Genetically Modified(GM) crops and its impact

Genetically modified(hereafter GM) crops are produced by DNA manipulation of crops.GM crops such as Bt cotton,GM soyabean,GM corns are in widespread use globally since the last decade.In India,Bt cotton was introduced officially in 2002.India had initiated plans to introduce Bt Brinjal on a mass scale,only to be banned(though temporarily)in 2010.Against this backdrop,it is pertinent to make a detailed study on the pros and cons of GM crops and its impact on achieving food security in longer run.

With the advent of genetic  engineering technology in late 20^th century,the GM crops were considered to be a revolutionary scientific achievement in attaining food security.The scientific community stated that the GM crops would prove to be pest-resistant and herbicide resistant.It would withstand the climate change as they  would resist drought as well as cold climatic conditions.Moreover,the genetically engineered crops could address the concerns of malnutrition through bio-fortification and other methods,which was seen as a remedy to the problem of under-nutrition in sub-Saharan African countries and other countries of the third-world.

The USA and European countries started massive field trials of GM crops introducing genetically engineered crops of Soyabean,corn and cotton.Even developing countries like India and China followed suit though on a limited scale.The higher yield of crops was considered as its primary advantage which would in turn address food security in the longer run.However,there are conflicting reports,which cannot be overlooked.Sceptics claim that the linear relationship between higher yield and genetic engineering is not always true as crop yields are a function of complex factors.

The Indian experience with GM crops reveal some fascinating facts.Undoubtedly,the production of cotton increased markedly during the last decade with the introduction of Bt cotton.Policy makers and certain schools of thought hurriedly claimed it as a product of genetic engineering.But the increase in production was not uniform across the states.That said,Bt cotton led to higher production in states like Maharastra but it produced mixed results in certain states of South India and Central India.Moreover,apprehensions were raised on its impact on environment security and human health.Further,questions arose on the underlying motive of select GM seed companies to capitalize on the market through monopolistic means.The Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) was an added concern as the global companies were feared to stake claim on their rights through extended patents.Its disastrous impact on biodiversity was fuelled by the fact that GM crops would lead to the extinction of local variety of crops in a bid to attain uniformity in the production of genetic varieties.The genetic engineering technology might spoil the synergy of plant molecules and secondary metabolites and therby spoil the functionality of staple food.

Against this backdrop,the Technical Expert Committee(TEC) recommended the Supreme Court to put a temporary moratorium on the field trials and production of GM crops until corroborated by detailed studies.The Parliamentary Standing committee comprising the Members of Parliament too advised the government to halt the field trials of GM crops.The World Health Organisation(WHO) too issue guidelines on GM crops and advised the nations to undertake detailed study on the impact of such crops with respect to allergenicity,gene transfer and its impact on health and environment.

While there are proven advantages of GM crops like resistance of Bt cotton against cotton bollworm and nutritious food products like vitamin-A  rich golden rice(having high content of beta-carotene),food security necessitates a holistic approach towards ensuring accessibility,availability and affordability of nutritious food.The drawbacks like high prices of GM seeds,environment pollution,affects on human health might outweigh its potential benefits.In that case genetic engineered products would turn out to be a bane rather than boon.

Therefore,instead of hastily exaggerating the advantages of GM crops,the government ought to promote systematic Research and Development(R&D) with respect to GM crops.The field trials are necessary,but it should be done on crop-specific basis through effective monitoring.An independent regulator on the lines of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority is the need of the hour which can carry out independent regulation without government interference.Merely granting approval to cultivation of GM crops without considering its latent drawbacks would lead to miscalculated consequences.

Indian Diaspora and aspirations

The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is celebrated every year to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South-Africa to India in 1915.The year 2015 deserves special mentioning as it is a commemoration of centenary year of Gandhi's return to India.When Gandhi returned to India,he was not just an ordinary NRI.South-Africans,even today,love to say with justifiable pride to Indians that"You gave us Gandhi and we gave you the Mahatma."

The Indian diaspora is an asset to India.The Prime Minister,on the occasion of Pravasi Diwas,in Gandhinagar,stressed that the Indian diaspora ought not to be seen in terms of dollars and pounds,but much beyond that.He praised the overseas community for providing not only monetary gains to India but also human capital and thoughtful leadership.

Our attitude towards Indian diaspora has transited from indifference to treating them as an asset.The Indian community in South-Africa,led by Mahatma Gandhi played a vital role in influencing our national movement in pre-independent days.Yet,we failed to recognise the significance of Non-Resident Indians(NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin(PIO) until the dawn of the twenty-first century.As the maxim goes"better late,than never",the role of Indian government in according them due dignity,though belated,deserves appreciation.

India's call to its vibrant diaspora,today,is limited not merely to the elitist section.It has a mass appeal comprising white-collar as well as blue-collar individuals.We recognise India's aspirations vis-a-vis diaspora,but also diaspora's aspirations vis-a-vis India.India's aspirations with respect to diaspora pertains to their contribution in sending remittances,foreign investments and providing creative leadership and human capital which raises the country's economic standing.Nevertheless,the Indian government's efforts in merging PIO and OCI schemes together,life-time visas to overseas Indians and other initiatives like 'Trace the root' programmes are directed towards fulfilling the aspirations of diaspora vis-a-vis India.

Most importantly,our diaspora community helps in enhancing India's image as a credible soft power.In the age of globalisation,economic diplomacy has gained credence which is a function of a nation's soft power.In countries like USA,Canada and Australia,Indian diaspora forms a sizeable population and ignoring their concerns could hardly be afforded at any cost.It is not to be forgotten that the landmark Indo-US nuclear agreement was partly carried forward through the persistent efforts by the Indian community residing in USA.Therefore the Indian diaspora is as much an asset to India as its native citizens.

Tribals in India-problems and remedies

Tribals constitute 8.14 percent of the total population and 15 percent of the total area of the country.They are dispersed spatially in north-western,western,southern,central and north-eastern parts of India.The Indian constitution protects the tribals through the fifth and sixth schedules guaranteeing them special rights and privileges.The fifth schedule mandates the creation of Tribal Advisory Council(TAC) that look after tribal interests and advises the governor when necessary.Similarly the sixth schedule confers legislative and executive powers on autonomous regional councils and autonomous district councils in the states of Tripura,Assam.Meghalaya and Mizoram.

Despite numerous constitutional and executive safeguards,there is gross violation of the rights of tribals.The UPA government had constituted Xaxa committee to look into the issue of tribal rights.Its report is in the public domain now.The report explicitly mentions that the absence of state accountability and responsibility is the core issue that contributes to the plight of the tribals.That said,it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the tribals have uninterrupted access to forest produce and their land rights are protected.But,in reality,the government either remains indifferent or uses state machinery to initiate steps against the interests of the tribals.

It is often found that the government notifies rural area as an urban area to exclude it from the purview of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas(PESA,which extends to fifth schedule areas) act.Further,in scheduled areas,tribal lands cannot be transferred to non-tribes.Yet,at times,Cabinet Committee on Investment(CCI) takes hasty decisions which negates the approval of Gram Sabha.The Tribal Advisory Council(TAC) has largely become a bureaucratic body with government members in it.Such a body would likely take steps promoting the interests of the state and industrialists.

It was quite unfortunate that the state police registered FIR against the tribal leaders who voiced against the proposed project,as in the case of POSCO project..Rather than suppressing them through force,the government needs to engage them in dialogue while ensuring them confidence,reassurance,rehabilitation and most importantly compensation.The government is serious about amending the land bill,2013 which bypasses consent and Social Impact Assessment(SIA) on certain category of projects.It is of utmost importance to take into consideration the rights of the tribals on their land and forest while invoking the clause of 'eminent domain'for developmental purposes.

The Xaxa committee had recommended setting up of 'cells' in order for the governor to properly carry out duties of the post vis-a-vis protection of tribes.This itself points to the situation where the Governor seems to have failed in carrying out his constitutional role.The Andhra pradesh model is worth emulating where the tribal cooperatives are actively engaged in mining activities.A progressive step would be to return the land to the owners when the mines get exhausted.This would require certain legislative measures like the amendment of coal bearing areas act,1957.The government could use the unused land for the rehabilitation of tribals instead of selling it off.

Land problems apart,the government should tale steps facilitating the education of tribal children.The school infrastructure as well as capacity building measures should be strengthened.If at all,the tribal children needs to be shifted to schools in mainstream areas,adequate attention on native language of the tribes is essential.Finally,a functioning and corruption-free state and local administration for the effective delivery of public services holds the key to tribal welfare.Article 21 of the Indian constitution guarantees right to life and personal liberty.The suspension of this fundamental right in tribal areas does not augur well for a evolving democratic nation like India.

The heart-rending aircraft accidents in recent times

2014 was a disastrous year for the global aviation industry.The sudden disappearance of MH 370,the shooting down of an aircraft in conflict-ridden Ukrainian province and more recently the accident of an Air-Asia flight raises several question on safety in airspace.Although there were no traces of MH 370 and the black box of the Air-Asia plane is yet to be retrieved to draw on precise causes of the accident,certain facts are particularly worth-noting.

The European Aviation Safety Agency(EASA),in its 2010 survey,noted that almost 25 percent of the recent aircraft incidents are weather-related.That said,there is a growing phenomena called supercells-a combination of rain,winds,hail,lightning and turbulence.A pilot needs to have adequate know-how on how to steer the aircraft through through this disturbance.Therefore,properly trained pilots is an imperative as pilot error is a very important cause for aircraft accidents.The recent accident of Air-Asia flight was probably due to the rough weather as preliminary reports indicated that the pilot requested the air-traffic control authorities to change the flight level.There is a high likelihood of the pilot being unable to go past the rough weather.

The mechanical failure of airplane cannot be ignored entirely.It may be caused either due to weak airplane parts or the negligence of maintenance personnel.In today's world,fuel efficiency factors a significant role in building the structure of the aircraft.But,the robustness of the aircraft parts in the event of extreme-weather conditions is still a secondary factor in flight trials of the modern aircrafts.

The MH 370 and the Air-Asia flight lost contact with the ground stations before the accident.Thus,improving the radar systems and increasing its coverage even in unforseen circumstances might prove to be handy in preventing disasters.The aircraft communication system is an area that has much scope for improvement.

It would be unfair to ignore the cultural factors too.Due to cultural hierarchy,the pilot may ignore the advice of his subordinates.Conversely,the subordinate may feel hesitant enough to report any snag to the pilot on the first instance.The communication gap,at times,might prove fatal to the safety of the aircraft.A study has revealed that improvement in the work culture play a vital role in averting major aircraft disasters.

Most importantly,the proper training of pilots is paramount for aviation safety.The pilots need to be well trained even in type-aircrafts.It is because two different type-aircrafts might have different operational guidelines, and a minor lapse on the part of the air crew members may create undesirable consequences,at times fatal.

If non-violence is the law of our being,the future is with women-Mahatma Gandhi

"To call woman the weaker sex is a libel,it is man's injustice to woman.If by strength is meant brute strength,then,indeed,is woman less brute than man,If by strength is meant moral power,then,woman is immeasurably superior to man.Without woman,man could not be.If non-violence is the law of our being,the future is with woman.Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?"
(Mahatma Gandhi,To the women of India published in Young India,1930)

In an address to a group of women students in Lahore,in 1934,Gandhi said"When I was in South Africa,I had realised that if I didn't work for the cause of women,all my work would remain unfinished."That said,Gandhi believed in the abilities of women during his struggle in South Africa.It is ironical that Gandhi was a typical,traditional,Hindu patriarch.He was born and brought up in traditional patriarchal Bania family,which naturally pre-disposed him towards patriarchy.However,certain events in South Africa made him reconsider his decision,and in time,abandon his prejudices towards women.

In Johanessburg,Gandhi and his wife shared their home with a English couple,Henry and Millie Polak.Though the English couple revered Gandhi as a leader,they had differences in their opinions with Gandhi.In one of their arguments,Millie Polak said that the women in the East are treated as subordinate to men.Gandhi then expressed that the East had given the woman a higher position than men.'The east had given her a position of worship'.Gandhi,then,substantiated his view by quoting a mythological instance of how Savitri wrestled with the God of death to rescue Satyavan.Millie polak then responded that the Satyavan-Savitri example vindicates her fact that the East has made woman a subject of man.Millie found Indian women 'always waiting on the pleasure of some man.'

Gandhi gradually reconsidered his patriarchal views through his interaction with Sonja Schlesin,an independent-minded woman.who worked as a secretary to Gandhi in his political works.She was always ready to speak up her mind and even differed with Gandhi in matters of treating woman as equal to man.Further,in his extended visits to England in 1906 and 1909,Gandhi saw how the women suffragetes fought bravely and preferred imprisonment,so that their sisters may get the right to vote.In the last phases of satyagraha in South Africa,Gandhi was quite impressed by the way the Tamil women came out in large numbers to court arrest for their rights.Here,even Gandhi's wife,Kasturba went to jail thus sacrificing herself to the cause of Satyagraha.

Overall,Gandhi transformed himself and realised the power of women through his interaction with women he came into contact with during his struggle in South Africa.His resolve to get men and women together was quite instrumental in furthering the struggle against colonialism in India in later years.
(Ideas borrowed from Ramachandra Guha's book on Gandhi)

Reservation system in India

The history of India is replete with examples where certain sections of the people faced untold discrimination at the hands of certain privileged groups.The constitution makers of India were aware of the century-long historical injustice faced by these sections of the society.Hence,they unanimously agreed to provide reservation benefits to the socially disadvantaged sections of Indian society.The objective of reservation system was to provide equality of opportunity and eradicate caste-based discrimination faced by these vulnerable sections.This is in accordance with the objective of 'social justice' as mentioned explicitly in the preamble and the constitution of India.

The reservation policy has empowered the marginalised communities to participate in the growth of the nation.In the realm of politics,their participation was particularly note-worthy.The rise of Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) in Uttar Pradesh is a case in point where the Dalits were able to assert themselves politically.We have had a Indian president,chief ministers,a speaker of Parliament and a Chief Justice from the Dalit community.In premier educational institutions like IITs and IIMs,students from backward communities are adequately represented.

Yet,after 67 years of independence,a complete eradication of social inequalities remains a far-fetched dream.Despite the positive discrimination,the reservation system failed to fulfill the desired objectives as was expected.Only the privileged of the backward classes continues to avail its benefits while excluding many needy people from its ambit.The tribal communities in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism(LWE) and North-east region do not receive even basic education,leave alone reservation benefits.

Particularly conspicious is the absence of SCs and STs in the realm of culture,media and private companies.Recently, the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies(CDS),conducted a survey in 37 Delhi-based publication companies and television channels.Surprisingly.not a single employee in these institutions belonged to the SC,ST or adivasi communities.This survey brings forth the conclusion that social discrimination continues unabated in Indian society which aspires to be a super power in near future.

Thus,the social condition in India is still not ripe to dismantle the caste-based reservation system.We do need quota system,but it should be better targeted.The government may think of introducing a 'self-destruct' clause,wherein the reservation benefits cease to apply to those who have already benefited through reservation and brought into mainstream.In a phased manner,it should be dismantled which would enable the needy to enter the mainstream society,while giving due importance to promoting merit and efficiency.

Also.in my view,promoting diversity in both public and private institutions.would go a long way in ensuring adequate representation of the disadvantaged sections.The diversity-index based incentive,which would include SCs,STs,OBCs and women would even correct the gender discrimination in employment.The grant of concessions,recognition and subsidies to the private sector should be linked with promoting diversity in their labor force.The principle of diversity based incentive was even mooted by Sachar committee constituted by the former UPA regime.

Above all,the merit and efficiency should not be compromised in any manner.That said.reservation ought not to be used by political parties as a gimmick so as to garner votes.After the Indira-Sahwney judgement,the National Commission of Backward Classes(NCBC) was authorized to identify the backward communities based on detailed survey.The views of NCBC should be taken into consideration while determining the eligible backward communities by the political parties.As former president,Dr.A.P.J.Abdul kalam has very rightly said"India need development politics rather than mere political politics".

Tackling flood problem in Assam

Flood is a recurrent problem in Assam.Almost every year,damaging floods leave a catastrophic impact on human lives,livestock and the economy of the state.In Assam,flood is caused by two major river systems-the Brahmaputra river in the North and the Barak river in the south.The geographical setting of the region,high intensity rainfall due to South-West monsoon,extensive siltation brought down by Brahmaputra river,easily erodible geographical formations and anthrop

ogenic(man-made) causes are primarily responsible for the flood problem in Assam.

The flood damage in the country is pegged in the range of Rs.6000 crore annually.In Assam alone,in 2014,the loss due to flood was estimated to be around 2000 crore.Notwithstanding the multitude of steps taken by the Central and the state governments,the flood situation in the state continues to be grim.We need innovative measures,both structural and non-structural,to tame the deleterious impact of the recurring floods.

First,there is a need of nationwide hydrological data with a decentralisation approach.That said,the state should be in a position to monitor real-time hydrological data without relying excessively on central help.The satellite imageries could be efficiently used to monitor the snow-melt and water distribution in upstream areas of the river.A significant cause of flood is the inadequate information on the amount of water flowing into or out of the reservoirs.The hydrological data would improve flood alert warning systems and would assist in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Second,underground taming of flood waters through the creation of artificial aquifers and storage systems would be an effective measure against flood.Moreover,in the dry seasons,the residual water could be used judiciously for irrigation purposes.A significant portion of water passes as run-off that causes flood in cities like Guwahati.A comprehensive plan to build underground structures at vulnerable locations would be an innovative solution.

Third,desiltation should be carried out through dredging the river-bed.The Brahmaputra is a braided channel river which brings down excessive silt from upstream areas.Consequently.the river exceeds its carrying capacity and overflows its beds,causing floods.Of all the dredgings carried out in the state so far,none turned out to be effective due to the corruption-ridden administration in the state.The development funds are siphoned off,thus creating hardships for the common people.

The customary approach for flood-prevention in Assam is of primarily two fold:embankment construction and building dams.Constructing embankments for decades have been unable to control floods effectively.Moreover,there are concerns about loss of soil-fertility and water-logging due to embankments.Majority of dams in the state are designed for power generation rather than flood prevention.Also,in a highly seismic zone,construction of dams could be carried out only after weighing the pros and cons through extensive research and studies.A harmonious mix of structural and non-structural measures would go a long way in mitigating the recurring flood problem in Assam.