Panagariya to be NITI Aayog's vice-chairman

The vice-chairman would be of Cabinet rank; PM to head Aayog, which will also have full-time and part-time members

Renowned pro-growth economist Arvind Panagariya will be the first vice-chairman of the newly announced NITI Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commission, a government source told Business Standard. An official announcement to this effect would be made next week. The vice-chairman would be of Cabinet rank.

The new body — the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog — will be headed by the prime minister, and comprise a vice-chairperson, besides full-time and part-time members.

The Aayog will have a governing council, comprising all chief ministers and lieutenant governors, and will work towards fostering co-operative federalism for providing a national agenda to the Centre and states.

Panagariya, mentored by trade economist Jagdish Bhagwati, is one of the main brains behind the recent labour reforms in Rajasthan. He was vice-chairman of Rajasthan chief minister’s economic advisory council.

Jagdish Bhagwati, professor of Indian political economy at Columbia University, is a pro-reform economist and ran a lively debate with Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on the issue of redistribution of wealth and economic growth.

Panagariya, a columnist in Business Standard, along with Bhagwati had argued that economic growth should be given priority, as without it, social goals are difficult to meet.

Panagariya was also the chief economist at Asian Development Bank. He holds a PhD degree in economics from Princeton University. He is also an editor of the India Policy Forum, a journal modelled on the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity and jointly published by the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, and the National Council on Applied Economic Research, New Delhi.

His technical papers have been printed in the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of International Economics, and International Economic Review. Besides, his policy papers have appeared in the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, World Economy, Journal of International Affairs and Finance and Development.

Learning lacunae

A report in the formation of a task force by HRD Ministry to formulate a national education policy, based on the feedback from villages and blocks, points to the government’s indifference towards educational reform. President Pranab Mukherjee, in his 65th Republic Day address, described corruption as a form of “cancer that is eroding democracy and weakening the foundation of the State.” Such malady as rampant corruption, violence, terrorism, social vices and unrest has brought the country’s culture, tradition and peace to the brink of damnation. Incidentally, mankind has a deeper dimension beyond the body and the brain. The mere enactment of laws and the creation of vigilance entities as the Lokpal are not sufficient as correctives to address such maladies.

To understand the reasons behind the present mindset of the masses, it is necessary to recall Lord Macanlay’s address in the British Parliament in February 1835 ~ “I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such moral values, people of such calibre that I do not think we would even conquer this country, unless we break the backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture. For if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose self-esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

Thus it was that in the scheme of education under the British, India’s traditional moral lessons in matters religious were virtually jettisoned. The contemporary worthies, with myopic vision, hailed the new education system, believing that moral principles and values had outlived their utility in the era of scientific renaissance.

Swami Vivekananda had grasped the baneful effects of the absence of proper coordination and harmony among the various faculties of body, brain and mind in the British system of education. He had pointed out unambiguously that religious lessons, preaching moral principles were the life of Indians that form their character and when removed, the country will die under the weight of immorality in spite of social reforms, scientific advancement and material gains. He stressed the need for adequate facilities to stimulate the spiritual instincts of boys and girls in the new materialistic education. This was reaffirmed by Mahatma Gandhi who maintained that unless the body, brain and mind went hand in hand with the in-parallel awakening of the soul; all materialistic development would be lopsided.

The continuation of the legacy of “raj education” in independent India has heightened desires, multiplied wants, miseries, clashes, conflicts. In the net, the soul of society has been destroyed. The supreme edifice of philosophical thoughts has been pulled down to the level of sordid utilitarianism. This has undermined the process, the very foundation of their cultural life. It has dislodged people’s love for their language and literature, their appreciation of the arts and worst of all, their faith in traditions and religions. The malignant maladies are the crude manifestations of Vivekananda’s foreboding.

India continues to make do with deficient colonial education in schools, the main platform for mass education. The country has been ranked 126th out of 175 in the 2006 Human Development Report. “The education,” said Vivekananda, “which does not help the common masses of people to equip themselves for the struggle of life, which does not bring out their strength of character, spirit of self-sacrifice and philanthropy and the courage of a lion, is as worthless as a Dead Sea apple.” He described real education as the one which enables one to stand on one’s legs, helps him to manifest the perfection already in him. It has to be a creative force in life and must be based on religion to seek fulfillment through the service of humanity in a spirit of worship. He emphasised a scheme of education that includes imparting scientific knowledge and rendering moral lessons to hold up the Indian religious spirit, meet the national temperament and balance the national character. He stressed that a healthy social order can never be built without a strong moral character of the masses. “Education”, according to Vivekananda, is “a training by which expressions of will are brought under control and become fruitful.”

There is no time for more pious platitudes with regard to educational reform. Urgent steps are necessary for the incorporation of Vivekananda’s ideals in the school curriculum, indeed to rectify and reform mass education. The recovery of traditional knowledge from religious scripts in depth and fullness, its reinstatement in forms adapted to the present needs and practical applications of the knowledge, so gathered, to the development of a healthy economic life and a new social order must constitute the guiding principle of the system of education that is to be evolved and given to the masses for their well-being.

The committee on Religious and Moral Instruction that was previously set up by the Union education ministry had recommended that “the cure of growing maladies and ills of the society lies in deliberate inculcation of moral and spiritual values from the earliest years of lives.” Human faculties and character are in a formative stage right from the time one is a toddler up to the teenage level.

If mass education has to be geared for cultural emancipation, school education should be reformed, specifically to include moral science subjects that will implant in the plastic minds of young boys and girls spiritual and virtuous instincts and develop in them a strong moral character. They should be taught to imbibe a set of virtues and values like truthfulness, honesty, integrity, love, respect, faith, to tolerance, gratitude, devotion, piety, forgiveness, modesty, fellow-feeling, selflessness, services to others etc. by inculcating the uplifting gospels that have been recorded in the ancient scriptures. Provision of weightage on proficiency certificate, pertaining to moral science subjects in future placements in life, might be a way to awaken their parents to the need to accord importance to moral and value education. This will help build up a healthy united society with a strong ethical foundation. Incidentally, in the roadmap unveiled by the President last June, education is a conspicuous exclusion. It appears that the BJP, a party based on faith and culture, is not anxious to change the legacy of materialistic colonial education which is at the core of the present social maladies. Until school education, the main platform of mass education, is reformed to make it ‘man-making’ based on the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister’s dream of a rising India, embellished with pristine glory, cannot be realised.

GYAN SANGAM

Present Government has taken Number of Bold Steps like Introduction of Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST), Amendment of Land Acquisition Act to Revive Infrastructure Growth:FM

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that the present Government has taken number of bold steps like Goods and services Tax (GST). He said that the new Land Acquisition act that was passed by the previous regime had stalled development. He said that the present Government has taken necessary steps to change this Act so as to revive infrastructure growth. The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that risks have to be taken. He said that the positives are that there is an element of decisiveness in the new government and there is large popular support for that. We have taken steps to increase both FDI and the domestic investment to give the big push to manufacturing sector. Excise duties collection was diverted towards to highway Projects to meet their financing requirement. Banks have a major role to play in the financing of infrastructure. Growth in power and other infrastructure sectors needs to be revived. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking at the two day “Retreat for Banks and Financial Institutions” called “ज्ञानसंगम” “Gyan Sangam” at National Institute of Banking Management (NIBM), Pune, Maharashtra which was graced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Shri Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Finance Secretary, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, Regulators, Officers of the Ministry of Finance, top management of all Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Insurance Companies and Financial Institutions (FIs) also attended among others. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further stated that this was a gathering of important people in the banking industry who have assembled at a crucial stage of our economy. The actual situation is that we are trying to bring about transformation in the Indian economy. In the past the rights were being conferred on people one after the other for which we did not have the resources. The result was a slowdown. Risks have to be taken. The positives are that there is an element of decisiveness in the new government and there is large popular support for that. We have taken steps to increase both FDI and the domestic investment to give the big push to manufacturing sector. Excise duties collection was diverted towards to highway Projects to meet their financing requirement. Banks have a major role to play in the financing of infrastructure. Growth in power and other infrastructure sectors needs to be revived. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley stated that both the Prime Minister and he would like to be acquainted about the challenges faced by the PSBs. They would like to know the answers to the questions as to how to get out of the stress created by NPAs and how credit growth can pick up. Government is willing to reconsider the rules. Government is open to bold decisions for professionalization of the management and autonomy in decision making, rewarding merit, and relooking at the recruitment process at the top management level of PSBs.  The government was ready to protect commercial decisions so as to avoid the delay in good decisions.  The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley that Financial Inclusion through PMJDY was taken up in a mission mode. Most of the inactive accounts will become operational with the introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).These account holders will become symbol of the identity of the cashless system.              In the forenoon Session, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia welcomed the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and apprised him of the proceedings of the retreat so far. He informed that the discussion groups have been asked to suggest the important action points for the short term (0 to 12 months) and medium term (13 to 36 months) separately for banks and policy makers. These six groups would then be combined into 3 presentations by the CMDs before the prime Minister. Earlier Chief Economic Advisor Dr. Arvind Subramanian suggested ways by which the banking system can generate and efficiently allocate domestic savings to sustain the investment rate of 35% of GDP to achieve the growth of 8% in medium term. He proposed that the PSBs should be differentiated into weak, good and strong categories and accordingly consolidation and restructuring measures could be applied to them. There should be diversification both within and outside the banking system. There should be better bankruptcy procedures. The current overhang of stressed assets should be resolved by distribution of the pain between promoters, creditors and tax payers. Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Finance Secretary raised the question whether bank nationalisation has been able to achieve the objectives of reaching out to all people and expansion of credit as necessary. He urged that banks need to be healthy to drive 7-8% growth in GDP. Additionally to provide that magnitude of financing, the PSBs need to enhance their capital base. Non-Banking payment solutions like Mobile Banking could be used to reach out to poor people. This may help cashless transactions and thus reduce black money in the system. Government may take a relook at the legal system to deal with wilful defaulters. Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor Reserve Bank of India, stated that banks need to channelize the full savings of the households into the financial system so that requisite financial resources for growth could be made available. He also stated that there is a need for internationalisation of the banking system in the current global environment. In the short term (from 0 to 12 months), he said that there was need to clean up the NPAs and then restructure other stressed loans so as to put the economy back on the track.   The Capital base of the banks may need to be enhanced. He emphasised for the need for consolidation in ownership, improvement in governance, and enhancement of management capability. He stated that with the licensing of the small banks and the payment banks there would be new players in the industry. The competition amongst the PSBs will also grow to meet these challenges. Accordingly, PSBs have to develop differentiated products.  The PSBs need to recruit young talent, train, and retain them. And that the Govt. needs to have a re-look at the campus recruitment which at present is banned because of Supreme Court ruling. Further, he advised that the bona fide mistakes made by the bankers while taking commercial decisions should be protected by the Govt. If the officers are hauled up for such decisions this would to lead to delay in good decisions because of avoidance of risk. Earliar, the morning session started with a talk by Swami Sukhabodhanandji on “Leadership and Change Management”. Thereafter, the groups made presentations about their discussions, findings and recommendations. There was a talk on financial architecture of MSME by Shri K.V. Kamath, who also headed a committee on the same subject.

Here’s looking at you again, Mumbai

Maharashtra is one of India’s most urbanised states, with 5.08 crore people residing in its cities. Soon, 50 per cent of Maharashtra’s total population will be living in cities (currently, it is 45.23 per cent). Today, the state has 265 civic bodies — 26 municipal corporations, seven cantonment boards, 220 municipal councils and 12 nagar panchayats. But the population load on its cities is increasing every day, because of educational, business and job opportunities. The development gulf between the urban and rural parts of the state also encourages the migration of people from rural areas.

Compounding the problems created by this unplanned and unchecked growth of urban centres is the fact that there is little financial or other assistance offered in support of the approved urban development plan. Indeed, cities contribute 60 per cent of the state GDP, but states spend less than

One per cent of that on city development initiatives. Unsurprisingly, this is hampering sustainable urban growth.

My government wants to focus on vital areas that will augment the growth of cities that have become development hubs. A holistic development plan should lay emphasis on housing, roads and surface transport, health, education, economic development and sports infrastructure. Urban development, according to me, should focus on four aspects: planning, governance, financing and sectoral policy.
We want to bring key cities in Maharashtra under a special, timebound urban development programme.

One of the more important decisions in this direction was the long-pending approval of development plans for 22 cities. Our government also wants to launch an independent state urban development mission for 2030, as it is estimated that, by then, more than half the population will live in cities. Accordingly, the state will have an urban infrastructure mission modelled on the smart city idea. This will help push urban infrastructure creation.

To begin with, at least 10 cities will be marked for development along the lines of a smart city. The emphasis will be on creating eco-friendly cities in five years, each with an integrated transport system and a water management and distribution system on the PPPP (public-private-people partnership) model.

After Mumbai, the state government intends to develop Nagpur, Pune and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Our thrust will be on housing for all and co- and satellite-town development. Well-connected quality roads across the state, expressways linking all major cities and four-lane state highways are the major initiatives. This will also aid the faster movement of agricultural produce to cities, which will help address the imbalance between urban and rural development. We believe that cities should not be the only avenues of development and that growth in rural areas will check migration to cities.

Mumbai, the corporate hub of the nation, is not just a money-making machine but a vibrant city. Today, however, it is crumbling. The single biggest problem in the city is the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate housing. Our government wants to improve the quality of life and overall satisfaction of its citizens. Almost 60 per cent of its citizens live in shanties, and their rehabilitation has been a big issue. Also, the transport system has not been able to keep pace with the growing population.

For Mumbai, there have been 17 agencies entrusted with different tasks to manage city issues. But they lack coordination. The city needs an agenda for planned development. For Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune, we have already approved the massive expansion of metro services. For Mumbai alone, we are trying to reduce travel time to one hour. The state recently approved the Wadal-Ghatkopar-Teen Haath Naka (Thane)-Kasar Vadavali metro link. Work on line three, connecting Colaba-Bandra-Seepz, is expected to begin early next
year. Similarly, new metro links for Pune and Nagpur have been approved by the Central government.

Our government is gearing up to take on the challenge of preparing small towns and Tier II cities for the coming demographic change. This will require smart development control rules that enable faster building permissions. The proposed international airport at Navi Mumbai, the coastal road, the trans-harbour sea link and a mesh of elevated corridors are long-awaited solutions to the infrastructure snarl. The development of the coastal road is a priority for Mumbai. An agency is currently working on project reports for it. A proposal is under consideration to undertake work on a 34-kilometre coastal road connecting Nariman Point to Malad.

Another major step is the announcement of new norms for building permissions, which will be granted in seven days to anyone willing to pick from among 56 types of plans and start construction on a freehold. Besides this, floor space index of up to four will be given for the construction of houses for police and public sector enterprise employees.

We are also keen that the Navi Mumbai International Airport becomes operational by 2019. All hurdles have now been cleared, thanks to the Central government. The state has notified the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) as the special planning authority for the Navi Mumbai International Airport Influence Area. Cidco will oversee and regulate development of the airport and nearby areas.

Mumbai and its surrounding areas have a large number of working women, many of whom use suburban rail services to commute. The government railway police has set up a women’s security cell, apart from deputing 632 armed policemen to protect women commuters. This is apart from dedicated cells at each police station across Maharashtra. A special helpline for commuters and a network of CCTV cameras is also operational to prevent atrocities against women. There are also 13 special courts to handle cases of crime against women. Besides, 14 special city civil courts have been sanctioned to deal with such cases. Twenty-five fast-track courts are also being set up, and a special, toll-free helpline (103) has been made operational in cities like Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

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PM's remarks at Gyan Sangam - the Bankers' Retreat in Pune

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon India`s banking sector to establish banks which rank among the top banks of the world. He was speaking at Gyan Sangam - the Bankers` Retreat in Pune. He said it was perhaps the first time that banks had given tasks to the Prime Minister through a presentation. He said the Gyan Sangam reflected team spirit and a collective will to address issues. He described Gyan Sangam as a unique initiative. He said the objective in this bankers` retreat was to find solutions to problems, and this was the first step towards catalyzing transformation. He said informal discussions helped achieve meeting of minds, which in turn enabled strategic goal setting. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the banks in successfully implementing Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. He said this is going to have multiple effects. He said the Jan Dhan Yojana would help redefine goal setting among banks, due to enhanced confidence levels following the success of the programme. The Prime Minister said 7 crore families had benefited from direct cash transfers of LPG subsidy in just three days since January 1st. He said this represented one-third of all families India. He said such achievements should boost confidence. The Prime Minister said the banking sector of a country mirrors its economic rise. Japan and China had banks in the top ten banks of the world during their economic rise. The Prime Minister said banks would be run professionally, and there would be no interference. But accountability was essential. He said the Government had no vested interest, and public sector banks can derive strength from this fact. However, the Prime Minister said India is a democracy. He said he is against political interference, but supports political intervention, in the interest of the people. He said political intervention will enable the voice of the common man to reach such institutions. The Prime Minister said this also highlighted the issue of poor financial literacy in the country. He said today even the common man needed financial literacy. He called upon banks to take the lead in encouraging competitions on financial literacy in schools, much like mock Parliament competitions. The Prime Minister said banks should develop dedicated teams to fight cyber crime. The Prime Minister said that with 81% of branches and 77% of deposits, the net profits should improve from current levels of 45%. The Prime Minister called for developing common strengths among the 27 public sector banks. He suggested this could be done in areas such as software, and advertising. He gave the example of number portability in the telecom sector in this regard. He said this would improve the customer-centric focus of banks. The Prime Minister said public sector banks, as a team, should also be conscious of the direction in which the country is moving, and work towards simplifying procedures to facilitate the common man. The Prime Minister also called upon banks to trust the common man. The Prime Minister said the Swachhta Abhiyan has caught the imagination of the younger generation. He called upon each public sector bank to help develop 20,000 to 25,000 Swachhta entrepreneurs. He also asked banks to prioritize loans to students as this would be a very productive investment for the country. He said the country needs skill development for its youth in a big way, and banks need to take the lead in this. The Prime Minister asked public sector banks to set goals for the 75th anniversary of independence in the country in 2022. He said he had resolved to provide housing for all by 2022, and banks had a huge opportunity here, as 11 crore houses were required. The Prime Minister said banks should redefine parameters for success. For instance, let them prioritize loans to enterprises which will generate more employment, he said. The Prime Minister called for an end to lazy banking, and asked banks to take on a proactive role in helping the common man. The Prime Minister said that as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, banks should take up one sector each year to play a positive role

Text of PM Shri Narendra Modi’s address at the 102nd Indian Science Congress

मैं अपनी बात शुरू करने से पहले, सबसे पहले श्री वसंत गोवारिकर जो हमारे देश के गणमान्य वैज्ञानिक थे और आज ही हमारे बीच नहीं रहे। मैं इसी धरती की संतान और भारत को विज्ञान जगत में आगे बढ़ाने में जिन्होंने बहुत अहम भूमिका निभाई थी ऐसे श्रीमान वसंत गोवारिकर जो को हृदय अंतःकरण पूर्वक श्रृद्धांजलि देता हूं। Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour to participate in the Indian Science Congress. I thank University of Mumbai for hosting this Congress. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress as Chief Minister of Gujarat. I am delighted to return here after ten years. I greatly admire the rich history of this hundred-year old institution. I feel humbled by the work that scientists do. And, I find science and technology an invaluable ally in governance and development. Human civilization has advanced because of the basic human spirit of enquiry and quest for understanding our universe and world. It is a search driven by the belief in what our Vedas described as, Satye Sarvam Pratisthanam – Everything is established in Truth. Science may be the product of human brain. But, it is also driven by the compassion of human heart – the desire to make human life better. We have here with us Nobel Laureates, whose work in science has given new hope against dreaded diseases. We also have one whose own understanding of social science gave the poorest a life of hope, opportunity and dignity. Science and technology has helped reduce poverty and advance prosperity; fight hunger and improve nutrition; conquer diseases, improve health and give a child a better chance to survive; connect us to our loved ones and the world; spread education and awareness; and, given us clean energy that can make our habitat more sustainable. A nation`s progress and its human development are linked to science and technology. In more recent times, China`s emergence as the second biggest global economy is in parallel to its rise to the second place in science and technology activities. Science and technology can also remove national barriers, unify the world and advance peace. It can bring nations, rich and poor, in a shared effort to address global challenges. But, we also know that it can increase inequality, make wars more lethal and damage our environment. Sometimes, we learn about their consequences later, as we did on climate change; sometimes, these are the result of our own choices. For example, information technology was meant to increase efficiency and productivity; sometimes, however, its various distractions can easily overpower us! How often do we sit in meetings and cannot resist the temptation to catch up on our messages! So, when we speak of science and human development, we cannot divorce it from the questions of political decisions; social choices; and of equity, ethics and access. Human development has been the larger purpose and the driving force of Indian scientific pursuits. And, science has helped shape modern India. At the dawn of freedom, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru placed science and technology at the heart of national development. Our scientists launched pioneering research and built outstanding institutions with modest resources that continue to serve us well. Since then, our scientists have placed us at the forefront of the world in many areas. Whenever the world shut its door on us, our scientists responded with the zeal of a national mission. When the world sought our collaboration, they reached out with the openness that is inherent in our society. They have alleviated some of our most acute and pressing challenges of human development. They helped us overcome dependence on others for such basic needs as food. They have secured our borders; supported industrial progress; and, given our people a life of opportunities and dignity. Our scientists put Mangalyaan in the Mars orbit in the first attempt - I must congratulate Radhakrishnan`s team - and their accurate prediction of Cyclone Hudhud saved thousands of lives; our nuclear scientists work for our energy security, and they have also placed India at the Asian forefront in cancer research and treatment. Our achievements give us pride, but they do not blind us to the enormous challenges that we face in India. We are at yet another moment of expectation and excitement, as we were at the birth of independent India. There is a mood of optimism for change in the country; the energy to pursue it; and, confidence to achieve it. But, the dreams we all share for India will depend as much on science and technology as it will on policy and resources - To make our agriculture more resilient and yield more; to develop appropriate and affordable technologies for rural areas; To do more from every drop of water; and, explore the potential of marine resources To preserve our biodiversity; and keep our environment clean To improve healthcare and develop medicines and medical devices that is within the reach of poorest; To make clean energy affordable and its use more efficient; To use technology to realize our dream of housing and sanitation for all; To find our own solutions to make our cities cleaner and more habitable To turn waste into wealth and resources for sustainable infrastructure of the future; To use internet to improve human development To make India a leading manufacturing nation; and a hub for knowledge and technology-intensive industries. To me, the arms of science, technology and innovation must reach the poorest, the remotest and the most vulnerable person. This is an enterprise of national importance in which each of us – Government, Industry, National Laboratories, Universities and research institutions – have to work together. Too often, a discussion on science and technology is reduced to a question of budgets. It is important; and I am confident that it will continue to grow. But, our own achievements have shown that very often a need and vision and passion are more important than resource for success. And, it is how we use resources that will determine how effective we are in making science and technology work for us. Our development challenges will naturally shape our strategic priorities in science and technology. Even as we focus on some key areas, we should not confine research and development to a few pre-determined paths. And, it is as important to focus on basic research as on research and development and innovation. We should also recognize that science is universal, but technology can be local. If we incorporate traditional and local knowledge, systems and technologies, we may develop more appropriate, effective, affordable and sustainable solutions that contribute immensely to human development and progress. As the major source of science and technology efforts in the country, Government must do its part. When I speak of ease of doing business in India, I also want to pay equal attention to the ease of doing research and development in India. Funding proposals must not take too long to clear; meeting application requirement should not become more complex than research; approval process should not become a deterrent for international conference; and, our scientific departments must have flexibility of funding decisions based on the uncertainties inherent in research activities. We want our scientists and researchers to explore the mysteries of science, not of government procedures. We want them to consider publications, not government approvals, to be the epitome of their success. We must also have clear regulatory policies for research and development in areas like biotechnology, Nano-Science, agriculture and clinical research. We should ensure that our strong intellectual property regime continues to work effectively and provides the right balance between private incentives and social good. Further, not just scientific departments, but every other department in the Government should see how to apply science and technology and promote research to improve their work. Each should have an officer focusing on science and technology relating to its area of work; and, allocate a percentage of its budget for such activities. We have begun this experience with Space technology. Investments in science and technology activities should also become part of the expenditure on corporate social responsibility – to be funded directly or through an autonomous fund. We also need to foster a strong culture of collaboration between institutions and across disciplines to take advantage of developments, innovations and expertise in diverse areas. My impression is that this is far from the ideal in India I will ask our ministries to make collaborations a critical requirement for their institutions and for supporting funding requests for research. We have to place the university system at the cutting edge of the research and development activities in the country. Our investments in science and technology are far too concentrated in the agencies of the Central Government and must become more broad-based. Our universities must be freed from the clutches of excessive regulation and cumbersome procedures. They must have a higher degree of academic freedom and autonomy; and, there should be as much emphasis on research as on teaching. In turn, the universities must also subscribe to the highest academic and research standards and accountability. This includes thorough peer review. We have to rapidly expand our higher education sector; yet, our existing institutions face shortage of faculty. We have a large pool of outstanding scientists and engineers working in central institutions and agencies. I want them to spend some time each year, teaching and guiding Ph.D students at a university. Our industry must also step up investments in science and technology in its own interest. India`s own pharmaceutical industry has carved out a place for itself in the world, because it invests significantly in research. Indeed, our long term global competitiveness will depend not on replicating what others have done, but through a process of sustained development and innovation. There is a growing trend of international collaboration in research and development, not just among business enterprises, but equally among researchers and scholars at universities and laboratories. We should take full advantage of this. For this reason, I have placed science and technology at the forefront of our diplomatic engagement. As I have travelled abroad, I have personally sought out scientists to explore collaborations in areas like clean energy, agriculture, biotechnology, medicine and healthcare. We have built excellent partnerships with all leading nations to address the grand challenges of the world today. I have also offered our expertise to our neighbours and other developing countries. I have often spoken of skill development for our youth. Our future will be secure and our global leadership possible, if we also prepare the next generation of world class scientists, technologists and innovators. School education in science and mathematics should become more creative and stimulating. Let us also use Internet to bring the best of our scientists in direct contact with our children and our youth. Digital connectivity should become as much a basic right as access to school. I welcome the initiatives of Department of Science and Technology for involving thousands of children and youth in science and technology. It is not surprising that our young minds are winning international competitions and 12 of them have minor comets named after them! Our children should seek role model in scientists as much as in sportsmen. Their parents should feel as much pride in their children seeking a future in science as in business or civil service. For this, we need to communicate the power and possibilities of science better. Let us, for example, make science and technology the theme of Republic Day parade in the near future. We need to celebrate our scientific achievements as much as we rejoice in our success in other areas. We should give young participants and winners in science fairs maximum public recognition and sustained support of the government. I would personally love to meet the best of our young scientists. In conclusion, let me say for a safe, sustainable, prosperous future for India; or global leadership in a knowledge and technology intensive world, we need to put science, technology and innovation at the top of national priorities. I am confident that we can do it. We in India are the inheritors of a thriving tradition of Indian science and technology since ancient times. Mathematics and medicine; metallurgy and mining; calculus and textiles; architecture and astronomy - the contribution the Indian civilization to human knowledge and advancement has been rich and varied. We can draw inspiration and confidence from our numerous successes over the past six decades in difficult circumstances; the strength of our many institutions; and, India`s rich talent in science, reflected in the five distinguished Indian scientists, whom we have just honoured. Above all, we must restore the pride and prestige of science and scientists in our nation; revive the romance for science in society; rekindle the love for it in our children; and, encourage our scientists - to dream, imagine and explore. You will have no better supporter than me. In turn, I seek your help in transforming India. Thank you very much, wish you all the best.

Behind 80 senseless deaths The December clashes in Assam may merely have exploited an issue simmering for decades

Presumably in the interests of factual reporting, Assamnewspapers published a full list of those who died in theBodo-Adivasi clashes in Assam in December. Dead from gunshot wounds at Ultapani were Karnilian Murmu (5), Lakhi Soren (12), Lupsri Kisku (3), Takur Soren (70), Pindula Soren (60), Pulmoni Tudu (70) and Paran Murmu (1), among others. What opinion could a five-year old or a one-year old have on the establishment of a sovereign state - Bodo or Adivasi? As in all ethnic clashes, the killings appeared, prima facie, to be senseless. Of the 80 bodies found so far, more than 40 are those of children, women or men above 60. Soft targets, in other words, hunted down, many shot at point-blank range.

The location of the clashes is also puzzling. The areas where the Adivasis were killed (retaliation followed) were either in that part of Assam that borders Bhutan; or the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. These are extremely remote; and also on the outer fringes of the region known as Bodoland.

So somebody, probably hired guns, attacked these villages picking out targets that they knew would not fight back, and having created confusion and terror, slipped out of Assam to vanish either into the Garo hills or Bhutan. As Adivasi families grieved and wailed, the state government was thrown into a panic, rushing troops and weapons to quell a militant group that all observers agree, is no more than 200 strong.

The targets then, were two: the Adivasis; and the state government led by third term Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The killings, according to the state government, were carried out by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit). To understand how this group came into existence, a quick recap of events over the last few decades would help. The Bodos (currently about 36 per cent of Assam's population) consider themselves a persecuted minority in Assam and believe they deserve a separate region. To "help" the Bodos in their struggle for a homeland, successive Congress governments in Assam gave them moral and material assistance, sometimes covertly. The Bodos became a useful counterpoise against the Assam Gana Parishad. Later, the Congress tried to make good on its promise and a Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) was granted to them. This was a notional homeland: because neither the Bodos who occupied the region nor the Adivasis nor the Muslims had any land rights. They don't, till today. As a result, the Bodos have political power and wealth on the strength of arbitrage and rental income (largely from the funds that flow in for the development of the BTAD), but no real economic power. The other groups don't even have that.

The leader of the militant Bodos was Ranjan Daimary. With his followers, he came overground but a split in the outfit caused the more militant of the Bodos - those elements which later became hired guns - to band under Songbijit Ingti Kathar. Ironically, Songbijit Kathar isn't even a Bodo - he is a Karbi. It is his group that has carried out the mayhem in the Adivasi areas in December 2014. He himself is said to be in Myanmar.

But here's the twist in the tale. For years in the north-east, political parties and chief ministers have, through the top police bureaucracy, patronised one or other militant group. We still don't know the full details and dimensions of the Saradha scam in Assam, but the Ponzi scheme may have been used to launder money as well. The country was shaken awake when former Director General of Police Shankar Barua killed himself a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned him in the Saradha scam. After that, the police headquarters in Assam has issued a circular saying that no cases should be registered in the Saradha scam without "prior approval from appropriate levels in the PHQ".

In November, former Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appeared before the CBI in Kolkata in connection with the Saradha scam.

Did the Bodo-Adivasi clash have something to do with the Saradha scam? A former Home Secretary was succinct. He said "Anything is possible in Assam". He recalled that a top police official in Assam who had access to endless slush funds (meant for informants) tried to mislead the home ministry on the circumstances of an attack on a place of worship. When then Home Minister P Chidambaramtried to investigate the "leads" offered by the official, they were found to be fake. Justifications were offered by him on the use to which the slush funds were put. Smelling a rat, the Union home minister tried to get the official moved out. He couldn't.

In these circumstances, it is possible that the December clashes in Assam merely exploited an issue simmering for decades. The motivation, however, was something else. What it did succeed in doing was to badly shake the already fragile Tarun Gogoi government. The question to answer is: who gained from that?