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THE HINDU

6 Saturday, November 18, 2023

Editorial Delhi

The geopolitical fallout of the Israel-Hamas war


ne strategic shift and two tactical Palestinians. This was the clearest sign yet that borders for peace and security in the region. In

Building the floor


Moves by the U.S., China to stabilise their
O realignments. These were the driving
forces of geopolitics in West Asia in
recent years, until October 7. All were
interrelated. The United States, the reigning
superpower of the region since the end of the
Arabs, especially Gulf Arabs, were ready to delink
the Palestine question from their engagement
with Israel, which boosted Tel Aviv’s efforts to
localise the Palestine issue — to treat it as a mere
security nuisance while continuing the
effect, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown
Prince, has relinked the Palestine issue with
peace talks with Israel. This is a setback for both
America and Israel.
The U.S. might still hope that the situation
rocky relations hold lessons for India Second World War, had begun shifting its Stanly Johny occupation without consequences. When Saudi would be conducive to reboot the Abraham
strategic focus to more conventional rivals such Arabia and Israel were in talks, nobody expected Accords once the dust settles. This is entirely
his week’s summit meeting between U.S.

T President Joe Biden and Chinese Presi­


dent Xi Jinping in San Francisco is unlike­
ly to resolve any of the major differences that
as Russia and China. But, to maintain its hold
over and interests in the region, what the U.S.
sought to do was to bring two of the pillars of its
regional policy, Israel and the Gulf Arabs, closer.
the Benjamin Netanyahu government, the most
far­right government in Israel’s history
comprising settler extremists and ultra­Orthodox
Zionists, to offer concessions to the Palestinians.
possible. But a key challenge is that it is still not
clear what Mr. Netanyahu’s endgame is in Gaza.
He has already signalled that Israeli troops would
continue to play an overall security role in the
plague relations between the world’s two biggest The Abraham Accords were a result of this policy, So, understandably, one of the goals of the enclave — which means, Israel would reoccupy
powers. It has, however, offered the promise of which was rolled out by the Donald Trump October 7 Hamas attack was to break the walls of the territory from where it withdrew in 2005. The
much needed respite for the world by stabilising administration and embraced by the U.S. localisation, re­regionalise the Palestine issue, U.S. had proposed that post the war, the
a relationship that has recently been in free fall President, Joe Biden. A common Jewish­Arab and thereby scuttle the Saudi­Israel peace bid. Palestinian Authority, which runs parts of the
and brought growing concern. The summit, on front in a relatively peaceful West Asia would Israel’s vengeful onslaught on the Gaza Strip, West Bank with limited powers, should take over
the sidelines of APEC, yielded two significant ta­ allow the U.S. to free up resources from the which followed the Hamas attack, killing at least Gaza as well. But Mr. Netanyahu has shot down
keaways. The first involved several concrete region which it could use elsewhere. 11,500 Palestinians, a vast majority of them that proposal. So, if Israel reoccupies the
agreements, including to restart military­to­mili­ On the other side, the U.S.’s deprioritisation of women and children, made sure that Hamas met territory, home to 2.2 million people living in
tary direct dialogue and to discuss risk and safety West Asia led Gulf Arabs to make their own its goal, at least for now. distress and misery, the current wave of violence
issues involved with artificial intelligence. The se­ tactical changes in foreign policy for a more would only be the beginning of a long spell.
cond is what both sides have described as esta­ predictable and stable relationship in the region. The way Arabs see it
blishing a floor to the relationship. That was the This opened an opportunity for China, which has Both the Arabs and Israel were ready to sidestep Regional dynamics
goal when the two leaders last met in Bali in 2022. good ties with countries across the Gulf, to play the Palestine question and chart a new course of The Iran­Saudi reconciliation, under Chinese
The Bali consensus was, however, blown away by the role of a peacemaker. The result was the partnership. But new regional realities emerged mediation, itself was a setback for the U.S. In
the “spy balloon” incident. This time there is cau­ Iran­Saudi reconciliation agreement. The U.S.’s after October 7. The Palestine issue has now come recent years, Arab countries have also shown an
tious optimism that this attempt at stabilisation response to the Saudi­Iran détente was to double back to the fore of the West Asian geopolitical increasing hunger for autonomy. The UAE and
has been built on more solid ground. But how down on the Abraham Accords. The Biden cauldron. Saudi Arabia refused to join American sanctions
long it will last remains an open question, espe­ administration invested itself in talks between the Second, Israel’s disproportionate and against Russia after the Ukraine war. Saudi Arabia
cially with two potentially disruptive political Saudis and the Israelis. It was so confident about indiscriminate attack on Gaza has triggered continued its Organization of the Petroleum
events looming on the horizon. In January next prospects of a deal that it unveiled the massive protests across the Arab Street, mounting Exporting Countries (OPEC) Plus cooperation
year, Taiwan goes to the polls, and the outcomes India­Middle East­Europe Economic Corridor enormous pressure on monarchs and dictators. with Moscow, defying Washington’s requests and
could see a further ratcheting up of tensions (IMEC) proposal earlier this year, which hinged Arab countries, which witnessed violent diktats. China is playing an increasingly greater
across the strait. On Taiwan, both sides reiterated on Arab­Israel peace, and sold it as an alternative destabilising street protests and civil strife just 10 role in the Gulf, which includes secret plans to
their stands, with China cautioning against inter­ to China’s outreach into the region. Then came years ago, cannot completely turn away from the build a military facility in the UAE. The current
ference, and the U.S. saying it opposed any the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. growing pan­Arab sympathy with the Palestinians crisis is expediting these changes in the regional
change in the status quo. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the antipathy towards Israel. dynamics. With the Saudi­Israel peace plan
will, next year, go into election mode ahead of Re­regionalisation of Palestine Third, there is always the Iran factor. Ever derailed and the Iranian President having visited
polls in November 2024, and campaign season Hamas, which has been controlling Gaza since since the Palestine issue got re­regionalised, Iran the Kingdom to discuss Israel’s war on Gaza, what
inevitably brings heated rhetoric on China. 2007, looked at these two realignments With the has stepped up its pro­Palestine rhetoric and Washington is witnessing is the limits of the
A longer term concern — and one that under­ differently. For Hamas, a Sunni Islamist militant Saudi­Israel called for collective action against Israel, while its U.S.­brokered Abraham Accords and the
lines the limits of this modest stabilisation — is a group, the coming together of Iran, a Shia peace plan proxies, the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in widening scope of the China­brokered Iran­Saudi
basic point of difference in how they see the fu­ theocratic republic which also has been its patron Lebanon, have launched limited attacks on Israel. détente.
derailed and
ture of their relations. As Mr. Xi put it, “the num­ for years, and Saudi Arabia, a Sunni monarchy Iran is trying to claim the leadership of the The situation in Gaza is effectively back to the
ber one question” was whether they were “adver­ Iran­Saudi
that has been wary of the Hamas brand of engagement Islamic world, bridging the Shia­Sunni divide. pre­2005 days, but the geopolitical reality is
saries or partners”. He criticised U.S. framing of political Islam, is a welcome development. But it This has left Saudi Arabia and other Arab entirely different from the early 2000s when the
the relationship as being fundamentally compet­ saw Saudi Arabia normalising ties with Israel,
deepening, the countries with difficult choices. They can either U.S. was the sole superpower in the region.
itive, saying it would lead to “misinformed policy which has been occupying Palestinian territories United States is ignore the anger in the Arab Street, letting Iran Russia and China may not replace America in
making, misguided actions, and unwanted re­ at least since 1967, as a setback. witnessing the take up the cause and go ahead with the planned West Asia in the near future given the U.S.’s huge
sults”, and asked it to “refrain from flip­flopping, In 1978, when the Camp David Agreement was limits of the peace agreement with Israel or halt the talks and military presence, but the growing footprint of
... and crossing the lines” on issues including Tai­ reached, Egypt got the Israelis to sign the return to the original King Abdullah Initiative, other great powers is offering space for better
Abraham
wan and export controls. Mr. Biden, however, Framework For Peace Agreement, which became which called for the formation of an independent manoeuvrability for regional players. By tying
“emphasised that the U.S. and China are in com­ Accords and
the blueprint for the Oslo process in the 1990s. Palestine state based on the 1967 border in return itself deeply with Mr. Netanyahu’s brutal, endless
petition” and described the immediate challenge the widening
Jordan signed its peace treaty with Israel only for Arab recognition of Israel. The Saudis war on Gaza, the Biden administration has put
as how to “manage it responsibly”. These diffe­ after the first Oslo Accord was signed in 1993. But scope of the convened an Islamic summit on Gaza, which saw the U.S. in a difficult position in a region that is
rences aside, one crucial point of agreement is when the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain China­brokered the landmark visit by Iranian President Ebrahim already in a flux.
the apparent realisation that high­level engage­ and Morocco signed the Abraham Accords in regional Raisi to the Kingdom, and reiterated its call for
ment and open channels are key in preventing 2020, Israel did not make any concessions for the détente the creation of a Palestine state based on the 1967 stanly.johny@thehindu.co.in
competition from sliding into conflict. This offers
clear lessons to the India­China relationship, as
the crisis along the Line of Actual Control enters
its fourth winter. Dialogue in and of itself is not a
concession, and as the U.S. and China have real­
ised, building a floor, when ties between major
State of the economy — temper the euphoria
powers are at the risk of free fall, is the first step.
n its semi­annual report, World Economic globalisation as we knew it (since the Berlin Wall’s The official optimistic picture of public

Summit clash I Outlook, ‘Navigating Global Divergences’


October 2023, the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has revised its projected GDP growth
collapse in 1989) with tectonic shifts in the world
geopolitical order, revealing India’s persistent
vulnerabilities of oil and food shocks. In fact the
investment growth since FY22, based on
budgetary statistics, seems suspect. Public
investment has three parts: the central
India will need to be at its best against rate for India for 2023­24 to 6.3%, up from the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Review government, the States and central public sector
Australia in the final earlier 6.1%. For India’s policymakers, it is a (September edition) alludes to these weaknesses. undertakings (PSUs). Public investment by State
vindication of their short­term economic R. Nagaraj governments, based on the Centre’s loans and
he World Cup caravan finally returns to management. The success is sweeter as the IMF Growing deficit with China advances to States, is conditional upon policy

T Ahmedabad, where it commenced its


journey on October 5. This Sunday, a
packed Narendra Modi Stadium will witness the
revised downwards world GDP growth
projection, including China’s by 0.3 percentage
points, to 4.2%. Official spokespersons have
was with the Indira
Gandhi Institute of
Development
Research, Mumbai
However, the immediate concern is India’s
susceptibility to its soaring deficit with China.
India’s economic frailty has increased even as the
reforms. The widely reported rise in the Centre’s
investment is apparently due to the merging of
extra­budgetary borrowing by central PSUs with
summit clash between India and Australia. The sought the IMF’s endorsement to silence its net exports (exports minus imports) to GDP ratio the Centre’s own Budget. Hence. the projected
host is in prime form, having notched 10 wins on critics. has declined sharply. India’s dependence on boost in public investment seems illusory.
the trot, including a fine victory over doughty That the economies that were worst affected Chinese imports of manufactures seems Combining the three items, public investment
New Zealand in the semifinal at Mumbai. Mean­ during the COVID­19 pandemic were also the structural, and not easily corrected by changes in seems around 6% of GDP — perhaps similar to its
while, Australia started on the wrong foot with ones to record a steep recovery is widely relative prices. pre­COVID­19 levels (“Is public Sector Capex
two losses before winning eight consecutive acknowledged. India, which was one of the worst It needs recollection that in May 2020, the really rising?”, Nikhil Gupta, businessline, January
games. With Australia having won cricket’s pre­ affected, has followed the pattern. During the government initiated the Atmanirbhar Bharat 2, 2023).
mier championship on five occasions, Pat Cum­ second quarter of 2020, India’s GDP contracted Abhiyan, amidst the Galwan crisis to curb
mins and his men must live up to a hallowed lega­ by 25.6%, quarter on quarter, the worst among Chinese imports of critical industrial products. Credibility of the HDI
cy. Their semifinal against South Africa had the the world’s major economies as reported by the China accounts for: 15%­16% of India’s imports On social development, official spokespersons
thrills associated with low­scoring humdingers at then IMF Chief Economist, in a tweet on and a third of India’s trade deficit. The trade and critics have battled over the veracity of
Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The last time India and September 2, 2020. The output contraction in deficit continues to rise, however (“India’s Trade (questionable) multidimensional poverty
Australia clashed in a World Cup final, it was in 2020­21, at 8.5% over the previous year, was one dilemma with China”, Pal and Ray, businessline, measure, and the unrepresentativeness of the
the 2003 edition at Johannesburg in South Africa, of the worst among the world’s large economies. June 20, 2023). Willy nilly, India undid many Global Hunger Index. Instead, the UN
and Ricky Ponting’s men won by 125 runs. Two Taking a slightly longer view, India’s real import restrictions, as domestic production was Development Programme’s Human Development
decades later, Rahul Dravid, a key player involved (inflation adjusted) annual GDP growth rate getting throttled for lack of critical Chinese Index may be more credible and an acceptable
in that iconic match, is now the Indian team’s slowed down from 6.8% in 2016­17 to 2.8% in inputs. The mirror image of rising Chinese measure. The value of India’s HDI index
coach. The former India captain will surely infuse 2019­20, immediately prior to the pandemic. Real imports is a steady decline in industrial growth moderated from 0.645 in 2018 to 0.633 in 2021;
pragmatism without toning down the adrenaline per capita income level in 2021­22, at ₹1.09 lakh, rate, from 13.1% per year in 2015­16 to negative and, its global rank went down by one rank
surge within the dressing room. Back then, was higher than that in 2019­20 by about ₹600. In 3.5% per year in 2019­20 (before COVID­19). during 2015­21 — meaning that other countries
Zaheer Khan got locked in a war of words with the following year, 2022­23, recovery gained Industrial growth rates as per the Index of have performed better than India.
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, lost his fo­ momentum as domestic supplies were restored Industrial Production (IIP), despite its limitations, To sum up, if official spokespersons enlarged
cus, and soon the contest nestled inside the and global supply chains were straightened out. shows an alarming regression over a longer the frame of economic assessment slightly, a few
rival’s pocket. Official period. During the boom period (2004­05 to stark facts come into focus. These are: the
This time around, Dravid and captain Rohit Effects are cause for concern 2013­14), manufacturing grew at an annual strategic threat posed by an unrelenting rise in
commentators
Sharma swear by the philosophy of taking it one Surely, output recovery is welcome, yet its effects average rate of 5.7%; the rate declined to 3.1% trade deficit with China, despite government’s
match at a time. World Cup finals are massive on employment, its quality and persistence of should engage during 2014­15 and 2022­23 — the fall is acute in best efforts; its mirror image is a decline in
sporting engagements, where the best either find inflation of essential food items affecting the poor with critics in capital goods, plummeting from 9.7% to 1%. industrial output growth rates, especially capital
extra reserves of strength or watch their legs turn the most remain causes of concern — as many appreciating the From 2011­12 to 2021­22, gross fixed capital goods’ decimation; and a decade long,
into jelly. If India sticks to its consistent methods, critics have highlighted. However, even focusing gravity of formation to GDP ratio at current prices, declined unprecedented, decline in the economy’s fixed
executed well so far in this championship, it on output recovery, a sectoral view with trade economic steadily from 34.3% to 28.9% — an unprecedented investment rate; with an unchanging public
should start as the favourite. Rohit Sharma’s bal­ dimension, would perhaps expose chinks on the setbacks rather fall in post­independent India. And its public sector’s share in it, at least up to 2021­22; India’s
listic starts, Shubman Gill’s poise, Virat Kohli’s armour, as detailed below. Policymakers need to sector share has remained constant at 8% HDI ranking slipped by one. Official
than quibble
prolific run, and the combined yield of Shreyas temper their optimism by taking a slightly longer (National Accounts). Net foreign direct commentators would perhaps do well to engage
Iyer, K.L. Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, have en­ view with a wider angle — appreciating the over the IMF’s investment (excluding disinvestment and with its critics in appreciating the gravity of
sured that rivals have no relief on the field. A fast­changing geopolitical underpinnings of short­term outward foreign direct investment), to current economic setbacks in recent years than scoring
bowling attack helmed by Jasprit Bumrah has economic policy making. It perhaps bears growth GDP ratio fell from 3.6% in 2008 to 2.4% in 2022 brownie points over the IMF’s short­term growth
prised open the opposition’s top order before the repetition that 2022­23 heralded the end of projections (World Development Indicators). projections.
spinners stepped in and strangled the middle or­
der in the middle game. Kohli, with 711 runs, is
the leading batter in this World Cup, and Mo­ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
hammed Shami leads the bowlers’ pack with 23
scalps. Still, Australia will remain a combative un­ Missing peace thought in a rut. Let us opened to sell cheaper prescriptions to find the Railways from stopping passengers who paid the
it, scrapping hard, never ceding an inch. Even Peace is the prerequisite for make a move in the generic drugs, their quality generic version. Unless unreserved or ticketless fare are being let down.
though all its batting stars have not performed as all growth, economic, direction of peace for all is still questionable quality and safety are travellers occupying There is no meaning in
smoothly as the Indians, Glenn Maxwell’s stun­ technological and others. humanity. (Editorial page, November ensured, the success of reserved train coaches? having a reservation
ning unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan indicated But the present state of the P. David Balasingh, 17). Very few FDA approved these shops is distant. People who plan and system.
at the magic and mayhem within the Australian world is neither able nor Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu manufacturers’ products are Dr. V. Purushothaman, reserve their tickets months A. Somasundaram,
changeroom. A fine seam attack and an effective willing to support and sold here. Most of the time Chennai earlier are forced to quarrel Chennai
spinner in Adam Zampa, will pose a challenge, sustain peace. Ours are Quality control needed the person at the counter and fight with unruly and Letters emailed to
which India has to tackle well, if it is to hold up soldiers, theirs are terrorists Though a number of has to search the Internet Seat booking is pointless unauthorised entrants on letters@thehindu.
the Cup for the third time. — so goes the global janaushadi kendras were with the brand name in What prevents the Indian the day of travel. Honest co.in must carry the address.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
Saturday, November 18, 2023 7
GROUND ZERO
Delhi

Sundar Bai, an opium farmer, and her son Anil tend to their poppy crop in a field in Neemuch district on the Madhya Pradesh­Rajasthan border. SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Uncertain future in
pand the licensing for un­lanced poppy and has turn when six farmers were killed in police firing.
decided to set up a processing unit for Concen­ The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed opium
trate of Poppy Straw of 100MT capacity on a PPP smugglers for instigating the community.
(public­private partnership) basis.” Now, the farmers accuse the government of
trying to “create divisions with two systems”.
A question of public health and profits They say that the Centre has introduced a policy

a sea of poppies This is the second crop season since the policy
was revised. Various farmers organisations such
as All India Kisan Sabha, Bharatiya Afeem Kisan
Sangharsh Samiti, and Bharatiya Afeem Vikas
Samiti formed the Samyukt Afeem Kisan Morcha
to raise the issues of opium farmers. When Prime
that is reminiscent of the British era. They have
heard stories about the East India Company
smuggling opium from their region and export­
ing it to China and other countries. “Big compa­
nies will misuse this crop to maximise profit. If
smugglers have stolen opium from government
Three districts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together contribute to 80% of India’s opium production. Minister Narendra Modi visited Neemuch to ad­ factories, what security can be ensured in private
Already facing the problem of stagnant procurement rates and rising input prices, farmers are now angry with dress an election rally last week, these farmers’ factories,” asks Kachrulal Chadawat of Pipliya.
the Union government for opening opium production and processing to private players. A.M. Jigeesh talks to organisations tried to meet him. Modi did not Nand Kishore and Mohan Singh, two farmers
meet them, so they have sent him a memoran­ who have come to sell garlic at the Dalauda Man­
farmers in the Mewar region about their concerns dum demanding that the CPS system be with­ di in Mandsaur, echo this sentiment. “We do not
drawn, and the traditional system of extracting cultivate opium even on an inch of land more
opium gum be continued. than what is earmarked by the government. Nar­
hen Sunder Bai’s husband, Shiv rials can be produced from opium poppy: opium Farmers believe that private companies are cotics officials mark the area twice after giving a

W Narayan, died during the CO­


VID­19 pandemic, she inherited 1
square kilometre of land and his
licence to cultivate opium. She lives with her
daughter and son in a village near Nayagaon in
Opium can be
misused.
What if the
gum (latex) and the concentrate of poppy straw
(CPS). Until recently, only opium gum, a milky
substance, was produced in India. Opium con­
tains morphine, which is known to relieve chron­
ic pain and is used mostly by the pharmaceutical
likely to pose a threat not just to their profession,
but also to national security. “Opium can be mis­
used. What if the drug mafia gets access to alka­
loids? Drugs will be rampant here,” worries Ma­
hesh Vyas, a farmers’ leader from Mandsaur.
license to ensure that the area is properly fenced.
They monitor cultivation by visiting the farm at
least half a dozen times during the season (No­
vember to March).”
The farmers say they are already experiencing
Neemuch district on the Madhya­Pradesh Rajas­ drug mafia industry to produce medicines. On the flip side, Justice G.D. Saxena, a retired judge of the Mad­ losses. To cultivate 10 ares of land, they spend
than border. “Both my children, who are grad­ gets access to it also produces opioids like heroin. hya Pradesh High Court and a resident of Mand­ about ₹1 lakh. They used to get 1­1.5 quintals (1
uates, support and help me in this profession,” Because it is an addictive substance that can saur, expresses similar concerns. “Opium is re­ quintal is 100 kg) of poppy seeds from 10 ares un­
alkaloids?
says Bai. “We employ four or five people to cultiv­ cause mental clouding and hallucinations, opi­ portedly coming to Mandsaur from illegally der the earlier system. Under the CPS, they get
ate opium and extract opium gum.” Drugs will be um production is highly regulated in India. In the cultivated areas too. States like Punjab are strug­ about 80 kg of seeds. They complain that the go­
Bai’s son Anil, 25, who holds a degree in phys­ rampant here Mewar region, farmers collect opium gum and gling to control synthetic drugs. Allowing private vernment has stopped procuring poppy petals
ics, has decided not to find a job and instead help MAHESH VYAS send it to Government Opium Alkaloid Works, entry in opium processing should be done with and pods from them, which it used to do earlier.
his mother on the farm. Opium cultivation is Farmers’ leader Neemuch, a factory that began operations in extreme caution,” he warns. Poppy seeds fetch farmers about ₹1,000 a kg.
from Mandsaur
known as swabhiman ki kheti (agriculture of dig­ 1935. The gum is procured solely by the Central The former judge remembers opium being ve­ This is the main source of revenue for most opi­
nity) in the Mewar region that is spread across Bureau of Narcotics, which functions under the ry common in the area when he was young. He um farmers. “We used to get ₹1 lakh­1.5 lakh by
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. There is so Union Finance Ministry. says it took several years to restrict and regulate selling seeds during one season. That would meet
much pride in the age­old trade that a the crop and bring it completely under the go­ our expenses. But under the CPS, we will get few­
saying in this area goes, “Afeem aur Change in policy vernment’s control. er quantities of seeds,” say farmers. The govern­
aulat barabar (poppy plants and However, in the 2021­22 crop year, the Union go­ Shailendra Singh Thakur lost his job at the ment procures CPS for ₹200 for a kg.
children deserve similar treat­ vernment changed its opium policy, allowing Neemuch factory some years ago for protesting Parmanand Patidar, another farmer in the
ment)”. While farmers in Madhya private players to produce CPS from the opium against the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance area who holds a licence for extracting opium
Pradesh call the crop afeem, a name poppy to boost the yield of alkaloids. government’s plan to privatise the production of gum, complains that the government did not con­
which finds its origin in Persia, the com­ According to a document titled ‘An outlook of sult the farmers before opening up production to
munity in Rajasthan calls it amal (pure). opium cultivation’ provided by the Central Bu­ private players. “This is the second year of the
Entire families in this region usually cultivate reau of Narcotics on its website, other opium­ CPS system. The Centre brought this scheme dur­
opium from November to March; some have do­ growing countries follow the process of extract­ ing the lockdown without holding any meeting
ing this for as long as 200 years. Young men and ing alkaloids from CPS. The government could consider a policy with the farmers, just as it did with the three farm
women protect the family licence for various rea­ “After a shift to the CPS method, India will be which will enable farmers to sell the laws. In our village, 150 farmers have licences of
sons. “One reason is that it increases their mar­ on a par with other nations. As other countries additional opium gum (extracted over and which half are under CPS. This is being done only
riage prospects,” says Parmanand Patidar, a have already shifted to the CPS method, the de­ to divide the farmers,” he says.
above the limit set by the government) in the
farmer, laughing. mand for Indian opium in global market is reduc­
Bai had been cultivating opium with Narayan ing. This is evident from the decreasing export of open market monitored by the government ‘No transparency’
for about 20 years before he died. Anil says the opium. (Moving to) CPS provides an opportunity AMBALAL JAT Farmers allege that there is no transparency in
Farmers’ leader
job is not easy. “The procurement rate for opium for India to regain its market place through the the CPS mechanism. “The government could
hasn’t increased in many years (farmers get export of CPS. CPS is less labour­intensive than opium. “When opium production is handed over consider a policy which will enable farmers to
₹1,200­2,000 per kilogramme of opium latex the lancing method (used by farmers now). It will to private companies, the safety and security of sell the additional opium gum (extracted over
based on the concentration of morphine in it) also help in ensuring better drug law enforce­ the alkaloids may come under question. Impor­ and above the limit set by the government) in the
and the input cost has increased due to the price ment as it will reduce the illicit market for opium tantly, life­saving medicines which are made us­ open market monitored by the government,” sug­
rise of fertilizers, labour costs, and pesticides. We gum,” the government says. ing opium will become costly and poor patients gests Ambalal Jat, a farmers’ leader from Nee­
also have to be vigilant all the time. We go to the In a press release dated September 14, the go­ will suffer. Also, recently, narcotics of huge vol­ much. Despite their unhappiness, the farmers
field even at night to ensure that the crop is se­ vernment said that it has been engaging with the umes were confiscated from a private port in Guj­ are scared to speak up fearing that their licences
cure from thieves. We also cultivate other crops private sector on processing opium gum as well arat. This is a warning,” he says. Heroin worth ₹11 will be cancelled, adds Jat.
to manage our expenses. But we will continue to as poppy straws to augment the opium­process­ crore was seized in Assam just this week. “The Nerulal Jat, president of the Bharatiya Kisan
cultivate opium as it is a family practice,” he says ing capacity of India. The press release read, production of alkaloids was monopolised by the Union (Tikait) of Chittorgarh district, says he has
with pride. “Government intends to further significantly ex­ government. It should remain that way.” been cultivating opium since 1980. “The procure­
Apart from worrying about inflation, opium Thakur also believes that government alkaloid ment price of opium gum has been same all this
farmers have been agitated ever since the sector factories have the capacity to produce more opi­ time. Foreign companies will benefit from the
was opened up to private players through a Un­ um. “Employ more people. Why give this to priv­ CPS system. The old system should be continued
ion government policy in 2021. The farmers in­ ate companies? Right now, five people get steady to protect farmers. New factories should be
creasingly worry that this move will threaten employment for about three months from cultiv­ opened under the public sector,” he says.
their livelihood, affect their profits and family bu­ ating 10 ares (100 sq m) of opium fields.” Farmer leaders agree that smugglers roam
sinesses, and also have a bearing on “national se­ Farmers also worry that there are no new post­ around the locality in search of farmers in dis­
curity” by potentially increasing the problem of ings in the Neemuch factory. Against the sanc­ tress. They say that there are farmers who are in­
drug abuse. tioned strength of more than 500 posts, there are volved in the smuggling of opium. In most cases,
just about 200 employees in the factory. The the supplier of opium is also arrested with the
Opium production in India farmers and trade union representatives believe trader or the middleman. Several farmers have
In India, there are about 1 lakh farmers across 22 that this is a ploy to help private companies. They been in jail for years for the illegal sale of opium.
districts in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Ut­ demand that more factories be introduced under Leaders believe that such instances will increase
tar Pradesh with a licence to cultivate opium. The the public sector with more people working in if private players are allowed into the field.
majority of them are from three districts that bor­ them so that alkaloids can be produced with Mangelal Meghwal, a farmer from Chittorgarh,
der Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan — Mandsaur, strict government control. says, “Modi will have to take CPS back. Opium
Neemuch, and Chittorgarh. Together, these dis­ A group of farmers from Pipliya in Mandsaur cannot be used as a profit­making commodity. It
tricts produce 80% of India’s opium. say that “private companies will issue their diktat is used to make life­saving drugs. The Prime Mi­
Opium is obtained by slightly incising the seed in this sector.” Pipliya was the site of an agitation nister talks about ‘Make in India’, but allows im­
capsules of the poppy after the plant’s flower pe­ An opium farmer, Parmanand Patidar, shows a small poppy plant in by opium farmers demanding better prices for port of poppy seeds. This is not a Congress or BJP
tals have fallen. Two types of narcotic raw mate­ Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP their produce in 2017. The protest took a terrible issue. It is an issue of farmers.”
CM A ND-NDE
YK
4 . bl . think
MUMBAI

businessline.
SATURDAY ­ NOVEMBER 18 ­ 2023

SATURDAY ­ NOVEMBER 18, 2023

ISHA DAYAL

Party ends SANJIB POHIT

A
head of the first global
stocktake on climate action,
Higher risk provisioning should not be permanent due to take place at COP28
in Dubai, a new report
he Reserve Bank of India has flagged the risk

T
released by the United
building up in retail loan portfolios of banks Nations on November 14 has reiterated
the need for more action and delivery of
and NBFCs on various occasions; the latest stronger commitments by countries to
being during the October monetary policy avert the climate crisis.
announcement when Governor Shaktikanta Das The target set at COP21 in 2015
under the Paris Agreement, of limiting
asked lenders to strengthen internal checks to temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above
establish safeguards. Thursday’s move by the central the pre­industrial levels, is set to be GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
bank to increase risk weights on certain consumer breached in light of the insufficiency of

Climate change: Are we


the existing national climate action
loans and on bank lending to NBFCs appears plans.
primarily aimed at reining in the growth in unsecured Climate change is a global problem
consumption loans. and requires global solutions. The
doomsday­like outcomes depict a
The credit growth in recent months has
been skewed towards retail borrowers and
services. Credit to industry grew just 6 per
cent in August 2023, with all big industries,
serious collective action problem. It is
therefore important to reflect on the
multilateral mechanism to combat
climate change, as set up under the aegis
of the United Nations Framework
close to collective action?
excluding textiles and basic metals, Convention on Climate Change GLOBAL ACTION. A body, akin to WTO, which can enforce rules to govern multilateral
(UNFCCC), such that despite there
witnessing slow credit growth. On the other
being a formal institutional action on climate change is the need of the hour
hand, retail loans grew 18 per cent in this arrangement, countries are failing to
period, with credit card loans registering a deliver collectively. learning, and to tide the gap between Such arguments cannot possibly bode Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
scorching 30 per cent growth. Personal Firstly, decisions concerning climate ambitious implementation path and well for an issue which has serious — as that introduced by the European
loans, at ₹48­lakh crore account for 31 per action are currently left to individual reality. consequences for the entire planet, and Union, proposed in the US, and its
nations. However, time and again, it is Secondly, multilateral negotiations on more so for the lesser developed parts of prospective expansion to cover more
cent of total bank credit now. Of this, the reported how emission reduction climate change are based on the the world. sectors and products — are likely to have
unsecured portion accounts for roughly targets have fallen short of what is principles of ‘equity’ and ‘common but Rather, this should be another in pushing western multinationals
₹15­lakh crore, or around one third. necessary to curtail global climate differentiated responsibility and learning from the failure of Kyoto towards reducing carbon footprint at
Competition in retail lending is leading to change, i.e. to cut emissions by 43 per respective capability’. Protocol, under which emission their global factories and thus, in turn,
sharp practices, including evergreening of cent by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels) Developed nations, which are reduction commitments were required aiding the mitigation agenda of the
— implying that the national targets historically high­GHG emitters, are only of developed countries, even when developing countries.
the retail loan book — or hiding the stress clearly do not suffice. therefore required to undertake binding developing countries such as China In conclusion, while efforts by
faced by these borrowers due to the Moreover, government leaders pledge commitments to reduce emissions and overtook the US in annual emissions in countries and multilateral institutions
fast­paced interest rate increases since last targets several years into the future, provide appropriate financing to the 2006. to address climate concerns must be
May. The central bank is, therefore, justified which holds little credibility for lesser developed countries for their Thirdly, UNFCCC has a facility to lauded; setbacks and failure of collective
democratic economies. While 2030 is set transition towards low­carbon pathway. provide technical and financial action should provide the international
in trying to arrest risky loans by increasing as the year for meeting the GHG Developing countries’ approach to assistance to the lesser developed community with serious lessons, and
the cost of borrowing. While the central bank emission reduction targets, one can only climate negotiations tend to be guided countries which may find themselves pave the way for: (i) more stringent
is right in checking lenders from taking be cautiously optimistic and not forget by these principles to secure national vulnerable to climate change and less monitoring and accountability of GHG
excessive risks to chase profits, it needs to be that the Kyoto Protocol (signed at COP3 interests. capable to introduce climate mitigation mitigation measures, (ii) transparency
in 1997) was unsuccessful in stemming However, it can be questioned if such measures. in reporting, and (iii) adequate and
mindful about the negative impact of this global emissions despite the binding multilateral principles misalign However, climate finance pertinent financing mechanisms that
move on consumption. With private commitments announced by incentives and dissect the sense of commitments as well as the actual needs keep divergent interests in check.
investments showing no signs of revival, industrialised countries during the urgency from global climate action, of developing countries have remained Just as a rule­based system, through
curbing consumption by increasing period 2008­2012. especially if the lesser developed unmet. Following up from COP27, there GATT and later WTO, brought
financing cost may not be conducive for countries may seek leniency today and remains no clarity regarding the funding discipline and fairness in multilateral
UNCERTAIN TARGETS postpone appropriate climate sources and the implementation of the trade, a similar legal body governing
growth. The increase in risk weights should, As regards carbon neutrality, the targets mitigation measures because the ‘loss and damage fund’ which the multilateral action on climate change
therefore, be reviewed at frequent intervals. go even further ahead with India developed nations freely polluted developed nations agreed to establish to can possibly help deliver the power of
The increase in risk weights on unsecured projecting net­zero emissions by 2070; yesterday. support the developing countries collective action.
consumer loans and credit card receivables China by 2060; and the US and Europe suffering from climate change impacts. Else, the world will witness more
by 2050. That many net­zero targets are Arranging climate finance and unilateral measures, such as the CBAM,
of commercial banks and NBFCs by 25 per
cent and the increase in the weight for loans
uncertain and postpone immediate
climate action into the future is also duly
Developed nations need supporting developing nations in their
path towards adaptation and mitigation
which may potentially cause more harm
to the lesser developed parts of the
extended to NBFCs by scheduled noted in the latest UN report. to undertake binding is a cost to the developed countries, and world without adequate low­carbon
commercial banks by 25 per cent are National strategies to counter climate commitments to cut more so to their multinational transition support from the developed
change are necessary to account for companies which seek to lower nations which are implementing such
expected to have a higher impact on NBFCs contextual differences. Yet, to keep emissions and provide production costs in their global supply measures.
than banks. With most banks having targets on track, mandatory finance to less developed chains by manufacturing in lesser
comfortable capital, the impact of higher international review and progress
nations for their developed parts of the world. Dayal is Associate Fellow and Pohit is Professor at
provisioning may not impact their lending reporting may be a better recourse for It remains to be seen what incentives National Council of Applied Economic Research
ability. But the move will constrain the transparency in climate action, policy low­carbon endeavours unilateral measures such as the Carbon (NCAER). Views expressed are personal.

lending capacity of NBFCs since they will be


impacted on the borrowing as well as lending
side. With both banks and NBFCs likely to
hike interest rates to protect their margins,
cost of finance is likely to move higher,
deterring borrowers of unsecured loans.
Israel-Palestine saga exposes Western hypocrisy
It is good that retail loans backed by
collateral such as housing, vehicle or gold The two­state solution is a viable approach to resolve the conflict. Meanwhile, Western powers must act against Israel
loans and essential loans such as education doesn’t use diplomatic influence to territories. The US has providing
loans, micro finance and SHG loans have Bilal Ghani isolate Israel, as it did with Iran, Russia diplomatic cover for Israel in
been kept out of the ambit of the move. But and Iraq. The Israeli­Palestinian conflict international forums.

I
the expenditure spurred by personal loans n a letter from a soldier in Vietnam stands as one of the most protracted and Human rights organisations are
to his father while preparing a book contentious disputes in modern history, exhibiting double standards in their
and credit card loans such as travel, titled Brave Men, Gentle Heroes: marked by decades of violence, approach to different conflicts. These
entertainment, meeting medical exigencies American Fathers and Sons in World War displacement, and human suffering. At organisations are being handicapped by
or to spend on family functions also II and Vietnam, there was a quote from its core, this conflict revolves around the political agendas, donor interests, or
contributes to economic output. These loans Greek Philosopher Plato:“only the dead quest for sovereignty and pressure from powerful nations,
have seen the end of war.” self­determination, with both Israelis impacting the objectivity of their
are needed by small borrowers to bridge Since October 7, TV screens and social and Palestinians claiming the right to a MIDDLE EAST. Unending conflict REUTERS reports and statements related to the
income shortfall. The increase in media have been flooded with graphic homeland. Israeli actions in Palestine.
risk­weights should, therefore, not become a content featuring violence and The peace process between Israelis conflict’s humanitarian impact, A just resolution requires
lasting feature. bloodshed in the besieged Gaza strip. and Palestinians has yielded little including displacement, lack of access to acknowledging and rectifying historical
In Israel’s retaliatory strikes against progress because of the discriminatory basic services, and economic hardships, injustices, ensuring the right of return
Hamas’ October 7 offensive, more than bias of Western powers towards Israel. persists due to the failure of the UN. for Palestinian refugees, and challenging
10,000 people have been killed in Gaza in This diplomatic failure has led to a cycle There should be sufficient pressure on the structures of occupation and
POCKET: Lending 2.0 RAVIKANTH 30 days of Israeli bombing (over 60 per of violence and instability. Israel to comply with UN resolutions, discrimination. The two­state solution
cent of them women and children), Several rounds of peace talks, such as which can lead to progress in resolving has been a viable approach to resolve the
which is more than the civilians killed in the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and the key issues such as borders, settlements, Israel­Palestine conflict.
Russia’s war in Ukraine in 20 months. If Camp David Summit in 2000, have failed and the status of Jerusalem. This diplomatic resolution aims to
we consider the attack by Hamas as to yield a lasting agreement. establish two separate and independent
terrorism, Israel is engaged in sheer The international community, WESTERN DOUBLE STANDARDS states coexisting side by side.
murder of Palestinians. including major powers and mediators, Israel, despite its controversial Although its implementation faces
The international community has not should use their diplomatic influence to settlement policies and military actions, challenges, it will achieve a lasting
done enough to protect the rights of create conditions for a sustainable peace receives unwavering support from resolution to the Israel­Palestine
Palestinians. The silence of the West is process. The UN remains a puppet in the Western powers. US military aid to conflict.
deafening. hands of Western powers, especially the Israel has played a crucial role in Israel’s
The West will be wholly complicit in US, in shielding Israeli war­crimes in the military capabilities and its ability to The writer is a research scholar at Central University of
Israeli war crimes in Palestine if it Gaza strip and the West Bank. The carry out operations in occupied Kashmir and a columnist

LETTERS TO 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, 859­860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

Climate challenge intrusion of sea waters, more focus Amend the law recover a small stake at least, who duty” (November 14). This is
With reference to ‘Rich nations may should be on building the required With reference to “Due for are otherwise forced to resort to severely hurting domestic palm
have met $100b climate goal last infrastructure for renewable energy. change” (November 17), the apex endless private litigation based on farmers who are unable to realise
year’ (November 17), the OECD data RV Baskaran court’s ruling covering waterfall their contractual agreements. reasonable prices for the palm
reveals bleak performance of rich Chennai mechanism in IBC resolution At the same time, an increase in the fruits, where the cost of harvest is
countries in aiding the poorer process may push tax dues of resolution costs to recover the high due to the thorny nature of
nations financially to meet the cost Welcome SEBI move governments from fifth to second losses to state, would jeopardise plants.
of mitigation on climate change. The news report ‘Subrata Roy’s place to be on the same footing as the investor interests. As aptly An import duty cut sways the
OECD’s concern that the $100­b death not to halt probe against secured creditors. pointed out there is a need for domestic oil manufacturers away
target is far below the poor nations’ Sahara group, says SEBI chief ‘, is However, it could also impact the tweaking the mechanism by from local farmers either without
investment needs to be discussed at welcome. But more importantly how recovery chances of other amending Section 53 in notice or effecting sudden collapse
length by the stakeholders of the would ₹25,000 crore assets be creditors who are lower down in synchronization with the court in procurement prices. The
ensuing COP28 climate summit. distributed amongst retail investors the pecking order. ruling. government must protect local
The OECD and any other and how much time will it take. As a social security measure, it Sitaram Popuri palm growers by fixing a minimum
independent body authorised by There are big lessons for the retail would be logical for the state to Bengaluru procurement price without
COP28 must monitor the progress investors to not get carried away by forego a portion of tax dues in case subjecting the farmers to the mercy
of the mitigation activities of the these Ponzi schemes. of distressed companies and Save local palm farmers of big players.
beneficiary countries. Besides Bal Govind remain at same old fifth place to Apropos “Edible oil imports up Rajiv Magal
constructing seawalls to protect Noida help the unsecured creditors to 17.39% in 2022­23 on low customs Halekere Village (Karnataka)

Published by Nirmala Lakshman at Kasturi Buildings, Jamshedji Tata Road, Mumbai­400020 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt. Ltd., No.22, Dighe Midc, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai­400701, Maharashtra on behalf of THG Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act). ISSN 0971 ­ 7528

CM
YK . . . . . . . . BM­BME
>
OPINION 11
Volume XXX Number 184

Blue Revolution T
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2023 his is an Indian success story, the Blue
Revolution, of a rise over two decades, and no
fleeting moment of glory, like 1983. That is because
WEEKEND RUMINATIONS the game in the country has seen systemic changes
for the better. The markets for cricket have all moved
T N NINAN here along with the centre of power. The biggest rea-
The story of Indian cricket is that of a rise over two decades. It is no
Palliatives, not solutions
son behind this success is the rise of a true meritoc-
racy. As Shah Rukh Khan’s latest blockbuster, Jawan,
fleeting moment of glory like in 1983. The game has seen systemic showed, we all love to attack and curse that amor-

E
arly in 1996, your columnist met the then finance minister, Manmohan Singh,
in his North Block office. On being told that the Congress party would not be
changes, with pace attack, fitness, and fielding as its key pillars phously defined thing called the “system” in our
country. What’s the system in cricket? A Jay Shah
talking of economic reforms in its forthcoming Lok Sabha election campaign, today, Anurag Thakur yesterday, Sharad Pawar,

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Dr Singh retorted: “What else is there to talk about?” hen India began its campaign in this World up. India is the only team in a long time to beat the Jagmohan Dalmiya, N Srinivasan, Madhav Rao
The answer has come in all the elections since then: Loan writeoffs, higher-than- Cup, both its critics and fans had the same Aussies in four consecutive series — the last four. Scindia, or I S Bindra, the day before yesterday, and
market procurement prices for grain, free foodgrain for the majority of consumers, job complaint: That it hadn’t won any Two series each, home and away. Rajeev Shukla all the time, are easy targets. They
reservations for new caste categories, unsustainable pension programmes, an ever grow- International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy for a full In One Day Internationals (ODIs), India became were not cricketers, so what business did they have
decade, since that Champions Trophy in world number one for the first time in January, running the game? It was easy to attack them.
ing list of freebies and subsidies, and (increasingly) cash handouts. There is also credit
Birmingham in 2013. 2013, nearly two years after winning the World Cup Even the holiest of the holy, the Supreme Court
taken for developmental work: Building the physical infrastructure, and the progressive
It always made the knockouts but only to lose, in Mumbai. It has been ranked number one eight of India, waded into that. It is just that it took the
provision of basics (toilets, electricity, and internet connectivity). What economists call once even to Pakistan (Champions Trophy again, at times since. That is an incredible sway over the BCCI from Anurag Thakur and finally handed it
reforms — essentially fiscal discipline and market orientation — never find mention. The Oval in 2017). This meant something had to be most prolific form of the game. For some months back to Jay Shah. The mightiest in Indian bureau-
Perhaps this is to be expected. Voters have learnt to look for what they can get fundamentally wrong with Indian cricket. Fans are earlier this year, Pakistan and Australia grabbed cracy joined hands with the Supreme Court and
today, not jam tomorrow, and seem to choose parties that offer the most generous as fickle as critics are bloodthirsty. In these contrary the spot from us. That was the period when the fan well-meaning virtue signallers to “reform” Indian
packages — which encourages a rush to raid the treasury. Distrust of governments is emotions, both can miss the real story. frustration peaked. We were back there as this cricket and free it from the “clutches” of politicians
such that promises relating to neglected longer-term development issues, like improving It is the revolution in Indian cricket. A revolution World Cup began. and businessmen. That they failed so spectacularly
school education or public health care, have little resonance. my generation could never dream of. And a revolu- In T-20s, now commercially the fastest growing is what saved Indian cricket.
The response from political parties, without exception, is to offer non-solutions to tion built around not one or two star batsmen but format, the Indian reign may not be as consistent. It speaks of the strength of Indian cricket and
the very real problems in agriculture, and of unemployment and low incomes. Consider the most effective pace attack in the world. The rise Yet, it’s been at the top five times since 2011, and the commitment of the much-maligned group run-
the findings of the caste survey in Bihar, and what the promise of increased job reser- of pace, the greater fitness and fielding standards, now for 21 consecutive months since February 2022. ning it that the game was protected through this
vations might mean. The total number of government jobs, in a state with 131 million and the rising wealth of players are the three pillars It is true that a big tournament is decided on upheaval. It cost the Board some ~20-30 crore, most
people, is 2 million. These go disproportionately to the general caste category and on which this revolution is built. the performance on the day of the final match, of it in fees, as part of the court-mandated retired
Why, then, had India not when rankings do not matter. Who judge-bureaucrat re-employment plan and golden
somewhat less so to the backward castes.
won an ICC trophy for so long? would know that better than India, handshakes. But the system of fair selections, invest-
What if this skew were to be corrected, and government jobs were to be distributed Who was to blame — the Board, having won its first World Cup, Lords, ment and development of the game was protected.
proportionately to the major caste categories? The Scheduled Castes, who have about the selectors, the players, or all 1983, entirely against the form book The results, we can see. Indian cricket has among
0.29 million people in government jobs, would get another 0.11 million; the extreme of these? The usual suspect is and the run of play. There were no the fairest and most meritocratic selections for any
backwards would see the number of government jobs go up from 0.46 million by a further the IPL. It supposedly ruined ICC rankings then but nobody would field in our country. Fairer than politics, the civil
0.28 million. The general category and backward castes would be displaced to that extent; the discipline, national com- doubt that Clive Lloyd’s West Indies services, and, for heaven’s sake, the judiciary. It’s
even more so for the general category if the reservation percentage is raised. None of it mitment and talent of Indian was the top team in the world by some been a long time since we saw a true selection con-
adds to the total jobs on offer. The caste-wise changes and higher reservation would cricketers. Worse, it “reduced” distance. Any Indian delusions were troversy. Whoever might run the Board, they know
affect a million jobs. Does anyone believe that this is a meaningful solution to either the them to arrogant showmen quickly dissolved as the West Indies that if they mess up selections and the team per-
caste/social justice issue, or the jobs problem — in a state with 131 million people? greedy for money, privileging came for a bilateral series immedi- formance declines, the market will punish them.
their auction prices above ately following that World Cup final You may not fear the judges. But you fear the fan
Consider next the promises of higher procurement prices for farmers, most impor-
tantly for wheat and rice, to levels well above the ruling market prices. On the one hand, national glory. NATIONAL INTEREST and simply destroyed India in both who is the consumer of the game and who speaks
Tests and ODIs. through the market.
this increases the incentive for farmers to focus still more on wheat and rice and to offload SHEKHAR GUPTA
all marketable surpluses to the government, which would become de facto the sole buyer.
So, bid goodbye to private trade and also to crop diversification — badly needed for,
T here was, and is, however,
another way of assessing
the health of Indian cricket. The decade-long ICC
World cricket’s pecking order has
changed greatly since then, and so
dramatically that in this edition, for the first time,
You can google and check out the geographical,
regional, religious and caste spread of this Indian
squad. You’d find nothing, no institution, which rep-
among other things, better use of increasingly scarce water. trophy drought apart, at the point you are reading the West Indies failed even to qualify, while resents the diversity of India better than this. And
On the other hand, an inefficient public procurement system (where prices paid to this, this same Indian team holds the number one Afghanistan made waves, and the Netherlands everybody is there on merit. Unlike South Africa,
farmers account for barely half the total carrying cost) will be persisted with —leading spot in ICC rankings in all three formats of the game. made an appearance too, returning with one big India never fell for some nonsensical proportional
to grain mountains that can only be given away mostly. Finally, since grain disbursement That many are sceptical of these rankings does not upset (South Africa) to its name. The other big shift system or affirmative action in sport.
prices will stay unchanged (when there is a price), government subsidies will increase. change the fact that they exist and matter. The fans is in what always was the greatest denominator of It is a tribute to a system so robustly meritocratic
Nowhere is there a mention of raising agricultural productivity to international levels, will only be more disappointed if these rankings are power in world cricket: Fast bowling. It is here that that this team represents India’s diversity better than
the only sustainable way to raise farmer incomes. The old Bharatiya Janata Party promise lost. Over the past two decades, we’ve progressively India has made the biggest improvement. any other institution: The Union Cabinet, our chief
of doubling farmer incomes is long forgotten; also, of “more crop per drop”. got used to ranking number one. Some data is worth The Pakistani pace has declined — in fact, it has ministers, the civil services, the leadership of our
We come finally to cash payouts. It is generally agreed that absolute poverty has checking out. never reached its original lethality after the bottle armed forces and security agencies, the judiciary
come down to minimal levels, though Covid has raised the numbers. Yet the Bihar In Test cricket, the most challenging form of top incidents and greater ICC scrutiny of ball-taper- and more than all of these, our typical newsroom.
survey shows that a third of the people live on less than ~6,000 per month. By any rea- the game, India first reached the number one spot ing, never mind the frequent celebrations, especially That is the biggest message from this breathless
in 2009 — 77 years after playing its first Test. Since in the English media, over the rise of some new pro- rise of Indian cricket. That merit will find its way to
sonable yardstick, that is penury. Perhaps incomes have been under-reported, as often
then, India has held the number one spot in Test digy: From Mohammad Amir to Shaheen Shah the top, provided you create a true meritocracy. It
happens in such surveys. And people in most other states would be better off. Still, 76
rankings seven times, with periods at the top lasting Afridi. The Australians are more than adequate in follows that only the market can ensure that, as
years after Independence, there is every case for providing an income supplement to 70 months, or almost six years. Of these 70 months, that department, while South Africa and England cricket shows, not any government fiat, judicial
the most deprived. Like the employment-guarantee scheme, this would reflect the fai- 49 fall between January 2016 and January 2022. are reconstructing. Both the talent and the depth in intervention or affirmative action.
lure of the Indian state to do well by all its citizens. Politicians hide that failure under Australia pushed India to number two from this department are key factors in reaching the top,
growing largesse —which are palliatives, not solutions. January 2022 to May 2023, then India climbed back and staying there so often and for so long. By special arrangement with ThePrint

A tightrope between Israel and Arab ties The power of


symbols
sophisticated laser-guided munitions for the Indians (NRIs) are residents of the Gulf Kippur War, the Organization of the
Mirage 2000 as well as reportedly provided nations. That’s approximately two-thirds of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) flexed
intelligence inputs. all NRIs, and many more work in Saudi its muscles and punished the energy-depen-
Israel is now the third-largest supplier of Arabia, Kuwait, and other nations. West Asian dent First World by simply hiking oil prices.
defence equipment to India, behind Russia
and France — it was the second-largest sup-
NRIs contribute close to 30 per cent of inward
remittances. There are many Indian busi-
India ended up being collateral damage. The
price of petrol at Indian pumps was raised
EYE CULTURE the monster was trapped inside and
all those who were sent in, ended up
plier until the Rafale deal. Over 8 per cent of nesses incorporated in the Gulf Cooperation from ~0.65/ litre to ~1.7/ litre in a day (there’s ARUNDHUTI DASGUPTA as food for the beast. Only Theseus
India’s defence imports are from Israel. In Council (GCC). It’s a deep historic relation- been plenty of energy inflation in the sub- managed to crack his way in, kill the

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other trade spheres, the relationship is also ship. Indians with Israeli visas have trouble sequent 50 years). If the Gaza assault con- hen Mick Jagger invoked minotaur and walk out alive. He did
strong — India is Israel’s second-largest trad- getting into some Arab countries, but they tinues, Opec’s Arab members may again lev- Kali on his recent trip to that with help from the princess,
ing partner in Asia (excluding defence). can enter and work in others. erage their energy and significant financial India, as the inspiration for Ariadne, who handed him a ball of
VIEWPOINT India exported around $5.5 billion worth It would be an understatement to say clout to punish Israel and its friends. the iconic Rolling Stones logo, he did yarn that he unspooled as he walked
of petroleum products to Israel last year, and Israel doesn’t get on with the Arab world, or India needs to walk a diplomatic tight- not just remind everyone of the huge in. The labyrinth reveals itself differ-
DEVANGSHU DATTA imported raw diamonds, electronic compo- Iran, or Russia for that matter. The conflict rope. It cannot give up the oil. Nor can it influence the East and its iconogra- ently to heroes and ordinary people
nents, etc. There are many Indo-Israeli with Hamas started with a horrifying mas- give up on the trade and defence ties with phy have had on an entire generation in the Greek world.

I
ndian passports issued before 1992 carried Research & Design (R&D) projects, including sacre targeting Israeli civilians. It has esca- Israel. Nor can it risk loss of residency and of musicians (read Grateful Dead), In the Persian world, the labyrinth
two exclusions: The document was not cutting-edge defence applications in avionics, lated with equally horrifying massacres of livelihoods for all the NRIs who live and but also struck a high note for the is wrapped up in a different set of
valid for South Africa or Israel. If you drone development, electronic equipment, Palestinians as Israel has retaliated. All of this work in the Arab nations. It is, therefore, power of mythic imagery. A book ideas — as a walled garden, for
wished to travel to the latter, the visa was snooping (Pegasus is an Israeli product, for has been highly visible across media and hard to take any official stand. India will from his brother with the image of instance. The first such garden was
issued by the Israeli Consulate in the erstwhile example), GPS–related R&D, aerospace, social media platforms, with the usual fake have to equivocate, as indeed it has done Kali had Jagger hooked and led to built by Cyrus the Great sometime in
Bombay as a separate document without a renewable energy, information technology news thrown in. This has led to a further hard- successfully so far. the making of what is now an 6th C BCE and the word for such gar-
passport stamp. That changed when the two (IT) and other high-tech areas. ening of attitudes. In one sense, India has already suffered instantly recognisable logo — a lol- dens is “pari-daiz1i”. This is also the
nations established full diplomatic relations. While India exports petroleum products Thus far, Arab nations have not come up collateral damage because of higher, more ling tongue framed by ruby red lips root of the word paradise. According
However, there was a strong, if clandes- (it has surplus refining capacity), it is with a concrete response to the ongoing con- volatile energy prices. There is no conceivable — one that has effortlessly bridged to Unesco, the idea of paradise as a
tine, relationship. During the Indo-Pak War famously dependent on energy imports. Over flict. However, while most Arab governments resolution to this conflict in any reasonable cultural and geographical barriers. perfect garden stands as a metaphor
of 1965, Israel supplied mortar shells and 85 per cent of India’s crude and over 50 per aren’t directly driven by public opinion, they timeframe. Israel versus Hamas adds a set of This is not the first time that an for the divine order and the unifica-
other munitions. In 1971, Israel again supplied cent of its natural gas are imported. A large may find it difficult to ignore the emotional “known unknown” geopolitical risks that ancient symbol has been used to con- tion and protection of the faithful
munitions. By the Kargil War of 1999, the proportion of that is supplied by Muslim- impact on their citizens if the conflict con- may directly affect India’s economic interests. vey a modern ethic, nor is it rare for through Islam.
defence relationship was well-established majority Arab nations, apart from Russia. tinues, and God forbid, if it escalates. That might, at some stage, become an issue the world of art and commerce to dip In the Indian context, the laby-
and no longer clandestine. Israel supplied Moreover, roughly 9 million non-resident In 1973, in the aftermath of the Yom that impacts Indian financial assets. into the richly layered world of mythic rinth is the chakravyuha of the
imagery. From Medusa’s snake-like Mahabharata that reveals itself only
locks to the coiled serpent that Vishnu to those who possess the requisite
rests upon, to the potent symbolism knowledge. It adds an additional layer

Cumulatively ravaging effects of inequality of gestures and sacrality of mazes and


labyrinths — the timeless past is a
sprinkle of breadcrumbs everywhere.
of complexity, in that the way to enter
the labyrinth is not the same as its
exit. The labyrinth has been used in
of inequality. Indian American author and that narrative would distract readers from the Labour”, NYT, July 23, 2023; and “Exhausted Just as Rolling Stones turned to various forms by brands in the auto,
economist Ravi Batra, a cohort of my gener- thrust of this article. Amazon staff fight back against retail giant”, Indian mythology, luxury retail fashion and consulting businesses; it
ation, had argued four decades ago in The Second — inequalities due to caste. The Guardian, October 22, 2023). Australian brand Versace looked closer home to is also part of the architectural her-
Great Depression of 1990 that free-flowing Social reform movements had iconic airline Qantas sacked 1,700 workers — illegally, Medusa, the Greek Gorgon with itage of several cultures. Ancient
capitalism creates excessive inequality and leaders like Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra, according to reports. When the board sub- snakes for hair and eyes that could cities, such as Banaras, are built like
breeds political corruption Sri Narayana Guru in Kerala, Madhusudan sequently placed a proposal for “fair” execu- turn everyone to stone. Medusa was mazes, meant to confound invaders
Inequality has many manifestations: Das in Odisha, and EVR Periyar in Tamil tive pay, shareholders voted against the pro- cursed by Athena, who turned her and undesirable elements. The same
Economic, gender, religion, class, caste, and Nadu. B R Ambedkar argued that caste posal. Clearly something is amiss and getting into a fearsome monstrosity and principle is evident in the maze-like
culture. The ill effects may be episodic, as must be “annihilated” for true benefits of worse. We require sensitivity and compassion engineered her death at the hands of underground tunnels of Gaza that
with economic matters, or long-lasting, for political and economic reform to accrue to to appreciate the nuances of what is happen- the hero Perseus. Medusa’s head have been variously labelled as
BUSINESS & PURPOSE example, as with caste. Each manifestation
of inequality derails progress; collectively
the mass of the people. His use of the word
“annihilated” prompted Mahatma Gandhi
ing. For corporate leaders, it is important not
only what you say but how you say it. If you
adorned the shields of Greek gods
and kings, as a symbol of their power.
havens of terrorism by its enemies,
but hailed as the only recourse for an
R GOPALAKRISHNAN they can devastate societies. Perhaps the to describe him as “a challenge to cannot decrease inequality, try not to increase Gianni Versace, the eponymous oppressed people by its users.
world, and surely India, is suffering the “con- Hinduism”. In modern times, DMK leader it! If a corporate honcho is awarded 2,500 times founder of the label, reportedly drew Like the labyrinth, Kali and her

E
verywhere in the world malaises are vergent slings of multiple ravaging”. When I Udhayanidhi Stalin said something similar, the median pay of workers, he or she is inviting upon his childhood memories of tongue have found multiple uses too.
common: Worker insecurity, crony string together recent events and episodes, though his comment misfired. adverse attention. During my service years, Greek mythology and the story that It is a symbol of insatiable hunger,
capitalism, political bribery, racism, buttressed by writings of commentators, I Third —inequalities in the cultural world. the ratio in India was not so acute; it appears none could turn away from Medusa’s according to the stories in the Devi
and, more broadly, inequality. I was born see a pattern. Take, for example, the strike by Hollywood to be a new trend. gaze for his logo. Mahatmya, where Kali is summoned
when India was ruled by Lord Wavell. Our First — a reference to gender inequality. technicians, writers, and actors. Threatened Are the nomination and remuneration The universal appeal of mythical by Durga to behead the demons and
generation was inspired by leaders who The woman Prime Minister of Iceland joined by technology and aggrieved by a widening committees (and boards as a whole) monitor- symbols comes from the wonder and suck their blood dry. Another story
served jail sentences to win independence, a public strike to draw the nation’s attention disparity in earnings, the strikers feel inse- ing this fact carefully and closely enough? awe they evoke, according to Joseph ties the tongue to a morality tale,
though, after independence, most of us to the widespread gender-based pay gap and cure about their self-worth and future. The Boards of sustainable, humane, and enlight- Campbell (The way of the animal about how the goddess bit her tongue
sought a different life for ourselves and our sexual violence — Iceland, whose image in “winner-takes-all” stars aggravate the over- ened (SHE) companies should take stock of powers: Historical Atlas of World when she found herself astride Shiva
country. Similarly, the children of liberalisa- the world is of gender equality! Centuries ear- whelming sense of unfairness. In early 2023, such leadership vectors. As stated in my Mythology). These symbols and their in the middle of the carnage. She is
tion admire those who worked incredibly lier, Draupadi’s invective on her vastraharan the Walt Disney Company Board received a recent book Inside the Boardroom, directors meanings also adapt easily, and their mortified by what she has done and
long hours with meagre resources. Like our (disrobing) was focused on what constituted rebuke from Abigail Disney, granddaughter should respond to the prodromal or advance meanings have evolved over time. it is this moment that the image cap-
generation did, they too seek a life different equality, character, and fairness, possibly the of the founder, about the unfairness of not signals with wisdom. Societal or corporate The mythical symbolism around tures. The oldest association between
from their seniors. first recorded public admonition on gender adequately rewarding “the real people who action must be born out of a nuanced view mazes and labyrinths follows an inter- the Kali as a goddess and the lolling
They desire rapidly improving opportu- bias and lack of honour. The Seneca Falls make the Disney magic happen”, the theme of the future rather than be inspired by a his- esting trajectory. In Greek myths, the tongue is probably from the
nities for jobs, infrastructure, education, and Convention of 1848 in the US highlighted park workers. torical perspective. labyrinth is an ambiguous space that Mundaka Upanishad (an ancient
health. They also seek integrity and exem- those women who demanded equality. The Last — inequalities in the corporate world. The drumbeats of corporate inequality are is used to cage monsters. The story of text that is part of the Atharva Veda)
plary leadership in public life, both of which Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) My generation was raised on leadership being heard in many ways — compensation Theseus and the minotaur, for where Kali is identified as one of the
are well below their expectations. The jobless of the 1900s, also known as the Suffragette models who were brawny, tough-talking, differentials, hours of work, work-from- instance, invokes the labyrinth as a tongues of Agni, the fire god.
youth are forced to migrate. Crumbling urban Movement, shook Georgian England at its macho chief executive officers like Sewell home, gender pay parity, and so on. trap. The minotaur was born out of a Mythic symbols are laden with
infrastructure creates slums. City commutes roots. As an aside, an early newspaper picture Avery, Harold Geneen, and Lee Iacocca. Companies must consider how they can miti- union between the Cretan queen meaning; they are malleable and
are long and hazardous. The multiple dimen- of the demonstrating women had one brown Nowadays, well-researched articles commu- gate and manage the trend. Pasiphae and the sacred bull of powerful and they speak to a wide
sions of inequality are morale-sapping and face tucked amid the several white ones. She nicate the need for empathy and understand- Poseidon. It was hidden away inside audience. Unfortunately, however,
potentially implosive, causing deep fissures was Sophia Duleep Singh (1876-1948), grand- ing. (“CEOs don’t need to be monsters”, The The writer is an author and a business a labyrinth built by the master crafts- their power has been mostly mis-
in society. In the short term, policymakers daughter of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the Lion New York Times, September 27, 2023; “Inside commentator. www.themindworks.me. man of the gods, Daedalus. No one used, by religious zealots and politi-
may inadvertently miss the tectonic effects of Punjab. Sophia’s is an interesting story, but Starbucks’ Dirty War against Organized rgopal@themindworks.me could enter or leave the labyrinth — cal opportunists.
16 NEW DELHI
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 18, 2023

Opinion

{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
The future of the
Xi, Biden plan IMEC hinges on
a reset of ties
Beijing reaches out to Washington, American
businesses. Whether it marks a strategic shift
stable West Asia
or a tactical manoeuvre remains to be seen If completed, the multi-State strength of member countries’ economies,
allowing for competitive yet free entry into and
project will establish India as

T
he much-anticipated meeting between US exit from the market. Additionally, successful
President Joe Biden and his Chinese the Asian authority on trade corridors build vertical as well as horizontal
counterpart, Xi Jinping, ended on a reassuring network integration, allowing for multiple
instead of China. However, points of contact between trade centres of
note although President Biden’s comment at a Delhi’s track record on member nations, and connecting technology
press conference after the meeting that he still with local and regional institutions. For exam-
considers Xi a “dictator” helped put the relationship
economic corridors is mixed ple, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and
its three associated corridors were largely suc-
in perspective and show the extent to which the two

O
n the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ cessful both because the region, with its rich
most powerful nations in the world differ in their Summit in New Delhi in Septem- resources and high levels of tourism, was con- Implicitly, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is expected to be a counter-
worldview. The meeting was not expected to break ber, Prime Minister Narendra ducive to setting up corridors, and because it economic corridor to China’s Belt and Road Initiative ANI
Modi announced the India-Middle had specific “hubs” that could be networked
new ground on points of bilateral tensions, but the East-Europe Economic Corridor together and developed infrastructurally. in the same corridor, China and India struggled creating an official FTA, but no further infor-
four-hour meeting did suggest a willingness on the (IMEC), a planned new trade route When corridors fail they often do so due to a for power within BCIM. mation has been released since.
part of Beijing to step back and reassess its relations running from India to Europe. Involving Saudi lack of extant social, economic, or political BIMSTEC, an economic corridor created to It is hard to predict whether IMEC will fall
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, cohesion within member countries or foster socioeconomic growth in the Bay of Ben- into the same trap as India’s past corridors. If
with Washington with the intent to bridge the France, Germany, Italy, the European the region as a whole, undermining gal region in the wake of the failed South Asian completed, the project will establish India as
widening gap between them. For the global economy Union, and the United States (US) in attempts to create networks. The Chi- Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Asian authority on trade instead of China.
yet to recover from the pandemic-induced slowdown addition to India, IMEC aims to build na-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been largely unsuccessful due to its inabil- Chinese experts thus far doubt the infrastruc-
trade and infrastructural networks (CPEC) failed largely due to Pakistan’s ity to produce a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). tural proposals that IMEC is promising, cri-
and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the thaw in the and foster economic development and political and social instability, which Without a defined framework or economic tiquing the US’s pattern of making empty
relations between the two powerful economies will connectivity among these nations. Manjari posed a security threat and created a plan, the corridor remains stagnant and unable promises. While it is difficult to compete with
come as a relief. There was all the more reason for The corridor will strive to reduce Chatterjee lack of leadership in the project. But to make progress on initiatives such as its Mas- China’s BRI, which was established over a dec-
production costs, secure supply even in countries with strong political ter Plan for Transport Connectivity. In 24 years, ade ago and includes about 150 countries,
Beijing to reach out to Washington since the chains, improve trade efficiency, cre- Miller cohesion, other factors can matter — the corridor has held only four summit meet- IMEC, in line with the US’s commitment to
American policy of containment had started to hurt ate jobs, and lower greenhouse gas neglect to link smaller, cross-border ings and done a poor job of connecting friendshoring, could theoretically enable a
its economic prospects. Xi’s outreach to American emissions. Implicitly, IMEC is roadways in addition to major high- domains such as energy, infrastructure, and small number of ‘technologically and finan-
expected to be a counter-economic ways, high costs on exports, overly trade. cially capable’ countries like the US and India to
businesses suggests acceptance of the truth that a corridor to China’s Belt and Road Ini- complex logistical processes and inad- Though all members except Bangladesh do so.
stand-off with the US could only further the tiative (BRI). The Israel-Hamas war equate information-sharing can all signed a Free Trade Area Framework Agree- To be proactive, IMEC is already planning to
slowdown. On its part, the US has exploited the has now thrown the future of IMEC in doom success. ment — which created forums through which address some problems that commonly befall
jeopardy. But even prior to the out- India’s track record on economic to discuss trade issues — in 2004, this has not economic corridors. For one, minor, missing
perception of an aggressive China, a view prevalent in break of the conflict, IMEC faced sig- corridors is mixed at best. Past corri- yet produced an FTA. In March 2023, BIMSTEC cross-border roads are being noted so that they
many world capitals, to initiate strategic nificant challenges, not the least of
Clare dors that India has been involved in, Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell announced can be built under IMEC to achieve higher net-
which is that, as India has repeatedly Harris such as the Bangladesh-China-India- that member nations were in the final stages of work connectivity. IMEC also aims to include
conversations through Quad, Indo-Pacific, AUKUS,
found, economic corridors are diffi- Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) private sector investment in its projects, some-
and IMEC. Beijing would prefer a pause in this cult to set up and sustain. and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for thing that the GMS neglected to do, to promote
recalibration of power equations in Asia, which is Economic corridors are an integrated net- Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Coop- WHEN CORRIDORS FAIL THEY job creation. However, the main issue —
surely not to its advantage. Xi’s remark was telling: work of roads, ports and railways that connect eration (BIMSTEC) have been hampered by OFTEN DO SO DUE TO A LACK whether the project will get off the ground
crucial centres of production to facilitate the inter-regional conflict and lack of agreement on given the current instability in West Asia —
“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to movement of goods and people efficiently and trade guidelines. OF EXTANT ECONOMIC, remains to be seen.
succeed…for two large countries like China and the cost-effectively. They are generally created to BCIM, initially started in 1999, intended to SOCIAL, OR POLITICAL
US, turning their back on each other is not an option.” encourage trade and promote infrastructural connect landlocked parts of southwest China COHESION WITHIN MEMBER Manjari Chatterjee Miller is Senior Fellow, Council
and industrial development within and with eastern India as well as Bangladesh and on Foreign Relations, and Associate Professor, Bos-
The approach marks a departure from the aggressive between target countries. There are different Myanmar. Severe conflict in the region pre- COUNTRIES OR THE REGION ton University and Clare Harris is a Research Associ-
tone of China’s wolf warriors who emphasised a conditions that need to be in place for them to vented the formation of strong cross-border AS A WHOLE ate, Council on Foreign Relations.
rising China and spoke about America in unstoppable be successful, not the least of which is the and trade networks. Furthermore, as two rivals The views expressed are personal

decline. Whether this is a strategic shift or a tactical


manoeuvre will be known in the coming days.

The just transition to a


The big tangible takeaway from the meeting was tive actions due to inherent disadvantages. Apart from the direct fallout on energy pri-
The question is — as we redefine the way we ces of making renewables energy supply sec-
that both countries agreed on resuming high-level energise ourselves to grow our incomes and tors attractive for industry, consumers are
military-to-military communication, which Beijing enhance our lifestyles, can we ensure that we also expected to be actively engaged in the
had called off, along with climate talks, in the wake
of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taiwan in
August 2022. As secretary of state Antony Blinken
decarbonised economy do not exacerbate, but instead alleviate,
energy and related inequities and injustices
that are currently embedded in our system?
For example, the critical role that biomass
decarbonisation process — change lifestyles,
invest in energy-efficient appliances and prac-
tices, and become ‘prosumers’ themselves as
installation of decentralised renewables
nion Budgets have, over the years, need to be implemented/strengthened and cal- is expected to play in the energy transition energy systems like rooftop solar panels gains

U
said later, “Restoring these military-to-military
evolved beyond the role of being mere ibrated to align with the global goal. For exam- enjoins the decision-makers to keep a sharp momentum.
contacts, and not just at the secretary of defence fiscal book-keeping exercises, often ple, to maximise EV penetration, a powerful focus on the redistribution of income and In fact, the government has recently
level, but also at the regional command level and heralding key policy announcements decarbonisation pathway, the government unanticipated costs and deprivation that could announced it would be a part of its power sec-
the operational level, is really critical to helping to to spur demand and ebb market sentiments. needs to formulate the optimal mix of credit- potentially be faced by the lower-income tor reform recipe and plans to nudge electric-
The canvas today is wider than ever with the linked subsidies provided to consumers and classes, both in rural and urban areas. Com- ity distribution utilities to make the installa-
avoid miscalculations and mistakes.” China has Budget signalling significant policy priorities. production-linked subsidies to automobile mercialisation of the biomass supply chain, tions mandatory and in a time-bound manner.
also promised to work on counternarcotics action. With the coming year’s Budget exercise under- manufacturers. Currently, most of the unless undertaken in a people-sensi- This would call for a thriving service industry
However, the bonhomie at the meeting did not way, a key question is: Can it traverse the benefits are placed in the hands of the tive manner, could result in the loss to be developed to handhold the ‘prosumers’
entire carbon ‘canvas’ in a more impactful manufacturers. of land, a vital low-cost energy in this transition.
prevent the Chinese from expressing concerns manner? An overarching approach to source, fodder, and security for the The ACPET report has, therefore, proposed
about US support for Taiwan, which Beijing insists A recent publication from the Ashoka Cen- addressing the above challenges lies poor. It could also result in a conflict an Energy Transition Authority that should be
will soon be “reunited” with the mainland. tre for a People-centric Energy Transition in: One, the creation of markets for with food security goals, placing an the recipient of reports from high-level panels
(ACPET) discusses both the challenges and price discovery; two, rationalising and Leena upward price pressure on food items. on rationalising subsidies and on market
As for New Delhi, it has been a default beneficiary opportunities arising from India’s energy tran- streamlining subsidies in the interim; Yet another key energy transition development wherein they have the mandate
Srivastava
of US-China tensions. The standoff at the border sition goals and observes that as much as pol- three, devising adequate payment area that could adversely impact the to provide a clear lens on the impact on peo-
has only brought India and the US closer than ever, icy calibrations are desirable in several ongo- security mechanisms and; four, smaller businesses and masses— ple. Armed with a deeper understanding from
ing schemes to help meet the 2070 goal of strengthening the capacities of vari- both in terms of direct cost increases integrated analyses of these critical subjects,
with Delhi seemingly shedding its initial hesitations achieving net-zero carbon emissions, there is ous institutions/entities/markets to cope with and the cascading effects felt through general the Authority needs to redeploy the saved
about Quad and Indo-Pacific. The cooling relations also an urgent need to squarely address the the preceding changes, among several other consumer prices – is the transportation sector. financial resources to design alternative ways
between the US and China and worries about aspect of ‘just transition’. measures. The rapid electrification of vehicles is likely to support deserving underprivileged popula-
A look at the ongoing ‘green’ electrification The first three of the above, and the totality to make a large part of the automobile indus- tions and incentivise the MSME sector
supply chains have prompted many businesses to of the country’s energy systems reveals that of them, could lead to either an increase in try — currently providing livelihoods to about towards providing energy services to under-
look at India as part of their China-plus-one the effort to fast-track its pace over the past retail prices hurting consumers and/or, 35 million people directly or indirectly — privileged consumers. A well-targeted, digi-
strategy. It remains to be seen how western capitals decade or so has led to around 10 GW of indeed, denying access to swathes of consum- redundant, for lack of requisite skills. For tally enabled system of direct-benefit transfers
renewable electricity being added annually. ers due to poorly designed incentives or miss- long-haul freight-related transition, the gov- aided by the massive financial inclusion
takes to Xi’s outreach. Delhi needs to keep an eye on This needs to go up by a factor of five if we are ing market actors — drawing attention to the ernment would need to make strategic, for- efforts of the government could be one option
the Washington-Beijing dialogue and calibrate its to meet our own defined goals of 500 GW of iniquitous impact of energy transitions on the ward-looking choices on replacement energy to be considered.
policies wisely. Both capital and technology are RE by 2030. Additionally, alternative meas- poor. sources. India runs a real risk of tying itself
ures around liquid/gaseous fuels like hydro- It is well established that not all people in into a high-cost incentive system riddled with Leena Srivastava is director and head, Ashoka
essential for our developmental needs, and Delhi gen and bio-ethanol, and consumption tech- the country can harness the same opportuni- capital subsidies, retail subsidies and stranded Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition.
should do all it can to encourage their inflow. nologies like electric vehicles (EV) would also ties or outcome impacts of such transforma- assets. The views expressed are personal

Hate is twice cursed, { EDITOR’S PICK }


doners. The marching Jews were particu- gaze’ and ‘Islamophobia’ are but two sides of
larly conspicuous with their placards and, the same coin. Jews are now shunning both.
sometimes, orthodox appearance. An old Some people raised anti-Jewish slogans HT’s editors offer a book recommendation every Saturday, which provides history,
Jewish woman, visibly tired even before the during the march, clearly intent on causing context, and helps understand recent news events

mercy twice blessed march began, upheld the placard saying “Not
In My Name”. I later spotted hundreds of
similar posters and banners. Multiple itera-
tions of “This Jew Does Not Support Bomb-
trouble. But the marching Jews were unper-
turbed. Jews know all about raising the
strawman. The march steered clear of any
religious iconography or overt religiosity. No
HOW CRICKET BECAME AN ASIAN SPORT
India and Australia are set to clash in the World Cup
think I may well be a Jew.” They know best what it means to be collec- ing Gaza”. Jews know that collective punish- religious slogans, no Muslim-Jewish-Chris- final on Sunday. India, arguably, has never so thor-

“I Same, sister Sylvia Plath, same! If tively dehumanised. Jews understand that
I had any doubt, it was dispelled on faith-based hatred knows no bounds. The
November 11 in London
when the United Kingdom (UK)
saw the second biggest people’s
Jews also realise that silence is not
the answer in the face of injustice.
In the wake of growing anti-Semitic
ment is not only immoral but also ineffec-
tive. It sets off a chain reaction.
Many war-thirsty experts — mostly non-
Jewish — see any Jewish support for a cease-
fire in Palestine as the doing of ‘self-hating’
tian claims and counter-claims. The only
reigning emotion and slogan — “We Are All
Palestinians”. Pure solidarity.
Jews know the pain of losing a home.
Jews know what it is like to never be able to
oughly dominated a World Cup as it has done this
time. However, India faces a formidable foe in Aus-
tralia, which has demonstrated a ruthless winning
streak after two losses initially. Sunday’s final
between a five-time champion and twice-winner is
march ever in its history. I found violence in European cities after the Jews. If self-hate must be defined today as return to one. Jews know what historian likely to be an enthralling match.
myself right at the head of the Pal- escalation of the Israel-Gaza con- empathy for unarmed civilians, mostly chil- Simon Sebag Montefiore says, “Jerusalem This week we recommend ‘War Minus The Shoot-
estine solidarity march as protes- flict, Jews know that the boulder of dren, it is certainly more desirable than mur- was a city of continuity and coexistence, a ing: Journey Through South Asia During Cricket’s
tors gathered demanding an imme- Nishtha hate is almost impossible to control derous self-love. Jews young and old are hybrid metropolis of hybrid buildings and World Cup’ by Mike Marqusee. The author explores
diate ceasefire. Gautam once it rolls down the path of irra- shunning the criminality of the Israeli mili- hybrid people who defy the narrow categori- the chaotic political and social climate of South Asia
One of the first batches to cross tional justifications. It unleashes tary action against Gaza’s civilians. Jews sations that belong in the separate religious in the 90s through the lens of cricket. Documenting
the river towards the American indiscriminate destruction with no know that bloodshed in their name doesn’t legends and nationalist narratives of later his travels across India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka dur-
embassy, the Jewish community of concessions for anyone. Once you keep them safe. Jews know that hate is twice times.” ing the 1996 cricket World Cup, Marqusee dives into
London led the charge against the complicity live by identity, you die by identity. cursed, mercy twice blessed. Jews know. pressing issues such as national identities, ethnic
of the UK government in letting Benjamin Jews know that identity of one kind A sinister triumvirate of identity politics, and communal tensions, cricket board politics, and
Netanyahu continue with his impunity. It doesn’t necessarily preclude other identities. geopolitical machinations, and economic Nishtha Gautam is an author, academic and the power of money which plague modern cricket to Book Name:
does not take much to do the right thing, as Or decency. On November 11, the participat- gains fuels the Israel-Palestine conflict. Jews journalist. She’s the co-editor of In Hard Times, this day. The book serves as an insightful look into War Minus The
the Jews demonstrated by decrying State vio- ing white population of London seemed to understand it all. They have seen it before. a Bloomsbury book on national security. the factors that enabled India’s rise to dominate the Shooting
lence against the civilian population of Gaza. have outnumbered black and brown Lon- Many times across centuries. The ‘gentile The views expressed are personal global cricketing stage. Year: 1998

R. N. I. No. 503/1957 ● Postal Reg. No. DL(ND)-11/6058/2018-19-20 ‘Licensed to post without prepayment’ LICENCE No. U(C)-113/2006-08, AIR SURCHARGE: Raipur and beyond by Rail or Road - Re 5/-, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Hyderabad, Khajuraho, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and beyond by Rail or Road - Rs. 10/-;

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BOARD: (011)23361234 ● EDITORIAL: (011)66561234 Extn. 1254, 1268 ● CIRCULATION: (011)66561111 ● ADVERTISING: (011)66561389 ● FAX: (011)66561270.

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��� �����
My greatest strength is the love for
my people, my greatest weakness is Sheikh
Mujibur
that I love them too much Rahman

08 CHENNAI SATURDAY 18 11 2023


� �

C
ONNECTIVITY and energy secu- New infrastructure projects between the neighbours will Bangladesh have been imposed on Paki-
rity have occupied centre-stage stan, though it is common knowledge that
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN in India-Bangladesh bilateral ties reduce costs and delays. But a cloud hangs over how the Pakistan army remains the de facto rul-
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. over the last two decades. On Bangladesh conducts its elections in January er of its country. The US still designates
— Ramnath Goenka November 1, Indian Prime Min- Pakistan as a non-Nato ally, supplies arma-

INDIA-BANGLADESH
ister Narendra Modi and Bangla- ment spares and provides support for the
desh Prime Minister Sheikh F-16 fighter aircraft it had sold to Pakistan.
Hasina jointly inaugurated via video con- Western double standards in geopolitics

TREAD CAREFULLY WHILE ferencing the Agartala-Akhaura rail link,


the Khulna-Mongla port broad gauge rail CONNECTIVITY are par for the course.
It is rumoured that Bangladesh denied

TAMING INFLATION WITH link and the start of the second unit of the
Maitree Super thermal power plant. The
BLESSING FOR BOTH
permission for a US military facility on
St Martin’s Island and has also refused to

HIGH INTEREST RATES


plant is a 50:50 joint venture between India’s sign various bilateral agreements for mili-
National Thermal Power Corporation and tary cooperation that the US has pushed.
the Bangladesh Power Development Board. India and the US have signed such agree-

O
Most bilateral connectivity projects have ments. The US is also wary of Bangladesh
CTOBER’S headline inflation print of 4.9 percent—the been implemented with the help of India’s getting sucked into China’s orbit with its
second decline in two months—suggests that this round concessional lines of credit and grants. massive Belt and Road Initiative-linked
of our fight against inflation might be nearly over. But The Agartala-Akhaura link and Maitri PINAK RANJAN Former Secretary in the foreign ministry and projects and loans. The US’s role in oppos-
the country’s designated inflation fighter, the Reserve bridge over river Feni will improve connec- CHAKRAVARTY former High Commissioner to Bangladesh. ing the birth of Bangladesh and its alleged
tivity between India’s northeastern states. Founding Director of DeepStrat, a think tank complicity in the assassination of Sheikh
Bank of India, believes this is not the endgame and
warned of further food and energy price shocks. Led by an These projects mark another phase in im- Mujibur Rahman and his family members
plementing the strategic decision to will be dredged up during the election cam-
almost 2 percentage point fall in core inflation that touched a
integrate bilateral transport and power paigns. Nationalist sentiments will be
43-month low in October, the headline inflation rate fell to connectivity. The Padma bridge is a phe- aroused to accuse the US of supporting the
5 percent and 4.9 percent in September and October, respec- nomenal achievement in domestic connec- BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance.
tively, down from 6.7 percent in 2022-23 and 7.1 percent in July- tivity and will reduce time and cost for A Western campaign against Hasina has
August 2023. But the RBI sees this as a fleeting reprieve, fearing exports and imports. Another project that been launched by the BNP and Islamist or-
the one element that has pushed prices higher this fiscal—food was inaugurated virtually by the two prime ganisations, ably supported by Pakistan
ministers earlier this year was the Maitri and the pan-Islamist network of which the
inflation. Sadly, elevated food prices continue to be a risk to
pipeline, a transborder pipeline funded by Jamaat is a part. Hasina has been in power
inflation expectations and as some high-frequency data indi- India to transport around 1 million metric for 14 years, winning three elections in a
cates, cereal and pulse prices are climbing, threatening the tonnes of high-speed diesel every year from row. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election
central bank’s 4 percent inflation mandate. the Numaligarh refinery in Assam to and fared very poorly in the 2018 one,
The last year, too, saw a similar price reprieve around this northern Bangladesh. promptly alleging that there was massive
time, when headline inflation fell into RBI’s tolerance band of Diversified connectivity links have facili- rigging and other malpractices.
2-6 percent for the first time in a while in November 2022. The tated trade and passenger traffic. Bilateral Both AL and BNP have committed vot-
trade increased substantially to $18 billion ers, with AL having a marginal lead. The
joy was short-lived as the headline inflation soared later, forcing in 2021-22, with Bangladesh becoming the main swing vote comes from uncommitted
the central bank to channel the story of Arjuna’s eye on price fourth-biggest export destination for India. voters, many of whom are 18-25 years of
rise. No wonder the RBI is now unwilling to drop its guard, Connectivity has boosted trade-related lo- age. A determining factor will be the econ-
given that several items within the food basket including gistics and reduced costs. Robust economic omy. While Bangladesh has achieved re-
onions, tomatoes, cereal, pulses and sugar are firming up once growth in both countries has increased markable progress, the pandemic, the
again. Inflation is falling globally too, but not at the speed gov- merchandise trade in both directions, SOUMYADIP SINHA Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war
though Bangladesh has concerns about have resulted in higher energy costs and
ernments desire and the headline numbers may remain uncom-
the adverse trade imbalance. Talks on a elections, since it does not have confidence ously, the US administration under Presi- rising inflation. Foreign reserves have fall-
fortably above targets in many countries for the third year in a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in the government and the Bangladesh dent Joe Biden has been proactive in en from a high of $45 billion to around
row. Helpfully, economies are seeing some relief from crude oil Agreement are going on. Election Commission to conduct free and demanding free and fair elections. The US $22 billion. Bangladesh, like Pakistan and
prices that recently touched $74 a barrel (Brent futures), offer- There is, however, the looming shadow fair elections. Such allegations have been has imposed sanctions on officers of the Sri Lanka, has reached out to the IMF for
ing hope for a sustained decline in fuel inflation. of Bangladesh’s next general election in levelled in the past against both the AL and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)—Bangla- loans. Garment workers have demonstrated
Even though oil prices have been declining for four consecu- January 2024. India, too, will have its gen- BNP. The arrests and detentions of several desh’s anti-terrorist force which has done for higher wages to meet the rising costs.
eral election in May 2024. Election season in BNP leaders have further inflamed pas- a commendable job in curbing terrorism— The readymade garments sector is the
tive months, central banks are in no mood to let go. They
Bangladesh is not about polite debates on sions. The caretaker government system and denied them visas on human rights mainstay of the country’s economy, com-
are instead arguing for a higher-for-longer interest rate regime TV and peaceful rallies with speeches. was expunged from the Constitution in 2011 grounds. The RAB has been accused of prising 80 percent of exports. Uncommitted
to crush the threat for now. But there is another narrative tak- It continues to be about strikes, disruptions after Hasina assumed power in 2009. BNP extra-judicial killings. voters in the working age population are
ing centre-stage: how inflation may go up again if central banks and street battles between protesters chief Khaleda Zia is incapacitated by ill- The US has also announced it will be de- very sensitive to the rise in living costs.
do not begin cutting rates now. It points to evidence that and the police. The ruling Awami League ness and her heir apparent, son Tarique nying visas to anyone undermining fair India will prefer to have Hasina back in
rate rises are often followed by higher inflation—precisely (AL) and the opposition Bangladesh Na- Rehman, remains in exile in London. He elections. These measures have incensed power to ensure continuity. She enjoys
the opposite of what monetary policymakers have been trying tionalist Party (BNP) are both adept at these cannot return because of convictions and Hasina, which has led to a cooling of rela- widespread support despite the allegations
methods. Street demonstrations have be- prison verdicts in several cases of corrup- tions with the US. The US believes it has a of corruption and authoritarian actions.
to tackle. While the RBI is rightly emphasising the need for gun and clashes with the police have al- tion. He was also given the death sentence divine right to promote and protect democ- Another BNP-Jamaat government in Dha-
continued vigilance, it must be cognisant that it is the dose ready left eight dead and dozens injured. for his part in the conspiracy for a 2004 gre- racy everywhere, except where it thinks it ka will have to prove its credentials and
that makes the poison. Both sides have accused the other of insti- nade attack on Hasina’s political rally. is not in its own interests, though the rea- commit that it will not adopt anti-India poli-
gating the violence. Western embassies in Dhaka issue regu- sons are geopolitical. Bangladeshis angrily cies again. The AL has the potential of re-
The BNP has again demanded Hasina’s lar statements urging caution, while China point out that the US invited Pakistan but turning to power but it will be tougher than

AVOID MISSTEPS THIS resignation and the appointment of a neu-


tral caretaker government to conduct the
and Russia have issued statements accus-
ing western countries of interference. Curi-
not their country to the Summit for Democ-
racy. No sanctions akin to those imposed on
in the last three elections.
(pr.chakravarty@gmail.com)

SABARIMALA SEASON

T THE ORIGINAL SIN IN CONFLICTS


HE annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season has begun and
the flow of pilgrims over the next two months is expected
to test the arrangements put in place to deal with the rush.
Japanese habits

T
About 75 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the hill shrine
HERE’S something rotten in the Ref: Law and awareness only ways to keep
this season, a considerable increase from last season’s state of global opinion, because public places clean (Nov 17). As the edit has
56 lakh. It must be said that the Kerala government, the Travan- it’s become impossible to criti- pointed out, a lack of public conscience and
core Devaswom Board and the temple administrator controlled cise either the October 7 Hamas an overpowering indifference are the main
by it have made extra efforts this time around. While a dynamic attack or Israel’s dilapidation of PRATIK Editor of The India Cable villains that encourage littering. In Japanese
queue control system has been introduced for better regulation Gaza without being press-ganged KANJILAL schools, students keep classrooms and
of movement, pilgrims themselves can monitor the crowd at the into the ranks of the supporter facilities clean. This is a habit in adulthood
of the other side. If you criticise the arbi- too. Let’s take a leaf out of the Japanese book.
shrine through video walls set up at three places. A hospital with
ICU facilities and 64 beds has been set up at Pamba and a 15-bed
trary violence of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, SPEAKEASY N Rama Rao, Chennai
then, of course, you must be a Holocaust-
facility has been installed at the temple. Transport, hygiene and denier. And if you criticise Hamas for hi- Electoral bonds
lodging have also been spruced up ahead of the season. jacking the Palestinians’ right to resist be- are being rounded up and herded off to movement was framed as a reaction to the Ref: Electoral bonds go against political
While it is commendable that efforts are being taken to im- ing corralled in an open-air human zoo, police stations. These restraints on the right original sin of the emperor Babur, whose equality (Nov 17). It would be no exaggeration
prove the pilgrims’ experience, a lot needs to be done if the then you must be a terrorist. to protest have no legal basis. They can be general Mir Baqi built the mosque on the to say the huge amounts the BJP receives
The struggle between Zionists and Pales- justified only by the polarising logic cited site of Rama’s birthplace. through electoral bonds are its main source
temple has to be equipped to handle the inflow that is increas-
tine has run for so long and has featured so above: anyone who sticks up for Palestinian The Baburnama, an unnervingly honest of funds. Though the SC has ordered the EC
ing season after season. Many of the projects envisaged as much violence that no party can claim to be civilians’ right to life must be a terrorist. autobiography, has accounts from the em- to collect all the details of electoral bond
part of the Sabarimala master plan are yet to take off and in the right anymore. Everyone is sort of And anyway, critics of the use of state force peror’s first foray into India, where his donations to parties, there is no chance of the
some are stuck mid-way. A recent meeting chaired by Chief wrong, all the way back to the colonial-era must have sedition on the mind. band encountered native Indians on their information being released into the public
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to set up a Sabarimala mandates in the Middle East when there travels and dispatched them without a domain. The bond system should be scrapped
Development Authority to coordinate and implement the works. were no formal nations in the region. qualm amid scenes of hunting, feasting and in toto or become totally transparent.
Sabarimala certainly needs better facilities, including roads, What’s rotten about the majority discourse poetry competitions. This was not unusual C V Aravind, Bengaluru
backing Israel is that it suggests that the by the reckoning of the times and the soci-
but the development must be carried out keeping in mind curtain went up on October 7, when Hamas ety in which Babur grew up, and, though Timely intervention
the fragility of the area. committed the original sin of attacking ci- later generations of Muslim rulers caused Ref: Guv returns pending bills, state calls spl
The Kerala government, on its part, must be hoping that the vilians. Hamas did attack civilians on that anxieties by inflicting taxes rather than house session to re-adopt them (Nov 17).
season passes off incident-free, given that the controversial Su- day, and that is a war crime, but it wasn’t the death, the theory of bloodthirsty Muslim The SC’s timely intervention advising
preme Court order allowing women in the 10-50 age group entry original sin. There’s no point looking for an invaders has flourished in modern times. governors against inordinately delaying
into the shrine is still hanging over its head; petitions challeng- original sin because such a thing does not Last week a Pakistani cabbie in Brooklyn, assent to bills has helped the TN government
exist in history which, in the case of Pales- from a family who were caretakers of a Sufi pass the pending bills—this is laudable. A
AP

ing it have been referred to a larger bench. Last year, the govern- tine, rolls back to remote antiquity. shrine near Peshawar before they were cordial relationship between governor and
ment issued a handbook that said all have the right to entry, but Worse, the story that Hamas started it all, Israel is driving out millions of forced to take the wheel, told me, “Look at government is the need of the hour.
withdrew it hastily following protests. The government will do which is like the complaint that teachers Palestinians from Gaza. An Israeli the American and Australian populations. P Victor Selvaraj, Tirunelveli
well to avoid such missteps. It must wait till the court decides field after schoolyard brawls, is being used politician has suggested nuking How many aboriginal Americans and Aus-
and do nothing that could be seen as violating age-old traditions. to justify the indiscriminate punishment of tralians do you see? That’s what happens Dynasty politics
the whole Palestinian community, includ- the enclave. It is not easy to agree when a bloodthirsty invader visits your When it comes to vote bank politics and caste,
It must also be prepared to deal with efforts by some elements
ing its children, using military weapons. on an original sin in old conflicts, country. And how many original Indians do BJP is no better than other regional parties
seeking to foment trouble in the guise of enforcing the court
order. An adequate number of police personnel, suitably in-
The attack on the Al Buraq school and Al- but the stupidity of seeking mass you see in the subcontinent? What does it and the Congress which have been attacked
Shifa Hospital, the biggest in Gaza, where extinction could be it say about the theory of Muslim invasion?” for dynasty politics. With the appointment of
formed, must be deployed to sensibly deal with situations. The displaced people were sheltering, was justi- That’s anecdotal, of course. More plausi- Yediyurappa’s son as party head in Karnataka,
season will test the government’s ability to ensure peace. fied by the claim that Hamas operates from bly, entrants into India understood that the BJP has lost the moral high ground.
the facility. The argument of an original sin The Semitic idea of original sin, whose they could not possibly erase prior popula- N Nagarajan, Secunderabad
which started it all can be used to justify philosophy was defined by St Augustine of tions because size matters. Present advo-
Q U I C K TA K E any attack on civilians and their refuges, Hippo, speaks of an innate sin implicit in cates of cleansing, who have been increas- Winning streak
and even to urge them to flee to Egypt, to birth itself. The prospect that everyone ingly voluble over the last decade, don’t Ref: Shami-final: India’s perfect 10 in
SHAME ON SHAMI TROLLS which a border crossing is pointedly held
open. Depopulating a nation is also a sin.
must spend their lives working towards re-
demption is pretty bleak, but seeking the
appreciate this dreary practical problem
standing in the way of their desires. In com-
Mumbai, over to Ahmedabad now (Nov 16).
The Indian team has been on a winning

O
NE heart-stopping moment in the World Cup semi-final on Sin is the concern of religion and culture, origins of violence in one group is even mon with Zionists, they have fantastical streak. Virat Kohli has scored another hundred
which are built on traditions of storytelling more depressing. Because typically, it’s dreams of the mass extinction of the other. and Mohammed Shami has taken a five-for.
Wednesday came during the 29th over of the New Zealand
and mythmaking which contrast good and hopeless to seek the first wrong. In Israel, former heritage minister Am- They have hardly made mistakes and have
innings. Mohammed Shami dropped a regulation catch of evil, light and darkness, angel and demon. This idea of an original sin, which ichay Eliyahu had said that dropping a nu- been playing some exceptional cricket.
the Kiwis’ captain Kane Williamson. Vile communal abuse But history rests on facts, without moral brought violence into a prehistoric idyll, clear bomb on Gaza was an option, unaware Mathews Varghese, Kochi
poured forth online against India’s top pacer. Shami ended with reasoning. It is complicated and messy, and has been visible in Indian politics from the that it would erase Israel, too. In Modi’s first
7/57 and was adjudged man of the match. What is it about our original sins are not notable in its annals. earliest days of the mandir-masjid dispute. term in office, eager voters had seriously Brotherly peace
country that makes so many of us so itchy to see everything Mixing the two makes bad medicine. Four years before the rising of 1857, sadhus expected the PM to nuke Pakistan and were The descendants of Abraham’s sons, Ishmael
along communal lines? When Shami faced similar abuse two The Western discourse on the Middle of the Nimrohi Akhara claimed ownership uncaring about the implications for their and Isaac, are bitter enemies today. They
East conflict is instructive for people in oth- of the Babri Masjid site and the administra- own lives. If there is an original sin at all, it should realise that it would be good for
years ago, then captain Virat Kohli stoutly supported his bowler, er polarised nations. The phenomenon it- tion divided the property in response, is probably stupidity. Sadly, that’s in surplus everyone if they lived as brothers. More can be
saying, “Attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic self is visible in India, where protesters agi- awarding one part to Muslims and the in majoritarian politics across the world. achieved through peace than war.
thing.” It is a shame that nothing much has changed since. tating against the Israeli onslaught on Gaza other to Hindus. Over time, the Hindu (Tweets @pratik_k) Elizabeth Koshy, Pathanamthitta

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Tamil Nadu): Anto T Joseph * Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., at Express Press, ‘Express Gardens’, 29, Second Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai - 600 058. Chennai: Vol. 93, No. 273. RNI Reg. No. TNENG/ 1002/57.
Phone: 044-23457601, Fax: 044-23457619. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
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12
OPINION THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 18 NOVEMBER 2023

THE TRIBUNE
established in 1881 A predator & conspiracy of silence
As a society, we can’t fail children by letting patriarchy shut them up and acquit the monster
Supply chain pact which they are not.
Opportunity for India to maximise economic gains Take the example of the
recent Yamunanagar incident.

T
HE signing of the Supply Chain Resilience The prime accused, most prob-
ably a benami fronting for the
Agreement by India and 13 other member
Opposition and ruling party
countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic
politicians, had 22 licensed
Framework (IPEF) underlines the impor- vends to sell liquor. And he was
tance of multilateral cooperation amid openly selling a mixture of
geopolitical rivalries and tensions. The pact is expected extra neutral alcohol (ENA),

A
to make IPEF supply chains more resilient, robust and which the gang was procuring
well-integrated, and contribute towards economic devel- glimpse of the rotten from wherever it was available.
opment and progress of the region. The IPEF includes underbelly of our When methyl alcohol or dena-
India’s Quad partners (the US, Australia and Japan), society was revealed tured spirit is procured instead
South Korea, New Zealand, Fiji and ASEAN members in all its ugliness of ENA, the deaths occur. As
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, recently. Rather, the simple as that. So, an excise
Thailand and Vietnam. Together, these countries sight is getting worse every pass- scam involving distilleries,
account for around 40 per cent of the world’s GDP, mak- ing day. About 50 children of a licensed vends, excise officials
ing IPEF a formidable economic bloc. Notably, some of senior secondary school for girls and corrupt politicians conve-
in Jind, Haryana, were sexually niently becomes a hooch
these nations are also part of the Regional Comprehen-
harassed; some of them were tragedy, only to be blamed on
sive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the China-spear-
assaulted and a few allegedly families distilling local drinks
headed trade initiative that India had opted out of four raped by their own school princi- JIND HORROR: The school management committee, the district child welfare committee, the commission for the for generations.
years ago. Launched in May 2022, the IPEF is widely pal. He was arrested under the protection of child rights and all other departmental and statutory bodies have failed. PTI But the fate of those 50 chil-
seen as a US-led counter to the RCEP, which is touted as provisions of the Protection of dren of Jind cannot be left to a
the world’s biggest trade agreement. Children from Sexual Offences the accused was sent to judicial league, claiming that there was compromised probe. This case
Supply chains suffered worldwide disruptions (POCSO) Act on the charges of custody, more and more accusa- once a complaint against him as becomes singularly important
during the Covid-19 pandemic, laying bare the vul- sexual assault and aggravated tions poured in. Janwadi Mahila well, but nothing came of it. Inci- not just for all the serious accusa-
nerabilities of the global economy. The Russia- sexual assault, and also under Samiti and Samyukt Kisan Mor- dentally, there were reports that tions up in the air — rape and
Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict have sections of the Indian Penal cha are the only ones spearhead- the accused principal had a his- suicide of children — but also for
made things worse. Moreover, manufacturers and Code involving assault to out- ing protests, conducting their tory of complaints of sexual the complete collapse of the sys-
suppliers find themselves constantly exposed to rage the modesty of a woman own investigations into this hor- It seems complaints of harassment even before he tem that should have prevented
financial risks due to climate change-induced natural and wrongful confinement. rific incident. A local activist, sexual harassment are joined the Jind school. It seems these incidents. Obviously, the
The story is so bizarre that it Sikkim Nain, has accused the complaints of sexual harass- school management committee,
disasters. The IPEF needs to ensure uninterrupted par for the course in
needs to be recalled in detail. principal of having “physical ment are par for the course in the district child welfare com-
trade engagement among its members.
Initially, a letter was written relations” with 30 children. Haryana schools and Haryana schools and that such mittee, the commission for the
New Delhi’s interests are best served if the IPEF purportedly by a few students of There can be no “physical rela- complaints do not deter the protection of child rights and all
helps it emerge as an attractive investment destina- the school to the National Com- tions” of a sexual nature with a that such complaints department from posting taint- other departmental and statuto-
tion and a bigger player on the export front. The major mission for Women. But the minor other than rape. So, if the ed teachers to all-girls schools. ry bodies have failed.
challenges for India are to improve ease of doing busi- names of students were obvi- activist is pointing to rape com-
do not deter the It is not as if only the educa- If there is a systemic collapse
ness, make the regulatory system transparent and ously fictitious. The letter was mitted by the principal, the department from tion department or the school at Jind, how different can it be
spur sustainable growth. The onus is on the IPEF, probably written on August 31. whole case ought to take a differ- should bear the entire responsi- in other government schools?
which is built on four pillars — trade, supply chains, The district authorities started ent turn because he has so far posting tainted teachers bility. Not a single local politi- Another sad fact about govern-
clean economy and fair economy — to bring about an inquiry on October 25 — on not been charged with rape. Nor to all-girls schools. cian has dared to open his ment schools is that they cater
seamless integration of economies and guard against that very day, without seeking has a rape investigation begun mouth about the case. Neither only to the most backward sec-
becoming a US-centric initiative. the permission of the district by the local police. the local minister nor even the tions of society — economically
education office, the accused Worse, a child of Class XI had put out a timeline or a detailed Opposition leader. The conspir- and socially. When such unfor-
principal took 50 students on a died of suicide on September report of all the strange occur- acy of silence is all-pervasive. tunate students are forced to
three-day trip to Amritsar. In 30. The hapless student, who rences, neither the police nor Then there is a special bon- suffer these ignominies, their
hindsight, the trip is being sur- belonged to a weaker section, the local administration or the homie between the ruling and parents remain helpless. Like
Gaza needs aid mised by the media as a dam-
age-control exercise. On his
had attended school when she
was driven by despair to end
school. Every attempt to
knock at these doors has only
the Opposition combines in
Haryana. Even in the case of a
their children, they too become
victims of social opprobrium,
Truce a must even as UNSC adopts resolution return, the principal was sus- her life. No post-mortem was elicited cryptic replies. liquor tragedy that took the making them cower in despair.
pended by the Additional Chief conducted; nor have the police, The Tribune has been trying to lives of 20 people recently, the They will not complain, fearing

T
Secretary, who smelt a rat. even now, initiated an inquiry get to the bottom of this seem- alleged culprits include an the stigma of the cops ques-
HE UN Security Council, in its fifth
A subsequent inquiry by a sex- on allegations by local activists ingly scary story of a teacher Opposition party leader and the tioning their children, thus
attempt, has on Thursday managed to
ual harassment committee set of abetment to suicide. Along turning predator against his own son of a ruling party bigwig. making a cover-up easy for
adopt a resolution that gives hope for much- up by the Deputy Commissioner with this case of suicide, there students. But to no great avail. The liquor tragedies that occur everyone. But as a society, we
needed humanitarian pauses and safe cor- found the accusations prima are reports of death of two The successor principal-in- in Punjab and Haryana at an cannot fail these children by
ridors in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. facie credible. The principal was more children of this school in charge of the school pooh-poohs alarming periodicity are often letting patriarchy shut them up
However, what is needed is a humanitarian ceasefire. arrested on November 4. Once the recent past. Nobody has the accusations against his col- dismissed as ‘hooch deaths’, and acquit the predator.
For, the war, going on relentlessly since the October 7
Hamas attack, has already inflicted untold damage. thought for the day
Over 12,000 people, including civilians, children, jour-
nalists and UN workers, have been killed and lakhs of There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children. — Nelson Mandela
people displaced in the Gaza Strip.
Truce is essential to avert a humanitarian catastro-
phe. The Israeli army has raided the Al Shifa Hospital
in its bid to zero in on the Hamas leaders and unearth
tunnels that it claims lie under the hospital, even as
Hamas and hospital staff are in the denial mode. The
The art and soul Manipulative diplomacy
letters to the editor
Immigration to Canada
Hamas chief has affirmed that the Palestinians can
withstand the Israeli onslaught. Israel, too, is unwilling
to relent unless the Israelis held hostage by Hamas are
of culture Apropos of ‘Biden-Xi meeting’; the manipula-
tive diplomacy demonstrated by Xi Jinping
and Joe Biden to safeguard their respective
It is no secret that immigration to Canada is
popular because it is easier to get into Ameri-
ca from Canada than from most other places.
released. Sadly, Israel — backed by its ally US — is hell- Rajan Kashyap interests is noteworthy. Recognising that Unlike India, Canada doesn’t seem too con-
bent on defying international humanitarian law. healthy competition is inevitable and even nec- cerned about demographic changes. Current-

L
The worsening situation is crying for an immediate OVERS of art and literature are devastated at the pass- essary, the global community, including India, ly, the relations between the two nations have
de-escalation of tensions. An extended pause or truce ing of Prof BN Goswamy, a doyen of culture and refine- aspires for peace between these two superpow- soured, but there is no reason to believe that
is needed to let in aid and attend to those injured in the ment and one of the country’s foremost art connois- ers. It is crucial to note that neither country has this will last long. Once the Khalistani irritant
combat as also the patients in hospitals. Refugee seurs and men of letters. In the field of art appreciation, BNG deviated from their stated positions. This meet- is removed, it will likely become business as
camps in Gaza, too, have been attacked and are calling was a recognised face in India and abroad. ing should serve as an encouragement for usual for the people of both countries. The
out for help. Threatening to exacerbate the crisis is the At Panjab University, Chandigarh, he established from India to engage with China in similar diplomat- ever-increasing number of Indians in Canada
fact that the supplies of food, potable water, medicines scratch the Department of Fine Arts, inspiring and nur- ic ways, protecting its interests for the sake of a must be seen in the perspective of limited
turing many generations of scholars and teachers. His stable and peaceful South Asia. opportunities in India, prompting young peo-
and fuel in the war zones are fast running out. The
acceptance of the position of Professor Emeritus was an DEEPAK TAAK, PANCHKULA ple to opt for greener pastures.
Human Rights Watch fears an outbreak of cholera and
honour for the university. ANTHONY HENRIQUES, MUMBAI
typhoid if aid is not quickly received. Global pressure BNG’s brilliant books on art, especially his treatises on Lack of washrooms
must nudge Hamas to free the hostages and make Kangra paintings, were widely acclaimed. He is credited Refer to ‘Toilets in schools’; menstruation is Poor air quality
both warring groups declare a ceasefire. with having introduced traditional Indian painting to con- a biological process, and every girl/woman Refer to ‘Centre, states working at cross-pur-
noisseurs worldwide. He was valued as a visiting professor has the right to menstrual hygiene. poses’; the Commission for Air Quality Man-
in many universities of Europe and the US. When I hap- Research indicates that at least 71 per cent agement in National Capital Region and
on this day...100 years ago pened to visit the Getty Museum in Los Angeles some years of the girls in India lack knowledge of men- Adjoining Areas has failed to produce tangi-
ago, I dropped the name of Prof Goswamy as a close friend. struation before their first period. Mothers ble results. People traveling on NCR roads,
All at once, my stock with the museum rose, for BNG hap- and teachers should educate girls to manage especially asthma patients, bear the brunt of
pened to be its standing art consultant. menstruation sensibly and in a healthy man- poor air quality. Vote-bank politics has ren-
Over the years, many honours were bestowed on BNG, ner. A survey has revealed that 30 per cent of dered parties in power ineffective when it
lahore, sunday, november 18, 1923 including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. But these the girls drop out of school after they start comes to implementing decisions. Stubble
awards weighed lightly on him. His feet remained firmly on menstruating. Despite the apex court’s rul- was not burnt two decades ago and was
THE INDIAN BAR the ground. As a fresher, I was privileged to know BNG in the ing, a sad state of affairs persists as schools instead used as fodder for animals. The prob-
THE ability of the Indian to hold his own against the British, pro- university, which he had just joined as a teacher of history. His lack adequate toilet facilities for girls and lem emerged with the introduction of com-
vided equal opportunities are offered to him, is nowhere more wife Karuna, who was several years younger than him, was my boys. Various school authorities must bines for harvesting. Stubble has various
clearly demonstrated than in the case of the Bench and Bar in contemporary. Brijinder and Karuna made an elegant and upgrade sanitation infrastructure. practical uses, such as fertiliser, fuel for elec-
India. During the last 40 years or so, India has produced scores of imposing couple. In society, they came to be esteemed as an RAJ KUMAR KAPOOR, ROPAR tricity generation and biofuel.
well-known lawyers who have adorned the highest courts with epitome of learning and sophistication. WG CDR JS MINHAS (RETD), MOHALI
their erudition and impartiality, and have greatly increased the As students in the 1960s, some of us were preparing to take Sanitation infrastructure crucial
prestige and dignity of the Bar by their eminent attainments, and a written examination for entry to the civil services. We were Apropos of ‘Toilets in schools’; sanitation Fatal mishap
this in spite of the fact that the Indian vakils have always been in awe of the formidable professor for an unusual reason. infrastructure is crucial for maintaining a Apropos of ‘39 dead, 17 injured as bus rolls
greatly handicapped as against the barristers. According to the law On the campus, it was known that BNG had been selected conducive environment in educational insti- down 300-foot gorge in Doda’; India is grap-
governing the conduct and status of lawyers practising in Indian to the Indian Administrative Service and had served the tutions, particularly for girls. The Supreme pling with a high number of road accidents.
courts, the barristers are given a privileged position in various mat- government for a couple of years. His image in our eyes was Court’s directive aligns with the right According to the World Health Organisation, at
ters of everyday interest as against the vakils. The most unfair of that of an intellectual who spurned the prestige of India’s approach regarding the draft national policy least one out of every 10 people killed in road
these invidious distinctions is that no vakil can appear in a High top service to join the noble profession of a teacher. It was on menstrual hygiene. These provisions accidents worldwide is from India. The hilly
Court on the original side. Under this rule, men like Justice with some hesitation that I made bold to approach him for were already mandated by the SC, incorpo- regions of northern India, in particular, are
Ranade, Sir NG Chandavarkar, Sir Rash Behari Ghosh, Sir guidance on tackling the subject of history. My apprehen- rating them into the Right to Education Act. prone to road accidents due to poorly main-
Bhashyam Iyengar and a host of other eminent vakils were sion in meeting BNG was unfounded. For him, in the words Numerous institutional-level studies empha- tained roads, inadequate infrastructure, unat-
debarred from appearing in cases heard by High Courts in their of Rabindranath Tagore, knowledge was free. BNG dis- sise that there is enhanced resource develop- tended hazard zones with no means to prevent
original jurisdiction, while the junior-most barristers can claim that armed me; he spent considerable time and took pains to ment when schools ensure proper toilet and vehicles from falling into gorges, heavy traffic,
privilege. Another unjust distinction that the present legal practi- determine a chart of action that helped me succeed. drinking water facilities. Maintaining these the prevalence of unfit vehicles and unsafe
tioners’ law prescribes is that while barristers can practise in the Recently, I requested BNG to write a foreword for my book. facilities requires careful policy planning driving habits such as overspeeding. It is
High Courts from the very start of their career, the law graduates of He had just suffered a tragedy — the demise of his wife Karuna and implementation with sincere commit- imperative to address these issues seriously,
Indian universities are not allowed to do so until after they have and their son — but he bore it with rare fortitude. BNG obliged, ment from every stakeholder. giving top priority to safety.
been in the profession for a number of years. That there is no justi- as he had done for me 60 years ago. His words added lustre to SHUBHAM, JAMMU O PRASADA RAO, HYDERABAD
fication for this differential treatment is absolutely clear, because the publication. Like the Oxford scholar in Chaucer’s Canter-
while a barrister fresh from England is ignorant of Indian law and bury Tales, ‘Gladly would he learn, and gladly teach’. BNG Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit.
practice, the Indian pleader has a thorough knowledge of both. was forever a teacher and equally a student. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 18 NOVEMBER 2023
OPED 13

Differences persist despite Biden-Xi summit


ing its economic develop- cial and financial coopera- control and nuclear non-pro-
ment. He hoped that the US tion. They expressed com- liferation would also be
would take its concerns seri- mitment to increase sched- mutually useful.
ously, lift those sanctions and uled passenger flights and Though the summit
provide a fair, just and non- encourage expansion of edu- helped in reducing tensions
discriminatory environment cational, cultural, sports and in the bilateral relations,
for Chinese enterprises. Xi business exchanges. there was no agreement on
tried to placate Biden by The most important out- reducing the underpinning
YOGESH GUPTA saying that China had no come of the summit was a differences, which are the
FORMER AMBASSADOR plans to “surpass or replace ‘candid and in-depth’ casus belli for the eruption

A
the US” (as the dominant exchange of views between of periodic tensions between
FTER dithering global power) and the US the leaders on the “strategic, them. These include Chi-
for several should drop the idea of com- overarching and directional na’s desire to displace the
weeks, China’s petition with China. issues” in their bilateral US from the global number
President Xi Jin- Biden rejected Xi’s insin- relationship. China knew one position, reshape the
ping agreed to a uations, saying that the US very well that the US would existing international order
summit meeting with US and China were in competi- not change its position on to its liking and force the US
President Joe Biden in San tion, that the US would any of the critical issues to exit Asia in the future.
Francisco on November 15. invest in American between them. It is Bei- China will continue to sup-
They held a dialogue on sev- strengths and prevent Chi- jing’s hope that after this ply weapons to Ukraine and
eral issues which the US was na’s use of advanced US meeting, the US may delay threaten US allies and part-
pushing for, such as resum- technologies to undermine the imposition of more sanc- ners whenever it deems nec-
ing communication between its national security. He KEY TAKEAWAY: The US and China have decided to resume military-to-military communication. REUTERS tions on the export of tech- essary; the US would be
the militaries, climate raised concerns about Chi- nologies and allow Ameri- obliged to come to their
change, arms control and na’s unfair trade policies, not to interfere in Taiwan’s tion talks and the US-China can companies to make assistance in pursuance of
nuclear non-proliferation. non-market economic prac- presidential elections in Military Maritime Consulta- more investments and do its treaty obligations.
This sudden change in Chi- tices and punitive action January 2024. tive Agreement meetings. greater trade with China. Similarly, the US is equal-
na’s position was the out- against US companies. Biden reiterated US sup- The two countries agreed to Similarly, the US is hoping ly determined to weaken
come of a shift in its econom- The second issue of inter- port for a “free and open the resumption of bilateral that China will be less con- China, deny investments
ic power (vis-a-vis the US) in est to Xi, as expected, was Indo-Pacific (IP) which is cooperation to combat glob- frontational in countering US and technologies in sensi-
recent months. As per a Taiwan. Xi asked Biden “to connected, prosperous, al illicit drug manufactur- military aircraft and war- tive fields, maintain tariffs
study, China’s GDP, which implement its stance of not secure and resilient” and its ing, trafficking, including of ships participating in the on sensitive imports and
was about 75 per cent of the supporting Taiwan’s inde- “ironclad commitment to synthetic drugs like fen- freedom of navigation opera- undermine her global stand-
US’s in 2021, declined to pendence through concrete defending our IP allies” tanyl, and coordination on tions in the South China Sea, ing with the help of its allies.
about 64 per cent in the third actions, stop arming Tai- (important in context of the narcotics issues. They wel- Taiwan Strait and interna- The differences over Taiwan
quarter of 2023 due to mount- wan and support China’s China-Philippines con- comed the progress on tional airspace. Also, if some are equally unbridgeable as
ing local government debt, a peaceful reunification”. frontation to defend the lat-
The differences national actions to reduce incident takes place, the the US and its allies do not
housing bubble, declining Biden reiterated that there ter’s resupply to the Second over Taiwan are emissions in the 2020s and political leadership and the want it to be annexed by
foreign trade and lesser con- had been no change in the Thomas Shoal). Biden also operationalising the work- militaries of the two coun- China; they will continue to
fidence in its economy. US position. The US has raised concerns about unbridgeable as ing group on enhancing cli- tries would be able to estab- arm Taiwan to obviate that
In his discussions with opposed unilateral changes alleged human rights abuse the US and its allies mate actions. lish quick communication to possibility. The fragile rela-
Biden, Xi complained that to the status quo on either by China, including in Xin- Both sides agreed on fur- avoid a conflict. With the US tions between the US and
the US implementation of the side. It expects cross-strait jiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. don’t want it to be ther discussions to address already involved to some China could be tested any-
export control measures (e.g. differences to be resolved Among the summit’s annexed by China; various global challenges, extent in wars in Ukraine and time in case of provocation
sanctions on the export of by peaceful means. Biden achievements were the including health, security, West Asia, it does not want a by various actors as the US
semiconductors, microchips), called for restraint in Chi- resumption of high-level they will continue debt and climate finance in conflict with China. Greater and Taiwan go for the presi-
investment reviews and tar- na’s military activity in military-to-military com- to arm Taiwan. developing countries, arms transparency and dialogue dential elections and Chi-
iffs had harmed China’s and around the Taiwan munication, the US-China control and non-prolifera- on critical technologies like na’s economy witnesses
legitimate interests, includ- Strait and asked Beijing Defence Policy Coordina- tion and economic, commer- artificial intelligence, arms greater strain in 2024.

What the feel-good sentiment reveals and conceals


doing badly, even though it gence between the actual growth rate. He believes that
is performing much better economic situation and how this is an ingrained bias,
than anyone expected. it is perceived by people? which has fed a narrative that
Krugman has crunched What is the reason that con- Biden is bad for the economy.
some numbers to show how sumer sentiment is way Krugman argues that con-
far apart real consumer senti- below what it ought to be in sumers are politically parti-
ment is from what it ought to the US, while in India it is san — Democrats believe that
be, given that Americans are way above what economic Biden is doing a good job,
AUNINDYO CHAKRAVARTY spending like never before, data would predict? while Republicans believe
SENIOR ECONOMIC ANALYST their real wages are up, the Krugman’s original the opposite. It is just that

S
inflation rate is cooling off, answer blamed inflation for Republicans are four times
URENDER, the and unemployment is at the feel-bad factor in the US. more partisan in their stated
man who cleans record low levels. People, he says, don’t care beliefs than the Democrats,
the motel room I Right now, consumer sen- that the inflation rate has and that is what is turning a
was staying in last timent should have been slowed down. They expect good economic situation into
week, told me that between 85 and 90 compared prices to be back where they a ‘feel-bad’ economy.
he was going home to his to the baseline. Instead, it is were when they first began Krugman’s thesis holds
village for Diwali. I asked hovering between 60 and 65. to spiral out of control. By true for India as well, but in
him how much money he The reverse was true during this logic, India too should the opposite direction. Indi-
made every month. Barely the Trump years. Krug- have been afflicted by the an media, by and large,
enough, he said, to cover his man’s math suggests con- feel-bad sentiment. After all, tends to praise the govern-
costs in the city. And almost sumer sentiments ought to average retail prices have ment for even the smallest
nothing left to send home. have been between 85 and gone up by 14 per cent in the good news on the economy,
The job market is tough, I 90 at that time, but past two years, while food while it goes silent whenever
said. No, it isn’t, was his observed consumer senti- MOTIVATION: The feel-good factor encourages entrepreneurship and risk-taking. TRIBUNE PHOTO prices are up by nearly 17 there is any negative news.
response. Then why was he ment was close to 100. per cent. This has made no Those who back the govern-
not getting a good salary? Consider India now. The middle class, the trend is data tells us that consumer difference to consumer sen- ment are much more vocal
He wasn’t, he said, but oth- Centre for Monitoring Indian more or less similar. The pro- sentiment, among those timents in India. and powerful on social
ers were. I asked him Economy’s (CMIE) data tells duction of key consumer who earn between Rs 5 lakh Krugman’s second expla- media as well, which helps
whether he meant his us that the employment rate durables, which are mostly and Rs 10 lakh a year, has nation for the feel-bad senti- amplify the Modi sarkar’s
friends were doing better — or the number of working- bought by the middle and risen from 54 in the July- ment in the US probably also message on the economy,
than him. Again, the answer age people who have work — affluent classes, fell sharply September quarter of 2021 explains the feel-good senti- while stamping down any
was in the negative. He had has been stuck at 37 per cent in September this year. If to 98 now — back to almost ment in India. He says that counter-narrative.
heard on TV and read on for the past eight quarters, or India produced five passen- where it was before Covid consumer sentiment is often Is that necessarily a bad
WhatsApp that people were two years. Yet, consumer ger cars last September, only Consumer sentiment hit us. The Index of Con- based not on their actual thing? Both yes and no. It is
making a lot of money. sentiment has jumped from four were produced this sumer Expectations for the experience but on what the bad because it stops people
In the old days, we used to less than 60 to 97 in the same time. If we produced 100 is often based not on next one year has risen from media and pundits have to from having a say in eco-
call this the ‘feel-good’ factor. period. The Index of Con- units of apparel in Septem- their actual 53 to 96, again close to what say about the economy. To nomic policies because they
It is the exact opposite in sumer Expectations, which ber 2022, production it was in March 2020. this one can add what they do not get correct informa-
the US. At least, that is what gives a snapshot of what peo- dropped to just 82 units this experience but on The feel-good sentiment imbibe from social media. tion on their impact. On the
the Nobel Prize-winning ple feel their next year is time. Middle-class jobs have what the media and that Surender expressed to Krugman claims that the other hand, the feel-good
economist Paul Krugman going to be like, has jumped taken a hit as well over the me, despite his low income, media in the US finds it very factor encourages entrepre-
believes. He says America is from 57 in the July-Septem- past year or so, as employ- pundits have to say wasn’t just an isolated case. difficult to praise the Biden neurship and risk-taking,
a ‘feel-bad economy’ right ber quarter of 2021 to 97 in ment in startups and legacy about the economy. The data I have quoted above administration for beating which keeps the ‘animal
now, where consumers September 2023. IT companies has dried up. shows that it is widespread. down inflation, creating more spirits’ flowing through the
believe that the economy is Even if you take the urban Despite that, the CMIE’s What explains this diver- jobs and maintaining a high economic system.

quick crossword su do ku forecast


YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION SUNSET: SATURDAY 17:25 HRS
ACROSS DOWN SUNRISE: SUNDAY 06:50 HRS
1 To swindle (7)
5 Underlying (5)
1 Die by immersion
in liquid (5)
2 3 5 3
4
7
1
5
8
9
5
4
6
2
7
6
9
8
2
1
3
CITY
Chandigarh
MAX
29
MIN
13
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9 Exalted (5)
2 Dumbfounded (13)
3 Haphazard (7) 7 6 1 9
6
6
5
2
4
8
7
1
9
3
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7
3
4
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5
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Amritsar
28
26
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11 Obtrusively bright (6)
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5 Shaggy-haired wild ox (5)
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6
4
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27
27
12
12
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5
4
2
1
3
6
4
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8
5
9
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9
7
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27
27
11
13
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19 Where life’s hectic and
exciting (2,3,4,4)
13 Pare by repeated slicing (7)
14 Marsh (6)
2 3 8 9 6 2 7 1 5 3 4
Sirsa 27 15
calendar Dharamsala 25 11
20 Frivolous (5)
21 State opinion boldly (5,2)
16 Godliness (5)
18 Business alliance (3-2) 4 8 6 NOVEMBER 18, 2023, SATURDAY Manali 17 04
■ Shaka Samvat 1945 Shimla 19 09
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION
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Jammu
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stayed peacefully out of the con-
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8WWDUNDVKLHDUWKTXDNHWKH0DOSDODQGVOLGHWKH&KDPROLHDUWKTXDNHWKH gerly walked in as the only super- that China will not pursue even as it had maintained a very little to lose and much to
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today. All without incurring any est.” Again, without investing Hezbollah et al, earlier. This and perceptions, it plays a
GLOHPPDDVWKH\ZLWQHVVPDVVLYHLQIUDVWUXFWXUHSURMHFWVODEHOOHGGHYHORSPHQWZKLOH money or firing a single shot! any resources, firing a shot or guarded approach may not snake-like baiting game of
VLPXOWDQHRXVO\ EHDULQJ WKH EUXQW RI FOLPDWHUHODWHG GLVDVWHUV 6LQNLQJ LQFHVVDQWO\ German research institute, Kiel, committing to a meaningful endear Beijing to either of the ‘wait and watch’, and then
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billion in assistance to Ukraine in tion with Ukrainians (and save China from burning pre- or fuss. The already battered
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VLGHUDWLRQEHIRUHXQGHUWDNLQJDQ\PDMRUGHYHORSPHQWSURMHFWLQHFRORJLFDOO\VHQVL humanitarian aid. This makes even though it is the US that and then deciding as to which ic had led to credible talks of
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RUWKH+LPDOD\DQUDQJH7KHSULRULW\IRUQRZLVWKHVDIHW\RIWKHWUDSSHGZRUNHUVEXW US foreign aid – a first-time sta- The latest global war that has tling in the Gaza Strip. the US, yet it continues sink-
tus for a European country since drawn the United States into its C74278=4B470E4 Irrespective of the outcome of ing its fast-depleting resources
EURDGHULPSOLFDWLRQVXQGHUVFRUHWKHLPSRUWDQFHRIEDODQFLQJGHYHORSPHQWZLWKHQYL the Harry Truman Government ambit is the Israel-Hamas war the war, the US will have under the pretext of ensuring
URQPHQWDOSUHVHUYDWLRQ7KHGHOLFDWHHFRV\VWHPRIORZHU+LPDOD\DVUHTXLUHVDZHOO had sanctioned the rebuilding of which has resulted in E4AH;8CC;4C> more enemies than it had “American security for gener-
FRQVLGHUHGDSSURDFKWRHQVXUHWKHZHOOEHLQJRIERWKWKHORFDOVDQGWKHUHJLRQ the European continent after
World War 2. The list includes
Washington DC giving at least
$14 billion (traditionally the
;>B40=3<D27 before the war started and it
would have sunk huge
ations”. Biden is feeding the
fear of abstaining from inter-
cutting-edge technology like US was providing up to $3 bil- C>608=0CC74 amounts in a war that was ventions by suggesting that the
?82D1<; Abram tanks, coastal defence
ships, anti-aircraft missiles, and
lion worth in military assis-
tance, annually) to Israel to 4G?4=B4>5
essentially, someone else’s.
The above examples of the US’s
“outcome of these fights for
democracy against terrorism
advanced surveillance and radar
systems, yet the Russian-Ukraine
spruce up its air and missile
systems, including the much-
C744G8BC8=6 global military intervention do
not include the rather substan-
and tyranny are vital to the
safety of the American people”.
war is a stalemate, at best. bandied Iron Dome, amongst 0<4A820=6;>10; tial ‘investments’ that it is So far, the US interventions
China which has a 4210 km long other security wherewithal. already committed to in the haven’t paid dividends in most
land border with Russia and its As the Israeli offensive in the 5>>C?A8=C0=3 war-torn Middle Eastern the- places whereas the Chinese are
own axe to grind with the United
States thought it best to offer plat-
Gaza Strip continues relent-
lessly at a very steep human
?4A24?C8>=B8C atre, restive Sub-Saharan
Africa etc., Yet nowhere is the
happy to play the second fid-
dle with only accusatory state-
itudes that seem to blame the US and financial cost, it is the US ?;0HB0B=0:4 US intervention leading to ments and saving its resources
or NATO more than the Russians, that will pick up a sizeable part any tangible or long-term for the rainy day. Something is
yet the Ukrainians strangely seem of the bill. Yet the Chinese have ;8:4108C8=660<4 improvements in its sover- clearly wrong in the American
satisfied with the Chinese indif-
ference. Zelensky, who is propped
decided to stay out of the con-
flict discourse, including tak-
>5²F08C0=3 eign perceptions or relations –
whereas the fleet-footed
admixture of diplomacy as it
is fast ceding ground to the
by the US largesse said incredu- ing clear sides. Perhaps it has F0C27³ Chinese who despite all accu- penny-pinching Chinese.
lously, “China has chosen the pol- something to do with the sations of ‘debt-traps’, inconsis- (The writer, a military veter-
icy of staying away. At the quixotic approach of having tent or amoral stands are an, is a former Lt Governor
moment, Ukraine is satisfied robust relations with Israel increasingly getting afforded of Andaman & Nicobar
with this policy. It is better than (including thriving trade and the sort of expansionism that Islands and Puducherry. The
helping the Russian Federation in commerce and grantsman- Beijing desperately seeks. views expressed are personal)

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across as the best way to field of technology. Skills class, AI-powered skills intel- and contributes to a more efficient gov- PccWT=PaT]SaP<^SXBcPSXd\X]0W\TSPQPS ^]bP[T^]=^eT\QTa "b^[S^dcaP_XS[hCWT
ensure resilience and main- have become fluid and it is ligence tools to ensure there ernance process, benefitting all political ^]=^eT\QTa (7^fTeTaUP]bUPRTd]Tg_TRc RWTP_TbccXRZTcPePX[PQ[T^]1^^Z<hBW^ffPb
tain performance levels in an not uncommon to see them is no inherent bias in the parties regardless of their positions in dif- TSWdaS[TbX]cWTXaTUU^acbc^QT_Pac^UcWXbWXb _aXRTSPcAb 6XeT]cWTaT\PaZPQ[Td]QTPc
organisation. Of late, the agility and adaptability. become outdated in a time process, no error or inconsis- ferent states. c^aXR\^\T]c0b_TacWTaT_^acTeT]QPbXRPRR^\ T]bcaTPZ^UcWT\T]X]Q[dTX]cWTc^da]P\T]c
dynamic changes in employ- Technologies are changing frame shorter than what it tency of judgment and a As management literature often high- \^SPcX^]X]cWTRXch]^fR^\TbfXcWPWTUch_aXRT cWTUX]P[R[PbWWPb^][hPSSTSc^cWTP]cXRX_PcX^]
ment and head-hunting, and rapidly, and change-resis- takes to obtain a graduate focus on the skills that candi- lights, "individuals may come and go, but cPV^UAb _Ta]XVWcfWX[T[dgdahW^cT[b P\^]VUP]bcda]X]VXcX]c^P^]RTX]P[XUTcX\T
the rising emphasis on tance can be the biggest detri- degree or a PG diploma dates possess instead of the the focus should remain on efficient PaT RWPaVX]V R[^bT c^ Ab  [PZW U^a P ]XVWcb TeT]cU^aRaXRZTcfPcRWTab]PcX^]fXST
employee engagement, and ment to an individual’s nowadays. Even though the job titles they hold. administration and constructive, happy bcPh5[XVWc _aXRTb WPeT P[b^ b^PaTS bW^fX]V P Bhagwan Thadani | Mumbai
retention has significantly growth and capability of con- job titles remain the same, the Organisations are using smart development management for peace,
changed workforce manage- tributing to the organisation’s roles and the execution strate- skills cloud and skills-driven prosperity, progress, and the eradication
ment. Today, the key to opti- growth as well. Therefore, it gies are constantly changing. hiring processes to continu- of poverty." Summit. Furthermore, initiatives like the to a significant decline in Israel's influ-
misation of the human is important to foster a work- For instance, we still have ously gain insights into their PV Rao Sreelekha | Secunderabad Bio-fuel Alliance for net zero emissions, ence worldwide.
resources available lies in force that is ready to take up computer programmers, but internal talent pool’s skill a digital public infrastructure (DPI) sys- The recent UN votes on Gaza indicate
understanding skills and skill new roles and acquire skills what a programmer does assessment, and use this skills F?7CC*9>3<EC9?>1>4CECD5>1>35 tem for hand-to-hand delivery, and the growing isolation for Tel Aviv. Notably,
adjacencies. Companies are that prepare them for those today is vastly different from intelligence to determine Sir— the recent inauguration of the LIFE program (Lifestyles for Sustainable the vote to condemn Israel saw only 120
paying more attention to roles. what he did 15 years ago. learning programmes as well Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS), Environment) have been recommended countries in favor, with 45, including
internal relocation of This kind of approach can be There are also new roles that as the hiring strategies. All this conducted virtually with participants for sustainable development, aiming to India, choosing to remain absent.
resources and creating precise successful only when it is ade- are emerging with the change is being done automatically from 125 countries. Under the motto achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Subsequent resolutions gained more
learning and skill develop- quately backed by transparent in tech landscape, and they without manual inputs from "Together for Everyone's Growth, with Goals by 2030. The summit stands as a support, with 151 countries in favor,
ment strategies to get better internal mobility and recruit- need to be catered to. For the employees. Everyone's Trust," VOGSS focuses on fos- testament to inclusivity and better suste- indicating a shift in global opinion
outcomes. ment focus. Companies that instance, nobody worked as a Conclusion tering collaboration on crucial global nance, promising significant benefits against Israel.
In this scenario, it is very clear put in place tools and systems ‘Full Stack Developer’ at the Companies that proactively issues. The summit addresses environ- for global south nations. The recent Security Council resolution
that skills-based hiring that empower employees to start of the millennium, but embrace the new approach mental sustainability, climate resilience Dimple Wadhwa | Kanpur for a 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza,
processes are far more effec- express their expectations, today it is a key role in almost and adopt the right AI-pow- and finance, sustainable foreign direct where 12 out of 15 members voted in
tive compared to the conven- future growth aspirations and every tech organisation. Thus, ered skills intelligence tool will investment (FDI), affordable energy CD1D5D5BB?B9C= favor, further emphasises the changing
tional job titles-driven recruit- share opportunities with it is important to understand edge out those that continue transitions, and supply chain productiv- Sir— Israel's recent actions and the tide. The absence of any veto suggests
ment. There is a paradigm them that can take them that new skills are emerging to rely on traditional and ity. impact on its global standing.The cru- challenging times for Israel. I hope that
shift that is based on identi- closer to their goals, are also and they are necessitating time-consuming methodolo- India, a prominent member, is actively elty and brutality displayed towards the diplomatic solutions can be explored to
fying an individual’s ability to the ones that will perform creation of new roles as well gies, and achieve superior working to bridge the untapped poten- citizens of the Gaza Strip have raised bring about positive change in the
perform, adapt to the better in the years ahead. as redefining existing or con- growth as well as talent reten- tial of global south countries with grow- questions about Israel's conduct. After region.
demands of the role, and Why change to ‘Skills-First’ ventional job titles. tion outcomes! ing world economies. India has proposed the October 7 incident, countries and Jang Bahadur Singh | Jamshedpur
capacity for growth. There is The shift to a Skills-First This skills-driven strategy (The writer is Co- Founder strategies to combat the rising technical people who initially stood with the Jews
much greater emphasis now approach is directly reflective has led to most prominent & CTO, iMocha. The views challenges of artificial intelligence against the Palestinians are now becom- BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^)
on soft skills such as learning of the way the operational employers starting their skill expressed are personal)) through the AI Global Partnership ing disillusioned with Israel. This has led [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\
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A by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) in reply to the RTI
question, scheduled commer-
cial banks (SCBs) had written
off non-performing assets (NPAs) - an
acronym for loans that have gone bad -
worth over Rs 10,57,000 crore in the last
EHWZHHQKXPDQVDQGQDWXUH7KLVDUWLFOHH[SORUHVWKHWKHPHVRIHQYL five years. This amount is often cited by
the opposition in particular, the grand old
URQPHQWDOFRQVFLRXVQHVVDQGUHYHUHQFHIRUQDWXUHHPEHGGHGLQWKHIDE party (GOP) to lambast Modi – govern-
ULFRI,QGLDQVFULSWXUHV ment for having given what they term as
9HGLF:LVGRP ‘loan waiver’ to big industrialists and busi-
7KH5LJYHGDRQHRIWKHROGHVWVDFUHGWH[WVLQ+LQGXLVPDFNQRZOHGJHV nessmen.
WKHGLYLQHHVVHQFHZLWKLQQDWXUH,WGHVFULEHVYDULRXVHOHPHQWVRIQDWXUH Has Modi granted favours to the big-
VXFKDVULYHUVPRXQWDLQVDQGSODQWVDVGHLWLHVZRUWK\RIZRUVKLS7KH wigs?
K\PQVLQWKH5LJYHGDHPSKDVLVHWKHLQWHUFRQQHFWHGQHVVRIDOOOLYLQJEHLQJV To address this, we need to answer two
fundamental questions. When does a loan
DQGVWUHVVWKHLPSRUWDQFHRISUHVHUYLQJWKHEDODQFHLQWKHQDWXUDORUGHU become an NPA? How does the bank deal
8SDQLVKDGLF3KLORVRSK\ with it? A loan account becomes an NPA
7KH8SDQLVKDGVSKLORVRSKLFDOWUHDWLVHVWKDWIRUPWKHEDVLVRI9HGDQWD when interest and/or instalment of prin-
GHOYHGHHSHULQWRWKHXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHVHOIDQGLWVUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK cipal remain overdue for a period of more
WKHFRVPRV7KH\DGYRFDWHWKHFRQFHSWRI%UDKPDQDQXOWLPDWHUHDO than 90 days. The borrower could land in
LW\WKDWHQFRPSDVVHVHYHU\WKLQJLQWKHXQLYHUVH7KLVLQWHUFRQQHFWHGZRUOG such a predicament under three different
YLHZSURPRWHVDVHQVHRIUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRZDUGVQDWXUHYLHZLQJLWDVDQ scenarios:
First, the bank officials have conducted
H[WHQVLRQRIWKHGLYLQH due diligence, carefully assessed the via-
%KDJDYDG*LWD bility of the project or venture for which
,QWKH%KDJDYDG*LWDDUHYHUHGVFULSWXUHZLWKLQWKH,QGLDQHSLF0DKDEKDUDWD the loan is considered, convinced them-
/RUG.ULVKQDLPSDUWVVSLULWXDOZLVGRPWR$UMXQD7KH*LWDHPSKDVLVHV selves about the credibility of the borrow-
WKHFRQFHSWRIGKDUPDRUULJKWHRXVGXW\LQFOXGLQJWKHVWHZDUGVKLSRI er and kept track of the utilization of the
WKHHQYLURQPHQW.ULVKQDXQGHUVFRUHVWKHVDFUHGQHVVRIQDWXUHXUJLQJ funds, functioning of the enterprise, its
LQGLYLGXDOVWRDFWUHVSRQVLEO\DQGZLWKUHVSHFWIRUWKHGHOLFDWHEDODQFH profitability, generation of cash and so on.
The chances of such a loan account
RIWKHHFRV\VWHP becoming NPA are minimal; if at all it
happens it could be due to circumstances
totally beyond the control of the borrow-
er say, for instance, the impact of the at 22 per cent during 2021-22. It Regulation Act (BRA) giving RBI decisions of the National Company
Covid pandemic. clearly demonstrates that under the the power to force banks to act if Law Tribunal (NCLT) – the des-
Second, the officials have granted loans in Modi – regime, banks in particu- they don’t do it on their own. On ignated authority for such matters
a cavalier fashion without conducting due lar, PSBs were more careful in giv- February 12, 2018, RBI issued a - are subject to appeal in the
diligence or assessing the project/venture’s ing loans (category 1) resulting in circular containing the specifics of National Company Law Appellate
viability and haven’t put in place mecha- a much lower ratio. how it was to be done. Tribunal (NCLAT), the High
nisms to track the utilisation of funds, There is another point of differen- The government has made life for Court and the Supreme Court (SC)
functioning of the enterprise and so on. tiation between the UPA – regime willful defaulters (borrowers who which leads to delays as big
There is a greater chance of such a loan (2008-2014) and Modi (2014 can pay back yet decide not to) defaulters invariably go for appeal.
turning into an NPA. onward). Whereas, under the for- pretty tough. They are not sanc- That apart, following a bunch of
Third, the bank’s top brass in utter disre- mer, banks kept NPAs under the tioned any additional facilities by petitions by defaulting borrowers,
-DLQLVPDQG(FRORJ\ gard for due diligence acts with mala fide carpet by using techniques such as banks or other FIs, and their unit in April 2019, the SC declared the
intent under what is termed a “quid pro ‘evergreening’ of loans - fancy is debarred from floating new RBI circular dated February 12,
-DLQLVPDQDQFLHQW,QGLDQUHOLJLRQSODFHVDVWURQJHPSKDVLVRQQRQ quo” arrangement. Put simply, it approves nomenclature for the bank giving ventures for five years. 2018 – this was the cornerstone of
YLROHQFH DKLPVD DQGFRPSDVVLRQWRZDUGVDOOOLYLQJEHLQJV-DLQVFULS and disburses loans in exchange for more loans to enable the borrow- Additionally, they and companies the insolvency process shepherd-
WXUHVDGYRFDWHDOLIHVW\OHWKDWPLQLPLVHVKDUPWRQDWXUHSURPRWLQJYHJ bribes. In this scenario, it is almost cer- er to service the previous loan – that have them as promoters/direc- ed by the banking regulator -
HWDULDQLVPDQGHQYLURQPHQWDOFRQVHUYDWLRQ7KHLGHDRILQWHUFRQQHFWHG
QHVVLVFHQWUDOWR-DLQ VSKLORVRSK\HPSKDVLVLQJWKHLQWHUGHSHQGHQFHRI
tain that the loan would become NPA as
it was taken with the sole intention of not 5>;;>F8=6 thus making the loan account
look normal, under the latter they
tors are debarred from accessing
capital markets to raise funds.
unconstitutional.
As a result, the RBI was forced to
DOOOLIHIRUPV returning it. ?AD34=C80; were forced to ‘truthfully’ reflect Furthermore, under IBC, such come up with a revised circular
Replying to the debate on the President’s NPAs in the balance sheet (BS). promoters can’t remain in control dated June 7, 2019, that gave too
%XGGKLVPDQG(QYLURQPHQWDO(WKLFV
7KHWHDFKLQJVRI6LGGKDUWKD*DXWDPDWKH%XGGKDLQFOXGHSULQFLSOHVWKDW
address during the opening of the budget 022>D=C8=6 Modi got it done even for the loans of the entity. much leverage to the
DOLJQZLWKHQYLURQPHQWDOHWKLFV%XGGKLVPHPSKDVLVHVPLQGIXOQHVVDQG
session of the parliament in February
2018, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi stat- ?A02C8240=3 given under UPA by asking the
RBI in 2015 to conduct an asset
As per the information given by
the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in
lenders/banks. It has created a sce-
nario where they are neither under
DZDUHQHVVHQFRXUDJLQJLQGLYLGXDOVWRFXOWLYDWHDGHHSFRQQHFWLRQZLWK ed that there had been a massive prolif- 0B?4AA18 quality review (AQR) of all SCBs Parliament, during the last nine any compulsion nor have any
WKHQDWXUDOZRUOG7KHFRQFHSWRILQWHUGHSHQGHQFH SUDWLW\DVDPXWSDGD eration of loans given by the banks on the to identify NPAs. As a result, years, SCBs have undertaken an interest in referring the NPA for
LQ%XGGKLVPUHFRJQLVHVWKHLQWULFDWHZHERIUHODWLRQVKLSVEHWZHHQDOOHOH directions of the ruling political establish- 6D834;8=4B their gross NPAs scaled to a high aggregate recovery of Rs 10,16,617 resolution under IBC.
PHQWVRIH[LVWHQFHSURPRWLQJDVHQVHRIUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRZDUGVWKHHQYL ment to favoured industrialists and busi-
nessmen. During 2008-2014, loans worth C74HFA>C4 of Rs 1036,000 crore as of March
31, 2018.
crore of NPAs. Out of this, the
Central government gave around
Still, the IBC framework has
brought about a fundamental
URQPHQW
+LQGXLVPDQGWKH:RUVKLSRI1DWXUH
Rs 3500,000 crore were given. The bulk >55C74B4 How did the banks deal with Rs 300,000 crore as budgetary sup- change in the behaviour of the bor-
of these loans were given in the second these NPAs? port to shore up the capital of PSBs rower.
6HYHUDO+LQGXIHVWLYDOVDQGULWXDOVDUHGHGLFDWHGWRQDWXUHZRUVKLS)RU and third categories. Therefore, it was ;>0=B8C8B0 Following prudential accounting during 2016 - 2021. Furthermore, By instilling a sense of fear that
H[DPSOHIHVWLYDOVOLNH1DYUDWULFHOHEUDWHWKHGLYLQHIHPLQLQHHQHUJ\SUH
VHQWLQQDWXUHDQGULWXDOVOLNHSULWKYLSXMD ZRUVKLSRIWKH(DUWK XQGHU
quite likely these would become NPA.
This is corroborated by the RBI data on <0=30C>AH practice and as per RBI guidelines,
they wrote off these loans. It is a
in the budget for 2021-22, it com-
mitted another Rs 200,000 crore by
continuing default could result in
his losing control over the firm, it
OLQHWKHVDFUHGQHVVRIWKHHQYLURQPHQW7KHVHSUDFWLFHVIRVWHUDVHQVH the addition of new NPAs as a percent- A4@D8A4<4=C mandatory requirement to reflect way of a sovereign guarantee for has forced a large number of them
RIUHYHUHQFHDQGUHVSRQVLELOLW\HQFRXUDJLQJIROORZHUVWRSURWHFWDQGSUH age of the opening balance of NPAs in that on a bank’s true financial health. the security receipts (SRs) to be to clear all their dues. Besides, a
VHUYHWKH(DUWK
year between 2009-10 and 2015-16. In C>A45;42C>= It isn’t a loan waiver (the opposi- issued by NARCL where the series of governance reforms
7KHFRQFHUQIRUQDWXUHLQ,QGLDQVFULSWXUHVLVQRWMXVWDFXOWXUDORUUHOL
2009-10, 2011-12 and 2015-16, the addi-
tion of new NPAs was higher than their C7410=:³B tion/GOP want the public to
believe that it is) as the bank con-
majority shareholding is vested in
PSBs.
implemented in PSBs have galva-
nized banks to promptly recognize
JLRXVWHQHWEXWDSURIRXQGSKLORVRSK\WKDWXQGHUVFRUHVWKHLQWULQVLFFRQ
QHFWLRQEHWZHHQKXPDQVDQGWKHHQYLURQPHQW7KHDQFLHQWZLVGRPHQFDS
opening balance. In the remaining years CAD458=0=280; tinues to chase the defaulter After adjusting for Rs 500,000 and report stressed assets and
2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, including legal courses to recover crore being the contribution of the take stringent measures for their
VXODWHGLQWKHVHVFULSWXUHVSURYLGHVDWLPHOHVVJXLGHIRUIRVWHULQJDVXV the addition of new NPAs was at least 90 740;C7 it. government, banks still recovered recovery. To conclude, far from let-
WDLQDEOHDQGKDUPRQLRXVUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKQDWXUH$VWKHZRUOGJUDSSOHV percent of the opening balance. To enable banks to pursue their a substantial amount of Rs 516,617 ting defaulting industrialists and
ZLWKHQYLURQPHQWDOFKDOOHQJHVWKHWHDFKLQJVRI,QGLDQVFULSWXUHVRIIHU After 2015-16, this ratio has consistently efforts on the fast track, in 2016, crore from the defaulters. The businessmen go off the hook, the
fallen and it was around 1/3rd in 2020-21 the government enacted the recovery would have been much Modi – government has made
YDOXDEOHLQVLJKWVUHPLQGLQJXVRIWKHVDFUHGERQGWKDWXQLWHVDOOOLYLQJ and 2021-22. The impact in the case of (The writer is a policy Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code more but for the judicial bottle- unstinted efforts to make them pay
EHLQJVZLWKWKH(DUWK public sector banks (PSBs) was more pro- analyst, views are (IBC) superseding subsisting laws. necks in the insolvency proceed- up and also ensure that no new
7KHZULWHULVDVSLULWXDOJXLGHYLHZVDUHSHUVRQDO nounced where the ratio was even lower personal) In 2017, it amended the Banking ings under the IBC. As such the NPAs are created.

(PSRZHULQJZRPHQWREHKDUELQJHURIFOLPDWHFKDQJH
:XGOTOTMULX[XGR]USKTGYKTZXKVXKTK[XYGTJOSVGXZOTMZNKS]OZNZNKQTU]RKJMKZUGJGVZZUGINGTMOTMKT\OXUTSKTZOYIX[IOGRLUXIROSGZKGIZOUT
ith floods, cyclones tions on the critical role com- gramme, aided by multi-sec- “Empowering and creating the objective of promoting homes and communities more induction cook stoves, and bio

W and heat waves


becoming more fre-
quent, the world is witnessing
munities and vulnerable
groups like women play in cli-
mate action need to be main-
tor partnership providing
access to technology, finance
and markets. These women are
strong networks of women
clean energy entrepreneurs
has significantly enhanced
zero-waste farming and
increased financial savings
within small and marginal
sustainable and resilient. The
program has been pivotal in
building the capacity of these
compost) has played a pivotal
role in the reduction of ener-
gy-related carbon dioxide
adverse and devastating streamed as well. Women have not just torchbearers of clean awareness, outreach, and farming households. Vandana Sakhis, running public aware- emissions - contributing to a
impacts of climate change. been at the forefront of envi- energy transitions, they are enabled access to clean ener- has not only guided 200 ness programs, and communi- broader climate action
Even though climate change ronmental conservation and symbols of empowerment gy information and solutions women farmers in implement- ty meetings, providing public approach
affects everyone, it does not have the expertise to use connecting all vital dots, for the last mile”, says Vandana ing one-acre farming, improv- platforms to connect these Empowering women, and
affect everyone equally. renewable energy sources, including women’s entrepre- Khandekar, a fellow Sakhi, ing household health and entrepreneurs to technology placing them at the centre of
Vulnerability to climate change E@=1>IE?0C8; which can help combat climate neurship, driving awareness grassroots leader and entrepre- nutrition, along with increas- providers, financial institu- clean energy transitions is not
is aggravated by inequity and action. One such group of and ensuring last-mile delivery neur from Solapur district ing earnings through the sale tions. More than this, they only improving people’s lives
marginalization associated women known as Sakhis are of sustainable energy products Maharashtra. She started her of organic vegetables locally. have played an integral role in but also garnering increased
with gender, ethnicity and championing the demand for like solar lamps, advanced journey by being a member of She has also been instrumen- overcoming historical societal attention as effective agents
other social and economic clean energy technology cook stoves, solar water the group, receiving training tal in getting 20 biogas plants inequalities in energy systems. towards more inclusive sys-
factors. Women are dispropor- specifically for the rural areas, heaters, enabling public private on Entrepreneurship and 8 vermicompost beds Resources and products tai- tems. Training and capacity
tionately impacted by climate communities that have limit- partnership by curating local Development and Women- installed in households across lored to community needs are building of rural women as
change owing to their socio- ed awareness and access to solutions keeping in mind the Led Climate Resilient Farming. her village. Vandana’s journey showing clear benefits in entrepreneurs, equipping them
economic status, lack of modern energy services. needs of the grass root com- Overcoming her personal is not just a personal transfor- deploying renewable technolo- with the knowledge to adapt to
resources and absence of par- Under the initiative, Women’s munities. challenges, Vandana is now mation but also a testament to gies, improving efficiency, changing environmental con-
ticipation in public decision- Entrepreneurship in clean The demand for clean & one of village leaders sensitiz- women’s critical role in devel- reducing expenses, and gener- ditions, scaling financial
making. energy programme initiated by renewable energy technology ing community members oping inclusive climate solu- ating local livelihood opportu- resources and providing tech-
Even though the discourse (The writer is the Director Swayam Shikshan Prayog and its products, solutions, and about organic farming, vermi- tions. nities. Additionally, the adop- nical support to women–led
around the negative impacts of - Programs, Swayam (SSP) in districts of their adoption, continue to lag composting, promoting clean Many more women like tion of these energy-efficient & initiatives are crucial strategies
climate change has gained sig- Shikshan Prayog; views are Maharashtra and Bihar, Sakhis behind in rural India due to a energy solutions like bio- Vandana in various parts of the socially beneficial products for enabling them to lead the
nificant traction, conversa- personal) are at the core of the pro- lack of awareness and access. digesters (biogas plants), with country are making their (like LED bulbs, solar lamps, charge on climate action.

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