Militancy, not militants
New rules, old games
डॉक्टर चले विदेश
अफगानिस्तान पर पाक का छलावा - विवेक काटजू
पटरी पर लौटे भारत-मालदीव सम्बन्ध
किसानों की कर्जमाफी और खेती
Bolstering Paris
The UN climate conference at Katowice, Poland, has come up with a rule book for further implementation of the Paris Agreement. It reflects the importance people across the world are assigning to avert climate related calamities.
However, the measure,does not adequately address the need to make GHG emissions cut.
It is a long road ahead before we can embark on that set parameter for carbon emissions as pegged by the scientists.
It has een proposed that to cap the rising global temperature over the pre-industrial levels at 1.5 degrees, a total of 45% reduction in emissions over 2010 levels must be made by 2030.
This can be a big challenge before all big economies of the world including India (which is among the top 5 carbon emitting countries of the world).
What can India do?
India needs to scale up its solar and wind power in line with its set goal of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy by the year 2022, eventually reducing its dependence on non-renewable sources of energy.
Policies must be formulated with respect to taxing luxury emissions and the money must be used to give poor access to energy.
Building on funds for initiatives like green climate funds.
India must strive to bring sectors like energy production, agriculture under environment friendly techniques.
A clean India will help meet emission commitments and help the nation breathe.
Fatal Fires
The fire that engulfed the Andheri Hospital of the Employees State Insurance Corporation killed 8 people and serves as a crude reminder of the fact that fire safety gets low priority in the country.
It is ironic as the ESIC is an organisation that protects the labour sector and is expected to set standards.
The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers does provide specific norms for hospitals which include requirements like alarms, sprinkler systems, smoke barrier enclosures etc.
The state must ensure that such regulations comply with proper enforcement agencies and laws.
Certification of facilities via tthird-partyaudit must be made compulsory to avoid any conflict with any official agencies.
The institution must be made accountable towards the public.
At a larger level, the government must also work in harmony, shedding all their differences.
Maldivian President Mohamed Solih's visit to India brought a tumultuous phase in the bilateral relationship.
The previous president, Mr. Yameen had steered the country close to china and silenced its oppositions, Mr. Solih's victory can be seen as democracy strengthening force in the island country.
Modi also made it clear that India wants to "see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives".
The Maldivian president has called India their closest friend and "reaffirmed his government's 'India¬First' Policy". India on her part announced Financial assistance for the Maldives. Both have also agreed to ensure to guard each other's security interest in mind as they seek consolidation of the cooperation in the Indian ocean region and in surveillance.
Under the previous regime, Maldives had close ties with china and had welcomed Chinese money for infrastructural projects like the China¬Maldives Friendship Bridge, which connects Malé's eastern edge to the western corner of the island of Hulhulé.
Presently the scenario is such that the Maldives owe some $1.3 billion, or a quarter of the island nation's gross domestic product to China and faced with this, Indian support esp for budgets has become crucial.
Nevertheless, the change in the government doesn't mean that China is wiped out from nation's economic engagements and Male has made it clear. But the logic of geography states that India's role will be critical in determining the trajectory of political developments in the Maldives.
India should not be deterred by temporary setbacks and must view things from a larger perspective (not just Chinacentric). New Delhi must play a fundamental role in strengthening the democratic fabric of Maldives and can then expect good returns in its foreign policy.