You are on page 1of 16

THE HINDU

6 Saturday, March 2, 2024

Editorial Delhi

Change and continuity in India’s Palestine policy


H
istorically, India has been a firm maintained its support for “a negotiated solution, call for an immediate end to violence, support
supporter of the Palestine cause. And resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and dialogue, condemn settlements and, in principle,
Decoding the script even when India’s relationship with
Israel flourished in the past three
united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as
its capital, living within secure and recognized
back Palestinian right to self determination. This
is what India has done, unlike the U.S., which
Findings from the genome sequencing decades, New Delhi has maintained a careful borders, side by side at peace with Israel, as claims to be supporting the two-state solution
balance between its new partnership and endorsed in the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet while voting against all resolutions at the UN and
must be shared widely historical commitment towards Palestine. In Stanly Johny Road map and relevant UNSC Resolutions” — this refusing to back the ceasefire call.
recent years, there have been questions on means that India supported the creation of a

T
he Genome India Project, a project fund-
ed and coordinated by the Department of whether India is abandoning this balance and Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital India’s interests
Biotechnology, announced that it had fin- tilting towards the Jewish state in a changing West and based on the 1967 borders. The support for the Palestine cause, even if
ished sequencing 10,000 Indian genomes. This Asia, where even Arab nations have been ready to This position has evolved further after Mr. limited, is rooted in tangible national interests.
means that the complete genomes — the DNA sidestep the Palestine question for better bilateral Modi became Prime Minister. In February 2018, Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which has
blueprint that constitutes and maintains human ties with Israel. when he visited Ramallah in the occupied West killed over 30,000 people, wounded some
bodies — from 10,000 individuals were analysed Immediately after the October 7 Hamas attack Bank, he called for dialogue to find a permanent 70,000 and displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s
to create a ‘reference’ Indian human genome. In- in Israel, in which at least 1,200 people, mostly solution to the crisis, but stopped short of saying population of 2.3 million, is one of the gravest
dia first sequenced a human genome in 2006. In civilians, were killed, Prime Minister Narendra anything on the status of Jerusalem or borders. It humanitarian tragedies of the 21st century. Israel,
a way, the latest enterprise would be akin to the Modi in a post on X, said he was “deeply shocked does not mean that India supports Israel’s claim despite this rogue behaviour, manages to avoid
creation of the first ever detailed map of India — by the news of [the] terrorist attack”. He said, over the whole of Jerusalem (New Delhi voted the wrath of the international laws and system
with all political units, key geographical and to- “We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult against the U.S. decision to recognise Jerusalem mainly because of the unconditional support it
pographical features — as opposed to a world hour.” as Israel’s capital), but it will not talk about the enjoys from the U.S. But America’s support for
map prepared elsewhere, with India just one of Mr. Modi, who became the first Indian Prime contentious issues such as the capital and border Israel and Tel Aviv’s disregard for Palestinian lives
several countries and devoid of granular detail. Minister to visit Israel in 2017, has a good personal any more, while remaining a partner of Israel and and international laws have created strong
Are 10,000 individuals representative of a coun- chemistry with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin a supporter of the two-state solution. Realpolitik reactions in the Global South. South Africa took
try of over a billion? Surely not. But for now, it is Netanyahu. Supporters of Mr. Modi and the displaces the moral content of India’s Palestine Israel to the International Court of Justice, while
the best there is and forms a vital template, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hardly conceal their policy. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
basis on which many more insights can be admiration towards Israel’s aggressive security accuses Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
prised. The most immediate application is in model. On October 26, barely three weeks after After October 7 China has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, while
combating disease. In 2009, geneticists in India, the Hamas attack, India abstained from a vote at A close analysis of India’s voting record at the UN, Russia is hosting different Palestinian factions,
as part of an international collaboration, disco- the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that post-October 7, and the statements made by the including Hamas.
called for an “immediate, durable and sustainable Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suggests that India, which aspires to be a leader of the
f7c9dc8c-746a-4c0a-8e71-a3bfeb36c2f4

f7c9dc8c-746a-4c0a-8e71-a3bfeb36c2f4
vered that an aberration in a protein, MYBPC3
(cardiac myosin binding protein C), was correlat- humanitarian truce” in Gaza. India explained its this position of balancing has not changed. It is Global South, cannot ignore these voices and
ed with a high risk of heart failure. This genetic stand by saying that there was no explicit neither a strong moral critic, like Brazil or South sentiments. That is why External Affairs Minister
variant was present in approximately 4% of those condemnation of the October 7 “terror attack in Africa, of the way Israel is conducting the war, S. Jaishankar said at the Munich Security
of Indian ancestry — a higher than expected num- the resolution”. All these factors suggested that nor a mute spectator or enabler of Israel, like the Conference last month that Israel “should be and
ber given that this problematic variant is rare. India’s historical policy towards Palestine was United States or the United Kingdom. should have been mindful of the civilian
India has close to 4,500 population groups undergoing a paradigm shift. A few days after Mr. Modi’s tweet declaring casualties in Gaza”, which is India’s sharpest
and the subcontinent’s history of being ordered solidarity with Israel over the “terror attack”, the criticism of the Israel war till now.
along caste lines through endogamy implies that Evolving approach MEA stated that India backed “a sovereign, The October 7 attack and Israel’s retaliatory
rare genetic variants, many harmful, that ordina- India’s Palestine policy has evolved over the independent viable state of Palestine”. After its war have also turned the strategic clock in the
rily through the course of evolution ought to have years. When the UN General Assembly voted on a first abstention, there were at least four votes at region back. Before October 7, India was gearing
died out, persist. When the Human Genome Pro- resolution to partition Palestine into a Jewish the UNGA on Israel. up to work in the post-Abraham Accords strategic
ject published its reference ‘human genome’ in state, an Arab state and an international city On November 12, 2023, India voted in favour of reality through its cooperation with the Arabs,
2003, at a cost of nearly $3 billion, it rang with a ( Jerusalem) in November 1947, India, along with a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements Israelis and Americans. But further Arab-Israel
‘brave-new-world’ promise of humanity having fi- Pakistan and the Arab bloc, voted against it. “in the occupied Palestinian territories, including reconciliation is now on hold. The U.S.’s
nally decoded the secrets of the genome, map- Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had compared East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan”. reputation stands as tarnished as that of Israel. If
ping every awry gene to a disease and a future of the settler Zionists in historical Palestine to the Two weeks later, New Delhi voted in favour of Saudi-Israel normalisation is not taking place, the
‘personalised medicine’. Much of Genome In- Muslim League of undivided India. His position another resolution that expressed “deep India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
dia’s sales pitch reflects similar promises. Howev- was that India, having gone through the horrors concern” over Israel’s continuing occupation of (IMEC) will have to wait. If the crisis persists and
er, the subsequent decades have tempered such of Partition, should not support the partition of Syria’s Golan Heights. On December 12, India Houthis continue to target vessels in the Red Sea,
expectations. For one, only a small fraction of Palestine. But when the state of Israel was supported a resolution that called for “an it would create lasting economic pains for India.
disease is monogenic (determined by a single declared in May 1948, India swiftly adopted a India’s historical immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. And on A prolonged war in Gaza would also enhance
gene). Despite advances in knowledge of how pragmatic line: in 1950, it recognised Israel, but policy towards December 19, it voted for the Palestinian right to risks of a wider conflict in the region, involving
rare, inherited genes caused debilitating disease, stopped short of establishing full diplomatic Palestine has self-determination. Iran, Israel and America, who are all India’s
little could be done as the necessary medicines, if relations. Throughout the Cold War, India, an been evolving, The voting record speaks for itself. One cannot partners. An immediate end to the war,
discovered, were usually too expensive for those advocate of Third World autonomy, was one of but a have a two-state solution if Israeli settlements restoration of order and stability in West Asia and
in need. In other words, genome sequencing only the most vocal supporters of the Palestine cause. continue in Palestinian territories. And the only a permanent fix to the Palestine question are as
permanent fix
opened up new realms of complexity. While Ge- After it established full diplomatic relations path towards a solution is diplomacy, not war, as much in India’s interests as anybody else’s in
with Israel in 1992, bilateral ties between New to the Palestine there is no balance of power between Israel, the West Asia. This should be the guiding core of
nome India should go beyond the 10,000 mark, it
must also be truly democratic. The findings Delhi and Tel Aviv began to deepen and broaden question should mightiest military in West Asia, and the India’s Act West policy.
ought not be locked up in the ivory towers of aca- (today, Israel is one of India’s major defence and not be lost Palestinian militants. So, in essence, if one
demia and should involve imaginative collabora- technology partners). But India publicly sight of supports the two state-solution, there should be a stanly.johny@thehindu.co.in
tions with scientists, students, technology com-
panies, ethicists and social scientists to push
forward India’s understanding of itself.
India’s burgeoning death penalty crisis
Vulnerable to criticism
ED’s low credibility casts a doubt on its
W
ith 561 prisoners on death row at the death sentences to life imprisonment. psychological ramifications, which continue well
end of 2023, India’s death row The acquittals of death row prisoners by the after a prisoner has been acquitted or commuted.
intent behind summoning TN Collectors population has continued to rise to Supreme Court deserve particular attention. Yet, the death row population continues to

T
he structure of the law against money reach its highest-ever numbers since 2004. In an Despite comprising a smaller proportion of death increase every year due to the exaggerated and
laundering is bound to throw up perplex- unprecedented trend, the Supreme Court of India cases at the Court in previous years, these unjustifiable use of the death penalty by the trial
ing questions about the possible violation acquitted nearly 55% of the death row prisoners decisions underscore systemic failures by the courts. Data from Project 39A’s report, revealing a
of federal principles. One such question has ari- (six prisoners) in the cases it heard in 2023. This Lakshmi Menon police, prosecution, and trial courts. Acquittals 15% decrease in High Court case disposal rate,
sen in Tamil Nadu, where the Enforcement Direc- development must be understood alongside the is with Project 39A, have been outcomes of fabricated evidence, exacerbates an already deep crisis. A majority of
torate (ED) is trying to find out whether illegal Court initiative (in September 2022) to convene a National Law manipulated first information reports, the death row prisoners are needlessly subjected to
sand mining in the State is due to corruption and Constitution Bench to reform death penalty University, Delhi possibility of tampered forensic evidence and the horrors of death row before their acquittal or
if the “proceeds” are being laundered. The Pre- sentencing. However, given the continued dubious recoveries of incriminating evidence by commutation. Others may have been less
vention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) allows evidence of the broken state of sentencing in the police. What made the year 2023 particularly fortunate. In September 2023, a person under the
the ED to probe the money laundering aspect of India’s courts, the potential of this Bench to truly striking is the dominance of acquittals in the sentence of death in Yerwada jail died by suicide
crimes registered by the police in various States. turn things around appears uncertain. Instead, Court’s death penalty decisions in the year. after spending six years on death row. His case
Allegations of rampant illegal sand mining, either the high rate of acquittals with a skyrocketing The Court has confined itself to case-specific had been pending confirmation in the Bombay
by extraction in excess of permitted limits or death row population must compel the Court to reprimands in acquittal decisions, without High Court since 2019. It should not be
without any permission, are quite common in Ta- consider whether India’s death penalty reform acknowledging systemic problems within which acceptable to us as a society that we are
mil Nadu. In ruling that District Collectors are can ever be limited to the question of sentencing. Snehal Dhote the death penalty is being administered. When it increasingly subjecting individuals to a
obliged to respond to summonses issued by the comes to sentencing, the Court has been more dehumanising punishment using processes that
is with Project 39A,
ED, the Supreme Court of India has underscored More commutations and acquittals willing to recognise systemic concerns plaguing are far from reliable.
National Law
Tamil Nadu’s duty to cooperate with investiga- Data from Project 39A’s 2023 annual statistics on University, Delhi the death penalty. The decision of the Court in In light of such a crisis, the Supreme Court has
tions under central laws. However, this may not the death penalty show that the Court’s attempts September 2022 to send crucial issues much to reconsider. The Court’s convening of a
necessarily mean that the ED’s attempt to assess to reform sentencing through its directions in surrounding death penalty sentencing to a Constitution Bench, laudable as it may be, may
the likely loss to the exchequer as a result of un- Manoj vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh (May 2022) Constitution bench reflects that not only be ineffective but also off the mark in
checked mining is within its jurisdiction. A final have failed to trickle down to trial courts for the acknowledgement. However, the growing tackling the death penalty crisis. Death penalty
determination may be required on this. The top second year in a row. In 2023, trial courts number of acquittals by the Supreme Court in sentencing reform from the Supreme Court has
court has stayed the operation of a Madras High imposed 86.96% of death sentences in the death penalty cases creates an urgency to persistently failed to percolate to trial courts,
Court order, which had earlier stayed the sum- absence of information pertaining to the accused recognise the very high chances of error in our pointing to the futility of this exercise. More
monses to the Collectors. The State government that was mandated in Manoj. criminal system. Repeated instances of acquittals importantly, Project 39A’s 2023 report shows a
and the District Collectors concerned had filed Additionally, the High Courts continued their from death row must force us to reconsider the dissonance between the narrow sentencing
writ petitions in the High Court against the “usur- reluctance in confirming death sentences in 2023. risk we are taking in a system such as ours. question that the Court prioritises over the actual
pation” of the State’s powers by the central agen- While the Supreme Court did not confirm the scope of the crisis that runs across the criminal
cy and the validity of the summonses. death sentence in any of the 10 cases it decided, Death penalty State of the prisoner process in death cases — from the police to
The Court has now described these petitions only one death sentence was confirmed across sentencing Death row prisoners live in constant distress due prisons. In effect, the Supreme Court is perhaps
as thoroughly misconceived and that the High High Courts. This follows the findings from the reform initiated to an ever-looming fear of execution. They are undertaking an exercise that does too little, too
Court’s order was due to “utter misconception of Death Penalty India Report (2016) that ultimately, subjected to constant violence, ridicule and late.
by the Supreme
law”. It has cited Section 50 of PMLA on the ED’s 4.9% of the death sentences imposed by trial humiliation within prisons. Prison policies
power to summon any person to give evidence or courts between 2000-15 were confirmed at the Court of India segregating them from work, education and The writers authored the ‘Death Penalty in India: Annual
produce any record necessary for the investiga- appellate level. Over the years, a majority of the has failed to leisure remove the little means available for them Statistics Report 2023’. The views expressed are personal. Those in
tion. It has noted that the probe is based on first death cases before the Court have resulted in the percolate to to cope under such dehumanising circumstances. distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help
information reports registered in Tamil Nadu, Court upholding convictions, but commuting the trial courts The death row experience comes with life-long and counselling
and some of the sections in those cases were
scheduled offences under the PMLA. However, it
does not take into account the High Court’s rea- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
soning, based on the Court’s verdict upholding
the PMLA in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs Union ‘Drive’ for one-party rule the Rajya Sabha elections in cross-voting in favour of the Health and industry vested interests. should give incentives to
of India (2022), that the summonses indicated Since the formation of the Himachal Pradesh besides BJP’s candidates, signifying The verdict against the Tharcius S. Fernando, healthy products.
that the “proceeds of crime” have not been iden- government by the BJP in the election of Mayor in the decline in the internal reopening of the Vedanta Chennai Veena Shenoy,
tified at all, and that the probe was nothing more 2014, the party seems to Chandigarh Municipal structure of the parties in Sterlite copper unit in Thane, Maharashtra
than a “fishing expedition” to find out whether have launched a full-fledged Corporation as examples. the Opposition bloc. It is Thoothukudi is a great Study on obesity rates
any scheduled offence has been committed. The drive to ‘organise’ The Opposition parties wrong to blame the victory for the people, social The Lancet study (Inside The course of life
High Court had cited the 2022 judgment on the defections especially from should understand that Bharatiya Janata Party for activists (like Professor pages, March 1) confirms It is ironic that Santhan, a
point that the ED cannot pursue cases on a no- Congress governments. there is an existential fight ‘engineering and exploiting’ Fatima Babu) and political what is known. Work convict in the Rajiv Gandhi
tional basis, on the assumption that an offence There seems to be both to save democracy. the internal strife in the leaders who were involved pressure, a lack of time and case, breathed his last in a
has been committed. While asking officials to coercive tactics and the S.K. Khosla, Opposition bloc. Instead, in this struggle for over two an advertising of ‘wrong hospital named after the
cooperate with an investigation is unobjectiona- carrot and stick policy. The Chandigarh these parties have to shift decades. One cannot forget foods’ are what make fast very leader whose
ble in itself, it cannot be forgotten that the ED’s aim of the BJP leadership gears to gain the confidence the ‘gunning down of a foods enticing. A main assassination he was
low credibility and obvious lack of independence seems to be to eliminate The Rajya Sabha elections of their cadres and face protest’ that led to the reason for the popularity of associated with. Life is
make its actions vulnerable to the criticism of be- the Opposition, come what saw the spectacle of emerging challenges. killing of 13 people. The western junk food is that strange.
ing biased against States ruled by the political ad- may, and establish a legislators brazenly giving Ravi Mathur, fight has been a long one celebrities endorse these P.G. Menon,
versaries of those in power at the Centre. one-party regime. One has vent to their dissidence by Noida, Uttar Pradesh with constant threats from products. Policymakers Chennai
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
Saturday, March 2, 2024 7
GROUND ZERO
Delhi

crore to redrill some of these borewells and dig


new ones in the outer zones. But as the aquifer le-
vels have depleted, this may be too little too late.

The changing face of the city


While the IT capital reels under a water crisis not
seen in recent times, experts say this was only
waiting to happen. Rashmi Kulranjan and Shash-
ank Palur, hydrologists at WELL Labs under the
Urban Water Programme, point out that though
there are reports of water shortages in other ci-
ties due to the variability of rainfall from the
southwest monsoon last year, cities such as Delhi
and Kolkata are not as vulnerable due to their
proximity to major rivers. “Bengaluru is not sit-
uated near a major river or coast. So, it relies on
an expensive and unreliable source of water that
is located 90 km away and 350 metres below the
city’s elevation. Half its supply is still provided by
groundwater sources. And this fluctuates signifi-
cantly according to the season,” says Shashank.
Bengaluru was not always dependent on net-
works of pipelines or borewells pumping water
from afar or from below the ground, says Rashmi.
“Most of the city’s water bodies were originally
‘tanks’, rainwater harvesting structures con-
structed mainly to serve irrigation and livestock
purposes. The undulating terrain of the city al-
lowed for man-made cascading lake systems to
be built; these played a critical role in managing
the availability and surplus of water. Despite cen-
turies of effort that went into building the re-
gion’s water resilience, lakes eventually began to
f7c9dc8c-746a-4c0a-8e71-a3bfeb36c2f4

f7c9dc8c-746a-4c0a-8e71-a3bfeb36c2f4
lose their importance with the introduction of
piped water supply,” she says.
Shashank says with rapid urbanisation, lakes
have been directly encroached on or are drying
out. “This has not only resulted in a more
parched city, but also aggravated the risk of
flooding. The lakes and storm water drains have
also become a dumping ground for treated and
untreated sewage from the buildings around
them. This affects the possibility of using them to
capture rainwater or storm water,” he says.
The loss of the city’s blue-green infrastructure
— water bodies and parks and green spaces that
allow water to percolate — has resulted in a signif-
icant underutilisation of rainwater harvesting
and capture methods, he adds. The highly pollut-
ed Bellandur lake, one of the largest in the city, is
a prime example.
Ironically, as the two of them point out, Benga-
luru is situated between two river basins. To its
west are Vrushabhavathy and Arkavathy, tribu-
The Vrushabhavathy river in Bengaluru city. K. BHAGYA PRAKASH taries of the Cauvery, and on its east is the Ponni-
yar or Dakshin Pinakini. But Vrushabhavathy, the
only river originating in the city, has become pol-

India’s parched
been complaining that sourcing water is becom- luted due to sewage and effluent discharge.
ing increasingly hard and their monthly mainte- T.V. Ramachandra from the Centre for Ecolog-
nance costs are going up. Many of them have ical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, says
started rationing water to flats. They use recycled Bengaluru receives annual rainfall of 700-850
water for gardening and have stopped filling up millimetres, which amounts to 15 TMC (thousand
their swimming pools. Recently, an internal note million cubic feet) of rainwater. The city requires

IT capital
by an apartment on Kanakapura Road, south of 18 TMC of water, which means that 70% of the wa-
Bengaluru, went viral. It notified its members ter required comes from rainwater.
that water would be supplied only after 11.30 a.m. “We need to make rainwater harvesting man-
after the morning peak hours, to conserve water. datory, rejuvenate lakes on priority so that we
Prasad, a resident of an apartment community can store rainwater, ensure complete treatment
in Whitefield, says their borewells have dried up, of domestic sewage, apply the ‘polluter pays’
forcing them to rely on water tankers. “A few days principle to industries discharging untreated in-
Households in Bengaluru, dependent on water supply from the Cauvery river or water tankers, are preparing ago, the tankers that used to supply water dustrial effluents as per the Water Act of 1974,
for the current water crisis to worsen as the city stares at a long, hot summer. K.C. Deepika and K.V. Aditya stopped taking our calls. They suggested we con- create mini forests of 1-2 hectares with native spe-
tact other operators. When we did that, those op- cies in each ward, and re-establish inter-connec-
Bharadwaj report on the worries of the people at a time of drought across the State erators quoted far higher prices. We had no op- tivity among lakes by evicting all encroachments
tion but to buy water at the new rates,” he says. of storm water drains,” he says.

harfunnisa, 70, a resident of Varthur in aggravating the water crisis. The borewells of the Price cap for water tankers

S south-eastern Bengaluru, has been


struggling for the last one month to ar-
range for water for her family’s daily
needs. As the prices of water tankers have shot
up exponentially over the last one month, a few
A 4,000-litre
tanker was
about
BBMP are the source of water ATMs, or easy ac-
cess points to vend safe water. As they have also
dried up, the civic body has put up posts at sever-
al water ATMs stating that one person can take
only one pot of water a day.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently
said that 25% of the city’s water needs are met by
water tankers. The civic administration has made
registration of all water tankers in the city, an es-
timated 3,500, mandatory by March 7. It has an-
If we were taking half an hour to fill a
12,000 litre tanker from a borewell earlier,
now it takes over three hours as the water
houses in the neighbourhood, all one-room tene- ₹500-₹600 nounced that it will cap the tanker prices after a lvel has depleted. The prices that
ments, have now decided to order one water Down to a trickle meeting with stakeholders in the next few days.
a month landowners are charging for digging
tanker and share the costs. In these areas, water is the most commercialised But water tanker dealers dispute the ‘tanker
“A 4,000-litre tanker was about ₹500-₹600 a ago; now it and politicised commodity. Even before these mafia’ tag, used by citizens and even political par- borewells have also shot up.
month ago; now it costs ₹1,000. Over and above costs ₹1,000. neighbourhoods joined the city’s civic limits in ties. They argue that as borewells have gone dry, PRAVEEN REDDY
Over and Owner of a water tanker business
this, we need to buy drinking water cans. Our wa- 2007, the local panchayats had dug borewells water tankers are now going at least 40 kilo-
ter expenses grew to over ₹4,000 in February. above this, and laid pipelines to supply water; these are now metres away from the city to fetch water.
And this is just the beginning of summer. The wa- we need to overseen by the BBMP. But many of these bore- Praveen Reddy, a water tanker businessman in Rashmi says the Cauvery currently supplies
ter tanker operators have been warning us that buy drinking wells have gone dry or the force of water is down Marathahalli, an eastern suburb, says on average, 1,460 million litres per day (MLD). An additional
the costs may double soon,” says Samina Taj, 35, to a trickle, disrupting service in many areas. a water tanker’s journey to the source and to the 775 MLD will be added to the supply when the lat-
water cans.
another resident of the area. “The water man (who is in charge of releasing customer has gone up to 50 km from less than 30 est stage of infrastructure is completed.
Households in Bengaluru, dependent on wa- SAMINA TAJ water in specific areas) acts like a king. We need km a year ago. “If we were taking half an hour to “However, water levels in the river fluctuate
Resident, Varthur
ter supply from the Cauvery river or water tank- to go and beg at his house for water. We pay the fill a 12,000 litre tanker from a borewell earlier, seasonally. The reservoir capacity in the Cauvery
ers, are preparing for the situation to worsen as water board. But he doesn’t give us water unless now it takes over three hours as the water has de- basin has decreased to 40%, even before the onset
the city stares at a severe summer. we pay him,” says Radha S., 45. She adds that the pleted. The prices that landowners are charging of summer. The Bengaluru water board spends
Ganga P., a senior citizen who lives in an in- local MLA and former councillor also target for digging borewells have also shot up. We are huge amounts as electricity charges to pump the
dependent house in east Bengaluru, says she blocks that have not voted for them. In such a working under tremendous pressure and are un- water into the city. Additionally, the feasibility re-
washes clothes less often, preferring instead to scenario, water tankers have become ubiquitous. able to meet the rising demand,” he says. He nar- port for the construction of the Mekadatu reser-
hang them out to dry in the hot sun if they have In the absence of any regulatory mechanism, rates the story of how the residents of an apart- voir, aimed at augmenting water supply to the city,
been worn only for a few hours. She also hand- the prices of water tankers have been erratic. ment recently waylaid a tanker demanding that it reveals that the project entails the submergence of
washes clothes as far as possible, to save water. “I Tankers usually come in three capacities — 4,000 unload the water to them at any cost. 4,996 hectares of wildlife, forest, and revenue
have stopped using water to clean the veranda of litres, 6,000 litres, and 12,000 litres. The prices Jagadish Reddy, a social activist from Varthur, land,” she says.
my house. I do not mop the floor daily to save wa- of these have shot up to ₹1,000, ₹1,500 and over says a decade ago, their village had been the site Instead of expending huge resources to source
ter so I don’t have to buy a tanker,” she says. ₹2,000, respectively. For the first time, the price of commercial extraction of water. Varthur had water from afar, other options must be consi-
Whitefield and Varthur, which house the Infor- has crossed the ₹2,000-mark in the city. been supplying water to the entire IT corridor dered, including those within the city, Shashank
mation Technology corridor in eastern Bengalu- The cost of water tankers has shot up to such and beyond, including areas 15-20 km away. says. “The city produces 1,941 million litres of
ru, are some of the worst-affected areas by the an extent that even residents of apartments have “We did not realise how it would affect the vil- waste water every day. This is likely to go up as the
drinking water crisis. The Bruhat Bengaluru Ma- lage resources then. Today, the underground wa- population increases. Treating and reusing it
hanagara Palike (BBMP), the city’s civic body, has ter table in the village has depleted extensively could significantly cut down on freshwater de-
directed officials to dig borewells in 58 areas and water tankers have to go nearly 20 km mand and reduce the city’s vulnerability to water
which are reeling under the crisis. Of them, 16 beyond Varthur, up to Chikka Tirupati, to fetch scarcity. Bengaluru, notably, is unique for its num-
are in Mahadevapura, 25 in R.R. Nagar, five in water now,” he says. ber of on-site sewage treatment plants at apart-
Bommanahalli, and three each in the Yelahanka Reddy adds that due to rapid development of ment buildings and commercial establishments,
and Dasarahalli zones. the region, the residents had no choice but to al- but there is a need for better standards and me-
No one has been spared; water has become a low commercial extraction of water to cater to chanisms to treat and reuse this water more effec-
rare commodity even for those who live in posh the burgeoning population. “Some villages will tively. Bengaluru could also benefit from adopting
apartments and can afford to buy it easily. Unlike have to pay the price. Now a few surrounding vil- strategies employed by other water-scarce cities
the older parts of the city where, despite the lages are not allowing commercial extraction, like Chennai, which have proactively implement-
drought, the State government has prioritised forcing tankers to move farther away,” he says. ed indirect potable reuse by harnessing surface
drinking water needs over irrigation and assured The civic administration has now stepped in to water bodies,” he says.
supply till the next monsoon, these areas are not provide some solace to the poor. Bengaluru’s Replenishing groundwater is another crucial
yet serviced by piped water supply from the Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath has step to improve the city’s water security, says
Cauvery river. On account of unplanned growth announced that invoking the Disaster Manage- Rashmi, adding that to address the seasonal fluc-
over the last two decades, these regions have ment Act, 2005, the administration will comman- tuations in groundwater levels, utilising open
been stretched beyond their capacity. Basic in- deer 200 water tankers over the next few days to spaces such as fallow land and green areas to re-
frastructure such as drinking water and under- supply free water to 58 dry patches identified by charge shallow aquifers with rainwater during the
ground drainage are absent, so they rely on bore- the administration. monsoon season could prove beneficial.
wells and water tankers. Of the 10,955 borewells drilled by the civic ad- Finally, environment literacy should be en-
Karnataka saw a few consecutive years of sur- Women and children collect potable drinking water from a public tap at ministration in the city, 1,214 have completely hanced, Ramachandra adds. “Conservation,
plus rain until 2023 when the monsoon failed. Nayandahalli off Mysuru road, in Bengaluru. The water is supplied by the dried up. In 3,700 others, the water levels have waste minimisation, and nature-based solutions
The underground water table levels are depleted, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. K. MURALI KUMAR dropped. The civic body has now released ₹131 should be part of our daily routine,” he says.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
6 . bl . think
DELHI

businessline.
SATURDAY - MARCH 2 - 2024

In founding the Tata


group, Jamsetji wished
to create a business
SATURDAY - MARCH 2, 2024
enterprise where the
HARISH BHAT
community was always
Springing a surprise
O
n March 3, 2024, we mark centre-stage and not just
the 185th birth
anniversary of Jamsetji another stakeholder.
Tata, founder of the Tata
Latest GDP numbers need to be read carefully group. His pioneering While speaking at the University
efforts in laying the foundation of Convocation in 1889, Lord Reay made a
or the second time this year, the GDP print

F
modern Indian industry are the stuff of strong case for evolving teaching
from the National Statistics Office (NSO) has legend. Way back in the 1890s, he universities in India. He called for “real
conceptualised India’s first integrated universities which will give a fresh
sprung a surprise on forecasters. Real GDP steel plant, Tata Steel. In 1903, he created impulse to learning, to research, to
growth for Q3 FY24 has been estimated at 8.4 per Mumbai’s first luxury hotel, the Taj. He criticism…which will impart strength
cent, well above not just market expectations of 6.6 visualised clean hydro-electric power for and self-reliance to future generations of
Mumbai, which resulted in the our and of your countrymen.”
per cent, but also Reserve Bank of India’s estimate of establishment of Tata Power. He was the By this time, Jamsetji Tata was already
6.5 per cent. With upward revisions in Q1 and Q2 founder of Indian Institute of Science, a wealthy businessman who was eager to
numbers to 8.2 and 8.1 per cent, NSO now expects Bangalore, which continues to be India’s do his best for the country. He was also
finest science university. convinced of the value of higher
GDP growth for FY24 at 7.6 per cent against In all his ventures, Jamsetji was driven education. Lord Reay’s speech therefore

PHOTO CREDIT: TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES


projections of 6.7-7 per cent. by his immense love for India. In deeply impressed him, and it sparked off
founding the Tata group, he wished to in Jamsetji’s mind a grand scheme for
Growth rates upwards of 7 per cent for the create a business enterprise where the establishing a university of science in
third year running, reaffirm India’s position community was always centre-stage and India — which eventually led to the
as the go-to market for foreign investors in a not just another stakeholder. Jamsetji’s establishment of the Indian Institute of
philosophy continues to guide the Tatas Science.
sluggishly growing world. They also give the until today. He has also been a source of
government greater leverage in its attempts inspiration to millions of Indians over PHEROZESHAH MEHTA
to convince global rating agencies to upgrade the decades. Pherozeshah Mehta, the Lion of Bombay
If Jamsetji inspires us, who inspired and one of the founding members of the

The people who


its sovereign rating. Yet, it would be best not
Jamsetji? Here are some people who had Indian National Congress, was a good
to make too much of the Q3 GDP growth of a marked influence on Jamsetji’s friend of Jamsetji Tata. The two friends
8.4 per cent or the FY24 growth of 7.6 per thinking. met at least once a week to discuss
cent. Third quarter GDP has received a political and family matters. They jointly
55974475-5025-4114-80b3-10c7d333144f

55974475-5025-4114-80b3-10c7d333144f
significant helping hand from a 32 per cent DADABHAI NOWROJI founded the Ripon Club in Bombay,
jump in net indirect taxes (indirect taxes
minus subsidies) overlaying moderate GVA
(gross value added) growth of 6.5 per cent.
As indirect tax collections in this period
Dadabhai Nowroji, also known as the
grand old man of Indian nationalism, was
living in London when Jamsetji Tata
encountered him there in the 1860s.
Jamsetji spent four years in England at
influenced where members could come together to
fraternise and discuss matters of social
and national importance. Mehta’s
thoughts on politics, society and the city
of Bombay appear to have influenced
were not remarkable, the Centre staying its
hand on subsidies — for unconnected
reasons, one hopes — seems to have
contributed to the jump. Normalisation of
that time, and Dadabhai Nowroji became
a trusted guide and advisor. Each Sunday,
a small group of people including
Jamsetji Tata met at Dadabhai’s house
for conversations on topical matters.
Dadabhai’s passion for India, and his
Jamsetji Tata Jamsetji’s thinking about his beloved
country and city.

BURJORJI PADSHAH
If Jamsetji Tata had a reverse mentor, it
was a man named Burjorji Padshah who
subsidies can play out now, perhaps why Q4 INFLUENCERS. The father of Indian industry was
work focused on proving that Britain was was much younger to him. Padshah was a
growth works out to just 5.9 per cent based draining money out of India, clearly had man of brilliant intellect and a polymath.
on the annual projection. an impact on young Jamsetji. In later
inspired by a diverse set of powerful minds Jamsetji convinced him to join the Tatas,
Growth numbers this year have also years, when Jamsetji was considering the and thereafter Padshah was actively
received statistical help from downward establishment of Tata Steel, Dadabhai his scrap book, and it marked the which could create employment and involved in a wide range of strategic
revisions to previous year’s data, as the NSO wrote to him urging him that the beginning of Jamsetji’s desire that India preserve national wealth. initiatives including the steel plant and
company should be built using only should have its own steel plant. A research paper which has examined the science university. Jamsetji appears
replaced headline data used in its advance Indian capital. Indeed, when capital was In fact, it is likely that this speech by this voyage says that it is likely that to have relied on his ideas and advice in
estimates with more representative data in eventually raised for Tata Steel, it was Carlyle was the initial trigger for one of Swamiji also spoke about his plans for several areas, and they were intellectual
revised estimates. FY23 GVA growth has completely swadeshi, though this the central thoughts of Jamsetji’s life — “organizing monks for industrial partners for the rest of Jamsetji’s life.
been pegged down by 30 basis points to 6.7 happened in 1907, three years after that India’s industrial self-sufficiency purposes” to ensure the advancement of In conclusion, it is fascinating to see
Jamsetji Tata had passed away. was a pre-requisite for its political the country. Both these themes as well as the remarkably diverse set of people —
per cent and real GDP growth by 20 basis independence. the sheer force of Vivekananda’s ranging from a revered spiritual figure,
points to 7 per cent, contributing to a THOMAS CARLYLE personality appear to have influenced Indian political leaders, British
favourable base effect for this year. FY22 Thomas Carlyle was one of the most SWAMI VIVEKANANDA Jamsetji Tata immensely in the actions philosophers and officials and his own
growth has also been reworked from 9.1 to influential English authors and Perhaps no chance encounter in Indian that he took towards establishing Tata young employee — who inspired
philosophers of his time. In 1867, while history is as captivating as the meeting Steel, Tata Power and IISc. Jamsetji Tata. His life tells us that true
9.7 per cent. These material changes suggest visiting Manchester, Jamsetji Tata between Swami Vivekananda and inspiration can come from many
that first-cut GDP estimates always need to attended a lecture by Carlyle. Here, he Jamsetji Tata, during July 1893. They LORD REAY different sources, both expected and
be read with caution. GVA for the first nine heard Carlyle say that “a nation which were co-travellers on a ship from Japan Donald James Mackay, 11th Lord Reay, unexpected, as long as one is willing to
months of FY24 shows broad-basing of the has the steel shall have the gold”. to the Americas. On this long sea voyage, was the Governor of Bombay between listen with an open mind.
acceleration in economic activity. Sometimes, a single statement that we Swamiji and Jamsetji spoke on a number 1885 and 1890. An enlightened man with
hear or read has a big influence on us, and of subjects relating to the progress of many intellectual interests, he was also The writer is an avid marketer and bestselling author. He
Employment-generating sectors such as this remark by Carlyle appears to have India. It is said that Swamiji urged Chancellor of Bombay University, which was formerly the Brand Custodian, Tata Sons. These are
manufacturing and construction have impacted Jamsetji hugely. He wrote it in Jamsetji to establish industries in India at that time was a purely examining body. his personal views
reported a 10 per cent plus growth. Utilities
and mining which power them, grew at 7.5
and 8.4 per cent respectively.
Services growth has moderated from a
high base, but is still strong with trade,
hotels and transport at 6.8 per cent and
Cross voting, whips and voter paradoxes
financial services, real estate at 8.6 per cent. The role of a party whip is undemocratic, preventing an MLA or MP from exercising free will
Apart from a cloudy export outlook,
agriculture remained the other dark spot preferences can be paradoxical when A is precisely where the Congress failed
TCA Srinivasa Raghavan preferred to B; B is preferred to C; and C when it didn’t make the benefits clear to
growing at 1.2 per cent. But reports of a
waning El Nino promise a rebound next is preferred to A! the voters while the BJP probably

T
he cross voting in the recent Logically, A should be preferred to C. explained both the costs and the
fiscal. This may also hold the key to a revival Rajya Sabha elections has The debate went on for the next 175 benefits.
in private consumption, which floundered at annoyed a lot of people. They are years.
3.7 per cent growth in the first nine months, more annoyed with the BJP than with WHIPS AND WHIPPERS
while gross fixed capital formation raced at the Congress because it’s the ruling FREE WILL VERSUS WHIPS The practice of issuing whips has been a
party at the Centre. Neutral people have Central to this idea was free will, of subject of debate ever since it was
over 10 per cent. Overall, the numbers thrown their hands up saying all political which Condorcet was a great advocate. started about 350 years ago. The case for
suggest that growth is chugging along well parties are the same. 175 years later an American economist, it is that it prevents voting anarchy. The
despite elevated interest rates. This offers Much has also been said and written Anthony Downs, took the debate to its case against it is that the exercise of free
headroom for the RBI to keep its eyes about voter behaviour. The consensus is logical conclusion. It can often happen, VOTING. Individual preferences will isn’t anarchical.
that those who voted against their he said, that the cost of voting in a can be paradoxical Another issue is whether what’s
trained on inflation, for its rate-setting party’s candidates were somehow particular way exceeds its benefits. important for parties is also important
decisions in upcoming monetary policy induced to do so and were horrible Thus in Himachal and Karnataka the for legislation. Why can’t an elected
reviews. anyway. costs of not defying the party whip could about democracy, morality, ideology, legislator vote against a bad law or
The tacit assumption is that the well have exceeded defying it. Hence the discipline and so on. In the end it’s free candidate being proposed by his party?
inducement was either a carrot or a stick cross voting. will exercised after a careful Would not the absence of whips make
or, for some poor hapless MLA, both. The problem here, of course, is that consideration of costs and benefits that things altogether more democratic?
POCKET RAVIKANTH The idea that he or she might have voted while we know what the cost of defiance matters. It’s here that even highly democratic
of his or or her own free will is not is — eviction as an MLA — we don’t Hence a huge problem: the party countries start behaving like highly
countenanced even for a brief moment. know what the benefits are. Hence the whip. This is the very opposite of undemocratic ones. The individual isn’t
Economic and political theorists have presumption that it was the carrot, stick democracy and free will because it allowed to vote as he or she wants to.
been thinking about voter behaviour for or both. forces an MLA or MP to disregard costs In India the anti-defection law has
a very long time. Nor do we know what the benefits of altogether. That’s completely embedded this undemocratic practice in
The first published work was in 1783. obeying the party whip were. They were unrealistic. the Constitution. The prime minister
It was by a French aristocrat called probably negligible which is why they True, expulsion from the house and who did it was the father of a person who
Marquis de Condorcet. chose to bear the costs of expulsion. the party is a huge cost. But what were is now harping on the threats to India’s
Basically, said Condorcet, individual In other words, it’s futile to howl the benefits of staying on? This is democracy.

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, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

Global currency an invoicing currency for trade covered under Jan Dhan Yojana and On the contrary, if they spend it on as also bring the plant under the
This refers to ‘Globalising the rupee’ transactions with Russia, does so out MGNREGA, disbursal of cash paying interest on past loans or supervision of the pollution control
(March 1). A currency attaining of necessity. incentives through direct benefit collection of taxes, they are board?
premier status as a settlement The future status of the rupee as a transfer to the expectant and squandering precious monetary Rajiv Magal
currency worldwide requires preferred currency hinges on lactating mothers must not be an resources. Halekere Village. Karnataka
meeting some specific criteria. developments post the complete issue. S Ramakrishnasayee
Firstly, it should maintain an export lifting of sanctions on Russia. GS Santharam Chennai Traits of a regulator
surplus with a majority of its trading Srinivasan Velamur Madurai This refers to ‘The dharma of a
partners. Secondly, it must serve as Chennai Sterlite saga regulator’ (March 1). Apart from the
an invoicing currency for trade Share in taxes ‘SC dismisses Vedanta plea to reopen whole host of characteristics
transactions with numerous Maternity benefit According to the Controller General copper plant’ (March 1) is not only mentioned in the article, an excellent
countries. Thirdly, these countries This refers to ‘The piquant case of a of Accounts (CGA), over ₹8.20-lakh perplexing but also contradictory to regulator must possess hindsight as
should hold the currency in their successful maternity benefit scheme’ crore has been transferred to State its own recent order allowing well as foresight, without which
reserves. And, finally, the nation (March 1). Though it is good to note Governments as devolution of share Vedanta to refurbish the decisions and directions could go
associated with the currency should that there is a tremendous rise in the of taxes by the Centre. This is Thoothukudi Sterilite plant. If one awry. The regulator should have the
be industrially developed. number of hospital deliveries, not revenue expenditure for the Centre, goes by the verdict that broadest vision possible to cater to
The US dollar uniquely fulfils all these much progress is made in antenatal but revenue receipts for the States. If environmental and human health the genuine and fair expectations of
conditions, earning it the status of a care. It is also a matter of concern the State governments use the issues are of primary concern, most of the regulated members, as it
dominating global currency, despite that there remains a huge gap in amount to create assets or closure of the industrial unit is not is impossible to address all the
the US running a trade deficit with utilisation of ANC across various transform it to capital expenditure, the ideal option. Don’t we have the expectations satisfactorily.
most countries including India. population groups. then it can enhance employment, technology and knowhow to ensure Kosaraju Chandramouli
The rupee, while currently serving as With many rural households getting output and income in the country. stringent pollution control measures Hyderabad

Published by Nirmala Lakshman and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528

CM
YK . . . . . . . . ND-NDE
>
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 2 MARCH 2024 OPINION 9

Japan as number four Abe’s plan worked — to a point.


Thanks to the Bank of Japan’s monetary
expansion, Japan finally achieved a pos-
ductivity increases are sorely needed in
every sector — an imperative that should
be pursued through aggressive digitalisa-
weak currency can often boost growth
by making exports more competitive.
But there is no sign of this in Japan,
At the time, Japan was riding high. Its resigned to their economy’s decline. To itive inflation rate. But real growth tion, given declining population size. which reflects a deeper problem: Both
GDP had grown by about 10 per cent be sure, Japanese voters had handed the remained elusive, owing to rapid pop- In the meantime, today’s labour short- innovation and production have largely
annually for most of the 1950s and 1960s, opposition Democratic Party of Japan ulation aging. Though labour productiv- ages should drive up nominal wages, and left the country. Payments to US IT-ser-
and 4-5 per cent during the second half of (DPJ) a victory over the long-dominant ity increased significantly, the gains were strong demand for goods and services, as vice companies are rising fast, pushing
the 1970s — a trend that would continue Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) the pre- insufficient to offset the decline in the well as the rising costs of inputs, should imports higher. Japan must take urgent
throughout the 1980s. In the years that fol- vious year. But the honeymoon with the number of workers and working hours. be reflected in higher prices. and decisive steps to reverse this trend,
lowed, Japan appeared to be progressing DPJ did not last long. The party fell far Add to that yen depreciation in 2012-14, The good news is that “deflationary such as by promoting science and tech-
toward this goal. In the second half of the short on governance, diplomacy, and eco- and Japan’s GDP declined (in US dollar mindsets” are changing, not least nology education to generate IT-service
1980s, Japanese stock prices tripled, and nomic policy, and from 2009 to 2012, a terms), before flattening out. because the BOJ has managed to keep production domestically.
real asset prices rose fourfold. In 1995, fol- parade of DPJ prime ministers each Now, Japan has fallen even further: inflation above its 2 per cent target for If the economy’s fall to number four is
TAKATOSHI ITO lowing a sharp appreciation of the yen, lasted barely a year in the position. Last year, Germany surpassed Japan as nearly two years. But ultra-accommo- not enough to wake Japan up, it will soon
Japan’s economy was about three- In the December 2012 election, the world’s third-largest economy. And, dative monetary policy carries high fall to number five. The International
quarters the size of the US economy. Japanese voters tried a different approach, once again, the public reaction to the news costs. The growing interest-rate differ- Monetary Fund projects that India’s GDP

H
arvard Professor Ezra Vogel’s That turned out to be “peak” Japan. electing the LDP’s Abe Shinzo as prime of Japan’s declining global position has ential with the US, where rates rose rap- will overtake Japan’s (in dollar terms) in
1979 book, Japan as Number Soon, the economy was gripped by dec- minister for the second time. Abe quickly amounted to a shrug. The kind of con- idly in 2022-23, contributed to the yen’s 2026. To stave off further decline, Japan’s
One: Lessons for America, ades-long stagnation and deflation. From introduced a bold economic-policy pack- structive anger that can spur dynamic rapid depreciation against the dollar, government must devise a clear strategy
became an instant bestseller in Japan. 1995 to 2010, Japan experienced negative age — dubbed Abenomics — that aimed reform is nowhere to be seen. The list of from ¥115 in January 2022 to ¥150 ten for raising productivity, expanding the
The flattering title certainly helped sales, GDP growth (in yen terms). The news that finally to lift the Japanese economy out measures needed to revitalise the months later and throughout 2023. workforce, and allocating scarce labour
but it was the book’s central argument China had surpassed Japan as the world’s of two decades of deflation and recession Japanese economy is as well-known as it But while the yen’s depreciation vis- to the most productive sectors.
— that the Japanese approach to govern- second-largest economy did not prompt with three “arrows”: Massive monetary is long. For example, Japan must steer per- à-vis the US dollar might have contrib-
ance and business were superior to much of an outcry from the Japanese easing, expansionary fiscal policy, and a sonal bank deposits and institutional sav- uted to Japan’s declining GDP in US dol- The writer is a former Japanese deputy vice
others — that really made a splash. public, which appeared practically long-term growth strategy. ings to equities and alternatives. And pro- lars, it is not the whole story. After all, a minister of finance. ©Project Syndicate, 2024

ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA

Why politicians defect they’re dismissed as not being true to its


Indian politics wouldn’t be a fraction as fascinating if “vicharadhara”.
It has some power and patronage to dis-
it did not defy any idea that seemed obvious or an pense, though it’s declining. On having a
answer that began with ‘of course’. They would all fail strong personality/dynasty at the top, it scores
10/10. Yet, it is haemorrhaging talent. It has
the test of Indian politics even seen one of its chief ministers (Pema
Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh) walk across to

T
he cross-voting and defections in the fraction as fascinating if it did not defy any the BJP with the entire legislature party.
Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal idea that seemed obvious or an answer that That its ideological commitment is flaky
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka began with “of course”. If ideology kept is evident in how easily many of its key fig-
raise important questions. What makes pol- parties together, how come the Socialist ures move to the BJP. Can it all be blamed
iticians stay loyal to a party or leave it? Why Party in India has seen the most splits, the on the rather unique “charms” of the Modi-
do some parties stay together and others split? initial factions parting ways under individ- Shah BJP, along with money, power and pro-
What’s the glue that keeps parties together, ual founders? tection from “agencies”?
and what is it that makes them lose cohesion? The Socialists had an ideology, and within That isn’t so obvious either, because the
Let’s anticipate the obvious answers. First this, there was also a more sharply defined party has been splitting every few years since

Himachal: Retelling an old tale


up, of course, it must be power and money one: Lohiaism. Now count the factions into 1969. The last big one came in January 1978
that make people stay or leave. It must also whichtheLohiaiteshavesplitandthedifferent as its senior-most leaders failed to endure
be the glue that keeps parties together or the directions they have chosen. Nitish Kumar, even a few months out of power. These
magnet that pulls people away. Sorry to dis- Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam/Akhilesh, included D K “Indira is India” Barooah,
became a watchman with department minister. As the Assembly election, the appoint you, but that isn’t true. Because if it Lalu/Tejashwi. Keep counting. Vasantdada Patil, Y B Chavan and Swaran
the state electricity depart- state can only have only 12 Congress won 10 of the 15 were so, why would the Bharatiya Janata Singh. Later, A K Antony, that eternal family
ment, and even got an offer
from the state electricity
board for the post of a TMate
ministers, other mech-
anisms to reward loyalists
were adopted, like taking
seats Kangra has. But the
district got just one minister.
And that man was not
Party (BJP) have remained the most cohesive
national party in India? It stayed intact even
when reduced to two seats compared to the
A lright, we have another choice that looks
so obvious. The BJP core leadership
wasn’t poor, they were mostly well-to-do,
loyalist (didn’t you think so?) joined the
Congress (Urs) and then went on to form his
own Congress (A). Charan Singh, Sharad
(a position equivalent to a departments from one min- Sudhir Sharma, who was Congress’s 414 in 1984. schooled by the RSS and, therefore, deeply Pawar, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Mamata
helper). His father was a bus ister to give to another. minister in the Virbhadra The BJP rose in 1980 as indoctrinated. So, of course, Banerjee and Himanta Biswa Sarma — all
driver with the Himachal Those who lost depart- Singh government. Mandi, the new avatar of the origi- what keeps parties together have built their own political power as the
Pradesh State Transport ments (like Vikramaditya), the Lok Sabha constituency nal Bharatiya Jana Sangh is financially comfortable “mother” party declined.
Corporation. So, no silver while still being ministers, of Virbhadra’s widow, (BJS). Even the latter had personal lives and ideological The upshot? First, ideology can be the glue
PLAIN POLITICS spoons here.
Ahead of the Himachal
had to face public humilia-
tion as they explained to
Pratibha, got no minister. By
contrast Shimla district had
stayed together through
decades in the political wil-
commitment. Plus, a sniff of
power,whichtheBJPhashad
if it is sharp and drummed into people’s minds
from a young age, as with the BJP/RSS, the
ADITI PHADNIS Pradesh elections (2022), the constituents that they had as many as three ministers. derness. Between 1947 and from 1989 onwards. But if it’s Communists and the Dravidian parties. A
Congress made him chief of not been disempowered, all Little wonder then that 1989, neither this party nor so obvious, what explains strong personality or dynasty can keep things
the campaign committee, the while secretly resolving Sudhir Sharma began com- its successor had even a Indian Communists? together but only as long as they can guaran-

T
here is no kind way to which meant he had a say in to turn the tables on Mr plaining about Mr Sukhu’s sniff of power at the Centre, Communist party tee votes for their followers. That’s the power
say this. But the selecting candidates. This Sukhu at the earliest pos- deliberate sidelining of barring 28 months in 1977- members also almost never of a Jagan in Andhra or Mamata in Bengal.
Congress has proved
beyond a doubt that it is its
tilted the balance of advan-
tage in his favour in getting
sible opportunity.
Floods in the state
Virbhadra loyalists from
day one. And he was one of
79 as a constituent of the
Janata Party.
NATIONAL INTEREST defect. What keeps them
loyal, if not ideology, given
Promises of wealth and power can add to your
ranks, as the BJP shows today.
own worst enemy. Recent the top job if the vote went caused widespread devas- the five people who led the See it this way: The BJS SHEKHAR GUPTA that they rarely get power The Congress failed all of these tests. Its
events in Himachal Pradesh to the Congress. He knew the tation. Relief was quick — rebellion against Mr Sukhu, subsumed itself in Janata and never personal wealth? ideology is flaky. It pretends to be JNU-Left
are just one example. organisation: He had headed but selective. MLAs com- has been disqualified, and and all its members dutifully acquiesced. The This doesn’t pass the “obvious, of course” test secular but also flaunts its “Shivbhakt”
As its government in the the state unit of the party and plained of corruption and is knocking the door of the obvious argument might be, “Of course, they either. Because while Communists do not leader’s “janeudhari” (sacred-thread-wearing)
state came close to collapse, helmed the National discrimination. High Court along with did it for power”. But it is flawed. Because soon defect, they split. Not for power or money. Dattatreya Brahmin identity, while at the
supporters of the party are Students’ Union of India. Rajinder Rana, MLA his colleagues. after power was lost, all Jana Sangh natives They split in search of ideological purity, over same time turning down the invitation for the
still wondering how things When the Congress won from Sujanpur, complained Much is made of the fact regrouped as the BJP. None went to the profound arguments like who to follow: Lenin, temple consecration at Ayodhya. Its Left pre-
could have come to this. the Assembly election with he had not been made min- that Mr Sukhu is rustic and Congress or floated their own party. The Mao, Trotsky, Moscow or Beijing? tences on the economy and the railing against
When he was appointed to 40 seats out of 68, the high ister though he had grounded. But he has proved tempting conclusion: Ideology keeps parties It must be powerful personalities and Adani, Ambani and the “handful of rich men”
the position, Chief Minister command had to choose defeated former BJP chief lacking in one important together. Now, we shall challenge it. dynasties, then, that keep parties united and who own India don’t wash given its history
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu between Pratibha minister P K Dhumal. Mr quality: He’s no statesman. I brace myself for some counters here. attract new “talent” to them. Check out with the same oligarchs.
showed so much promise. Singh/Vikramaditya Singh, Rana found the Bharatiya It is the Congress in Delhi Haven’t people been leaving the BJP/Jana Narendra Modi’s BJP, Stalin’s DMK (with a If the party’s members aren’t sure what it
But under his leadership, the from the family of the leg- Janata Party (BJP) sympa- that ought to have realised Sangh? Yes, Balraj Madhok and some others sharp ideology, though confined to one state) stands for, see no path to wealth or power,
party has been unable to endary Virbhadra Singh, thetic — after all, he had this and counselled course- left in the early 1970s protesting against a ris- and Mamata Banerjee’s TMC on the outside, and endure control by a dynasty, which,
consolidate its gains. raja of Bushehr and been in the BJP from 2006 correction. ing personality cult. But they didn’t defect to because they’ve seen some people leave. But almighty as it is within the party, cannot get
Building on them is a far cry. Congress chief minister to 2012. When approached The BJP in Himachal the Congress, however much Mrs Gandhi list all other personality/dynasty-run parties them the votes, they are likely to explore
Mr Sukhu raised expec- multiple times, who had by his old friends, he has its own problems. But would tempt them. More contemporarily, and you will find desertions, whether in options. This is what happened to the
tations because he is a man died just a few months became one of the Trojan it is not a party that sits Shankersinh Vaghela, Kalyan Singh, Uma Mayawati’s BSP, the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar’s Congress in Shimla and to its ally, the
who has come up through a before the election; and Mr horses. He’s been complain- around twiddling its Bharti and B S Yediyurappa left and formed NCP or the Badal family’s Shiromani Akali Samajwadi Party, in Lucknow last week.
struggle and has a direct Sukhu, who had the backing ing about unemployment thumbs. It saw an opportu- their own small parties. Only the first joined Dal. We aren’t left with much wisdom. The BJP, on the other hand, is a formidable
connect to the ground. He of Priyanka Gandhi and the and incomplete works in his nity and it acted, resulting hands with the Congress to become chief min- package: Ideological Fevicol for the native,
grew up doing manual
labour — he used to heave
crates of milk to make a liv-
largest number of members
of the Legislative Assembly
(MLAs). After a tussle, Mr
district Hamirpur for the
past three months. Mr
Sukhu just ignored him.
in the embarrassing loss of
a Rajya Sabha seat that
should have been a shoo-in
ister, and that was in 1996. He has since left
the party and is now praising Narendra Modi.
The last three returned “home” to the BJP.
T his brings us back to the most important
question for today’s context: The failure
of the Congress to keep its flock together. It
power and protection for the incoming defec-
tor, and a “Modi ki Guarantee” of votes. This
is how national politics stacks up on the eve
ing in his early years and lat- Sukhu got the top job, Kangra is politically the for the Congress. The danger The BJP is the only national party not to have claims to have an ideology and one of general elections.
er graduated to selling milk. though Vikramaditya most important district in to the Sukhu government is any hyphenated offshoots. leader/dynasty. When leaders, from Himanta
When times got tough, he became public works Himachal Pradesh. In the by no means over. Indian politics, however, wouldn’t be a Biswa Sarma to Jyotiraditya Scindia, leave it, By specialarrangement with ThePrint

Behindsmashingcarsforsafety Turningmarketingupsidedown
EYE CULTURE ubiquitouscollapsiblesteering
columns,airbags,softcabins,anti-
suspension,wheels,andairbagshelp
extendthetimeofcrashandtransferof Upside Down. This was the first a 13 per cent increase in online and putting India on Fast’s global
KUMAR ABISHEK lockbrakingsystem,andelectronic force.Itisalsocrucialtohighlightthe time the skyscraper allowed for revenue. Surely, Indian paint map. For deo Axe, The Martin
stabilitycontrolwereintroduced. importanceofcrashtestdummies, lights, sound, and projection to companies like Kansai Nerolac, Agency last year went inside the

I
magine hurtling down a highway Andnowstrapupforthescienceof whicharepackedwithsensorsand be combined into a fully immer- Berger and Asian should check 2017 video game Fortnite and
in a car, the wind whipping smash.Incarcrashtesting,physics measuringdevices.Thesedummies sive show. This event became the this out. collaborated with streamer Kyle
through your hair, and a sense of takescentrestageinsettingupand aredesignedtomimicthehuman anchor that spurred 14 other real- Another interesting example “Bugha” Giersdorf to create
freedom washing over you. But this interpretingcrashtests.Ineverycrash, body’sbiomechanics,includingthe ity-bending activations all that I liked was from multi-cul- “Mistaverse Island,” an in-game
seemingly idyllic picture can turn acarwilldeceleratefromacertain distributionofweight,skeletal around the world. Even agencies tural ad agency, Majority. When location where players could
tragic in the blink of an eye in case of speedtozero,andcontrollingwhat structure,andorganplacement. in India are also trying to do sim- the Biden Administration play the popular Capture the Flag
an accident — because you are hurt- happensinbetweendetermines Sensorsembeddedwithinthe ilar stuff but the scale and skill reached out to digital dating challenge, but with special
ling down that highway, essentially, in survivaloftheoccupants.Itis dummiesrecorddataonacceleration, YES, BUT... still have a long way to go. companies to help promote boosters that looked like Axe
a metal box. importantinacrashtokeepthe deceleration,andheadandchest Last year, advertising com- Covid vaccinations, Majority spray cans. Not only did the work
Still, we buckle up with ease, passengercompartmentintactand movementduringtheimpact.
SANDEEP GOYAL pany TBWA/Chiat/Day New worked with Match Group’s BLK give Fortnite fans something
confident in our car’s ability to shield ensurethattheoccupantsdon’tturn Advancementsincomputer York created the Golden app to rework rapper Juvenile’s new to play with, it did so by tap-

I
us in case of a mishap. According to a intohumanprojectiles(hence,the modellingandsimulationare was going through Fast Grounds campaign for Lay’s classic 1998 hit “Back That ping into the community
2023 survey —commissioned by safetybelts). Butalso,theforcethatwe allowingengineerstovirtually Company’s list for 2023 of potato chips, linking it to foot- Thang Up” into “Vax That through Giersdorf. In India, we
Skoda Auto India — the top two experienceinacrashisdependenton replicatecrashscenarioswitheven organisations that are ball in a unique — and tasty — Thang Up.” The result was a may not fully understand this
features influencing car purchase howlongtheentireincidenttakes,aka greateraccuracy.Also,the reshaping industries and culture. way. The campaign used soil bona fide cultural phenomenon, innovation but if you actually
decisions in the country were crash Newton’ssecondlawofmotion:F=ma developmentofnew,lighter,and I picked the ones in advertising from NFL team stadiums to cul- with 7 billion impressions, more play the game, you would be
ratings and the number of airbags. (force=massxacceleration). strongermaterialssuchashigh- and communication for discus- tivate team-specific plots in a than 700 pieces of editorial cov- amazed by its ingenuity and
Carmakers, including Tata Motors Acceleration(decelerationinthecase strengthsteelandcarbonfibre sion today. One look at the future potato field, which ultimately erage and 70 TV broadcast seg- immersiveness.
most recently, are increasingly ofacrash)isnothingbutthechangeof compositesisenablingcarmarkersto of advertising, and the most com- became chips in team-branded ments. BLK saw a 30 per cent In the examples cited above,
talking up their vehicles’ 5-star velocityovertime(Δv/t).Inacrash, designvehiclesthatarelighteryet mon denominator I figured cen- bags. What a simple but fab- increase in new customers, a 21 most of these companies turned
ratings from Global New Car whilethe“m”remainsaconstant, offersuperiorcrashprotection. tres around a diversity of creative ulous idea! Wonder why can’t per cent increase in advertising marketing upside down. Believe
Assessment Programme (GNCAP) to thereislittlecontrolover“Δv”.So, Advanceddriver-assistance and strategically sound work that Lay’s do the same for the IPL? awareness, and its overall brand me, it is not easy to do. Never has
market them, even as India has whatcarmakerstrytolengthenis“t”. systems,whichincludefeatureslike doesn’t rely on any one silver-bul- The same agency, awareness nearly doubled. In been. Regretfully, most ad
launched its own crash testing Thelongerthecrashtakestocomplete, lanedeparturewarning,automatic let approach. Allow me to share TBWA/Chiat/Day’s Los Angeles addition to all this, more than agency guys today still don’t fully
programme— Bharat NCAP. thelesstheforce. Andtoexploitthis emergencybraking,andblind-spot some outstanding examples — office created Music in Color, a 500,000 daters on the app used understand what technology can
Advancementsincarsafety physicstrick,oddlyenough,they monitoring,arealreadymaking each a demonstration of an acute new colour-selection tool for the “Vaxified Badge” to share do to brand messaging. Some are
standards,drivenbyrigorous manufacturecarsthataredesignedto inroadsintopreventingaccidents.The understanding of audiences and Behr Paint in 2023. Made in col- their vax status on their profiles. just plain old world — still hang-
scientifictestingandadvancements, getwrecked.Earlycarmanufactures nextstepcouldbeautonomous what attracts, engages, and enter- laboration with Katy Perry, using Phenomenal, no? ing around in the era of print and
areconstantlyworkingtotipthescales usedtomaketheoutershelloftheir vehicles,connectedvehicles, tains them. Hence, makes them an algorithm developed with Fast Company this year also double-spreads; most others, a
infavourofhumanlife.Yetthestory vehiclesturdy,butthenthetransferof biometricmonitoring(monitoring Fast companies. Spotify that helps people dis- has a case study from India — vast majority, still hanker for the
beginswiththerudimentary:Early forceontheoccupantswasimmediate driver’svitalsignstodetectfatigueor For Netflix’s Stranger Things, cover personalised paint colour Ogilvy India’s #NotJustACadbury 30-second television spot; those
automobileslackedbasicsafety andimmenseincaseofacrash impairment),andpredictive “experiential” agency Giant recommendations based on ad using a machine learning plat- that profess to be the digital
featuresanditwasn'tuntilthe1930s becausetheshelldidn’tcrumple. algorithms(anticipatingdriver’s Spoon used the Empire State their favourite songs, it is really formbuiltbythefirmRephrase.ai, types don’t think beyond clever
thatlaminatedglasswindshieldswere Hence,designingvehiclesto behaviourtopreventaccidents). Building as a canvas for bringing an innovative marketing tool. and how it tapped Bollywood’s social media posts. The advertis-
introduced.Year1959sawthe absorbanddissipateenergysafelyis Andaswenavigatetheever- consumers into the series’ fourth Average time spent on the Music biggest star, Shah Rukh Khan, to ing of today, and tomorrow, has
developmentofthethree-pointseat- critical,andforthis,carmakerskeep evolvinglandscapeofcarsafety,with season. New Yorkers witnessed in Color/Spotify microsite was churn out over 2,000 ads via however moved far ahead, and
beltbyNilsBohlin,anengineerat crumplezones—intentionallyweak excitingtechnologicaladvancements, the spectacle of a mysterious rift more than two-and-a-half facial recognition software, urg- far beyond. Those that don’t
Volvo;ithelpedholdthewaist,aswell areasthatdeformuponimpact, thefuturepromisesaworldwhere slowly cracking open on its minutes, with 34 per cent of ing shoppers to visit local stores change will “Fast” be left behind.
astorsoinplaceduringacollision. reducingtheforcetransmittedto drivingisbothexhilaratingandhighly facade, serving as a portal to an users heading directly to Behr’s during Diwali. Kudos to Ogilvy
Slowlyoverthedecades,now occupants. Andbesidesframerails, safe.Still,buckleup! immersive journey into the online sales platform, which saw for such out-of-the-box thinking The writer is chairman of Rediffusion
18 NEW DELHI
SATURDAY
MARCH 02, 2024

Opinion
{ THIRD EYE }

E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Barkha Dutt

{ OUR TAKE }

Making sense of
Tips for Rahul
GDP numbers Gandhi from
world of media
In the short-term, the uptick will boost
sentiment in the economy. But a rejuvenation
of private consumption and investment is
necessary to sustain economic momentum
Rather than turn bitter Targeting the media, as Rahul Gandhi has

T
he 8.4% Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
begun to consistently do in his speeches, won’t
growth print for the quarter ending about the state of the world, change the Congress party’s political fortunes
December 2023 has, expectedly, generated stay agile and be adaptive to much. And if you must make the media an
a lot of buzz around the state of the Indian adversary, why not take on promoters and edi-
change to remain in the game. tors instead of publicly humiliating junior
economy. A Bloomberg forecast of economists The alternative is retirement employees, as Gandhi did at a recent meeting in
expected this number to be just 6.6%. Has the Uttar Pradesh.

P
Indian economy entered a growth trajectory that rime Minister Narendra Modi has But while we are on the subject of the media,
effectively declared the general elec- there’s an interesting parallel between the
is way above what was believed earlier? There is tions open with a midnight meeting changes that have hit Indian media and the Targeting the media, as Rahul Gandhi has begun to consistently do in his speeches, won’t
an ultra-short-term, short-term and medium- of the BJP’s central election commit- churn in Indian politics today. change the Congress party’s political fortunes much
term answer to this question. tee, working through the night on As a first-generation television journalist
the first list of candidates. who is now a digital entrepreneur, I am among You could apply this almost identically to the most importantly, be willing to unlearn. If you
Let us take the ultra-short-term part of it first. And Rahul Gandhi? the many reporters of my vintage, who are try- state of play in news media. Influencers with don’t like the rules of the game you can’t
While the December quarter GDP numbers have He is at Cambridge University, slated to ing to adapt to mass disruptions in technology, softball questions and wide-eyed smiles are the change them without being in the game.
really defied expectations, the Gross Value deliver two lectures at his old college. distribution and consumption patterns. flavour of the season. Bias is a more effective That — if you choose that route — is retire-
This is when his party’s troubleshooters — Why am I talking about this in a political col- clickbait than nuance. The internet loves a ment.
Added (GVA) — it is GDP minus Net Indirect DK Shivakumar, Bhupinder Hooda, Rajiv umn? slant: Right or left is immaterial. Technology The problem with the Rahul Gandhi-led
Taxes and measures actual production in the Shukla — are deployed to contain the fallout of Let me explain. has changed how content is created and Congress — with apologies to Mallikarjun
economy — is along expected lines at 6.5%. This open rebellion in Himachal Pradesh. The Opposition, mostly the Congress, spends watched. Satire and comedy are preferred gen- Kharge — is precisely this. Enormous bitterness
I am all for public figures engaging with the a lot of time lamenting and raging. There is res to field reporting. And giant corporations at the state of play combined with a one-foot-in-
basically means that the large positive surprise world of ideas. I also agree — and Modi’s much hand-wringing over big money heading alongside Big Tech platforms have upended the one-foot-out approach have made the party and
in December quarter GDP numbers could well “Vishwa Guru” pitch for India is rooted in this to the BJP, the bias of big media and the new old rules of the game. its supporters believe that the problem is exter-
be on account of a sharp reduction in subsidies idea —that politics is simultaneously local and behaviour patterns of the voter. This leaves folks like me with two options: To nal, not internal.
global. complain every day about the unfairness of the “The Congress is not an NGO,” Sachin Pilot
rather than a big jump in actual production or But, the timing? THERE’S PLENTY TO world, its intrinsic shallowness, and the lack of told me in a recent interview. Pilot, almost the
economic momentum. Also, when read with the For him to be away a fortnight before the
COMPLAIN ABOUT IN THE a level playing field or show up every day, last man standing in a generation of colleagues
revised quarterly growth numbers for the first election dates are to be announced is befud- embrace technology and stay ahead of it and who have fled for better options, is so right. But
dling. Gandhi timed his trip to coincide with NEWS MEDIA – SYCOPHANCY, find a way to remain agile and adaptive without many of his colleagues have to internalise that
and second quarters, the 7.6% annual print for the Rajya Sabha polls and also a time when alli- POLARISATION, COMMUNAL giving up my authentic core. obvious fact. Polemics and self-pity won’t cut it.
2023-24 also means that GDP growth in the ances are still being stitched and there is a mul-
CONTENT, POLITICAL It hasn’t been easy. News media is facing an Politics is ruthless, demanding and unforgiv-
quarter ending March 2024 will be just 5.9%. titude of issues to debate and decide. Congress existential challenge globally. But I opt for the ing.
supporters say Rahul Gandhi has become the ACTIVISM AND BIAS – second. I have taught myself the new grammar It’s also a 24x7 job with no respite.
As far as the short-term, namely, annual soft target for journalists. And those who don’t ESPECIALLY, A MALAISE IN of digital storytelling, sought younger audien- That’s exactly why it’s not a profession for
growth performance in the fiscal year 2023-24 dare to ask questions of the government criti-
BROADCAST MEDIA. YET, ces on Instagram, upskilled on software and everyone.
is concerned, the GDP numbers released on cise the Congress. cameras and held on to my belief that there are Modi left for Jharkhand and Bengal after
Sure, there’s plenty to complain about in the MANY MORE REPORTERS DO still enough takers for non-partisan content, wrapping up a near all-nighter.
Thursday show an increase of 30 basis points – news media — sycophancy, polarisation, com- THEIR WORK SINCERELY, TO provided you are steely enough to hold your Rahul Gandhi needs to at least return to the
one basis point is one-hundredth of a munal content, political activism and bias –
THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY nerve. trenches.
percentage point — over the 7.3% print especially, a malaise in broadcast media. Yet, Many other colleagues are working just as
many more reporters do their work daily, and IN HOLDING THOSE IN hard to do the same. The trick is simple. Show Barkha Dutt is an award-winning
according to the first advance estimates sincerely, to the best of their ability in holding POWER TO ACCOUNT up every day. Work hard. Change, but not so journalist and author.
released in January 2024. This will add to power to account. much that you forget who you are. Learn. And The views expressed are personal
India’s growth advantage vis-à-vis major
economies in the world and make it the fastest-

Genocide case a test of THE ICJ CAN RENDER


growing economy by a bigger distance. While dispute between Burkina Faso and Mali and the
2004 Avena Case. Even though the ICJ has ren-
part of the upward revision in the 2023-24 GDP A DEFINITIVE VERDICT dered important decisions over the years, there
numbers is also on account of change in 2022- ONLY AFTER HEARINGS have been times when those rulings have been
23 GDP data — this is normal practice — it will
definitely boost the sentiment as far as
prospects of the Indian economy are concerned.
ICJ’s role as world court ON OBJECTIONS AND THE
MERITS OF THE CLAIM ARE
CONCLUDED, WHICH MAY
disregarded. For example, in the Nicaragua
case of 1986, the US refused to acknowledge the
jurisdiction of the ICJ. Incidents like these show
the challenges faced by the ICJ, especially when
It is the medium-term perspective on the or the past few months, the world has took 10 years to conclude that there had been a TAKE YEARS major world powers are involved in its rulings.
Indian economy, which calls for a more sober
look at the current economic situation. A
comparison of growth over the period between
2021-22 and 2023-24 — these are the numbers
F been following an incredible, high- genocide in Srebrenica).
stakes international scuffle unfolding at Undeniably, many of the Court’s conclusions
The Hague, in the form of two recent in January were predictable. In accordance
cases filed at the World Court against Israel. On with Article IX of the Genocide Convention, the
January 26, the International Court of Justice Court determined that a legitimate dispute
Rule 75 (3), which calls for “new facts”, or could
have requested the Court to modify the existing
provisional measures based on a “change in the
Though Israel has rejected the ICJ’s conclu-
sions, international pressure on Tel Aviv is
increasing, Interestingly, Algeria has already
asked the UN Security Council to enforce the
ICJ decision, while in response to a resolution
(ICJ), in a genocide case brought by South existed. It also ruled that South Africa was enti- situation”, under the Rule 76(1) of the Statute, it passed by the UN General Assembly in Decem-
that have been revised between the data Africa regarding Israel’s military operations in tled to file a case against Israel, in line with its did not choose to do so. ber 2022, South Africa along with many other
released in January and February — shows a Gaza, directed Tel Aviv to take all measures earlier rulings in The Gambia vs Myanmar, The implementation of provisional measures countries has filed for an advisory opinion of
lower GVA growth and weaker private within its powers to prevent the commission of where the Court had established that all states of the ICJ is significantly impacted by the obli- the ICJ, hearing of which went on till February
genocidal acts, to punish direct and public have standing to sue to enforce all state parties’ gation of compliance. In LaGrand, the Court 26, 2024. The purpose of these proceedings is to
consumption in the latest numbers than what incitement to commit genocide, to take effec- obligations under the Genocide Convention. confirmed that provisional measures have a obtain an advisory opinion on Israel’s policies
the January data showed. The state of Private tive measures to enable the provision of Expectedly, on February 12, 2024, mandatory nature and create legal obligations. and control over the occupied Palestinian terri-
Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) – it urgently needed basic services and South Africa requested the ICJ to con- As far as the compliance of an ICJ order is con- tories, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and
humanitarian assistance Gaza, and to sider exercising its authority under cerned, States are required to abide by any rul- occupied East Jerusalem.
accounts for more than half of India’s GDP — is submit a compliance report to the Article 75(1) of the Rules of the Court to ing made by the ICJ, as stated in Article 94(1) of This is the first of its kind case since the ICJ’s
particularly worrying with annual growth in Court within one month, which has indicate additional provisional meas- the UN Charter. Article 94 of the United founding in 1945. South Africa claims that
2023-24 being the lowest since 2002-03, which been submitted by Israel on February ures proprio motu against Israel. How- Nations Charter stipulates that decisions ren- Israel’s security measures, which include a
26. In addition, the Court emphasised Jyoti ever, the Court declined to issue any dered by the ICJ are legally binding on all par- massive wall, amount to racial segregation and
was one of the worst drought years in India. that all parties to the conflict in Gaza additional provisional measure and ties involved in the dispute. If the ICJ’s rulings that the country’s decades-long occupation of
Unless the Private Final Consumption are bound by international humanitar- Singh reiterated the immediate and effective are not followed, the Security Council may be the Palestinian people violates their right to
Expenditure engine of GDP starts firing ian law, and called for the immediate implementation of the provisional consulted to determine what steps should be self-determination. While many of the issues
and unconditional release of hostages measures, as indicated in its earlier taken to give effect to the ruling. A State’s surrounding international law violations that
consistently, sustained economic momentum abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. How- order. The Court has only used this power of responsibility under international law may, constrain Israel’s approach to all Palestinian
cannot be taken for granted. A broad-based ever, Israel has rejected the ICJ directive. On issuing additional provisional measures pro- therefore, be invoked by the obligation of com- territories are relevant to the case, the hearings
revival in PFCE is also necessary for a Thursday, over a hundred Palestinians were prio motu on one occasion — in LaGrand case, pliance, and non-compliance may result in an may not directly address the war in Gaza. How-
killed in an Israeli attack at an aid point. Mean- wherein it acted proprio motu (albeit prompted internationally wrongful act and its repercus- ever, the outcome in both cases, undoubtedly,
rejuvenation of the private investment cycle. while, the toll in Gaza has crossed 30,000, a by a request from Germany) to indicate provi- sions. will be used as a yardstick for evaluating the
These are important economic policy questions majority of them women and children. sional measures directing the United States not The history of ICJ decisions, however, effectiveness of the Court as a UN body, espe-
that deserve sustained and serious engagement The ICJ can render a definitive verdict only to carry out Walter LaGrand’s scheduled execu- reveals a nuanced picture of triumphs and dis- cially in the Global South.
after hearings on jurisdictional objections and tion while the ICJ proceedings were pending. appointments. There are some noteworthy
going forward, irrespective of what happens to the merits of the claim are concluded, which Even though South Africa could have resubmit- instances of compliance on the one hand, such Jyoti Singh is a Delhi-based lawyer.
growth in a given quarter. may take years (in Bosnia vs Serbia, the Court ted its request for temporary measures under as the amicable resolution of the 1986 border The views expressed are personal

all. It doesn’t have to mean jumping into It’s easy to lose sight of this, given the { EDITOR’S PICK }
{ ANOTHER DAY } the river to rescue a drowning child. challenges that remain. As the World Eco-
HT’s editors offer a book recommendation every Saturday, which provides history,
Sometimes just being a girl and navigat- nomic Forum reminds us, gender parity at
context, and helps understand recent news events
Namita Bhandare ing your way through the daily hurdles its current rate is still 131 years away.
that someone — a parent, a neighbour, a So, what are we celebrating on March 8,
relative, or classmates — places before International Women’s Day? After all, ALEXEI NAVALNY’S RUSSIA
When there will be no
you. Heroism is the mother who insists shouldn’t every day be Women’s Day? Or
that her daughter will not drop out of maybe no day should be Women’s Day Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 47, was
school to marry. It is the girl who shows because we no longer need one. laid to rest in Moscow on Friday, days after his death
up on the playground to set up a ragtag But beyond the token speeches, we in an Arctic penal colony. He was the face of the pro-

need for a Women’s Day cricket team.


Sometimes the simple act of falling in
love can be heroic, especially if it’s some-
one who happens to be born in a faith,
need them to remind ourselves that there
are battles yet to be won and those that
haven’t even begun. Above all, it is to pay
tribute to our everyday heroes, even if we
democracy movement in Russia.
This week, we recommend I Love Russia: Report-
ing from a Lost Country, a book of reportage by jour-
nalist Elena Kostyuchenko. A critic of the Vladimir
his is for the one who turned up secure job. caste, gender, gotra or bank balance don’t know their names or their stories. Putin regime, Kostyuchenko, 36, worked with

T for football practice every day,


leaving her mohalla with her dup-
atta modestly draped over her sal-
war kameez to avoid neighbourhood gos-
sip.
It’s for the mother who had forgotten
what the inside of a classroom looked like
until she enrolled her daughter in special
classes for the Class 10 board exams.
When the daughter passed, the mother
deemed inappropriate.
Every day, women and girls fight infini-
tesimal battles that will never be recog-
nised. There are no medals for them. You
will never know their names. And yet,
That football player I spoke about in
the first paragraph? She’s now a coach,
mentoring other girls. The one who was
learning to drive has a job as a bus driver
in Delhi and the mom who cleared her
Novaya Gazeta, a Moscow newspaper edited by
Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, until the regime
shut it down in 2022. Kostyuchenko’s dispatches
reveal a nation in thrall of an authoritarian leader
who has been peddling muscular nationalism to a
This is also for the one who walked out was inspired and thought, “I can do this they are both changing India and are a Class 10 board exams in the second proud but gullible people, and a land wreaked by
of her abusive marriage when her hus- too.” Giving herself a second chance, she reflection of a changed India. An India chance programme? She dreams of gradu- environmental disasters, where dissidents and jour- I Love Russia:
band hit their daughter for the first time. joined the classes and cleared the board where aspiration is no longer a bad word ating, just because she can. nalists are shadowed by Putin’s secret police. Reporting from a
She washed utensils for her survival while exams, nearly 18 years after marriage for women, an India where more girls Kostyuchenko was lucky to survive an assassination Lost Country: Elena
taking driving lessons on the side in the brought an end to her school days. than ever are enrolled in schools and col- Namita Bhandare writes on gender. attempt; six other Novaya Gazeta journalists, includ- Kostyuchenko
hope that it would lead to a financially Courage does not have a one-size-fits- leges. The views expressed are personal ing the celebrated Anna Politkovskaya, did not. Year: 2023

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/-;

PRINTED
PRINTED && PUBLISHEDBYBYMANHAR
PUBLISHED DINESH KAPOOR
MITTAL for
forand
andon
onbehalf
behalfof
ofHT
HTMedia
MediaLtd.
Ltd.18-20,
18-20,Kasturba
KasturbaGandhi
GandhiMarg,
Marg,New
NewDelhi-110001
Delhi-110001and
andprinted atatHT
printed HTMedia
MediaLtd.
Ltd.Presses
PressesatatPlot
PlotNo.-8,
No.-8,Udyog
UdyogVihar,
Vihar,Greater
GreaterNoida,
Noida,Distt.
Distt.Gautam
GautamBudh
BudhNagar.
Nagar.(UP).
(UP).Pin-201306,
Pin-201306.
BOARD: (011)23361234 ● EDITORIAL: (011)66561234 Extn. 1254, 1268 ● CIRCULATION: (011)66561111 ● ADVERTISING: (011)66561389 ● FAX: (011)66561270.

EDITOR: KUNAL PRADHAN


���������������������

�� � ��������� ��� ������ �������� ��������� ����� �� ����


������������
�����������������
�� ����� ��� ��������� �� ������� �� ������������ ��������� ���� ��� ����� ����
���������� ������ ����� �� ���������������������������

� ���� ����� �� ����������� ���� �� ������ ��� �� �������


��� ������ �� � �������� �� ����� ������� ������ ��� ���� �� ����� �������� ��� ������� ��������� �� ���� ������ ���� ������� ��������� ��� �������� ������ ���� ���� �������� ��������� ��� �������� ����
������ ���������� � �������� ��� ����� �� ���� ���������� ��� ����� ��� ��� ���� ����� �� �� �� ��������� ��������� ��������� �� ���� �� ������� ��� ���� ������ ����� ���� ������� �������� �� � �������� ��� ���������� ��
���� ����� �������� ���� ��� ������ ������������ �� ����� ���� ���� ��� ���� ���� ����� �� �� ������� ����� �� ����� ��������� ���� ������ �� � ������ ��� �������� ���� �� ����� �� ����� ����� ����� ��� ��� �������
��� ������ ����� � ����� ���� ��� �� ���������� ��������� ����� ����� ������ �� ����� ������� �� ����� ��� ��������� ��� ��� ��������� ����� �� ���� ������� ��� �� ��� �������� ������� ���
��� �������� �� �� �� ��� �� �������� � �� ������� ��� ������� �� ����� ������ ����� � � ����������� �� �������� ���� ����� ������ �� ������ ����� ����� �� ����������� ���� ������ � ������� ����� ��������� �� �
����������� �� ��� ����� �� ������� �� ��� ��������� ������� �� ����� ������� ������� �� ������� ��� �� ���� ���� ������� ������ �� ������ ������� ��� ��� ����� ������� ��� �� ��� ���� ��� ����� ��� � ������ ��� �� �������� ������� � ���� ���� � ���� ����� ���
�� ����� ���������� ����� ����������� �� � ��� ��� ����� ������� �� ����� ����� ���� ��� ����� ����������������� ������������������ ���� ��� ������������� ��� ����� ��������� ����� �������� �� ���� ���� �� � ����� ��� �� ��� ���� ���� �� �� ��� ����� ��� ��� ������� ��
����� ������������ � ���������� ������������ ��� ���� ��� � ���� �� ���� ��������� �� �� ���� ����� ��� ��� ������ � ���� �� ��� ������� ������ �� ��� �������������������������������������� ��� ���� ���� ���� ������
����� ���� �� ��������� ����������� � ����
�������� �� ��� ������� ������
������� �������� ���� ������ �������
���� �������� ����� ���� ������� ���� ����
����������������������������
������ ��������� �� ����������
��������� �� �� ������� ����������� ��
����� ��� �������� ����� �� ���
���������������������������������������
������ �������� ������ ������� ������
��� ����� ���� ���� ���� ��� ����� ��
����� ����������� ��� ��� ���� ��� ����� ��
��������� ��������� � ���� ������ ��� ����� ��� ������ �� � ������� ������� ������� ��� ����������� ��� ���� ����� ��� ��� � ��������� ���� ����� ��� �������� ����
���� ��� ��� ���� ����� ��� ���� ��� ��� � ��� ������� ������� ������� �� ������� ���� ������ ��� ��� ������ ������� ������� ��� ��� ����������� �� ���������� ������ ���� ����� ������� ������������� �������� � ���� �����
��� ��� ����� ��� ��� �� ��� ���� �������� ����� ����� ������� ���� ��� ������ ��� �� ���� �� � ���� �� � �������� �������� ����� ����� ��� ������ ������ �� ����� ������� ����
� ����������� ����� ���������� �������� �� ������� ���������� ������ �� ������� � ��������� ��� ������� ������� ������ �� ���� ������ ������� ����� �� ����� ������� ����� ����������� �� ����� ������� ����� ����� �� ���������� ������� ������ ���� ���
������ ����� ����� ������ ��� �������� ����� ������� �������� ��� �� ���������� �� ��������� ���� ���� ��� ����� �� ������� ����� ������ �� ���� �� ����������� ��� ���� �� ����� ������ ���������� ��������� ����� ���� �������� ������� ������� ������� ���
������� ���� �������� � ����� �� ����� ��� ����� ������ ��� ���� �� ��� ����� ����� ����� � ����� ����������� �� ����� ��� ������ ���� ����� ������� �� � ���������� ����� ��� ������ � ���� �� ���� ����� �� ������������ �� �������� ��� ����� ������
������� ��� ���������� �� ���������� ���� ������� �� ���������� ������ ��� ����� ������� ������ ������� ������� ������������ �������� ����� ������� ���� ���������� �������������������������������������
����� ��� ��� ������ �� ������ � ��� ��� ������� ������� � ���� �� �� ���������� ��� ��� ��������� ������ ��� ����� � ���� ��������� ������� ������ ������ ������ ���� ��� ��� ����� �� ������ �� � �������� ��
��������� ���� ����� ��� ������� � ���� �� �� ��� �������� �� ����� ����������� �� ������ ��� ��� ����� ��� ������ ��� ���� �� ���� ������� ��� ��� ���� ������ ������� ��� ������� ����������� ������ ���� ����������������������������������������
���� ����� �� ��� ������ ������� ������ �� �������������� ��� �� ���� ����� ��� ��� ���� ������� ������� ����� ���� ������ ���� ����� ����������� ��������� �� ��� ����������
���� ������ ��� ������ �� ����������� ���� � ����� ����� ��� ������������ �� ������ ����� ��� ��������� ��� ���������� ����� ���� ���� ��������� �� ��� �� ������ ������������ ��� �������� �� ������ ������� ��
���� �������� ����������� �� ����� �� ������ ������ ���� �� �������� ��� ��������� ������� ���� ����� �� ��� ���� �� ��� ��� ��� ������ ������ ������ ������� ���� ������ ���� ������ ����� ������� ������� �� ���� ��� ���������������������������

���� ���� ����� ��������� ���������


���������� ��������� ������
�� ����� ��� ������ ���� ������� �� � ��������� ���
����� �� ����������� ����������
������� ����� �� ���� ���
��� ���������� ������� ��� ��� ���� �� ������ ����� ������� �� ��� ����� ������ �� ��� � ������� �����
������� ���� �������
��� ������ ����� � ���� ����� ���������� �� ��� �� � ����� �������� �� ��� ����� ��� � ���� �� ���������
�������� �� ��� ��������� ��
����������� ���� ������ ����� ����� ��� �� ����� � ���������� ������� ���
�� ������� ��������� ����� ��������
�������������������� ��������������
������� ��������
��� ������ ����� �
��������� ��� ��� ��� ������ ����� ��� �� ��� �������� �� ������� ��� ��� ����
��� ����� ���������� �� ��� ��� ���
�������� ���� � ���� ��� ���� ������� � ������� ������� ������� ����� ��� �� �� �� ������� �� � ����� ���� ��
������������������������������������ ������� ����� �������� ������� ����� ��� ����� ��� � ���� �� ���������� ��� �������
�� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� ��
��������� ����� ��� �� ���������� ����� ������ ���� ��������� ������������ �� ���� ���� ������� ��� ��� ���� �� ������ �����
�������������������� ������������������� ��� ���� �� � ��� ���� � ��� � ��� ��� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ������ �� �� ���� ��
��������� ���� �� ��� ��������� �� ������� ������ �� ��������������������� �� �������� ���� ��� ��� ���� ��� ��� ��� ���� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ����� ������ �� ��� �������� ��������
������������������������������� ����� ��������� ������� ����������������������������������������� ���������� ��� ���� ��� ��� ��� ��� ���� ��� � ��� ��� ���� ���� �� ��� ���� ���� ��� ���������� ��
��������� �� � ��������� �� ��� ������ �� �������� ������� ���������������������������������������
������ ���������� �� �������� ���������
�������� ���� ��� ����������� ���� ��� ����� ���������� �� ������������ �������
���� ��� ���� ������ ���� ��� ���� �����
���� ��� �� �� ��� ������� ���� �� �����
��� ������ ����� �� ����� ������ ��� �� ���������������������������������������
���������������������������������������
��������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������ ��� ������� ��������� �� ����������� ������� ���� ������� ���� ����������������������������������������
����������������������������������� ������� ����� ������������ �� ������ � ����������������������������������� ������������ ���������� �������� � ������� ���� ��� ���� ����� ���� ���� ��� ����������� �� ���
��� �� ������� ������� �������� ������ ������ ���� ���� �� ���� �� ��� ������ ������� ����� ������ � ��������� ��� ��� ��� ����������� ��� ����� � ��� �� ���������� ��
���� ��� �� �������� ����� � �������� ������������������������������ ������ ���� ��� ���� ��������� �� ��� ����� ������������� ���� ���� ��� ��� ����� �� ��� ��������� ��� ����� ��
�������� ������� �� ������ �� � ������� ������������������������������������ ������� ��������� �������� �� �������� ������������ ���� ����� ������� ������� �������� � ���
� ������ ������ �� ���� �� ����� ���������
��������� �� � �������� �� ��������� �� ������� ��� ���� �������� ���������� ��� ����� ����� ��� �� ����������� �� ������ �� ���� ��� �������� �� ����������� ��
������������ ��� ���
��������� ���������� ����� ���� ��������� �������� ��������� ���������� ��� ��� ��� �������������� ������� ������������� ������ ��� ��� ������������� �� ���� �� � �����
������� ���� ���� ������ ��� ���� � ���� ����� �� ����� ����� ���������� �� ������� ������� ��������� ��� �������������� ��� ������ ������� ���������� ������������� ��� ��� ���������� ���������������� ����������
����� ��� ���� ����� ����� ������� ���� ��������������������������������������� �������� ������� �� ������������� ��� �������� ���������� ���� ������ � ������������ �������� � ��� ������� ��� ��� ��� ����� ��� ������ ���
����������������������������������� ��� ���� �� ���� �� ������ ������ ������� ���� ������ �������� � ����������� �� ��� ������ ��������������� ������� � ����� �������� ��� ��� �� � ����� ���� �� ��������� �� ��� ������� ���
���� �� ���� ���������� �� ������ �������� ����� �������� ����������������������������������� ��� �� ����� ������ ��� ��� ������� ����������������������������������
������������������������������������� ��� ����� �� ���� �� ��� ��� ������ ���������� ������� ��
���������� �� �� ��� ������ ���� ����� ������������������������������������ �������� ����� ���� ��� �������������� ����
��� ��� ���
���� ��� ��������� � ��� ����� ���� ���� ��� ��� ���� ����� �� ���� ��� ��� �������������������������������������� ������������������������������������
�������� ����� ��� ���� �� ������� ����� ���� ���� ������ ���������� �� ������ ����� ��� ��� �� ��� ����� ��� ������ ��� ������� ���� ������� ���� ���� �� �� ���� ���� ������ ������� �� �������
������ ��������� �� ��������� ��������� ��� ������ ���� ���� �� ������������� ������������������������������������� �� ������� ����� ����������� ����������� ������ ���� ���� ���� ���������� ��� ����� ����� ���������
���������������������������������� ��������� �� ��� �� ���������� �� ���������������������������������������� ���������� ����� ����������� ����������� ������ ����� ���� ���� ����� �� ��� ������ ��� ���� �������
������ �� � ���������� ���������� ������ ����������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ����� ����� ������� ��������� ������ ����� ���� ��� ���������� �� ��� ��� ��� ������
���� ��� ��������� ����� � ������ ������ ������ �� �� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ���� ���� �������� ������ ���� ��� ������ ����� ����� ��� ���� ���� ��� ��� ���� ��������� �����
������� ��� �������� ����������� ������ �����
���� ��� ����������� � ���� ������ �������������������������������������� ������� ������ ���� ����� �� ���� ���� ��� �� �������� �� ���� �� ������� ���� ��
������ ������ ��� ����������� � ����� ������� � ���� ��������� �� ������������ �������� �� ���� ������ ����� ���������� �� ��������������� �����������������������
������ ������ ���� ���� ������� �� ����� ���������� ���� ���� ���� � ����� ���������������� ������ ��� ��������� �� �� �� � ���������� ������ ������������� ��� �� ��� ������� ����� ����������� ������ ���� ������ �������� �������� ��� ������ ����
���� ���������� ���� ������� �� ���������� ������������������������������������ ���� ������� �� ���� �� ���� �� ������� ���� ������ �� ���� �� ���������������� ����� ������ ���� �� ���� ������������� ����� ���� ����������������� �������������������
����� �������� ��� � ���������� �� ����� ������ ��� ������� ���� ��� ���� ���������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������� ������������������������������ ���� �� ��� �������� ��������� �����
�������������������������������� ��������� ���� �������� ���� ������ ����� ���� ����� ����� ����� ���� �� ��������� ��� ����������������������������� ��������� ������� �� ����� ����� ����� �������
���������� ��������� �� �������������� ���� ������� ��� ������� �� ����� ��� ������������������������������������ �������������������������������������� ���������� �� ��������� �� ����������� ���� ���� ��� ��� ������ ������������ ���
������������������������������������� ����� ��� ���� ������ ������ ������� ��� ��������������������������������������� ������������� � �������� ������� �� �� ����� ������ ��� ����� �������� �������� ����� ��������
������ �� �������� ��� ������ �� ������ ���� ������ ������� ��� ��� ���� ���� ���� ��� ������� ����� ������� ��� ������ �� ��������������������������������������� ��� ���� �������� ������ �� ����� ��� ���
��� �������� �� ��� ��������� � ��� ���� ���� ��������� ���� ���� ���� ���� ���� �������� �������� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� �� ������� ���� �� ��� �������� ������� ���� ��������� ���� ���� �� ��� ���� �� � ����������� ����������� �� ����
��� ������ �� ������� ����������� ��� ������� ���� ���� �� ������ ����������� ����� � ����� �������� ����� ������ ���� ��� ������������������������������������������� ������ ������ �������� ������ ��� ������� ������������
���� ������� ��������� ��������� ���� �� ��� �������� ���������� ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������� ��������� ���� ���� �� ��� ���������������������������������
���������� �� ���� ���� ��� � �� �� ����� � ����� ��������� �� ����� ������ ����� �� �������� ��������� ������ ��� ��������������������������������������
�� ��� ����������� ����� � ���� �� ������� ��� ����� ������� ������ ���� ������ ���� � ������ �������� ����� �������� ���� ����
���� ���� ��� ��� ������� ������ ��� ����� ��������� ��� ��� ������� ���� ���� ���������� ���� ������ ���� ��� �������� ������ �� �������� ������ ��� ���� � ����
����� �� �� ���� ������ ����� ��� ������ ����������� ��� ��� �������� �� ��� �������� ������� ����� ��� �������� ������ ���� �� ����
���������������������������������������� �� ����������� ����� �������� ������� ���� ��� ���������������� �������� ������ ������ �� ���� ����� �� �������� �� ����
�������������������������������������� ������ � ����� ���� �� ����� �� ��������� ��� ���� ��� ������� ���� �� ���� ���� ����� ���� ���� ��� ������� ���������� �����
��� �� ������������� ���������� �������� � ����������������������������������������� ��������� ������ ����� ���� ���� ������� ��� �������������������������������
�������� ���������� �� ���� �� �� �� ������� � ������� �� � ������� �� ��� ����� ������� ���� ��� ����� ��� �������� �� ��� ������� ������� ����� �� ���������� ������ ������ ����� ���
���� ������ �� ��� �������� ������� ��� ���� ���� ���� �� � ����� ��� ��� ������ �������� ��� ������� �� �� �� ����� ���� ����� ��� �� ��� �����������
�� ��� �������� �������� ������� � ����������� �������� �� ���� ���� ���� ����� ����� ���� ��� ��� ���������� �����������������������������������������
������������� ���� �� ����� �� �� �� ���� ����� ����������� ������������ �� ��� ������� ��� ������� �� ���� ���� ����� ���� ������ ���� ������� �������� ����� ������
������� � ��� ���� �� ��� ���� �� ��� �������� ������� �� ����������� ������� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� ���� �� � �������� �������� �� ������������������������������������
������� ����� ������������ ������ � ������ ���� ������ ������ ���� ������� �� � ���� ��������� ������ ����� �� ���� �� ����� ���������� ������� ������������ ����� ���
�������� ���� ��������������� �������� ������������������������������������ ��������� ���� ���� ������� ��� ����� �� ���������������������������������������
�� ������ �� �� � ���� ���� ����� ������ ���������� ���� ����� �������� ���� �� ���� ���� ����� ���� �����

����������� �� ������� ��� ������� ������ ��� ��� �������� �������������


��� �������������� ��� ���������� �� ��� ��� ��� ���� ��� ����������� �� ������� ��������� �� ��� ������ ����� ������������ ������ �� ������ �������� ������ ��� �����
������ ����������� ��������� � ���������� �� �� ������� ���� ���������� ��� ����� ����������� �� ������� ��� ��������������������������������������
���� ��� ���� ����� ����� �������� ������ ��� �������� ��� �� ������� ��� �������� ������������������������������������� ������� ���� ���������� �����������
������ ��� �� ���������� ��� ���� ������� �� �� ��� ������� ������ ���� ���� �� ������� ��� ���� �� ���� �� ���� �� �� ����������������������������������

�������� ������ ���������� �� �������� �������� ���


� ������� ��������������
���� ������������� ����� �� ��������� ��
�������
��� ���������
����� ��� ������� �� ���������� ��������
�����������������������������������
���������� �����������������������������
�������� ��� ��� ����������� �� ������
��������������������������������������
��� ��� ���������� �����������
���� ������� �� �� ������ �������� �����
����������������������������������
������������ ��� ��� ������������� �� �������
�������� �������� �������� �� ���������� ��� ������� ��� ����
����� �������
���� ���
����
���� ���� �� ������ ������� ��� ����������� �� ���� �������� �� ����� �������� ������ ��������������������������������������
����� ���������� ���� ����� ������� ����� ��� �� ���������� �������������� ���� ������ ��� ����� ���� ����� �� � ������ ��� �������� ����� ��� ������ ������ �� ��� ����� � ����
��������� �������� � ����� ��� �� �������� ��� ������ �������� ��� ��� ����� ���������� ��� ��� ������� ���� �������� ��� ����������� �� ��� ��������������������������������������
�� ��������� ����� ��������� �������� �������������������������������������� �������������� ������� ����� ����� ������� ����������� ��� ������� ��������� �������� ����� ����� ���� �� ��� ������������� ���� ��� �� �������� �����
���� ��� ������� �������� ������� ������� ������� �� ���������� ���� ����� ����� �� ���������������������������������� ������ �� ��� ��������� ����������� ��� ��������� ���� ���� �������� �� �������
����� �� �������� ��� ��� �� ����� ����� �� ����� ��������� ����������� �������� ����� ���������� �� ��� ������� ��� ������� ��� �������������������������������������� ����� ���� ��� ������� �� ��������
����� ������� ������ �� ��� ������ ������ ����� ������� ������ ��������� ������������������������������ ������������ �� ������� ��������� �� ������
������� � � ����� �� ��� ������� ���� � ��� ��� ���������� ������ ������ ����� ���� ��� ��� ����� ��� �������� ���� ������ � ���� ����� ������ ��������� �� ��������� ���� ���� ���� ������ �� ��� ������������
������������������������������������� ���� ������� ����� ��� ��������� �� ������ ��� ���� �������� ���������� ����� ��� �������� ��������� ���� ��� ������� �� ������ �������
� ���������� � ������� ����������
������������������������������������� ���� �� ����� �� ����� ������ ��� ��������� ���� �� ��� �������� ��� ��� ���������� �� ���� �� ��������� �� ���������� ����� ��� ���������� �� ���� ����������� ��� ���
��������������������������������������� ������������ ���� �������� ������� ��� ������� ������ ������� ���������� �� ����� �� ��� ����� ������ ��� �������� ��������� ���� ����� ���� �� �������� ������������ �������
��� ������� �� ��� ������ ������� ���� �� ��� ����������� �� ��������� ��� �� ��������� ����� ������ �� ���� �� �������� �� ��� �������� ��� �������� ��� �������� ��� ���������� �� � ���������� ������ ���� ���
��� ������������� ��� �������������� ������ ������� ��� ��� ��� ��������� ����� �������������������������������������� ��������� ���� ��� �������� ��� ���� ������ �� �������� ����������� �� �����
�� �� ��� �������������� ��� �������� ����� ���� ����������� ������� ��� �������� ������ ����� ����� ����� ��� ��� ������� ������� ����������������������������������� ������� ����������� ���������� �� ������� ���������� ��� �� ��� �� �������� �� �����
���� �������� �� ���������� ��� ���� ������ ������������������������������������� ������������� ���� ����� ���� ��� ��� ����� ����� ������� ���� ����� �������� ���� ����������� ��� �������� ��������� ������� ��� ����������� �� ������ ��� ������
���� ������� �������� ������� ����������������������������������������� �� ��� ����� ������ �� ���� ������� ������� ����������������������������������� �������� �� � ������� ��� �������� ������ ����
�� ��� ������ � ��� ��������� ����������� ��� ����������� ��� ������������� �� ��������� ���� �� �� �� ��� ������ ���� ������� �������� ��� ��������� ������� ����������
��� �� ������� ��������� �� ���������� ���������� ��� �������� ������������ �� ������������ ��������������������������� ����������������������������� ��� �� ��� �������� �������� ��������� ��
��� �������� � ���������� �� ���������� ������������������������������������ ����� ���������� ���� ������ �������� ��� ��������� ���� �� ������� ��������� ����� ��������������������������������������� ���� ������� �������� �������� ������ ��
���� ��� ��������� ��� ���� ������ ���������������������� ������������������ ������������������������������������� ���� ������� ������������� �� ������� ��� �������������������������������������� � ������ ������������������ �� ���
�������� ��� ����� �������� �������� ����� ��������������������������������������� ������ ��� ������� ��� ��� ��� ������� ����� ����� ������� �� ������������� ���� ��������� ��� �������� �� �������� ������� ������� ����� �������� ������ ����
���������������������

��
��� ������ �������� ��������� ����� �� ����

��� ��������� ����


������ ����
�� ������ ����� ��� �������� ���� ��� ����
�������� �� ���� ���� �� ������� �����
� ������ ��������

������� ��
�� ��� ������


������� ������
��������� ��������������������������������������� ����
������� ��� ����� �������� �� ���
������������������ ��������������� �������������

������� ��� ����������� �����


�� ��������������� ���������� ����� �� ��������� ���� ���������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������
������������������������������������� �������� �������� ���� �� �� ��� ����� � �������� ������� �������� �� �������� ��� ���
�������� �� �������� ������ ����������� ���� �� ������


������������������������������������������� ������� ����� ������ ������ ��� ���� ���� ����� ���������������������������������������
�� ���������� �� ������ �� ��� ��������� ������������� ������ �� ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ���� �������� ���� �� ���� ��� ��������� �����
��������� ��� ����� ������� �������� ����� ���� �������� ����� �� ���� ���� �� ������� �� ��� ����� ������� ��������� ��������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
��� ������ ��� ������ �� ��� ��� ����� ����������� ����� ������ ��������� ������� �� �������� ������
������ ����� ������� ������� ����� ������������� ����������� ����� �� �� ��� ��
���������� ���� ��� ��� ������ ������� �� ������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������
�� �������� �������� �� ��� ���� ������ ��� �������� ����� ��� ���� ��� �� �� ��� ������ ������� � ������������� ���� ���������������������������������������� � ������� ��� �� ��������
����������� ���� ��� ������������ ��������� ������������� ������������� ����� �������� �� ��� ����� ������� � �� �� ����������� ����������� ������� ���� ������������������������������������
����������� ������������������ �������������� ����������������� ������������ ����� �������� �� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� ����� ��������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������
�������� ��� ������� �� �� �������� ����� �� ����� �� � ���� �� �� ������ ����� ��� ���� ������ ����� ����������� �� ����������� ���� ������ ��� ������ ������� ���� ������ �� ��� ����� ���� �� ���� ������������� ����
���� �������� ����� ���� ������� ��� �� �� ����� �� ������ ������� ����� �������� �� ������ �� ����� ����� ����� ������� ��� ��� ���������������������������������������� �� ������������ ������� ��������� �������
��� ������ ��� ����� �� ��� ��� ����� ������ ���� ��� ����������� ��� ���� ������ ���������������������������������������
���������� �� �� ����� ������ ����� �������� ������ ��� ������������ �������� �� ����
����������� ���� ��� ���� ���� ������ ����� ���������� �� ��� �������� ����� ����� ���� ��������� ��� ��������
���� ���� �� ������ ������������ �������� ��� ���� �������� �� �������� ������ �� ��� ���� �� ��� ��� ���� ���� ��� ��� ����� �� ��������� ����� �� ������� ���� �� ������������ ������ ��� ��������� ���
�� �������� ����� ������� �� ������� � ������������� ��������� �� ��� �������� ��� ����� ����� �������� ������� �� �� ������� �� �������� ��������� ��� ������ ��������� ��������� ���� ��� ������ ������� �������
���������� ��� ��� �� ����� � �� ������ ����� ���� ��������� ������� ���������� ������ ��� ��� ����� ��� �������� �������������� ���� ����� �� ��� ����� �� �������� ������� ��� ���� ���������� �� ������ �������� �������
�������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������� �������� ����� ��� ����������� ���������� ��� ��� ��������� ���������� ��� ��� ���� ��� ���
�������� ������� ����� ����� ��� ������� ���������� ������ ������ ������� ��� ����� ���� ���� ��� �� ����� ����� ����� �� ����� ���� ������� ������� ��� ������� ������� ���� ����� �������� ���� �� ������� �� ��� ����� �� ����� ���
�������� ��� ����� ���������� ���������� �� ������� ������������ ��� ��������� �� �������� ���� ������� ��� ��������� �������� ��������� �� ������ �� ��� ���� ��� ������� ��������� ��� ��������� � �������� �����
��������� ��� ������ ����� ���� ������ ��� ������� ����� ��� ������� ���� ���� ������ ������������������������������������������
�� ���� ������ �� ��� ���� �� ������� �� ��� ������� ���� �� �� ���� �������� ��� ������� ����
������������������������������������� ���� ������� �� ���� ��� ���� �� ���� ����� ���������� ��� ��������� �������
���������� ���� �������� ���� �� ��� ���� ������ ���� ��� ������� ���������� ��� �� ������������ ���� ��� ��������� ������� ������������������������������������ ����� ���� ���� ���������� �������
��� ���� ���� ��� ������� ����������� ��� ��������� ����� �� �������� �� ����� ������ ������ ��� ��� ������������ ����� �� ������ ������������������������� ��������������� ���� ����� ����� ��� ����� �� � ������� ��
����� ���� �� ���������������� ���������� �������� ��������� ������� ��� ������� ��� �������������������������������������� ��� ��� ������� ��������� ��� ��� ����� �� ��������� ����������� �� ��� ������� �������
����� ���� �� ��������� �� ���������� ����� ���� �� �� ��� �� ��� ��� ���������� �� ��� ������ �������� ������ ��� ���� �� ���� ��� ���� �� �������� ���������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������� ��� ��� ��� ��������� ������� ��� ��������� ������� ��� ����� ������� ������ ��������� ����� ������� ������� �� �������
������ �� � ��� ���� ��� ���� ����� ���� ��� �������� �������� ��������� ������� ����������������������������������������
��� �� ����� ���������� ������� �� ���������� ������������ �� ����� ���������� ������� ��
��������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������
���� �� ��������� ���������� ����� ������ ������ ��� ����� ������� ��� ������ �� ��� ���� ���������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ��� �������� ������ �� ��� ������������ ������
�� ��� ������ �������������������������� ���������� �� ��� ����� ������ �� �������� �� ����� ������ ������� ����� � ��������� �� ��� �������� ���� ��� �� ����� ������� �� ���������� �� ��� ��� ���� �� ��� ��������� ��� ������� ��������
���� ������ ������� ��������� ������� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ����� �� ��� ������������� ��������������������������� ������������� ����� ����� �� ����� ���� �� ������� ���� ��� ��� ���� �� �������� �������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������ ��� ��� ��� ������ �� ��� ������� ���� ������� ��� ��������� ��� ��������� ������� ��� ���������� �� ��� ��� �� ��� ������������� ������ �� ���� ����
������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� �������� ��������� ��� �������������������������������������� ������ ������ ����� ���� ���� �� � ����������
������� ���� �� ������ ��� ������� ������� ���� ����������������������� ��� ���� ����� ���� ������������� ���������� �������
�� �� ��� ��� �� ��� ������������� ����������� ���� ��� ������������� ���� ��� ��� ��� ������ ����� ���� ������ ���
��������� �� ��������� �� ���� ����� ��� ����� � ���� ����� ��� ��������� ������� �� � �������� ���������������������� �������� ���� �� ���
���������� ��������� �� ������ �� �� ������ ������ � ������ �������� ��������� ���� ���� ��� ���� ������ ���� �������� ��������� ������� ������ �� ��� � ��� ��� �� ��� ����� �������� ������� ����� �����������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������� �� �� ����� ��� ������ ������� ��������� ��� ����������� ���������� ���� ���������� �� �������� ����� ��� ��� ������� ������� ����
���� ������ �����
��� ������� ����������������������� �������� ������������ �������� ������ ������ ��� ���� �������� ���� ��� ����� �� ���� �� ������� �������� ������ ���� �� ������ ����� ������ ������� ������ ������� ��� ������� ��
������������ ���� ���
��� ������ ������� �� ������������ ������������ ��� ���������� �� ��������� ������� �� � ��� ������ ��������� ��� ���� ����� ��� ����� ������ �� �������� �������� ���� �� ��������� ��� ��������� ������ �� �������� ��� ������
������ ��� ���������� ������ �� ���� ���� ������ � ������ ������ ������������ ��������������������������������������� ��������� ������� ������ ��� �� ��� ������ ������� ������� ���� ����� �� �����������������������������������������
���������������������������������������� ��� ������������ ����� �� ������ �� ���� ��������� �� ���� ������ �� ����� ���� ����������� �� �������� �� ������� ����
����� �� �� ��������� ������� �� ��� ���� �� �������������� �������� ���� ����������������������������������������� ������������������������������������
���������������������������������������� ���� ������ ������ ��� ������� �� ����� ���� ������� ������� ��� ���� ��� ������� �������
�������� ��� ������
����� ��� ���� ����� �� ������� ������������ ������� ��� �������
���� ��� ��������
�����������������������������������
����������� ��� ����������
�� ��� ������ �������� ������
������� ������������ ��� ������� ����� ����
����������������������������������������
�� �������� ������ ���� ������ ���� ������
����� �� ������ ������ ��������������
������������������������������������
��� ������������ �� ����� ������� ��� ����
��� ������� ������� ��� ������� ����� ���� ���������� ��� ��� ��� ���� ������� �� ��������� ������� ���� ��� ��� ��������� �� ������ ����������� ��� ����
���������� �� �������� �� ���� ������ ����� ������� �� �������� �������� ��� ������ ������ ���� ����� ����� ������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������
�������� �������� ���� ������ ���� ���� �� ���� ���� ��� ���� ��������� ������� ���


���� ���� ��������� ������� ��� ������ ���� ������������������������������������� ���� �����������
�������������������������������������� ������ �� � ��� ���� ���� ��� �������� ������� ���������
��������� ������� ��������� �� ��� ���������� ������ ���������
������ �� ����������� ����� ����� � ����� ������ ������� ������ � ������
������������������������������������ ��� ���� ����� �������������������������������� ��� ������ �� ����� ���������� ������

������� ����� ��� �� ���������� ��������� �� � ������ ������� ���� �����


������ ���� �������� �������������� ���� ����� ������ ��� ��������� �������
����� ������ ��� ������������������ ���������������� ��������������������������������

��� ������ ������


���� ��� �� ��� ���������� �� ��� �������� ����� ������ �������� �� ������� �� ���������
����� �� ��� ���� ���� �� �������� ��� ���� ���� ���������� �� �������� �� ��� �������� ���
������� ��������� ������� ��� ������� ������ ��������� ��������� ��� ������� ��� �������
����� ��� �������� �������� ������ �� ��� ������� ��� ������ ����� �� ������ ����� ��������
����� ������� ��� ���� ���� ������������� ���������� �� ������ ������� ����� ���
��� ����� �� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� �������� ��� ������ ���������� ���������� ��������� �������
��� ������������ �������� �� ��� ����� ��������� ����� ���� ���� ��� ������ ���
����� ���������� �� ���������� �� ��������� �� ���������� �������� �� �����������
������� �� ����� ���������� ��� �������� ����� �� ��� ���������� ���� ����� ��� ���������
�������� �������
��� ����� ������ ������ ��������� ������ �� ������ ��������� ����� ����� ��� ��� ������ �������� ���������� ����� �������� ���� � ����������� ����������� ������� ������ �� � ������ ������� �� ���� �������� �
������������ ����� ��� ��� ����� ����� �������� �� ����� ���� �� ��� ������� ������� ��� ���������������������������������������� ������ ��� ��������� ��������� ����������� �������������������������������������������
��� � ������ ���� ���������� ��� �������� ������� �� ��� �������� � � �������� �� ���� ����������������������������������������� ��� ���� �� ��� ���� ������� ���� ��� ������ ��������� �� ����� ���� ������ ���� ��������
���� ������������� ����������� � �� ����� ���� ���� ����� ������� ���� �������� �������������������������������������� �� ���� ��� ������ �� ���������� ����� ���� ���������� ����������� �� ������ ��� �� ����
��� ������ ��� ������������� ��� ��������� ��������� �������� ���� �������� ��� ������ �� �� ����������� ���� �������� ����� ���� ����� ����� ���� ������� �������� ����� �������� ������ �� ������ �������� �������� ��� �� �� ����
���������������������������������������������������������� �������������������� �������������������������������������������� ��������� �������� ��������� �� ������� �� ������ ��������� � ��� �� ����� ���� ����
������������������������������������� ������� ����� �� ��� ���� �� ��������� � ���� ���� �� ������ ��� ��� ������
�� � ������� ���� � ������ �� ���� ������������� ����������� �������� �� ��� � ������
������������������������������������ ���� ������ ���� ������� ���� �� ��������� �� ��������������������� ��������������
��������� �� ���������� ��� �������� ����������� �� � ������ ������� �� � ������� �������� ���������� ��� ������ ����� �������� ����������������������������������� �����������������������������������������
���� ������ ��������� ������ �� ������ ���������� � ������� ��� ������� ���� ���� ���� ����������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ������ ��� ����������� ��������� ��� ������
�� ��� ���������� ���� ��� ���������� ����� �� ���������� ����������������������������������������� �� ����������� �������� � ��� �� �������� �� ������� �� ����� ��� ������� ��������� ��
����� �� � ������ ��� ���������� ��� �������������������� ��������� ����� ��� ������ ������ ���� ��� �������������� ���� ��� ����� ���� ���� �� ������ ������� ��� ����� ������� ������ ��� ����������
����� ��� ���������� �� ��� ����� ��� �� ���������� ��� ��� ������ ����� �� ��������� �������������������������������������� ��������� ��������������������������� ������������������������������������
������� ���������� � ����� ����� �� �������� ���� ������� ������� ��������� ��� ��� ������ ��������������������������������������
��� �������� ������� �������� ������� ������� ��� ������������ � ����� ���� �� ���
������ ��������� ������� ������������ ��� ��� ��������� ��������� �������� ���� ���� ���������������������������������������
�������� �� ���������� ������ ��� ������ �� ��� ���������� ��� �� ��� ����������� ���� �������� ���� ��������� ��� ��������� ������� ��������� �� ���������������� �������� �����������������������������������������
��������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ �� ������ �������� � ����� ����� ���� ��������������������������������������� ���� ������ ������� ���� �� ��� � ���������� ���
�� �� ���� ���� ��� ����� �� �� ���������� ���� ����� ��� ������������ �������� �� ��� ������ ����� ��� ������� �������� ��� ��� ��� ��� �� ��������� ��� ����� ��� �������� � ���� �� ������ ������ ������� ��� ������ �
���� ��������� �������� ��������� ��� ������ �� ����� ��������� ��� ������ ����������� ����� ������� �� ��� �������� �� ������� ��� ������� ����� �� ������������ ��� ��������� ����� �� � ����������� ������ ����������
���������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ���� ���� ��� ������� ����� �� ��� ������������� ������ ��� ������� �������� ��� �������������� ���� ����������� ��������� ��� ���������� �������� ����� �������
���� ����� ��������� ��������� ��� �������� ����������� ����� ��������� ��������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������
�� �� ������ ���� ���� ��������� �� ����� ������� �� ����� � �������� ��� ��� ������������
������������ ������ ������� ��� ���� ��� ��� �������� � ����� �� ������� ��������� ��� ���������������������������������������
��� �� ��� ��������� ���������� �� ���� ��� � ������� ���� ��������� ��� �� ����� �� ���� ��� ��� ������� �� �������� ���� �� ������
����� ��� ����������� ��� ��������������������������������������� ��� ����������� ��������� ���� ��� �������
��� ���������� ������� ����� ��� ��� ����� �� ��������� � ��������� ��������������� ������ ������������ ��������� �������� ��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� ������ ��� ����������� ������ ���������� �������� �������� ��� ������� ����������������������������������
��� ��� ��� ����� �������� ������ �� ���� �� ��� �������� ����������� � ��� ��� ���������� �� ��� ���� ����� ������ ������� � ����� ��� ���������

�������� ���� ��������


��������� �� ��� ������� ������� ����� � �� � ���������� ����� ����� ��� ���� �� ������ �������� ������� ��������� ������ ��
���� �� �������� ������ ��������� ��������� �������� ������� ��� ������ ����� ���� ����� �������� �� � ������ ������������������������������������������
��������������������������� ����������� ������� ������ ����� ��� ��� ���������� ���� ������� ������� �������� ���������� ������������ ��� ���� �� �������
�������������������������������������� ������ ������� �� ����� ��� ������� �������� � ���������� ����� ��� ��� ������ � ������������ ������� ����
� ������� ����� ���� ���� ������� ���� ���� ������ �� ������� ������ �� � �������� ��������� ��� �������� ������� ��������� �� ������� ������� ���������� ���� ������� �������
������� ����� ��������� ����� ���� �� ����������� ������ ����� ��� ��������� ��������� ������� ��� ���� ��� �� ������������ ������� ������� ���� �� ����� ��� ������ �� � �������� �� ��� ������ ����


��� ����� �� ����� ����� ��� ������ ��� �� ����� ������� ���� �� ������� ������ ������� ������� ��� ����� �� �� ������� �� ��� ���������� � ������ �� ������� �����������
�� �� ��� ���� �������� ����� �� ������� � �� ��� ������ ����� ��� ������ �� ����� ��� ����� ���������� �� ��������� ��� ��� ���������� ��� ������ �������� �������� �� �� ��������� ��� � �������� ������ �� ����� ���
���� � �� � ���� ���� �� ������ ����� ��� ����� ��������� ����� �� �������
������ �� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� ������� ����� ��� ��������� ��������� ��
������������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������
������ ��� ��������� ������ ����� ��� ������ �� ������ � �������� �������� �� � ������� ����� ����� �� ����� ����� ����� ���
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�� ��� �� ������ �� �������� �� �������� ������� ������ ���� ���������� ���� ������� ��� �������� ��� ������ ����� ������� ���� ��� ���� ��������� ������� ������� �������� ������� ��
���������� ����� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� �� ������� ���� ������ ������� �������� ������� �� ��� �������� ������ ������� ����� ��� ������� ���� �� ���� ���������
��� ������� �� ������� �������������� ���������� ��� ����� ���� ������� ������ ���� ���������������������������������� ������ ��� ��� ������ �������������� �� ��� ���� ������� �� ����������� ������� ������ ��
�������� ��� ��������� ���������� �� ������ ���� ����� ��� ���� ����� �� � ����� �� ���� ������ �� ��� ����� ���������� �������
������������������ �����������������������������������������������������������
��� ���� ������������ ���� ��� ���� ��� �� ���� �� ����� ����� ������� ���� ������ ���
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�������� ��� ����� �� ���� ������ � ����� ������� ���� ��� ������� ����� � ���� � ������
�������������������������������������
�������������������������������������
������ �� ������ �������� �������� � � �����
����������������������������������������
������ �����������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������� ������� ��� ����� ���������� ���� ��� ����� ������� �������� ��� ��������
������� �� ������ ����������� ������������ ������ ������������ �� ������� ����� ���� ��� ���� ���� ���� ���������� ���� ��� ������
��� �������� ����� �������� ���� �� ���� �
������ �� ���������� ��� �������������� ���������� �� ������� ����
��������������� �� ���������� ��� �������� ��
������� ��� ������� ������� �� ������ ����� ���� �� ����� ������ ��� ������������ �������
�������� �� ��� ������ ������� ���� ������� ��������� � �������������� ���������� ���� ��� ������ ������ �������
��� ����� ������ ����� ��� ���� ����������� ������ ��� ����������� �� ������� �������
���� ���� ������ ���� ������ ��� ��������� ����� ��������� �� ��� ������� �������
�� ����������� ������� ��� �������� �� ������ ��� ��� ����� ��� ����� ���������� �����
��� �� ������� �� ������ �� ������� ����������� ��������� ���� ������� ����� ������ � ��� ����������� ������ ���� ������ ����� �� ������������� ������ �
������� �������� ������� ������ �� �����
�������������������������������������
����������� ��������� �� ����� ���� ������
�� ��� ���� ���� ������ ����������� ���� �� ���� �� ������ ��� ��������� �� � ����� ������� ��� ���������� ������� ������� ��� ������ �� ��������� ������� ������� �� ��� ��� ��������� ������ ������ ���� ��� ����� �����
������� ��� ���������� ��� ���� �� ������ ���� ���� � ����� ������ ��� �� ��� ��� ������ ������ ������ ��� ��� ������� ������� ������ ����������������������������� ��������� ����� �� ������ �� �� ��� ����������
���������������������

�� ��� ����� ����


��� ������ �������� ��������� ����� �� ���� ���� ��� ������ ���
���� ���� ��� ����� � ����� ���� ���� ��� ���� �� � ������ ��� ����������
�������� �� ��� �������� ��� �� ���� ���� ���� � �������� �� ��� ������� �� ���
���������� �� ��� ��� ��� ��� ������ ����� �� ��������� ������ ���� ������� �� ��
���� ��� ���� ���� ��� � �� ��� �� �������� ���� ��� �������� � ��� ��������

������������� �� �� ����� ���� �� ���� �����


���������������� ��������� ��������� ��� ���������� �� ��� ��������� �� ��������� ��������
���� �������� �������� ����� ��� �� ���������� ����� ����� ��� ������
�����
������� ������� ���������� ������� ������ ��
������� �������� �������� �� ������ �����
������ ��� �������� �� �� � ���� �� �����
����������������������������������������
���� �� ����� ������������ ���� ��� ������
���� ����������� �� �����������
����� ����� ����� ��� ���� ��� ������
������� �������� ������� ������������ ��� ��� ����� ������
���� ��� ������ ���������� ������� ���� ����
�� ������ ��������� ��� ��������� ��� ������� �� ��� ���
������ ��������� �������� ���� ��� ������
�� � �������� ����� ������ ���� ������ ������ ��������� ��� � ������� ���� ���
���� ������ ����������� ���� ����� ����� ��� ����� ������ ��� ������ ��� �������� ��������� ���
������ ��� ��� �� � ����������� �� ��� ��
����� �� ��� ����� ������ ������ ����������
�� ��� ������ ��������������������������������������
���� ������������
�������� �� ���������� �������� ��� ����� ���� ��� ����������� ��� �������� ����
�� ���������� �������� ����� ��� ����� �� ������� �� � ���� ����� �� ��� ���� ������ ��������� �� ��� ���������� �������� �� � ������
����� ��� ����������� �� ���������� ��� ����� �������������������������������������� ������������� ���������� ����� ��������
������� ��� �� ������ ������������� ������� ��� �������� ����� ��� ����� �������������������������������������
������ ��� ����� ������� ������� ��� ��� �������� ��������� �� � ����� ������� ��� ������� ���� ����� ���������������� �����
������� ���� ������ �� ��� ������������ ���� �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������
���������� �� ��� ���� ��� ������ �� �� ����� ������ �� ����� ���� ��� ���� �� ����� ���� �� ��� ����������� ����������� ���� ���� ����
������� �� ���������� ������������ ���� ���� �������������������������������������� �������������� ������� ��� ������������ ���
���� ��������� ���� ����������� ����������� ����������������������������������� ���������� �� ������ ������������ ��� �����
����� ���� ����� ����� ������ ���� ��� �� ��� ��������� �� ����� ��� ���������� �������� ������ ����� �������� ���� ���� �� ��� �����
���� ������ �� ������������� �������������������������������������� �������� �� ��� ������������ ��� ����������
��� ������������ �� ��� ���������� ���� ��������������������������������� ������ ����������� �� ��� ������ ����� ���
������� ��� ��� ������������ ��� ������� ����� �� ���� �� ������� ���� ������ ���� ��� ��������� ��������� �� � ��������
����� �� ������� �������� ��� ������������ ����������������������������� ����� ������� �� �������� ���������� ��� ��� ���
�� ���� ������� � ���� ������� �������� ��� ���� ���� ��� ���� ����� ���������� ������� ������ ������� �� ������ ��������� ��������
������ �� ��� ��� ��� ���������� �� ���� ��� ��� ��������� ���� ��� ��������� ���� ��� ��� ��� ��������� �� ��� ������ ����� �������
��� ���� ����� ������������ �� ������� ���� ����� �� ������� �� ��� ���� �� ���� � ����� �� ��� ����������� �� ��� ����� ���� �����
������� ����� �� � ���� ��� ����� ���������� ������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������
������� ��������� ����������� �� ��� ��������������������� ��������������� ��������� ������������ ��� ������������
���������� �� �� �������� ������������ �� ��� ���� ��� ��������� ����������� �� ����� ���������� ��� �������� �������� �� ������
���� ��������� ��� ���� ����� ������ �� ������� ��������� ���� �� �������� � ������� ���� ������� ��� ���� �� ����� ��
������ �������������� �� ��� ���� �� ������ ���������� ����������������������������� ��� ������ ����� ���� ������� ��������� ���
��� ���� �� ������ � � ������� ���� �� ���������������������������������������� ���� �� ����� � ������ �� ���� �������� ��
�������� ��� ������ �� �������� ��� ������������������������������������� ������������������������ ������������
�������� ������ �� �� ��������� �� ���� ���� ������� ����� ����������� �� ������� ������� �� ������� ����� ���� ������� ������
���� �� ������� ���� �� ��� ���� �������� ������������������������������������ �� ��� �������� ����� ������� ��� � ����� ���
�� ��� ������� ���� �� �� ���� �������� ������� �� ��� ������� ������� �� ����� ������� ������ ���
��� ������� ��� �� ��� ����� ������ �� ����� ����� ������� ����� ���� ������ �� �������� ��� ������� ���� ���� ����� ������
��� ������� ������� �������� �� �������� ������ �� ����� ��� ����� ���� ��� ������ �� ��� �������� ����� ������� ������ �����
���������� ����� ������ ��� ����������� � � ��������� ������� �� ����������� �������� ������� ��� ��� ��� ��������� �������� �� ������� ���
��� ����� ���� �� �� �������� �� ���������� ��� ������ ������ ������ ������� ������ ����� ����������� ���� ���
�������� ����� �� ��� ���� �� ��� ������� ����� � ������ ��� �������� �������� ��� ����� ���� ���� ������ ��� ������ ���� ��� ���� ������ ������� ��� ����� ������ ��� �������� ����������� �� ���������
��� ���� ���� �� ��������� �� ���� ����� ���� � ������ ���� ��������� �� ��� ���� ��������� �� �� ��� ����� �� ������� ��� ��������� �� �������� ��������� ��� ���� ������� ��� ������� �������� ����� ��� ���
����� �� �������� ��� ������ ����� ��� ����� ������ ������� ����� ������ �������� ����� ����� ���������� �� ���� ���� �� ���� ���������� � ����� ���������� ������� ��� ���� ���� �� ���� �� ��� ������ ����������� ���� ����
����� ���� ���������� �������� �������� ���� ������� �� � ������ ������� ���� �� �� ������ ������ ���������� �������� ����� ��� ������ �� ������ ���������� � ������� �������� �� ������� ��������� �� ����������
���� ��� ������� ���� ���� �� ������� �� ����� �� ����� ��� �� ���� ��� ������� � ���� �� �������� �� �� ������ � ��������� �� ��� ������ �� �������������������������������������
����� ��� �������� �� �������� ���� ����� ���� ����� ������ �� ������� � ��� �������� ���� ����� �������� ������ �� ����� ������ ��� ������ ����� ������� �� ������� ����� ���� ��������� ��� �������
�� ��� ��� �� ���� ����� ���� ��� ����� ������ ������ ��������������� ����� ���� ���� ��� ���������� ���� ��� ��������� ���� ��� ����� ��� �� ������� ��� � ������� ���������� ��������
���� �� ����� �������� �� �������� ������ �������� ��� �� ����������� ������� �� ��� ���������� ������ ������� �������� ������ ��� � ����� �������� ����� ��� ������ ����� ������ ��� �������
����� ����� ���� ������� ����� ����� �� �������� ������� ����� ���� ��� ����� ��� ��� ���������� �������� ��������� ��� ���� �� �� ������������ ������� �� ����� �� ��� ���� �� ������ ������ ��� �� ��� ���
��� ����� ���� ��� ������� ����� ������ ����� ������� ���������� ������� ��� �������� ��� ����� ������ ��� ������������ ������������������������������������
�� ��� ���������������� ��������� ����� ����� ����������� ��������� ���� ������ �������� ��� ����� ������ ��� ���������� �� ����� ������� ����� ������� ��� ��� �� ����� ��� ��� ���� ������� ������� ��� ������� ������ ��
���� ��������� ��� ���������� �� ���������� ��������� ������ ������� ��� ��������� ��� ���� �� ���������� ���� ������� ��� ������ ���� ������ ��������� ����� ��������� ��������� ���� ��� ���� ��� ������� ������ ���� ������ ����� �������
���� ������� �������������� ���� �� ���� �� �������������� ���������� ������ ��� ����� ��� ��� ���� �� ��� ���������� ������������ ����� ���� ��������� ������� �� ������� ����� �����������������������������������������
����� ������������� ��������� �� ��� ���� ��� ���� ��� ���� ������� ��� ��� ������� ���� �������� ������� ��� ��������������� ������ ���� �������� ��� ��������� ���� �� ��������� ���� � ����������� ���� ������ �� ��� ������� ������ ������
�� ��� ������� ������� ������������������ ���� ��� �������� �� ������ ���� ������� �� ��������� ���� ��������� ����� ����������� ���� ��� �� ������� �������� ���� ��� ������� ������ ������� ���� ���� �� ��� ����� �� �������� ��� �������
���������� �� ����� ������� ���� �� ��� ���� ��� ������� ��������� ��� ������� ��� ��� ������� ���� ���� ���� ������� ������� �� ������� ������ ���� �� ��� �������� ���� ��� ��������� ��� ����� ����� ��� ��������� ��������� ��������� ����
��������� ��� ��������� ���� � ������ ���������� ������������ �������� ��������� ���������� ������ ��� �� ��������� �� ����� ��� ������������ ���� ��������������������������������������� �������������������������������������
�������������� �� ������ �������� �� ������ ���� ����� ������ �� ���� �� ������� �� ����� ���� ����� ������� �� ����� �� ��� ���� ��� ��������� ��� ��� ��� ������������ �� ��� ����� �� ��� ������ ����� ��� ������ ��
���� ���� �� �������� �� ����� �� ����� ����� ����� �������� ���� ��� ������ ������������ ����� �������� ���� ����� ��� ����� ���� ������� ����� ������� ����� ������ �� ��������� ����� ���� �� � ��� ���� �� ��� ������� ��� �������� �����
������ ����� ������ ���� ���� ��� ��� ��� ������ ������ �� � ��������� �������� ��������� ��� ��� ������� ������� ����� ������� ��� ���� ������ ���� ��� �� ������������ ��� ��������� �� ��� ������� ���������� �� ��� ������ ��� �
������� �� ��� ��� ���� �������� �������� ���������� �������� ����� ��������� ���� ����� ������ ���� ���� ������� ��� �� ���������� ����� ��� ����������� �� ���� ������ �������� ������������ ����������
��� ������� ���� �� ��� ������� ���� ����� ������ �� � �������� ������� ������ ���� ����� ������� �� ���� ���� ����� �� ����� ���������������������������������� �������� ������ ����� ����� ��������
������������� ��� �������
���� ��������� ��� ����������������� ������ ������ ���������� ������� �� ���� �� �� �������� ������������������������������������� ����� �������� ��� �������� �� ������ �� ��
������������ ������ ���� ��� ���� ���� ������ �������� ��� ����� ��� ���� �� ������� ������ ������ ����� ���������� �� ��� ����� ������� �� ������� �� ��� ������ ���������� ��� �� ����������� ���������� ����� ��� ���� ���
��� ��� �� ������ �������� ��� ��� ����� ���� ���������� ���� ���� �������� ������� ��� ������� ��������� ���� ����� ����������� ������� �� �� ����� ���� �� ����� ��������������������������� ����������� ����� �� ��� ������ ������ ��������� ��� ����
�������� �������� �������� ������� �� �� ��������� ���� ��������� ��� ������� �������� ������ ��� ���� �� �� �� ����� �� ��� ���� ��� ������ ���� ��� �� ������� ��������� ���� ���� ���� �������� ���� ������� �� � ����� �������� ������
���� ������������ ����� ������ ��� ���� ���� ���� ���������� ������ ��� �� ����������� ���� �� ���������� ����� ��� ���� ������� ��� �� ������ ����� ��� ������� ������ ����� ������ �� ������ ������� ���
������� �� ����� ���� �� ����� ���������� ����� �������� ���� ����� ��������� ���
������� ������ ������� �������� ���� ���� �� ������ ���� � �������� �� ��� ����� �� ������� ���� ����������� �� ��������������������������������������
������ � �� ���������� ��������� � ������ ��� ������� ���� ����� ������ �������� �� �������� ���� �� ������� ����������� �� ���� ���� �� ����� �������� ������������������������������������ ������� ����� ��� �������� ���� �� � ��� �����
��������� �������� ��� � ������� ���� ��� ������ ��� ������� ������� ������ ��� ���� ��� ����� ����� ����� �� ���� �������� ��� ���� �� ������� ��� ����� ��������� �������� ����� �������� �� ��� ������ ����� ������� ���
������ � �� � ������� �� � �������� ����� �� ������ ������� ��������� ������ ������ � ��� �������� ���� ��������� ������ ���� ���� ������� ��� ������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
��� ����� ����������� ������ ��������� ��� ���� ����� �������� ������ ��� ���� �� ���� ��� ��� ��� �� ��� ����� ������� ��������� ���� ��� ������� ��� ��� �� �� � ����� �� �������
����� ����������� ���� ��������� ���� �� ������� ������ ������� �������� �� ��������
������ �������� ���� ���� ������ �� ������� ��� ������������ �� ���
������� �� ��� ���������� ����� �������� ���� �� ������� ��� ���� ��� ����� ����� ������ ��� ������ ���� ��� ������ �� � ������ �������� ������������������������������������� ��� ������� ���������� ����� �����������
�� ��� ������� ������ ��������������� ��� ������ ������ � ��� �������� ������ ���� ����������� �� �� ��� ����� �� ��� ������� ����� �� ���� ��������� ���� ������ ����� �� ��� �� ���� ��� ���

����� �� � �� ������ ������� �� ��� ������


������ ��������� ��������� �����
��� �� �� ���� ����� �� ����� ���������� ����������������
���� ������ �� ��� ���������� ������� ���� ������ �� ��� �������� ���� �� ���
�� ��� ����� ���� ����� ��� ��� ������� ���� ��������� ���� ����� ��� �����������
������ ����� ���� ������� ����������� �� ��� ������� ����������� ������� ���� ������ ���
�������� ��� ���������� ������ ��� ��� �������� �� ���������� ���������
���� ������ �� ���� �� ����� �� �� ���� ���� ��� ����� ��� ��� ������� ����� ��������� ���������� � ������� ����� ������� ����� � ������ ����� �� ������� ����� �� ���������� ���������� ������ �������������������������������������
���������� ���������������� ������ ��� ���� �������������� ��� ��� ���� ���� ��������� � ����� ������ ������ ��� �� ������� ���� ���� ���� ������� ���� �� ���������������������������������� �� ����������� ������ ���� ������� ���
�� ���� ��� �� ��������� �� ���������� ���� ��� ����� �� ���� �� ��� ���� �� ��� �������� ��������� � ��������� ������ ��� ��������� �� ��� ����� �� �� ����������� �� ������� ���� ������ �������������� �������������� � ��������� �� ������ ���� ������ ���
��������� �� �� ��� ������� �� ���� ������ � ��� ����� ��� �� ��� �� ����� �� ��������� � ����� ����� ���� �� ���� �� �� ��� ������ �� ������� �������� ����� ��� ������� ������� ��� ������� �� ���� ����� ��������� �����������������������������������
������ ������� ��� ������� ������� �� ����� ���� ���� �� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ������� ���� � ����������� ����� �� ��� ������ ������ �� �� �������� ����� ������� ��� ���� �������� ������� ���� ���� ���������� ��� ������� �� �������
���������� ������� ���� ����� ��� �������� ��� ����� ��������� � �������� ������ ������ ������� �� ��� ������� ��� ������� ���� �������� ������� ���� ����� ��������� ������� ���������� �� ������ ������������������������������������
��� ������ �� ��� �� ��� ����� ������� �� ���������� ������� ���� ����� �� �� ����� ������ ������������ �������� �� ������ ��� ������ �������� ������ ������� ������ ���� ������ ��� ��������� �� ��� ��������� ���� ���� ��� ������� ������� ������������
����� ����������� ��� �� � ������� ����� � �������� ������ ���� �������� ���������� ��������� ���� ��� ���� �� � ������ �� ���� ���������� ��������������������������������� ���� �������� ���� �� ������������� ��
������� ��� ���� ���� � ����� �� ������ ������� ���� ������� ��� ��� �� ��� ����� �� ����� ��� ��� ������ ��� ���� ��������� ����� ����� ��� �������� ��������� �� ����� ���������� ��� �� ������ �� ���� �� ����������������������������������
�������� ������������� ��� �� ������� ������� ������� ����� ������ ������ ��� ������� �� ��� ���������� ������� ����� ��� ������� �� ����� ��� ������ ���� �� ����� �� ��� ����������� ������ �� ���� ����� �� �� ��� ��� ����� ���������� ����� ��������
������� ����������� ���� �� ��� ����� ��� ����� ���� ��� �� �������� ����������� ���� �������� ���������� ���� �� ������ ���� �� ������ �������� ���� �� ��� ��� ������� ������ �� ��� �� ������� ������������ �� �������������� �� ���
�� � ����� ��� ���� ����� ����� ������� �� �� �������� ����������� ������� ��� ������������ �������������� ���� ��� �������� ��� �� �������� ��� ������ ��� ��� ���� � � ������ ��� ����� ������� �������
��� ��������� �� ��� ��������� ������������ ������������� ������� � ��������� ������� ��� �� � ������� ����� ��� ����� �� �� ����� �� ����� �� ��� ���� �� ���� �� �� ���� ��� ������ ���� �������
�������� �� ��� ������ ���� ��� �� �������� ����� ������� ��� ��������� ����� ������� ���� ���� ��������� ����� ����� ��� ��� �������� �� ��� ������� ��� ����� ������������ ����
��������� ������
��� ���� ���������� ���� ���� ������
��� ���� �������� ���� �� ����������
�� �� ���������� ���� � ������� �������������
�� ��� ������� ����������� �� �� ���� ���
��������� ��� ��������� �������� ��� �����
���� ���� ����� ���� ���������
���� �� �� ������ ������� �� ��� ��� �������
��� ���� �� � ������ ��� ��� �������� ���� ���� ������ �� ��� �������� ����� �� ���
� �������� �����
��� ���� ��������� ���� �� ������� �� �� ������� ������ �� ������ ������� ��� ���������� ��� ��� ���� ��������� �� � ������ ���� ��� �� ���������������� �� ������ ���� �� ����� ����� ���� ����� ��� �� �� �������� ���� ������ �� ��� ���������� ��������
����� ����� �������� �� ���� ������������ �� � ���� ��� ��� ������ ���� ���� ���������� ��� �� ������� ��� ���� ����� ������ ����� ��� ���� ��� �� � ���� �� � ������� ���� �������� ��� ���� ��������� ������� ��� �������� ��������������������������������
������ �� � �������� ����� �� ������ ����� ����������� ���� ��� ������� ���� �� ��� ��� ����� ��� ���� ��������� ������������������������������������� ����������������������������������
��������� �� ������������ ������� ������� ��� ��������������� ��� ���� �� ��� ����� �� ��� ���������� ����� ����� �� ������ ��� ���������� �� ��� �� ������� ��� ���� ����������� �������� �� ����� ������ ����������������������������������
������ ������ � �� ������� � ������ �� ������ ��������� ������ �������� �������� ���� ���� ����������� �� ��� ��� �� ��� ������� �� ��� �� ������� ���� �� ������ ��� ������� �� ����� ��� ������� �������� ����� ������� ������� ��� ��� �������� ���� ���� �
����� ��������� ��� ��� ������ �� ��������� �������������� �� ����� ����� �� ��� ��������� �� ����� ���� ��� �� �� ��� ���� ���� ����������� ������� ����� ��� ���� ����������� �� ����������������������������������
�� �� ����� ����� �� ���� ����� ���� ��� � ������� ��������� ��� ����������� ����� �� ������ ����� ��� ���������� ��� �� ��������� ���� ��� ����� ���� � �������� ��� ���� ���������� ���� ��������� ��� ����� ������� �� ������� ���� � ���� ��
������������� ����� ��� �������� ���� �� ��� ��� �� ������ ���� ��� �������� ��������� ��� ���������� ���� �� ���� ��������� �� � ������ ��� �� �������� ���� ��� ��� ��� ����� ��� ������� �������� ��� ��� �� � �������� ����� �� ��������
����� ���� ���� �� �������� ������ ������ �� ��� �� ��� ������� ��� ��������� �� ������ ���������� �������� �� ������� ��� ������ �� �������� ��� ��� ������������� �� �������������� ��������������� ���� ���������� ���� ������ �� ���� �� ��� ����
������ ������ ������ �� ��� ������� ���� ������������� ���������� ���� ����� ���� ��� ������ ���� � ������ �� �������� �� ����� �� ���� ���� ���� ������� ����� ����� �������� �� ��� ����� ��� ���� ���� ����� �� �������� ������� �������
������ ����� �� ��� ����� ����� ����� �� �� ����� ��� ��� ����������� ���� ���� ����� �� ������� ���������� ������� �� ���������� �� ��� �������� ��������� ��� ����� �� � ����� ����������� �� ��� ��� ���� ���� ������ ��� �� ������� ���� ������ ��
��������� ����� ���� �������� ��� ���� �� ��� ��������� �� ������� � ��������� ����� ����������� ����� ����� ������� ������ �������� � ���� ���� ���� ����� �� ����� ��� �������� �� ������� �� ��� ��������� �����������������������������������
�������������� �� ������� ������� ������� ���� �� ��� ��� ����� ��� ��� ���� �� ��� ��� ����� ���� ����� ���� ��� ���� ��� ����� �� �������� �� ������� ������� ��������� ������ ������� ��������� ���� ���� ��� �� ������� � ������ �������
��� ���� �� ������� ������ �� ��������� ��� �� �������� ����� ����� ��� ���� ����� ������� �� � ����������� ���� �� ��� ��������� �� ������������� ��� �� ���� ���� ��� ����������� �� ���������� ������ ��� ���������������������������������
���� ������� ��� ����� �� �������� ������� ��� � ���� �� ���������� �������� �� ����� ��� ����� ���������� ����� ��� ���� � ������� ��� ��� ��� ���� ���� ��� ���� �� �� ��� ������� ������� ���������� ����� �� ������� �����
�������� ���� ����� ����� ��� �������� ����������� ���� ������ ��� ��� ������ �� � ���� ����� � ��� ����� ������ �� ������� ���� �� � ������� � � ����� ����� �������� ����� �������
��� ��������� �� ����� ��� ���� ���������� ������� ����� ������ ���� �� ������� ����� �� ��� �� ���� ������� ����� ��� ���
�������� �� ��� ������ ����� ������� �� ����� ����� ����� ��� �� ������������ ���� ���� ������� �� ��� ������� ��� ������� ������ �����������������������������
� ��������� �������

�������
������������������������
�������� ����� ���� ��������
����� �������� ��� �������� ������� � ����������
�� ��� ���� �������� ������� ���� ���� �� ����� �������
������� �� ��� ��� �� ��� ������� ��� ����� ���
��������� ������ �� ���������� �� ��� �������� �� ������� ��
���� ����� ���� �������� ���������������� ���� ����� ���
��������� ����� �� ���� ���������� ������� � ��������� ������� ��� � ������� �����

���� ��� ���� ������� � ����������� ����


���������� ������� ������������� ��� ������� ��������� ����� ����� �����������

�� ��������� ��� ��� �������


��� �������� �� � �������� ����������� ���� ����� ����
������ �� � ��� ������ �� ������� ������������� ��������


�������� ����� ����� ��� ���������� ����� ������ ��� ���
������������� ��������� ������ ��� ���������� � ��������


��������� ��� ������������� ����������������� ������� ���
���������������������������������������������������� � ��� ���� ��������� �� ���� ��� ������ ���������������� �� ���
���� ���� ���������� ���� ��� �������� �� ���� �������� ��������� ����� ������� ��������� ������ ���� ����� ���� ����� �� ��� ������
������������ ������ ��������� �������������������������� ������������ ������� ���������� ��
�������������������������
����� � ���� �������� ����������� ������� ������
������������ ����������� ���� ���� �����
��� ���� ��� �������� ���� �� ��� ������������� ��� ����� ���� ������� ����
�����������������������������������������������������������
������������� ��� ������� ������ �������� ��� ������������� �� ��� ������������
������ ����� ���� ����� ��� ���� � ����� ������ ������ �������� ��������������
����������������������� ��������� ����������� �������������� ��� ����� �������� �� ��� ������ ������� ��� ������������� ���� ��������� ��� ������� � ������� �������� �� ��������� ��� ��������������
�������� �� ��� �������� ��� �������� ����������� �� ���� � �������� ������ ��� ������� ������ ��� ������ ������� ��� ������� ������ ���
���������� ���� ������� ����������
��������� �������� ����������� ���� �������� ����� ������������� ���� ��������� ������� ������� ��� ��� ������ ���������� �� ��� ������
������������� ������������ �� ���� ������� �������� �� ��� ���������� ������ �� ������ �� ����� ����� ������� ���� ��� ������ �� �������
���� � ����� ����� �� �������� ���� ��� ������� �� ��� ���� �������� �������� �� ���������� �� �� ���� ������ �� �� ���� ������� �� ���� ���������� � ��� ��� ����� ���� ����� ����� ������ ��� ��������� ��������� �� ��� ���� �� ���
�� ��������� ������� ����� �� ��� ����� �������� ������� ����� ����� �� ������ �� ����� �������� ���� ������� ������� ���� ��� ���� �����������
������ ����� ��� ����� ���� ��� ������� ���� ��� ���� � �������� ���� ����� ������� ��� ��� ����� ������� ��������� �� ���� �� ������ ��� ������ ���� �� ��� ������ ����� ����������� ��� �� ��� ���� ����� ������� ���������
������ � �������� �� ����������� �� ���� �� ������������ ��� ����� �� ���� ������� �������� � ���������� ������ ������� ��������� �� ���� ������ �� � ��� ����� �������� ���� ��� ������� ���� ������� ��������� ����� �������
������� ������� ����������� �� �������� ������� �� ����������� ������� �������� ������� �������� �� ������� ������� �������� �� �������� ������� ���� �� ����� ����������� ��� ������� ��� ��������� �� ��������� ������ ��
�� ��� ���������� ��� �� ��������������� ���� �������� ������������� �� ����������������������������������� ���� ���� ����� �������� ����� ��� ���� ���� �� ��� �� �������� ������� ����� ������� ���������� ��� ������������
��� ����������� ����� ��� ������� �������� �������� �� ������ ��� ������ ��� �� ��� �������� ���� ��� ����� �������� �������� ����� ��� ������ �� ������ �� � ��� ���� ��� ���� ��� ���������� �� ���������
����������������������������������������������������������� ��� ������� ��������� ��� ���������� �� ������������������� �������� ��� ���� ������ �� ��� ������ ����� ���� ���� �������� �� ����� � ������ ���� �������
����� �� �� � ���������� �� ��� ������ �� �������� ������� ��� ������� ����� �� ������������� �� ��� ����������� ��� ���� �� ������ ��� ����� ��� ���� ���
������� �� ��� ��������������� ������ ��� ���������������� ��� ������ ���
������ ������� ��� �� ��� � ��������� ��� ��������� ������� ������� ��� ������ ��� ������ � ������ �������� ��������
������������� ������ ��� ����� ���� ������ ������� ��� ������� ��� ���� ���� �� ��� �� �������� �������� ��� ��� ������ �� ����� ����� ��� ��� ���� ���� ��� ����� ����� ��� ��������
���������������������������������������������������������������� �������� ������� �� ����� ��������� ������� ��� ��� ���� �� ����������� ���� �� ����� ��� ����������������������� ����
����� ���� �� ��� ������������� ���������� ������ ������� ����������� ���� ����� �� ������� ������ ������ ������� ���� ���� ���� ������� ������������ ������ ������� ������ ��� ������ ������ �� � ��� �� ������� ���
��������� ���������������� ��������� ���� ��� ������������� ���� �� ���� ������ ��� ���� ��� ������������ ��������� ��� ��� �� ������� ��������� ����� ����� ���� ��� ���� ����������� ������� ��� ��� ����� ���
������ ������ ������������ ��������� ���� �� ������������ �� ���� ������ ����� ���� ����� ���� �� ����� ������ ���������� �� ���� ��������� ��������� �� ������ ������� ������� ���� ����� ��� ����� ���������
��� �������������� ��� ������� ���� �� ��� ���� ���� �������� ���� ���� �� ���� ����������� ������� �������� ������� ��� ��������� ������ �� ����� ����� �� ���� ���� ���������
�������� �� ����� ������������� ����� ������� ����� ������� ������� ������ ��� ��� ������ ��� ������� ����������������
��� ������� ������� �� ��� ������������ ��� ��� ������ ����� ���� ���� ������ ������ ���� ����� ����� ��� ��� � ���� ������� � ����� ������� ���������� ��� �� ����� �������� ����� �� ������� ����� ���� �������
��� �� ��� ������ ��������� ����������������� ��������� �� ���������� ������������������������������������� ��� �������� �� ���� ��� ���������� �� �� ������� �������� ���� ��������� �� ������� ��� �� ����
������������� ��� ������ ������� �� ��� �� ������� ���� ������� ������ �������������������������������� ������� ����� �� ��� ��������� ����������� �� ��� ���� ������� ���������� �� ������ ��������� ��� �����
������������������������������������������������������������������ ��� �� ��� ������������� ������ ��� ��� ����� �� �� ��� ����� ����� ���������� ���� ��� ������� �� ����������� ���� ��� ��
������� ��� �������� ��� ��������� ������� �� �� �� ��� �� ������� ���� ���� �������� ��������� �� ������� ���������� ��� ���������� ����������� ���� ��� ����
������� ������ �� ��� ��� ��� ������ � ������ ������������� ��� ������� ��� ��� ��������� ������ ��
����� ����� ��� ���������������� ��� ����������� ���� ������� �� ��� �� ������������ ��� ����� ������� ������� �������� �������� ������ ��� �������� ��� ���������� �������
������ ��� ������� ���� �������� ��������������� ������ ���� ���� ������ ���� ����� ����� ���������� �� �� �����
������� �� ��� ��� �������� ��� ������ ���������� ��� ������ ��� ������� ����� ��� ����� ����� ���� ����� ����� ��������� ��� �����
����� ���� ������� ������ ��������� ��� ��������� �� �������� ����� �� ��������� ������� ��� ��� ������� �� ���� ���� � ������ �� ��� ����� ���������� ����� ��� �� ��� ����� �� ��� ������ ����
������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������� ���� ������ ��� ������ ��� ����������� �� �������������� ����� ��� ������� � ������� ������ ���� ��� ������ ����� �� ��� ������� ������
������������ �������� �������� �� ��� �� � ��������� ���� �� ��� ���������� ���� �� ����� ������� ��� ��� ������� ���������� �� ��� ������� ������� ����� ����� ������� ���������� ���� ��� ����� ���� ���� ������� �� �������
������������ ������������ �� ��� ��� ������� ��� ����� ��� ����� ������ �� ������� ���������� ������ �� ��� ���� ��� ������ ��� ���� �� ������� ����� ������ � ���� �� ����� �� ������� ��� �������� ������� �������� ��� ������
���� ��� ������ ��� ���� � ����������� ����� ���� �� �������� �������� ���������� ����� ����� ���� ���� ����� �� ������� ��� ����� � ����������
����� ����� �� ������� �� ��� ����� ���������� ���� ����� �� ���������
���������� �� ��� ���� ������� ��� ��� �������� ��� ����� ��� ���� ����� �� ��� ��������� ���� ������� �� � ������ �� ���������� ��� ���� ��� ����������
���� �������������� ��� ���� ����������� �������� �� ���������� ����� ��� ������� �� ���� ��� ������� �� ������ �������� �� ������� ������� ��� ������� �� ������ ������ ������� ������ �� �� ���� �� ���������� �� ���� �������
������������� �� ����� ������������� ����� ����� �� ���� ������� ���� ���� ���� �������� �� ����� ������ �� ���� ���� ������ ������ �� ���� ��� ������ �������������� ��� ������ ������������� ���� ����
������������������������������������������������������������������� ������ ��� ������ ��� �� ��� ������ �� ��� ������������ �������� ��� �������� ������� �� ������ ��������� �� ���� �� �� ����� �� ��������� ������� ��
������������������������������������������������������������� ��������� ������ ����� ��� ���� �� �������� ������ ������������ ����� ���� ������ �������������� �� �������� ������� ����� ��� ��������� ������
�������� ��������� ��� ������������� �� ���� �� ��������� ������������� ������ ������� �������� �������� �� ��� ������� ������ ������ ���� ����� ��� ��� �������� ��� ����� ������� ����� �� ��� ���� ��� �� ���������� ��� ��������
�� �� ���������� �� ��� ������������������ ����� ���� ���� ��� ������� �������� ��������� ����� ��� �������� ���� �� ������������ ��� �� ��� ���� ��������� ������� ������ ��� ������ ������ �� ����� ���� ���� ���
�� ���� ������ ����� ���������� ����������� ����������� �� ����� ������� ���������� ���������� ���� ���� �������� �������� ��������������
���� ���������� ��������� �������� ������ �������� �� � ����������� �� ������� ������� �������� ������������ ������� ����� ���� � ��������� �� ������� ���� ��� ����� ����� ���������� ��������� ���� � ��������� ���� ����� ��� �����
������������� ������������� ���� ���� �� �� ����������� ���� ��� ����� ����� �� ��������� �������� �� ����� ���� ������������ �� ������ ������������ �� ������� ������� �� ����� ��� ���� �� ������ �����
����� ��� �� �� ��� ������� ��� ������ ��� �� ��� ������ ���� ��� ������ ��
���������� ��������� ����� �������� ������������� �� ����������� ���

� ���������� ��� ���� ������


����������������� ���� ����� �������� ��������� ������ �� ����� ������
���������� �� ����� �� �� ���������������� ��������� �������������
������ �� ����� �� ������������� �������� ��� ����� ����� ��������

���������� ������ ������� ������� �������� ������ ����� ��� ��� ���� ���� ������������
����� ��� ���� ����� ��������� ��� ������ �� � ������ ������ �� �� �����
��� �� ���������� ���� �������� ������� ��������� ��������� � ��� ���� ���������� ����������� �� �������� ���� ���� ��������� ��� ���
������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������ ��� ������ �� ������� ��������� ��������� ������������� �������� �� ��� ��������������� ������������� �������� ��� ������ ������� � ���������� ������
��� �������� ��� ��� ������ ���� ��� ����� �� � ����������� ������������� ����� ����� ��� ���������� ��� ���������� ����� ��� ��� �������������� �������� ����������������� ��� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� �� ��� ����������� ����� ��
�������� ����������� ���������������������������� �������������������� ��������� ������ ���� ���� � �������� �� ����� ���������� ���� ���������� ��� �������� ������� ��������� ���� ����������� ��� ����� �� � ������ ��
������������������������������������������������������������������������ ���������� ���������� ��� ������������ ������ ��� ������� ����� �� ������ �������� �������� �������� ������� ���� �������� ����� ��� ��� �������� ��� �����
������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����� ��� ��� ��������� ��������� ������ ����� ��������� ��� �������������� ������ ���� ������������������������� �� ��� ��������������������� ��� ��������
���� ������� ������ �� ����� ����������� ����� ����� ����� ���������� ���������� ���� ������ ��� ���������� ���������� ���������������������������������� �� ������� ����������� ������ ������ ����� �� ��� ������� ��� ��� ��������
��������������� ��� ����� ���� ���������� �� ������� �� ����������� ��� ��� �������� �� ����� ����� ������� ����� ��� �������� ����� ��� ����� ��� �������� �� ��� ����� ��� ����������� ����� ������������ �� � ��������� ���� ������� �� ���������
����� ���� ���� ������ ��� ������������������������������� �� ��������� ������� ��� ��������� �������� ��� ���� ���� ��� ����� ��� ��� ���� �������������������������������������� �������� ��������� ���������� �� ����
�������������������������������������������������������������������� ������� �������� ��� ������������ ������ ������������ �� ��������� ���� ��� ���� ������� �� ���������� �� �������� ����������������������������������
������� �� ����������� ���� ���������������� �� � ����� �� ���������� �� �������� ������� ���� �������� ������� ������� ������������������������������������ ������ ������������ �� ����� ����� �� ���� ������ �� � ������� �������������� �����
������ ���������� �� ��� ���������� ��� �� ��� ������� ���� ������������ ��� ���� ��� ������� �� ���������� ��������� ������ ������������������������������������� ������������ �� ����������������������� ����� ��� ������ ���� � ����� �� ��������
������������� ��� ������ ���������� ������������ ��������� �� � ������ ��������� ������������������������ ��� ��������� ������������������������������������ ������� ������� �������� ������ � ������ ������� ��� ��������
������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� ���������� ��� ����� ����� ����� �� ��� ������ ��������� ��� � �� � ������� �� ����� ����� ��� ����� �� ��������� ���
��������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ���������� ���������� ��� ���������� ����������� �� �� ���� ��� ��� ������ ������ �� ��� ���� ������������������������������������
����� ������� �������� �� ��� ������ ��������� ������������ ������� ���� ������� �������� �� ��� ��������� �� ��������� ������� ��������� ������� ������� ������� �������� �����������������������������������
���������� ��� ����������� ��� ���������� ��� ������ ��� ���� ��������� ������� �� ������������ �� ���� �� ��������� ��� ��� ���� ������� � ���������� ������ ������ ���� ���� �� ��� �������� �� ����� ���������� ���
������ ��� ������� ���� �� � ����� ��� ����� ������� ��� ��������� ����� ������� ���� ��������� ����� �� ������� ����� � ��������� �������� �� ��� ����������� ������ �������� ��� ����� �� � ������ �������� ���
��� � ����� ���� ������������������ ��� ���� ���� � �������� �� ������������ ���� ��� ����� �������� ��������� ���������� ����� �� ���� ��� ����������� ����� �������� ���� �������� ���� ���� �������� � ���������� ���������
��������� ��������� �������� �� ��� ����� ������ ������ ���������� � ������������ ��������� �� ������������������������ ��������� ��������� ������������������������������������
���� ���� �� ���� ���� ��� ���� �� ������� �� ��� ��� ��������� �������� ������ �� ���� ������� ��� �������
�� ����������� ��� ��� ������������� �� ��������������������������������������
����� �� ��������� ���� ����������� �������� ��� ���� ������� ��������� �� ����������� �� ��������� ���������� �� ����� �� � ������ �� ���� ����������� ������ ������������� ��� �������� �� ��� ����� ��
�������� ����������� ���������� ��� �� ��� ����� ������ ���������� �������� ����� ������� ��� ��� ����� �� ������������ �������� ����� ��� ��� ���� ������� ��� ����������������������
���� ������ �� ���� � ����� �� ������ ������ ���� ��� ���� ���� �� ���� �� ��� ���� ����� �� ��� ������������������������� �������� ��� ����� �� ������� ��������� �� ����� ����� ���� ��� ������� �����������
���� ��� ����� ����� ������� ������������ �� �������� ��������� ��� ���� �������� ���������� ��������� �� �� ������� ������ ����� ��� ������� ����� ������
������� ������ ����� ���������� ��� �� ����� �� ���� ��� ������ �� ��� �������� ��� �� �������� �����������������������
��� �������� �������� ����������������������� ���� ������� �� �������������� ��� ����
������� �� �� ������ ��� �� ���� �� ��� ��� ��� ���� ���� ���� ��� ���������� ������� ����������������������� ��� ������� �� ���� �� ��� ������������������������������������
��� ����� ����� �� �������� ��� �������� ���� ��� ����� �� ��������� �� ������� ���� ��� ������� ����� �������� ��� ����� ���� ���� �� ����� ����� ���������� �� ������� ��������� �������� ����� �����
���� ����� ��� �� ��� ����� ���������� �� �������� ��� ����� �������� ��� ����� �� �������� �������� ����� �� � ���������� ��������� �������� �� ��������� ��������� ����� �� ��������� ���� �� �� �������� ��� ������� �����
���� ������ � ������� ���� ������� ��� ����������� ��� ��� � �������� ������ ��� ��� ��� �� ������������������������������������� ���� �������� ��������� ������� ��� ���� ��������������������������������������
������ ���� ���������������������������� ����� ������� �������� ��� ��� �������� �� ��������� ��� ��� �� � ������ �� �� �� �������� ���� ������� �� ���� ���� ���������� ���� �� ��� ������������� ������� �� ���������
��������� ���������� ����������� ��������������������� ������� � ���� �� �������� �� � ���������� ����� ������ ��� �������� ��� ����� �� �������� ��� ��� ����� �������� �� �������� �� � �� ������� ��������� ������ �����������
������� �� ����� ��� ����� ������� ��� ������� �� ���� �� ������������� ������� �� �� ������ �������� ������ ����������� �� ������� ������������������������������������� ����� ���� ���� � ������� �� ��� �����
���������������������������� ������� ������ ���� ������� �� ���� ��������� ��� ���� ����� ���� ���� �������� �� ������ ����������������������������������� ���������� ��������� ��� ���������� ��� �������� �� �������� ��������� ��� ������
���� �� �������� ��� ���������� ��� ���� ����� ����� �������� ������� �� ��� ��� ������ ������������ ������ ��� ������� �������������������������������������� �������� �������� �� ��� ������� ������� ������� ��� ������� ��������� ������
�� � �������� ������� ����� ��� ��� ������ �� ���� ���� ���� �� � ������� ������� �� � ���� ��� ���� ������� �� ��� �������� ����� �� �������� ��� ����� �� �������� �������� �� ���������� ����������� �� �� ����� ����
�� ��� �������� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ��� ������ ��������� �� �������� ���� ������� ��������� �������� �� � ����� �� ��� ����������������� � �������� ������ ������ �� �������� ����� ������ ��� ����� �� ��� ���������
��������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������� �� ������� ��� �������� ���� ��� ��� �� ������� ����� ����� ������������������������������������� ���� �� ��� ���� ����� ���������
��������� ��� ��� ���� ���� �� � ����������� �� ��� ��� ���� ���� �� � ����
��� ������ ������ �������� ��� ������� � ����� ����� ��� ������
���������� ��� �� ������ ������ �� ������ ��� ������������� �������� �� ��� ������� �� ��� ������
���������� ��������� �������� �������� ������� ���� ������ ������� ��� �����
��� ����� ������ �� � ����� �������� �� ���� ������ ��� ������ �� �������� ���� ������ ��� ������ ������ ������� ��� ��� ���������� ���������� �� ��� ������ ������ �� ��� ��� ���� ��� ����� �� � ��� �� ������
����� ������������ ���� ��� ��� ��������� ��������� ����� ������� ��� ������ �������� ��� ���� ������ �������� � ����� ����� ���� ����� �� ��� �� �� ���� �� �� ������� ��� ��� ����
������� ���� ���������� ��������� ��� ��� ������ �� ���� �� ������ ��� ������ ������� �� ��������� ��������� ���� ����� ���� � ����������� �� ���� ����� ��������� �������� �������� ������������� ��� ���� ��������� ������
�������� ����� ����� ��� ���� ������ ��� ����� ��������� ����������� ��� ��� ����� ��� ������� ������� ���� �� ��� �������� �� �� ��������� �� ���� �� �������� �� ���� ������ ������� ���� �� ������ ������� ��� ������ �����
����� � ����������� �� ���� ���� ��� �������� ������ ���� ��� ������ �� � ��� �� ������� ���� �� ��� �������� �� ��� ����� ��� ����� ������� �� ��� �������� ����� �� �� ����� ����� ���� ���� ���������� ����������� ��� ���������
����� ������� �������������������������������������������� ������� �� �� ������ �� ��������� ��� �� ������ ������� ��� �� ������ ������� ������ ����������� �������� �� ������� �� ���� ����� ������ ��� ������ ����
������� ��� ������������ �� �������� ��� ���� ��������� ������ ��� ����� ���� ������������� ��� ������������ ������ ��������������� �������� ��� �� ���� ������� ������� ���� ��� �������� ������ �� �
����� ��� ��� ������� ���������� ����������� ������ ������� ���� �������� �� ��� ����� �������� ���� �� ���� ������ ���������� ������� ������ ����������� ������� �� �� � ���� ����
������� ����� ��������� ���� ��� ����������� �������� �� �� ����� �� ��� ����
������� �� ���� ��� �������� ������ ��� �� ��������� ��� ������� ��� ���� ������
������ ��� ������� ���� �� �
�������������������� ���� �� ����
��� �������� �������� �������� �� �
������ �� ���� �� ��� ���� �������� ��������� �������� �� ������� �� ���� ����� ������
���������� ��� ������ ���� ��� ���
��� ���� � ��� �� ���������� ������ �� ������ � ����� ��� ���� �������� ������ �� ���� ������ ���� ������� ���� �� ��� ��� ��� ������ �� ���� ��� �� �� �� ������ �� � ������ ������� ������ ���� ��� �������
������� �� ���� ����������� � ���� ���� �� ��� ������ ��� �� ������� ����� �� ���� �������� ������� ��� ����� ���� �� ������� �� ���� ���� ������������� ���� �� ������� ���� ���� ����� �� ���� ��� ������� ������� �����
����� �� �������� �� ������� ���� ������ ������� ���� ��� ����� ����� � �������� ��� ����� ������� �� �������� ������ ���� ���� ��� �� ��� ��� ��� �������� ��� ���������� �����
������� ��� ������ � ���� �������� ��������� ��� ������ ����� ��� �������� �� ������ ������� ��� �� ������ ������ � ����� ������� ������� ���� ������ �� �� �� ��������������������������

����� ��� �� ������������� ������ ������������ ������� ��� ��������� �� ���� �������� �� ������ �� ��� ������ ������� ��� ��� ��� ������� �� ��� ������ ������� ��� ��� ������ ���� ��������� ����� � ������ ��� ��������� �� ��� ������ ������� ��� ���� ��������� ������ ������� ��������� � � ��� ������� ���� �����
����� ��� ������������� ������ ������������� ������ ������ ������ ������� ���� ��� � ��� ���� ������� ������� ���� ��� � ��� ���� �������� �� ��� ������ ������ ������� ������� ������� ��������� ������ ������� �������� ������������ ������������� ��� ��������� �� ���� ����� ��� ��� ���� ����������� ���
������ ������� ��� ��� ��� ������ ��������� ������������ �� ��� ������� ���������� �� ���������� �� ����� �� �� ����� ������� ����� ������� ���������� �� ����������� ��� ��������� ��������

��� �����
If it's a good idea, go ahead and
do it. It's easier to ask forgiveness Grace
than it is to get permission Hopper

08 HYDERABAD SATURDAY 02 03 2024


� �

T
HERE has been a lot of interest A decline in India’s poverty level to around 8 percent ues to be Tendulkar, which corresponds to
in the factsheet just released by $1.9 PPP. Tendulkar hasn’t been replaced
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN the Ministry of Statistics and is plausible. But though a fall to around 5 percent by MDPI, not officially. The numbers in
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. Programme Implementation on is possible, it requires detailed validation 2011-12 were the following—head-count ra-
— Ramnath Goenka the latest Household Consump- tios of 25.7 percent for rural India accord-

LET US NOT BE
tion Expenditure Survey (HCES). ing to Tendulkar and 30.9 percent by Ran-
The interest is understandable. garajan; head-count ratios of 13.7 percent
We haven’t had the HCES since 2011-12. for urban India according to Tendulkar
OVERALL GDP GROWTH There was one such survey in 2017-18, but
data weren’t released. Therefore, any infor- POOR IN HOW WE and 26.4 percent by Rangarajan. That’s the
baseline, so to speak. Care is called for. We
SURPRISES, BUT ITS
MEASURE POVERTY
mation on poverty and inequality was ei- only have a fact sheet, not unit-level data.
ther based on 2011-12 numbers, extrapola- This is a 2022-23 survey. There will be an-

PARTS REMAIN UNEVEN tions of those, or data sources not quite


robust and reliable.
other one, back-to-back, in 2023-24, to check
for robustness. Methodology has changed,

I
In case someone mentions the Multi-di- rendering the two sets of numbers non-
NDIA’S GDP growth rate is pegged at an enviable 7.6 percent mensional Poverty Index (MDPI), reports by comparable. Ideally, there should have been
for 2023-24, much higher than all consensus estimates. But a UNDP and the Niti Aayog using it, that’s not another sample, using both the old method-
quite a measurement of poverty as we have ology and the new, to check whether apples
closer analysis confirms that the cheer good numbers are traditionally defined and understood it. BIBEK DEBROY Chairman, Economic Advisory Council are being compared with oranges. But
largely due to the downward revision of output in 2021-22 and MDPI is based on three dimensions of ‘pov- to the Prime Minister there are people who think fruit juice is
2022-23, which in turn led to an upward revision of the cur- erty’—health, education and living stand- fruit juice, regardless of whether it comes
rent year forecasts. Likewise, though the third quarter’s unex- ards. There is no denying the importance of from apples or oranges.
pected 8.4 percent growth quickened the pulse, it needs to be such indicators in capturing development, Therefore, it is tempting to do the follow-
viewed with caution. The jump was not because of a blistering but health and education indicators (nutri- ing: use inflation rates from the HCES
tion, child mortality, years of schooling, factsheet to figure out what the Tendulkar
addition of overall national output, but because of higher tax school attendance) should be explanatory poverty line is for 2022-23. Naturally, this
collections and lower subsidies. The current fourth quarter, variables for poverty. They don’t quite meas- will be separately done for rural and urban
which often sees subdued government spending, is expected at ure poverty. Living standards indicators are households. The factsheet gives us the dis-
register 5.9 percent growth, which some believe is conservative. what the government has sometimes dubbed tribution of monthly per capita consump-
On balance, the Indian economy is certainly doing better than “basic necessities” and, indeed, ensuring tion expenditure across fractile classes
advanced and emerging economies despite global headwinds. that every individual or household has ac- (fractile is similar to percentile). The bot-
cess to these is part of the inclusion agenda tom 0-5 percent and the bottom 5-10 percent
While the headline number appears respectable, a cursory
pushed by the government. should suffice. Those are the fractiles where
glance tells us that the growth is not broad-based yet. On the Having said that, in January 2024, the poverty will be concentrated. SBI Research
production side, agriculture and allied sectors are flashing the Niti Aayog released a discussion paper. The has come out with one such calculation and
biggest distress signal, having contracted in the third quarter, last proper MDPI computations for India finds a poverty ratio (in 2022-23) of 7.15 per-
its revival is essential for overall poverty reduction. Worry- are based on NFHS-5 (National Family cent for rural India and 4.62 percent for ur-
ingly, for the full 2023-24, the primary sector’s growth is pegged Health Survey) for 2019-21. The discussion ban India. For rural India, compared to
at a dismal 1.2 percent, which partly explains the slack in pri- paper extrapolated NFHS-5 and estimated 2011-12, this is a decline of 1.7 percent a
an MDPI-based poverty ratio of 11.28 per- year; for urban India, 0.8 percent a year.
vate consumption. A pickup in demand in the third quarter cent in 2022-23. This was an all-India These numbers are for 2022-23. For 2020,
was highly anticipated given the festive season, but it remained number. It wasn’t separately disaggregated I mentioned a rough figure of 10 percent.
weak at 3.5 percent, against 7.1 percent the year before. On the into rural/urban, though there was disag- Note that the SBI Research numbers are sig-
other hand, private investment outpaced consumption, where gregation according to states. SOURAV ROY nificantly below 10 percent. A factsheet is
industrial sector, led by manufacturing and construction, is Often, greater sophistication in defini- based on facts and one can’t quarrel with
contributing meaningfully to the growth momentum. tions and measurements doesn’t help incre- lower than that based on income.) There is respond exactly, but they do roughly. This is facts and numerical calculations. But note
mentally, because development indicators an international poverty line (per-capita what I meant by different approaches, with that consumption (and income) distribu-
What we need is broad-based growth, where all sectors live are often correlated with one another. A per-day expenditure) based on purchasing differing degrees of sophistication and tions tend to be normal, not symmetric.
up to their potential. Chief among them is private consump- simple measure will provide as much illu- power parity (PPP) prices. As economies methodology, validating each other. We are When the thick part of the distribution
tion, which accounts for a substantial 57 percent of the GDP. mination as a more complicated one, even develop, the poverty line ought to change, now in 2024. Four years ago, we can roughly passes above a poverty line, declines in pov-
Given the weak consumer sentiment, its share to the overall though the latter possesses greater intellec- increasing upwards. Our understanding of agree that poverty in India was 10 percent. erty ratios are sharp, not linear. But after
GDP is likely to settle at a decadal low of 55.5 percent this fiscal, tual rigour. That was one virtue of the UN- ‘basic necessities’ changes. Second, the World Bank found a decline in that, it becomes more difficult. In many
while the share of investments is expected to touch a decadal DP’s Human Development Index—it was The international poverty line can be poverty by about 1.5 percent a year, Niti countries, poverty ratios thus get stuck at
simple to understand. $1.9, $2.15, $3.65, or even higher. Most meas- Aayog by about 2 percent. Very roughly around 5 percent.
high of 34.1 percent. The growth momentum driven by invest-
Traditionally, poverty measurements in- ures will use $1.9 or $2.15 (these are based again, not a great difference. I think a decline to around 8 percent in
ments, notwithstanding the contraction in government con- volved defining a poverty line and obtain- on 2017 prices). In 2022, the World Bank pub- People are excited because the HCES India would have been regarded as plausi-
sumption, will likely continue over the next fiscal, which is ing data (such as the HCES) to compute lished a policy research working paper on now enables us to gauge poverty and ine- ble, a priori. A decline to around 5 percent
good. But unless private consumption regains its appetite, the what percentage of households (separately poverty in India. Using $2.15, it computed a quality more precisely—sort of. Note that is possible, but requires detailed probing
unevenness of growth would not subside. During 2023-24, it is rural/urban and states) were below that head-count ratio of 10 percent in 2019, a de- we don’t use the international poverty line. and validation. Note also that poverty de-
estimated to grow by just 3 percent, against 4.4 percent esti- poverty line, the so-called head-count ratio. cline from 22.5 percent in 2011. The figure Our poverty line is based on what the Ten- clines have been relatively less in urban In-
mated earlier. Undeniably, households are getting squeezed by This too was simple to understand. (We was 11.9 percent for rural India and 6.4 per- dulkar Committee recommended. There dia, highlighting a rural/urban conver-
don’t have official surveys on income distri- cent for urban India. Notice two points was a Rangarajan Committee which rec- gence, but also some urban problems.
stagnant incomes and high inflation. This is worrisome and butions. Our official surveys are on con- about these numbers. First, MDPI poverty ommended a different poverty line higher Everyone will wait expectantly for the 2023-
needs urgent correction. sumption expenditure, and inequality of 11.28 percent in 2022-23 and PPP poverty than Tendulkar’s, but that was never offi- 24 survey. (Views are personal)
based on consumption expenditure will be of 10 percent in 2019. The years don’t cor- cially accepted. The official one still contin- (bibek.debroy@gov.in)

ONUS ON KERALA CPM


AFTER DAMNING VERDICTS
KARNATAKA FARM DISTRESS
T
HE 2012 murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T
P Chandrasekharan has returned to haunt the ruling
CPM in Kerala and the timing cannot be worse. In two
crucial back-to-back verdicts ahead of the parliamentary
REQUIRES URGENT RELIEF Reset goals
Ref: Reframe life and schooling goals to
reduce health risks (March 1). The editorial is
apt for the present era, in which people from

T
elections, the Kerala High Court has not only upheld the
life sentence awarded to 10 convicts, including some CPM lead- HIS year’s drought has shaken all walks of life are blindly chasing success.
Karnataka’s economy once First, they chase wealth, losing their health in
ers, and set aside the trial court order acquitting two other party
again. During the past three the process. Later, to recoup their health, they
functionaries, but also enhanced the punishment for nine to life years, Karnataka posted impres- spend their wealth. The abundance of one
imprisonment without remission for 20 years. Quoting Nobel sive growth rates of 9.8 percent, thing may lead to a shortage of another.
R S DESHPANDE Nanjundappa Chair Professor, CMDR, and
laureate Amartya Sen, the court aptly said, “Democracy thrives 8.1 percent and 6.6 percent in its former director, Institute for Social and Economic Change K Jayanthi, Chennai
on the peaceful exchange of ideas, not the violent imposition of GSDP. Now there is a dark shad-
ow over this performance. Prioritise health
beliefs. Political violence is the poison that corrodes the roots of
The growth was contributed largely by pacts farm employment and, consequently, The state government has declared 223 The rising incidents of stroke and heart
democratic principles.” While being exemplary in nature, the
the services and industrial sectors, which reduces the purchasing power of those who taluks as drought-affected, out of which 196 attack among young adults need immediate
twin verdicts have destroyed the CPM’s claim that the party had shadow the performance of agricultural sec- depend on agriculture. Small and marginal are severely affected. This year’s drought is attention. It is time for a fundamental
nothing to do with the killing. tor. Unfortunately, the growth in the agricul- farmers join the band of labourers, thereby spread in two phases—a part in the pre-sow- shift in our priorities. Health must take
If the high court’s reversal of two CPM leaders’ acquittal tural sector has been pathetic. This implies swelling the ranks of job seekers. This year, ing season spoiled the farm preparation ef- precedence over the pursuit of professional
was not damaging enough, a report by the additional district an uneven structural growth in income gen- as a result of the dry spell in kharif season, forts and cultivators waited to make good achievements. One needs to be healthy to
probation officer of Kozhikode said K C Ramachandran, a eration across sectors and that is a catalyst many small and marginal farmers have cho- their losses. In some areas, the farmers had enjoy the fruits of success.
local leader who was sentenced to life for being one of the key for increasing income inequality between sen to migrate for construction work in Ben- to sow the crops a second time, and that in- Asvikka C, Bengaluru
sectors—between farmers and non-farmers. galuru and other cities. Second, with the creased the losses. Employment and the area
conspirators, “has no guilt feeling” even after long years of On top of this, it’s disturbing that between speculation of a low harvest, food prices sown declined, but some crops survived un- Tharoor’s conviction
confinement; another by the Kannur district probation officer the census years of 1991 and 2011, the have started moving up. Speculators try to der the late spell of rains. Shashi Tharoor has candidly explained his
said CPM sympathisers were providing a monthly assistance number of cultivators in the state declined use such a situation. A cruel irony is that The early rabi season dry-spell further conviction in joining the Congress and his
of `5,000 to the family of Muhammed Shafi, a member of the by 3.03 lakh and a few lakh hectares of net complicated the situation in the absence of disinclination to ‘surrender his Ram’ to
killer gang. While the RMP has consistently maintained the sown area has gone out of agriculture. availability of protective irrigation. Al- the BJP. He may be aware that after the
murder was carried out at the instance of top CPM leadership, Among the factors behind the drag in ag- ready-sown areas suffered input losses and assassination of Indira Gandhi, his party’s
ricultural growth is the state’s large share only cultivators with strong resources could landslide victory in the election was the result
there are enough reasons to suspect that the arm of the law
of drought-prone areas and the frequent sustain rabi cultivation. Small and marginal of an unwitting appropriation of Hindu votes.
did not go beyond the local leaders because of either collusion visitation of droughts. Every drought resets farmers and agricultural labourers left the So the possibility of the BJP appropriating
at the highest levels or inefficiencies. development initiatives. History is replete rural market in search of higher wages. Ram cannot be blamed.
Coming on the back of a Mavelikkara court order awarding with instances when droughts have mani- The intermittent spells of rain at least al- Dharmarajan A K, Thalassery
the death sentence to 15 PFI activists for the murder of a BJP fested into dreadful famines during 18th and lowed some green fodder for the cattle. But
19th centuries. Karnataka has had an unfair the major disturbing factor was that the People’s victory
leader in 2021, the high court verdicts hold out hope against the
EXPRESS

share of such devastating experiences. kharif and rabi droughts have come in suc- Ref: SC rejects plea to reopen Sterlite plant in
continuing chain of political murders in Kerala. That Chan-
The Second Irrigation Commission of In- cession. In such a situation, the final impact, TN (March 1). The Supreme Court’s decision is
drasekharan, a former CPM leader who rebelled and formed dia (1972) and the Agricultural Commission without timely intervention from the gov- seen as a victory for certain political parties.
his own outfit, was seen as a political threat was reason enough of 1976 identified Karnataka as having sec- Karnataka is facing an intense ernment, can cause large-scale destitution However, the real winners are the health-
to eliminate him shows how violence is ingrained in state poli- ond highest share of drought-prone areas, double drought this year. Lakhs in the farm sector. That will create severe conscious citizens living around the plant.
tics. As the high court pointed out, the crime threatened to un- with a probability as high as 20 percent. That agrarian distress. Every drought devastates Vedanta must remove the machinery from the
are pledging their assets and
dermine democratic principles. For the CPM now, mere argu- indicates the onslaught of drought once eve- rural life and resets the development efforts. plant and set it up somewhere else that will
ry five years and the history of last six dec- migrating to cities in search of The Karnataka government has always not affect the health of the people.
ments may not be enough to shake off the responsibility. It must
ades confirms this. jobs. If the Centre wants to avoid been proactive in addressing the problem. It Rajakumar Arulanandham, Tirunelveli
do something tangible to show it has distanced itself from the Once a farmer is struck by severe drought, is the only state which stated a Drought
killers and shunned the politics of violence for good. severe agrarian distress, it needs Be bio-sensitive
it takes three normal years for him to get Monitoring Cell way back in 1987 and later
back to normality. By that time, another ca-
to meet the state’s demand for upgraded it to the State Natural Disaster The Supreme Court’s order against the
lamity strikes, inflicting a pathetic situation `18,171 crore in drought relief Monitoring Centre. It is the only state that opening of the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi
Q U I C K TA K E
on the farm sector. No wonder, Karnataka has real-time rainfall data at the level of hob- is welcome. I’m reminded of former prime
CEASEFIRE AND PROBE FOR GAZA was known as one of the leading regions in
farmer suicides. This time, Karnataka had
these exploiters get an opportunity for ex-
tracting profits from small and marginal
lis, or village clusters, for about 745 hoblis.
Following the Drought Manual of 2020,
minister Indira Gandhi, who, despite pressure
from industry, listened to the people and

O
F all the shocking incidents in Israel’s months-long car- a 73 percent aggregate deficit in rainfall, but farmers. The vulnerable groups among cul- the state has estimated losses to the tune of stopped a hydroelectric project in Kerala’s
it was spread over two seasons—there were tivators tend to sell off or pledge farm assets, `35,162 crore. So the state government has bio-sensitive Silent Valley.
nage in Gaza, the recent massacre of more than 100 hun- prolonged dry spells and sudden spans of livestock and even land, which pushes them submitted a demand of `18,171.44 crore from K S Sundaram, Coimbatore
gry civilians was perhaps the most appalling. The authori- heavy rainfall. Both events are agronomi- out of cultivation in the next season. the national and state disaster response
ties say 112 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 cally detrimental to crop growth. The foot- In the absence of institutional back-up in funds to the central government. Such a de- Trickle down
wounded when Israeli soldiers opened fire on them as they steps of drought were quite loud in August soft loans for consumption or crop credit, mand often causes a debate between the Un- Ref: Economy grows at 8.4% in Q3 (March 1).
swarmed around food rations. After the incident, UN relief 2023. The conditions further deteriorated by these groups tend to borrow from village ion and state governments. The inter-minis- The GDP growth of 8.4% in the third quarter
chief Martin Griffiths, who has repeatedly warned of a famine the time farmers reached the second season. money-lenders at exorbitant rates; as a re- terial central team visited the state in will be music to the ears of the prime minister
By October 2023, the signs of the looming sult, small and marginal cultivators are October 2023 to estimate the relief require- and the BJP. However, such growth in the
in the occupied enclave, posted, “Life is draining out of Gaza
disaster were visible. pushed irreversibly into the ranks of agri- ment. It will be necessary for the Govern- economy, if it does not bring any tangible
at terrifying speed.” Gaza not only needs an immediate cease- During the first phase of a drought, the cultural labourers. This also induces out- ment of India to meet the intense need. It benefits to the lives of the commoners, will
fire, but the latest incident needs an independent probe. We impact is on the net and gross area sown, migration to urban areas. would, otherwise, lead to severe agrarian bring little benefit to the party in power.
need it to heal the tattered conscience of humanity. thereby reducing production. This also im- The drought this year is quite intense. distress. (Views are personal) Raju Mathai, Kochi

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Telangana) : T Kalyan Chakravarthy* Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., at H.No.6-3-1113/1, B.S.Makta Lane, Somajiguda, Near Grand Kakatiya Hotel, Punjagutta, Hyderabad – 500 016 and printed by him at Sakshi Press, Plot No.D-75 & E-52, Industrial Estate (APIE),
Balanagar, Medchal-Malkajgiri District, Telangana. Hyderabad: Vol. 48, No. 53. RNI Reg. No. 32179/77. Phone: 040-23413908. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
=4F34;78kB0CDA30H k<0A27!!!#

%
gggTQY\i`Y_^UUbS_]

,QGLDQGLSORPDF\
UPRTQ^^ZR^\SPX[h_X^]TTak /CWT3PX[h?X^]TTak X]bcPVaP\R^\SPX[h_X^]TTa
A2A6CH:E9A2DD:@?

2da`e`WX``U_Vhd
,QGLD VOHRSDUGSRSXODWLRQVXUJHVGHVSLWH
IDFLQJFKDOOHQJHVIURPKXPDQVDQG1DWXUH /HYHUDJLQJVRIWSRZHU C1>D?C8<0C74F

$
PLGULVLQJHQYLURQPHQWDODQGKXPDQDQLPDOFRQIOLFWFKDOOHQJHV,QGLD VOHRSDUG
SRSXODWLRQKDVUHFRUGHGDQLQFUHDVHWRUHDFKWKHHQYLDEOHFRXQWRI7KLV
ULVHXQGHUVFRUHVWKHUHVLOLHQFHRIWKHVHPDJQLILFHQWFUHDWXUHVDQGWKHVXFFHVVRI
FRQVHUYDWLRQHIIRUWVLQRXUFRXQWU\/HRSDUGVLQ,QGLDLQKDELWGLYHUVHODQGVFDSHVIURP
8]SXPXbbcaPcTVXRP[[h_^bXcX^]X]VXcbT[U^]cWTV[^QP[bcPVT[TeTaPVX]Vb^Uc
GHQVHIRUHVWVWRHYHQXUEDQDUHDV+RZHYHUWKLVSUR[LPLW\WRKXPDQVHWWOHPHQWVRIWHQ _^fTaT[T\T]cbc^STT_T]SX_[^\PcXRcXTbP]SU^bcTaaTVX^]P[bcPQX[Xch
OHDGVWRFRQIOLFWDVOHRSDUGVYHQWXUHLQWRYLOODJHVLQVHDUFKRIIRRGRUWHUULWRU\UHVXOW n today's geopolitical land-

I
LQJLQDWWDFNVRQOLYHVWRFNDQGRFFDVLRQDOO\RQKXPDQV6XFKHQFRXQWHUVSRVHDVLJ scape, the traditional met-
QLILFDQWWKUHDWWRERWKOHRSDUGSRSXODWLRQVDQGKXPDQFRPPXQLWLHV&OLPDWHFKDQJHH[DF rics of national power are
HUEDWHVWKHVHFKDOOHQJHVE\DOWHULQJQDWXUDOKDELWDWVDQGSUH\DYDLODELOLW\%HVLGHVIRU transforming. Policymakers
HVWIUDJPHQWDWLRQORVVRIELRGLYHUVLW\DQGRWKHUFKDQJHVFRQWULEXWHWRWKHVWUHVVRQOHRS and diplomats are increas-
ingly recognizing the importance
DUGSRSXODWLRQV%HVLGHVSRDFKLQJLVDOXFUDWLYHEXVLQHVVDQGPDQ\LQIOXHQWLDOSHRSOH of soft power elements in shap-
HQJDJHLQLWE\HPSOR\LQJORFDOVZKLOHWKHPVHOYHVUHPDLQLQJDQRQ\PRXVWKH\PXVW ing international relations, shift-
EHLGHQWLILHGDQGEURXJKWWRERRN'HVSLWHWKHVHDGYHU ing their focus from sheer mili-
VLWLHVWKHVXUJHLQ,QGLD VOHRSDUGSRSXODWLRQFDQEH tary might to cultural influence
and moral authority. India, in par-
DWWULEXWHGWRYDULRXVIDFWRUVLQFOXGLQJFRQVHUYDWLRQLQL ticular, has adeptly utilized its cul-
WLDWLYHVDQGVWULFWHUZLOGOLIHSURWHFWLRQODZV tural assets to assert itself on the
7KH*RYHUQPHQWDQGQRQJRYHUQPHQWDORUJDQLVDWLRQV global stage.
1*2V KDYHEHHQDFWLYHO\LQYROYHGLQKDELWDWSUHVHU Religion plays a crucial role in
shaping politics. As Niall
YDWLRQDQWLSRDFKLQJHIIRUWVDQGUDLVLQJDZDUHQHVV Ferguson has said, “Faith, then, is
DPRQJORFDOFRPPXQLWLHVDERXWOHRSDUGFRQVHUYDWLRQ perhaps as important a compo-
7HFKQLTXHVVXFKDVFDPHUDWUDSSLQJDQGVDWHOOLWHWUDFN nent of power as material
LQJSURYLGHYDOXDEOHLQVLJKWVLQWROHRSDUGEHKDYLRXU resources... Faith cannot move
mountains. But it can move peo-
KDELWDWXVDJHDQGSRSXODWLRQG\QDPLFVDLGLQJFRQ ple.” A recent exemplification of
VHUYDWLRQVWUDWHJLHV&RPPXQLW\EDVHGFRQVHUYDWLRQ India's strategic cultural diploma- every Indian, no matter where power with the exchanges of tries while projecting itself as
DSSURDFKHVKDYHVKRZQSURPLVLQJUHVXOWV(QJDJLQJ cy was witnessed in the inaugu- they may be in the world. Buddhist ideas, sacred objects a model of religious toler-
ORFDOFRPPXQLWLHVLQFRQVHUYDWLRQHIIRUWVIRVWHUVDVHQVHRIRZQHUVKLSDQGUHVSRQVL ration of the first Hindu temple India's historical and close and trading relations). ance, pluralism and a respon-
in the UAE, presided over by relations with Qatar were also Invoking the cultural linkages sible global nation.
ELOLW\LQWKHP7RHQVXUHWKHFRQWLQXHGJURZWKRIOHRSDUGSRSXODWLRQVWKHUHLVDQHHG Prime Minister Narendra Modi. reiterated by Prime Minister with the region and the reli- Speaking of being a responsi-
IRUFRQFHUWHG*RYHUQPHQWHIIRUWV7KRXJKWKHULVHLQOHRSDUGSRSXODWLRQLVZHOFRPH It marked a significant milestone Modi ahead of his visit to gion of Buddhism, India seeks ble global stakeholder, take for
LWFDQQRWEHDWWKHFRVWRIKXPDQOLYHV$ZDUHQHVVFDPSDLJQVPXVWEHODXQFKHGLQ in bilateral relations between the Doha. The strong bonds of to overcome the territorial instance our commitment to
OHRSDUGLQKDELWHGDUHDVDERXWWKHLUEHKDYLRXUFRQVHUYDWLRQLPSRUWDQFHDQGFRQIOLFWSUH two countries. With the inaugu- diplomatic engagement have tensions between the two humanitarian assistance. The
ration ceremony of the aided in fostering mutually nations by fostering a positive recent incident in which the
YHQWLRQVWUDWHJLHV/RZFRVWLQQRYDWLYHZD\VFDQEHHPSOR\HGVRWKDWKXPDQOLYHVDUH Bochasanwasi Akshar beneficial partnerships and people-to-people tie across Indian Navy in swift response
QRWORVW,Q6XQGDUEDQVIRUH[DPSOHWKH\ZHDUPDVNVDWWKHEDFNRIWKHLUKHDGVWR Purushottam Swaminarayan enhancing regional stability. the border. to the Houthi strike on the
GRGJHWKH5R\DO%HQJDO7LJHUV7KHQWKHUHLVDQLPPHGLDWHQHHGWRVWUHQJWKHQKDELWDW (BAPS) Mandir, India is set to These diplomacy initiatives Prime Minister Narendra merchant ship in the Gulf of
FRQVHUYDWLRQHIIRUWVLQFOXGLQJUHIRUHVWDWLRQHVWDEOLVKPHQWRIZLOGOLIHFRUULGRUVDQGFXUE deepen bilateral ties with the by Narendra Modi are not only Modi has strategically lever- Aden, sent the missile destroy-
UAE while also having proactive events to establish closer ties aged Buddhist heritage as cul- er INS Vishakhapatnam shows
LQJKXPDQHQFURDFKPHQWLQWRQDWXUDOKDELWDWV7KHUHLVDOVRDQHHGWRGLVSHOWKHPLV engagement within the region. with the Gulf leaders but also tural assets to strengthen ties India’s role as a responsible
FRQFHSWLRQVWKDWUXUDOFRPPXQLWLHVDUHKRVWLOHWRZDUGVDQLPDOVWKH\KDYHEHHQOLYLQJ This event demonstrates a diplo- strategic plans to accelerate the with Asian countries. During maritime player. Indian diplo-
ZLWKZLOGDQLPDOVIRUFHQWXULHV/DZHQIRUFHPHQWDJHQFLHVPXVWULJRURXVO\HQIRUFHZLOGOLIH matic approach that, while root- economic growth of India. the Global Buddhist Summit macy extends beyond the
SURWHFWLRQ ODZV WR FRPEDW SRDFKLQJ LOOHJDO ZLOGOLIH WUDGH DQG KDELWDW GHVWUXFWLRQ ed in faith, culture, and religion, India, with long-term eco- in April 2023, Modi said that realm of culture, encompass-
aims to foster cooperation across nomic cooperation with the ?A8<4<8=8BC4A the challenges faced by the ing strategic engagements and
&ROODERUDWLQJZLWKLQWHUQDWLRQDORUJDQLVDWLRQVDQGQHLJKERXULQJFRXQWULHVWRDGGUHVVWUDQV a spectrum of critical areas, Middle Least, can leverage =0A4=3A0<>38 modern world can be solved humanitarian efforts. By pro-
ERXQGDU\FRQVHUYDWLRQLVVXHVZLOODOVRKHOS:HQHHGDQHZZLOGOLIHSROLF\WKDWWDNHV including security, energy, mar- the Gulf 's capital potential by employing the teachings of viding timely humanitarian
LQWRDFFRXQWWKHSUHYDLOLQJFRQGLWLRQVDQGEDODQFHVKXPDQDQLPDOLQWHUHVWV itime affairs, and infrastructure. while aiding them with 70BBCA0C46820;;H Buddha. Through his Act East assistance, India reaffirms its
The discussions held during the defence cooperation. Policy, India has upgraded its commitment to upholding
visit focused on enhancing coop- India's cultural diplomacy ;4E4A0643 strategic relationship with the peace and stability during
?82D1<; eration in various fields, includ-
ing trade, investment, and secu-
extends beyond the realm of
Hinduism, as evidenced by the
1D3378BC74A8C064 major countries in the Asia-
Pacific while using Buddhism
crises in the international
arena.
rity. Buddhist Circuit, aimed at 0B2D;CDA0; as the cultural link between In the realm of diplomacy,
This isn’t the only instance that revitalizing Buddhist heritage India and the Southeast Asian every gesture and every inter-
indicates the changing diploma- sites and boosting tourism in 0BB4CBC> countries. action holds the power to
cy of India with the Gulf. In a tri- the region. BCA4=6C74=C84B Exploring its historical ties to shape bilateral relations and
umph for India’s diplomatic This pilgrimage circuit, intro- Buddhism, India is not only forge alliances. India's assertive
endeavours, Qatar released eight duced under the Swadesh F8C70B80= preserving its cultural legacy stance in leveraging cultural
Indian nationals who had been Darshan Scheme, covers the but also strengthening its soft and public diplomacy reflects
detained since 2022. The release four major sacred places 2>D=CA84B power and attracting visitors its growing influence and
came after extensive diplomatic according to Buddhist tradi- from around the world. engagement on the global
efforts by the Indian govern- tions, namely Bodh Gaya, Through these initiatives, India stage. Through proactive
ment, highlighting the effective- Sarnath, Kushinagar, and can bolster its image as a flag- engagement and strategic part-
ness of India's diplomatic chan- Lumbini. It is one of India’s first bearer of ancient civilizations nerships, India continues to
nels in securing the freedom of its transnational tourist circuits. and traditions. Moreover, ven- strengthen its position as a key
citizens abroad. Through metic- Beginning from the place of tures like these also contribute player in international affairs,
ulous negotiation and strategic birth of Buddha, Lumbini in towards economic develop- contributing to regional stabil-
dialogue, our government has Nepal, it serves as an initiative ment through tourism. India ity and global cooperation.
once again proven its dedication of Buddhist Diplomacy is trying to create a greater (The writer is an associate
to protecting the interests of (strengthening a nation’s soft affinity towards Asian coun- professor, views are personal)

CWThhP\PacXbcTb_TaU^a\Pc2WP[P:PSP]Z^ccd<PZZP\1WPVPePcWXcT\_[TX]:P]]da ?C8 ;4CC4AB C>C


C74438C>A
@?<9D931<@?1389>7
=YccY_^7QWQ^iQQ^
GXiT_9^TYQ^cT_RUddUb
Sir — The editorial, ‘Himachal crisis’
(29-2-24) carries the sentiments of
everyone. Of course, this is not the first
time the country has witnessed such

QRb_QTdXQ^Y^9^TYQ/ B1489;1
B7A8E0BC0E0
shabby scenes of one party poaching the
elected representatives and the elected
representatives belying the mandate of
the voters to satisfy their thirst for power
7KHURRWFDXVHRIWKLVSDUDGR[FDQEHDWWULEXWHGWRWKHODPHQWDEOHVWDWH and purse. These repeated happenings
are nothing but a mockery of democ-
RISXEOLFHGXFDWLRQLQWKHFRXQWU\ racy. Legislative bodies being convert-
ed into a mere market to buy and sell
egarding global It's not just about rote learn- numbers reveal a disconcert- lawmakers project a very shabby image

R achievements, Indians
have left an indelible
mark across diverse fields,
ing or lack of infrastructure;
it's a systemic failure that
threatens the very foundation
ing truth – a drain on our
intellectual capital that could
have been harnessed for
of the democracy being practised in the
country.
The party engaged in poaching and
?
<<^SXWPbP]]^d]RTScWTbT[TRcX^]^UU^da
Pbca^]Pdcb U^a cWT 6PVP]hPP] \XbbX^]
CWTRaTf\T\QTabfX[[QT^]PcWaTTSPh\Xb
bX^]aTPRWX]VP#Z\^aQXcCWXbPRWXTeT\T]c
from technology and entre- of our future. Yet, as we tra- national growth. Is it a neces- those who offer themselves to be sold \PaZX]VPWXbc^aXR\^\T]cPbcWThfX[[QT bTaeTbPbP]X]b_XaPcX^]P]SPb_XaPcX^]U^aP[[
preneurship to academia and verse the proposed solutions sary sacrifice or a symptom of for power or purse also should have cWTUXabc8]SXP]bc^caPeT[c^b_PRTX]P]X]SXVT #Ra^aTb8]SXP]bCWT\XbbX^]]^c^][hPX\b
healthcare. Yet, an intriguing and underlying assumptions, deeper issues within our edu- some respect for the mandate of the ]^dbb_PRTeTWXR[TCWTbTPbca^]PdcbfTaTRW^ c^bT]SU^daPbca^]PdcbX]c^b_PRTQdcP[b^c^
paradox persists – why do a more discerning response is cational framework? people. If this trend continues the bT]P]SbT[TRcTSU^acWT\XbbX^]U^dahTPabPV^ X]bcX[_aXSTX]TeTah8]SXP]8caT_aTbT]cb8]SXPb
Indians often find unparal- required to navigate the intri- A thought-provoking analy- country is likely to fall into the hands P]S WPeT d]STaV^]T TgcT]bXeT caPX]X]V X] RP_PQX[XcXTbX]Wd\P]b_PRTU[XVWccTRW]^[^VX
leled success on foreign lands cacies with utmost scrutiny. sis probes the migration pat- of dictators yielding to the concept of AdbbXP 2daaT]c[h cWT caPX]X]V _a^VaP\\T Xb RP[STeT[^_\T]cP]SbRXT]cXUXRPSeP]RT\T]c
but encounter unique chal- Higher Education: A Crisis terns of Indian graduates and ‘Might is Right’ and the Might will be d]STafPhPccWT8BA>caPX]X]VRT]caTX]8]SXP P]S[PhbcWTVa^d]Sf^aZU^aUdcdaT\XbbX^]b
lenges within their home- between the quality of educa- of Quality school leavers to foreign decided by Money power. It is time to 1TU^aTcWTPbca^]PdcbbTcU^^cX]cWTRaTfRP_ 0b8]SXP]bfTPaTTg_TRcX]VUdacWTabRXT]cXUXR
land? This thought-provoking tion and the overarching You throw that graduation shores, challenging the con- bring legislation to stop elected repre- bd[T P Wd\P]^XS ]P\TS Eh^\\XcaP fX[[ QT STeT[^_\T]cbX]cWTSPhbc^R^\T
question demands immediate progress of the nation. cap in the air, but does it open ventional narrative of brain sentatives from crossing the floor just [Pd]RWTS^]6PVP]hPP]c^T]bdaTbPUTch Preetiyukta Mohakud | Bhubaneswar
attention and the exploration Recognizing education as a doors to a world of opportu- drain. Balancing the dis- like that for some benefit or the other.
of the multifaceted challenges. catalyst for effective gover- nities? India is tackling the course on brain drain by If they want to shift their loyalty they ter turned controversial the ruling cern as well as appreciation on both
Why do Indian minds shine nance and economic prosper- woes of higher education – acknowledging the positive should resign their post and contest party and its bigwigs came out with nodes. Appreciation because, our Navy
bright internationally, but ity, it is crucial to position the mismatch between impact of the diaspora would again to get re-elected. Similarly, the role excuses and explanations. is actively vigilant in addressing these
systemic deficiencies mar the education at the forefront of degrees and employability. bring a more nuanced per- of money in the election process should Is it not the responsibility of the govern- concerns, at the same time concerning
domestic educational land- national development strate- What's the deal with most spective to the debate. also be curtailed to keep democracy ment and its concerned department that because India is pumped with such con-
scape? gies. engineering, arts, science, and A Vision for Change: A alive. Voters should be educated to boy- came out with this advertisement to traband of 3,132 kg which costs around
Well, there lies a critical The Crisis in Primary and commerce graduates being Unified Call to Action cott both the poachers as well as the scrutinise it before publishing it? The Rs. 2000 crores, as per international
anomaly – the failure to repli- Secondary Education deemed unemployable? The portrayal of the emigra- prey. Leaders speaking about the fight Prime Minister on a visit to this region market valuation, which is huge and
cate this success on home soil One cannot help but ponder It's time to question the very tion of skilled individuals as against corruption are being laughed at of the state has lambasted that the rul- applaudable.
is primarily due to the state of the intricacies of the connec- essence of what higher edu- a loss for India is correct. as nothing else could be more blatant ing party has insulted Indian scientists We must cherish the alertness of the trio
public education. The EW tion between education and cation institutions are deliv- While the emigration of corruption than poaching and yielding. and the space sector, giving impetus to the Gujrat Police, NCB and the Indian
story “Why Indians Succeed our nation's destiny. If educa- ering and whether they're skilled individuals is some- India needs electoral reforms to address the BJP to lampoon the state govern- Navy. But this very incident raised eye-
Everywhere Except in India” tion is the bedrock upon preparing graduates for the times portrayed as a positive these basic issues. ment. brows that still in the eye of Narco
adeptly dissects the paradox which a society is built, then dynamic job market. The development, the reality is AG Rajmohan | Anantapur M Pradyu | Kannur Dealers and smugglers, the route of the
of Indian success on the glob- what does the current state of portrayal of India's higher that India loses out on valu- Arabian Sea is fragile and easy to
al stage against a backdrop of our primary and secondary education system is a sad able talent. India needs a D1=9<>14EµC3?>DB?F5BC91<14 D85CE335CC?6C171B=1>D81> breach. We must not forget the incident
domestic struggles, attribut- say about the trajectory of the reflection of the systemic detailed program to reverse Sir — It is a matter of shame and eye- Sir — The tactfulness of our Indian of 26/11. Strengthening the eastern and
ing this paradox to the unfor- world's largest democracy? challenges faced by graduates this trend, attract exception- brow-raising to see the Tamil Nadu Security agencies is so impressive in western coast of India is the utmost
tunate state of public educa- The ASER surveys unveil a and the subsequent migration al scientists and researchers Government display an advertisement terms of their activeness for their strin- responsibility of our Naval forces.
tion, which is accurate. stark truth – a significant por- of talent abroad. back home, and invest more for the new Indian Space Research gent actions, especially for seizing the Kirti Wadhawan | Kanpur
Education and Governance: tion of our youth lacks even The Brain Drain Dilemma: in R&D. Organisation (ISRO) spaceport in Nacro products from the Arabian Sea.
Thought leaders underscore the basic skills expected at While we proudly export our (The writer is an educator; Kulasekarapattinam featuring a rocket This time, it was codenamed as BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^)
the symbiotic relationship their grade level. talent to foreign shores, the views are personal) with the flag of China. When the mat- 'Sagarmanthan-1'. It is a point of con- [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\
=4F34;78kB0CDA30H k<0A27!!!#

&
gggTQY\i`Y_^UUbS_] UPRTQ^^ZR^\SPX[h_X^]TTak /CWT3PX[h?X^]TTak X]bcPVaP\R^\SPX[h_X^]TTa

FIRSTCOLUMN
496C:D9E96
063PHWKRGRORJ\
:?DECF4E:@?D@78@5
CWTeTabTb^UcWT1WPVPePS6XcP^UUTa
_a^U^d]SX]bXVWcbX]c^[XUTb_da_^bT
DQGIDUPHUGHPDQGV EDD1=6D?C0

4XHVWLRQVDULVHDERXWWKHUDWLRQDOHDQGLPSOLFDWLRQVRIDGRSWLQJ'U6ZDPLQDWKDQ V
SURSRVHGPHWKRGRORJ\IRU063FDOFXODWLRQ

1:9D;E=1B18B7=>8

/
HWPHVWDUWZLWKYHUVHRIWKH%KDJDYDG*LWDZKLFKLV´<RX
VKRXOGDOZD\VGR\RXUGXW\%HFDXVHDFWLRQLVVXSHULRUWRLQDF
WLRQ0DLQWHQDQFHRIWKHERG\ZLOODOVRQRWEHSRVVLEOHWKURXJKLQDF
WLRQµ:HDOONQRZZKDWRXUGXWLHVDUHDFFRUGLQJWRWLPHSODFHDQGFLU
FXPVWDQFHV:HDOVRNQRZWKDWQHJOHFWLQJRXUGXWLHVLPSDFWVRXUPDLQ
WHQDQFH)RUH[DPSOHDVWXGHQWGRHVQRWSD\DWWHQWLRQWRKLVVWXGLHV
:KDWKDSSHQVVXEVHTXHQWO\"+HILQGVLWKDUGWRPDLQWDLQKLPVHOI)RU
ZKRVHEHQHILWZDVWKLVYHUVHVSRNHQ"
/HWPHWDNHDQRWKHUYHUVHZKLFKLVYHU\IDPRXV,DPUHIHUULQJWRYHUVH
ZKLFKJRHVOLNHWKLV´<RXKDYHDULJKWRQO\LQDFWLRQQRWHYHU
LQSUHGHWHUPLQLQJIUXLWV<RXVKRXOGQRWVSHFXODWHDERXWWKHIUXLWRIDFWLRQ
\RXUDWWDFKPHQWWRLQDFWLRQDOVRVKRXOGQRWEHWKHUHµ)RUZKRVHEHQ
HILWZDVWKLVYHUVHVSRNHQ"'RZHKDYHDQ\RWKHUULJKWH[FHSWWRGRRXU
GXWLHV"$QGZHPXVWQRWQHJOHFWWRGRWKHP$VUHJDUGVWKHUHVXOWVRI
RXUDFWLRQVWKHULJKWWRGHFLGHWKHPKDVEHHQNHSWE\*RGZLWK+LPVHOI
7KHWKLUGYHUVHFKRVHQE\PHLVYHU\WHOOLQJLQZKLFK/RUG.ULVKQDSURPLV
HV´3HRSOHZKRZRUVKLS0HZLWKXQGLYLGHGDWWHQWLRQPHGLWDWLQJRQ0H
IRUWKHVHUHJXODUSUDFWLWLRQHUVRI\RJD,KHOSLQJHWWLQJZKDWRQHGRHV
QRWKDYHDQGSURYLGHVHFXULW\RIZKDWRQHKDVµ9HUVHDIWHUYHUVHWKH
/RUGLVFDMROLQJXVWRGRZKDWZLOOIXOILODOORXUGHVLUHVZKLFKDUHDFFRUG
LQJWRGKDUPD*RGFRXOGQ·WEHDSDUW\WRDQ\WKLQJDJDLQVWGKDUPD&RXOG
+H"7KHIRXUWKYHUVHLQWKLVFRQQHFWLRQLV´:KHUHWKHUHLV\RJHVKZDUD
6KUL.ULVKQDDQGZKHUHWKHUHLV$UMXQD PHDQLQJXV WKHUHZLOOEHRSX
OHQFHYLFWRU\ZHDOWKDQGPRUDOLW\µ  :KDWDUHRXUGHVLUHVJHQ
HUDOO\"7KDWZHVKRXOGVXFFHHGLQRXUHQGHDYRXUV:HZRXOGLIZHZHUH o-terminus with the legal members. This also applies to a per cent. Where does one get such Moreover, the very approach of
DLPLQJIRUZKDWLVDFFRUGLQJWRPRUDOLW\LHGKDUPD7KHVDPHLVDERXW

C guarantee for Minimum


Support Price (MSP) for all
crops, another demand raised
by the farmers relates to how
the MSP is fixed. They want it to be cal-
culated based on the recommendations
of the National Commission on Farmers
clarification given on an important
aspect of the recommendation.
That would not have been possi-
ble as you can’t expect Dr
Swaminathan to go back to other
members and check. The big
question is: Is giving the farmer at
a fantastic return?
This is happening because the
farmer is being remunerated twice
over first under C2 and then a fur-
ther profit of 50 percent.
Furthermore, the way profit is cal-
culated ’50 per cent of C2’, you end
the Dr Swaminathan committee of
arriving at a profit by taking a per-
centage of the cost is susceptible
to sharp increases in payments to
farmers. With ever y rupee
increase in the cost, farmers’ prof-
it will increase by 0.5 rupees. At
(NCF) under Dr MS Swaminathan least 50 per cent more than the up giving a ‘return on return’: RoA present, most of the agricultural
(2006). ‘C2’ costs logical? component under C2 being Rs 367 inputs are subsidized. On fertiliz-
All along, the Commission for The purported rationale for giv- per quintal, she gets a fortuitous ers, there is a massive subsidy
Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) - ing 50 per cent extra is that she gain of Rs 183.5 (0.5x367). (urea is sold at about 1/10th of its
a statutory body under the Ministry of should get a handsome profit Unequivocally, there is a flaw in cost). If the subsidy is slashed lead-
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare – has been after covering all paid-out costs. the above method. Either, the ing to a steep rise in the cost of fer-
setting MSP at the level of the so-called
comprehensive cost or C2 cost. C2 is
8=8CB585C7 Profit as it is understood in busi-
ness parlance is essentially meant
government should continue with
the extant method of using C2 for
tilizers, the formula will give an
unwarranted bonanza to the farm-
arrived at by adding three components A4?>AC to give a return to the owner for fixing MSP. On the other hand, if, ers by a corresponding increase in
viz. A2 covers all paid-out expenses, both her invested capital. In the case of it wants to go for 50 per cent prof- profit. At a fundamental level,
ZHDOWK'RQ·WZHQHHGHQRXJKUHVRXUFHVIRURXUPDLQWHQDQFH"1RWRQO\
in cash and in kind, incurred by farmers BD1<8CC438= a farmer, her investment in crop it, then this should be applied only profit is meant to reward an enti-
ZHDOWKWKHUHZLOOEH¶VDXEKDJ\D· JRRGIRUWXQH :KREHQHILWVIURPDOO
WKHVH":HGR*RGGRHVQ·WEHFDXVH+HLVFRPSOHWHLQDOOUHVSHFWV 
on seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, hired
labour, fuel and irrigation; FL is the
>2C>14A!% growing business is by way of
‘land’ and ‘OFCA’ besides her
to the paid-out costs namely A2.
In other words, MSP should be set
ty for the capital invested in any
enterprise. This is precisely what
7KHQH[WYHUVHLVDERXWJDLQLQJSHDFHDQGDSHUIHFWGHVWLQDWLRQ/RUG imputed value of unpaid family labour; C74=25 labour. But, remuneration/return at A2+FL plus 50 per cent of A2. was being done before the FY
.ULVKQDLQVWUXFWV¶,QDOOUHVSHFWVWDNH0\VKHOWHURQO\%\0\PHUF\ and rental value of owned land and for all these is already incorporat- On this basis, in the above exam- 2018-19. That formula (read: C2
\RXZLOODFKLHYHVXSUHPHSHDFHDQGWKHHWHUQDODERGH·:KDWLVLWWKDW imputed cost that would be incurred on A42><<4=343 ed under C2. To give a further ple, the MSP would be Rs 1537 per for fixing the MSP) ought to have
ZHODFNDIWHUJDLQLQJPDWHULDOQHHGVFRPIRUWVHWF",WLVSHDFHZKLFK owned fixed capital assets (OFCA), call
it to return on assets or RoA.
C70C<B? sweetener (read: 50 per cent prof-
it) over and above these would be
quintal (1117+0.5x840).
What did the Modi – government
been continued.
The MSP setting exercise suffers
LVZKDW*RGLVSURPLVLQJ1RWRQO\WKDW*RGLVDOVRDVVXULQJHWHUQDO
DERGHZKLFKLVIUHHIURPWKHGHIHFWVRIWKLVPDWHULDOZRUOG+RZQLFH
Put simply, MSP is equal to A2 + FL + B7>D;314²0C illogical. Let us understand this do? from another aberration. The cost
RoA. It takes care of all the costs incurred with the help of an example. In its poll manifesto for 2014, the of producing a crop varies from
LWZLOOEHWRQRWEHVXEMHFWHGWRUHSHDWHGELUWKDQGGHDWK"*RGLVSUH by the farmer for growing the crop – both ;40BC$?4A In the case of paddy, the all-India BJP had promised to implement place to place depending on the
SDUHGWRJUDQWWKLVDOVR
*RGLVDOZD\VZDQWLQJWRJLYH+HKDVVRPXFKWRJLYHLIZHEHFRPH
paid out and own – besides including an
element of profit i.e. RoA. That is why it
24=C<>A4C70= weighted average A2 cost for the
2017-18 Kharif season, as estimat-
NCF recommendations on MSP.
The announcement in this regard
soil conditions, weather, irrigation,
price of inputs and so on.
GHVHUYLQJ,VQ·WWKDWIDLU"+RZGRZHEHFRPHGHVHUYLQJ"/RUG.ULVKQD is bandied as ‘comprehensive’. The formu- C74F4867C43 ed by the CACP, was Rs 840 per was made by the then Union However, to arrive at MSP, the
la was used for determining MSP till FY quintal; A2+FL cost: Rs 1,117 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in CACP takes the ‘weighted average’
GHVFULEHV¶'HYHORS0\FRQVFLRXVQHVVEHFRPH0\GHYRWHHPDNHVDF
2017-18. The Government normally 0E4A0642>BC>5 per quintal and C2 costs: Rs 1,484 his Budget speech for FY 2018-19. (WA) cost of production. When
ULILFHVIRU0HDQGRIIHUREHLVDQFHWR0H·  2QHPD\IHHOWKDWDOO
WKHVHDFWLYLWLHVUHODWHWR*RG<HVWKH\GREXWGRWKH\EHQHILW+LP"1R
accepts recommendations made by
CACP.
?A>3D2C8>=³ per quintal. In the total cost of Rs
1,484 per quintal, the amount
Later, while replying to a debate in
Parliament, Jaitley clarified that
the price determined in this man-
ner is given to all farmers, those
IDUIURPLWWKH\RQO\SXULI\RXUH[LVWHQFH$QG*RGKDGWRVHWVRPHFRQ In its fifth report submitted in October C74A42><<4=3 going towards the farmer’s income ‘the production cost would be producing at a higher cost stand
GLWLRQVWRTXDOLI\IRU+LVVSHFLDOIDYRXU+RZHOVHZDV+HWRUHZDUGDQ\ 2006, the NCF recommended that MSP was Rs 644 per quintal (1484-840). taken as actual paid A2 plus FL’. In to lose whereas others with lower
RQH"-XVWIRFXVRQKRZHDV\WKH\DUHWRGR should be “at least 50 per cent more than 0C8>=383=>C Of this, Rs 277 per quintal (1117- other words, it decided to set MSP cost make a fortuitous gain.
,ZLOOWDNHXSRQHPRUHYHUVHZKLFKLV¶+DYLQJ0\FRQVFLRXVQHVV\RX the weighted average cost of production”.
The recommendation did not specifical-
B?4285820;;H 840) was for FL and Rs 367 per
quintal (1484-1117) for RoA.
at A2+FL plus 50 per cent of
A2+FL; it comes to Rs 1675 per
Today, the government is trapped
in the vicious cycle of having to
ZLOOFURVVDOOLPSHGLPHQWVE\0\JUDFH·  7KLVLVTXLWHDQDPD]
LQJRIIHUIURP*RG$UHQ·WZHDOOVWUXJJOLQJZLWKRQHSUREOHPRUDQRWK
ly mention what ‘measure of costs’ would <4=C8>=F70C If one were to go by NCF recom- quintal (1117x1.5). procure farmers’ produce at ever-
be used. However, Dr Swaminathan clar- mendation as clarified by Dr The formula adopted by the increasing MSP, now under pres-
HUWKURXJKRXWRXUOLYHV":HGREXWRXUHJRFRPHVLQWKHZD\:HDUH ified: “When we recommended 50 per ²<40BDA4>5 Swaminathan, the farmer would incumbent government also suf- sure to pick up ‘all of it’ at MSP
QRWSUHSDUHGWRDFFHSWWKDWVRPHERG\FDQEHVXSHULRUWRXVDQGWRVXFK
DQH[WHQWWKDWZHKDYHWRWDNH+LVVKHOWHUDQG+LVDORQH  :H
cent over costs, we meant complete costs
called C2, which includes all assumed
2>BCB³F>D;314 have to be given Rs 742 per quin-
tal (0.5x1,484) in addition to an
fers from a flaw to the extent that
‘it also adds return on the imput-
which can denude the exchequer.
This, in turn, is because it is try-
ZRXOGUDWKHUVXIIHUEXWZRQ·WGRDVLQVWUXFWHGE\*RG'RZHUHDOLVH costs”. DB43 income of Rs 644 per quintal ed cost of family labor’ which is ing to substitute the role of the
WKDWRXUDFWVZLOOEHQHILWWKHZRUOGLIZHREH\*RG·VLQVWUXFWLRQV":H Can the clarification given by him many already built into C2 thus taking unjustified. Have received market. It should disentangle
ZLOOEHFRPHEHWWHUSHUVRQVE\IROORZLQJGKDUPD²WKHUXOHVIRUSURSHU years after the report was finalized and the total to Rs 1386 for each quin- wage/income for the work done from this trap and focus on agri-
submitted be taken to mean that the tal of paddy. This translates to 93 on the field, how can a farmer also market reforms which alone can
EHKDYLRXU:HZLOOILWLQWKH6\VWHPFUHDWHGE\*RGZKLFKLVUHTXLUHG Commission had meant it that way? A percent of C2 costs. Taken as a earn a profit on it? In the above help farmers get a good price.
IRUWKHFUHDWLRQWRH[LVWHWHUQDOO\ recommendation emerges from deliber- proportion of the revised MSP of example, this fortuitous amount is (The writer is a policy analyst,
7KHZULWHULVDVSLULWXDOWHDFKHUYLHZVDUHSHUVRQDO ations and is based on consensus among Rs 2226 per quintal, this will be 62 Rs 138 per quintal (277x0.5). views are personal)

'HOKL VIORUDOVSOHQGRXU$WDOHRIWXOLSVDQGWUDGLWLRQV
:NK*KRNO:[ROV,KYZO\GRYZGTJYGYGZKYZGSKTZZUXKYOROKTIKHKG[Z_GTJZNKKTJ[XOTMYVOXOZULROLK YKZKXTGRJGTIK
estled within the heart in the fields of the Netherlands and events, the festival fosters its aesthetic charm, it stands as stands as a silent sentinel of

N of New Delhi's diplo-


matic enclave of
Chanakyapuri, Shanti Path
during the Dutch Golden Age
that tulips blossomed into a
cultural icon. Despite uncer-
a deeper connection to nature's
rhythms and the bonds of
community.
a testament to the power of
beauty and art in fostering
global connections and
hope, its petals a testament to
the enduring spirit of life's eter-
nal dance. Today, the tulip
emerges as a mesmerizing tainty surrounding its intro- Sh. Amit Yadav, the NDMC enhancing a city's allure. As serves as a symbol of resilience
canvas painted with vibrant duction to Western Europe, Chairman, revealed that seven visitors from around the world and endurance, having tra-
hues, adorned by a tapestry of the efforts of individuals like types of tulips were planted, gather to admire the kaleido- versed oceans and centuries to
tulips in an array of colors - Botanist Carolus Clusius in the with three lakh bulbs sourced scopic beauty of tulips, the fes- become a cherished emblem of
red, white, pink, yellow, and late 16th century popularized from the Netherlands and an tival becomes a celebration of beauty worldwide. While the
purple. The 'Delhi Tulip B1:455@?0C70: tulips, leading to the famous additional 40,000 bulbs donat- global heritage, transcending curtains have been drawn on
Festival', now in its second 'tulip mania' of the 17th cen- ed by the Dutch Embassy. cultural barriers and fostering the Tulip Festival, the flowers
consecutive year, came to a tury. From early to late bloomers, understanding and apprecia- continue to stand tall, adorn-
close on February 21, 2024, bloomed with the arrival of By the 19th and 20th centuries, each tulip whispers tales of tion among people of diverse ing the cityscape with their
having commenced on Spring, welcoming all with tulip cultivation flourished in Indo-Dutch relations provid- As the sun casts its golden rays resilience and renewal. This backgrounds. vibrant hues. This festival is
February 10. Visitors, drawn renewed grandeur. the Netherlands, solidifying its ed fertile ground for this upon the city, tulips burst into festival not only celebrates In more ways than one, the more than just a local event; it's
from distant lands, stood in But what is the story behind position as the world's leading botanical ambassador to take bloom, transforming every beauty but also underscores festival symbolises the a part of global heritage, a cel-
awe at the spectacle of nature's these tulips? Originating cen- producer. The association root, inspired by festivals like corner into a canvas of nature's the importance of stewarding resilience and endurance of ebration where visitors from
grandeur, echoing the immor- turies ago in the ancient lands between tulips and the the 'Amsterdam Tulip Festival' masterpiece. From the pic- and protecting nature for nature, standing tall amidst the around the world gather to
tal verses of poets like P. B. of Persia, tulips held signifi- Netherlands was further and Srinagar's Tulip Garden. turesque avenues of Shanti future generations. chaos of urban life. As the cur- admire the kaleidoscopic beau-
Shelley and John Keats. As the cance as symbols of love and immortalized with the iconic Imported from the Path to the vibrant Tulip The Delhi Tulip Festival epit- tains draw to a close on the ty of colors spanning far and
festival unfolded, the city's prosperity. Their journey along song 'Tulips from Amsterdam' Netherlands, these tulips have Festival Garden, each location omizes the fusion of urban ele- Tulip Festival, the flowers wide.
roundabouts and parks, main- the silk routes carried tales of in the 1950s. Intriguingly, it been lovingly nurtured by becomes a testament to the gance and ecological con- continue to adorn the (The writer is programme
tained by the New Delhi exotic lands and distant hori- was through diplomatic chan- skilled gardeners trained by the enduring cycle of life and sciousness, enchanting visitors cityscape with their vibrant executive, Gandhi Smriti and
Municipal Council and the zons, captivating hearts from nels that tulips found their way NDMC's horticulture depart- beauty. Engaging citizens and serving as a beacon for hues. Amidst the bustling Darshan Sansthan, views are
Delhi Development Authority, Istanbul to Amsterdam. It was into the gardens of New Delhi. ment. through various competitions sustainable tourism. Beyond rhythm of urban life, the tulip personal)

You might also like