#everydayquiz #theHindu #BusinessStandard #indianExpress
THE HINDU: Uncertainty in Jammu
& Kashmir
BUSINESS STANDARD: Time to rein in
revenue expenditure
#SSC #IBPS #SBI #RBI #NABARD #NICL #NIACL #CAT #NMAT #everydayquiz
THE
HINDU: The unmet health challenge
The first set of data
from the National Family
Health Survey-4 for 13 States
and two Union Territories should be seen as a report card on how effectively
India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional
deprivation, ill-health and lost potential among its citizens, particularly
women and children.
Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the
1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe
undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a
giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, ensuring that no
child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the
Indian state has not viewed the situation — even at the height of a prosperous
phase of economic growth a decade ago — of 39 per cent of children under the
age of five remaining underweight as constituting a national crisis. It comes
as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child
nutrition has left 34 per cent of children in that age group underweight today.
There is also a lot of evidence to show that the deprived sections of India’s
children have low weight even at birth due to the general neglect of women’s
nutrition and well-being.
It is
imperative that the data
coming out of NFHS-4 lead to
the charting of a new policy course that makes access to nutrition and health a
right for all. Asserting this right would require the strengthening of the
Integrated Child Development Services scheme in all States, particularly those
with a higher proportion of underweight and stunted children. In the first set
of data, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh bring up the rear on these crucial metrics of
child development. It deserves mention that even within the ICDS, there is a
clear deficit in caring for the needs of children under three. Nutrition in the
first two or three years of a child’s life has a lasting impact on her
development; care given in later years, including freshly cooked meals at
school, cannot undo the setback caused by neglect during this foundational
phase. Other key areas requiring intervention are access to antenatal care,
reduction of high levels of anaemia among women, and immunisation; it is a
cause for concern that a State such as Tamil Nadu with an active public health
system recorded a reduced rate of full child immunisation compared with NFHS-3
data. Overall, there is a need to assess the health of citizens more frequently
than the current NFHS cycle of seven to 10 years allows. Data gathered every
two or three years would help make timely policy corrections. A fuller picture
of the health of urban and rural Indians will emerge later in the year when
data for all States become available. They should send out the message that
sustained economic growth is not possible without state support to achieve the
well-being of the population, especially women and children.
un·met
(of a
requirement) not achieved or fulfilled.
al·ter
Change or cause
to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but
significant way.
dis·mal
Depressing;
dreary.
nutritional
Of or relating
to or providing nutrition; "nutritional information"
dep·ri·va·tion
The damaging
lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
po·ten·tial
Having or
showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future
undernourishment
Not having
enough food to develop or function normally
en·light·ened
Having or
showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.
quest
A long or
arduous search for something.
pros·per·ous
Successful in
material terms; flourishing financially
im·per·a·tive
Of vital
importance; crucial.
rear
The back part
of something, especially a building or vehicle.
set·back
A reversal or
check in progress.
an·te·na·tal
Before birth;
during or relating to pregnancy; prenatal.
a·ne·mi·a
A condition
marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood,
resulting in pallor and weariness.
immunisation
Immunization:
the act of making immune (especially by inoculation)
THE HINDU: Uncertainty in Jammu
& Kashmir
Speculation continues to
get free play about the next steps in government
formation in Jammu and Kashmir. Since Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed’s death on
January 7 and the subsequent imposition of Governor’s Rule in the State, his
daughter Mehbooba Mufti has studiedly refused to reveal her hand.
Unsurprisingly, the air is thick with talk of various scenarios. The numbers in
the effectively 87-member Assembly are such that the Peoples Democratic Party’s
options are seen to be many. With 27 MLAs, it could ditch the BJP’s 25 and form
a government with the Congress’s 12 and a handful of Independents. The PDP
could assert its centrality to the BJP’s ambition to revive its first stint in
government in the State by renegotiating terms. Or it could force elections and
thereby hope to reverse the perceived loss of popular support over its embrace
of the BJP. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference is
the PDP’s competitor in what is practically a zero-sum game in the Valley,
tried this week to reinforce the impression of a party out comparison-shopping
in the sombre aftermath of its patriarch’s death, when he wrote an open letter
to Ms. Mufti asking her to “rise to the occasion or step back” — in other
words, form a government or let the Assembly be dissolved. Ms. Mufti appears to
be holding all the cards, but her dilemmas too are obvious. These range from
stemming dissent in the PDP’s ranks to consolidating its traditional political
space as a party that professes allegiance to New Delhi while administering the
“healing touch” to the widest possible cross-section of the State’s population,
including separatist supporters.
In early
2015, it had taken all of Mufti Sayeed’s stature and goodwill from his 2002-05
stint as Chief Minister to pull off the most
unexpected of coalitions, with the BJP. He had spoken of the need for the
Valley to pull along with the Jammu region, where the BJP had done
spectacularly well, and the PDP sought to embed the coalition in a
forward-looking Agenda for the Alliance, seeking greater understanding from
Delhi for the unique identity of Kashmir and enhanced funding for development.
That conciliatory framework sustained pressure on many counts during the past
year. One, the breakdown in the ceasefire along the border dimmed hopes of
normalising ties and reviving commercial and people-to-people contacts with
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Two, delivery of development funds, especially a
rehabilitation package for the 2014 floods, was too long drawn out. And three,
the creeping into Kashmiri public life of Hindutva issues like consumption of
beef and J&K’s flag resulted in suspicion about the BJP’s political agenda,
among the population and also within the PDP. These are the circumstances in
which Ms. Mufti must revisit the mandate of 2014. Indeed, there is a need for
her to step up, and to do so urgently. She needs to find her voice to
articulate the vision that guides her in this extended moment of transition.
J&K cannot afford this uncertainty to play out much longer.
spec·u·la·tion
The forming of
a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.
sub·se·quent
Coming after
something in time; following.
im·po·si·tion
The action or
process of imposing something or of being imposed.
ditch
A narrow
channel dug in the ground, typically used for drainage alongside a road or the
edge of a field.
som·ber
Dark or dull in
color or tone; gloomy.
af·ter·math
The
consequences or aftereffects of a significant unpleasant event.
stem
Originate in or
be caused by.
dis·sent
Hold or express
opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially
expressed.
al·le·giance
Loyalty or
commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or
cause.
break·down
A mechanical
failure.
dim
Make or become
less bright or distinct.
man·date
An official
order or commission to do something.
ar·tic·u·late
(of a person or
a person's words) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and
coherently.
INDIAN
EXPRESS: Dancer and dance
Bharatanatyam was her
chosen dance form. But Mrinalini Sarabhai, who passed away aged 97 on Thursday,
was more than a great Bharatanatyam dancer and guru. Her persona encompassed
multiple identities and gave her the aura of a public intellectual and an
institution builder. In a sense, she represented the idea of the artist as a
nation builder, a role she assumed naturally after having grown up in a family
that was immersed in the national movement.
Mrinalini was born
into wealth and was educated in Switzerland and Shantiniketan. She realised
early in her life that she was a dancer and trained under eminent gurus like
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Mylapore Gowri Ammal and the Kathakali maestro, Guru
Kunchu Kurup. She was exposed to Western art traditions, but Rabindranath
Tagore came to be the preeminent influence in her life and art. Her idea of the
nation and art, unsurprisingly, was expansive and bereft of narrow nationalistic
or parochial influences. She was a dancer, choreographer, writer and teacher,
and Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, the institution she built in Ahmedabad,
trained students in dance, drama, music and puppetry. Mrinalini’s mother’s
family had its roots in Kerala but her mother, Ammu Swaminathan, had come into
her own as a political activist in Madras. A Gandhian, she nurtured a free and
independent spirit in her children. Mrinalini’s sister, Captain Lakshmi Sehgal,
chose to become a doctor and led the Indian National Army’s women contingent.
Mrinalini’s partner-in-life was an equally celebrated figure, Vikram Sarabhai,
who founded the Indian space programme. The Sarabhais were a major industrial
house in Gujarat, known for philanthropy and support to the national movement.
Dance was a metaphor
for civilisational values in Mrinalini’s life, and the dancer and the dance
were indistinguishable.
per·so·na
The aspect of
someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others.
en·com·pass
Surround and
have or hold within.
au·ra
The distinctive
atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person,
thing, or place.
im·merse
Dip or submerge
in a liquid.
em·i·nent
(of a person)
famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession
pre·em·i·nent
Surpassing all
others; very distinguished in some way.
be·reft
Archaic past
participle of bereave.
pa·ro·chi·al
Of or relating
to a church parish.
nur·ture
Care for and
encourage the growth or development of.
met·a·phor
A figure of
speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it
is not literally applicable.
in·dis·tin·guish·a·ble
Not able to be
identified as different or distinct.
BUSINESS STANDARD: Time to rein in
revenue expenditure
In the run-up to the Narendra Modi-led central
government's third Union Budget, its commitment to fiscal consolidation is
being closely watched. The importance of stability in a financially turbulent
world cannot be underestimated. Therefore, the logic of conservative fiscal
management is beyond question. There have, however, been some doubts over the
fiscal road map the government had committed to, born of a series of warnings
about the inevitable trade-off between deficit reduction and Plan expenditure in
the coming year. In addition, low nominal growth means targets are harder to
meet when expressed as a percentage of nominal output. The government has
sought to set these worries to rest. But there is no question that several
fiscal road-blocks lie in the immediate future. One is the need to move forward
on public sector bank recapitalisation - a focus on them raising some of that
money in the markets is good, but in practice will be hampered in the future by
their low market capitalisation when compared to how much they will need to
deal with stressed assets and Basel-III regulations.
Another possible fiscal road block is the implementation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission award. The finance minister suggested after receiving the Commission's report that the impact of the award would amount to 0.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). This would make his Budget process, and meeting his deficit reduction targets, that much more difficult. It is time, perhaps, for some innovative approaches to the Pay Commission award. As a report in this newspaper indicated, one possibility is that its implementation could simply be staggered or delayed for a year. This should not mean, of course, that arrears are built up to be paid in the subsequent fiscal year; it should just be a straightforward delay. While there will no doubt be protests from government employees, it is likely that in the current low-inflation environment, these protests will be muted. In any case, there will be few political costs in the short term. The ruling party is only competitive in one of the coming elections to state Assemblies, in Assam; and the Pay Commission award will hardly be a make-or-break election issue in that state. Delaying the award will, however, have a significant up-side. It will allow the fiscal consolidation process to continue steadily, without compromising on infrastructure expenditure. There are other areas of revenue expenditure like subsidies where closer scrutiny could lead to lower spend. The government had raised its commitment to infrastructure expenditure by an estimated Rs 70,000 crore in 2015-16, but the impact of that has been limited. The spending needs to be more sustained to be effective and it would help if the government could rein in its revenue expenditure and boost capital expenditure, which this year would languish at about 13 per cent of the total size of the government's Budget.
In the end, what matters above all is a government's credibility. The government has built up some credibility by accepting targets chosen before it came into office, and by meeting them last financial year. This year, too, the fiscal signs have been positive. The first eight months of 2015-16 saw the fiscal deficit reach 87 per cent of the full year's target, as opposed to the 98.9 per cent it touched in the equivalent period in the previous financial year. Meanwhile, Plan expenditure was relatively front-loaded. A closer look at its revenue expenditure would enhance this reputation for responsibility. It might even create space for a more creative approach to the fiscal consolidation road map. It will have an opportunity then to move the debate away from specific numbers
Another possible fiscal road block is the implementation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission award. The finance minister suggested after receiving the Commission's report that the impact of the award would amount to 0.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). This would make his Budget process, and meeting his deficit reduction targets, that much more difficult. It is time, perhaps, for some innovative approaches to the Pay Commission award. As a report in this newspaper indicated, one possibility is that its implementation could simply be staggered or delayed for a year. This should not mean, of course, that arrears are built up to be paid in the subsequent fiscal year; it should just be a straightforward delay. While there will no doubt be protests from government employees, it is likely that in the current low-inflation environment, these protests will be muted. In any case, there will be few political costs in the short term. The ruling party is only competitive in one of the coming elections to state Assemblies, in Assam; and the Pay Commission award will hardly be a make-or-break election issue in that state. Delaying the award will, however, have a significant up-side. It will allow the fiscal consolidation process to continue steadily, without compromising on infrastructure expenditure. There are other areas of revenue expenditure like subsidies where closer scrutiny could lead to lower spend. The government had raised its commitment to infrastructure expenditure by an estimated Rs 70,000 crore in 2015-16, but the impact of that has been limited. The spending needs to be more sustained to be effective and it would help if the government could rein in its revenue expenditure and boost capital expenditure, which this year would languish at about 13 per cent of the total size of the government's Budget.
In the end, what matters above all is a government's credibility. The government has built up some credibility by accepting targets chosen before it came into office, and by meeting them last financial year. This year, too, the fiscal signs have been positive. The first eight months of 2015-16 saw the fiscal deficit reach 87 per cent of the full year's target, as opposed to the 98.9 per cent it touched in the equivalent period in the previous financial year. Meanwhile, Plan expenditure was relatively front-loaded. A closer look at its revenue expenditure would enhance this reputation for responsibility. It might even create space for a more creative approach to the fiscal consolidation road map. It will have an opportunity then to move the debate away from specific numbers
rein
A long, narrow
strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or
check a horse while riding or driving.
tur·bu·lent
Characterized
by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not controlled or calm.
con·serv·a·tive
Holding to
traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation,
typically in relation to politics or religion.
in·ev·i·ta·ble
Certain to
happen; unavoidable.
ham·per
Hinder or
impede the movement or progress of.
stag·ger
Walk or move
unsteadily, as if about to fall.
scru·ti·ny
Critical
observation or examination.
rein
A long, narrow
strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or
check a horse while riding or driving.
e·quiv·a·lent
Equal in value,
amount, function, meaning, etc.
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