#Everydayquiz Welcomes you. #Read daily:) #improve English #TheHindu #BusinessStandard #IndianExpress
THE HINDU: A racist turn in Bengaluru
Less
than four months after an Australian
man was violently harassed for
sporting a tattoo of an Indian goddess, Bengaluru is in the news again, for
sinking to new lows of bigotry and vigilantism.
This time it was a Tanzanian woman at the receiving end of mob fury. It
all reportedly began with an accident in which a Sudanese national drove his
car over a 35-year-old woman, killing her. A mob quickly gathered, determined
to mete out instant justice. When he managed to flee, his car was burnt down.
Half an hour later, a Tanzanian student who happened to be passing by with her
friends stopped by to inquire what was going on. The mob turned its ire on her
and her three friends even though they were in no way connected to the Sudanese
man involved in the accident — other than being, in the eyes of the mob, of the
same race as the Sudanese, African. She was chased, assaulted, and had her
clothes torn by the mob before being rescued. Her car, too, was torched. The
incident occurred on Sunday, but the police did not register a complaint until
Tuesday. The lackadaisical response of the law and order machinery prompted the
Tanzanian High Commission to register a protest with the Indian government.
This, in turn, prompted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to write to
Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah. By Thursday, four suspects
had been arrested and
investigations are currently on.
The
entire episode raises a disturbing question: is it any longer possible, or even
plausible, to express shock at what has happened? Such acts of violence are not
peculiar to Bengaluru alone. Indeed, something like this did happen, not too
long ago, in Delhi. Under the controversial guidance of a Law Minister of the
State, African women were branded as ‘prostitutes’ and molested in a ‘midnight
raid’. The Bengaluru mob, too, seems to have given free rein to racism. The
repeated targeting of Africans suggests a case of pathological colourism —
discrimination and hostility directed against dark-skinned people. Indians’
cultural preference for fair skin is well known, and amply attested by the vast
market for fairness creams. It is quite common to find people remark admiringly
on how ‘fair’ a newborn baby is. And matrimonial advertisements are notorious
for seeking ‘fair’ brides. However, to reduce the depressing message from this
episide to skin colour alone would be to underestimate the discrimination and
violence in India against those who are visibly ‘different’. Some years ago, Bengaluru saw an exodus of young
people from northeastern
India residing in the city after rumours spread of violence targeting them. In
the national capital, even as the megalopolis becomes more cosmopolitan, the
periodicity of assaults on residents from the northeast is such that there
appears to be a pattern. Certainly, both the citizenry and the law and order
machinery need to be sensitised to the prejudices. But the task can only be
achieved if strong political expression is given to the essential value of
diversity and tolerance.
rac·ist
A person who
believes that a particular race is superior to another.
big·ot·ry
Intolerance
toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
vigilantism
The actions of
a vigilance committee in trying to enforce the laws
low
(of a cow) make
a characteristic deep sound.
fu·ry
Wild or violent
anger
meted, meting. 1. to distribute or apportion by measure; allot; dole
(usually followed by out): to mete out punishment.
ire
Anger.
as·sault
Make a physical
attack on.
torch
Set fire to.
lack·a·dai·si·cal
Lacking
enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.
prompt
(of an event or
fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling).
plau·si·ble
(of an argument
or statement) seeming reasonable or probable.
pe·cu·liar
Strange or odd;
unusual.
amply
To an ample
degree or in an ample manner; "these voices were amply represented";
"we benefited richly"
meg·a·lop·o·lis
A very large,
heavily populated city or urban complex.
pe·ri·o·dic·i·ty
The quality or
character of being periodic; the tendency to recur at intervals.
.
as·sault
Make a physical
attack on.
THE
HINDU: Mehbooba Mufti must take a call
Peoples
Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti finally sent out a clear message to the Bharatiya
Janata Party this week. The
Centre, she said, must initiate Jammu and Kashmir-specific confidence building
measures to “create an atmosphere congenial for [the] formation of the new
government”, and announce a timeline to implement the Agenda for Alliance that
the BJP signed on to when it joined the PDP-led government headed by her
father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. His death a month ago created a political vacuum
that Ms. Mufti appeared reluctant to fill in a hurry. She was not just mourning
the death of a father who was a mentor and a comrade, but like her party
colleagues, she too was not keen to continue with the alliance. In the 10
months that the Mufti government held office, the PDP saw a steady erosion in
its support base, with the advantage perceived to be going to the National
Conference and the Congress. This was largely because the BJP had used the time
to promote the Sangh Parivar’s agenda. When Mr. Sayeed agreed last year to a
political arrangement with the BJP, it was based as much on his reading of the
election results as it was on an agreement to honour the Agenda of Alliance
that eschewed controversial issues. The expectation was that aligning the PDP
with the BJP would lead the Centre to cast an indulgent eye on Jammu and
Kashmir’s developmental needs.
However,
the BJP’s national leadership allowed its State unit to foment trouble,
instigated controversies on sensitive issues ranging from consumption of beef
to flying the State flag alongside the national tricolour, thereby unsettling
the atmosphere needed for good governance. Mr. Sayeed’s death has provided the
PDP the opportunity to hit the pause button to remind the BJP of its
obligations and, from a partisan perspective, recover lost political ground.
The BJP has sought time to consider its options: its State unit is eager to
form a government again, but the national leadership has not demonstrated any
eagerness in this direction. While it is not clear how much should be read into
the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit Mr. Sayeed when he was
being treated in a Delhi hospital, it is evident that there has been no visible
overture from any senior BJP leader after his death either. But differences
between alliance partners cannot be sufficient reason for any brinkmanship that
could jeopardise governance. Indeed, it is only after Governor N.N. Vohra took
the initiative to communicate the requirement that there has been any movement.
As constitutional expert A.G. Noorani argues, the PDP-BJP government has not
lost its majority in the House, and the creation of “a political deadlock for
political reasons” should not be permitted. It is clearly time that Ms. Mufti
bit the bullet and accepted the responsibility of providing the troubled State
with a government — or stepped up to the situation and said that her party is
out of the reckoning in the government-formation process.
take a call
take a decision
con·gen·ial
(of a person)
pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to
one's own.
vac·u·um
A space
entirely devoid of matter.
re·luc·tant
Unwilling and
hesitant; disinclined.
mourn·ing
The expression
of deep sorrow for someone who has died, typically involving following certain
conventions such as wearing black clothes.
e·ro·sion
The process of
eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.
es·chew
Deliberately
avoid using; abstain from.
fo·ment
Instigate or
stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
ea·ger·ness
Enthusiasm to
do or to have something; keenness.
o·ver·ture
An introduction
to something more substantial.
brink·man·ship
The art or
practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before
stopping, typically in politics.
jeop·ard·ize
Put (someone or
something) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or
failure.
dead·lock
A situation,
typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made.
reck·on
Establish by
counting or calculation; calculate.
BUSINESS STANDARD: Govt should make MGNREGA irrelevant
The 10th anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has seen some unseemly
political point-scoring between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central
government and the opposition Congress. The Congress, which had legislated and
implemented the scheme a decade ago when in power, has long sought to exert
ownership over MGNREGA in order to reap political dividends - even though the
evidence suggests that it was implemented better in states that had
non-Congress governments. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance
government released a statement declaring that MGNREGA was a cause for
"national pride" and insisted that the scheme had been transformed
over the past 20 months that it has been in power - in spite of data suggesting
that a fewer percentage of households are accessing the full 100 days of work
promised under the scheme, and consistent complaints from states about delays
in the sanctioning of funds. The NDA's attempt to own the scheme, while in
keeping with its new-found rural focus, is a significant departure from past
statements by its leaders about the scheme's utility.
However, this political point-scoring about the scheme is more than just unseemly - it also misses the point. The fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on to something when he said in Parliament last year that it was a "monument to failures". The point of MGNREGA is to provide a safety net to the rural destitute. It features a design unusual for Indian welfare programmes in that it contains within it the ability to wither away when it is no longer needed. It offers a pittance for hard work - which means that welfare recipients are self-selected among the destitute. But this also means that, with increasing rural prosperity and access to insurance or methods of improving consumption across time, fewer and fewer households should choose to take it up, preferring other ways of keeping themselves away from absolute poverty. However, that clearly has not happened. The years of high rural wage growth till 2014 held out the promise that MGNREGA would eventually wither away. But, since then, rural wage growth has been stagnant. Meanwhile, two successive poor and erratic monsoons mean that demand for the scheme has spiked.
Agriculture remains the most unreformed sector of the Indian economy. Some progress is being made to fix this, with electronic mandis being established in order to ease agricultural marketing, and with proposals for land-leasing to enable the consolidation of holdings finally on the horizon. But the absence of secure and reasonably compensated jobs in rural areas continues to be a problem. The truth is that, while MGNREGA may perform a vital function in the given situation, it is not a cure for rural distress but only a palliative. A more sustained focus on raising productivity in rural areas is needed, but has been missing in successive governments. Instead of resting on its laurels, the Congress should accept that MGNREGA is indeed an admission of other failures. And the government, instead of loudly claiming to have transformed the scheme, should instead worry about how it is going to transform agriculture, and render MGNREGA irrelevant.
However, this political point-scoring about the scheme is more than just unseemly - it also misses the point. The fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on to something when he said in Parliament last year that it was a "monument to failures". The point of MGNREGA is to provide a safety net to the rural destitute. It features a design unusual for Indian welfare programmes in that it contains within it the ability to wither away when it is no longer needed. It offers a pittance for hard work - which means that welfare recipients are self-selected among the destitute. But this also means that, with increasing rural prosperity and access to insurance or methods of improving consumption across time, fewer and fewer households should choose to take it up, preferring other ways of keeping themselves away from absolute poverty. However, that clearly has not happened. The years of high rural wage growth till 2014 held out the promise that MGNREGA would eventually wither away. But, since then, rural wage growth has been stagnant. Meanwhile, two successive poor and erratic monsoons mean that demand for the scheme has spiked.
Agriculture remains the most unreformed sector of the Indian economy. Some progress is being made to fix this, with electronic mandis being established in order to ease agricultural marketing, and with proposals for land-leasing to enable the consolidation of holdings finally on the horizon. But the absence of secure and reasonably compensated jobs in rural areas continues to be a problem. The truth is that, while MGNREGA may perform a vital function in the given situation, it is not a cure for rural distress but only a palliative. A more sustained focus on raising productivity in rural areas is needed, but has been missing in successive governments. Instead of resting on its laurels, the Congress should accept that MGNREGA is indeed an admission of other failures. And the government, instead of loudly claiming to have transformed the scheme, should instead worry about how it is going to transform agriculture, and render MGNREGA irrelevant.
un·seem·ly
(of behavior or
actions) not proper or appropriate.
mon·u·ment
A statue,
building, or other structure erected to commemorate a famous or notable person
or event.
des·ti·tute
Without the
basic necessities of life.
To
wither Away:
to shrivel; fade; decay: The grapes had
withered on the vine. 2. to lose the freshness of youth, as from age (often
followed by away)
pit·tance
A very small or
inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage.
er·rat·ic
Not even or
regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
spike
Impale on or
pierce with a sharp point.
dis·tress
Extreme
anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
pal·li·a·tive
(of a treatment
or medicine) relieving pain or alleviating a problem without dealing with the
underlying cause.
lau·rel
Any of a number
of shrubs and other plants with dark green glossy leaves, in particular:
rend·er
Provide or give
(a service, help, etc.).
INDIAN EXPRESS: Battle-ready
China’s formal
reorganisation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — from seven “military
regions” into five “battle zones” — is the last step in its biggest military
overhaul in decades. It’s aimed at building a force that, according to
President Xi Jinping, “can win modern wars”. Unifying the branches of the PLA
under a single command structure for the first time, Monday’s exercise also
consolidates the Party’s grip over the military. Announced by Xi during last
September’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, this
revamp also involves adding new units and cutting troop numbers to streamline
the forces.
China’s military has
been rapidly modernising under Xi, and the latest changes are meant to project
Beijing’s power. When China last reorganised its military regions in 1985, its
primary concern was still the Soviet Union to the north. Today, Beijing’s
geopolitical focus is on the South China and East China Seas, its restive
western region, as well as the US pivot to Asia. The new command theatres
relieve the military zones of administrative responsibility and refocus them on
a single job — warfare. As such, notwithstanding Beijing’s claim that its
“defensive” defence policy will continue, China’s neighbours are concerned by
this implicit declaration of battle-readiness at a time when Beijing’s
territorial claims in the disputed waters have become very aggressive.
The tension has been
amplified by China’s reclamation and construction activity on submerged reefs
and by US warships sailing close to these artificial islands. On Tuesday, US
Defence Secretary Ash Carter clarified that the Pentagon’s plans for increased
spending on sophisticated weapons for the fiscal year 2017 are focused firmly
on China’s designs. Given the centrality of maritime Asia-Pacific to the
geopolitics of the 21st century, there’s a sense of inevitability to these
developments. Yet, even as alliances are made or broken, caution and sobriety
must be recommended on all sides.
o·ver·haul
Take apart (a
piece of machinery or equipment) in order to examine it and repair it if
necessary.
com·mem·o·ra·tion
Remembrance,
typically expressed in a ceremony.
re·vamp
Give new and
improved form, structure, or appearance to.
troop
A group of
soldiers, especially a cavalry unit commanded by a captain, or an airborne
unit.
res·tive
(of a person)
unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control,
especially because of impatience, dissatisfaction, or boredom.
not·with·stand·ing
In spite of.
im·plic·it
Implied though not
plainly expressed.
reef
Each of the
several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to reduce the
area exposed to the wind.
inevitability
The quality of
being unavoidable
so·bri·e·ty
The state of
being sober.
so·ber
Not affected by
alcohol; not drunk.
source: everydayquiz.blogspot.com
Link for Downloading our blog android App >>>Click here
No comments:
Post a Comment