal in 2009. Like everyone local police who worked in of natural hazards and climate incidents of trafficking were ing debt bondage, bonded
cricket is a completely different ball game, and solid else, her house and farmland coordination with Goranbose extremes in 2030,” according first noticed in the aftermath labour, early / forced marriage
temperament along with the willingness to learn from in Kakdwip block, South 24 Gram Bikash Kendra, a non- to the Overseas Development of the Indian Ocean tsunami in and human trafficking — con-
each game, is the attitude which can take him to the Parganas district was flooded. profit that works with com- Institute. 2004, showed a 2016 report by verge with climate change, par-
Her father suffered a seri- munities in South 24 Parganas At least 21 million people the International Organisation ticularly climate shocks and
journey of serving Indian cricket for long. Hope he ous shock, fell extremely ill and to combat human trafficking. globally are victims of human for Migration (IOM). In Indo- climate-related forced dis-
leverages this golden opportunity and makes the most had to be hospitalised. “We Anjali’s story underlines trafficking, typically involv- nesia, children were abducted placement and migration, the
of it. had no money for his treat- how disaster and poverty ing either sexual exploitation and then put up for adoption, report said.
— GAURAV GUPTA, GURUGRAM via email ment. Whatever survived the fuel human trafficking — an or forced labour, Michael B it added. It establishes the close
cyclone had to be sold off to increase in extreme weather Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Pro- In Haiti, the 2010 earth- relationship between lack of
millenniumpost.in collect money for him,” she events will only make millions fessor of Professional Prac- quake exacerbated cases of resources, alternative liveli-
told DTE. more vulnerable to this trap. tice and Director of the Sabin trafficking, according to IOM. hoods, safety nets and the
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to This ordeal went on for Disasters lead to a break- Center for Climate Change In the Philippines — where protection against loss and
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, a year and a half. “When he down of social institutions, Law at Columbia Law School, poverty and trafficking were damage as well as debt and
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 came back and saw the situa- making food securing and US, wrote in a 2018 paper already rampant — cases exploitation.  DTE
tion the family was in, he went humanitarian supplies ‘diffi- published in the Miami Law increased in the aftermath of Views expressed are personal
4
mail us at >> desk@thegoan.net

log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Wednesday May 25, 2022

People are ��h pillar of democracy


Citizens who care about validating democracy need to be resolute in their
Without cra�smanship, inspiration is a mere reed
stance that politicos are merely stewards of the State – not its owners
shaken in the wind.
Johannes Brahms >The writer is a
human rights
activist, political
commentator

Don’t give excuses,


who believes that
people’s power is
a non-negotiable
instrument to

�x responsibility for
further democracy
and justice
RANJAN SOLOMON

pathetic road infra T


radition teaches us that democra-
cy has four pillars -- legislature, ex-
ecutive, judiciary and the media.

W
This is not the absolute truth any longer.
Each of these has su�ered severe distor- mocracy and these (are) being targeted pealed to restore a thoroughly consti-
hat is the reason behind Atal Setu developing pot- tions over the last several years leaving and compromised due to the Sedition tutional democracy. The essence of de-
holes, and why are ministers passing the buck? democracy in peril. Fascist-dictatorial law”. He called for an agile and alert mocracy, a�er all, provides citizens the
trends assumed political dominance democracy to actively participate in right to dissent.
Former PWD minister and currently power min- and democracy goes kaput! People’s political discourse and express their In Goa, the protesters against the
ister in the Pramod Sawant cabinet, Sudin Dha- power is an additional pillar needed to constructive criticisms or views of the double-tracking project were harassed
valikar has reassured that the bridge is not in remedy the total collapse of democracy. government policies”. Justice Khosla and humiliated and o�en subject to
India confronts the grim possibility grieved that “Sedition laws have em- police brutalities. The persistent and
bad condition and has vouched for the construction company. He that democracy may give way to cov- powered the executive and administra- successful de�ance of activists and
blamed it on a technical problem with concrete and bitumen and ert and overt forms of dictatorship. tive branches of the government to use villagers means that the powerful
attributed the problem to the hot weather in Goa while squarely Ordinary MLAs and ministers show these ambiguously de�ned provisions pro-double-tracking lobbies now po-
little intent to re�ect on people’s aspi- as an instrument to regulate, suppress tentially have the doors shut on their
blaming it on the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corpora- rations. Fascism assumes far-right, au- and smother public opinion and wield designs. Recommendations of a Cen-
tion Limited (GSIDC) that executed the works. Earlier, PWD Minis- thoritarian ultra-nationalist character- power indiscriminately”. trally Empowered Committee (CEC)
ter Nilesh Cabral stated that IIT Madras would prepare a report on istics, forcibly suppresses opposition, Human rights and social activists upheld by the SC asserted that the pro-
and strongly regiments society and the are being intimidated and compelled jects had no justi�cation and would
the status of the bridge and the recurring potholes on the surface. economy. to conform to anti-people government only serve to obliterate eco-systems so
The imposing Atal Setu which has been the new landmark of the The cornerstones of democracy in- policies and programmes which a�ect imperative to Goa’s existence. In 2021,
capital city and a cynosure of tourists’ eyes has cut out a sorry �g- clude freedom of assembly, association, the common person. Police threaten the Goa Government had to bow before
property rights, freedom of religion and them saying they are being ‘watched/ people’s pressure to withdraw the IIT
ure with multiple potholes on the surface area throwing motorists speech, inclusiveness and equality, cit- followed’ simply for asserting consti- project in Melaulim but not before po-
at risk. Ideally, the iconic bridge, built at a whopping Rs 830-plus izenship, consent of the governed, vot- tutional rights. The Sedition law sup- lice had unleashed brute force on the
crores and all the ‘josh’ that came along, should have been used ing rights, freedom from unwarranted presses protesting voices and especial- people. The police trampled over wom-
governmental deprivation of the right ly the interests of those who live in the en’s bodies during a lie-down protest
to showcase Goa’s development and growth, instead, it has only to life and liberty, and minority rights. margins of society. These include work- on the street. This should be a case that
ended up exposing the ugly side of our infrastructure story. While Freedom of speech, assembly, religion ers, landless and marginal farmers, the State Police Complaints Authority
and the right to a fair trial are non-ne- Dalits, tribals, women and religious must pursue suo moto with some tough
an IIT being engaged to study the issue is acceptable and could gotiable dimensions of democracy. minorities. punishments meted out to the errant
be a diplomatic solution to the raging is- There is growing fear that India may Over the years human rights ac- o�cers. Goans have met with many
The State government sue, blaming Goa’s weather is the most be descending into fascism or already tivists have persisted in nationwide success stories of people’s protests –
be knee-deep in the ideology. Facets of campaigns against repressive laws the anti CAA being a recent example.
should have had its bizarre and irrational argument that one Goan politics mirror these trends. and mechanisms under the control When people unite to assert their
independent checks can think of. Countrywide, under the Congress of the government. The call of the Su- rights, they risk the long arm of the
and balances and It is learnt that thermal expansion can and BJP, citizens have in the last few preme Court (SC) for review of the Se- law, but sheer numbers and the moral
quality-control measures a�ect the roadbed of bridges with ex- decades witnessed the institution of dition Law and the possibility that the standing of their cause will force the
laws that visibly violate the rights of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act government to withdraw. People’s as-
in place in a phased pansion or contraction, but the point any group or individuals who dare to (AFSPA) will soon be revoked, gives sertion and steadfastness is a potent
manner here is about extreme temperatures and challenge the powers-that-be. In this human rights activists hope. The gov- blend for people’s victory. Protest that
context, the Supreme Court’s (SC) in- ernment still retains certain tyranni- is just encourages discernment of the
heatwaves. Goa has seen a marginal rise struction to the Centre to keep in abey- cal laws namely the National Security incongruities of unjust governance and
in mercury which is consistently below 40 degrees. If our minis- ance all cases falling under the Sedition Act of 1980 which exists to provide for the horror of oppressed lives. Social
ters start blaming the weather for the poor condition of our bridg- Act until its provisions are reviewed is a preventive detention in certain cases protest is saying we can express dissent
welcome departure from judicial com- Social protest and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in a peaceful and dialogical way, with-
es and roads, then may God save our State and the motorists. plicity. No FIR will be registered under is saying we (UAPA) – brazen anti-human rights. out compromising democratic princi-
While the potholes and condition of the Atal Setu surface are its provisions be it from the Centre or can express Law enforcement uses these to threaten ples. Indeed people’s power is the ��h
under study, there is another major problem that is staring at us States. Encouragingly, people have seen dissent in a activists with jail, detention, and worse pillar of democracy -- easily the most
challenges to incongruous government - even when the protests are within the vital pillar.
every day. The pathetic and uneven concrete surface of the new- choices from the SC and High Courts. . peaceful and framework of law. The UN Declaration Citizens who care about validating
ly laid �yovers that have a patchwork of bitumen all over with The Chairperson of the Movement dialogical of Human Rights decrees that every- democracy need to be resolute in their
the many potholes and depressions that have been surfacing are against UAPA and Other Repressive way, without one charged with a penal o�ence has stance that politicos are merely stew-
Laws (MURL), Justice Kholsa Patel, at a the right to be presumed innocent un- ards of the State – not its owners. Politi-
creating a nuisance to motorists. We were promised state-of-art press conference last week underlined
compromising til proven guilty according to law in a cos, on the other hand, must serve with
highways and smooth �yovers. How does the State government that “Freedom of Speech and Expres- democratic public trial with all guarantees for her/ humility, accountability and truthful
go about undoing this damage? Is there another IIT that is going sion are the basic principles of a De- principles his defence. These laws need to be re- service.
to be engaged to study these phenomena, or is this too because of
the climatic change?
The promise of development and the extravagant growth story THE INBOX >> I
sounds so hollow in the wake of the sub-standard quality on dis-
play that a strong suspicion is emerging about the government’s Awareness about dengue who was unjusti�ably arrested for a so-
role in these projects because responsibility has not been �xed, needed as cases are rising Our students and youth are beacons of hope cial media post on the Gyanvapi mosque
controversy, the magistrate’s order
and contractors continue to get away with shoddy work. Ideally, School and college students must be encouraged and motivat- enunciated and dwelt upon extensively
Even as various parts of the state are ed to focus on a lot of reading and writing. This would enhance on what constitutes free speech i.e. that
the State government should have had its independent checks witnessing rains, it is learnt that cases their knowledge and also help trigger their thinking process. another person’s view may o�end you
and balances and quality-control measures in place in a phased of dengue are reportedly increasing at Students are our future and they must be moulded to be guard-
an alarming rate with the Ponda health but that most certainly doesn’t mean
ians and watch dogs of Goa. Our students carry the hopes and
manner. We can’t be stock-taking and evaluating a�er the dam- centre reporting 38 cases of the disease aspirations not just of themselves but of their families and the
that person has committed an o�ence.
Extraordinarily the educationist was
age is already done. Time and again, evaluation has been failing, till date. It is understood that the slum entire state and nation. It is therefore imperative on the state booked under IPC section 153 A which
areas in Ponda have become an area of to provide full support to our dedicated teachers, students and
and roads in Goa are developing potholes in the shortest period. concern. It is learnt that the situation in pertains to ‘promoting enmity between
their hard working parents. We need to be alert to any wrong
Freshly laid hotmix tops have been wiped o� with the impact of Dattagad area of Ponda is almost like an doings by those in power and authority. The RTI Act is a handy
di�erent groups on grounds of religion’
on an arbitrary complaint �led by a local
early monsoon showers and motorists continue to face the brunt. outbreak of the vector-borne disease. tool that we should all use to con�rm the illegality or any act
lawyer. The police are wilfully blurring
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne of corruption we suspect. Social media is a powerful weapon
It’s time to �x responsibility and begin cracking down on those infection that can lead to a severe flu- to instantly create awareness across the world on an issue we communal fault lines and seem all too
who have compromised on an infrastructure that was supposed to like illness. While it is necessary for the feel strongly about. Substandard public works being the order willing to create a crime where none ex-
authorities to control the spread of the isted to please their political masters.
be world-class. of the day, citizens should be vigilant that every work being ex-
disease by fogging suspect areas, aware- ecuted with public funds must strictly meet quality standards. VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
ness of the disease and steps neces- By putting a little extra e�ort we can all make our Goa a better
sary to prevent getting infected are of
utmost importance. Proper hygiene and
place for all. Increased FAR for Kadamba
preventing breeding of mosquitoes by AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar plateau to spell doom for Goa
avoiding accumulation of rainwater can The decision by the Goa govt to allot
OPEN SPACE >> go a long way in controlling spread of the 400% extra FAR to boost construction
infection. activity at the Kadamba plateau will only
I therefore personally feel that our RSS-
Unused edi�ces deteriorate ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco trained CM Sawant should stop talking spell doom for the small state of Goa
of decorating the state with some more which is now reeling under the multi-

faster than those inhabited CM should stop spreading religious structures unnecessarily giving ple problems of poor and insu�cient
infrastructure that are causing problems
his own silly justi�cations to wickedly
enmity between Goans eye some of the existing religious struc- for the residents due to poor planning,

T
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was tures of the minorities to somehow start resulting in overcongestion, tra�c jams,
he government has ‘explained’ its decision to build a new Governor’s res- destruction of the ecology, acute short-
idence saying that crores are being spent to maintain the same every year. o�cially chosen to look a�er the basic organizing violent communal riots in the
needs of Goans and to work for the all- state, a la UP style. age of drinking water, erratic power sup-
Further the existing one will remain intact and not be disturbed or mod- ply, poor network connectivity, etc. Only
i�ed. What a canard. Will the govt not still spend to maintain the same? Un- round development of Goa. Unfortu-
used edi�ces deteriorate faster than those inhabited. A key point is the �nances nately, Sawant is currently heard talking JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao Send your a few years back flat owners of Kadamba
plateau were up in arms against the
which are hanging by a thin line. The govt cannot provide drinking water to all not of �ghting poverty, unemployment,
Where free speech is shackled letters to us PWD , protesting on the streets, as they
Goan residents whose ancestors lived here 450 years ago! Further, a new edi�ce corruption or of constructing houses for at editor@ did not have drinking water for their daily
will mean using up more precious land and further blotting the sky! This same Goans living below the poverty line but
of rebuilding some imaginary ancient
at the slightest pretext thegoan.net. use and had to buy tanker water at high
govt is running away from the crowded coastal belt tourism to the uncrowded
hinterland! There seems to be no consistency or continuity in the planning. It temples destroyed during the former Por- A Delhi High Court’s bail order should Letters must rates, as there was no drinking water
become mandatory reading for police pipeline in the area. One therefore won-
is very clear that the move is to change history using the monies of the current tuguese colonial regime. Today, our tiny
and judicial o�cers everywhere, es-
be 150-200 ders what will happen once the concrete
citizens to achieve their ends. What is terrifying is the way people are lapping up state is already seen fully conjusted with words and
thousands of religious structures almost pecially given these times where free jungle comes up on the plateau with the
these blatant canards that are regularly being put forward. mention the increased FAR and with no proper infra-
everywhere, especially near hospitals, speech is shackled in chains at the
R FERNANDES, Margao schools, colleges, all national highways, slightest pretext . While speedily freeing writer’s name structure in place.
bus stands, market places etc in Goa. a professor of History at Delhi University and location AF NAZARETH, Alto Porvorim

Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
Printed at: Elegant O�set Printers Pvt Ltd, Plot No 2/3/4, Thivim Industrial Estate, All Rights Reserved. concerned authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Goan Everyday’s Editor,
Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. Editorial O�ce: Third Floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panaji 403 001, Goa. Publisher and Owners.
Published at: Villa Flores da Silva, Erasmo Carvalho Street, PO Box 31, Margao 403 601, Goa. Ph: (0832) 240 5950 or mail us at editor@thegoan.net For circulation issues, please call (0832) 2450000 or mail: circulation@thegoan.net
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t h e da ily gua r dia n r eview
we d n e s day | 2 5 m ay 2 0 2 2
new de l h i comment & analysis 5
the teMPle RUn

Gyanvapi sets Indian politics


on a new course
It may be the beginning of a new judicial process that unravels the murky medieval
Indian history marked by many demolitions of temples, atrocities, and killings.
the Narasimha Rao govern-
ment. Sentiments are high
not only in Varanasi but all
over. Seeming non-partisan
opinion people like PK Roy, former
executive director, Airports
authority of India in Kol-
SHIVAJI SARKAR kata; Lalima Aneja Dang,
a senior radio producer;
Priyadarshi Dutt, author,
commentator; former edi-
ings. The Gyanvapi can have tor of Doordarshan Prabhat
an impact on at least ten dif- Dabral are all charged and
ferent places, where the advising that it is prudent
medieval rulers had taken to settle and not react on
recourse to the extreme this emotive issue. Former
brutality of converting reli- Vice Chancellor of Nagpur
gious structures and killing University SN Pathan and
thousands. These are: Kashi another Vice Chancellor
Vishvanath (Gyanvapi) in Firoz Bakht Ahmed have
the oldest living city of Va- appealed to the minorities to
ranasi; Krishna Janmab- correct the steps and main-
hoomi (Shahi Idgah); Rudra tain harmony. Left-leaning
Mahalay in Patan, Gujarat; Dabral says minorities must

A
chance test case Bhojshala Saraswati Man- rethink despots like Au-
for Shringar Gauri dir (Kamal Maula mosque) rangjeb and instead have
puja outside, the at Bhoshala in MP; Adinath consideration for the nation
survey for it, and the sur- Temple (Adina mosque) and sort it out.
prise discovery of Shivalin- at Pandua, West Bengal; The one common question
ga— supposedly the creator Bhadra Kali Temple (Jama the non-political elite ask is
and destructor at the old Masjid) in Ahmedabad, how could someone treat
temple of Lord Vishwanath Gujarat; Vijay Temple (Bi- the revered Shivlinga with
or Gyanvapi— is changing jamandal mosque) at Vidi- such contempt that they
the political scenario with sha, MP; 27 Hindu and Jain established the wash-tank
a religious fervor possibly temples (Quawwatal- ul- Is- above that. It is difficult to
giving a boost to the prepa- lam) Qutb Minar complex; say whether it would have
A view of Gyanvapi Masjid, in Varanasi on May 19. ANI
ration for 2024 Lok Sabha and Somnath and Ramjan- the same manifestation and
elections. mabhoomi temples that are feelings till elections or not.
Would it make the Con- now restored. The sentiments expressed black” with the “finding”. says he is ‘pained’.
gress effort at Udaipur futile The Gyanvapi re-ignites speak volumes of the hurt It may start with Hyderabad’s Bhagyalakshmi temple. The Telangana The Congress two days The Gyanvapi will decide
and boost up the votary of the issue of what was sup- feelings. back at the Udaipur Chin- the religious fervor of
Hindutva for a new stretch posed to have been settled The nation may recall that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao may have to take a stand tan meet supported the 1947 Indian politics. The parties
of political success? It defi- with the judgment of the since 1949, the Babri struc- on the crucial Bhagyalakshmi temple in the Charminar complex. law regarding Gyanvapi. So not aligned with BJP’s
nitely would firm up the Ramjanmabhoomi temple ture in all purposes was a far it has not come out with views have the challenge to
religious thrust of Indian by the Supreme Court. The Ram temple. Emotive is- Rao, facing a pincer attack by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a similar supportive state- tailor new strategies. The
politics. five Supreme Court judges sues are not forgotten. That ment. minorities are in dilemma.
Varanasi is the city of took note of the Places of led to the demolition of the
Home Minister Amit Shah, will have to steer with deftness. In the BJP only, Sangeet They are not keen on sailing
Shiv. Adages are there that Worship (Special Provi- structure in 1992. The way Som has threatened a replay with it or giving up but the
Shiv used to visit this city sions) Act of 1991 that laid now the Gyanvapi is flar- of the 1992 ‘Babri demoli- voices within are advising
from his Himalayan home down that all shrines will ing up with a non-issue not would have to find out MIM may pitch in to make may look for a chance in tion’. But the BJP is happy not to get into another
every year. None possibly be preserved as inherited on the plea for the right to the new political peg to re- the Telangana assembly Bengal to peg on Adinath, with the Varanasi court de- confrontation and solve it
expected that he would be by independent India on 15 worship Shringar Gauri im- main relevant and vibrant. elections interesting. Pandua. velopments giving it time, to prudently.
found in the ablution tank August 1947. The law made ages sculpted on the outer It may start with Hyder- Whether Gujarat Alok Kumar, president of extend the restrictions at the Howsoever it develops,
in all his manifestation to an exception for Ayodhya wall of the Gyanvapi, to the abad’s Bhagyalakshmi would like to rake up the VHP, an eminent lawyer, Gyan Vapi. They being the it would keep the Indian
energise his devotees. No- as it was already an ongoing appointment of commis- temple. The TRS Chief Min- Bhadrakali and Rudra is categorical: “There has rulers in UP are acting with politics warm and parties
body yet knows whether it dispute. Nothing else was sioners to the survey of the ister K Chandrasekhar Rao Mahalaya issues, Madhya been no change in the status caution so that the gains would have to stir cau-
is the lingam or not, but it deserving of an exception, premises, and discovery of may have to take a stand Pradesh ignites Vidisha and of the religious structure take them to the logical con- tiously to chart their way to
has charged up the political nor was it legally or con- Shivlinga indicates that the on the crucial Bhagyalak- Bhojshala or not the devel- since 1947, and Hindus have clusion. Chief Minister Yogi 2024 Lok Sabha and many
atmosphere. stitutionally possible, the issue of demolition by Au- shmi temple in the Charmi- opment of the ensuing days always performed puja at Aditynath is personally ob- assembly elections before
It may be the beginning of judges wrote. rangzeb on Sept 2, 1669, can nar complex. Rao facing a would reveal. Maybe in MP the site” calling it Gyanvy- serving each of the develop- that.
a new judicial process that The quick scenario change widely impact the course of pincer attack by Congress and Gujarat, BJP might try api Mandir. VHP national ments. The churning continues
unravels the murky medi- in the Gyanvapi incident Indian politics. leader Rahul Gandhi and to keep it on low fire but spokesperson Vinod Bansal J&K PDP leader Meh- and the nation hopes that
eval Indian history marked may raise the question of the The Hindutva-oriented Home Minister Amit Shah the opposition, also keen on said the faces of those who booba Mufti slammed the solution would emerge for a
by many demolitions of validity of the enactment of parties will have ease in ac- will have to steer with deft- proving loyalty to Hindus, were trying to “hide the BJP for stoking the fire. It is prosperous, peaceful coun-
temples, atrocities, and kill- the Places of Worship Act by cessing the voters. Those ness. The others and even can try sailing on it as BJP truth” have been “painted simple. MIM leader Owaisi try.

PERSPECTIVE
TECHNOLOGY AND LIVES

Red lines in the age of tech


Last week the India Founda- any chess player that ever lived. Metaverse, a collective virtual shown only those posts that
tion held a conclave on the Hence there is a need to put shared space that we can in- match our ideological beliefs.
MetaVerse. Speaking at the checks and balances in place habit by creating avatars or our Facebook and Twitter have us
event which had a robot as a co- and draw some red lines. Mad- virtual counterparts. By inhab- wrapped in a bubble where we
compere, Jyotiraditya Scindia, hav is right otherwise we could it, they mean everything, from are shown only those posts that
the Minister of Civil Aviation well be living in a world where socialising to attending busi- the algorithm thinks are best
quipped that soon they would we are shaped by tech instead ness meetings to even shop- suited for us. We have already
not be needing him to come and of the other way around. (In ping. You can even experience outsourced our search engine
address the gathering, as there fact, some would say, we are al- the physical intimacy of a vir- to them. Any further depen-
will come a time when a robot ready halfway there). tual hug or a handshake. You dence will only be detrimental
could come and deliver his Also speaking at the India can also buy land and space on to our capacity for independent
speech. Taking up this train of Foundation conclave K An- this metaverse that is being cul- and free-thinking.
thought, RSS leader Ram Mad- anth Krishnan (TCS) pointed tivated by tech giants such as Digital platforms can also be
hav commented that since we out that there are more smart- FaceBook and Microsoft (only misused to propagate a certain
are heading towards a world of phone owners in India than the latter calls its metaverse kind of narrative. If Facebook
Artificial General Intelligence toothbrush owners. We are Mesh). doesn’t want you to read a par-
there is a cause for worry as already in a dependent and All this is very well but where ticular article it will simply set
there is one crucial difference needy (toxic is a better word) does that leave our human ava- its algorithm in a way that will
between robots and humans relationship with technology. tars? What kind of discourse make the article harder to find
and this is intelligence with a In their book, The Art of Bit- will we have where all our on its search engine. Ditto for
heart. He commented that al- fulness, Nandan Nilekani and conversation will be governed YouTube. Twitter can simply
ready there are cases of AI out- Tanuj Bhojwani, quote a De- by algorithms. Already with ban your account. So for better
guessing human intelligence, cember 2020 survey of 2000 twitter replacing the physi- or (meta) worse, one must ap-
citing the example of Alpha smartphone users revealed cal townhall as the preferred proach technology with all the
Zero a chess engine developed that on an average users spent their phones at least five times check their phones within 15 the digital world has our un- forum for debate, we are in trepidation and enthusiasm of
by Deep Mind & Google search 6.9 hours on their phones every in an hour-long conversation minutes of waking up. divided attention. And beck- the danger of living in an al- handling a two-edged sword.
engines, that claims to defeat day; and most (46 %) pick up with friends. 84 % say they It would be fair to state that oning from the horizon is the gorithm bubble where we are —Priya Sahgal
6 legally speaking the daily guardian review
tue s day | 24 may 2022
new delhi

CommerCe

The Unresolved Issue of AMP


Expenses in Transfer Pricing -
India would fall within the ambit
of an international transac-
tion, and this would be de-
duced from the proportion-
ally higher AMP expenses
analysis that were incurred by the
Domestic Entity in contrast
to two similarly situated
LOPAMUDRA MAHAPATRA domestic entities. The Rev-
enue’s understanding that
the AMP expenses which
are incurred by the Do-
the Bright Line Test (BLT) mestic Associated Entity
which created a distinc- will inevitably result in a
tion between the routine benefit to the Foreign As-
and non-routine expenses sociated Entity in terms of
that were incurred by the increasing its brand value
companies. According to along with the lack of lack
the Bright Line Test, it is adequate compensation
necessary to ascertain the to the latter for the same,
non-routine expenses that is the primary reason be-
have been incurred i.e., for hind its attempt to bring
marketing purposes in all expenses pertaining to
contrast to the routine ex- advertising, marketing and
penses that the incurred by promotion within the am-

O
ne of the most per- the brand’s distributor for bit of the country’s Trans-
p l e x i n g ye t s i g- product promotion while fer Pricing Laws, thus it
nificant concepts ascertaining the economic takes the job of applying
within the Transfer Pricing ownership of the intangi- an Arm’s Length Prince on
Dispute Resolution is with ble in question. such transactions which
regards to the Advertise- The issue pertaining to are used for AMP and the
ment, Marking and Pro- AMP expenses was first test that is most widely
moting (AMP) Expenses dealt with in the case of employed for this purpose
that are drawn by the Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. v. is the Bright Line Test
Indian Entities of a com- Additional Commissioner which used by the court
pany for the products of of Income Tax [(2010) 328 in the case of LG Electron-
its foreign Associate Entity. ITR 210] before the Delhi ics, where it looked at the
This concept has been sur- High Court, where the Bright Line, which is a line
rounded by controversy Bench held that the Adver- drawn within the total ex-
and confusion since its in- tisement, Marketing and penditure for the purposes
ception within the practice Promoting Expenses will of AMP which signified
and study of Transfer Pric- be considered as an inter- the average spending for
ing and this is because of national transaction only the same purpose by com- The origin of this dispute can be traced back to the United States Tax Court in the case of United States v. DHL
the absence of any statutes in cases where it exceeds parable entities and any
or regulations dealing with the costs and expenses amount which would ex- Corporation, after the introduction of the US Regulations of 1968 which introduced an important concept pertaining
it and its jurisprudence is that have been incurred ceed the line would be con- to “Developer Assister Rules” as per which the entity which has incurred the AMP Expenses (Developer) would
built purely on the judicial by comparable domestic sidered as an international
precedents that have been entities which are similarly transaction which would be treated as the economic owner of the brand which is being marketed even though it might not be its legal owner,
delivered by the Tribunals situated. However, the Del- represent the expenses that
and High Courts, how- hi High Court’s judgement were drawn by the domes-
and the legal owner of the Brand i.e., the Assister need not pay any compensation for the use of the brand by the
ever, interestingly even was remanded following tic entity for the building developer. These regulations were grounded on the notion of equitable ownership of a brand on the basis of the fiscal
the courts appear to have which it was challenged the brand value of the For-
a tough time dealing with before the Honourable eign Associated Entity’s expenditure and the risk incurred by them, and the legal ownership of the brand has not to be taken as one of the
issues pertaining to AMP Supreme Court in Maruti product.
expenses. Suzuki v. Additional Com- The precedent in Sony
criteria for ascertaining who would be considered as the developer of the Brand or the intangible property in question.
The origin of this dispute missioner of Income Tax Ericsson proved to be a
can be traced back to the [2011] 335 ITR 121 (SC) gamechanger wherein the
United States Tax Court in where it was overturned by court went to the extent
the case of United States the Apex Court. of overruling all of the
v. DHL Corporation, after In LG Electronics India abovementioned judge- Electronics to show cause since this would be consid- to AMP expenses and have with regards what would because of the lack of any
the introduction of the US Pvt. Ltd. v Assistant Com- ments with regards to for their application of the ered as an outcome of judi- struggled with determin- constitute an international regulatory or statutory
Regulations of 1968 which missioner of Income Tax whether AMP Expenses Bright Line Test in deter- cial legislation. ing a proper method for the a transaction. The defini- provisions within the In-
introduced an important [(2013) 140 ITD 41 (Delhi) by the Domestic Entity mining the part of the ex- After the precedent in same. tion of an international come Tax Act, and this was
concept pertaining to “De- (SB)], the Delhi Bench of would be considered as penses towards AMP that Sony Ericsson there has A transfer pricing adjust- transaction as per the In- also brought to attention
veloper Assister Rules” as the ITAT referred to the an internal transaction. In would be considered as an been a drastic change in the ment can only be made come Tax Act includes the by the court in Maruti Su-
per which the entity which precedent by the Delhi this case, the court did not international transaction. judicial approach towards when it has met the statu- parties to have an agree- zuki(2011). In the absence
has incurred the AMP Ex- High Court in Maruti Su- face any issues in deter- However, the court reject issues pertaining to AMP tory framework of high- ment between themselves of Statutory provisions and
penses (Developer) would zuki and held that the as mining whether it would the Revenue’s submissions expenses within the realm lighting the existence of for such a transaction and the inability to apply the
be treated as the economic per Chapter X of the In- constitute an international and reasoning while hold- of transfer pricing. How- an international transac- a shared understanding Bright Line Test because
owner of the brand which come Tax Act, 1961 the As- transaction since the enti- ing that the Bright Line ever, since the Court has tion, determination of the with regards to the transac- of the precedent in Sony
is being marketed even sessing Officer has the right ties had submitted that the Test did not have legislative failed to elaborate upon price and fixing an ALP in tion and its purpose. In LG Ericsson, it becomes im-
though it might not be its to make an adjustment for international between the or statutory backing and what would constitute compliance with Section Electronics and other cases possible for the revenue in
legal owner, and the legal Transfer Pricing vide ap- Foreign Associated Entity thus the precedent in LG an international transac- 92 C of the Income Tax Act. prior to Sony Ericson, the such cases, especially in the
owner of the Brand i.e., the plication of the Bright Line and the Domestic Entity Electronics was overruled tion in Sony Ericsson, the While the element of the primary criteria that were absence of a written or ex-
Assister need not pay any Test in issues pertaining also included the money with regards to the use and courts and tribunals have international transaction adopted by the courted in press agreement between
compensation for the use to the AMP expenses that for the purposes of AMP. applicability of the Bright gone back to the phase of was not disputed in all of ascertaining international the Domestic and Foreign
of the brand by the devel- have been drawn by the While the Revenue had re- Line Test for ascertaining drowning in confusion to the aforementioned cases, transactions and unsaid Associated Entities, where
oper. These regulations Indian Entity, since this lied on the precedent in LG international transactions deal with cases pertaining the primary issue was understanding, were on it is forced to assess the Do-
were grounded on the no- the basis of proportionally mestic Entity’s subjective
tion of equitable ownership higher expenses with ref- intentions however this
of a brand on the basis of erence to comparable i.e. method was also rejected
the fiscal expenditure and the courts had adopted the in Maruti Suzuki(2011).
the risk incurred by them, Bright Line Test which had While the decision in
and the legal ownership of been deemed incompatible Sony Ericsson has left the
the brand has not to be tak- with the Income Tax Act of Revenue and Courts baffled
en as one of the criteria for 1961 with regards to the method,
ascertaining who would be At a glance at most of the they should use to ascertain
considered as the develop- cases pertaining to this international transactions
er of the Brand or the intan- issue, the Revenue has in matters pertaining to
gible property in question. resorted to proving the AMP expenses, hopefully,
However, it is pertinent to existence of international this will finally come to
consider that the Transfer transactions on the basis a conclusion since it is
Pricing Rules in America of the Bright Line Test, and currently being heard
create a clear distinction most of the revenue’s judge- by the Country’s Apex
between “Routine” and ments also fail to highlight Court. It is of the utmost
“Non-Routine” expendi- or prove the same, other- importance for the Apex
ture, which is essential to wise except for the unique Court to elaborate upon
understand the issue of cases in which the Assessee the method and procedure
the monetary remunera- Domestic Associated Entity that must be followed by
tion that is given to the and the Foreign Associated the revenue in determining
domestic associated entity Entity had a written agree- cases pertaining AMP
for marketing intangibles. ment between the two of expenses and issue
In DHL, the court framed them. This issue is purely guidelines for the same.
t h e da ily gua r dia n r eview
w e dne sday | 2 5 m ay 2 0 2 2
new de l h i policy & politics 7
Prison AdministrAtion

Just One Psychiatrist For All


Prisoners With Mental Illness In
State Not Sustainable: Orissa HC situation.”

PRISONERS WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS
analysis No doubt, the Bench then
specifies in para 7 that, “The
issue of prisoners with men-
SANJEEV SIROHI tal illness was highlighted
during today’s hearing. As
per the figures collated by
the Secretary, Odisha State

I
t cannot be easily glossed tions issued by this Court. Legal Services Authority
over that none other than The learned AC has also pre- (OSLSA), from the reports
the Orissa High Court it- pared a detailed convenience of visit undertaken by the
self in an extremely laudable, note for consideration of this District Magistrates (DMs)
learned, landmark and lat- Court.” there are at least 286 pris-
est judgment titled Krushna oners with mental illnesses
Prasad Sahoo v. State of OVERCROWDING in the various jails and sub-
Orissa & Ors. in W.P.(C) No. While according top priority jails. Mr. Chhabra antici-
6610 of 2006 pronounced to overcrowding of prisons, pates that this number may
as recently as on May 21, the Bench then mentions in be even higher and would be
2022 has expressed deep para 4 that, “At today’s hear- in the range of around 500
concerns on the issue of the ing, the Court first consid- prisoners.”
mental health of prisoners. ered the issue of overcrowd- Alarmingly, the Bench then
On learning that there ex- ing of prisons. The note of notes in para 8 that, “The sta-
isted only one psychiatrist the AC, refers to two Sub- tistics provided to this Court
to attend all prisoners in the Jails, viz., the Balliguda Sub- show that there are as many
state with mental illness, Jail and the Jajpur Sub-Jail, as 42 prisoners in Circle Jail,
a Division Bench of Chief where even now the prison Koraput, 33 in Circle Jail,
Justice S Muralidhar and population is more than Sambalpur, 29 in District
Justice RK Pattanaik noted 100% of the carrying capac- Jail, Keonjhar, 22 in District
with concern that, “This sit- ity of the said Sub-Jails. Mr. Jail, Bhawanipatna, 19 in position of the constitution updated information re- arated from adults in jails of letter and spirit. The Court ity to furnish bail bonds, by
uation is unsustainable con- Chhabra, the DG, Prisons Special Sub-Jail, Bonaigarh, of such PPC in the jails since garding his own case as well several districts including is informed by Mr. Biswajit filing applications before
sidering that it is physically is conscious of this position 14 in District Jail, Angul, 14 that would address a large as orders of the concerned Bargarh, Malkanagiri, Ke- Mohanty, Secretary, OSLSA the Court of Sessions or the
impossible for just one psy- and has offered a temporary in Sub-Jail, Nayagada and number of problems faced Court in his case.” onjhar, Bhadrak, Cuttack, that in 418 Police Stations in High Court under Section
chiatrist to attend all prison- solution of shifting the pris- 15 in Special Jail, Rourkela, by inmates within jails, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Koraput Odisha, the Duty-Lawyer 440 (2) of the Cr.P.C. for
ers in the state with mental oners to neighbouring jails. who have been diagnosed which can be then brought VACANT POSTS OF and Nuapada. A third as- system has already been modifying the conditions
illness.” It merits mention- He has also undertaken to with mental illnesses that to the notice of the jail ad- MEDICAL STAFF pect here is that the reports implemented. The names and the terms of both the
ing that the development re-examine the earlier sug- require urgent attention. It ministration for remedial On key issue of vacant collated by the Member and the mobile numbers of Judgments of the Supreme
comes in an ongoing case in gestion whether pending is a matter of deep concern, action. The Court empha- posts of medical staff, the Secretary, OSLSA reveal the Duty-Lawyers are stated Court as well as the guide-
which the Orissa High Court the actual increase in the ad- and a concern that is shared sises that since this is a statu- Bench then directs in para that there are no separate to be displayed on boards in lines issued by the NALSA
had previously directed the ditional capacity of the jails by Mr. Chhabra, that there tory requirement, it has to be 13 that, “On the issue of va- enclosures for women pris- a prominent place in each in this regard.”
Director-General, Prisons, and sub-jails, there can be is just one psychiatrist in complied both in letter and cant post of Medical Staff, oners in the District Jail in of these Police Stations. He Most commendably, the
to ensure food, hygiene, and a temporary solution found Choudwar Circle Jail, who spirit and on the next date the position of 3 psychia- Bhawanipatna and even the expects the Duty-Lawyer Bench then notes in para
health facilities in all the for accommodating prison- is expected to cater to the of hearing, the Court will be trists is still lying vacant report from the visit of the system to be implemented 21 that, “A suggestion has
jails/sub-jails of the State. ers in other state-owned needs of all prisoners with informed of the constitution and 31 sanctioned posts of DLSA to Jharsuguda reveals in all the remaining Police been received from the D.G.
buildings.” mental illnesses throughout of such PPCs in every circle Medical Officers are also that the women’s ward is in Stations by the 10th June, Prisons to the DLSAs, who
ATHAMALIK SUB-JAIL To put things in perspec- the State. This situation is jail, district jail, special jail, still vacant. It is stated that a pathetic condition. As re- 2022. The Duty-Lawyers organize the visits by Panel
MATTER tive, the Bench then envis- clearly unsustainable con- special sub-jail or sub-jail as since the D.G. of Prisons has gards the jail in Jharsuguda will be given an orienta- Counsel or themselves visit
To start with, this brief, bril- ages in para 5 that, “In the sidering that it is physically mandated under Rule 802 of made a request to the State is concerned, Mr. Chhabra tion through the DLSAs, the prisons should compile
liant, bold and balanced course of the discussion, a impossible for just one psy- 2020 Manual.” Government in this regard, states that the Additional emphasizing the need to a list of Under Trial Pris-
judgment authored by a concern was raised about the chiatrist to attend to all pris- a direction is issued to the I.G. has visited the said jail ensure compliance with oners (UTPs), who may be
Bench of Orissa High Court resistance faced when appli- oners with mental illnesses.” PRISON Home Department as well and corrective measures the directions issued by the informed sick or aged or in
comprising of Chief Justice cations are filed before the Commendably, the Bench DEVELOPMENT as the Health and Family have already been taken. As Supreme Court in Arnesh need of urgent medical at-
Dr S Muralidhar and Justice concerned Courts for shift- then lays bare in para 9 that, BOARD Welfare Department, Gov- regards the issue regard- Kumar (supra). The orienta- tention including pregnant
RK Pattanaik sets the pitch ing of an inmate from one Jail “A suggestion that has come As we see, the Bench then ernment of Odisha to imme- ing segregation in the jail tion will also be for effective women and on that basis,
in motion by first and fore- to another. Considering that forth from the learned AC lays down in para 11 that, diately act upon the above in Bhawanipatna, he states interaction with the persons advise moving the Court
most putting forth in para 1 the problem of overcrowd- and which the Court is will- “As regards the Prison De- requests of the D.G., Prisons that steps will immediately brought into Police Stations for bail on medical grounds.
that, “Pursuant to the direc- ing of jails in Odisha is a real ing to accept is to have the velopment Board (PDB), and expedite the process of be taken to rectify the situ- and proper advice as to their This suggestion will also be
tions issued by this Court on and serious one, and it is go- OSLSA to step in to arrange Mr. Chhabra informs the filling up of the vacant posts ation and that he will be is- options.” acted upon by the Secretary,
5th May 2022, the District ing to take some time before for visits by psychiatrists to Court that in view of the of Medical Officers and Psy- suing instructions in that Needless to say, the Bench OSLSA, who will instruct
and Sessions Judge, An- the additional capacity in each of the jails where there draft agenda proposed by chiatrists.” regard.” then mentions in para 18 the DLSAs accordingly.”
gul has submitted a report jails can be constructed, if a are prisoners with mental his predecessor having to be Adding more to it, the that, “Mr. Chhabra states What’s more, the Bench
dated 18th May, 2022 en- request is made for shifting illnesses to have an assess- revised, a meeting has not Bench then also directs in BIJU PATNAIK OPEN that the efforts would be then adds in para 22 that,
closing original statements of an inmate from a jail to a ment done of their present yet been held. However, he para 14 that, “Mr. Chhabra AIR PRISON made to earmark some “The Court also notes its
of 12 inmates and 2 staff of jail in a neighbouring dis- condition and what urgent expects it will happen very states that although direc- Be it noted, the Bench then space in every jail and sub- satisfaction on the various
the Athamalik Sub-Jail. The trict at the nearest possible measures need to be taken to soon and definitely before tions have been issued by states in para 16 that, “This jail for library books and measures that have been
sealed cover containing the location then such request alleviate their distress. The the end of June, 2022. The the Health Department Court had in its order dat- reading materials to be kept taken in the jails in Odi-
report was opened and the should be considered in its Member Secretary, OSLSA, Court expects the PDB to and Home Department for ed 23rd December 2021, for prisoners.” sha pursuant to the orders
report has been perused proper perspective keeping who is present in virtual take up in its agenda the is- increasing the frequency pointed out that the Biju Of course, the Bench then passed by this Court, which
by the Court. Copies of the in view the serious prob- mode, has undertaken to ar- sue of the budgetary alloca- of the visits by the Medical Patnaik Open Air Prison, reiterated in para 19 that, has resulted in a consider-
report be made available to lems faced by inmates in an range for such visit by spe- tions per prisoner, which personnel to the jails, that which has a capacity of 125, “The learned AC points out able improvement in the
Mr. Debakanata Mohanty, overcrowded Jail. It is em- cialist psychiatrist not just requires revision among is not happening as was di- has remained largely unde- that despite the directions conditions in he prisons in
learned Additional Govern- phasized that this is only a from Public Health Facilities the other issues including rected. This aspect must be rutilized. The position as of issued by this Court in its Odisha, as is reflected in
ment Advocate (AGA) and temporary solution pending but even from Private Health infrastructure, overcrowd- immediately examined by 30th April, 2022 is that the order dated 23rd December, the reports submitted to the
Mr. Gautam Misra, learned the creation of the additional Facilities, the expenses for ing, medical facilities, skill both the Health and Fam- said prison has only 33 pris- 2021 in Para-48 about the Court by the District Magis-
Amicus Curiae (AC).” capacity in the Jails.” which will be defrayed by development of the prison ily Welfare Department oners. Mr. Chhabra stated Police authorities having trates, the DLSAs and even
In the fitness of things, Quite revealingly, the OSLSA. The OSLSA will inmates and the like. The and the Home Department that once the COVID-19 to strictly comply with the the District Judges, who
the Bench then points out Bench then notes in para 6 then follow up on such re- deliberations of the meeting to ensure that the instruc- situation totally eases and directions issued by the Su- have undertaken visits, all
in para 2 that, “Mr. Manoj that, “Apart from the above ports of individual assess- of the PDB be placed before tions are strictly carried out. convicts return to the jails, preme Court in Joginder Ku- of which has been collated
Chhabra, DG, Prisons, Odi- two sub-jails, there are four ment by filing appropriate the Court on the next date.” The responsibility should be the prison population in the mar v. State of U.P. AIR 1994 and presented in this Court
sha, who is present in virtual jails viz., the Phulbani Dis- applications before the con- fixed on the concerned Chief open-air prison would in- SC 1349 and the subsequent at today’s hearing. Never-
mode, states that he will im- trict Jail, Bhadrak Special cerned Courts on behalf of INFORMATION ABOUT District Medical Officer crease. The Court urges that amendments by which theless, much more needs
mediately act on the said re- Sub-Jail, Kamakhyanagar the prisoners enclosing such PRISONERS’ CASES (CDMO) in each of the dis- this issue receive the highest Sections 41-A to 41-D were to be done. Hopefully, the
port by taking an appropri- Sub-Jail and the Malkanagi- assessments and praying for As things stand, the Bench tricts in this regard. A fur- and most urgent attention of introduced in the Cr.P.C., further directions issued by
ate action against the person ri Sub-Jail, where the prison appropriate orders from the then maintains in para 12 ther circular/order be issued the prison department and those provisions are not yet this Court today should help
involved in the incident of population between 50 to Court concerned, particu- that, “On the issue of infor- to that effect forthwith.” on the next date, the Court being strictly implemented. in that direction.”
the assault on a convict as 100% in excess of the car- larly for interim or regular mation being provided to Segregation of UTPs from must be informed of a sub- The direction to the Police to Finally, the Bench then
mentioned in that report. rying capacity of those jails bail. Each such prisoner prisoners about their cases, convicted inmates, Segre- stantial increase in the pris- publish every month on its concludes by holding in
After copies of the report even as of today. That apart, with mental illness will be Mr. Chhabra states that dur- gation of Young Offenders oner population in the open website the relevant infor- para 23 that, “List on 28th
have been provided to them, fifteen District Jails, Special assigned with an individual ing his visit to the Circle Jail, from Adults and Separate air prison.” mation of persons arrested July, 2022 at 2 pm.”
the said report will again be Jails and Sub-Jails face the lawyer from the panel of the Choudwar and District Jails Enclosures for Women Pris- is reiterated.” In sum, we thus see that
placed in the sealed cover situation of prison popula- OSLSA.” in Angul and Puri, he did oners DUTY LAWYERS Quite remarkably, the the Orissa High Court has
and kept with Registrar (Ju- tion being in excess to the PRISONERS’ notice such e-kiosk and his Quite worryingly, the It is worth noting that Bench then mandates in taken great pains to ensure
dicial) of this Court.” extent of 20 to 50%. Mr. PANCHAYAT COUNCIL information is that there are Bench then enunciates in the Bench then recalls and para 20 that, “In modifica- that prisoners are properly
To be sure, the Bench then Chhabra assures the Court Essentially, the Bench then around 20 jails in Odisha para 15 that, “A concern has puts forth in para 17 that, tion of the direction issued looked after in prisons. The
discloses in para 3 that, “Af- that each of these situations stipulates in para 10 that, that have such e-kiosks. He been expressed that at least “This Court had issued de- by this Court in Para-7 of its Court minced no words to
fidavits dated 20th May, is receiving the highest atten- “The Court’s attention was states that he will be visit- in six sub-jails in Champua, tailed directions regarding Order dated 23rd December express its serious concern
2022 have been filed by the tion of the prison authorities drawn to Rule 802 of the ing the jails in other States Kamakshyanagar, Banki, the duty lawyers being to 2021, it is directed that the on the deplorable condition
Deputy Inspector General and wherever possible, ap- Odisha Model Jail Manual, to ascertain the best practice Jajpur, Dharamagarh and be attached to every Police Member Secretary, OSLSA of prisoners in jail. It also
of Prisons and the Member plications will be filed before 2020 (2020 Manual), which in this area and ensure that Jeypore, under trials were Station and of the direc- will facilitate the release of made it indisputably clear
Secretary, Odisha State Legal the concerned Courts for provides for constitution of those are made available in not segregated from con- tions issued by the Supreme prisoners, who were un- that just one psychiatrist for
Services Authority (OSLSA) shifting of the excess popu- Prisoners’ Panchayat Coun- the jails in Odisha. Basically, victed inmates. Further, Court in Arnesh Kumar v. able to be released on bail all prisoners with mental
regarding status of compli- lation to the nearest possible cil (PPC). Mr. Chhabra has a prisoner must have easy young offenders in the age State of Bihar (2014) 8 SCC despite being granted bail illnesses in State is not sus-
ance with the earlier direc- jails to tide over the critical undertaken to examine the and ready access to latest group of 18 to 21 are not sep- 273, having to be followed in on account of their inabil- tainable. No denying it!
8 statistically speaking the daily guardian review
wedne s day | 25 may 2022
new delhi

climate change

EXTREME HEATWAVES
RAISING ALARMS IN INDIA
many schools changing school timings the livelihood of those engaging in the
SHREYA MASKARA
NEW DELHI to accommodate for the impact such informal economy and agricultural
severe weather could have on young activities. The heatwave is also having
children. an ecological impact, with reports in

L
arge parts of India and its neigh- As per the Indian Meteorological De- some cities of dehydrated birds falling
bouring countries, including partment (IMD), a region is said to be from the sky. Additionally, it has exac-
Pakistan, have been experi- experiencing a heatwave if maximum erbated India’s power crisis, created by
encing record high temperatures as temperatures continue to exceed 40 a short supply of coal and excess de-
a heatwave continues to engulf the Celsius in lowland regions, or at least mand from industries. Amidst reports
subcontinent. The heatwave began 30 Celsius in the highlands, for at of the impact of the heatwave, studies
in early March and continues to ag- least two consecutive days. A heat- produced by scientists at the World
gravate millions across the country. wave is also declared if temperatures Weather Attribution initiative and the
Major cities, including the national are 4.5-6.4 degrees above average, United Kingdom Met’s office revealed
capital, recorded temperatures as high with temperatures 6.4 degrees above that extreme weather events such as
as 49.2 Celsius, which is the highest in normal being classified as a “severe the ongoing heatwave in India have
122 years (since records began). Heat heatwave”. The heatwave has already been made more likely due to human-
warnings and advisories have been claimed many lives across the country, caused climate change, raising alarms
issued in many cities and states, with apart from having a direct impact on across the globe.

WHAT ARE THE KEY


FINDINGS OF THE STUDY?
An international team of climate scien- ter temperatures rising approximately that the record-breaking heatwave in
tists at the World Weather Attribution 1.2 degrees because of global warming India and Pakistan had been made
initiative published a study last week since the late 1800s, with the climate 100 times more likely due to climate
examining the role of climate change of the past. change. Scientists explained that the
in earlier extreme heatwaves in the In- It was found out that at present the main reason for the difference in find-
dian subcontinent. 29 researchers, as chances of such a heatwave happening ings between the two studies was the
part of the World Weather Attribution are once every 100 years. However, in different parameters used by the re-
group, including scientists from uni- a world without climate change, such searchers. The Met office focused on a
versities and meteorological agencies an event would only happen once eve- 2010 heatwave that affected different
in India, Pakistan, Denmark, France, ry 3,000 years, implying that climate parts of India and Pakistan from May
the Netherlands, New Zealand, Swit- change has led to extreme weather to June and instead imagined this heat-
zerland, the United Kingdom, and the events becoming 30 times more likely. wave had occurred in 2022. “Spells of
United States, participated in conduct- The team also used the same climate heat have always been a feature of the
ing the study. They analysed records models to make projections about region’s pre-monsoon climate during
of maximum daily temperatures in how the probability of such events April and May,” said Scientist Nikolaos
north-western India and south-eastern could change in the future. The re- Christidis from the UK Met Office in
Pakistan to compare how they have sults revealed that if the rise in global a press release. “However, our study
changed with global temperature rise. temperatures continues to be 2 degrees shows that climate change is driving
The month of March this year was the above pre-industrial levels, such heat- the heat intensity of these spells mak-
hottest in India since records of the waves could become two to 20 times ing record-breaking temperatures 100
weather began 122 years ago. Pakistan more likely and could be up to 0.5 to times more likely.” Both studies con-
also saw record high temperatures. In 1.5 Celsius warmer. cluded that due to human-caused cli-
an attempt to quantify the changes in In a similar manner, a group of sci- mate change, it’s now “common” to find
the weather, scientists analysed weath- entists from the United Kingdom’s such record-breaking heatwaves and
er data using computer simulations, to MET office also conducted a study, that such “extreme weather events” are Early season heat-waves strike India, resulting in the hottest March India has witnessed since 1901
compare the climate as it is today, af- published earlier in May, which found no longer “extreme” or “rare”.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
t h e da ily gua r dia n r eview
we d n e sday | 2 5 m ay 2 0 2 2
new de l h i statistically speaking 9
HOW HAS THE HEATWAVE IN THE INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT AFFECTED LIFE?
On 28 April this year, heat-related are most affected. The heatwave also up global prices further. As per an
watches were in effect in almost all In- has an unequal impact on poor wom- analysis published by the Economic
dian states, covering millions of people en, who are particularly vulnerable to and Political Weekly (EPW), extreme
and affecting all major cities. As per heat stress as they tend to work inside temperature shocks reduce yields for
estimates, 90 people have already died homes without air conditioning. In kharif crop (sown in monsoon) by 4
in the subcontinent as a result of the rural parts of the country, women’s per cent and for rabi crops (sown in
heatwave this year. However, the real roles primarily include household winter) by 4.7 per cent.
figure is likely to be much higher, as work such as cooking and gathering Such extreme weather events also
India counts ‘heatstroke deaths’ as provisions and water from outside cause a rise in spontaneous combus-
only those deaths medically certified their homes, all of which are labour tion. In April in New Delhi, a rash of
as having been caused by direct expo- intensive jobs. Daily wage workers, landfill fires was caused due to spon-
sure to the sun, thereby capturing only who work in construction not only taneous combustion. While in gen-
10 per cent of the real figure, leaving bear the brunt of the heatwave, work- eral calls to fire departments typically
out deaths due to high ambient tem- ing extensively outdoors but also suf- increase this time of year, Atul Garg,
perature. A major economic impact fer greater heat exposure as they live director of fire services in New Delhi,
of a heatwave is on productivity and in overcrowded spaces with little ven- said that this time, the numbers have
working hours for millions of people, tilation or air conditioning. been a lot more. Typically 60 to 70
especially those who work outdoors. Due to the changes in average weath- calls are recorded per day during this
According to an International Labour er, overall living standards in India are time of year, and this year it has been
Organisation (ILO) report from 2019, expected to decline. A report by the up to 160 per day.
India lost around 4.3 per cent of work- World Bank titled “South Asia’s Hot- The National Disaster Management
ing hours due to heat stress in 1995 spots—The Impact of Temperature Act, 2005, and the National Policy
and is expected to lose 5.8 per cent of and Precipitation Changes on Living on Disaster Management, 2009, do
working hours in 2030. In absolute Standards” showcased that when con- not include heat waves in their list of
terms, India will lose the equivalent verted to GDP per capita, changes in natural calamities. As a result, finan-
of 34 million full-time jobs in 2030 as average weather are predicted to re- cial and infrastructural resources are
a result of heat stress. duce income in severe hotspots by 9.8 also not diverted towards the prob-
For the Indian subcontinent, where a per cent in India by 2050. lem. Around 100 cities and 23 state
large cross-section of workers engages The early onset of the heatwave im- governments have partnered with the
in either the informal economy or in pacts agricultural production, which NDMA to develop Heat Action Plans
agricultural production, intolerable is the primary source of income for (HAP) as adaptation measures for
heat has a dire impact on productiv- millions in the country, especially extreme heat events. However, these
ity as it reduces the hours available for those living in rural areas. As a result action plans and warning systems are
workers to work outdoors. Chandni of the combination of the heatwave not resilient or effective against heat
Singh, an environmental social scien- and the lack of rainfall, thousands waves as they are not recognised un-
tist at the Indian Institute for Human of acres of agricultural produce and der the National Disaster Management
Settlements, said people working in yield have been destroyed. As a result, Act, 2005, making them ineligible for
informal settlements or those work- the government announced a tempo- money from national or state disaster
ing in labour-intensive outdoor jobs rary ban on wheat exports, pushing response funds.

A labourer taking a splash of water after working under extreme heatwave


Source: Wikimedia Commons

ALARM BELLS RING AGAIN, BUT WILL WE LISTEN?


Undoubtedly, the scorching heatwaves in the Indian sub- cluding quadrupling its clean energy capacity to 500 GW, climate change by designing State Action plans prior to the has also severely undermined collaborative climate action
continent have been enough cause for alarm that they have sourcing 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables, and Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was signed in in the past. Action against climate change continues to be on
occupied national and international headlines for the past reducing the emissions intensity—the number of green- 2015. While some incremental steps are being taken by the the backburner for organisations and governments despite
few days. Scientists, civic society organisations and envi- house gases released per unit of economic activity—by 45 state governments, these are nowhere near the scope or the alarm bells.
ronmentalists have pointed out that extreme temperatures per cent compared to the 2005 baseline. While India has scale required to contribute effectively to the national goal of
are a sign of the direct impact of climate change and the lack added renewable energy at a faster clip than any other large carbon neutrality. Many states have realised the challenges Contributing reports by Damini
of putting climate change friendly policies at the forefront country in the world, including an 11-fold increase in solar- in implementing these climate action plans, with the most Mehta, Senior Research Associate
of decision making. At the beginning of the COP26 confer- generating capacity over the last five years, scientists argue prominent being the lack of climate finance along with lim- at Polstrat and Kaustav Dass, Nehla
ence on climate change in Glasgow in November last year, that the country is not even close to playing catch-up when ited scientific knowledge, and technical and institutional Salil, Pavitra Mohan Singh, Interns at
India announced that it aimed to achieve net-zero emissions it comes to mitigating climate change. capacity constraints. The lack of coordination between in- Polstrat.
by 2070. It also announced ambitious targets for 2030, in- State governments started to formulate targets to combat stitutions, departments, and stakeholders at various levels

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP 26 in Glasglow


Source: Wikimedia Commons

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