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ist of
IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 3
from a position of desperation to save the lives of
its soldiers from the extreme conditions there
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 5
returning to business as usual and restoring the Welfare that scrutinised the legislation.
primacy of its Sunni allies i.e. Turkey Saudi Access to insurance for persons with IV
Arabia plus the ulf Cooperation Council is an important part of the Bill and is best
Pakistan and Egypt. Pakistan is familiar with the handled by the government. The numbers are not
generals now ruling the roost after White ouse extraordinarily large and new cases are on the
chief strategist Stephen Bannon's fall. decline according to the ealth Ministry. Data
A Sino-Pak alliance now fed by China's open for 2015 published by the Ministry show that
hostility and not countered by the U.S.'s words of two-thirds of IV-positive cases are confined to
restraint may entrap India into a regional morass. seven States while three others have more than
Many assumptions on which the Modi one lakh cases each. Viewed against the national
government has functioned in diplomacy are commitment to oal 3 of the UN Sustainable
being rewritten. The challenge is to steer India Development oals - to "end the epidemic of
through this maze with more than jingoism AIDS" (among others by 2030 - a rapid scaling up
theatre and domestic electoral needs. of interventions to prevent new cases and to offer
free universal treatment is critical. Publicly funded
LEGALLY ENABLING
insurance can easily bring this subset of care-
The IV and AIDS (Prevention and seekers into the overall risk pool. Such a measure
Control Bill passed by Parliament does not is also necessary to make the forward-looking
guarantee access to anti-retroviral drugs and provisions in the new law meaningful and to
treatment for opportunistic infections but there provide opportunities for education skill-
is no denying that it is a good base for an active building and employment. As a public health
health rights movement to build upon. concern IV/AIDS has a history of active
Understandably IV-positive people in the community involvement in policymaking and a
country estimated at over 21 lakh are highly visible leadership in the West. It would be
disappointed that the Centre's commitment to appropriate for the Centre to initiate active public
take all measures necessary to prevent the spread consultations to draw up the many guidelines to
of IV or AIDS is not reflected in the Bill in the govern the operation of the law. Evidently the
form of the right to treatment. The law only requirement for the ombudsman to make public
enjoins the States to provide access "as far as the periodic reports on compliance will exert
possible". Beyond this f law though the pressure on States to meet their obligations. In an
legislation empowers those who have contracted encouraging sign the Supreme Court has ruled
the infection in a variety of ways: such as against patent extensions on frivolous grounds
protecting against discrimination in employment putting the generic drugs industry so crucial for
education health-care services getting insurance IV treatment on a firm footing. The IV and
and renting property. It is now for the States to AIDS Bill may not be the answer to every need but
show strong political commitment and appoint it would be a folly not to see its potential to make
one or more ombudsmen to go into complaints of further gains.
violations and submit reports as mandated by the
law. ere again State rules should prescribe a A LINGERING THREAT
reasonable time limit for inquiries into If confirmed by the Organisation for the
complaints something highlighted by the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW the
Standing Committee on ealth and Family April 4 chemical attack in Syria where more than
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6 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
80 people suffocated to death would mark a As of October 2016 90% of the world's
tragic coincidence of the 20-year commemoration declared stockpile of chemical agents has been
of the ban on chemical arms. While the incident verifiably destroyed or converted to peaceful
is still under investigation by the OPCW the purposes according to the OPCW and around
bodies of victims are believed to bear signs of the 98% of the world is free from exposure to
effects of exposure to sarin gas similar to the chemical arms. While the legal ban that has been
2013 houta attack. in place for two decades is a significant advance
The horror in houta came to be described it is hard to draw comfort from numbers
as Syria's alabja a reference to the 1988 especially when the munitions are weapons of
massacre of 5000 Kurds in the Iraqi town. The mass destruction.
global outrage against the 2013 incident forced
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to accede to the
REDEFINING CITIZENSHIP
1997 treaty.The removal of the final consignment In March the Supreme Court requested the
of chemicals in June 2014 to different government's views on a PIL seeking to impose a
destruction destinations marked a milestone in lifetime ban on contesting elections for those
the OPCW's Syria operations. But questions have sentenced to imprisonment for more than two
remained over the stockpiles and production years. Currently the ban extends to six years after
facilities that Damascus has declared to the completion of a sentence. The proposed
international monitors. Within a year of the change which is supported by the Election
removal came the chlorine barrel bombing on Commission would effectively end the electoral
Sarmin in March 2015 killing six people. There career of many prominent political leaders.
have been similar instances before the horror that This case could be the latest amongst a
shook Khan Sheikhoun earlier this month. series of Supreme Court decisions modifying the
But there is a dark chapter in an otherwise electoral process in recent years: the court has
promising history of disarmament of this class of held that citizens are entitled to cast a 'none of
weapons one that dates back to Iraq's brutal war the above' vote that prisoners are disqualified
with Iran in the 1980s. In 2014 appeared a from standing for election during periods of
disturbing revelation of the Pentagon's denials incarceration that the concealment of criminal
and delays in acknowledging the grievous antecedents constitutes a corrupt practice under
exposure of hundreds of U.S. soldiers to the law and that electoral appeals to caste and
weaponised chemicals in Iraq between 2004 and religion are impermissible.
2009. The OPCW confirmed that the thousands
More recently however the court has gone
of weapons and agents that the U.S. detonated
further; it has attempted to gradually reshape the
dangerously under open skies were all from the
ballot. At first glance these come across as
earlier conflict. It is only after Baghdad's 2009
welcome developments - after all who could fault
accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention
the court for preventing prisoners or those with
which obligated further demilitarisation under
criminal records from contesting elections? Yet
the OPCW's watch that the full extent of these
they raise fundamental questions about the nature
activities came to light. But the earlier veil of U.S.
secrecy has still left lingering fears that whatever of our democracy and are deeply disquieting for a
remains of these deadly munitions found in the number of reasons.
now largely Islamic State-held region may First the court has increasingly used the
possibly have fallen into the hands of extremists. regrettable caste-based taxonomy of 'purity' and
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 7
'pollution' in its decisions. For example in 2013 match its conception of the ideal electoral
it endorsed the decision of the Patna igh Court system. The right to vote and the right to contest
observing that candidates with criminal records elections are fundamental markers of citizenship
pollute the electoral process affect the sanctity of in a constitutional democracy. Incrementally yet
elections and taint democracy. The court's decisively the court is changing what it means to
language is symptomatic of its conception of its be a citizen of this country. It may soon take
own role - as a sentinel of democracy seeking to another step in that perilous direction.
'disinfect' the electoral process. This is more than
THE GREAT CLIMATE CHURN
a poor choice of words. The court has the power
to frame debate and influence the language of In recent months unprecedented rates of
argument in ways that perhaps no other glacier melts have been reported both in the
institution does. Antarctic and the Arctic. "A massive crack in
Second the court's recent decisions have Antarctica's fourth-biggest ice shelf has surged
meant that whether the right to vote is a forward by at least 10 kilometres since early
constitutional right or merely a statutory January" said Nature magazine in a recent article.
privilege is still a matter of contestation. Article laciers cover the terrain in both these regions
326 of the Constitution provides for universal which have the only permanent ice sheets that
adult suffrage but does not specifically mention still exist on earth today.
the right to vote. Rights that are not explicitly set The earth has enjoyed a more or less stable
out in the Constitution such as the right to temperature for the last 10000 years. Prior to that
privacy have routinely been impliedly read into there were several ice ages and periods of warmer
the text. But the court has refused to categorically temperature also known as inter-glacials. The ice
recognise the right to vote as an inalienable ages are believed to have been caused by small
constitutional right frequently holding that it is shifts in the earth's orbit but all the reasons for
a privilege that can be taken away as easily as it is the temperature fluctuations observed are not yet
granted. entirely understood. About 5.3 to 2.6 million years
It is disconcerting that the court still does ago during the Pliocene epoch global sea levels
not clearly acknowledge a constitutional right to were close to 30 metres higher than they are today
vote. Participation in the electoral process is while average global temperatures were only
often seen as a gateway right or a 'right of rights'. about three to four degrees Celsius warmer. What
Our only response to citizens whose candidate of could happen in the current century as a result of
choice has not been elected is to point towards anthropogenic climatic change remains a matter
their right to exercise that choice in the first of great interest within the scientific and
place. The absence of a constitutional right to policymaking community.
vote has real consequences for it makes it easier The Antarctic ice sheet is 14 million sq km
to impose wide restrictions on who can exercise in area and holds a large amount of frozen fresh
that right and the circumstances in which they water. (In comparison the area of India's land
may do so. mass is about 1.3 million sq km. If all the ice over
It is one thing for the court to introduce the Antarctic were to melt sea levels would rise
transparency-promoting measures with a view to by about 60 metres. Parts of the ice sheet also
allowing change to take place organically but flow into the ocean and do so through ice shelves
quite another to change the rules of the game to that protrude into the water. Several media
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10 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
the 1960s China and the Soviet Union weren't When Russia formally joins OBOR it will
the best of friends during the Cold War nor did have indirectly taken a position on Kashmir
they have a great relationship in the post-Soviet which is not necessarily in keeping with the
days. Pakistan and the Soviet Union were Cold Indian stand on the issue. If the Russian envoy's
War rivals and Russia did not until recently remarks at the eart of Asia conference in
share a close relationship with Pakistan. All that December are anything to go by Moscow is also
is changing now with them ganging up to undo taking a pragmatic stand on terrorism in South
American dominance in the region among other Asia.
things. The 'global outcast' Pakistan is today an
Clearly this new axis of a resurgent Russia inevitable lynchpin of Southern Asian geopolitics.
ambitious China and opportunistic Pakistan in In a world of realpolitik norm regress and
combination with other related developments opportunistic bandwagoning Pakistan is the
will not only diminish U.S. power in the region new regional favourite. Whether we like it or not
but could also potentially constrain Indian now that Pakistan's generals have waited out the
influence. Sino-Russian relations through joint Americans and NATO from Afghanistan the
military exercises and the Russian sale of outcomes of the Afghan conflict will largely be
advanced weaponry to China for instance could determined by Rawalpindi. This fits well with the
hurt India's strategic options globally. Chinese and Russian regional grand strategies.
Both China and Russia have been active in one are the days when Islamabad was currying
the West Asian theatre. aving vetoed U.S.- favour with Washington; today Moscow and
sponsored sanctions against Syria they believe Beijing are actively courting it. Normative
that it is necessary to nudge the warring Syrian considerations apart it is this sense of the big
factions to negotiate. Beijing has also been picture that prevents Beijing from acting against
reaching out to and balancing the various Pakistan-based terror groups; irritating India is a
adversaries in the region such as Israel Saudi side benefit.
Arabia and even Iran and increasingly talking the For sure Pakistan has consistently used
language of reconciliation. Also recall while New terrorism as a tool of statecraft and yet there is
Delhi buckled under pressure from Washington to a recognition today that it is a pivotal state in
take sides on Iran Beijing refused to do so. addressing terror. Moreover while the IMA is still
Compared to the thornier West Asia engaging in its infancy we need to look closely at its
South Asia is easier for China given that the potential. Will it emerge even though it is at a
smaller countries in the region see it as an moment an overwhelmingly Sunni sectarian
infrastructure provider with deep pockets and force as a potent regional military alliance in the
without the usual moral science lessons. years to come? What role would Pakistan play in
Bangladesh one of India's close allies in the this 'Islamic NATO'? What implications would it
region is likely to attend the OBOR summit in have for India?
May and may even sign up for it. Chinese interest Amidst such geopolitical reshaping of the
in Afghan reconciliation stems not only from a region New Delhi has done precious little to
security/terrorism angle but also more counter them or to propose a collective regional
significantly to ensure the sustainability of future. The South Asian Association for Regional
OBOR given its importance in providing access to Cooperation (SAARC which should have been
Central Asia. the central plank of India's 'neighbourhood first'
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 11
policy is in doldrums today. aving jettisoned recommendations is to have an independent
SAARC and unwilling to promote other regional science and technology authority that will have
initiatives institutional or issue-based India two parallel arms. One a 'discovery arm' that can
continues to prefer unilateralism towards organise the expertise of various organisations
neighbours. The shortcomings of bilateralism in across states and regions to solve a basic research
a world hungry for institutions and structures problem. Two a 'delivery' arm that will closely
should be evident to us. work with industry and evolve public private
While it is true that the China-Pakistan partnerships. Such an authority the report
Economic Corridor will pass through Pakistan- envisions will report directly to the Prime
controlled territory that India has claimed we Minister. SPARK (Sustainable Progress through
should find a via media with China on the issue Application of Research and Knowledge as the
rather than publicly dismiss the initiative. iven body is tentatively named will be overarching yet
that OBOR is a futuristic mega-project its have "light touch" governance.
benefits as well as cross-national and inter- The Principal Scientific Adviser to the
continental linkages all of which would overnment of India is one such office. The NITI
eventually bypass India will only become clearer Aayog now essentially a policy think tank and
in the years to come. To base our analysis on tasked with coordinating States and research
current cost-benefit calculations in terms of agencies is another. Though they have no dearth
immediate returns and short-term sustainability of eminent experienced scientists they haven't
is missing the big picture. Moreover our ability to substantially vaulted science and technology in
create regional infrastructural arrangements the country either. The Council of Scientific and
excluding China and Pakistan remains limited. Industrial Research faces its own challenges of
In short then a few decades down the line India effectively translating its know-how. Scientific
could end up far more isolated: the logical departments in India from the Department of
conclusion of an inward-looking political class. Atomic Energy to the Department of Science &
Technology have bureaucracies of their own.
SPARK OR AN EMBER?
They battle the dilemma of having to take bold
Earlier this year top administrators in expensive risks - that science by its very nature
Indian science submitted a detailed project report requires - and on the other hand be accountable
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This paper has to the Finance Ministry. Not only does a new
reviewed portions of the 48-page report titled overarching body run the risk of "stepping on
Vigyan 2030: Science and Technology as the Pivot toes" but it will also be a challenge to exert
for Jobs Opportunities and National solemn authority without being a cantankerous
Transformation. And the report in its accountant. It must somehow marry commerce
assessment of the state of Indian science is and knowledge without being commercial and
stingingly honest: "The stature of Indian science ensure that good ideas - beyond the Indian
is a shadow of what it used to be… because of Institutes of Technology and Science - don't die
decades of misguided interventions. We have lost out for lack of funds or recommendations from
self-confidence and ambition and the ability to influential scientists. Any new idea to rejuvenate
recognise excellence amongst our own. In a false the administration of science must also ensure
sense of egalitarianism we often chose the continuity. Very often bold experiments are
mediocre at every level." One of its key supported and incubated for a few years and by
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 13
immunity - from the police the CBI the CVC the main demands made was that cars with red
Lokpal and the courts - for the officers of the beacons be allotted to them. Such demands have
bank who have negotiated and recommended such also made its very denial a low-hanging fruit for
solution. This is a better step than oversight regimes seeking to establish their street cred as
committees which do not provide the backbone men and women of the people. For instance over
to take the commercial decision of beneficial the last three years governments in Delhi Uttar
compromise. Pradesh and Punjab each of a different political
Such a body needs to be headed with high hue have limited the use of the red beacon.
authority drawn from the top echelons of the But to meaningfully begin to dismantle
judiciary the RBI and public sector banks serving India's VIP culture doing away with status
or retired. It should be a multi-tier body when the symbols such as red beacons is not enough. For
number of cases increases which will happen one this accessory is just one category among
because once you offer mediated solutions with privileges that maintain a colonial-era overhang
protection for sound decision-taking then both on the country's democracy by publicly enforcing
banks and borrowers will know that it makes a subject-ruler separation. From pat-downs
eminent sense to try this approach which avoided at the security gate at an airport to a freer
essentially means no risk in trying for a passage at the toll gate on a highway there are
settlement and no risk in agreeing to it. numerous ways in which the culture of
entitlement is asserted. Such visible reminders of
RED, BLUE, ORDINARY
a feudal separation apart the power of official
In a most welcome move the Union proximity is experienced by citizens most
Cabinet has decided to disallow the use of the red intimately while accessing government services
beacon on vehicles on India's roads. Starting May - from getting a bed at a state hospital or a seat
1 only vehicles on emergency services such as for one's child in school to cutting the waiting
ambulances fire trucks and police cars will be time for say a passport or an Aadhaar identity
permitted the use of a beacon - from now a blue- proof. To be or to know 'somebody' is far too
coloured one. So-called dignitaries will no longer often perceived as a requisite to getting one's
have the privilege of announcing their exalted rightful due in a political economy of shortages
status on the road by sporting beacons on their sloth and rent-seeking. To refresh Indian
passenger vehicles. For this the Central Motor democracy the state needs to stop protecting
Vehicles Rules of 1989 are to be amended so that MPs such as Ravindra aikwad who coast along
the Central and State governments lose the on "don't you know who I am" bullying. But yet
power to nominate categories of persons for the more importantly it must also reform procedures
red-beacon distinction. As a symbol of an assault and the work culture to provide a level playing
on India's over-reaching VIP culture this is a good field to citizens to get what is theirs by right.
beginning. The flashing red beacon has become
so closely associated with unchecked official TRADING
power that in popular culture it is often all that is AWAY OUR DIGITAL RIGHTS
depicted to establish a character's place in the lobal trade treaties are no longer just about
hierarchy. In fact it is seen to be such a symbol of reducing tariff. They represent a whole new
arrival in the country's power structure that at a global legal system supplanting national policy
workshop for first-time MPs in 2009 one of the space and sovereignty in the interest of global
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14 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
big business. With the digital phenomenon commitments and no source code transparency
restructuring most social sectors it is little for digital applications that run through our
surprise that global trade negotiations are now social and personal spaces. Basically India must
eyeing the digital area in an attempt to pre- give up its right to regulate digital technologies
emptively colonise it. and networks within its territory.
Big data is the key resource in the digital Such regulation is required to ensure an
space. It is freely collected or mined from equal playing field open standards privacy and
developing countries and converted or security-related protections promoting local
manufactured into digital intelligence in technology content and other positive
developed countries mostly the U.S. This digital discriminations like for open-source software
intelligence forms a kind of "social brain" that which is Indian policy for public sector use and
begins to control different sectors and extract for economic and social protections. We are being
monopoly rents. To judge how the digital society asked to give up our technology or digital
is shaping just extrapolate this situation to every sovereignty even before we have been able to
sector; not only the regular commercial ones but identify and institute our digital rights policies
also key social areas of education health laws and regulation.
agriculture and indeed governance. The second demand in trade discussions is
It is important to frame who owns data and of ensuring completely free flow of data across
digital intelligence and how their value should be borders with no requirement of local storing
socially distributed. Most key data required for even for sensitive sectors like governance
policymaking is increasingly with global data banking health etc. Free global flow of data is a
companies. Would the society or government significant expression of self-declared ownership
then buy data and intelligence even for crucial by global digital corporations over the social and
public purposes from these digital companies personal data that they collect from everywhere
when the data actually come from our various including India. The third key demand is the
social and personal interactions over digital exclusion from future regulation of all services
platforms? Does the ownership of the platform other than those already committed to a negative
give corporations economic ownership of all the list which will of course include e-versions of
data so produced? Is ownership of data of every sector.
sensitive sectors to be treated differently? These India has been resisting global digital trade
are key political economy questions that must be negotiations. But attempts will be made to flatter
sorted out first. its self-image of an IT or digital superpower to
Fronting for the global big business seek concessions. India's global IT business
developed countries make three key demands at relationships are largely B2B where the principal
digital trade talks. The first is a free and party is abroad and owns the involved data. India
unhindered access to the "network" running has much native technical and entrepreneurial
throughout our society to mine social and capabilities in the digital area and to match them
personal data from every nook and corner. This a huge domestic market. Conditions are extremely
includes full access to local networks right to set good for developing strong domestic digital
up networks no custom duties on digital goods industry. But for this India must stave off
no requirement of local presence no local pressure for entering into binding global
technology use or technology standards commitments that would forever kill any such
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 15
prospects apart from disabling Indian infrastructure.
policymakers from appropriately regulating the In many places where most of the water
digitisation of various sectors. sector remains in the public domain even where
The WTO ministerial in Argentina in some piecemeal water privatisation has been
December 2017 will be a key battleground for implemented re-municipalisation is the trend.
whether WTO should start negotiating digital The private sector works on one bottom line:
trade issues. These issues also figure in the profit maximisation. But the management of
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership water supply is an issue of rights and a basic need
talks among ASEAN-plus countries (including as acknowledged by the judiciary. Moreover water
India. India must resist any digital trade is embedded in the ecosystem. Any attempt to see
negotiations at this time. It has little to gain water only as a commodity is bound to have
from them and much to lose. It must first build multiple disruptive consequences.
its digital sovereignty - and digital rights - before When privatisation is mooted as a solution
it can begin negotiating a part of it in global trade it comes with a promise that it will create
talks. competition and that the consumer will benefit.
A look at the power sector shows that this
SHOULD WE PRIVATISE WATER?
promise has not been delivered. The power sector
Privatisation of water is unwarranted is not only a monopoly but refuses to submit itself
unjustified and unnecessary. In pushing for it we to public audit. This is not to suggest that people
are not really addressing the key issue plaguing should not pay for the water they consume. Those
the water sector which is a need for better who can must be made to pay. The current
governance. We need a democratic transparent government in Delhi has not only provided free
accountable and participatory governance in a water to the lowest consumers but has also
bottom-up approach on each aspect of the urban managed to expand the distribution network and
water sector where water privatisation is bring down losses. It is possible and necessary to
advocated. improve public water governance and the only
There are lacunae in the urban water sector way forward.
which are being used as a justification for
pushing water privatisation. Lacunae include WAITING FOR THE LOKPAL
losses inefficiency unreliability corruption In a hearing recently regarding non-
issues of quality and mismanagement. All of these operationalisation of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas
are symptoms; the root cause is lack of democratic Act more than three years after the law was
governance. Water is not merely a commodity and enacted Attorney eneral Mukul Rohatgi
the urban water sector is not just about supplying reportedly argued in the Supreme Court that the
fresh potable water to people in urban dwellings. court has no powers to direct the government on
The urban water sector also involves multiple when and how the law should be enforced. Failure
layers including sourcing of water deciding to implement the Lokpal law by the Bharatiya
which is the best among available options Janata Party government is an indication of how
getting potable water through purification plants the party is reneging with impunity on its poll
for equitable distribution through huge promise of a corruption-free India. A lack of will
infrastructure and managing the sewage on the part of the government to implement the
generated through another set of huge anti-corruption law can be inferred from its
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16 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
various actions and inactions in the last three significant that the Bill pushed through in
years. unprecedented haste did not modify the
With the government's refusal to recognise composition of the selection committee which
anyone as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP was needed to appoint the Lokpal.
after the general election in 2014 the The law was thus diluted even before it
appointment of the Lokpal became an immediate could be operationalised. The Lokpal Amendment
casualty as the selection committee of the Lokpal Act 2016 did away with the statutory requirement
includes the recognised LoP. In order to of public servants to disclose the assets of their
operationalise the law the government had its spouses and dependent children provided for
task cut out - introduce a Lokpal amendment Bill under the original law. It also dispensed with the
in Parliament substituting the recognised LoP in need for public disclosure of these statements and
the selection committee with the leader of the empowered the Central government to prescribe
single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha. the form and manner of asset disclosure. This
In fact a similar amendment was required in the was a critical blow as the Lokpal was established
Delhi Special Police Establishment Act for the to act on complaints under the Prevention of
appointment of the CBI Director; it was Corruption Act (PCA; one of the grounds of
introduced by the government and passed criminal misconduct under the PCA relates to a
expeditiously. owever for the Lokpal law public servant or any person on his/her behalf
instead of bringing in a single amendment to alter being in possession of pecuniary resources or
the composition of the selection committee the property disproportionate to known sources of
government introduced a 10-page Bill which income. Since illegally amassed assets are often
proposed to fundamentally dilute the original law. handed over to family members public declaration
iven the controversial nature of amendments it of assets of the spouse and dependent children of
was referred to a parliamentary standing the public servants was necessary to enable
committee. The Bill continues to languish in people to make informed complaints to the
Parliament. Lokpal.
The Lokpal Act stipulated that by July 31 The government's intention to subvert the
2016 Section 44 related to disclosure of assets of Lokpal law was further confirmed when through
public servants was to be operationalised proposed amendments to the PCA it sought to
irrespective of appointment of the Lokpal. To usurp critical powers of the Lokpal. Experience in
prevent the asset disclosure provision from India has shown that the requirement for seeking
taking effect the government introduced another prior sanction from the government for
amendment Bill. This Bill which completely prosecuting government officials is a critical
whittled down the asset disclosure requirement bottleneck and results not only in huge delays but
was resolutely pushed through by the also and often in the accused never being
government in Parliament and passed within 48 prosecuted. To address this problem the Lokpal
hours of its introduction. MPs from various Act vests the power of granting sanction for
political parties who expressed concern that the prosecution in the independent institution of the
amendments would dilute the original law were Lokpal. Instead of reinforcing this provision
assured by the Minister that once the Bill was which insulates the prosecution process from
passed it would be referred to a parliamentary government influence the PCA amendments
standing committee for deliberation. It is strengthen the requirement to seek the
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 17
government's permission before prosecuting a support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP. This
public servant by increasing cover to even retired rejection was not challenged by the CBI during
public officials. By requiring the Lokpal to seek the tenure of the NDA government at the Centre
permission from the government before it can till May 2004 or even subsequently.
prosecute officials in cases of corruption the The route by which the present case
proposed PCA amendments make a mockery of reached the Supreme Court needs to be
the independent institution and render the entire mentioned. Skipping the unnecessary details the
exercise of demanding an empowered Lokpal special court at Lucknow by an order dated May 4
futile. 2001 dropped proceedings against 21 persons
including the Advani batch of eight taking the
TOWARDS COMPLETE JUSTICE AT
view that there were two sets of accused namely
LAST the innumerable kar sevaks who actually
By any standards 25 years should be a long demolished the masjid and the limited number of
enough period to find closure for crimes which others who were the instigators. The special court
affect the social and political life of a country. But chose to drop the proceedings against these 21
it has taken this length of time for the real persons so that the case against the kar sevaks
beginning: the trial of political leaders for could go on. The revision filed by the CBI against
conspiracy to commit what is conveniently this order of the special court remained pending
described as "political crimes". If ever there was a before the Allahabad igh Court for a good nine
case where the invocation of the powers of the years before it was dismissed by a judgment on
Supreme Court to do "complete justice" under May 22 2010. It is this judgment which was
Article 142 of the Constitution existed it was the challenged by the CBI in the Supreme Court after
Babri Masjid demolition case. As Justice R.F. a long delay. Considerable time of the Supreme
Nariman recognises in his judgment the Court was spent on examining the question of
underlying basis of the Article is the Latin maxim delay.
fiat justitia ruat caelum (let justice be done though It is also worth looking at the varying
the heavens fall. The court's unhesitating resort judicial reactions in the Supreme Court in the
to Article 142 mitigates to some extent the same case over a span of four years. Last week's
consequences of the failures of the Uttar Pradesh judgment had no hesitation in recording that the
government and the Central Bureau of case with which it was concerned pertained to
Investigation (CBI and the judiciary's own tardy crimes affecting the secular fabric of the
processes. Each of these deserves some attention. Constitution. But in 2013 the reaction of a bench
On June 16 2001 the CBI requested the headed by Justice .L. Dattu later Chief Justice
State government to cure the defect. The request of India and now Chairperson of the National
remained pending with the State government for uman Rights Commission was different. At that
a year-and-a-quarter and was rejected on time the much respected senior counsel P.P. Rao
September 28 2002. This period spanned the was appearing for the CBI. e is not known for
chief ministership of Rajnath Singh a short spell courtroom dramatics or the use of hyperbole. In
of President's rule under the National Democratic support of his plea for early hearing he referred to
Alliance (NDA government and finally the chief the incident as a crime and described it as a
ministership of Ms. Mayawati whose Bahujan matter of national importance. e had not
Samaj Party government depended on the outside described any individual as a criminal. According
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18 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
to newspaper reports he was sharply pulled up. even if Mr. Trump's order to eliminate the CPP
While reminding the CBI of its own delays in the were to go into effect his administration is
matter the bench reportedly said "Do not say it required by a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling to
is a national crime or matter of national regulate carbon dioxide. Moreover the EPA's
importance. We are yet to decide it. Unless we or rules are themselves not easy to reverse by a
the trial court decide this way or that way you stroke of the presidential pen especially given
cannot make such a statement." another 2009 EPA finding that s "threaten
the public health and welfare of current and
THE CLIMATE FIGHT IS GLOBAL
future generations".
Several recent extreme events such as Still the recent moves by its President are
wildfires droughts severe heatwaves and a clear signal that the U.S. is no longer interested
cyclones in other places have a clear signature of in curbing s to stabilise the climate and
a changing climate but in many cases these are neither is it keen to meet its Paris commitments.
exacerbated by other institutional failures. None Mr. Trump's actions also demonstrate that
of this has however persuaded the present U.S. allowing countries to write their own Nationally
government that anthropogenic greenhouse Determined Contributions seen as an
gases (s are responsible for climate change. improvement to a global top-down approach still
The U.S. is still the world's second largest annual has to confront the same political problem -
emitter of s and has generated more than a continued implementation of the agreement by
quarter of the total anthropogenic s in the successive governments within each country.
atmosphere since 1850. That a major emitter is retreating from its former
Even though the U.S. has not technically commitments is of course a danger to the world's
withdrawn from the Paris Agreement from last climate but this may not be a big step back if
December when countries came together and set other countries persist with their efforts and if
climate-related targets for themselves President renewables continue to get more affordable as
Donald Trump's recent decisions are a sweeping they have recently. This move also provides elbow
repudiation of former U.S. President Barack room for renewable energy businesses elsewhere
Obama's policies to reduce and limit pollution to pick up the slack in interest within the U.S.
and s. The curbs on power plant emissions Nonetheless it does make one wonder how
by the Obama administration - the Clean Power the U.S. or Europe would have responded if
Plan (CPP - were aimed at reducing the power another country say India had undertaken
sector's carbon dioxide emissions by about a third similar actions. There may have been little time
below the 2005 levels by 2030. The regulations lost before name-calling and shaming began
would require states and electric utilities to following which global trade sanctions would
reduce emissions either by deploying renewables likely have been imposed or perhaps other kinds
reducing demand or increasing power plant of bans or penalties. The chance that any of this
efficiencies. will happen now towards the U.S. still a
In any case the Environmental Protection superpower appears to be slim.
Agency's (EPA CPP has been in the courts for Nation states are the proper agencies
more than a year due to a legal challenge mounted responsible for curbing emissions to the shared
by over half the U.S. states and a number of global commons. Nevertheless Mr. Trump's
companies that opposed the rule. Nevertheless recalcitrance shows that a change in political
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22 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A 1950s and the other by B.P. Mandal in the 1970s.
PROBLEM Even the 1993 NCBC Act was based on this
article.
Lok Sabha passed the 123rd amendment to The 123rd amendment delinks the whole
the Constitution which will when it becomes folio of backward classes from Article 340 and
law bring into being a 'constitutional' National brings it closer to provisions related to SC/STs.
Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC. The The main shortcoming of the current NCBC
current NCBC was created under an Act of according to the Union government is that it has
Parliament in 1993. The new insertion into the no power "to hear the grievances" of the BCs.
Constitution (Article 338B is identical to the Curiously the SC commission has become the
Articles 338 and 338A that respectively created gold standard for those demanding the new
the national commission for SCs and another for NCBC. If the new body is as incompetent as its
STs. (The amendment also brings about changes role model the nation will be spared of a lot of
to Articles 342 and 366. avoidable problems.
What the 123rd amendment amounts to is The government initially proposed to set up
that the Union government has in one stroke the "National Commission for Socially and
brought BCs in league with the SC/STs as victims Educationally Backward Classes" which is - in
of discrimination exclusion and violence. It not nomenclature at least - closer to Article 340. By
only is illogical and lacks historical justification retaining the old generic name of NCBC and
but is fraught with several challenges to the way delinking the body from its soul (Article 340 the
India runs its welfare system. The move turns government set the stage for the whole scheme of
social justice on its head. Interestingly the special protections under the Constitution to
government pushed this amendment on a war crumble. Once the 123rd amendment becomes
footing. All that it took was five days - from law, Article 340 will be dead without being
introduction to passage - which included the accorded the dignity of a repeal. It will be a pity.
weekend. On a Wednesday the Bill was The article reflects the Constituent Assembly's
introduced in the Lok Sabha which passed it the understanding on the matter which is relevant
following Monday! If the government had had a even today: there are classes not castes which
reason to push the Bill so hard and fast it's not suffer from social and educational backwardness
obvious to common folk. An opportunity has been and the state has the burden of allocating
wasted to reimagine the whole social justice adequate funds to ameliorate their conditions. It
architecture that is appropriate for 21st century stretches one's credulity to accept that the article
India. stipulates quotas and representation be extended
It may be recalled that TTK was speaking to BCs.
during the discussion on Article 340 which deals Though Article 338B keeps the socially and
with the need to inter alia identify those "socially educationally backward classes as its subject
and educationally backward classes" understand matter in practice the proposed system will treat
the conditions of their backwardness and make the developmental issues related to BCs on a par
recommendations to remove the difficulties they with caste discrimination and untouchability
face. The article stipulates the appointment of a suffered by SCs and even by STs. The new NCBC
commission to give effect to its provisions. This will hear grievances inquire into complaints
was the context for the appointment of two summon officials given its powers as a civil court
commissions (one headed by Kaka Kalelkar in the
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 23
issue directions and have the right to be to the record before the financial crisis of 2007.
consulted by both Union and the States on policy In 1999-2008 the world economy grew at 4.2%,
matters related to BCs. with emerging markets firing away at 6.2%. But
One is right to assume that BCs do face the IMF's projections do hold out the hope that
discrimination and exclusion and they deserve the world economy may emerge from the
state support. Is there any justification to prolonged slump it has seen consequent to the
suppose however that their conditions are as bad financial crisis of 2007. This is a bit of a surprise
as those faced by the SC/STs? The whole business considering that until very recently many
of inquiries into complaints safeguards economists had come to believe that the world
recording evidence etc will result in the need to economy was in the grip of 'secular stagnation'
enact laws similar to the ones in existence for the an expression coined by the economist Alvin
protection of SC/STs. ave there been instances ansen in the 1930s. ansen argued that where
of BCs (Shudras suffering violence/intimidation savings substantially exceed investment the real
due to their caste? Are such instances if they interest rate tends to drop to a very low level.
were taking place widespread enough warranting Conventional monetary policy operates by
special legislation and watchdog bodies? reducing nominal interest rates in order to
A generation ago social justice was stimulate growth. Where the nominal interest
mistaken to be a new dawn for 'weaker' sections rate is already close to zero there isn't much scope
such as SC/STs BCs and minorities to be united for cutting interest rates. In conditions of 'secular
as one group of Indians with common interests stagnation' conventional monetary policy is
and destiny. That project was dead on arrival as doomed to be ineffective. The burden of reviving
its votaries lacked both intellectual honesty and growth in such a situation falls on fiscal policy.
policy imagination. Its new and more sinister This means running up large government deficits
variant seeks to smuggle BCs into the tent meant and increasing public debt. But markets will
for SCs. An ill-defined need begets a monster finance government borrowings only up to a
which is sure to do more mischief than good. point and there is also resistance among
policymakers to increased government spending.
THE WORLD IS STILL FLAT
But the situation has changed quite a bit in
The IMF sees world economic growth recent months. Inflation is trending upwards.
accelerating from 3.1% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2017 The IMF expects the inflation rate in the U.S. to
and 3.6% in 2018. Both advanced and emerging rise from 1.3% in 2016 to 2.7% in 2017. In the
economies are poised to do better. rowth in Euro area it sees inflation rising from 0.2% to
advanced economies is projected to rise from 1.7% 1.7%. The spectre of a deflationary spiral has thus
in 2016 to 2% in 2017 and 2018. Emerging been dispelled. Does the incipient revival of the
markets will grow at 4.5% in 2017 and 4.8% in world economy disprove the 'secular stagnation'
2018 compared with growth of 4.1% in 2016. hypothesis? It's too early to tell. We have not
China will see growth decelerating from 6.7% in seen big increases in private or public investment
2016 to 6.6% and 6.2% in 2017 and 2018 in the advanced economies. Instead the stock
respectively. India's growth in contrast will markets have soared consequent to the election of
accelerate from 6.8% in 2016 to 7.2% and 7.7% Donald Trump as U.S. President and household
over the next two years. debt is once again rising in the advanced world.
These are modest rates of growth compared Much of the boost to market sentiment has
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24 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
to do with expectations that the U.S. will see a pose bigger risks than many of the factors
strong fiscal stimulus through the combination mentioned above although it is not yet clear how
of tax cuts and massive infrastructure spending these risks will play out. It is significant that at
that Mr. Trump promised during his election the IMF meeting this month finance ministers
campaign. is flip-flops on foreign policy in the and central bankers refrained from commitments
first 100 days however raise doubts over his to resist protectionism out of deference to
ability to follow through on his campaign pledges. America's preferences. They pledged instead to
The IMF suggests that the U.S. policy agenda promote "a level playing field in international
could unfold in ways that could derail its trade" a term that is open to multiple
forecasts. It factors in a widening of the fiscal interpretations.
deficit by 2 percentage points by 2019. This could Finally there are rising geopolitical
have either of two outcomes. It could cause output tensions. U.S.-Russia relations have touched a
to rise while leading to a moderate rise in interest new low. There is a real prospect of confrontation
rates. Or it could cause a sharp rise in interest between the U.S. and Russia over the conflict in
rates without any significant increase in output. Syria. Tensions over North Korea have reached a
The world economy would benefit in the first flashpoint. The U.S. and China are at loggerheads
scenario but not in the second. over maritime rights in the South China Sea.
The IMF warns that emerging markets
A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE
including India will find the external conditions
for growth less supportive than in the post-2000
DISABLED
period thus far. Slower growth in the developed The Supreme Court observed that
world means lesser demand for emerging market "employment is a key factor in the empowerment
goods and services. Tightening monetary and inclusion of people with disabilities" in its
conditions in the advanced world spell lower judgment in the Union of India v. National
capital flows (although foreign investors will Federation of the Blind case (2013. The verdict
still be attracted to emerging markets with sound registered the "alarming reality" of disabled
fundamentals. Subdued commodity prices mean persons out of jobs not because of their
that terms of trade improvements will be limited. disabilities but due to social and physical barriers
Emerging markets accounted for 70% of that prevent them from joining the workforce.
global growth in purchasing power parity terms This is despite India ratifying the United Nations
in 2000-08 nearly double their contribution in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
1980s. Following the global economic crisis as Disabilities in 2007 and passing the Persons with
growth in advanced economies dipped sharply Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Protection of
the contribution of emerging markets rose even Rights and Full Participation Act 1995. Repeated
further to 80% in 2010-15. With external orders of the court to give disabled persons their
conditions now turning adverse the IMF sees the due have been breached continuously.
contribution of emerging markets and developing Parliament repealed the 1995 Act and
economies (EMDEs to global growth in 2016-21 brought in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
falling. The fall is quite small but it may mark the Act 2016 the Preamble of which marks respect
reversal of a benign trend. for inherent dignity individual autonomy
The threat of protectionism and anti- including the freedom to make one's own
globalisation sentiments in the U.S. and Europe choices and independence of disabled persons
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 25
among other goals. The 2016 Act is expected to of 60% for the general government by 2023
give full effect to the United Nations Convention. comprising 40% for the Central government and
When the government brought the new Act to the 20% for the State governments. iven the recent
notice of a three-judge Supreme Court Bench led track record there is a reasonable probability of
by Justice Dipak Misra the court responded with the Central government achieving the 40% debt
a 32-page judgment on April 25 highlighting that to DP ratio. The focus now is on the States. Can
"immediacy of action is the warrant". The court they in partnership with the Central government
gave State governments and Union Territories a enable the near optimum of 60% to be achieved by
12-week deadline to comply with the provisions the terminal date? For international investors
of the new law and file compliance reports in the and rating agencies what matters is the fiscal
court. position of the country as a whole. The challenge
In its judgment the court noted that the of States achieving a debt ceiling of 20% by 2023
2016 Act provides "more rights to disabled is undoubtedly erculean for more reasons than
persons". This includes access to justice free one.
education role of local authorities as providers of First the best of times so to say on fiscal
employment and opportunity and National and issues may be somewhat behind us. As a 2013
State funds. Notably the Act emphasises the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
creation of special courts and speedy trials and Development paper by David Turner and
special public prosecutors for offences committed Francesca Spinelli points out "A key issue in
against disabled persons under the Act. The law assessing long-run fiscal sustainability is the
also makes private companies equally liable for future trend of the differential between the
violating the Act. interest paid to service government debt (r and
"The 2016 Act is noticeably a sea change in the growth rate of the economy (g. For highly
perception and marches ahead with regard to indebted countries an increase in this differential
(rights of persons with disabilities and the role of a couple of percentage points if sustained
of the States local authorities educational could lead to a change from a declining to an
institutions and companies. The statute operates explosive path for the debt-to-DP ratio." A
in a broad spectrum and the stress is laid to negative interest rate-growth differential (i.e. r-g
protect the rights and provide punishment for its growth rate greater than the interest rate causes
violation" Justice Misra wrote. debt to DP to decline over time. owever the
advantages on account of a favourable r-g depend
LEARNING TO RUN TWICE AS FAST
primarily on the level of debt stock. In this
It is no mean achievement that the context the Union government which has larger
daunting fiscal deficit target of 3.5% of DP for domestic liabilities of 49.23% of DP as
the past year was met. Beyond the 3.2% fiscal compared to that of the States (21% of DP
deficit target for the current year the government benefits more due to a negative interest rate-
has accepted a 3% target thereafter. Continuing growth differential. The combined debt dynamics
this trend in the future will enable the realisation necessitate States to run successively lower
of the preferred 60% debt-DP ratio by 2023. The primary and fiscal deficits just to maintain their
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management combined debt to DP ratio at the current level.
(FRBM Review Committee report now in the This is a classic case of the Red Queen in Lewis
public domain has preferred a debt to DP ratio Carroll's Through the Looking-lass saying "If
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26 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
you want to get somewhere else you must run at would be interesting to see what happens when
least twice as fast as that!" States cease to have any outstanding liabilities to
Second the role of exogenous factors in the Central government. Recently the Union
fiscal corrections of the States. Till FY13 fiscal Cabinet has permitted State government entities
conduct of the States was exemplary strictly to directly borrow from bilateral partners for vital
adhering to and even outperforming the targets infrastructure projects. Incentivising prudent
of the Fiscal Responsibility Legislations (FRLs. fiscal management is a welcome initiative.
No doubt positive externalities facilitated this Looking beyond there must be symmetry
outcome. Consolidation of Central loans and debt between the cost of borrowing and the quality of
waiver to States based on their fiscal performance financial governance. Combined market
effectively reduced their interest payments to borrowings have been rising consistently from
about 0.9% of ross State Domestic Product 18% in FY11 to 28% in FY16. The gross market
(SDP. iven the debt-restructuring scheme of borrowing of States through State Development
the Twelfth Finance Commission (FC Central Loans (SDLs increased by a sharp 27% in FY17
relief packages and positive economic scenario it from Rs. 2.9 trillion in FY16. Markets expect this
is difficult to differentiate the fiscal correction to rise even further by 22% in FY18 consequent
due to improved management and fiscal upon pay revisions implementation of Ujwal
discipline. DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY and exclusion
Third the recent marked deterioration in of State governments from the National Small
fiscal health of the States. The Fourteenth FC Savings Fund (NSSF. Risk variations across
enhanced the borrowing limits up to 0.5% of States are not reflected adequately in the cost of
SDP for the States. This was conditional on debt borrowings. This is a major concern. Fiscally
to SDP ratio being less than or equal to 25% healthy States should be enabled to attract higher
and/or interest payments being less than or equal investments at lower costs.
to 10% of the revenue receipts in the preceding Two ushering in transparent accounting
year. The fact that only six States in FY17 were practices. It is being increasingly acknowledged
eligible for enhanced borrowing is indicative of that the current stock of State debt at 21% of
States' decaying fiscal prudence. The recent spate DP could be underestimated owing to fallacious
of farm loan waivers is episodic and symptomatic budgetary practices and operational intricacies.
of deteriorating State finances. Off-budget expenditures through State Public
iven these complexities what is the way Sector Undertakings' (PSUs borrowings and
forward? What are the instrumentalities available explicit guarantees offered by the States do not
with the Central government to ensure greater form a part of State government liabilities. Private
convergence? The most obvious one is the researchers and public auditors alike have been
prudent use of powers defined in the pointing out the growing trend of off-budget
Constitution of India under Clause (3 of Article public spending and mis-categorisation of budget
293. This makes it mandatory for a State to take data. The Comptroller and Auditor eneral of
the Central government's consent for raising any India (CA while appraising States' finances
loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities has repeatedly censured such practices. The
to the latter. One or two States may indeed reach Fourteenth Finance Commission's (FFC
that position endangering this constitutional recommendation of adopting "a template for
instrumentality of the Central government. It collating analysing and annually reporting the
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 27
total extended public debt in their respective only pulled up the DP but also came to
budgets as a supplement to the budget document" symbolise young India's aspirations. With the
must be implemented. world now bending towards protectionism it
Three emphasising quality of expenditure. faces a challenge to its talent-centric software
A recent SBC report notes that "quality of state export model. In recent weeks a slew of
spending (proxied by the ratio of capital to current countries which are estimated to account for
spending has been gradually worsening over the three-fourths of the industry's revenues have
past few years". The share of States' revenue placed stricter rules on their companies getting
expenditure in total expenditure has remained talent from overseas. Whether the challenge of
around 80% and States' non-developmental protectionism fades out or deepens over a longer
expenditure has risen by over 50% from FY2013 time horizon will depend on the global economic
to FY2016. The RBI's latest assessment of State outlook. The visa rule changes for Indian tech
Budgets with the theme 'Quality of Sub-national personnel weren't wholly unexpected especially
Public Expenditure' raises the concerns about after Brexit and Donald Trump's victory in the
dominance of revenue expenditure in the States. U.S. on the back of, among other things promises
While the quantum of "untied funds" from the to put the brakes on outsourcing. Only now
Centre to the States has increased owing to the governments are acting upon such rhetoric in
recommendations of the FFC expenditure on some countries including the U.S. the U.K.
physical and social infrastructure by the States Singapore and Australia. President Trump signed
has remained stagnant. These very concerns were the 'Buy American ire American' executive
expressed a few days ago at the NITI Aayog
order last week seeking to raise the bar for the
meeting of Chief Ministers. While according
award of -1B visas an important route for
permission to States to undertake fresh
Indian companies so that they are given to the
borrowings their expenditure quality should be a
"most-skilled or highest-paid" beneficiaries.
prime condition.
Earlier this month the U.K. scrapped a category
Four encapsulating 'Fiscal Discipline' in
of short-term visas that have been used
determining inter se tax shares of different States.
extensively by Indian companies to get their IT
Fiscal discipline as a criterion for tax devolution
professionals on-site. The Australian equivalent
was used by Eleventh Twelfth and Thirteenth
of this is the recent junking of what are called the
Finance Commissions for incentivising the
'457 visa' rules. Singapore has reportedly kept
States in prudent management of its finances.
approvals for work permits on hold for a while
owever the FFC dropped this indicator and
now.
accommodated 'Population (2011' and 'Forest
It is still too early to gauge the exact impact
Cover' in its devolution formula. iven the
on IT companies in part because much depends
deteriorating condition of State finances the
on their ability to rework their operational models
Fifteenth Finance Commission could consider
to do less on-site. As it is it is a challenging time
restoring fiscal discipline as a determinant for
for the industry - with slowing business growth
horizontal devolution of funds.
a strengthening rupee not to speak of the
FACING UP TO IT difficult transition from a traditional model that
A globalising world enabled the spectacular was based on making money by building custom
rise of India's information technology industry solutions and undertaking maintenance to one
over the last couple of decades. The IT sector not that is cloud-based. Industry lobby Nasscom
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30 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
this week were reminded that the U.S. pays for understood to have asked India for a commitment
22% of the UN's budget and almost 30% for UN on defence participation in Afghanistan.
peacekeeping. Mr. Trump termed this "unfair". From the American perspective given the
To begin with the timing of the visit growing attrition of Afghan Army forces and
seemed linked to the bombing of what the U.S. uptick in violence in 2016 the need for more
Army claimed were hideouts of IS-Khorasan (IS- assistance from India is clear. As a western
K terrorists in Afghanistan's Nangarhar diplomat said recently "Mr. Modi must know that
province using what they crudely referred to as his meeting with Mr. Trump is a 'Yes or No'
the "mother of all bombs" (MOAB the BU-43/ moment. If it is Yes he will have to deliver
B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb. Those quickly. If it is No that too will have deep
hoping the bombing meant the U.S. was now consequences." edging in the manner Delhi was
showing an interest in its commitment to earlier able to do over joint patrols in the Indo-
security in Afghanistan hoped too early as the Pacific may no longer be an option.
bombing has not been followed by any Apart from Afghanistan it is also clear that
clarification of U.S. strategy. Instead once the defence ties will drive the India-U.S. relationship
dust settles in Nangarhar and the U.S. reverts for the foreseeable future. The U.S. wants India to
control of the areas pounded by the largest non- move quickly on the other 'foundational
nuclear weapon in the American arsenal a closer agreements' the Communications
analysis of what was achieved will be necessary. Interoperability and Security Memorandum of
If anything bombing IS-K targets at that time Agreement and Basic Exchange and Cooperation
took the focus away from the Taliban which then Agreement for eo-spatial Cooperation as India
carried out their single most deadly attack on the completes formalities for the Logistics Exchange
Afghan Army in the past decade and a half at the Memorandum of Agreement this week.
Mazar-e-Sharif military base. In the face of this altered pattern of
Even in his apparently rough dealings with engagement that India must navigate with the
the Pakistani generals en. McMaster pushed for new America then Mr. Modi has limited options
action against groups operating in Afghanistan ahead of his meeting with Mr. Trump: to coast
avoiding the language of the Obama along and ride out the impending storm of
administration that included the Lashkar-e-Taiba demands or to reject the transactionalism
and the Jaish-e-Mohammad in their public inherent in these "asks from America" and steer
comments on Pakistan. It would be safe to assume his own course. In Afghanistan in particular
that given the pattern of the past few weeks the India must bolster its bilateral delivery on defence
question "ask not…" will also be put in far clearer assistance rather than be co-opted in the U.S.'s
terms by Mr. Trump to Prime Minister Narendra plans which frequently change according to its
Modi when he visits the White ouse as he is own cost-benefit analysis. In so doing India may
expected to later this summer. For India then the also recover some of the equilibrium in its ties
challenge is twofold: to decide not just what if with other world powers that have seemed more
anything it is prepared to do to help the U.S. in distant in recent years.
security and peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan
REINING IN THE SHARKS
but also what it would like to see in clear terms in
return. The former has been debated in hushed The much awaited Real Estate (Regulation
tones since September 2015 when Mr. Obama is & Development Act is now in effect. The
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 31
Ministry of ousing and Urban Poverty non-registration of projects is a serious matter. If
Alleviation recently notified 69 out of the 92 there is non-compliance RERA has the power to
sections in total which set the ball rolling for order up to three years imprisonment of the
States to formulate within six months rules and promoters of a project.
regulations as statutorily mandated. Since land is While consumer interests have been
a State subject under the Constitution even after protected developers find provisions of the Act to
the Centre enacts the legislation State be exceptionally burdensome on a sector already
governments will have to ratify them. States will ailing from a paucity of funds and multiple
have to set up the Real Estate Regulatory regulatory challenges. The builder lobby has been
Authority's (RERA and the Real Estate Appellate demanding "industry" status for the real estate
Tribunals and have only a maximum of a year sector as it would help in the availability of bank
from the coming into effect of the Act to do so. loans. Real estate companies say that most delays
The Act's preamble details the legislative are because of the failure of authorities to grant
intention which is to primarily protect the approvals/sanctions on time. While the Act
interests of consumers and bring in efficiency addresses some of this it does not deal with the
and transparency in the sale/purchase of real concerns of developers regarding force majeure
estate. The Act also attempts to establish an (acts of god outside their control which result in
adjudicatory mechanism for the speedy redress of a shortage of labour or issues on account of there
disputes. RERA and the Appellate Tribunal are not being a central repository of land titles/deeds.
expected to decide on complaints within an Some of these concerns are legitimate but
ambitious period of 60 days. But no legislation the real estate sector has become a sort of
untamed horse galloping in all directions. The
can protect the interest of only one class. As one
cracks emerging in their books are largely of their
of the largest job creators the real estate sector
own making. Once 100% foreign direct
contributes almost 6% towards the DP. Mindful
investment was permitted in real estate
of this the Act seeks to assist developers by
international money f looded the market.
giving the regulator powers to make
Builders/developers overstretched themselves
recommendations to State governments to create
and diverted funds while some began to cross-
a single window clearance for approvals in a time- invest in non-core activities. In the race to
bound manner. announce the next "mega project" one came
Key provisions of the Act include a across in many instances real estate companies
requirement for developers to now register embarking on projects without even
projects with RERA prior to any advertisement consolidating land.
and sale. Developers are also expected to have all Eventually the benefit of any statute is
sanction plans approved and regulatory contingent on its effective implementation.
clearances in place prior to commencement of Despite a model set of rules only a few States
sale. Subsequent changes have to be approved by have notified their rules. The onus is now on
a majority of buyers and the regulator. The Act States to formulate rules and establish the
again ambitiously stipulates an electronic system regulatory authorities on time. There shouldn't be
maintained on the website of RERA where just paper compliance by designating an existing
developers are expected to update on a quarterly authority to take additional charge as the real
basis the status of their projects and submit estate regulator as that would affect the
regular audits and architectural reports. Notably timeliness prescribed under the Act.
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32 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
Finally the new legislation is a welcome a significant drop in Maoist violence in
enactment. It will go a long way in assisting Chhattisgarh in the past year when 36 security
upstanding developers. More importantly it will personnel were killed as compared to 182 in 2007
ease the burden on innocent home buyers who between 2005 and 2017 as many as 1910 security
put their life's savings into a real estate personnel were killed in LWE/Maoist attacks in
investment in the hope of having a roof over their India out of which 954 casualties were in
head but often find their dreams come tumbling Chhattisgarh alone including the latest incident.
down. For several decades combating LWEs/
Maoists has been characterised by recruiting
SUKMA IS A WAKE-UP CALL
CRPF soldiers putting them through inadequate
The Maoist attack on the 99-member training giving them a uniform and asking them
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF party in to make do. There are also shortages of Mine
Sukma Chhattisgarh in which at least 25 jawans Protected Vehicles (MPV. Successive ambushes
lost their lives has once again brought the focus and attacks have shown the vulnerability of the
on not just the threat represented by left-wing CRPF and police parties in the Naxal areas. The
extremism (LWE but also questions of damage and loss of life from attacks with grenade
preparation equipping training and strategy of launchers and improvised explosive devices (IED)
the CRPF that is bearing the brunt of the burden can be lessened with movement in armoured
in this fight. vehicles. In 2010 the Centre had sanctioned
The fight against Maoists has been acquisition of 350 MPVs for the CRPF but in
characterised by high casualty count of our March 2017 there were only 122 MPVs with the
security forces. The Sukma attack of April 24 was CRPF. Out of these 122 MPVs about a dozen have
reminiscent of the ambush in Dantewada in April been shifted to Jammu and Kashmir.
2010 when Maoists killed 76 CRPF personnel and Inadequate combat capability of police
decamped with their weapons and explosives. forces in Maoism-affected States remains the
Predictably there is anger and there will be heavy prime factor for failing security response as also
payback for the Maoists. But it is indeed dependency of State police forces on the Central
inexplicable that despite the five-decade-long government for anti-Maoist operations. Lack of
insurgent movement and a large number of institutionalised intelligence-sharing between
paramilitary personnel along with State police States and regions and regional coordination is
being deployed in Maoism-affected areas there being clearly utilised by the LWEs/Maoists. The
reyhounds special force of undivided Andhra
seems to be no clear strategic approach to the
Pradesh has by far been the most effective force
problem and the forces do not have an upper
to have succeeded in reversing the trend of
hand in the areas.
Maoist violence. Since 2005 429 LWEs/Maoists
The problem is compounded by the fact that
have been killed in Andhra Pradesh and 36
the LWE/Maoists corridor spreads across several
security personnel have lost their lives; in
States and the perceived lack of a common plan
Telangana formed in 2014 four LWEs/Maoists
has left each State government combating the
have been killed with no casualties on the
Naxals as per their own strategy. This is costing security forces' side. In 2012 the ome Ministry
lives of scores of our CRPF and police personnel had proposed to replicate reyhounds in five
and the patience of people to tolerate these Maoism-hit States. Clearly the proposal has not
slaughters is wearing thin. While there has been seen the light of day especially in Chhattisgarh.
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34 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
make the cut in industry or services. iven this ensuing crisis led to talks and a year later an
policymakers ought to tread carefully as they Agreed Framework was concluded under which
move forward on a long overdue fiscal reform. North Korea suspended its decision to withdraw
from the NPT agreed to freeze its nuclear
BEING PRAGMATIC WITH
activities and in return the U.S. pledged to build
PYONGYANG two light water nuclear power reactors. Food aid
Rhetoric and political signalling is an and humanitarian assistance provided by the
accepted element of crisis management provided Clinton administration from 1995 till 2000 was
the messages are clearly understood by those for close to $750 million.
whom these are intended. If not it becomes a The Bush administration declared North
source of misunderstanding and a recipe for Korea part of the 'axis of evil' in 2002 cancelled
unintended miscalculation and potential disaster. direct talks and annulled the 1994 agreement.
Nowhere is this more evident than in recent North Korea responded by throwing out
exchanges between the U.S. and the Democratic International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK where events and formally quit the NPT thereby provoking a
threaten to spin out of control. fresh crisis. China and Russia initiated Six Party
In turn the DPRK threatened a "super Talks in 2004 which led to the 2005 joint
mighty pre-emptive strike". After undertaking a statement which expanded the scope to more
live firing exercise off its east coast it followed than the nuclear issue. owever the talks
up with another test-firing of a ballistic missile collapsed when the U.S. imposed sanctions a few
on April 29 which fizzled causing loss of face. months later; North Korea responded with its
During the campaign Mr. Trump had said that he first nuclear test in 2006.
would be willing to talk to North Korean leader Since then North Korea has made steady
Kim Jong-un making it clear that Barack progress in its nuclear and missile programmes.
Obama's policy focussing on tighter sanctions An underground nuclear facility has been built at
was a failure. After assuming office he adopted a Mt. Musan. Nuclear tests were conducted in 2013
harder line declaring that he would do "whatever and twice last year and it is estimated that North
Korea has enough fissile material for 10 to 15
is necessary" to prevent North Korea from
nuclear devices. By 2019 North Korea will be able
developing a nuclear-capable missile that can
to develop long-range missiles that can reach the
reach the U.S.
U.S. mainland. iven Mr. Trump's redline Mr.
Regime acceptance and regime survival have
Jong-un is convinced that nuclear capability is the
been key priorities for Pyongyang since the
ultimate security guarantee to protect his regime
collapse of the Soviet Union. A positive move in
against U.S. intervention.
1992 was the withdrawal of tactical nuclear
U.S. policy has oscillated between sanctions
weapons from the Korean peninsula and a
in response to nuclear and missile tests dilution
suspension of Team Spirit the joint U.S.-South
of sanctions by China talks about closer defence
Korean military exercises leading to the Basic
ties with Japan and South Korea citing of
Agreement on Reconciliation Non-Aggression
additional threats by North Korea and more
and Exchanges and Cooperation. When joint
testing thus repeating the cycle. U.S.
exercises were resumed in 1993 North Korea
expectations that sanctions would lead to regime
announced its decision to withdraw from the
collapse were misplaced because given China's
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT. The
stakes this will not happen.
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 35
Recently China has registered a policy shift fortification can help advance overall health
ref lecting unhappiness about Mr. Jong-un's goals starting with maternal health. It is
behaviour particularly the high-profile imperative for a start to make iron-fortified food
executions of those considered to be close to widely available since iron deficiency contributes
China. The most recent was the assassination of to 20% of maternal deaths and is associated with
Kim Jong-nam Mr. Jong-un's half brother in nearly half of all maternal deaths. The shadow of
February which prompted China to halting coal malnutrition extends to the children that women
briquette imports from North Korea. Air China with anaemia give birth to. They often have low
stopped direct flights to Pyongyang last month birth weight are pre-term and suffer from poor
but these are now being reinstated. North Korea development and lower cognitive abilities. Low
has accused China of "dancing to the tune of the intake of vitamins zinc and folate also causes a
U.S.". owever China can neither permit a regime variety of health issues particularly when
collapse which would create instability nor allow growing children are deprived. Fortification is a
its communist ally to be subsumed into a unified low-cost solution. The benefit is maximised when
Korea. there is a focus also on adequate intake of oils and
Mr. Xi's objective is to persuade Mr. Trump fats which are necessary for the absorption of
that neither more sanctions nor military strikes micronutrients and something poorer households
are viable options; the only option is 'dialogue'. often miss in their diet.
Second while denuclearisation of the Korean The efficacy of the fortification standards
peninsula can be a long-term objective for the introduced by the Food Safety and Standards
foreseeable future Mr. Jong-un is not going to Authority of India (FSSAI will depend on
give up North Korea's nuclear and missile enforcement. It is important to ensure that all
capabilities. At most he can agree to a freeze on sections of producers meet the norms since the
its programmes - no further tests no exports or FSSAI plans to get local f lour mills to add
transfers and no threats. In return the U.S. will premixed nutrients. Making affordable good
need to provide assurances relating to regime quality fortified foods widely available is the key.
acceptance and a gradual normalisation of Only such standardised processes can provide
relations. A moderate leader in Seoul will help the micronutrients to women and in turn to
process of a sustained dialogue which also needs breastfed children in the first six months after
coordination with Japan. birth. A well-functioning public distribution
POWERING UP FOOD system is the best channel to reach precisely
those sections that need fortified food the most.
Since a diversified diet that meets all
In the case of children recent studies show that
nutritional requirements is difficult to provide
adding zinc to food during the six months to 12
fortification of food is relied upon by many
years growth period reduced the risk of death
countries to prevent malnutrition. The World
from infectious diseases and all causes put
ealth Organisation estimates that deficiency of
together. Fortified food therefore provides near
key micronutrients such as iron vitamin A and
to medium-term gains and addresses
iodine together affects a third of the world's
micronutrient malnutrition concerns at the
population; in general insufficient consumption
population level. Yet as the WO points out in
of vitamins and minerals remains problematic.
the long term public health goals on prevention
Viewed against the nutrition challenge India
and elimination of nutritional deficiencies should
faces processed foods with standards-based
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36 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
aim at encouraging people to adopt a diversified the WO in 2013. In 2015 the WO once again
and wholesome diet. Children including those in changed its guidelines. Based on evidence from
school should get a wholesome cooked meal that clinical trials and observational studies since
is naturally rich and augmented with vegetables 2013 it became clear that an earlier use of ART
fruits dairy and other foods of choice. Fortified irrespective of the CD4 count results in better
foods can help fill the gaps particularly in areas clinical outcomes. Accordingly it recommended
that are in need of speedy remedial nutrition. It is that ART be initiated in IV-positive people at any
also vital that food regulation views the issue of CD4 cell count.
affordability as a central concern because As per 2015 estimates India has 2.1 million
unaffordable fortified food would defeat the very IV-positive people of which only 1.6 million
purpose of fortification. have been diagnosed and about a million are on
treatment. But over half a million people are not
TARGETED TREATMENT
even aware of their IV status. With the
Two years after the World ealth government changing its treatment guidelines
Organisation (WO recommended that the 0.6 million who have been diagnosed but not
antiretroviral therapy (ART be initiated in people been on treatment are now eligible for treatment.
living with IV irrespective of the CD4 (a type of Of the 0.6 million about 0.25 million have been
white-blood cell counts India has aligned its enrolled for pre-ART care and can be started on
policy with the guideline. In a major shift Union treatment almost immediately. But the biggest
ealth Minister J.P. Nadda had recently said that challenge will be to identify the 0.35 million who
any person who tests positive for IV will be have been diagnosed but not on treatment and
provided ART "as soon as possible and irrespective the 0.5 million who have been infected but have
of the CD count or clinical stage". Nearly 4.5 lakh not been diagnosed. Also nearly 80000 people get
deaths can be averted through this move. infected each year.
It was in 2002 that the WO first issued its Even as efforts are on to expand the 1600
ART guidelines. In the absence of AIDS-defining treatment delivery sites that are currently
illnesses the WO set CD4 count less than 200 operational there should be greater focus now on
cells per cubic millimetre as the threshold to identifying people with IV. The government has
begin ART treatment. Over time it changed its plans to start community-based testing to bring
guidelines and in 2013increased the threshold to it closer to those in need and target special
CD4 count less than 500 cells per cu. mm. groups that are more vulnerable to infection such
The recommendation was based on the as partners of people who are IV-positive.
evidence that an earlier initiation of ART will help
people with IV live longer remain healthier and SHORT-SIGHTED PLOY
"substantially reduce" the risk of them By launching impeachment proceedings in
transmitting the virus to others. The availability Parliament against Supreme Court Chief Justice
of safer affordable and easy-to-manage medicines Sushila Karki the ruling coalition government in
that could help to lower the amount of virus in the Nepal has ignited yet another crisis at an already
blood played a key role in the WO's decision. fraught political moment - before the scheduled
Earlier initiation could avert an "additional three local polls later this month. The proximate
million deaths and prevent 3.5 million more new reasons for the motion of impeachment relate to
IV infections between 2013 and 2025" noted the Chief Justice's decision to set aside the
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 37
appointment of a police chief by the government of smooth conduct of local body elections were
over the issue of seniority and to recommend the already dim. The tussle with the judiciary and the
elevation of another claimant. The two biggest frivolous use of impeachment makes any
parties in the coalition the Communist Party of understanding with the opposition prior to the
Nepal (Maoist-Centre led by Prime Minister elections even more unlikely. If local elections are
Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Nepali Congress of not held in May as scheduled it will also make it
Sher Bahadur Deuba have accused her of difficult for sets of constitutionally mandated
interfering with executive powers. owever the parliamentary elections to be held by the January
timing of the motion and its implications with 2018 deadline. All said the action of impeachment
the judge due to retire in a month's time suggest of a serving Chief Justice is yet another
a narrow-minded political strategy. Since the indictment of the Nepali political class which
motion was signed by more than one-fourth of the needs to rise above petty and narrow interests
members of the legislature Justice Karki was after its momentous achievement of overturning
suspended immediately under a constitutional the monarchy a decade ago.
provision that has been misused by the CPN(M-
GUARDING THE GATEKEEPERS
C and the Nepali Congress. She is seen by Nepal's
civil society as being fairly independent-minded These are challenging times for journalism.
in a judiciary that is politicised. The Maoists were Two things have disrupted the way in which
upset by a recent court decision to reject clemency people access information and therefore the
for a Maoist leader convicted for a murder practice of journalism itself: social media and the
committed during the civil war. Mr. Deuba mobile phone. These two in combination have
reportedly feared being hauled up on contempt disrupted the way in which legacy newsrooms
charges which could have made his elevation to operate forcing them to adapt to fast-changing
the post of Prime Minister difficult. The technology.
government's initiation of impeachment The Digital News Report 2016 by the
proceedings over a debatable issue of judicial Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
overreach and for such expedient reasons found that 51% of their sample use social media
threatens the separation of powers in the as a source of news. According to the lobal Web
fledgling republic. Index's first-quarter report for 2017 94% of
The impeachment proceedings have digital consumers aged 16-64 say they have an
political consequences as well. One of the alliance account on at least one social media platform and
partners the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has 98% have visited/used one within the last
decided to withdraw support to the coalition month; one in every three minutes spent online
making the ruling arrangement more fragile. is devoted to social networking and messaging
Deputy Prime Minister and ome Minister with digital consumers engaging for a daily
Bimalendra Nidhi also of the Nepali Congress average of over two hours. At least 78% of the
has resigned in protest against the motion. With Internet population aged 16-64 is now networking
the government unable to rope in the opposition via a mobile. For democracy to be practised at its
led by the CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist to best there should be plurality of thought and a
agree to amendments in the Constitution that public sphere that is vibrant with a multitude of
will address the concerns of Madhesi parties over views.
a federal redrawing of boundaries the prospects Cut to the 1990s when the media ecology
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38 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
changed drastically with the advent of the World reflects multiple viewpoints and world views.
Wide Web. The generation and distribution of This is a unique moment for journalism to fulfil
news and opinion was no longer a linear process its watchdog and gatekeeping roles and be
but networked. This was a medium that was publicly accountable for its content. owever to
democratic accessible to all (at least in theory do this journalists and their publishers also need
and a place where multiple conversations could to adapt to the new reading habits of their
take place. It was felt that the rise of the Internet audiences and adapt to storytelling in different
had given way to the decline of the newspaper formats - not just text but more interactive
but that theory was soon debunked and between visual formats.
2000 and 2009 newspapers began setting up the It is also an opportune moment for
online versions of their printed publications; this journalists to take full advantage of the social
became a time of consolidation for the news media tools that are available to them like
media online as people would visit the websites of Snapchat Facebook Live and Twitter's Periscope
trusted publications for news. to connect with their readers without losing the
Twenty years on the media landscape is core values of journalism so that they can
very different. Large players like oogle and continue to tell stories that resonate with the
Facebook have actually shrunk the space for reader.
public discourse and the very nature of news
THE SCALE OF PROGRESS, SO FAR
publishing has changed as a result. Big data
personalisation and distributed content are the Agenda 2030 a comprehensive
watchwords today and news organisations are all development agenda was adopted in the United
jumping on the bandwagon. Increasingly search Nations eneral Assembly by member states on
engines such as oogle and social media September 25 2015. It is ambitious enough to
platforms such as Facebook deliver personalised address several socioeconomic concerns and
content to users. Algorithms are now replacing make the development process inclusive.
news editors and opinion makers and they are owever since it's not binding on member
getting more and more refined in learning from nations there is apprehension that it may end up
user behaviour. And as content has multiplied becoming another of the Millennium
Facebook and oogle are privileging content Development oals which were only partially
achieved. The igh-level Political Forum
based on engagement rather than its quality.
comprising the political representatives (heads of
The mainstay of journalism holding power
states or ministers of the members meets every
to account is increasingly giving way online to
July at the UN in New York to review progress on
publishing trivial content in the hope of
Agenda 2030. The Voluntary National Reviews
attracting more users. In a bid to increase
(VNR - voluntary and country driven - form the
revenue publishers are aiming for the largest
basis of this review.
number of page views and dumbing down
The UN website says: "The voluntary
content and engaging in clickbait to reach more
national reviews aim to facilitate the sharing of
eyeballs. In such an environment it is only a
experiences including successes challenges and
matter of time before readers will seek out
lessons learned with a view to accelerating the
trusted journalists and publishers who they can
implementation of the 2030 Agenda." In 2016 22
depend on to provide the news and information
presented their performance review on
that is unbiased and accurate and opinion that
sustainable development goals (SDGs. This year
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 41
privatisation' of banks as mooted by the RBI policy's biggest asset to promote economic and
recently is still a holy cow for the Indian polity. political convergence in the region.
Already South Asian economies are in
GOVT. CORPORATION TO TAKE OVER
varying stages of conceiving or implementing
SICK TEXTILE MILLS their own "national identity" schemes. Pakistan
Commerce Minister Dinesh Singh told the has the National Database and Registration
Industrial Committee on Cotton Textiles to-day Authority (NADRA that for two decades has
that the overnment had decided to set up a collected biometric information. NADRA
textile corporation to manage 'sick' and weak however has seen limited success: at last count
textile mills. A Bill would be introduced in the it had issued only 3.8 lakh ID cards to Pakistanis
next session of Parliament to facilitate the take- in comparison to Aadhaar's one billion-plus
over of these uneconomic units he added. Mr. enrolments. In 2013 NADRA even won an
Singh's announcement of the decision received international contract to create Sri Lanka's digital
general support from the representatives of national identity scheme but that project appears
employers and employees. The committee also to have stalled. Nepal meanwhile intends to roll
decided that the overnment should set up out biometrics-driven "national ID cards" to its
investigation committees under the Industries citizens soon. The Election Commission in
(Development and Regulation Act to investigate Bangladesh began issuing such cards last year.
the affairs of units already facing closure. Another South Asian governments long content to
recommendation to the overnment was to set gather data through traditional means such as
up a tripartite committee at the centre to keep a censuses are struggling to capture dynamic
watch on the situation and detect cases of trends in their population. Current databases
deteriorating management in time. shine no light on urban mobility data
TOWARDS A UNIQUE DIGITAL consumption patterns or quality of life because
these are metrics that need integrated data sets
SOUTH ASIAN IDENTITY and powerful analytical tools. To capture "multi-
The enthusiasm with which government dimensional" data India's neighbours have moved
agencies and businesses have embraced Aadhaar towards digital identity schemes. The need for
should prompt India's foreign policy planners to unique IDs is also acute because post-conflict
deploy it abroad. Executed properly Aadhaar could societies in South Asia have not fully
become a central pillar of India's "neighbourhood rehabilitated excluded minorities or former
first" policy culminating in the creation of a combatants. In comparison to politically fraught
unique digital South Asian identity. A single changes - for instance the 13th Amendment to
region-wide platform to authenticate residents of the Sri Lankan Constitution for the devolution of
South Asia could integrate its markets bring powers or federalist reforms in Nepal - digital
communities closer and allow governments to identity schemes are easier to implement can
offer a wider range of governance services. None strengthen local governments and support the
of this is to ignore the steps that India's Unique financial inclusion of marginalised sections.
Identification Authority must take to secure its Beyond collecting biometric data however
own Aadhaar ecosystem. But the demand for South Asian governments have not been able to
identity-driven governance in South Asia is create digital ID-enabled applications. This is
indisputable and Aadhaar could be Indian foreign what Aadhaar has mastered making it a very
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42 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
valuable foreign policy export. Its open protection guidelines. Such a scenario will be
application programming interface (API layers - India's best response to concerns that China will
known as "India Stack" - set Aadhaar apart from pump its infrastructure and - in the words of
other biometric ID programmes. India Stack APIs Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar - "hard wire" the
which include the Unified Payment Interface norms of governance in the region.
(UPI and Aadhaar e-KYC allow applications to be The same concerns of surveillance and
built atop them (for example the Bharat Interface privacy that animate the Aadhaar debate in India
for Money or BIM app and enable identity- would no doubt be reflected in South Asian
driven transactions. Such platforms will be societies. Perhaps more sharply given the
invaluable to an economy working to integrate its propensity of some governments in the
communities. Take the return of military-occupied neighbourhood to target minority communities.
land in Sri Lanka's Northern Province to the They can learn from India's mistakes. South Asian
Tamils an exercise that has become a political and countries that have not digitised their public
logistical nightmare for Colombo. A digital databases fully can create secure ones to link to
identity-based scheme will not only authenticate unique ID programmes. A national ID programme
the legitimate recipients of land but also simplify would also be a trigger for them to enact strong
future transactions for sale leasing or data protection laws. Aadhaar is a constitutional
commercial use. In Bangladesh digital IDs could technology that can build whole new information
track loans made by multiple microfinance and communication technology ecosystems. New
institutions to the same borrower and help check Delhi should appreciate its foreign policy value
rural debt. and integrate the project into its neighbourhood
India too stands to benefit by exporting the agenda.
Aadhaar architecture. The digital networks for
PACIFISM AND REALPOLITIK
much of South Asia are likely to be supplied by
Chinese companies over the next decade. Telecom The present geopolitical situation in East
pipes and towers built by China will carry the Asia may have looked conducive even compelling
Internet to the user but innovation in Asia's for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to set a
digital economies will happen at the top - the "app 2020 target to rewrite the country's controversial
layer". Aadhaar-like platforms catalyse innovation post-war pacifist Constitution. Nevertheless the
by tailoring Big Data for governments and move to accord legal recognition to the country's
businesses alike. The political and economic military which has already grown to assume
leverage India will accrue as a result of enabling international commitments must clear many
such entrepreneurship will surpass fixed legislative hurdles. The country's 1947
investments by China. There is another strategic Constitution has been at the centre of competing
reason for India to export the Aadhaar platform. narratives in much the same way as the
Once a critical mass of Aadhaar-enabled contentious historical accounts on Japan's pre-
applications has been created interoperability eminent part in the Second World War.
standards for the digital ecosystem will be The document drafted by the Supreme
determined by the Unique ID programme. App Command of the Allied Powers (SCAP divided
developers handheld manufacturers and even the Japanese Diet between the conservatives and
Internet Service Providers will have to work nationalists on the one hand and the social
around Aadhaar's encryption standards and data democrats on the other. Whereas the former view
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 43
the Constitution as an imposition on Tokyo the CHASING PEACE
latter see the text as a canon of progressive and
The so-called de-escalation agreement
forward-looking principles. At the heart of these
reached among Russia Turkey and Iran last week
divisions lies Article 9 through which Japan
in Astana is the latest in a series of attempts to
renounced the use of force in the resolution of
bring the six-year-old Syrian civil war to an end.
international disputes and proclaimed never to
Previous ceasefire plans have either failed to take
maintain land sea and air forces. The charter
off or collapsed soon after given the continued
merely made provision for the country's own
hostility between the regime of Bashar al-Assad
defence which resulted in the establishment of
and rebels. Still the latest agreement is
the Self-Defence Forces (SDF.
significant for a number of reasons. First of all
owever the beginnings of a gradual shift
any attempt to cease violence is welcome given
away from a strict commitment to pacifism were
the destruction the war has wreaked in Syria.
soon to become evident. The 1954 Mutual
More than two million people are estimated to be
Defence Assistance Agreement between Tokyo
living in rebel-held territories (barring areas
and Washington assured Japan external
controlled by the Islamic State in terrible
protection in exchange for the installation of
humanitarian conditions and under constant fear
permanent U.S. military bases in the country. The
of aerial bombing. For them an end to the
quid pro quo could hardly have been an antidote
Russian-Assad regime strikes is a great relief.
against an assertive nationalism following
Second the agreement involves the three main
Japan's economic and industrial triumph through
external players in the civil war. Russia and Iran
the decades. If anything an accent on national
are the key backers of the regime while Turkey
sovereignty underscored the need for a more
supports some rebel groups. Under the agreement
pragmatic interpretation of the essence of
Syria and Russia will stop bombing rebel-held
pacifism in relation to the growing military
areas divided into four zones in Idlib oms
might of neighbouring China.
Damascus suburbs and southern Deraa and
The execution in January 2015 of two
Quneitra towns to de-escalate tensions. The
Japanese hostages by the Islamic State (IS may
regime will also allow "unhindered" humanitarian
have strengthened the voices that have been
supplies to rebel-held areas and provide public
eager to see the end of the 'no war clause'. The
services. In return the rebels should stop
2015 law on collective self-defence nearly ensured
fighting government forces. Third this appears
that. The measure authorises Japanese forces to
to be a more focussed phased attempt to end
join a battle to defend the nation's allies even
violence. The agreement was reached barely
where its territory is not at threat.
weeks before a two-track political process was to
Mr. Abe would hope that the proposed
begin. In June the government and rebel
amendment would combine the piecemeal
representatives will meet for negotiations in
measures of the past and reorient the
eneva while the Russia-led talks of external
Constitution to the current geopolitical realities.
actors will continue in Kazakhstan in July. If the
But it will require a two-thirds backing in both
de-escalation plan holds it will be a big boost for
ouses of Parliament and also a simple majority
the political process.
in a popular referendum. To jettison the
But implementing the agreement itself will
foundational tenets of peace in any Constitution
be a major challenge given the complex nature of
seems a morally regressive act.
the civil war. For the deal to hold Russia and Iran
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44 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
will first have to rein in the Assad regime. In the validity of triple talaq (and if they choose of the
past it has shown little interest in a political other practices under question as well detached
solution. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's from the political debate and strictly in
comment that the regime would not allow UN accordance with law. A closer look reveals
monitoring of the implementation of de- however that the court cannot decide this case
escalation is not in the spirit of the agreement. A without engaging in a series of complex and
bigger challenge for all actors involved is how to difficult choices. In particular the court will have
tackle the threats from al-Qaeda-linked groups. to decide first whether to adjudicate the case in a
The Astana agreement is clear on that - Russia narrow manner which stops at assessing the
and Syria will continue to attack them. In Idlib relationship between triple talaq and Muslim
the Qaeda-linked Tahrir al-Sham is the main anti- personal law of whether to undertake a broader
regime militia. In oms and the Damascus approach and ask whether personal law can be
suburbs they have joined hands with other subject to the Constitution at all.
groups. So if the government continues to attack Proponents of the first view - which include
them it could drag more rebel groups into the some of the interveners before the court - invite
fight risking an end to the ceasefire. Ideally the the judges to hold that triple talaq is invalid
regime should exercise restraint and the non- because it has no sanction in Muslim personal
jihadist rebels distance themselves from Qaeda- law. In response to the AIMPLB's claim that the
linked organisations while allowing Russia state has no right to interfere in the personal
Turkey and Iran to play the role of facilitators. To religious domain they respond that the religious
take the political process forward everyone has to domain properly understood does not and has
act more responsibly keeping in mind the never allowed for triple talaq. They draw a
humanitarian situation. distinction between instantaneous talaq, or talaq-
i-bidat (where divorce is complete when "talaq" is
TRIPLE TALAQ AND THE
uttered three times in succession with talaq
CONSTITUTION ahasan which requires a 90-day period of
The Supreme Court will begin hearing abstinence after the pronouncement and talaq
arguments in Shayara Bano v. Union of India hasan which requires a one-month-long
which has popularly come to be known as the abstinence gap between utterances. The latter two
"triple talaq case". This case in which the are part of Islamic personal law but the first one
constitutional validity of certain practices of is not.
Muslim personal law such as triple talaq Relying upon the Supreme Court's own
polygamy and nikah halala has been challenged judgments they point out that only those features
has created political controversy across the of a religion are constitutionally protected which
spectrum. The All India Muslim Personal Law are "integral" or "essential" parts of it. There is no
Board (AIMPLB has warned secular authorities evidence to show that talaq-i-bidat constitutes an
against interfering with religious law. On the integral part of the Islamic faith and
other hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consequently it does not deserve constitutional
lent his support to the Muslim women fighting protection. On this view the Supreme Court need
against the practice of triple talaq. not go into tangled and messy questions
One would expect the judges of the involving personal law and the Constitution; it
Supreme Court to adjudicate the constitutional can decide the question on its own terms.
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 45
Although this would involve secular judges laying - to constitutional norms the court must first
down the law on what Islam does or does not overrule a 1951 judgment of the Bombay igh
consider an essential religious practice the Court (subsequently affirmed by the Supreme
Supreme Court has been engaging in such Court in another case called State of Bombay v.
religious inquiry at least since 1966 and it is too Narasu Appa Mali . In that case Justices Chagla
late in the day to now say that it cannot or should and ajendragadkar held that uncodified personal
not. In fact the Supreme Court itself, in a number laws may not be scrutinised for fundamental
of cases has either doubted the validity of rights violations. They did so on the technical
instantaneous triple talaq, or gone so far as to say reasoning that Article 13 of the Constitution
that it is not a part of Muslim personal law. subjected only "laws" and "laws in force" to the
Such an outcome would be an easy one for scrutiny of fundamental rights and that
the court to achieve and of a piece with decades "personal laws" are neither "laws" for this
of consistent jurisprudence. istorically the purpose nor "laws in force". Beneath this
Supreme Court has often "interpreted" or technical reasoning however was a deeper
"modified" elements of religion to conform to a assumption: a distinction between law as created
modernist progressive world view while holding by the state or its agencies through acts of
that such its interpretation is the true legislation on the one hand and "personal law"
understanding of what the religion actually which had its source in the scriptures and in
commands. Such judicial intervention has non-state bodies for interpretation and
primarily - but by no means exclusively - been in enforcement on the other.
the domain of indu law. In the words of one This view, however suffers from being
scholar instead of subjecting religion to external historically inaccurate. There does not exist - and
norms (such as those prescribed by the there probably never existed - a "pure" domain of
Constitution the court has attempted to reform personal law which has its source in scriptures
religion from within. Of course there is a very (the Koran for Muslims or the shastras for
basic question here about the court's competence indus independent and untouched by state
and legitimacy to undertake such a task. owever influence. The colonial courts of the British
while the narrow view would be the easy and empire in fact played an active role in both
natural path for the court to take it would also constructing and shaping what came to be
entail missing a significant opportunity. defined as personal law. They did this through
There is a broader almost radical path that selection of "authentic sources" (to refer to and
the court might chart. It might hold that cite in their judgments through creating a
controversies such as whether triple talaq is hotchpotch amalgamation of common law
sanctioned by the Islamic faith raise questions principles and what they perceived to be ancient
that a court cannot or should not attempt to indu (or Muslim personal law and by imposing
address. Far from entering the thicket of personal binary categories upon f luid and changing
laws the court should simply ask whether a identities. In many cases this led to a
challenged practice of personal law violates rigidification and ossification of the dynamic
anyone's fundamental rights. aspects of religion. It is now well-known for
This approach however runs into one instance that in the famous Aga Khan case in
significant problem. In order to subject triple 1866 the Bombay igh Court treated the Khoja
talaq - as a claimed aspect of Muslim personal law community as Muslim despite their own
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46 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
protestations that they identified neither with study published in The Lancet indicates that
Muslims nor with indus. It was perhaps for this India's TB crisis is set to snowball by 2040 when
reason that the British administrator one in 10 cases could be drug-resistant - both
Elphinstone famously observed that "we ought multidrug-resistant TB (or MDR-TB resistant to
not to be guided by indu law which is a new more than one of the first-line drugs and
introduction of our own." extensively drug-resistant TB (or XDR-TB also
Ultimately the choice between the court is resistant to fluoroquinolones and at least one of
a stark one. Ever since the Narasu Appa Mali case the second-line injectable drugs. What is even
there has been a domain of law - i.e. uncodified more alarming is the projection that the increased
personal law - that has simply been deemed to be number of drug-resistant cases will come from
beyond the realm of the Constitution and beyond direct transmission from infected people to
the scrutiny of constitutional norms such as others rather than by strains acquiring resistance
equality freedom of conscience and the right to to TB drugs during treatment due to inadequate
personal liberty. Not only has this created a treatment or discontinuation of treatment
paradoxical situation where as long as personal midway. The study found that "most incident"
laws are uncodified they escape constitutional MDR cases are "not caused" by acquired drug
scrutiny but the moment they are legislated by resistance which will become a "decreasing
the state (as large parts of indu laws were in the cause" of drug-resistant TB. The increased
1950s they become subject to the Constitution; availability of drugs to fight drug-sensitive TB has
but it also seems to be entirely at odds with the led to the emergence of MDR-TB strains. With an
basic principles of a republican democracy increasing number of MDR-TB cases there has
governed by a secular Constitution. been a shift in the way people get infected with
There is no doubt that triple talaq violates drug-resistant TB - from strains acquiring drug
women's rights to equality and freedom including resistance during treatment to direct transmission
freedom within the marriage and should be of MDR-TB strains from an infected person. The
invalidated by the Supreme Court. The larger same trend is seen in the case of XDR-TB too. As
question however is whether the court will stick a result in high MDR-TB burden countries such
to its old narrow colonial-influenced as India improved treatment outcomes in people
jurisprudence and strike down triple talaq while might only reduce and not eliminate drug-
nonetheless upholding a body of law that resistant TB. Till 2015 only about 93000 people
answers not the Constitution but to dominant with MDR-TB had been diagnosed and put on
and powerful voices within separate treatment.
communities; or will it in 2017 change course The study based on a mathematical model
and hold that no body of law (or rather no body to forecast how TB is likely to progress in the
of prescriptions that carries all the badges and four most-affected countries (Russia the
incidents of law can claim a higher source of Philippines South Africa India suggests that
authority than the Constitution of India? new MDR-TB cases a year in India will touch
12.4% by 2040 up from 7.9% in 2000. With
TB TIMELINES
respect to XDR-TB the incident cases will rise to
Nearly two months after the ealth 8.9% from 0.9% in 2000. In 2015 the four
Ministry set the ambitious target of working countries accounted for about 40% (more than
towards elimination of tuberculosis by 2025 a 230000 of all drug-resistant TB cases in the
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IST OF TE INDU VOL–53 47
world. Besides targeting early diagnosis and This is certainly not to argue that all persons
treatment of those with the disease India's TB with similar socialisation processes will do the
control programme has identified enhanced same thing. That is precisely the reason for not
interventions to break the transmission cycle of deciding questions of sentencing only on the
the bacteria in the community. Contact screening basis of crime categories. The burden of the death
of family members and preventive treatment of penalty has a disparate impact on the most
all children below the age of five who have not marginalised and poorest sections of society. Our
developed the disease are already a part of the criminal justice system is in severe crisis given
Revised National Tuberculosis Control the rampant use of torture in investigations a
Programme but rarely done. Another important broken legal aid system and alienating trial
strategy that has to be adopted is making drug- processes. It is incapable of administering the
susceptibility testing universal and mandatory. death penalty in a fair manner and that is
Developing more accurate cheaper and effective evidenced by the fact that over 30% of death
diagnostic tests and improved treatment sentences handed out by trial courts result in
regimens that are less expensive and of shorter acquittals (not commutations in the appellate
duration will also go a long way in winning the process.
war against the disease. The state cannot seek to take life because it
SHOULD WE DO AWAY WITH has an equal commitment to everyone within its
fold. When a crime is committed the perpetrator
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?
is not the only one breaking the social contract.
It is impossible to view crime as something Obviously the state has failed to protect the
that only "inherently bad" people do and the view victim and society but at the same time it has also
that the task of criminal law is to take away failed the perpetrator in equal measure albeit in a
"inherently bad" people from our midst is different way. At the risk of repetition it is not to
untenable. The cliché that we are all products of suggest that the perpetrator has no individual
our circumstances has much to offer here. This is responsibility but that we must also recognise
not to suggest the absolute lack of individual the failure of society and state.
agency in the things we do but rather to argue As a society we find ourselves in a strange
that the reasons why we do the things we do is bind - on the one hand seeking more violent and
influenced by a lot more than just individual will. harsher punishments for certain crimes and at
In that context a four-year-old being raped and the same time struggling with rampant impunity
murdered or raping and mercilessly killing for certain others. Justice is not served in either
members of a caste or religious group because of situation. To tweak Martin Luther King's words
visceral hatred are all events that challenge our the arc of the moral universe must bend towards
humanity. a more empathetic version of justice rather than
The point is that there is a process of a retributive one.
socialisation that contributes to an individual's
thinking that he can rape a woman insert a rod
SAVING JADHAV
into her and leave her on the street to die or that India's decision to approach the
he can have such intense hatred for people of International Court of Justice (ICJ to stall the
other communities that they should be stripped possible execution of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav
paraded raped and murdered. in Pakistan is an unusual move impelled by the
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48 VOL–53 IST OF TE INDU
peculiar circumstances of the former naval On the face of it India's decision to move
officer's case. Sentenced to death by a military the ICJ may appear somewhat incongruous in the
court after what was a summary and arguably light of its position against internationalising its
bogus trial he is in imminent danger of execution. disputes with Pakistan. owever this is not the
is case now hinges on an appeal against his first time that it has approached the world court
conviction on charges of espionage and on against Pakistan. In 1971 it wanted the ICJ to
petitions for mercy before Pakistan's Chief of decide the limited question whether the Council
Army Staff and President. India's main contention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation
is that Pakistan had committed "egregious had the jurisdiction to question India's
violations" of the Vienna Convention on suspension of overflight rights to Pakistani
Consular Relations by repeatedly denying aircraft. India has every claim to approach the ICJ
consular access to Jadhav for over a year. is to protect the life and rights of its nationals. One
family members have not been issued visas to round of focussed legal proceedings does not
travel to Pakistan and help him pursue appellate amount to giving up its stated position on
remedies. Pakistan had also linked the consular resolving other issues on a bilateral basis.
access issue to India's "assistance" in its owever it is likely to face a stiff challenge from
investigation into Jadhav's alleged activities. Pakistan both on merits and by way of
With India instituting the case the ICJ President preliminary objections. Pakistan is likely to argue
has written to Pakistan to act in such a way that that consular access to Indian prisoners on its
any order passed by the court would have its territory is governed by a bilateral agreement
appropriate effect. While this virtually operates as signed in May 2008. It is likely to quote a clause
a stay on Jadhav's execution a substantive on reciprocal consular facilities that says "in case
interim order is expected only when the court of arrest detention or sentence made on political
hears India's application for "provisional or security grounds each side may examine the
measures" at its hearing on May 15 pending case on its merit". While Pakistan is free to cite
adjudication of its plea for declaring Pakistan's legal and technical points in its favour it hardly
actions as violative of international law. New requires iteration that it should avoid any
Delhi's position is that Jadhav is innocent and precipitate move that would frustrate the
that he was "kidnapped" by Pakistani agents from ongoing proceedings before the ICJ. Pakistan's
Iran. adherence to international law will be under test.
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behaviour change in promoting cashless
transactions and converting India into a less-
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IST OF TE YOJANA VOL–53 51
response to terrorism from Pakistan. It has been In her multilateral engagements India's bid
made amply clear that India wants pure to become a permanent member of the United
bilateralism and will not accept Islamabad's talks Nations Security Council found many backers and
with separatists as demonstrated by calling off significant progress has also been made for entry
foreign secretary level talks and walking out of into the Nuclear Suppliers roup. India's
regional summits (SAARC summit in Pakistan. engagement in regional groupings such as BRICS
The attack on the Indian army retaliated through SAARC BIMSTEC has been fruitful. India has
surgical strikes further reinforced this position. also been able to lead the cause of the developing
Also by boycotting the SAARC summit India nations in multilateral negotiations on climate
sent out a stem message to the extent of major change (in Paris Summit and trade negotiations
world powers considering motions to declare in WTO.
Pakistan as terror state.
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52 VOL–53 IST OF TE YOJANA
the stubbornly persistent inflation. CPI inflation advanced economies.
remained under control for the third successive Foreign exchange reserves touched an all
financial year. The average CPI (combined time high level of US$ 371.9 billion in end-
inflation declined from 9.5 per cent in 2013-14 to September 2016. owever it declined to US$
5.9 per cent in 2014-15 and 4.9 per cent in 2015- 361.1 billion at end-November 2016 due to
16. It declined further to 4.6 per cent in the intervention by RBI in forex exchange market to
current financial year upto February 2017 and stabilize the rupee and partly because of
stood at 3.7 per cent in February 2017 backed by repayment of maturity amount of FCNR (B
sharp fall in food inflation. deposits accrued between September-November
In line with subdued global growth an trade 2013 during the special swap window opened for
India s exports declined by 1.3 per cent and 15.5 NRIs. Foreign exchange reserves stood at US$
per cent in 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively. The 363.0 billion at end-January 2017 as against US$
trend of negative growth was reversed somewhat 358.9 billion at end-December 2016. The current
during 2016-17 (April-February with exports position is at a comfortable level to cushion the
registering a growth of 2.5 per cent to US$ 245.4 exchange rate volatility from any international
billion from US$ 239.4 billion in 2015-16 (April- macroeconomic uncertainty.
February. Monthly export growth rates have Exchange Rate of Rupee
been in positive territory since September 2016. The average monthly exchange rate of
During 2015-16 India's import declined by rupee for 2016-17 (April- February was Rs.67.2
15.0 per cent to US$ 381. 0 billion mainly due to per US dollar indicating a depreciation of 2.8 per
fall in international crude oil prices as compared cent over the corresponding period of the
to US$ 448.0 billion in 2014-15. During 2016-17 previous year. This was mainly due to
(April-February imports declined by 3.7 per cent strengthening of the US dollar globally following
to US$ 340.7 billion as compared to 353.7 billion the US presidential election results and
in the corresponding period of previous year. tightening of monetary policy by the Federal
In f low of foreign direct investment Reserve. Nevertheless in 2016-17 so far the
increased from US$ 43.6 billion 2013-14 to US$ rupee has performed better than most of other
51.8 billion in 2014-15 and further to US$ 59.5 EMES.
billion in 2015-16. During 2016-17 April- At end-September 2016 India's external
December net FDI was US$ 31.2 billion as debt stock stood at US$ 484.3 billion recording a
compared to US$ 27.2 billion in 2015-16 (April- decline of US$ 0.8 billion (0.2 per cent over the
December. Foreign portfolio investment (net level at end-March 2016.
increased to US$ 8".2 - billion in the first half of Most of the key external debt indicators
2016-17 from US$ (- 3.5 billion in the first half show an improvement in September 2016. The
of 2015-16. owever net foreign portfolio share of short-term debt in total external debt
outflow in the month of December 2016 and decreased to 16.8 per cent at end-September 2016
January 2017 were at US$ 5.8 billion and US$ 0.5 from 17.2 per cent at end-March 2016. India's
billion respectively-largely as a result of the Fed foreign exchange reserves provided a cover of
Policy with US Federal Reserve raising interest 76.8 per cent to the total external debt stock at
rates. The FPI outflow was not a phenomenon end-September 2016 vis-it-vis 74.3 per cent at
associated with Indian markets alone as FPIs end-March 2016.
pulled out of most EMEs due to hi her returns in
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IST OF TE YOJANA VOL–53 53
India continues to be among the less National Income 2016-17 released by CSO on
vulnerable nations in terms of its key debt 28th February 2017 the growth rates in ross
indicators which compare well with other Value Added (VA of the industrial sector were
indebted developing countries. According to the 5.8 per cent in 2016-17 8.2 per cent in 2015-16
World Bank's "International Debt Statistics 2017" and 6.9 per cent in 2014-15. The growth in the
which gives external debt data of developing VA from 'manufacturing' sector was 7.7 percent
countries for 2015 the ratio of India's external in 2016-17 as compared to growth of 10.6 percent
debt stock to gross national income (NI at 23.4 in 2015-16 and 7.5 per cent in 2014-15.
per cent was the fifth lowest. In terms of the The index for eight core industries
cover provided by foreign exchange reserves to (comprising crude oil natural gas petroleum
external debt India's position was sixth highest refinery products coal electricity cement steel
at 69.7 per cent. and fertilizers registered 4.8 per cent growth in
Agriculture and Food Management 2016-17 (April-January as compared to 3.4 per
As per the Second Advance Estimates of cent in 2015-16 and 4.5 per cent in 2014-15.
National Income released on 28th February 2017 With the introduction of UDAY scheme in
the growth rates in ross Value Added (VA of the power sector in 2015 most of the States have
the agriculture and al1ied sectors were at 4.4 per made significant efforts to reduce AT &C losses.
cent in 2016-170.8 per cent in 2015-16 (- 0.2 per The scheme has already addressed 62 per cent of
cent in 2014-15 .As per the second Advance the DISCOMs' debt that existed at the end
Estimates of production of foodgrains released by of2014-15.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on As per the Year End Review-2016 released by
15th February 2017 production of total the Ministry of Road Transport & ighways the
foodgrains during 2016-17 is estimated at 271.98 total length of highways awarded up to
million tonnes compared to 251.57 million November 2016 was 5688 Ian and total length of
tonnes in 2015-16 (Final and 252.02 million highways constructed up to November 2016 was
tonnes in 2014-15. 4021 Ian as against 6029 km in 2015-16 and 4410
As per the Second Advance Estimates of km in 2014-15.
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54 VOL–53 IST OF TE YOJANA
PMUY was expected to result in an additional employment of around 1 Lakh and provide business
opportunity of at least Rs. 10000 Cr. over the 3 Years of the programme to the Indian Industry.
Launch of this scheme will also provide a great boost to the 'Make in India' campaign as all the
manufacturers of cylinders gas stoves regulators and gas hose are domestic. 14 State s/U'Is
having LP coverage less than the national average hilly states of J&K Uttarakhand imachal
Pradesh and all North-East States were identified as priority states for implementing the
scheme.
The top five States with maximum connections are UP (46 lakh West Bengal (19 lakh Bihar
(19 lakh Madhya Pradesh (17 lakh and Rajasthan (14 lakh. These States constitutes nearly
75 per cent of the total connections released. The households belonging to SC/ST constitute
large chunk of beneficiaries with 35 per cent of the connections being released to them. India
is home to more than 24 Crore households out of which about 10 Crore households are stil1
deprived of LP as cooking fuel and have to rely on firewood coal dung - cakes etc. as primary
source of cooking.
ESAM PARK
e-Sampark is a mechanism to connect the government directly with citizens across India by
running mailer outbound dialing and SMS campaigns. e-Sampark portal was launched in May
2016 by overnment of India. It works as a platform to pass on messages to the people and also
receive messages from people. The Portal is aimed to improve government communications
with citizens. Till date 404 campaigns have already been conducted and more than 230 crore
emails have also been sent through e-Sampark.
The concept of e-Sampark has been introduced to establish proactive communication by
digitisation of campaigns. The multi- I faceted platform facilitates not only seamless
communication between the government and citizens but also maintains a database of contacts
of the nodal officers representatives and citizens. In addition users can also view the previous
campaigns conducted. e-Sampark signifies the essence of Digital India. It enables the
government to communicate with the citizens about several programmes and initiatives. Recent
campaigns include Transforming India through Risk Management and Encouraging citizens to
avoid petrol and diesel vehicles or a day in a week. It also provides the views of the Prime
Minister shared by him in the popular programme 'Man Ki Baat' on radio. The features of the
e-Sampark portal are as follows-
"Provision for sending informational and public service messages in the form of mailers SMSs
and outbound dialing to citizens elected representatives and government employees through
customised user lists.
"Similarly SMSs can also be sent to a customised user-base using the application
"Extensive database of elected representatives and government officials that is updated
periodically.. Provision for updating the database either individually or through bulk upload.
"Provision of a Dashboard showing nodal officers the campaign analytics i.e. number of mailers
and SMSes sent percentage read percentage of forwards URL clicks etc.
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IST OF TE YOJANA VOL–53 55
"Provision for individual users to subscribe to the "e-Sampark" database. By subscribing to a list
a user gives his/her consent to receive mailers and SMSes from the overnment. The user can
unsubscribe from the list at any time.
One can ensure following benefits -
"Extensive structured database of government officials (of both Central and State governments
for sending official information.
"Information alerts about the existent policies or proposed policies decision of the overnment
and new schemes to be launched can be shared with customised user base. This will improve
the efficiency of communication .o Increased awareness among the citizens by sharing urgent
alerts of national or public interest and government updates so he or she can take benefit of
schemes and programmes timely.
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• Arrangements are being made to
provide farmers even better access to
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58 VOL–53 IST OF KURUKSETRA
Development Corporation (NSDC.A total of The responsibility of uplifting the conditions of
441akh houses were approved for 2016-17 and the rural mass cannot be ignored specially in a
the Ministry of Rural Development is working country like India where over 60-65 per cent
hard to complete all of them by December 2017. population lives in rural areas - for whom such
A completion period of 6 to 12 months is being welfare schemes are of paramount importance.
followed in PMAY-. According to social scientists concerned
States like Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan with Third World countries development is a
Maharashtra Chhattisgarh Karnataka Assam social process that leads to constructive and
have taken the lead in the implementation of the critical consideration of the following:
PMAY-. States like Bihar West Bengal Uttar
Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Assam Jharkhand (i the external and internal factors that affect
Rajasthan and Maharashtra have done well in the economic evolution of a country;
completing a very large number of incomplete (ii the distributive system of goods and
Indira Awaas Yojana houses. services; and
The Department of Rural Development
plans to complete 51 lakh houses in 2017-18. An (iii the system of relationships among the
additional 33 lakh houses will be sanctioned for agents of economic life which incorporates
2017-18 shortly. A similar number is proposed to self-esteem sustenance freedom and well-
be completed in 2018-19 making the completion being.
during 2016-19 period of 1.35 crore houses. This Development in this respect necessarily
will pave the way for ousing for All by 2022. presupposes a concern for human life and value.
And this has been called 'Sustainable
TRANSFORMING THE VILLAGE: Development' a strategy that is inclusive and
NEW RURBAN STRATEGY BASED ON reaches the lowest segments of society and
GANDHIAN APPROACH "improve people's quality of life within the
The completion of three years in office by carrying capacity of the Earth's life support
the government signifies a marked change in system". One may also mention here the
planning by allocation of more resources to Copenhagen Declaration that urged governments
different projects and schemes aimed at to accelerate the process of development through
transforming the rural sector. While some of the allocation of increased resources and create "an
schemes are new some have been totally changed economic political social cultural and legal
to make these more focused to attend to social environment that will enable people to achieve
infrastructure needs of the villages. The neglect social development".
of the rural sector has been a big challenge before owever in our country even now the
the government and bringing about the desired government has yet to involve the voluntary
change would definitely be a monumental task in organizations in a big way at the grass-root level
the coming years. though the NOs and CBOs are cost effective and
The new Rurban approach obviously needs have expertise due to their almost regular
reforms but it may be pointed out that in most interaction with the village folk.
countries including India the opening of bank Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana SAGY
accounts of the villagers has enabled to pass on Launched on the birth anniversary of Jay
their benefits to their respective bank accounts. Prakash Narayan is also a step in the same
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IST OF KURUKSETRA VOL–53 59
direction aimed "at instilling certain values in the many villages could be adopted and whether there
village and its people such as fostering mutual is proper planning before the execution of the
cooperation self help and self reliance enabling schemes for integrated' development. One needs
the poorest and the person in the village to come to be optimistic as after a long time the
out of poverty and achieve well being preserving government has thought of an integrated plan of
and promoting local cultural heritage etc." The village development.
Yojana is aimed at translating the vision of In the realm of financial inclusion the
Mahatma andhi into reality that is PMJDY has helped the poor and the
transforming the rural sector keeping in view the economically weaker sections from being
present lack of balanced development plaguing exploited by unscrupulous moneylenders. As is
the countryside. widely regarded this Yojana lies at the core of the
According to the scheme every MP would development philosophy of 'Sab Ka 5ath 5ab Ka
adopt a Village Panchayat to be developed Vikas' and is possibly the biggest Last but not the
through government schemes and local initiative. least the decision ensures to construct 2.95 crore
While Lok Sabha members can adopt a panchayat houses in rural areas under its ambitious
within their constituency Rajya Sabha members 'ousing for AII' by 2022 scheme. The
can adopt any within the state they represent. government is expected to spend nearly Rs 81975
There are 265000 ram Panchayats in the crore over construction of the one crore houses in
country. Primarily the goal is to develop three the first three years of the Pradhan Mantri
adarsh grams by March 2019 of which one would Awcos Yojana-ramin under which it will provide
be achieved by 2016. Thereafter five such grams financial assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh to those
- one per year - would be selected developed by the living in plain areas and Rs 1.30 lakh to those in
year 2024 as per an official not. "hilly and difficult" areas. One may mention here
The scheme is being implemented through that the government had promised in its election
a village development plan that would be prepared manifesto to provide a 'pucca' house for every
for every identified gram panchayat with special family bv the 75th anniversary of independence.
focus on enabling every poor household to come The urban bias in Indian planning has to be
out of poverty. Such an integrated plan was a long reversed with focus being on the growth of rural
felt need and would go a long way on making the and semi-urban areas and strengthening the local
village self-reliant and self sufficient as economy. But unfortunately the rural sector has
visualized by Mahatma andhi long back. There is not got the necessary attention and rural
also a necessity of supply of renewable energy and infrastructure in most cases is still quite poor.
modernization and diversification of micro Whether it is roads or power though some
cottage and village-based industries. This has achievements have been manifested in the last
become imperative at this point of time for the decade a lot remains to be done.
country to make rapid strides on the path of There can be no denying that the
social and economic development. opportunity cost of the city dwellers is high
The enormity of the challenge cannot be compared to the rather modest outlays required to
denied as around 50 per cent of the six lakh upgrade the standards of living of agricultural
villages have very poor social and physical labourers and create opportunities in agro-based
infrastructural facilities. The SAY has been the industry cottage industry and the like. There have
right beginning and it remains to be seen how not been serious attempts at urbanizing the
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60 VOL–53 IST OF KURUKSETRA
countryside and what is still lacking in India - industrialization without any direct effect on the
and also other countries of South Asia - are masses. Development has to be balanced in such
deficient and inadequate health and educational a way that both industrialization - specially labour
facilities. Though in recent years the rural sector intensive small and micro industries - and
has received the much needed attention and a fair agriculture move side by side so that the total
share of resources but the requirement of effect is sustainable and beneficial for the
physical and social infrastructural development common people.
are much more.
ADARSH GRAM, SWASTH GRAM
The report of the independent
International Commission of Peace and Food
HEALTH IN RURAL INDIA
chaired by Dr. M. S. Swaminathan which argued Optimum 'health' lays the ground work for
the goal of one billion jobs was achieveable in ten experiencing all the goodness this world has to
years through a low-cost strategy of using offer. For long health is often considered as the
agriculture as an engine of growth. According to absence of illness and hence a 'health system' is
the report about half of the jobs (45 million quantified in terms of numbers of hospitals
would be generated on farms by: (i raising doctors nurses and ambulances. In contrast
productivity through imposed management of optimum health status is attained not by curing
micro-nutrients and water (ii expanding the illnesses but by adopting promotive and
total irrigated area (iii emphasizing on more preventive habits. Citizens can only adopt healthy
labour- intensive commercial crops such as sugar habits when they are aware' of such habits and
cotton fruits and vegetables sericulture and such an environment exists which encourages
aquaculture (iv reclamation of wasteland for the adoption of such habits which can be created
forestry and (v increasing subsidiary incomes by the political leadership of any given country by
from animal husbandry and poultry. The setting their priorities right and allocating
multiplier effect of increased rural incomes was resources sensibly. Three years is a minuscule
expected to create another 45 million rural and time to perceive any noticeable impact on the
urban jobs in industry and services. health status of the population yet three years
A proper development strategy which does are long enough for any government to make
not emulate the Western model where their intention clear lay down policy framework
population is much less and resources are and roll out desired programs.
abundant - has already been in place and proper Within a span of just three years present
achieving of targets through good and efficient government has formulated new ealth Policy
governance is now called for. The problems of the for India. A unique feature of National ealth
aam janta living below the poverty line and those Policy-2017 is that it has balanced 'national
struggling for an existence have to be given the priorities related to health' and 'health-related
top most priority through rejuvenation of the targets of Sustainable Development oals (SDG
rural sector which may not necessarily help in in its objectives: But it remains to be seen that
high DP growth but would have a grass root how and in what time span the objectives
effect in boosting up incomes of the specified in National ealth Policy-2017 will be
economically weaker sections and the poor. achieved. This is because the earlier health policy-
There is very little point in just going for 2002 laid down many similar objective(s but
high DP growth with heavy mechanization and failed to achieve them in the designated time
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IST OF KURUKSETRA VOL–53 61
frame and therefore had to be included in the new This scheme intends to open dedicated outlets of
health policy. Similar to new health policy Jon Aushodhi Kendras (JAK where high-quality
previous health policy promised to increase the generic medicines are sold at low prices.
government's spending on health to 2.5 per cent Although launched nearly a decade ago in the
of DP but failed to do so. In reality Indian year 2008 this scheme was popularised by this
government's spending on health in the last one government as evidenced by rapid increase in the
and half decade has stuck to around 1.0 per cent number of JAKs outlets near community health
of DP. In the year 2011 the government's centers across rural India. To reduce the burden of
spending on health as a proportion of total health medical expenditure further the government has
spending in India Thailand Sri Lanka China capped the maximum price of coronary stents
Russia and Brazil was 30.5 per cent 77.7 per cent used in cardiac aliments.
42.1 per cent 55.9 per cent 59.8 per cent and 45.7 As per NFS-4only 44.8 per cent of women
per cent respectively. from rural areas made the recommended four
The government looks determined to antenatal care visits during pregnancy. The
provide all types of healthcare to every citizen of situation becomes further dim by the fact that
India. In this year's budget the Finance Minister only 16.7 per cent of women in rural areas
announced to transform every single of the received 'full' antenatal care. Providing antenatal
155069 existing health sub-centers into health care to the pregnant mother is crucial to reduce
and wellness centers by strengthening promotive both maternal
and preventive services provided at these centers. and infant mortality rates by detecting
But given the dismal condition of most high-risk cases at early stages of pregnancy.
community and primary health center of the Pradhan Montri Surakshit Matritvo Abhiyon
country it remains to be seen how the (PMSMA intends to mobilise community health
government will implement this initiative. It worker to ensure quality antenatal care is
would have been more appropriate if the provided to every pregnant woman. PMSMA is a
government would have taken similar initiative fixed day antenatal care service program
to strengthen primary health centers of the conducted on the 9thday of every month. This
country to provide services round the clock so scheme intends to cover over 3 crore pregnant
that patients would not have to travel to distant women in the country. To increase the coverage
facilities for availing the basic health care. To doctors (gynecologist radiologist and other
increase the availability of specialised tertiary physicians from the private sector have been
level care to citizens the government has started asked to volunteer on 9th of every month. Till
fulfilling its poll promise of establishing an now, about 3335 physicians have agreed to
AIIMS like institute in all states of India. volunteer and 11189 centres are currently
The largest chunk of medical out of pocket providing quality antenatal care under this
expenditure is made for buying medicines. To Scheme.'
reduce this the overnment of India had In India children are vaccinated against
launched 'Pradhan Montri Jon Aushodi Yojono'. seven vaccines preventable diseases under
This scheme had two major objectives: (i to Universal Immunization Program (UPI which
ensure quality generic medicines are available to was launched in the year 1985. But as per NFS-
patients (ii to reduce out of pocket medical 4 only 61.3 per cent of rural children aged 12-23
expenditure associated with buying medicines. months in India were 'fully' immunised. To
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62 VOL–53 IST OF KURUKSETRA
increase the immunisation coverage the conditions under which many of its citizens are
government launched Mission lndradhanush' forced to live. Many households which have
The ultimate goal of Mission Indradhanush mobile phones electricity and cable TV do not
(Mlis to ensure complete immunisation for have toilets. These unsanitary living conditions
every child and pregnant women. MI intends to are source of numerous diseases many of which
achieve this by conducting special immunisation are linked to malnutrition among children. To
sessions in the 201 high focus districts that have improve this unacceptable situation our Prime
the highest number of partially immunised and Minister launched Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM.
unimmunized children. In the first phase of MI Since its inception about 186571 villages and
more than 9 lakh sessions were held and more 129 districts have become free from open
than 20 lakh children were fully immunized. As defecation. SBM intends to make whole India
per NFS-4the prevalence of Diarrhoea among open defecation free by the year 2019.
children in rural area was about 9.6 per cent and Complementing the SBM is the Kayakalp scheme.
only half of the children with Diarrhoea had For long government hospitals had the image of
received oral rehydration solution. MI also being dirty and untidy. Kayakalp scheme intends
contributed to this aspect of child care by to change this perception by promoting
enhancing the distribution of ORS and zinc cleanliness hygiene and infection control
tablets. In the first phase of MI about 17 lakhs practices in public hospitals premises. This
packets of ORS and about 57 lakh zinc tablets were scheme incentivizes recognizes and awards
distributed to children with Diarrhoea. It is the those public hospitals which adhere to standard
most common cause of death among children and protocols of cleanliness and infection control.
Rotavirus is the most common organism Ministry of ealth & Family Welfare and
responsible for Diarrhoea. To reduce the Ministry of Drinking Water &Sanitation
incidence of RotaVirus caused Diarrhoea the launched a convergence program "Swachh
overnment of India has started the inclusion of Swastno Sarvatra" to increase awareness about
indigenously developed anti-rotavirus vaccine in cleanliness sanitation and hygiene among
national immunisation schedule. The national population under the catchment area of the
level implementation of this vaccine will help in health facility. Specifically it intends to increase
reducing the child mortality rate. awareness about Water Sanitation and ygiene
The maojor thing that hurts the India's (WAS practices which are linked to childhood
image as a true global superpower is the morbidity and malnutrition.
unacceptable standard of hygiene and insanitary
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Online Coures for UPSC IAS Exams
http://iasexamportal.com/courses
ist of
IST OF KURUKSETRA VOL–53 63
new incentive schemes for the BIM - Cashback
and Referral bonus - with an outlay of Rs. 495
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 65
unified trading license and a single point levy of country was launched by the Ministry of Women
market fee as well as setting up markets in the and Child Development in collaboration with the
private sector direct marketing etc all aimed at Ministry of Panchayati Raj today. The training
reducing the intermediaries between producer and program seeks to empower EWRs of panchayats
buyer so as to ensure remunerative prices to the by enhancing their capacity capability and skill in
farmer. The States were also advised to relax the governance and administration of villages.
felling and transit rules for trees being grown by Inspite of 33% reservation for women in the
farmers on their own lands so as to encourage panchayat bodies the EWRs continue to remain
agroforestry which has a huge potential for ineffective since they do not have appropriate
supplementing the income from agriculture. knowledge and skill to administer the village and
The salient features of the new model the show continues to be run by their husbands.
Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee These women representatives will have to
(APMC Act 2017 drafted by DAC&FW were also be trained in order to ensure that they take up the
discussed. This encompasses the reforms being responsibility of all the tasks entrusted upon
advocated for a transparent market enabling price them on being elected Smt Maneka andhi said.
discovery and competition where farmers would The Minister explained that it is due to this
have multiple options to sell their produce reason the WCD Ministry has initiated this
including the eNAM platform. This has been countrywide program of training the women
developed after extensive consultations with sarpanches and other women representatives at
States/UTs Ministries and the public and is in the the grassroots level in various areas like
final stages of approval. The Dept is also in the engineering (building of roads drains latrines
process of drafting a model Contract Farming Act etc. finance social development education
and the States were requested to send their views health and environment among others. Similarly
to enable drafting of a wholesome Act. E-NAM several new schemes have been launched by the
which has barely completed a year of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi which bring
implementation is already proving to be very benefit to the common man especially those in
beneficial as evidenced by increasing number of distress and the under privileged. The women
States coming on board traders and farmer's
sarpanches can be helpful in taking these
registration and volume and value of trade being
schemes to the people at the grassroots level the
done online. So far 417 markets from 13 States
Minister said. These schemes include Fasal
have joined the online-portal which targets
Beema Yojana Pradhanmantri Awas Yojana
integration of 585 markets by March 2018. So far
Suraksha Bima Yojana Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
39.75 lakh farmers and 88474 traders have
maternity benefits schemes among others. Apart
registered and trade of Rs 15009 crores has taken
through the e-NAM portal. from this the training programme will help to
raise these women to the next level of leadership
Nation-wide training programme launched said Smt Maneka andhi.
for Elected Women representatives The WCD Minister said that safety of
EWRs of Panchayats women education of the girl child health of
A comprehensive module for capacity women creation of assets under MNREA
building of Elected Women Representatives immunization and ensuring nutrition through
(EWRs of Panchayats and a training program for lakhs of Anganwadis of the country have become
Trainers of women panchayat leaders across the important issues at the grassroots level in which
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66 VOL–53 IST OF TE PIB
the women sarpanches can play a pivotal role in cost of Rs. 3173.47 crore (excluding taxes
effective delivery. The Minster suggested that the and freight as applicable during the years
women sarpanches should form a whatsapp 2017-18 and 2018-19 from M/s Bharat
group and share their good practices as well as Electronics Ltd. Bangalore and M/s
assist one another in finding solutions to Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.
common problems. yderabad;
Starting with Jharkhand similar training (b directing the Price Negotiation Committee
programs will be organised in different states to negotiate with M/s Bharat Electronics Ltd
throughout the country with the help of National and M/s Electronics Corporation of India Ltd
Institute of Rural Development State Institutes to rationalise the final unit price
of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj expeditiously;
Departments of the States to train EWRs (c allocation of additional funds to the tune of
throughout the county. There are currently around Rs. 1600 crore in the current financial year
13 lakhs EWRs in panchayats across the nation. in the supplementaries/Revised Estimates
The module has been prepared by the for meeting the cash outgo envisaged for
National Commission for Women of the WCD purchase of EVMs (Control Units & Ballot
Ministry in collaboration with TISS. The module Units and VVPAT Units during the year
contains training guidelines timeline 2017-18 payment of 40% of the said amount
implementation guidelines training schedules as advance to the manufacturers and for
and monitoring and evaluation. The training will provision of balance amount as may be
be participatory with group discussions required in the BE 2018-19; and
brainstorming lectures demonstrations field (d placement of Order by the Election
visits case studies games exercise role play Commission to the two manufacturers
small workshops and individual assignments. depending upon their production capacity
The module discusses various topics like 'What is so that all the VVPAT Units can be procured
an ideal Panchayat' composition of the ram by September 2018.
Panchayat development schemes and T h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d
s a t i s f a c t i o n o f v o t e r s , a l l a y i n g a n y a p p r e h e n s i o n
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 67
Accordingly introduction of the VVPAT was of such a system of VVPAT in phased manner
facilitated by amending the Conduct of Election overnment of India may provide required
Rules 1961 vide Notification dated 14th August financial assistance for procurement of requisite
2013. Thereafter 20300 VVPAT Units were number of VVPAT Units.
purchased by the ECI in 2013. Since then these
RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD CALLS
units are being deployed in elections in select
Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies.
FOR EXPEDITING JUDICIAL
Subsequently order for 67000 additional Units REFORMS
was placed in 2015 out of which 33500 Units Minister of Law & Justice and Electronics
have been supplied by the manufacturers. & IT Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad today appealed to
Requisite funds for purchase of the aforesaid all those involved in the delivery of justice to join
number of VVPAT Units were provided by the hands in improving the system to ensure that
overnment as and when requested by the assistance is available to every citizen irrespective
Election Commission. of his socio-economic position. e said this after
VVPAT device functions like a printer to be the launch of three key legal aid and
attached to the ballot unit and kept inside the empowerment initiatives of the Department of
voting compartment. When the voter presses the Justice - including 'Pro bono legal services' 'Tele
button against the name of the candidate of his law service' and 'Nyaya Mitra scheme'. The
choice on the Ballot Unit the VVPAT unit Minister also mentioned that the country's legal
generates a paper slip called Ballot Slip. This system would be digitally transformed as digital
paper slip contains the name serial number and inclusion holds the key to the country's march
symbol of the chosen candidate. The voter can towards Digital India.
see this slip through a screened window where it The Minister emphasized the need for
stays for seven seconds and then it automatically increased opportunities of legal aid and
gets cut and falls down into a sealed drop box. In awareness for people especially the marginalised
this process the slip will not go into the hands sections of the society. e said that the three
of the voter nor will others be able to see it. initiatives launched today were aimed at fulfilling
Civil Appeal No.9093/2013 was filed by Dr. the department's core mandate of enhancing
Subramanian Swamy pleading for directions to the 'access to justice' for the poor and vulnerable
Election Commission to use VVPAT Units in all communities including making accessible quality
polling booths. It wasalleged in the said Petition and effective legal aid for them. e
that the Electronic Voting Machines are not acknowledged and appreciated the initiatives
reliable and that there should be some device by undertaken over the last two decades to
which the voter should get a confirmation that safeguard and deliver this right to citizens first
the vote cast by him has been recorded in favour by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA
of the candidate of his choice. In deference to and subsequently by the Department of Justice -
the plea of the petitioner in the aforesaid CA the both of whom have the shared mandate of
Election Commission submitted that it has no delivering adequate and efficient legal aid to the
objection to the introduction of VVPAT Units for marginalised and vulnerable sections. The
conduct of free fair and transparent elections. Minister also underscored that the initiatives
The Supreme Court in its Order dated 8th launched by the department here are to
October 2013 directed that for implementation supplement the efforts of NALSA and not to
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68 VOL–53 IST OF TE PIB
overlap the activities undertaken by the legal called 'Tele Law' is aimed at facilitating delivery
services authorities. of legal advice through an expert panel of lawyers
- stationed at the State Legal Services Authorities
PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES
(SLSA. The project would connect lawyers with
The 'Pro bono legal services' initiative is a clients through video conferencing facilities at
web based platform through which interested CSCs operated by para legal volunteers. For this
lawyers can register themselves to volunteer pro purpose this initiative would also play a pivotal
bono services for the underprivileged litigants role in empowering 1000 women para legal
who are unable to afford it. The Department of volunteers.
Justice has launched the online application for The project would be launched across 1800
this initiative on its website doj.gov.in. Through panchayats in Uttar Pradesh Bihar North Eastern
this online portal litigants from marginalised States and Jammu & Kashmir.
communities (including members of scheduled
castes and scheduled tribes women children DISTRICT FACILITATION CENTRE TO
senior citizens persons with low income and REDUCE PENDENCY: ENGAGEMENT
persons with disabilities can also apply for legal OF NYAYA MITRA
aid and advice from the pro bono lawyers. The Minister also discussed the issue of
The Minister described this effort as an heavy pendency of cases in courts across the
'earnest step' towards fulfilling the mandate of country. e noted that at present more than 2.4
quality legal aid for all. e noted that many from crore cases are pending in the district and lower
the legal fraternity were already volunteering judiciary of which nearly 10% are more than 10
legal support for the underprivileged clients in an years old. e called for collective action and
individual capacity. owever he stressed that the efforts in remedying this situation. In this
time has come to promote the concept of pro context the Minister also inaugurated the Nyaya
bono legal aid in an institutionalized manner and Mitra scheme which is aimed at reducing
ensure that those who volunteer their valuable pendency of cases across selected districts with
time and service towards this public service are special focus on those pending for more than 10
duly recognized. years.
The Minister called upon all lawyers from Functionalized through a retired judicial or
across the country to wholeheartedly support this executive officer (with legal experience
initiative and help in fulfilling the constitutional designated as the 'Nyaya Mitra' the project would
mandate of legal aid for all. be operated out of District Facilitation Centres
TELE LAW: MAINSTREAMING LEGAL housed in CSCs. Nyaya Mitra's responsibilities
AID THROUGH COMMON SERVICE would include among others assistance to
litigants who are suffering due to delay in
CENTRE
investigations or trial by actively identifying
Through the second initiative launched by such cases through the National Judicial Data
the Minister the Department of Justice and rid providing legal advice and connecting
NALSA are partnering with CSC- E- overnance litigants to DLSA CSC Tele Law, other
Service Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to government agencies and civil society
the marginalized communities through the organisations. e/she shall also refer the
Common Service Centers (CSCs. This initiative marginalized applicants to Lok Adalats for dispute
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 69
resolution and render assistance towards prison indigenously with progressive
reforms within the district in coordination with indigenization of content for which the
the district judiciary and other stakeholders. contractor may either establish independent
This initiative would be launched in 227 manufacturing facility in India or partner
districts including 27 districts from North East with Indian manufacturers if the
and Jammu & Kashmir and 200 districts from procurement is more than 100 cars;
Uttar Pradesh Bihar Maharashtra Rajasthan 2. To facilitate ease in maintenance through
Odisha ujarat West Bengal etc. and would be easy availability of spares beyond the
operated out of CSCs. warranty period an identified list of critical
equipment and sub-systems shall be
MAKE IN INDIA
included in the Tender Document for
GETS VARIOUS BOOSTS ensuring indigenous manufacturing of a
With rapid expansion of metro rail projects minimum of 25% of such equipment either
in the country Ministry of Urban Development by Original Equipment Manufacturers
has taken several far reaching decisions to themselves by establishing a wholly owned
promote Make in India campaign. These include subsidiary in India or through Indian
stipulating certain mandatory conditions to be manufacturers;
incorporated in Tender Documents of metro 3. Requirement of metro cars at State level
companies for procurement of metro cars and shall be clubbed to enable applicability of
related critical equipment and sub-systems local procurement norms; and
procurement of only Made in India signaling 4. To develop in-house expertise on long term
equipment besides standardizing technical basis metro companies with large size fleet
parameters for rolling stock (metro coaches and to undertake in-house maintenance.
signaling equipment. A total number of 1912 metro coaches are
The new mandatory Tender Conditions and currently operational in the country with another
standardized norms for a wide range of 1420 under procurement. Over the next three
equipment approved by the Minister of Urban years more than 1600 metro cars would be
Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu have been required. Each metro coach is estimated to cost
circulated to all the metro companies on Friday
about Rs.10 cr.
this week making them effective immediately.
The Ministry has concluded the long
These initiatives will incentivize setting up
pending standaridisation of norms for rolling
manufacturing facilities in the country by
stock and signaling equipment applicable to over
increasing the volumes of procurement of rolling
90% of the present imports. Further to promote
stock and all kinds of equipment by removing
indigenous manufacturing the Ministry has
variations in the present technical norms for
rolling stock and signaling equipment. This will stipulated procurement of 9 types of signaling
in turn result in reduction of cost through equipment from within the country. Metro
economies of scale. companies have also been directed to develop
The Ministry has stipulated the following maximum possible local competence so that
mandatory conditions to be incorporated in knowhow and technical support is available
Tender Documents: within the country. Indian companies have to be
1. Minimum 75% of the tendered quantity of associated with production of a wide range of
metro cars shall be manufactured signaling and train control project equipment.
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70 VOL–53 IST OF TE PIB
Indigenization of several metro functions DRAFT THREE YEAR ACTION
has also been prescribed. These relate to AGENDA
communication systems managing operational
disturbances time table preparation fault In May 2016 the Prime Minister's Office
reporting control traction power maintenance advised the NITI Aayog its premier independent
infrastructure supervision rolling stock think tank to prepare a Fifteen Year Vision Seven
management etc. Year Strategy and Three Year Action Agenda. The
The new standardized norms prescribe that Fifteen Year Vision and Seven Year Strategy
the rolling stock and related equipment and document spanning 2017-18 to 2031-32 is in
systems shall enable Unattended Train progress. The Action Agenda covers the period
Operations Driverless Train Operations from 2017-18 to 2019-20 the last years of the
Standard rail gauge of 1435 mm Metro cars with Fourteenth Finance Commission.
body width of 2.90 meters for passenger capacity ow does the Vision Strategy and
of up to 45000 Peak our Peak Distance capacity Action Agenda exercise differ from the Five
body width of 3.20 meters for capacity above Year Plan process?
45000 PPD only 3 car 6 car or 9 car rail The 12th Five Year Plan was the last of the
combination operational speed of 80 kmph Five Year Plans. With an increasingly open and
minimum 67% motorization for all rolling stock liberalized economy and given the new realities of
etc. Norms have also been prescribed for the global economy we needed to rethink the
Acceleration Rates Energy Consumption Noise tools and approaches to conceptualizing the
and Vibration levels Collision Standards etc. development process. The Vision Strategy and
Further to these initiatives Ministry of Action Agenda framework will allow us to better
Urban Development will soon evolve common align the development strategy with the changed
eligible criteria for suppliers of rolling stock and reality of India.
other equipment doing away with the present An Overview of the Three Year Action
variations across different metro companies. Agenda
Shri Rajiv auba Secretary(UD) discussed In preparing the Agenda the NITI Aayog
with Managing Directors of metro companies on sought and received inputs from State
Friday the variations in the present eligibility overnments Union Territories and Ministries of
criteria. Noting that such variations adversely the Central overnment. Extensive
impact competition he directed that a broadly consultations were held with groups of
uniform criteria in respect of Net Worth scientists economists journalists voluntary
Financial and technical capacities and experience organizations industry associations and experts
of supply of rolling stock and other equipment etc in education health culture transport and other
should be evolved in two weeks. fields. Numerous experts and institutions
Presently metros are operating in 7 cities of provided useful written inputs.
Delhi Kolkata Mumbai Jaipur urgaon The Draft Agenda was circulated to NITI
Bengaluru and Chennai with a total route length Aayog's overning Council Members on April 23
of 326 kms. Metro projects with a total route 2016. It contains ambitious yet achievable
length of 546 kms are under construction in 11 proposals to achieve far-reaching changes in
cities and projects with a total route length of 903 India's economy. Where relevant we have
kms in 13 cities are under consideration. included possible actions by the states to
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 71
complement the Centre's efforts. The document companies (ARCs and strengthening the
has 7 parts with 24 chapters. The table of State Bank of India-led ARC.
contents is attached. • Action points for specific sectors
Selected Key Action Agenda Items • Apparel
Three Year Revenue and Expenditure • Leather and footwear
Framework: • Electronics
• A tentative medium-term expenditure • Food processing
framework (MTEF for the Centre is • ems and jewelry
proposed. Based on forecasts of revenue it • Tourism
proposes sector-wise expenditure allocation • Finance
for three years. • Real estate.
• Proposes reduction of the fiscal deficit to Urban Development
3% of the DP by 2018-19 and the revenue • Need to bring down land prices to make
deficit to 0.9% of the DP by 2019-20. housing affordable through increased
• The roadmap consisting of shifting supply of urban land
additional revenues towards high priority 1. More flexible conversion rules from one use
sectors: health education agriculture rural to another
development defence railways roads and 2. Release of land held by sick units
other categories of capital expenditure. 3. Release of other urban land potentially
Agriculture: Doubling Farmers' Incomes available
by 2022 4. More generous Floor Space Index.
• Reform the Rent Control Act along the lines
• Reform the Agricultural Produce Marketing
of Model Tenancy Act;
to ensure that farmers receive remunerative
• Initiate titles of urban property
prices.
• Promote dormitory housing
• Raise productivity through enhanced
• Address issues related to city transportation
irrigation faster seed replacement and
infrastructure and waste management.
precision agriculture.
• Shift to high value commodities: Regional strategies
horticulture animal husbandry fisheries. • Actions targeted aimed at improving
• A separate detailed roadmap issued by development outcomes in the (i North
Member Professor Ramesh Chand Eastern Region (ii Coastal Areas & Islands
Industry and Services: Job Creation (iii North imalayan states and (iv) Desert
and Drought prone states.
• Overarching Action Points
• Create Coastal Employment Zones to boost Transport and Digital Connectivity
exports and generate high-productivity jobs. • Strengthen infrastructure in roadways
• Enhance labour-market flexibility through railways shipping & ports inland waterways
reforming key laws and civil aviation.
• Address the high and rising share of Non- • Ensure last-mile digital connectivity
Performing Assets (NPAs in India's banks particularly for e-governance and financial
through supporting the auction of larger inclusion through developing
assets to private asset reconstruction infrastructure simplifying the payments
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72 VOL–53 IST OF TE PIB
structure and improving literacy. shrinking its involvement in activities that
• Facilitate Public-Private Partnerships.by do not serve a public purpose and expanding
reorienting the role of the India its role in areas that necessarily require
Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. public provision
(IIFCL introducing low cost debt • Implement the roadmap on closing select
instruments and operationalizing the loss-making PSEs and strategic
National Investment Infrastructure Fund disinvestment of 20 identified CPSEs.
(NIIF. • Expand the government's role in public
Energy health and quality education.
• Adopt consumer friendly measures such as • Strengthen the civil services through better
provision of electricity to all households by human resource management e-governance
2022 LP connection to all BPL addressing anomalies in tenures of
households elimination of black carbon by secretaries and increasing specialization and
2022 and extension of the city gas lateral entry.
distribution programme to 100 smart cities. Taxation and Regulation
• Reduce the cross-subsidy in the power sector • Tackle tax evasion expand the tax base and
to ensure competitive supply of electricity simplify the tax system through reforms. For
to industry. example consolidate existing custom duty
• Reform the coal sector by setting up a rates to a unified rate.
regulator encouraging commercial mining • Create an institutional mechanism for
and improving labour productivity. promoting competition through
Science & Technology comprehensive review and reform of
• Create comprehensive database of all government regulations across all sectors.
government schemes and evaluate them for • Strengthen public procurement
desirable changes The Rule of Law
• Develop guidelines for PPPs in S&T to • Undertake significant judicial system
improve education and industry-academia reforms including increased ICT use
linkages for demand-driven research structured performance evaluation and
• Channel S&T to address development reduced judicial workload.
challenges such as access to education • Legislative administrative and operational
improving agricultural productivity and reforms of police are suggested to the states.
wastewater management. Education and Skill Development
• Create a "National Science Technology & • Shift the emphasis on the quality of school
Innovation Foundation" to identify and education paying particular attention to
deliberate national issues recommend foundational learning
priority interventions in S&T and prepare • Move away from input-based to outcome-
frameworks for their implementation based assessments
• Streamline the administration of the patent • Rank outcomes across jurisdictions
regime • Use ICT judiciously to align teaching to the
Governance student's level and pace
• Re-calibrate the role of the government by • Revisit the policy of automatic promotion
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 73
up to eighth grade • Promote sustainable use of water resources
• Create a tiered regulation of universities and by improving groundwater management
college to provide greater autonomy to top adopting smart water meters for specific
universities under the current system. industrial units and enhancing the
• Focus on creating and funding public regulatory environment in the sector.
universities under the World Class First UDAN Flight under RCS
Universities program. The UDAN Scheme is a key component of
Health the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP which
• Focus on public health through significantly was released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on
increasing government expenditure on it 15th June 2016. The AAI followed a transparent
establishing a focal point and creating a bidding process by inviting interested bidders and
dedicated cadre. airline operators to submit their Initial Proposals
• enerate and disseminate periodic district- under the provisions of Regional Connectivity
level data as per uniform protocols. Scheme and subsequently inviting counter
• Formulate a model policy on human proposals against such Initial Proposals. The
resources for health implement a bridge routes and networks are awarded to bidders who
course for nurses/AYUS practitioners in submitted valid proposals and quoted the lowest
primary care. viability gap funding (VF from the government
• Reform IMC Act and the acts governing for such routes and networks.
homeopathy and Indian systems of medicine The Airports Authority of India (AAI the
• Launch the National Nutrition Mission; implementing agency have issued Letter of
develop a comprehensive Nutrition Awards for 27 proposals received under RCS-
Information System. UDAN. Key features of the proposals awarded by
Building an Inclusive Society AAI include:
• Enhance the welfare of women children • Airports to be connected: 27 currently served
youth minorities SC ST OBCs differently airports 12 currently underserved airports
abled persons and senior citizens. and 31 currently unserved airports (for a
• Develop a composite gender-based index to total of 70 airports will be connected
reflect the status of women in the country. through these 27 proposals.
• Introduce skill-based education and extra- • eographical spread: There is a good
curricular activities as a mandatory part of geographical spread in the proposals: 24
school curricula; design innovative airports in the western 17 in north 11 in
conditional cash transfer schemes to south 12 in east and 6 in north-eastern
encourage girls' education. regions are proposed to be connected. 22
states and 2 Union Territories will be
Environment and Water Resources connected through these 27 proposals.
• Adopt sustainable practices and streamline • Routes and network: 16 awarded proposals
regulatory structures to support high are for single routes (connecting two cities
economic growth. and 11 are for networks (connecting three
• Adopt measures to tackle city air pollution or more cities. Six proposals have been bid
• Revisit the policy towards felling of trees with zero viability gap funding (VF
on private land and transport of trees
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reflecting the fact that there is potential broadband connectivity to about 1.3 lakh post
latent demand. offices in rural areas and 25000 sub-post offices
• VF Outflow: 27 proposals will required a for high speed internet connectivity to the rural
VF of around Rs. 200 crores and will provide masses. Speaking on the occasion Shri Sinha said
around 6.5 lakh RCS seats. that the first phase of connecting about one lakh
The airfare for a one hour journey of appx. ram Panchayats is nearing its completion and in
500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for a 30 minute the remaining one and a half lakh ram
journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs. Panchayats 100 mbps broadband connectivity
2500 with proportionate pricing for routes of will be completed by December 2018. In reply to
different stage lengths and flight duration. The a question the Minister said that BharatNet is
selected airline operator would have to provide one of the 9 pillars of realising the Prime
50% of the flight capacity (subject to a minimum Minister's vision of Digital India.
of 9 and a maximum of 40 as RCS Seats for Shri Sinha said that provision of citizen
operationsthrough fixed wing aircraft and a services is the focus of BharatNet and in the
minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 RCS Seats on agreement signed today BSNL is the service
the RCS Flights for operations through provider that would provide broadband services
helicopters and would be given a three years the cost of setting up of infrastructure and the
exclusivity of operations.To reduce the cost of operational expenses would be paid by the
operations of airlines on flying such routes a Department of Posts. Since the BharatNet is the
financial stimulus in the form of concessions National Network BBNL would facilitate and
from Central and State government airport coordinate this entire operation. In future MoUs
operators and the Viability ap Funding to the with other overnment Departments are also
interested airlines would be provided to kick-off proposed to be signed.
operations from such airports so that the SHARADA PRASAD COMMITTEE
passenger fares are kept affordable. State
SUBMITTED REPORT ON SKILL SECTOR
overnment will provide a certain share of VF
(20% for States other than North-East States The Ministry of Skill Development has
where the ratio will be 10% of VF determined. invited comments/ suggestions of the public on
In this regard till now 19 States and 3 UTs have the Sharada Prasad Committee constituted to
signed MoU whereas 5 more States have given Review, Rationalize and Optimize the
consent to sign MoU. Functioning of Sector Skill Councils by 10th of
this month. The report has already been
SIGNING OF TRIPARTITE MOU FOR submitted to the ministry recently. The same has
BROADBAND SERVICES TO POST also been put up in public domain on 25th April
OFFICES 2017 for engaging the stake holders for
A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding Rationalization & Optimization of the
has been signed today among BBNL Department Functioning of the Sector Skill Council. The
of Posts and BSNL for providing broadband Report is available at http://msde.gov.in/report-
connectivity of BharatNet to Post Offices in rural ssc.html.
areas. The MoU signed under the chairmanship of The Ministry is now in the process of
Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha is examining the Report and the
the first tri-partite agreement to provide recommendations made therein.
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IST OF TE PIB VOL–53 75
Sector Skill Councils (SSCs are industry led SAMPADA with an allocation of Rs. 6000
and industry governed bodies which have been crore is expected to leverage investment of Rs.
mandated to ensure that skill development 31400 crore handling of 334 lakh MT agro-
efforts being made by all the stake holders are in produce valuing Rs. 104125 crore benefit 20
accordance with the actual needs of the industry lakh farmers and generate 530500 direct/
and develop National Occupational Standards/ indirect employment in the country by the year
Competency Standards and Qualification Packs 2019-20.
(QPs. Presently the National Skill Development The objective of SAMPADA is to
Corporation (NSDC has approved formation of supplement agriculture modernize processing
40 SSCs in different Sectors. In order to ensure and decrease agri-waste.
convergence and optimal functioning of SSCs as SAMPADA is an umbrella scheme
per mandate given under the National Policy for incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015 it like Mega Food Parks Integrated Cold Chain and
was decided to constitute a Committee to review Value Addition Infrastructure Food Safety and
the functioning of the SSCs and provide a Quality Assurance Infrastructure etc. and also
roadmap for their harmonious growth so as to new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-
ensure effective development of the skilling processing Clusters Creation of Backward and
ecosystem. Forward Linkages Creation / Expansion of Food
The committee was constituted by the Processing & Preservation Capacities.
Ministry of Skill Development and The SAMPADA is a comprehensive package
Entrepreneurship on 18th May 2016 for to give a renewed thrust to the food processing
Rationalisation and Optimization of the sector in the country. It includes new schemes of
Functioning of the Sector Skill Councils under Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
the Chairmanship of Sh. Sharada Prasad Former Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages and
Director eneral Directorate eneral of Creation / Expansion of Food Processing &
Employment & Training Ministry of Labour & Preservation Capacities aim at development of
Employment overnment of India. modern infrastructure to encourage entrepreneurs
to set up food processing units based on cluster
SCHEME FOR AGRO-MARINE
approach provide effective and seamless
PROCESSING AND DEVELOPMENT backward and forward integration for processed
OF AGRO-PROCESSING CLUSTERS food industry by plugging gaps in supply chain
The Cabinet Committee on Economic and creation of processing and preservation
Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri capacities and modernization/ expansion of
Narendra Modi has given its approval for re- existing food processing units.
structuring the schemes of the Ministry of Food The implementation of SAMPADA will
Processing Industries (MoFPI under new Central result in creation of modern infrastructure with
Sector Scheme - SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro- efficient supply chain management from farm
Marine Processing and Development of Agro- gate to retail outlet. It will not only provide a big
Processing Clusters for the period 2016-20 boost to the growth of food processing sector in
coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission the country but also help in providing better
cycle. prices to farmers and is a big step towards
doubling of farmers' income. It will create huge
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76 VOL–53 IST OF TE PIB
employment opportunities especially in the rural are targeted for operationalization in next three
areas. It will also help in reducing wastage of months. Similarly out of 236 Cold Chains 101
agricultural produce increasing the processing Cold Chains have been sanctioned recently in
level availability of safe and convenient March 2017. 100 Cold Chains have become
processed foods at affordable price to consumers operational. Of which 63 Cold Chains have been
and enhancing the export of the processed foods. made operational during last 3 years.
Background overnment has taken various other
measures to boost food processing sector as
Food Processing Sector has emerged as an
follows:
important segment of the Indian economy in
terms of its contribution to DPemployment and
a T o p r o v i d e i m p e t u s t o i n v e s t m e n t i n f o o d
respectively.
p r o d u c t s m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d / o r p r o d u c e d i n
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Online Coures for UPSC IAS Exams
http://iasexamportal.com/courses
ist of
IST OF SCIENCE REPORTER VOL–53 77
Science
Reporter
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IST OF SCIENCE REPORTER VOL–53 79
And now a NAVIC-based mobile application strives to ensure the safety of Indian fishermen and
prevent them from straying into international waters. The application to be developed in regional
languages would give information on international boundaries to prevent fishermen getting
caught for crossing international boundaries.
Relief and Rescue Systems from any other physical science where controlled
Relief and Rescue Systems Once a disaster experiments can be done. Modern astronomy
like a cyclone or earthquake or flood occurs the equipped with high resolution instruments
communication link is affected and even mobile connected to gigantic telescopes has produced a
towers are affected and hence no landline or better and much larger picture of the universe
mobile network is available. The entire site than contemplated by our ancestors.
becomes cut off from the rest of the world. Even Observation of celestial objects and
for assessing the damage requirement of analysis of voluminous sets of data obtained from
necessary relief materials like food medicine etc. the new generation of telescopes has led to
communication link is required. runaway progress in space technology material
Satellite communication is the only science and computation. Accuracy of
viability in such circumstances. Vehicle-mounted astronomical observations has enabled us to test
terminals can be immediately sent to the affected sophisticated mathematical theories of the
places by road or container-based terminals can be universe. Both ground-based and space-based
airlifted. These terminals have 1.8 m diameter telescopes have uncovered numerous exo-planets
antenna transmit and receive equipments and IP- revolving around Sun-like stars.
based modems. A petrol generator supplies the Emergence of Citizen Science
necessary power. In recent years scientists have been
Satellites can also save the lives of devising ways by which the public too can
fishermen. Distress alert terminals are used by contribute to science. The result is the origin of
fishermen. In case of any emergency they can 'Citizen Science' schemes of some major
press a button and a signal is transmitted to the astronomy programmes of the world.
satellite along with the terminal's position. This The aim of such Citizen Science schemes is
is received by the earth station and by knowing to provide platforms to people of any background
the terminal number and the position coast and from anywhere in the world to contribute
guards are alerted about the location of the trapped significantly to the understanding of the cosmic
fishermen. This unit is light weight and portable phenomena. Advances in communication
and carried by the fishermen when they go out technology and easy access to the Internet have
into the deep sea. made such efforts possible. The International
Satellite technology is not a luxury for Astronomical Union (IAU has been advocating
India but is essential for human enefit and Citizen Science programmes in astronomy as part
empowerment. of its strategic plans for development.
CITIZEN SCIENCE IN ASTRONOMY Why Citizen Science?
Astronomy the oldest of all natural Discovery of exotic objects and phenomena
sciences covers a vast range of phenomena in in the universe and realization of new and
the huge expanse of the universe. It is different unknown forms of matter and energy are the
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80 VOL–53 IST OF SCIENCE REPORTER
major driving forces behind the inception of most measure the coordinates (latitudes and
of the upcoming major astronomical facilities longitudes in the sky of the NEOs. The
that are under way. coordinates are the sent to the Minor Planet
These include construction of Extremely Center (http://minorplanetcenter.net for
Large Telescopes (ELTs that can peep into the improving the knowledge of the orbits of the
deepest and the remotest parts of space and time. NEOs. This tells whether the NEOs are in
The idea is to observe the universe in previously collision course with the Earth.
unexplored regimes so that we can test our
NEW BIODEGRADABLE
theories of the cosmos.
But as the amount of observational data
FOOD PACKAGES
increases with increase in sensitivity of the A new food wrap material that's not only
telescopes and instruments it becomes difficult biodegradable but will also keep food fresh for
for a limited number of professionals to spend longer. This new material is made mainly from
unlimited time with a given set of data and with plant -derived cellulose composite and developed
a given instrument. It is beacause each by researchers at Kaunas University of
profesional astronomer is bound by his project Technology (KUT. The packaging material
and philosophy that may not match with others. contains clove essential oil along with ionic silver
alaxy Zoo is one of the Citizen Science nanoparticles. The clove oil proves efficient in
programmes of SDSS. This project aims at anti-oxidising qualities and the ionic silver
classifying galaxies in the universe whose images particles add an anti-microbial effect to the
have been captured by the SDSS telescope. The material. This novelty helps in reducing
programme has become essential for the millions packaging waste and lessens the number of food-
of galaxies as opposed to a few tens of them as borne illnesses.
seen by the most powerful telescopes during the NEW TECHNIQUE
1920s. Anybody who is enthusiastic in astronomy
can visit the website www.sdss.org of the SDSS
TURNS OBJECTS INTO FM
to learn about its various missions. Everyday objects such as posters and t-
Virtual Observatories (VO: VO is an shirts can be turned into radio stations. The
international effort designed to provide the objects can be embedded with transmitters that
astronomical community with data access for piggyback ambient FM signals to send data to
studying the digital images of the celestial objects. nearby smartphones and radios. The technique
Spanish Virtual Observatory (http:// makes used of backscattering which is the
svo.cab.inta-csic.es has designed a Citizen reflection of waves particles or signals back in
Science project to identify Near Earth Objects the direction they came from. It has an
(NEO some of which may be potentially amazingly low level of power consumption and
hazardous asteroids. In the Data Release 8 of the uses a low-power redactor to encode specific audio
SDSS an individual user is asked to go through or data.
visual inspections of a sequence of images and
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