📰 New museums on J&K, Buddha, freedom struggle by this year: Centre
The J&K museum will capture the essence and spirit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as an integral part of the nation since ages
•New museums on Jammu and Kashmir, Gautam Buddha, Indian armour and the freedom struggle are expected to be completed this year, according to the Culture Ministry.
•The museum on Jammu and Kashmir will be set up at a cost of ₹13 crore in the Capital, as per data provided with Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy’s reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on August 9. The museum was expected to be completed by December 31, 2021.
•“The museum on Jammu and Kashmir, first of its kind in India, captures the essence and spirit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as an integral part of the nation since ages as Bharat, Hindustan, India. The museum elaborates this by tracing the roots of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh since prehistoric times to the present day and telling unheard stories of the region and people which have been lost in the centuries of time,” the written reply stated.
•The Ministry was also working on five other museums to be set up this year, including a museum on Gautam Buddha, being established by the National Museum at a cost of ₹7.5 crore by September 30.
New outlook
•“The museum is being developed in a renovated century-old majestic building and spread over an area of about 15,000 square feet, surrounded by a lush green landscape. Seen through the masterpieces in the National Museum collection, the museum on Gautama Buddha focuses on the religious and traditional aspects of Buddhist heritage in India, forging a new outlook on its spread, development, and cultural synthesis over centuries,” the reply stated.
•A first of its kind museum on Buddha, the new museum would have over 200 objects from the 1st Century CE to 19th Century CE, including stone and bronze sculptures, terracotta heads and costumes.
•In addition, the Ministry was setting up a museum dedicated to the freedom struggle at a renovated barrack at the Red Fort. The museum would be completed by the end of 2021 at a cost of ₹13 crore, the Minister’s reply said.
•“The museum, first of its kind, will narrate the story of the country’s freedom struggle in an interactive manner with more emphasis on the unheard stories of people’s participation in India’s freedom movement representing contribution of all regions,” the reply said.
Arms and armour
•Another museum being developed at the Red Fort by end of October would showcase arms and armour of India through the ages — from prehistoric stone weapons onwards.
•The Ministry is also in the process of setting up a museum dedicated to freedom fighters at the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata, called ‘Biplobi Bharat’, in August, and the Prime Ministers’ Museum at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library by October.
📰 Over 20 lakh COVID-19 tests done under AB PM-JAY from April 2020 to July 2021
7 lakh treatments availed under central health insurance scheme
•Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Central government’s health insurance scheme, approximately 20.32 lakh COVID-19 tests and 7.08 lakh treatments were authorised from April 2020 to July 2021.
•The total value of the tests and treatment stands at ₹2,794 crore, a senior official told The Hindu.
•While several States have made testing and even treatment of COVID free, the cover allowed beneficiaries to avail free testing and treatment across all empanelled hospitals — both public and private.
•“Besides this, State governments were provided with the flexibility of modifying the Ayushman packages as per the local requirements,” said the official.
‘Dynamic response’
•The National Health Authority (NHA) is the nodal agency responsible for the nationwide roll-out and implementation of the AB PM-JAY scheme. It noted that the response towards COVID-19 has been dynamic, keeping pace with the spread of the disease. The prevalence of the disease has not followed a uniform pattern across States.
•“All Ayushman beneficiaries are eligible,” said the NHA in a statement while explaining that NHA provided flexibility to States to deploy ways and means to ensure that beneficiaries avail free COVID testing and treatment under the scheme.
•“The priority was to ensure that no beneficiary is denied entitlement to free testing and treatment under AB PM-JAY,” it added.
•Many State governments decided to make COVID testing and treatment free under the scheme for all the residents. While some of them used Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY ecosystem including IT platform, others have also made it free but without recording the transaction on NHA’s IT platform, the Authority said.
₹23 cr package
•Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Friday noted that the Union Cabinet has approved a new scheme ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ECRP-II package)’ on July 8, 2021 amounting to ₹23,123 crore.
•“To fast track the implementation of the ECRP-II, on July22 this year, ₹1,827.80 crore was released to the stakeholders as 15% advance to undertake preparatory activities. Further, 35% funds are being released on Friday to the States and Union Territories, thus, making a total of 50% release of funds so as to ensure implementation of critical activities at the State and District levels to prepare the public healthcare systems in response to the evolving pandemic,” said the release.
•This scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components. It aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with a focus on health infrastructure development including for Paediatric Care and with measurable outcomes.
📰 Ban on production of specific plastic goods from July 2022
Govt. notifies Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021
•Come July next year, the manufacture of a range of plastic products will be banned. These include ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers.
•The Environment Ministry on Friday notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibits specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.
•Plastic packaging waste isn't yet covered under the phase-out of single-use plastic items. The Environment Ministry told the Rajya Sabha in July of its proposal to phase out some categories of single use plastic by 2022.
•A draft outlining the way forward was issued in March and involved amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Currently the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country. There is a ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.
•At the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019, India piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution.
•The Environment Ministry said in a note on Friday that the waste management infrastructure in the States and UTs was being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat Mission. They had been “requested” to constitute a Special Task Force for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. A National Level Taskforce had also been constituted by the Ministry for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
📰 PM introduces policy aimed at phasing out old and unfit vehicles
‘We are promoting a circular economy. The aim is to develop a sustainable and environment-friendly economy,’ he says
•With an emphasis on creating a circular economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a National Automobile Scrappage Policy. He said the introduction of a vehicle scrappage policy would likely to attract an investment worth ₹10,000 crore in Gujarat.
•“We are promoting a circular economy. The aim is to develop a sustainable and environment-friendly economy,” he said in his online address to the policy launch event in Gujarat.
•The policy was aimed at phasing out old and unfit vehicles and modernise the vehicle fleet in the country. “Modernity in mobility not only reduces the burden of travel and transportation, but also proves helpful for economic development,” he stated.
•The manner in which technology was changing, be it in lifestyle or economy - there would be a lot of changes in the coming years. “Amid these changes, it is also important to protect our environment, our land, our resources, our raw material,” he observed.
‘Alang could become hub’
•Asia’s largest ship recycling and scrapping yard Alang in Gujarat could become a hub for old vehicle scrapping since the government was pushing for phasing out 15-year-old commercial vehicles and 20-year- old passenger vehicles, he noted.
•In Alang, ships and vessels from across the world come for being scrapped and a significant amount of materials from the scrappage is recycled for its use in multiple industries.
•“The launch of the Vehicle Scrappage Policy today is a significant milestone in India's development journey. The Investor Summit in Gujarat for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure opens a new range of possibilities. I would request our youth and start-ups to join this programme,” Mr. Modi said.
•“Vehicle scrapping will help phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner. Our aim is to create a viable circular economy and bring value for all stakeholders while being environmentally responsible,” he asserted and pointed out that phasing out old vehicles would also help in bringing down the pollution levels in cities.
•In Gujarat, the government is in the process of inviting private players to set up scrappage yards in Alang and Kutch where old vehicles could be brought for scrapping and recycling their parts and materials.
📰 Centre allows import of GM soymeal to support poultry industry
Environmental activists warn against allowing GM products into human food chain
•There was some relief for the beleaguered poultry industry this week with the Centre deciding to allow the import of crushed genetically modified soybean, which is a major ingredient of poultry feed. However, environmental activists have raised concerns about the permission given for something derived from a genetically modified plant to enter the human food chain, given that India’s regulatory system has yet to approve GM foods.
•The poultry industry has been crushed by multiple disasters over the last year and a half. In January 2020, a false rumour that coronavirus could be spread by eating chicken meat led to a crash in demand. If the losses in both the broiler and layer sectors are included — that is, both meat and eggs — it amounted to ₹28,000 crore, according to All India Poultry Breeders Association chairman Bahadur Ali. A year later, avian flu cases led to another crash, followed by a crippling rise in the prices of poultry feed. With farmers facing fresh losses and a reduction in capacity, chicken prices for the retail consumer have also spiked.
•“Poultry feed makes up 65% of the cost of production for the farmer. Soy meal [which is left over after oil is extracted from the bean] is the main protein ingredient in the feed, especially for broilers. Over the last three to four years, soy meal has been available at an average cost of ₹34 to 36/kg. This month, it shot up to ₹96/kg. That kind of price spike is simply unsustainable,” said Mr. Ali, whose company also manufactures feed.
Poor harvest
•Apart from a poor harvest leading to shortages in soy, he blames the high prices on major corporates who are recent entrants to the commodity business, as well as other entities speculating on the commodities markets.
•The poultry industry has been lobbying for the import of soymeal to tide over domestic shortages and tame prices, but have been stymied by the grey area of regulation regarding genetically modified ingredients, given that most imported meal comes from GM beans.
•On August 10, the Department of Animal Husbandry notified the Customs department that soymeal and oil cake from GM soy would be permitted for import. In a letter to the poultry breeders, the DAHD cited the Environment Ministry saying it had no objection “since soya de-oiled and crushed cake did not contain any living organism.” Further, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India also washed its hands of the matter, saying that “anything which is non-food [not consumed by humans] is not within the ambit of the FSSAI Act, 2006” and thus it would not regulate animal feed.
•The Coalition for a GM-Free India, which includes consumer rights groups and sustainable farming groups, termed the decision “highly objectionable and legally untenable”. It noted that the 1989 rules of the Environment Protection Act applied not just to GM organisms, but also products and substances thereof. A 2007 amendment exempting foodstuffs derived from GMOs if the end product was not a living organism cannot be applied in this case as it refers to animal feed, not foodstuffs, claimed the Coalition’s convener Kavitha Kuruganti. She added that FSSAI has previously regulated antibiotics in animal feed.
•“In the end, with two regulators saying that [livestock] feed does not concern either of them, the public is being subjected to the hazards of this genetically engineered feed affecting the human food chain,” said Ms. Kuruganti.
📰 Slanting posts: On social media and level playing field
Social media platforms should have the same standards for the rulers and the Opposition
•Several Twitter handles associated with the Congress and its leaders including its former president Rahul Gandhi were blocked by Twitter in the last few days, for violating its user policy and the law of the land. The violation pertains to posts shared by these handles that identified the family of a child who was allegedly raped and murdered in Delhi. The platform has since revealed that the NCPCR brought the violation to its notice. A petition in the Delhi HC seeking legal action against Mr. Gandhi has pointed out that his post was in violation of Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Section 23(2) of the POCSO Act 2012, both of which mandate that any material that might reveal (directly or indirectly) the identity of a child victim of a crime shall not be published. Additionally, the post also violated Twitter’s own rules. The Congress has not addressed the substantive question raised by the platform regarding these violations. It has alleged double standards by the platform, and questioned its impartiality. That is not a mature response. The party transgressed the norms of discussion in a sensitive case in its campaign. It must, without qualifiers, accept that mistake, and commit to better standards in social media campaigns.
•Twitter had flagged posts on several handles associated with the BJP in May, which were intended to target the Congress, as ‘manipulated media’. The BJP and the Centre took umbrage over the decision, claiming that only a police investigation could establish whether the content was altered. Twitter insisted that it had its own mechanism to check whether files uploaded on the platform were tinkered with. Herein lies the core conflict between the state and private companies over controlling the information flow in a democratic society. Both the state and the companies invoke public order and interest to justify their control over information, but the protocol for exercising that enormous power over lives remains open to question. Additionally, private companies also claim a right to unilaterally decide their user policy. This raises the pertinent question of whether a private company that is providing a service that is essential — connectivity in this instance — can set the terms of usage arbitrarily. The state has often shown itself unable to control speech in a fair and even-handed manner. It does even wilfully misuse such powers, going by experience. The age of acceleration has thrown up many such complicated moral and governance questions that society needs to resolve. In the meantime, state agencies must exercise control over speech only in the rarest instances, for the briefest periods, and in the most transparent manner. Private companies must be more transparent in enforcing their guidelines and reassure users that their standards for those in power and those in the Opposition are one.
📰 Growth needs steps beyond reforms
While the reform agenda must continue, social cohesion and equity considerations must be guaranteed
•The Indian economy has travelled through an eventful period through the last three decades. In the post-independence economic history of our country, 1991 stands out as a watershed year. This was the year in which the economy was faced with a severe balance of payments crisis. In response, we launched a wide-ranging economic programme, not just to restore the balance of payments but to reform, restructure and modernise the economy.
•Thus, the crisis was converted into an opportunity to bring about fundamental changes in the approach and conduct of economic policy. A near tragedy was averted and a new path was laid out before the country. The words of Charles Dickens in somewhat reverse order seem appropriate: “It was the worst of times, It was the best of times,... it was the winter of despair, it was the spring of hope.”
The shift, key players
•It is important to recognise in what way the new regime was different from the earlier one. The break with the past came in three important ways: in dismantling the vast network of licences, controls and permits that dominated the economic system; in redesigning the role of the state and allowing the private sector a larger space to operate within, and in abandoning the inward looking foreign trade policy and getting integrated with the world economy and trade. The last was particularly important because it was the opposite of what we normally did when faced with a balance of payments crisis.
•Dr. Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister spearheaded the new policy. He articulated the need for change and provided not only the broad framework but also the details of the reforms. P.V. Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister gave the valuable political support and shield which were very much needed. It must be noted that as Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao also held the portfolio of Industry which was directly responsible for initiating the changes that led to the dismantling of various types of controls and licences related to the industrial sector. This was indeed a key element of the reform programme. At the ministerial level, strong support came from P. Chidambaram as Commerce Minister who oversaw the transformation of the external sector.
The metrics
•There is a common thread running through the various measures introduced since 1991. The objective has been to improve the productivity and efficiency of the system by creating a more competitive environment. Thus, barriers to entry and growth were removed. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. It is therefore appropriate to look at three broad parameters to judge the performance of the economy after liberalisation — growth rate, current account deficit and poverty reduction.
•Between 1992-93 and 2000-01, GDP at factor cost grew annually by 6.20%. Between 2001-02 and 2010-11, it grew by 7.69% and the growth rate between 2011-12 and 2019-20, was 6.51%. The best performance was between 2005-06 and 2010-11 when the GDP grew by 8.7% showing clearly what the potential growth rate of India was. This is the highest growth experienced by India over a sustained period of five to six years. This is despite the fact that this period included the global crisis year of 2008-09. The recent decline in growth rate which started even before the advent of COVID-19 should make policymakers reflect and introspect.
Foreign reserves
•The balance of payments situation had remained comfortable. There were three years in which the current account showed a small surplus. Most of the years showed a small deficit. The exceptions were 2011-12 and 2012-13 when the current account deficit exceeded 4%. This was taken care of quickly. Foreign exchange reserves showed a substantial increase and touched $621 billion as of last week. The opening up of the external sector, which included liberal trade policy, market determined exchange rate and a liberal flow of external resources, has greatly strengthened the external sector. Of course, we still run a high merchandise trade deficit which is offset to a large extent by the surplus in services.
Poverty ratio
•Besides growth, the other major objective of economic policy is to reduce the number of people living below the poverty line. There are many problems associated with the definition of poverty and the kind of data required to measure it. Going by the procedure adopted by the erstwhile Planning Commission using the Tendulkar expert group methodology, the overall poverty ratio came down from 45.3% in 1993-94 to 37.2% in 2004-05 and further down to 21.9% in 2011-12. The per year reduction in percentage points in poverty ratio between 2004-05 and 2011-12 was 2.18. The post-reform period up to 2011-12 did see a significant reduction in poverty ratio because of faster growth supplemented by appropriate poverty reduction programmes such as the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Extended Food Security Scheme. With the decline in growth rate since then and with a negative growth in 2020-21, this trend must have reversed, i.e. the poverty rate may have increased.
•Had the growth trend seen up to 2011-12 continued, we would have an unqualified answer to the impact of reforms on growth. Growth requires more than reforms. Reforms are, in the words of economists, only a necessary condition. It is not sufficient. In a developing economy, in the final analysis, growth is driven by investment. It is the decline in investment rate of nearly five percentage points since 2010-11 that has led to the progressive decline of the growth rate. Reforms normally create a natural climate for investment. But ‘animal spirits’ are also influenced by non-economic factors such as social cohesion. Reforms supplemented by a careful nurturing of the investment climate are needed to spur growth again. This should become the sole concern of policy makers.
Need for continuity
•The reform agenda must continue. It will be incremental in character. It has to be. Policymakers should be clear about the directions in which they should move. First of all, there is a need to move in the same direction in which we have been moving in the past three decades. Policymakers should identify the sectors which need reforms in terms of creating a competitive environment and improving the performance efficiency. From this angle, we need to take a relook at the financial system, power sector and governance. Centre and States must be joint partners in this effort. Second, in terms of government performance, there should be increased focus on social sectors such as health and education. In terms of the provision of services, the emphasis must be not just on quantitative expansion but also quality. To achieve the latter is even more difficult. The advent of COVID-19 has clearly shown our inadequate health facilities and preparedness.
•Reforms are necessary to improve the productivity of the economy and achieve higher growth. But the story does not end there. We cannot ignore equity considerations. Growth and equity must go together. They must not be posed as opposing considerations. They are truly interdependent. It is only in an environment of high growth, equity can be pushed aggressively.
📰 An Indian sail to navigate the maritime environment
India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security has boosted its standing as a key player in the shared commons
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on August 9 at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”, convened by India, was both timely and apt. He described the oceans as a common heritage for humankind and a lifeline for the future of the planet. In urging the global community to develop a common framework to deal with contemporary challenges, including maritime disputes and natural disasters, he outlined a far-sighted vision rooted in India’s culture, history and geography.
Maritime traditions
•With a long coastline and large island chains spread-eagled across the Indian Ocean, India has a natural seaward orientation, with key sea lanes of communication coursing through its surrounding seas.
•India has ancient maritime traditions. In the 15th century, Vasco de Gama was piloted to the west coast of India from Zanzibar by a Gujarati seaman. Long before that, India’s ancient mariners were trading with the old world. The very word navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word “navgath”.
•In enunciating five principles, Mr. Modi linked free and open trade to India’s civilisational ethos. His words were a reminder of India’s maritime trade with Mesopotamia 4,500 years ago. Lothal was a key maritime centre of the Indus Valley civilisation.
•The Prime Minister’s home State, Gujarat, has one of India’s oldest maritime histories. Kutch and Kathiawar as well as the Malabar coast enjoyed ancient links to Africa. A ship built indigenously and manned by a local crew voyaged to England and back in the time of Rao Godji II (1760-1778) of Kutch. Buddhism and Hinduism spread to South-east Asia by the maritime route. Even Islam took the maritime route from India to South-east Asia.
•Mr. Modi reiterated the relevance of SAGAR (Security And Growth For All In The Region). He urged the international community to develop a cooperative and inclusive framework for maritime security, so essential for unimpeded trade and commerce. Ninety per cent of global trade is conducted on the high seas, for the simple reason that it continues to be the most cost effective mode of transport.
•Disruption of sea lanes of communication has global repercussions. The blockage in the Suez Canal earlier this year interrupted the flow of trade worth billions of dollars. In 1956, great powers intervened militarily when Egypt nationalised this key waterway. Today, a naval blockade at any choke-point in the Indo-Pacific could prove catastrophic.
•Freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce are key to the spread of prosperity. Critical supply chains depend on the concept of mare liberum (open seas). The neo-colonial concept of mare clausum (closed seas) in the South China Sea is anathema to the future of the global economy.
Dispute settlement
•The Prime Minister advocated peaceful settlement of maritime disputes on the basis of international law. This idea is rooted in India’s values of peace and non-violence. India’s acceptance of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014 paved the way for India and Bangladesh to put aside their maritime dispute and forge even closer ties. This should be an example to others in the region. In 2016, China summarily rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favour of the Philippines.
•Today, natural disasters and maritime threats posed by non-state actors have grown exponentially. Mr. Modi called upon the global community to rally together to deal effectively with the ravages of cyclones, tsunami and maritime pollution. India’s role as ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean, whether in thwarting piracy or providing relief after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, is well- documented. The Indian Air Force airlifted 30 tonnes of relief material to Mauritius in August 2020 to contain an oil spill that threatened to engulf the island nation’s pristine coast.
•The Indian Coast Guard’s operational reach and capability has vastly improved in dealing with environmental hazards and piracy. The election, on August 5, of the Director General of Indian Coast Guard as the executive director of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre, Singapore. is an endorsement of India’s contributions. India now has white shipping agreements with several countries. The Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram hosts officers from the United States, Japan, France, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Indian Navy regularly offers a large number of training slots to friendly countries.
Environmental concerns
•Mr. Modi’s remarks underscored the importance of preserving the maritime environment and its resources. The oceans remain our lifeline. Yet, they have been overwhelmed by plastic waste which chokes all forms of marine life. This, in turn, poisons the entire food chain and imperils the lives of millions.
•Development of connectivity and infrastructure were also outlined as a major priority. There are heightened concerns today over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India stands for openness and transparency in the execution of projects, based on local priorities, with in-built fiscal viability and environmental sustainability. The U.S., Japan and Australia are also promoting better standards for global infrastructure through the Blue Dot Network.
Primacy of UNCLOS
•As President of the UN Security Council for the month of August, India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security, that too at the level of the Prime Minister, has strengthened its credentials as a key stake-holder in the maritime commons. The Presidential Statement issued on the occasion highlights the commitment of the UN Security Council to international law. More relevantly, it emphasises the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing all maritime activity.
•India’s natural interests stretch across both the Indian and Pacific Oceans as reflected in its inclusive Indo-Pacific vision. No doubt, India’s initiative will further the prospects for a stable and enduring maritime environment.
