Times View - Superficial promises on education
Counter View - Students need this boost
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
Counter View - Students need this boost
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
9 Feb 2012
When Aspirations Count
Muslim political choices could turn out to be an electoral game-changer in UP
When Aspirations Count
When Aspirations Count
"Muslims are keen to fight socio-economic backwardness and hence are focussed on issues of education and employment, criticising ruling parties at the Centre and the state for their neglect and deprivation."-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
State of the Reunion
Catching up with a century-ful of 'old girls' can be a rejuvenating experience
State of the Reunion
An experience of a special reunion.
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
State of the Reunion
An experience of a special reunion.
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
Maldives Turmoil
New Delhi should play a quiet hand
Maldives Turmoil
The stepping-down of Mohammed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, from his presidency calls for New Delhi to play an active yet quiet role in its own interests as well as Maldives's.
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
Maldives Turmoil
The stepping-down of Mohammed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, from his presidency calls for New Delhi to play an active yet quiet role in its own interests as well as Maldives's.
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
For a fair, free trade pact with Europe
"Several difficult issues need to be resolved if India is not to be short-changed in the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement with the EU."
India and EU have been negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement - Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), covering trade in goods and services besides rules pertaining to cross-border investments, competition policy, government procurement and state aid. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : For a fair, free trade pact with Europe
India and the EU have agreed to eliminate tariffs on over 90% of all tradeable goods during the next 10-year period. If not carefully managed, this could lead to a decline in domestic output, massive job losses, significant tariff revenue loss and negative implications for the trade balance. The implications on agricultural and dairy products could have a serious and long-lasting impact on the bulk of our rural population. Most of them have don't even have social security to take care if they lose their jobs.
India and EU have been negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement - Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), covering trade in goods and services besides rules pertaining to cross-border investments, competition policy, government procurement and state aid. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : For a fair, free trade pact with Europe
India and the EU have agreed to eliminate tariffs on over 90% of all tradeable goods during the next 10-year period. If not carefully managed, this could lead to a decline in domestic output, massive job losses, significant tariff revenue loss and negative implications for the trade balance. The implications on agricultural and dairy products could have a serious and long-lasting impact on the bulk of our rural population. Most of them have don't even have social security to take care if they lose their jobs.
If European banks are given greater market access, will they serve 500-million Indians citizens who do not have access to basic banking services? Unlikely, since their business model tends to 'cherry-pick' only the most profitable businesses. Moreover, the global financial crisis has put a big question mark over their efficiency. We should seriously rethink the benefits of opening up banking and financial services.
The deal also proposes a lopsided negotiating mandate which puts investors' rights above those of democratically-elected governments which should not be accepted by India.
It is of grave concern that the India-EU BTIA negotiations have been marked by a gross absence of transparency and public consultation in India. It is also a matter of shame that there is no system of parliamentary ratification or supervision of such agreements in India!
Ugly Antics
Karnataka's Porngate exposes political hypocrisy
Ugly Antics
The BJP and its hardcore Hindutva ally, Sri Ram Sene, have repeatedly exercised moral-policing over men and women who, in the cosmopolitan environs of Bangalore, have embraced the modern culture. But the recent event must surely highlight the hypocrisy of politicians who assume "the right to paint medieval morality onto normal social behaviour while failing to control their own proclivities."
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
Ugly Antics
The BJP and its hardcore Hindutva ally, Sri Ram Sene, have repeatedly exercised moral-policing over men and women who, in the cosmopolitan environs of Bangalore, have embraced the modern culture. But the recent event must surely highlight the hypocrisy of politicians who assume "the right to paint medieval morality onto normal social behaviour while failing to control their own proclivities."
-The Times of India, February 9, 2012
In U.P. polls, local dalit histories vie with BSP's grand storyline
"All social communities have a history that is experienced, or perceived, or both. When political forces try to mobilise these communities, they usually do so by exploring their history and then giving it a political meaning that suits their agenda. "
When Kanshiram, founder BSP, realised that U.P. people are more influenced by cultural, mythical and identity issues, he started using the local histories of different castes to mobilise each dalit caste individually. These small histories were then put together to form a grand history of oppression and exploitation by the upper castes, which was then used in the image-making of Mayawati. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : In U.P. polls, local dalit histories vie with BSP's grand storyline. In the process, it marginalised the micro-histories of the small dalit castes.
In this U.P. Assembly elections, although development and hi-tech modernity appear to be the chief agenda of most political parties, a closer look at the political mobilisations by the various political parties shows that micro-histories of different dalit castes are once again being used for mobilising these castes individually.
The hidden histories of the various dalit castes are providing space for different political parties to mobilise them. While the BSP's effort to create a grand history and memory has served to suppress the micro identities of the small Dalit castes, other political parties are gleefully digging them out and celebrating these hidden histories for their political purposes.
Hollywood likes tree-hugging Dr. Seuss character
The Lorax, perhaps the most famous anti-industrial crusader from children's literature, is about to become a big-time corporate spokesman. The animated movie is about a creature who 'speaks for the trees' and fights rampant industrialism in a retelling of the Dr. Seuss children's book first published in 1971.
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Hollywood likes tree-hugging Dr. Seuss character: The studio is being selective about its partnerships, with a focus on planet-saving activities, like planting trees, that aren't usually the focus of children's movie campaigns.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hopes the movie will help children understand the link between saving energy and saving the environment.
Time to be realistic
According to the advance estimates of GDP growth, the economy will grow by 6.9 per cent during the current year (2011-12), sharply lower than the 8.4 per cent clocked last year. This may not be surprising but a detailed analysis of the numbers does indeed provide grounds for concern.
It may even be argued that a growth rate of almost 7 per cent is commendable given the adverse global and domestic environment. However, the signs of the slowdown continuing are discernable everywhere. The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Time to be realistic
It may even be argued that a growth rate of almost 7 per cent is commendable given the adverse global and domestic environment. However, the signs of the slowdown continuing are discernable everywhere. The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Time to be realistic
"With the right policy reorientation — and a reform process that ensures transparency and regulation — it should be possible to revive these key sectors and post more impressive growth figures next year."
Dirty picture
Legislative proceedings are usually far from stimulating, so three Karnataka BJP ministers who were forced to resign chose a most unusual way to escape what they regarded as an arid discussion on the drought situation in the State by watching, ahem, a film clip, on one of their cell phones.
The rot in India's scientific establishment
In a recently concluded and published report from the expert panel setup by the PM Manmohan Singh, former Isro chief Madhavan Nair was suspended from holding any critical posts in the scientific establishment, primarily due to alleged favouritism in the Antrix-Devas deal...
In the wake of such a scandal, Parsa Venkateshwar Rao analyses the entire scientific scenario of this country...
"The Antrix-Devas deal is not about corruption alone. The loss due to the favouritism shown to Devas, a company floated by a former Isro scientist to use the S-band spectrum and the commitment by Isro to build two satellites for dedicated use by Devas, is estimated at Rs2lakh crore, higher than the estimated Rs1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum allocation."
UP's voter
Seema Mustafa analyses the entire political scenario on ground-based politics and explains the strengths and weaknesses of each and every party whch is trying to gain any stake in the state elections 2012...
UP's voter is savouring her moment in the sum
Mumbai or Delhi?
Colleen Braganza compares the two giant cosmopolitans of India in terms of the women safety...
She is heavily inclined towards Mumbai in terms of offering better safety to women and she explains why in this article...
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