The politics of food for the hungry

"Policymakers talk of food security but are reluctant to give universal entitlements to eradicate hunger."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The politics of food for the hungry: The solution for hunger lies in proper distribution of grain, and not in bringing technology as the Prime Minster avers when talking of GM crops. If this government cannot prevent the huge stocks from rotting by distributing food grain adequately and equitably, other questions remain mere rhetoric.


On the Genetically Modified (GM) crops, it represents a paradigm shift in agriculture, with the potential to affect the consumers (food safety) and farmers (livelihood) security. Bt cotton, the only commercially approved GM crop in the country, should ring alarm bells for policymakers obsessed with the idea of increased food production through GM technology. Data analysis shows productivity has not significantly increased, nor has pesticide use markedly decreased. But the costs have increased due to the appearance of new pests and others developing Bt resistance, higher water and fertilizer requirements, and no major benefit in the output. The main beneficiaries of this transfer to Bt Cotton seem to be multinational seed companies like Monsanto which have profited through patents and royalty!

The debates around the National Food Security Bill reveal the lack of political intent to use food stocks to help remove malnutrition and address inequity. While talking of food security (a much larger right than just PDS), policymakers are reluctant to grant universal entitlements of even food grain to eradicate hunger.

Advance Indian Standard Time by half an hour

"It would help to reduce the evening peak energy deficit more effectively and without the difficulties of dividing the country into two time zones"

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Advance Indian Standard Time by half an hour

A father's long struggle for justice

"Shahnawaz Wagle died in the 1993 Mumbai riots. Was it an accidental death or cold-blooded murder?"

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A father's long struggle for justice: Tahir Wagle has fought a relentless battle over 18 years. His dreams of making his teenage son Shahnawaz a merchant navy officer ended in a pool of blood outside his modest home in Mazgaon in South Mumbai on January 10, 1993.

While the police claim Shahnawaz was shot while being part of a rioting mob that morning and that he died later, Mr. Wagle and his family maintain he was killed by the police after being dragged out of his house. Shahnawaz's sister Yasmin was eyewitness to the event but the police refused to register a case.

Why Balwant Singh Rajoana shouldn't be hanged

"The Centre has stayed the hanging. Now it must commute the sentence."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Why Balwant Singh Rajoana shouldn't be hanged: The State and Central governments have powers to commute death sentences after their final judicial confirmation. Issues often alien and irrelevant to legal adjudication — morality, public good, social and policy considerations — are intrinsically germane to the exercise of the government's powers. These powers exist because in appropriate cases the strict requirements of law need to be tempered and departed from to reach a truly just outcome in the widest sense of the word. The government's powers to commute a death sentence thus operate as a national conscience.

Budgeting for a new vision

"CM Jayalalithaa unveiled Vision Tamil Nadu 2023, a document that lays the roadmap for improving social indices, infrastructure, and income levels of the people within the next 11 years. It envisages Tamil Nadu as India's most prosperous and progressive State with no poverty, where people would enjoy all the basic services of a modern society. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Budgeting for a new vision: Tamil Nadu already has in place a strong universal Public Distribution System. With a stronger social safety net, the State might well be on the way towards the stated target of poverty elimination by 2023.

But good planning and efficient budgeting are only the first steps in bringing about the necessary changes in the lives and livelihoods of the people. The toughest part, as always, is from paper and drawing board to field and finished product.

The art of schooling

"Sri Sri Ravishankar has a bizarre logic for privatisation of education — that students from government schools become naxalites and take to violence. Foolish though they are, such assertions prop up the falsehood that government-funded education is a ghettoised ruin, while private sector institutions uniformly make the cut. Genuine thought leadership must dwell on questions such as improving the skills of teachers in public schools."

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : The art of schooling: Contrary to the pernicious logic advanced against public education, the beneficiaries of that system work harder to overcome their social disadvantages, compared with well-to-do counterparts in private institutions. As Noam Chomsky has pointed out, elite education is oriented more towards preserving the status quo, which is antithetical to the concepts of freedom of thought, challenge and inquiry that are the core goals of education.

India's public education lacks adequate human resources and infrastructure, and it evidently needs supportive policies to achieve its potential. What it does not need is a sermon on things that it is not.

The public needs both gavel and pen

"The Supreme Court's proposal to impose guidelines on how to report cases will be harmful to press freedom and democracy, the bedrock of which is an informed public."

The Hindu : Columns / Siddharth Varadarajan : The public needs both gavel and pen: The Supreme Court has seen fit to specify that accredited correspondents must possess a law degree; it has also quantified the amount of reporting experience, at different levels of the judiciary, that these correspondents must have. Having raised the bar for entry, imposing further restrictions in the form of guidelines on these correspondents — all of whom have been allowed in precisely because of their knowledge of, and sensitivity towards, the functioning of the Court — seems especially superfluous.

Journalists and editors should be honest in accepting that the reason the Supreme Court — and the government — want to step in is because the media act as if they are not accountable to anyone. Aggrieved citizens have no forum they can approach for an effective and swift remedy in the event of being injured by misreporting. Unless newspapers and television stations get serious about self-regulation, the pressure of external regulation will always remain.

Authored by Siddharth Varadarajan

Halt all hangings

Mahatma Gandhi's India cannot afford to lag behind other countries in abolishing capital punishment.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Halt all hangings: "Abolitionists around the world argue against the death penalty mainly for two reasons: it has not been proved to be a deterrent and a flawed judicial process can wrongly, and irrevocably, send a person to his death. But over and above these reasoned considerations is the sheer barbarity of taking a human life even under the due process of law. Besides, there is no humane way of executing the death sentence. Death by hanging — the preferred method in India — is unspeakably cruel."

Balwant Singh Rajoana admitted his part in the suicide bombing of Punjab CM Beant Singh, rejected counsel, and accepted the death penalty, arguing that he would not ask for mercy from a government that called him a terrorist but was unconscionably insensitive towards the victims of state-sponsored communal pogroms. He must live if only for the state to demolish his belief that it is a “monster” ready to turn on its own people.

India is yet to abolish capital punishment even as 96 countries around the world have done away with the practice with another 34 countries observing unofficial moratoria on executions.

Shifting sands in Mali

"Apart from bringing an abrupt end to two decades of elected government, the recent coup in Mali could exacerbate problems extending far beyond the region. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Shifting sands in Mali: Given the decidedly mixed results that ECOWAS military interventions elsewhere in the region have produced, it is important that West African states do not precipitate an armed showdown with the putschists. The goal has to be early presidential elections, a return to constitutional order and a peaceful resolution of the Tuareg issue.

Mali is one of the world's poorest countries and can ill afford conflict. More than anything, its people deserve their democracy back.

‘The U.S. has a dominant position in quota calculations'

"An interview with Kalpana Kocchar, Chief Economist, World Bank, South Asia Region."

The Hindu : Opinion / Interview : ‘The U.S. has a dominant position in quota calculations'

The fossil foot made for climbing trees

"Bones from a foot of a pre-human ancestor that walked the Earth 3.4m years ago suggest the creature was also at home in trees."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : The fossil foot made for climbing trees: A fossilised foot discovered in eastern Africa belonged to a pre-human ancestor that was adapted to life in the trees. The foot is unusual for the positioning of its big toe, which juts out to the side like those in gorillas or chimpanzees. The orientation of the toe enables the foot to grasp branches, suggesting its owner was a creature at home in the forest canopy.

It's an important species because it opens up a window into our past on how our foot evolved.

It's about a town called Kawhmu

"For Aung San Suu Kyi, next week's by-election is an attempt to reach out to the people and affirm her credentials as a unifier of Myanmar."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : It's about a town called Kawhmu: The political fortunes of Myanmar's famous dissident rest in the hands of an impoverished community, many of whose members come from the country's Karen ethnic minority.

For Suu Kyi, there are political stakes to consider in her role as a new parliamentarian. There is, after all, a halo around her after over 20 years of struggle against military dictatorships. Will the rough and tumble of daily politics diminish her defining qualities — as a symbol of hope and righteousness in her troubled country?

A time for India to stand up and be counted

"The two-cornered contest for the top job in the World Bank is an opportunity for India to objectively assess which person is the right choice."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A time for India to stand up and be counted: The World Bank is at a turning point, and India has a major voice in deciding its future. The serious candidates (Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Dr. Jim Yong Kim of the United States) present the 180 countries who sit on the Board of the World Bank with a clear choice between visions of the World Bank.

Minister Ngozi, has deep experience throughout the developing world, widely respected for her courage and demonstrated capability in diplomacy, strategy and management. U.S. nominee, Dr. Kim has no experience either in development issues in developing countries or in finance, economics, business, regulation, and has a world view that economic growth leads to more poverty.

 If India is to be true to its claimed and proper role in the world, it will (a) define the qualifications it sees as necessary for the job (b) objectively assess Minister Ngozi and Dr Kim against these qualifications. If this process is followed, the outcome is obvious.

There is no doubt that the Obama administration, which will not want the embarrassment of facing accusations of “who lost the World Bank?” in an election year, will strong-arm countries into acquiescing with its frivolous choice. This is a time for India to stand up and be counted.

A Saudi Spring waits to arrive

"The decades-old winter of frozen and fossilised structures and systems in the Arab world are thawing. And Saudi Arabia is no exception."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : A Saudi Spring waits to arrive: The institution of monarchy does provide a buffer between the monarch and his subjects in the form of a government structure. The king has the privilege of sacking a besieged government and still remaining in power. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the oil-wealth, a small population, huge government patronage, welfare economy, etc., provide additional immunity.

On the other hand, an ageing leadership, internet-savvy and educated youth, assertive women, sectarian divisions, and a contagious “Arab Spring” all around in the neighbourhood indicate a partial and potential vulnerability of the Saudi King.

Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in North Africa have been the harbingers of the Arab Spring. All three of them have witnessed regime changes and are in the process of taking stock and moving forward at their own individual pace. Whether the Spring will spread eastward in a typical domino fashion to the rest of the Arab world remains to be seen. Whether it eventually brings about a comprehensive reshaping of the region is uncertain at best.

Perils of short-termism

"The infrastructure deficit has been widening year after year and is one of the principal reasons holding back economic growth. Finding money for infrastructure projects, which have long gestation periods, has been an especially challenging task. The Finance Minister has proposed strengthening financial institutions dedicated to infrastructure. The pool of tax free infrastructure bonds for domestic investors is being expanded."

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Perils of short-termism: Less useful and inherently more controversial initiatives have been the relaxations in the rules pertaining to external commercial borrowings (ECBs). The new policy is not the panacea that it is claimed to be. On the contrary, it is a reversal of past policies that sought to restrain such borrowings.

Typically of a short duration, such ECB borrowings carry a huge exchange rate risk, which is magnified by the recent volatility in the foreign exchange markets. A steep increase in short-term external debt is something that needs to be avoided.

The clear message is that short-termism does not pay, not even in the limited context of infrastructure finance.

BRICS starts building

"While the BRICS five have repeated their criticism of the slow pace of reform in the International Monetary Fund and called for modified international financial institutions which better reflect today's global pattern of economic power, their key Delhi move has been the plan for a new development bank"

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : BRICS starts building: While the BRICS bank idea will likely take years to fructify, the key lies in deepening the channels of economic and financial flows within the five.

Its members see and recognise the limitations of Western power but are, as yet, unwilling to push for new ideas and bold solutions to festering problems. No doubt, the Delhi Declaration marks a definite new milestone for BRICS. But the grouping has some way to go before it becomes a real factor in international affairs.

Why bird flu research should be published

"H5N1 bird flu has caused serious disease and deaths in humans. The virus has not, however, sparked off an influenza pandemic as it cannot spread efficiently from human to human. But recent experiments has shown that only a handful of mutations would allow the virus to spread efficiently among mammals.

The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked the authors as well as editors of journals to delete crucial details. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Why bird flu research should be published: These experiments seem to have rekindled the debate about the role of science in society. The research on the transmissibility of H5N1 bird flu viruses should be carried out by responsible scientists under adequately controlled conditions and safeguards with the appropriate administrative oversight.

In science, experiments and their results are shared so others can directly use them and advance the field. So, all research data should be published. Slowing down the scientific process does not protect the public, instead it makes us more vulnerable.

The international community must urgently discuss how to guarantee the best conditions for scientific discovery, while also minimising risk. Science must never be impeded by fiction or fear.

The ‘wild' people as tourist stops

"Over 120 years after Sherlock Holmes' novel, the racist stereotype of the savage Andamanese persists."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : The ‘wild' people as tourist stops: The revelations in the U.K. newspaper The Observer that police have been complicit in the “human safaris” in the Andamans was truly disturbing. The sort of descriptions presented in 'Sign of Four' - Sherlock Holmes novel reinforce ignorant, racist stereotypes of indigenous peoples which are then exploited by governments and companies to steal their land, or mislead members of the public into trying to spot these “wild” and “bestial” people while on holiday — ergo the “human safaris."

Over 120 years since The Sign of Four's publication, the same ignorant, insulting stereotypes about the Andaman Islanders are being trotted out and they still find themselves treated like animals at a zoo — or on safari.

The ‘purely moral loneliness' of Adrienne Rich

"Adrienne Rich was that rare figure, a lavishly gifted poet and splendid intellectual who readily dirtied her hands at the barricades of social revolution. She collaborated with activist colleagues to claim social and political space for women and people of alternative sexuality during the 1960s and 1970s, even as she composed some of the most memorably sensuous and intellectually supple poems of that turbulent era. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : The ‘purely moral loneliness' of Adrienne Rich: The corpus of her work, extending through more than 25 volumes, stands at the head of a post-World War II lineage of American poetry that has resonated, and will continue to resonate, for poets and readers throughout the Anglophone world.

'There was state-sponsored distortion of history in Bangladesh'

Q&A


As the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's war of liberation arrives, Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Bangladesh's deputy high commissioner to India, spoke with Rakhi Chakrabarty about preserving this struggle's history, deep ties between India and Bangladesh - and how a film festival aims at strengthening links and memories created from this war:


Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Myanmar's Future Is Now

India must strengthen bilateral ties as its neighbor starts on a new path

Myanmar's Future Is Now

Myanmar now finds itself engaged in the democratic process and in a rebuilding phase that hopes to propel the nation onto a new path. It is crucial, says Rajiv Bhatia, former ambassador to Myanmar, for India to strengthen its bilateral ties with its neighbor. 

"Suu Kyi articulates her criticism of India's engagement with the military regime, but seems ready to take a more positive view of its approach to Myanmar's transition to democracy"

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Budget Blitz

No country is as obsessed with the FM's annual hisaab as India is

Budget Blitz

Jug Suraiya elaborates the period during the budget when the whole of India finds itself hooked to the Finance Minister's accounts. 

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Those White Papers

When you want change, don't write one

Those White Papers

During the proceedings of the recent Budget 2012-13, Pranab Mukherjee promised to produce a white paper on black money. But history suggests that a production of white paper in the public domain seldom creates action and, subsequently, change.

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Handle With Care

Child welfare must be the priority in the custody case in Norway

Handle With Care

It is seen from the fresh details pouring in, that the Bhattacharya's had not been forthcoming about their domestic problems. At the same time, neither have Norwegian authorities been proactive in explaining their stand. 

However, what remains important at the end of it all is the welfare of the children. 

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

The Common Touch

It's something Mitt Romney and Rahul Gandhi are trying too hard to show they have

The Common Touch

"There is one person standing in the way of dynastic power grabs. Some patronizingly refer to him as the "common man""

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Montek's poor joke

The flip-flop on poverty beggars the imagination, and many more

Montek's poor joke

Bachi Karkaria writes on the Planning Commission, and its outrageous cut-offs as qualifiers for benefits. Recently the figures were reduces further and made beyond outrageous.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Where's The Change?

A troubled start for SP regime in UP

Where's The Change?

As soon as the Samajwadi Party was declared as the majority party, violence broke out in several areas, and the ones responsible for it, or at least some of them, have been reported allegedly as party's own members. That even a life was lost in a celebratory fire wasn't a good sign of things to come. However, the party needs to take the necessary action to maintain the popular goodwill that has brought it into power in the first place.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Jet, Set, Go

Give aviation a level playing field and watch it fly

Jet, Set, Go

"Reform-based steps are in order" in the aviation sector. The editorial recommends that the Air India enjoy no more privileges, and that if they "can't do without coddling," they should be privatized, so as to create a level playing field.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Afghanistan as "Lost Cause"

"The idea that liberal democracy is alien to the country, now being used to legitimise early western withdrawal, is racist libel."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Afghanistan as "Lost Cause":  Powerful voices in western geo-strategic discourse had long railed against efforts to build a secular-democratic order in Afghanistan after 9/11. Now, the notion that liberal democracy is in some way alien to Afghanistan has become a pervasive meme. In order to legitimise early withdrawal, the anti-democratic politics of the Taliban is being marketed as an authentic voice of Afghan tradition. The ideological underpinnings of these ideas need extremely careful examination.

Feed the needy, not nuclear ambitions

"The crucial test for North Korea and the U.S. will be how the tussle over the DPRK's nuclear programme and the supply of food aid are resolved." 

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Feed the needy, not nuclear ambitions: North Korea's statement last Friday that it would launch a satellite into space as part of the celebrations next month on the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il-Sung has again thrown a spanner into the works.

Just two weeks ago, an agreement had been reached between North Korea and the United States on the resumption of food aid in return for suspension of nuclear activities. The U.S., Britain, Japan and South Korea responded immediately, urging the North not to proceed as it would violate the United Nations ban on nuclear and missile activity.

Former Karnataka Lokayukta on mining scam

"If no one appeals the Karnataka High Court judgment, the case will go uninvestigated, says former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde."

The Hindu : Opinion / Interview : 'I was given a sweeping mandate to inquire into all aspects of mining illegalities':  It is too early to say whether the 2011 report by former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde on illegal mining in Karnataka will have the huge impact on the way the industry operates in the State — and elsewhere in the country — the 26,000 page document is possibly the most exhaustive, carefully-researched investigation into corruption and its linkages with industry and politics that has been compiled in India.

A recent judgment by a division bench of the Karnataka High Court on a petition by former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa challenging the First Information Report filed against him by the Lokayukta police has been widely viewed as a setback to the legal fight against corruption.

Congress without Trinamool

"Mamata Banerjee will do anything to enhance her political image, even if this means humiliating her senior colleagues. By obtaining the resignation of Railway Minister, she is hoping to project herself as the sole champion of the poor, as someone who is able to push and prod the UPA into working for the greater common good. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Congress without Trinamool:  Each time, as she maximises her political mileage, the Congress ends up looking a clueless pivot of a rudderless government.

Stem cell science is already saving lives

 "Blood donated from healthy babies' umbilical cords is in focus."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Stem cell science is already saving lives - The cells that are being collected from the placenta are magic cells, miraculous cells. They're the blueprint for all the different cells in the blood — so for someone whose own bone marrow isn't working properly, they can be a real lifeline.

Let good sense prevail

"After a Norwegian court placed two toddlers in permanent foster care, their parents' plight has generated indignation in India and led to high-level diplomacy between Oslo and New Delhi. The parents have alleged the children's removal stems from a deep cultural bias. The Child Welfare Service (CWS) in Norway has consistently denied this, saying the children were removed for far serious reasons related to their delayed development."

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Let good sense prevail:  The strains of negotiating a foreign culture and environment are evident — both for the Bhattacharyas and for the Norwegian authorities — but the fact that the family needed assistance is undeniable. On its part, the CWS is not without blame. It has shown cultural insensitivity and made serious mistakes in handling the case.

Nitish Kumar says Delhi will come to a halt if Biharis don't work for a day

Times View - Reinforcing 'us and them' attitudes
Counter View - Boosting the Bihar brand


Editorial

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

How Trinamool Was Nailed

Trivedi's defiance exposes the crumbling legitimacy of Mamata's brand of politics

How Trinamool Was Nailed

"'Poriborton' was to be about healing and getting Bengal back on track. Either Mamata was joking when she made those promises, or her control over the party is weaker than assumed. The latter is more likely"

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

The Odd Couple

Landlords and tenants - was there ever a more troubled relationship?

The Odd Couple

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

Critical Point

Maoists have to come to the negotiating table

Critical Point

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

Exit, With A Message

Trivedi showed reform can be pushed despite the odds

Exit, With A Message

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

'Why should one's family name be a disadvantage to anyone?'

Q&A


Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are only some of parliament's youthful members - at 29 years, Hamdullah Sayeed, MP from Lakshadweep, is the youngest representative from the 15th Lok Sabha. Speaking with Amin Ali, Sayeed discussed his move form studying law to fighting elections, developing one of India's farthest locations, ignoring jibes about youth or family legacy - and recent upheavals in neighbouring Maldives impacting his constituency:


Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012

Sarkari syncophancy

There are no stops for those who butter up superiors

Sarkari syncophancy

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012

There's Something About Sachin

The Tendulkar saga is about genius, dedication and an unquenchable love of the game

There's Something About Sachin

"There have been great cricketers before him and undoubtedly more will follow, but Tendulkar stands alone both as driving force and glue in the contemporary game, especially in India"

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012 

Cease and Desist

Retrospective change in tax laws lowers confidence

Cease and Desist

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012

Bite The Bullet

Reducing the subsidy bill will have multiple benefits

Bite The Bullet

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012

Muddy questions about Mullaperiyar dam

A purely technical matter has turned into an emotional and political issue between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The entire fight is centred on whether the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir should be raised by two meters.

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Muddy questions about Mullaperiyar dam: "The silt building up in the reservoir cannot be ignored for any decision on the dispute."


In any dam, silting - a natural hydrological and sedimentological process by which sediments flowing from the upstream catchment area in the river water get deposited in the reservoir -  reduces the life of a reservoir as well as its storing capacity. The cumulative accumulation of silt in the reservoir is not dangerous to the stability of the dam as it does not exert any dynamic pressure on the body of the dam.

With the passage of time, due to siltation, the storing capacity and consequentially the availability of water will  continue to decrease and the demand to raise the water level would crop up again.  If any decision is taken ignoring the silting of the reservoir, that decision is certainly not going to solve the Mullaperiyar problem.

A budget at war with the Finance Minister

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A budget at war with the Finance Minister: "A huge hike in indirect taxes will cause a fall in both savings and consumption, achieving the opposite of what was intended."

With revenue deficit (4.4 per cent of the GDP) and fiscal deficit (5.9 per cent) hitting the roof, the Finance Minister seems to have turned to chartered accountants for ideas to make his balance sheet appear less inelegant. The result is the innovation of “effective revenue deficit,” which bears the stamp of some multinational accounting firm rather than our conservative civil service.

There are more positive signals in the Finance Minister's speech than in the budget proper. Finance Minister has declared that the government is committed fully to providing for food subsidy even if it cannot afford it. Yet, he has not provided a single penny for the food security project!

Water transport imperatives

"Inland Water Transport (IWT) for passenger and freight movement involves lower operating costs and environmental pollution than for road, rail or air options. It could relieve pressure on the other modes, which face their own constraints. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Water transport imperatives:   In India only 0.15 per cent of domestic surface transport is accounted for by IWT.  The reasons are many, but include, most significantly, lack of investment for the creation of infrastructure modernisation and lack of efficient operators.

India needs to study the viability and means to attract more investment to the sector, by creating an institutional framework. The enhanced level of involvement of the private sector in IWT that has now been initiated is a welcome step. More waterways should be identified for development, and those earmarked given a push.

IWT should power the growth of the economy.

Losing hearts and minds

"The anger and bitterness millions of Afghans feel over the war's rising civilian death toll will not subdue by an American apology. There is simmering resentment over repeated episodes in which the conduct of NATO forces has been grossly offensive. The clear message is that Nato troops are above Afghan law, that the Afghan judicial process is not good enough to try them. This makes a nonsense of U.S. claims of respect for Afghan sovereignty.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Losing hearts and minds: As the self-imposed deadline of 2014 for the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches, it is essential that Afghan sovereignty be strengthened and respected in word and deed. This means ensuring a greater role for the Afghan National Security Forces, particularly in combat operations, and zero tolerance towards acts by western troops which are an affront to Afghanistan's identity and sense of self-respect.

Who killed Baby Falak?

"The two-year-old died a horrible death because the system did not care enough to want her to live."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Who killed Baby Falak?:  A child died and we collectively mourn. She was just two years old. And she fought bravely, but the tubes and wires connecting her to life support in the AIIMS Trauma Centre were no match for the systemic failures that carried this baby to her death. For the truth is that Falak never really stood a chance.

Playing The Growth Card

Constrained by economic circumstances, the finance minister had made the best of a poor hand

Playing The Growth Card

"If the budget assumptions are validated, and the revenue and expenditure targets hold, fiscal policy will be back on the path of consolidation, while also helping to revive growth."

-The Times of India, March 17, 2012 

Digging Up The Ghost of Non-Alignment

Digging Up The Ghost of Non-Alignment

Centre for Policy Research had recently released a study on India's foreign policy options. Nayan Chanda presents a commentary on the study, and notes that their label Non-Alignment 2.0 maybe outdated and negative.

-The Times of India, March 17, 2012

Timid Knock

Budget 2012-13 is no tonic for a slowdown-hit economy

Timid Knock

With a metaphor to cricket, the editorial goes into the various nuances of the budget in considerable detail, and says, "it plays too safe, having the feel of a tail-ender's knock in the UPA's innings."

-The Times of India, March 17, 2012

'It's possible that between 2012-16, we'll grow at 6%-plus, not 9%'

Q&A


Shankar Acharya has been chief economic advisor to the government between 1993-2001 - a formative years for India's economic reforms. He's also served in the prime minister's advisory council and the 12th Finance Commission. With the 2012-13 Union Budget arriving, Acharya spoke with Vikram Sinha about major challenges facing the Indian economy - and solutions he envisages:


Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

The Gangrapes of Gurgaon

These crimes are a wake-up call - and a pointer to how skewed development is hurting India

The Gangrapes of Gurgaon

"While one part of Gurgaon got sewn into a global economy, another part remained cloistered in rural hamlets, awash suddenly in big money with no sensitization about what caused its arrival."

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

A smile from Lanka

The best gift we can bring back from a so-called 'failed state' is a :-)

http://author.toiblogs.com/jugglebandhi/entry/a_smile_from_lanka

Jug Suraiya shares his experiences from his visit to Lanka, and the abundant receiving of smiles from the Lankan public, and a greeting of Ayubowan.

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

Save The Budgets

Congress and Mamata must work out a deal

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Save-the-budgets/articleshow/12279973.cms

With West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee triggering "a political storm by requesting the axing of her own party minister, Dinesh Trivedi, after he presented the railway budget," the congress may have to be prepared for further opposition "to anything other than populist sops" from "the same quarters" in today's budget.

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

Asset Gains

Census figures show growth may be trickling down, to some extent

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Asset-gains/articleshow/12280048.cms

Improved growth rates have trickled down into housing, inclusive banking, and possessions of telephones, televisions, motorcycles, cars and jeeps over the last decade.

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

Balochistan : Another Bangladesh???

For long, Pakistan hasn't come out of the conventional and the orthodoxy approach to administration, culture, socio-economic qualms and other issues.

A lot of territorial sections of Pakistan have gone ahead of this increasingly tight-bound approach to growth and are looking for an imperial and a Sovereign status that has often led to widespread unrest in the country.

The Indian-spined Bangladesh movement is a classic case and the Balochistan's liberation movement that has and is gaining impetus in the recent past is another fine example.

Rubbing salt to the injury is the Pakistan defense forces' attack on the prosperous and prospective liberation movement leaders from the region.

If the situation continues to be as disturbing as the status quo, creation of another Bangladesh will be inevitable, opines Balachandra Rao as he explains the social dynamics of the territory and the political and geographical sensitivities of the region...

Balochistan: Pakistan's second Bangladesh?

A budget for the auto sector

Vinesh Kriplani, a tax partner in Ernst & Young (along with Sonal Jain, senior tax professional with a member firm of the Ernst & Young) explains the potential in the auto sector to boost the economy and why should the government consider providing it the required attention in this years' budget.

"A strong Budget that supports the auto sector at large and brings in clarity on existing anomalies in law will be welcomed by the industry."

Wanted : A budget that plays straight for the auto

Growth engine

The budget for the year 2012 is almost on the cards and India is yearning to see an all inclusive, realistically plausible, and a far-sighted economic perspective with apt imagination and innovation in our plan and balance sheet for this fiscal year.

PM Mathews, a professor of economics in the Christ University explains more...

A fantastic read if one needs to understand the complicated dynamics in economy and the challenges that India face to stabilise it....

Growth is fine, but can Pranab take all on board?

Jairam Ramesh advises NGO leader to stay away from politics

Times View - Can't farewell social work
Counter View - Activists are not politicians


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Jairam-Ramesh-advises-NGO-leader-to-stay-away-from-politics/articleshow/12235940.cms

-The Times of India, March 13, 2012

Cinema, Uninterrupted

Shared love of films can help forge closer links between India and Bangladesh

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Cinema-uninterrupted/articleshow/12235968.cms

-The Times of India, March 13, 2012

Dissecting The Soul

Why post-debacle inspection is such an elevated exercise

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Dissecting-the-soul/articleshow/12235469.cms

-The Times of India, March 13, 2012

Time To Talk

UPA must work together better

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Time-to-talk/articleshow/12236007.cms

Lack of an "effective consultative mechanism to thrash out contentious issues," and insufficient communication with allies, the editorial says, has led to "UPA's trust deficit, hurting its image and policy-making."

-The Times of India, March 13, 2012

Resource Curse

To check illegal mining, focus on implementing policies on the ground


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Resource-curse/articleshow/12236047.cms

The mining mafias in the recent past have begun to create terror. The center must coordinate and accelerate the efforts and "put an end to end to illegal mining at the earliest."

-The Times of India, March 13, 2012

Greg Chappell says Indian culture doesn't breed leaders

Times View - Tactless and highly patronizing - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Tactless-and-highly-patronising/articleshow/12200199.cms

Counter View - Chappell has a strong case - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Chappell-has-a-strong-case/articleshow/12200150.cms

-The Times of India, March 10, 2012

When Local Meets Global

Rising regional political forces must see domestic and foreign policy as interlinked

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/When-local-meets-global/articleshow/12200231.cms

"Political leadership requires thinking about the interconnections and trade-offs that are involved between short-term local policy choices and long-term strategic goals"

-The Times of India, March 10, 2012 

Adieu To Fiats of High Commands

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Adieu-to-fiats-of-high-commands/articleshow/12200063.cms

"The fiats of the 'high command', ideological posturing, coterie deliberations and too-clever-by-half electoral calculations - all of them manifestation of the 'commanding heights' approach to politics - are well and truly a thing of the past."

-The Times of India, March 10, 2012

Fathers, Sons - And Some Others

Bringing you Indian elections - with all the family politics

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Fathers-sons--and-some-others/articleshow/12200263.cms

The editorial presents, humorously, the political situation of the recent months, which extensively featured "family members"as a part of the plot.

-The Times of India, March 10, 2012

Phoney Deal

Rapid technological change can make useless old things into priceless antiques

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/phoney-deal

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

'Indian cities have hidden wealth - they just have to be well-planned.'

Q&A


Andre Dzikus, chief of water and sanitation at the United Nations Habitat Agency, is one of the key coordinators of the UN's 'I am a city changer' campaign, focussing on how to make cities a better place to inhabit. Dzikus spoke with Pratiksha Ramkumar on cities that are 'green' in shade, but not in substance, factors making a city ideal - and how India can still get there: 


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Indian-cities-have-hidden-wealth-they-just-have-to-be-well-planned/articleshow/12189419.cms

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

Curing Our Hospitals

To keep patients safe, we must transform the quality of our healthcare system


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Curing-our-hospitals/articleshow/12189373.cms

"The scale of this quality problem is enormous even in high-end urban medical centres, leave alone rural health clinics. Inappropriate treatment, malpractice, excessive use of certain procedures and negligence are rampant."

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

A New Degree

Vocational education must be mainstreamed

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/A-new-degree/articleshow/12189406.cms

The proposal to introduce a Bachelor's degree in vocational education is most welcome. It will enhance job prospects tremendously in India. The vocational education, for that very reason, must be mainstreamed.

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

Leadership Lessons

Lack of credible regional leaders is affecting Congress's prospects

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Leadership-lessons/articleshow/12189357.cms

The Congress is losing ground at an alarming pace, says the editorial. It can be attributed to the over-centralization of the Congress leadership, and a lack of credible regional leaders, as is the trend in most states, especially Southern states, in India.

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

Decentralisation lessons for parties

Ever since the 1991 elections, India has not had a majority government. While it may be looked as congress' failure to reach the masses, it is also in general, the inability of national parties (including BJP) to reach out. This article talks of the need to decentralize the national parties which have too many leaders, and focus on problems at ground level.

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/decentralisation-lessons-for-parties/370465.html

Real estate business needs a regulatory body

A critical view of how the real estate business looks like an unorganized sector, even though it generates a lot of revenue. The editorial calls for a regulatory body to ensure that this sector too gets its fair share of limelight and recognition, especially in the recent problems of loan repayment as the financial year approaching an end.

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/real-estate-business-needs-a-regulatory-body/370804.html

A new lease of life for BSY

The State High Court of Karnataka dismissed all FIR's lodged against illegal mining pertaining to former Chief Minister of State, B S Yedddyurrappa against illegal mining.

BSY was forced to resign from the Chief ministerial post due to this and many other cases which are pending yet.

Having got a life from the judgement, it will be difficult for his party and his detractors to shun down when many believed he had already made hay while the Sun shone.

It is not easy to stop BS Yeddyurrappa now

Vodafone case's influence in this year's financial budget

The budget session is just around the corner.

The landmark judgement by the SC in favour of the Vodafone telecom company should mean that this year's budget should incorporate a mechanism to prevent such severe loss to the exchequer or a direct ruling in accordance with the SC verdict, whichever it seems deemed fit...

Vodafone had filed a case against the government for demanding tax for shares bought by the company from the Hutchinson-Essar limited. This was a sensitive issue which was very keenly watched by the corporate world...

Will the budget revisit the supreme court ruling on Vodafone?

Jewelry companies target teeny-boppers with low-cost diamonds

Times View - Market is a great leveler - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Market-is-a-great-leveller/articleshow/12177896.cms

Counter View - Diamonds aren't for everyone - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Diamonds-arent-for-everyone/articleshow/12177876.cms

-The Times of India, March 8, 2012

Readymoney vs Parsimoney

Poor little rich Parsis redefine poverty line and purchasing power parity

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Readymoney-vs-Parsimoney/articleshow/12178768.cms

-The Times of India, March 8, 2012

How The Lotus Can Bloom

BJP 2.0 must be a vehicle for the politics of aspiration and economic change

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/How-the-lotus-can-bloom/articleshow/12178289.cms

A debate has ensued in the BJP between two ideational models, says the writer. What are these models and how do those models fair in view of the recent outcomes in assembly elections?

A discussion on possible changes, and the results of past and current strategies of the BJP are expressed.

-The Times  of India, March 8, 2012

So Many Good Words

Preserving books - despite digital tech

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/So-many-good-words/articleshow/12178140.cms

Former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Brewster Kahle, is collecting books in order to preserve them from the rapidly changing world of technology.

-The Times of India, March 8, 2012

Mandate's Message

Promising people a better life won't do, delivering it will


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Mandates-message/articleshow/12178238.cms

There are many important lessons to be learnt from the recent outcome of the assembly elections, says the editorial, and the central one may be that identity politics has its limits.

"Youth-driven India's burgeoning popular aspirations should drive home the urgent need for more inclusive growth and accelerated development. The budget is the UPA's chance to show that it not only understands this, but also has the political will to act."

-The Times of India, March 8, 2012

Keeping The Faith

The Election Commission made it easy for voters in UP

Keeping The Faith

-The Times of India, March 6, 2012

How To Be A Winner

Bihar's done well on the growth front, now it must further speed up development

How To Be A Winner

-The Times of India, March 6, 2012

Media Under Fire

Lawyers pounce on scribes in Bangalore

Media Under Fire

-The Times of India, March 6, 2012

Putin Returns

He should try the path of reform now, for the sake of his legacy


Putin Returns

-The Times of India, March 6, 2012

No more at sea

"With China's increased engagement in the Indian Ocean region causing concern in some circles in India, it is good that the two sides have begun exploring ways of working together on the maritime front. 

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : No more at sea: A multi-ministerial group is to finalise the details of the anti-piracy proposal. Once operationalised, this may well see Indian and Chinese naval vessels cooperating with each other on the high seas."

A regular Sino-Indian dialogue on maritime matters will dispel the fears both sides have developed about each other, fears the U.S. is able to take advantage of by playing the role of a balancer.

Past politics

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France seems intent on criminalising Armenian genocide denial, even after his country's Constitution Council quashed a recent bid.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Past politics: "France has been dabbling with similar counter-intuitive measures in recent years. Surely, the country's large racial and religious minorities are unlikely to feel reassured by official validations of history. Of material significance would be policies that promote respect for their rights and protect jobs, mitigating a sense of alienation, especially in the current economic crisis gripping Europe."

Surely, the politics behind attempts to deny the horrors of history must be exposed. But to clamp down on such forces betrays an authoritarian and undemocratic tendency inimical to an open polity.

Needed, more HUNGaMA over malnutrition

"The solutions to ending chronic hunger, the consequences of which are felt over generations, are not complicated."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Needed, more HUNGaMA over malnutrition:  The solutions to ending malnutrition are not complicated. What is necessary to be done is known and has been achieved in parts of our own country. What is needed are the will and the determination to make this happen.

Camera Obscura and the manufacture of happiness

"Hostile online campaign takes some of the shine off Vedanta's promotionals."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Camera Obscura and the manufacture of happiness: Vedanta's “Creating Happiness” campaign, is part of an “initiative to tell our side of the story”; yet the hostile reception on blogs and social-media networks like Facebook and Twitter highlights the risks of exposing a tightly controlled corporate message to the anarchy of the internet.

The final countdown in Nepal

"Political parties have less than three months to resolve three issues — integration of Maoist combatants, form of government, federalism — that will shape state structure for years to come."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The final countdown in Nepal: By any stretch, these are enormously challenging tasks. Instead of getting embroiled in short term power-sharing games, Nepal's political leaders would be well advised to focus on the big issues with long-term consequences, and fulfil the mandate of the 2006 People's Movement. 

Adrift in Andhra

"Nothing seems to be going right for the Congress and its government in Andhra Pradesh. If it's not Telangana, then it's the revolt within that keeps the Kiran Kumar Reddy government permanently in a crisis mode. Far from providing any respite, the disqualification of 16 Congress Members "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Adrift in Andhra: At stake is not just the survival of the State government but the long-term future of the Congress in south India's largest province. Going by the way it has mishandled the political challenges posed by the Telangana and Jagan factors, the party will be struggling to hold its own in Andhra Pradesh.

Sri Lanka against itself

"Sri Lanka is engaged in an all-out effort to stave off a resolution against it at the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Sri Lanka against itself: The United States, the prime backer of the resolution, has circulated a draft among the Council's 47 members calling on Colombo to do nothing more than implement the recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, as well as to initiate credible investigations into violations of international human rights laws not addressed adequately by the LLRC. "

Sri Lanka must realise that its own interests require it urgently to address these twin bases of national reconciliation. Sadly, its response to the Geneva challenge has been to whip up anti-U.S., anti-West, Sinhala nationalist protests at home, creating an atmosphere of an island under siege.

Losing the plot

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Losing the plot: "The response to the anti-Kudankulam protest shows that space for the democratic right of dissent is shrinking."

A fire in the forest

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Nation in a State: A fire in the forest: "The destruction of large tracts of the Nilgiri bioreserve in a recent blaze reiterates that more needs to be done to prevent forest fires."

‘A free man'(s) freedom is not completely empty'

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : ‘A free man'(s) freedom is not completely empty': "Aman Sethi's book lays bare the poverty, exploitation and the persistent insecurity of ‘informality' of the lives of workers."

The Iron Lady under siege

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The Iron Lady under siege: "In 2007, the upper castes helped to create the mood for a Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh; in 2012, they want to undo it."

Manmohan Singh's aggression

Manmohan Singh, PM of India, expressed concern over fundings from foreign NGO's for the Kundakkulam Nuclear plant protests.

There have been widespread protests by the localites in the region over establishing a plant there for nuclear power generation as it supposedly could harm their daily livelihood.

Is it right upon our Prime minister to accuse them when they are expressing a general concern? Or are the localites unnecessarily panicking over a non-issue?

Whatever it is, the author of this article, G Sampath takes a rather strong and a vindicative stand against Manmohan Singh over his accusation of the foreign NGO's...

An article with some pretty strong opinions...

How is Manmohan Singh different from nuclear waste?

Sandeep Singh : Worth been wary of...

It's been 8 years since Indians have played hockey in Olympics since their disqualification in 2008.

And the player who is instrumental for this success : Sandeep singh.

Sohail Abbas said other teams will be wary of him. Mihir Vasavda reflects upon that point.

Teams will be wary of Sandeep Singh : Sohail Abbas

The cold wind from Russia

"Putin's election-eve attack against Washington and its western allies for exporting “rocket-bomb democracy” indirectly targets India too."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The cold wind from Russia: PM Vladimir Putin, almost certain to win the Russian presidential elections, has laid out a tough foreign policy vision for his third term in the Kremlin that may entail changes in Russia's relations with its main partners East and West.

Moscow feels its cooperation with the West on Libya was wilfully abused when Nato countries, in Mr. Putin's words, "did away with the Libyan regime by using air power under the pretext of humanitarian support."

Russia's intransigence on Syria steps from a clear understanding that the U.S. and the Saudi-led group of Arab countries are out to pull down the Assad regime in order to weaken Iran, change its political regime, and remodel the entire region. The standoff on Syria may also trigger shifts in Russia's relations with its two main strategic partners, India and China. 

A river sutra, without links

"There are less disruptive and cheaper alternatives than connecting rivers to reduce the misery of floods and droughts."

As plans for inter-basin transfers of water across vast distances, from surplus to deficit areas, appear to have got a lot of attraction for a country exposed all too often to droughts and floods, these need to be seriously evaluated and debated. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A river sutra, without links


In practice, people in so-called surplus areas do not agree that they have spare water which can be transferred to other, faraway areas. At a time when there are problems relating to the sharing of waters, transfer of water across distant areas can easily aggravate these tensions. This should be avoided.

Also, any neat division between "deficit" and "surplus" areas becomes more of a problem in these times of climate change when erratic weather patterns are more frequently seen. The tensions are likely to be much greater when inter-basin transfers also involve neighbouring countries. Given the real world of shifting rivers, land slides, seismic belts, etc. it makes the task difficult, enormously expensive, energy-intensive and hazardous. We also have not explored how the bio-diversity flourishing in a particular river system will react when it is linked to another river.

A combination of traditional water-collection/conservation practices and other drought-proofing methods — which also use modern technology — still provides the best available answer (also the cheapest one) to water scarcity in drought-prone areas. A good drainage plan — so that flood water clears quickly — combined with a package of livelihood, health, education and other support suited to the needs of flood-prone areas and communities is what is really needed.

Small stories in U.P.'s big poll picture

"Unlike in 2007, it is a fierce contest in 2012, with the Congress, the BJP and other players determined to take a larger share each."

The consensus is that Ms Mayawati has squandered away a wonderful opportunity to do some good for U.P. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Small stories in U.P.'s big poll picture

These are among the many conflicting voices that have made elections, 2012, in Uttar Pradesh a befuddling, exasperating experience. The big picture seems clear enough: the plus votes (votes in addition to the core vote) that gave Mayawati a sensational victory in 2007 have fragmented.

The SP, which seemed to have lost its way, is robustly back in the reckoning, having rid itself of the Amar Singh-Bollywood baggage and spearheaded now by the old-young team of Mulayam Singh and ward Akhilesh Yadav.

The U.P. election story is complicated by the many micro pictures within it. The wind is undoubtedly in the SP's favour but its Muslim support has become vulnerable to poaching by the newly aggressive Congress and the Dr. Ayub-led Peace Party with its clear objective to wean away poorer Muslims.

The ways of science

"After announcing that neutrinos travelled 60 nanoseconds faster than light, the OPERA (Oscillation project with Emulsion-tRacking Apparatus) team has recently identified certain flaws, pertaining to the novel use of the global positioning system (GPS) in particle physics to synchronise the atomic clocks "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : The ways of science: Regardless of whether a rerun of the experiment proves or disproves the initial result, the entire exercise has gone a long way in showcasing the way science operates.

This work has shown what is so basic to science — even the most fundamental laws of science will often be challenged by scientists using the most sophisticated instruments and experiments. After all, independent verification and replication of the results are central to science.

Speeding on safety

"The proposed amendments to Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 could achieve good results in reining in the growing band of lawless drivers on India's roads. But conditions today are not really conducive to the creation of a scientific zero tolerance regime."

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Speeding on safety: The stronger penalties that are sought to be introduced can at best have a patchy impact on the notorious national record on road safety. Since the law cannot be effective in the absence of a credible and professional enforcement machinery.

The Centre must recognise the multi-sectoral nature of the issue, involving not just the police, but engineering, urban planning and public health specialists.

Stop playing politics over crimes against women

Incidents in India are being increasingly mixed up to some top level agenda and they are just forgotten in blame game. The recent incident of Bengal chief minister blaming politics over a rape incident is only the most popular, and not an exception. The editorial calls for not playing politics on such issues by pointing to the terrible consequences that will happen on those who are being victimized.

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/stop-playing-politics-over-crimes-against-women/368908.html

"When our approach to rape becomes circumcised by imperatives of politics and power, every woman, not just the rape survivor, has reasons to be afraid. Challenging the credentials of the rape victims, under such dispensations, becomes part of a callous routine to evade responsibility. Every time a rape is reported the public gaze is shifted more on the woman who has been brutalised and not on the acts of omission and commission of those who are supposed to prevent crimes against women and punish their perpetrators."

Thorn in the crown

British were miffed that India didn’t favour their planes in our multi-billion dollar Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. The UK media rose in uproar that India could dare to turn down Britain’s proffered hand when it was the recipient of some $400 million of aid each year. 

Thorn in the crown | Deccan Chronicle: Our overall relationship with Britain is a complicated one. The kingdom was India’s colonial master for two centuries. While recent developments — India’s economic boom, its emergence as a global powerhouse, has reversed the historical pattern. It is now Britain that is seen as the supplicant, seeking to please an often-indifferent India.

After two centuries of presiding over the systematic impoverishment of the Indian people, Britain arguably has a historical and moral responsibility towards the well-being of its former subjects. So the fact that it provides India annually with some $400 million of developmental assistance, mainly targeting beneficiaries in three of India’s poorest states, is perfectly reasonable.

However, the British media made it an issue of Indian “ingratitude”, not to mention profligacy, thereby conflating the poor Indians, whom its tax money was aiding, with the Government of India. So don’t aid the Indian government, but do aid poor Indians; they need it, because however much the Government of India is doing for them, their poverty is so dire that it can never be enough. Channel it through charitable non-governmental organisations, British or Indian, working directly with the poor. It would avoid a revival of this invidious debate.

With all due respect, My Lords

"It is not for the Supreme Court to decide how the government should ensure the right to water; in any case, the connection between this right and the river linking project is tenuous."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : With all due respect, My Lords: Supreme Court, in its order, explicitly directs the Executive Government to implement the Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) Project, and to set up a Special Committee to carry out that implementation; it lays down that the committee's decisions shall take precedence over all administrative bodies created under the orders of this court or otherwise; it (graciously) authorises the Cabinet to take all final and appropriate decisions, and lays down a time-limit of 30 days for such decision-making (though it has the saving grace to say “preferably”); and it grants “liberty to the learned Amicus Curiae to file contempt petition in this court, in the event of default or non-compliance of the directions contained in this order”.

The Supreme Court was clearly entitled to ask the government to state categorically where it stood on this project. What it was not entitled to do was to issue a direction to the government to implement the project. It has done so since the Supreme Court is convinced that the project is good and urgently needed; and that a very important national initiative is getting bogged down because of various reasons and needs to be galvanised.

The view that the country faces a looming water crisis; that the answer lies in augmenting supplies; that given the magnitude and distribution of India's future water requirements, the ILR project is the best possible answer; and that it is in the national interest to implement it quickly. It is that conviction that provides, in the Supreme Court's view, the justification for its intervention. If that view of India's water crisis and its solution is challenged, the whole basis for the Supreme Court's order collapses. There is a diversity of views on it, which the Supreme Court has failed to consider.

In China's parliament, a long list of millionaires

"Membership of the National People's Congress provides wealthy businessmen a powerful platform and secures their support for the Communist Party of China."

The net worth of the 70 richest delegates at the National People's Congress (NPC), the Chinese Parliament and top legislative body, the country's 3,000-member legislative house, rose by a stunning $11.5 billion last year. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : In China's parliament, a long list of millionaires.

The 70 richest delegates' net worth was $89.8 billion. Their appointment to government bodies handed them a powerful platform in a business climate which values official contacts. The practice of bringing in China's wealthiest individuals into political advisory bodies largely serves two purposes. For the party, giving the business elite a voice in policy decisions was seen as a way of securing their political support. For the businessmen, there was “strong incentive to become ‘within system' due to the relative weakness in the rule of law and of property rights”

The marriage of business and politics that takes place at the highest levels has increasingly become a source of public anger and debate. This has been reflected in the growing resentment towards official corruption and renewed calls for economic reforms, amid concerns about fast-rising inequality.

China must not shut its eyes to the powerful, vested interests that have been monopolising the benefits of China's reform and opening movement, thus impeding deeper reform. The core of reform is not about opening coastal cities to boost the economy but about paying more attention to people's social welfare.