“ISA can act as a medium to achieve universal energy access target set up before 2030”

“ISA can act as a medium to achieve universal energy access target set up before 2030”- Shri Piyush Goyal

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, Mines and New & Renewable Energy said that International Solar Alliance ( ISA) can act as a medium to spread lessons on energy security which can help achieve universal energy access target set up in SDGs before 2030. He was speaking at the launch of “Scaling Solar MiniGrids” by France and India on the sidelines of 52nd Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Ahmedabad yesterday. 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Goyal called for deeper Indo-African cooperation. He said that Indian renewable energy sector offers lessons such as lower and innovative financing models, risk reduction, setting up large scale solar projects through energy parks. “India has achieved grid parity in solar tariffs”, he added. 

 

Shri Piyush Goyal also said that Scaling Solar MiniGrids shall work in tandem with ISA’s over all objectives and already existing two programmes, namely Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use and Affordable Finance at Scale launched on 22nd April, 2016. The main activities under the programme shall include-design and deploy small grids, adopt common standards, aggregate demand, help establish global credit enhancement and de-risking mechanisms, call for expression of interest, assess demand and costs requirement for mini grid projects, identify/develop attractive payment models for consumers, and persuade member countries with overseas assistance budgets to earmark a portion of their soft loan for the Third Programme.

 

The objective of the event is to cater to the energy needs of ISA Member states in identified areas with unreliable or no grid(s), and in island member states having abundant potential to tap solar energy. Such participating member countries can take advantage of the available solutions to promote universal energy access and reduce electricity costs and tariffs through introduction and promotion of mini, micro, and nano grids with smart features for harnessing solar power, in a time bound manner.

 

Mr. Ahmed Said Hassaini Djaffar, Vice President of the Republic of Comoros in his address welcomed the ISA initiative and stated that Africa is a solar resource rich region and can help achieve targets in solar energy.  

 

ISA’s third programme is an attempt to address the challenges in integrating solar energy into insular or unconnected electricity grids. The challenges mainly include iniquitous electricity tariff regimes, small and disaggregated size of the markets, building up of local skill sets, lack of access to low cost capital, effective interconnection to grids in rural, remote and urban areas etc. In addition management of variability, intermittency and its impact on the stability of small-scale electricity systems also add to the woes.

 

Recently Expression of Interest have been received from Indian companies to install 664,000 solar pumps, install 56 MW of Minigrids and train 5400 solar mechanics in the African countries who have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement. Government of India is extending a US $ 10 billion line of credit for undertaking developmental work in African countries. On the request of ISA, Government of India has agreed to earmark 15-20% of this line of credit for undertaking solar related projects. H.E. Mrs.  Ségolène Royal, Minister for Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs of France, in charge of International Relations on climate change, was the main architect and motivator to launch this programme during such a short period. Delegation from the French Embassy was present too on this occasion.

 

The International Solar Alliance is an initiative jointly launched by the Honourable Prime Minister of India and Honourable President of France on 30th November 2015 at Paris, in the presence of the Secretary General of the UN, on the side lines of COP21. The main objective of ISA is to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology, mobilize more than US $ 1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy, and pave the way for future technologies adapted to the needs of 121 countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics. So far 31 countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA, which is the first international and intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in India.

 

 

Continental ties - India's outreach to Africa 

Continental ties - India's outreach to Africa

he African Development Bank’s decision to hold its annual general meeting in India this month is a signal of the importance African countries attach to New Delhi’s growing role in its development. It was nearly a decade ago, in 2008, that India made a serious attempt for a strategic partnership with all of Africa, instead of just the nations it traded with, at the first India-Africa Forum Summit. At that time, India’s efforts seemed minimal, a token attempt at keeping a foothold in a continent that was fast falling into China’s sphere of influence. New Delhi had its work cut out, building a place for India as a partner in low-cost technology transfers, a supplier of much-needed, affordable generic pharmaceuticals, and a dependable donor of aid that did not come with strings attached. Over the past few years the outreach to Africa has also been driven by visits of President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Mr. Modi pointed out in his speech to the AfDB in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, every country in Africa has by now been visited by an Indian Minister, highlighting the personal bonds India shares. During the India-Africa summit held in Delhi in 2015, the Centre announced a further $10 billion export credit and a $600 million grant which, despite being a fraction of the aid Africa received from China and blocs such as the European Union, was a significant sum for India.

Having established its credentials and commitment over time, the Centre is now taking its partnership beyond dollars and cents to a new strategic level. To begin with, India is working on a maritime outreach to extend its Sagarmala programme to the southern coastal African countries with ‘blue economies’; it is also building its International Solar Alliance, which Djibouti, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Somalia and Ghana signed on to on the sidelines of the AfDB project. In its efforts, India has tapped other development partners of Africa, including Japan, which sent a major delegation to the AfDB meeting. It has also turned to the United States, with which it has developed dialogues in fields such as peacekeeping training and agricultural support, to work with African countries. It is significant that during the recent inter-governmental consultations between India and Germany, both countries brought in their Africa experts to discuss possible cooperation in developmental programmes in that continent. It will take more heavy-lifting to elevate India’s historical anti-colonial ties with Africa to productive economic partnerships. But it is clear that at a time when China is showcasing its Belt and Road Initiative as the “project of the century” and also bolstering its position as Africa’s largest donor, a coalition of like-minded countries such as the one India is putting together could provide an effective way to ensure more equitable and transparent development aid to Africa.

 

3 year progress of communicatio

India becomes second largest network in the world with crossing the landmark of one billion telephone subscribers: Shri Manoj Sinha

Total broadband connection till March 2017 crosses 276.52 million: Shri Sinha

Mega spectrum auction fetches highest ever upfront payment of Rs. 32434 crore against 965 MHz of spectrum since 2012: Shri Sinha

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launches two branches in Raipur and Ranchi: Shri Sinha

129 Post Office Passport SevaKendras (POPSKs) in various parts of the country has been agreed with MEA, 50 Operationalized till now: Shri Manoj Sinha

Shri Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State for Communications held a Press Conference today to brief about the initiatives and reforms done by the Ministry in last three years. Shri Manoj Sinha said that the Ministry of Communications achieved significant mile stones since May 2014. A number of initiatives were taken for efficient implementation of policies through Department of Telecomm and Department of Post. Shri Sinha said that interests of consumers who use services provided by the ministry are high on the agenda of the Government.

Three Years Achievement of the Department of Telecommunication

1. Physical performance

·         The Indian telecom sector has made rapid strides during the last few years because of several reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Telecommunications. 

·         India now has the second largest network in the world, next only to China. India crossed the landmark of one billion telephone subscribers in the year 2015-16.

·         Total subscription now stands at 1194.99 million as on 31.3.2017.

·         501.81 million connections are in rural areas and 693.18 million in the urban areas. 

·         The wireless telephony constitutes 97.96% (1170.59 million) of all subscriptions whereas share of the landline telephony now stands at 2.04% (24.40 million) at the end of March, 2017.

·         261.97 million telephones were added during April 2014 to March, 2017 as compared to 86.69 million net addition during the April, 2011 to March 2014.

·         Mobile phone addition touched 266.07 million during the period from April 2014 to March 2017 as compared to 92.92 million during the April 2011 to March 2014

·         Total internet connections as on December 2016 was 391.5 million. Total broadband connection till March 2017 stood at 276.52 million.

·         139.91 million Internet connections have been added during March 2014 to December 2016.

·         Data traffic in India has shown a six fold increase from 561 million GB in the first quarter to 2988 million GB in the third quarter of 2016-17.

·         FDI equity inflow in telecom sector from April, 2016 to March, 2017 has reached US $ 5564 million which is more than four times the average inflow of about 1.3 billion annually (since 2013-14). 

2. Spectrum reforms

·         The mega spectrum auction was held in October, 2016 sold 965 MHz of spectrum in different bands.  The auction fetched highest ever upfront payment of Rs. 32434 crore since 2012.

·         Reforms such as spectrum sharing, trading, and harmonistaion have been done in the year 2016 to facilitate rationalization and optimum use of resources.

3. Other policy reforms

·         The ‘Aadhaar based E-KYC services’ for issuing mobile connections has been prescribed from September, 2016.  Under this, a subscriber can authenticate himself using his biometrics at the point of sale.

·         One Nation - Full Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has been allowed since 3^rd July 2015.

4. Projects

·         The flagship BharatNet program is being implemented to link each of the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats of India through Broadband optical fibre network.

·         As on date OFC has been laid in 202675 km covering 90027 Gram Panchayats (GPs). OFC pipes have been laid   in 2,24,340 km covering 100934 GPs.

·         Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North-East Region (NER) has been approved to provide mobile coverage to 8621 uncovered villages, installation of 321 mobile towers along National Highways and strengthening of transmission network

·         Proposal to setup 25,000 Public Wi-Fi Hotspots using the block-level infrastructure of BSNL’s Telephone Exchanges in rural areas has been approved.

·         A proposal for setting up of 5000 Wi-Fi Chaupals at Gram Panchayat levels in the 18 states of the country by CSC-SPV, at an estimated cost of`100 crore, to be funded from USOF, has  been approved.

·    An agreement is proposed to be signed with RailTel for setting up Wi-Fi hotspot at 200  at rural railway stations.

5. Consumer centric measures

·         Mobile phones sold in India now come with a dedicated “panic button” and Global Positioning System( GPS).

·         Department of Telecom has launched Tarang Sanchar, a web portal for Information sharing on Mobile Towers and EMF Emission Compliances. The portal can be accessed at www.tarangsanchar.gov.in

·         DoT had launched 1955 Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) in 5 states on 23/12/2016 and in remaining states on 12/1/2017 and 16/03/2017 for obtaining public feedback on call drops

·         Both Government and TRAI are taking all possible steps and pursuing with the TSPs to address the problem of call drop and bring it down within the permissible limit.

·         Department has launched “Twitterseva” on 2^nd August 2016 for obtaining feedback/grievances related to Telecom issues and services from the public.

6. MTNL

·         MTNL has launched a special program to progressively increase the fibre length by redeploying the broadband nodes (DSLAMS) near to the subscriber premises in Delhi and Mumbai thereby reducing copper length and enhancing the quality of broadband service.

·         MTNL is in the process of expansion of mobile network by adding 1080 new 3G sites for upgrading Data handling capacity to 10 Gbps.

·         Provided Wi-Fi Hotspots with more than 100 Access points at various locations in Delhi including 7 tourist places i.e. Red Fort, QutubMinar, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, PuranaQila and 5 market places i.e. Nehru Place, HauzKhas, Defence Colony, Arobindo Marg, Green Park.

·         Provided connectivity to set up 500 Wi-Fi Hotspot by Government of Maharashtra, Project commissioned on 9^th January, 2017.

·         MTNL provided connectivity at 133 locations for Area Traffic Control Project of Mumbai Traffic Police for Road Traffic Monitoring.

·         The free night calling facility was introduced for all landline customers for making local calls to any network in Delhi and Mumbai between 10 PM to 7 AM.

·         Launched Android based “My MTNL”APP.

·         Introduced single Pan India Customer Care No.1130.

7.  BSNL

·         Present Market Share of BSNL is 9.95% (as on 31.12.2016) which was 8.16% as on 31.12.2015.  The total income increased by 7.05% upto third quarter w.r.t. previous year same period.  EBIDTA of BSNL which was (-) 691 CR in 2013-14 has become (+) 672 CR in 2014-15 & further (+) 3855 CR in 2015-16.

·         Till date BSNL has provided 5000 Wi-Fi hotspots (approx) in more than 1000 locations.

·         BSNL is in process of setting up 40,000 Wi-FI hotspots with Mobile data off loading shortly to provide 4G experience to 2G/3G customers.

·         BSNL is planning to provide 25,000 hotspots in each of its 25,000 rural exchanges in 2016-17.

·         BSNL has provided Night free calling (between 9 PM to 7 AM) to all networks for BSNL customers.  Sunday free calling has also been extended.

·         In Maharashtra Circle 500 villages in Nagpur SSA were provide with internet facility through Public Wi-FI hotspots with Fund support of State Govt.

·         ECR CONE (Enhanced Capacity & Resilience of Core Network) has been planned with an estimated cost Rs.1000 Cr. for higher Data speed Broadband services, leasing of High capacity Bandwidth to Telecom Operators/ISP’s which will includes implementation of the Super Highway Transport Network with 100 Gbps line capacity.

Three Years Achievement of the Department of Posts

1-     IT Modernization Project

With a total outlay of Rs. 4909 Crore, the IT Modernization Project of Department of Posts is being carried out and as a result (a) Data Centre is operational at NaviMumbai, (b) Disaster Recovery Centre (DRC) has been powered on at Mysore on 15^th May, 2015, (c) So far 23277 Post Offices for Core Banking Solution (CBS) and 25406 Post Offices for Core Insurance Solution (CIS) have been migrated. Automated Teller machine (ATM) Services-installed at 980 locations, (d) ATMs are inter-operable w.e.f. 31-12-2016 and (e) 28252 locations have been networked on a single Wide Area Network (WAN) and connected to Data Centre.

2-     India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched two branches in Raipur and Ranchi. IPPB aims to catalyze financial inclusion in India, by ensuring that everyone has equal access to financial services, no matter who they are, what they earn and where they live. IPPB will take basic banking to the un-banked and the under-banked across all cross-sections of society.

3-     Setting up of Post Office Passport SevaKendras (POPSKs)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DOP) have agreed to utilize the Post Offices in the various States as Post Office Passport SevaKendras (POPSKs) for delivering passport related services to the citizens. In current phase, setting up of 129 Post Office Passport SevaKendras (POPSKs) in various parts of the country has been agreed with MEA. Out of 129, POPSKs at 50 locations have been inaugurated till 19.05.2017 including Metagalli Post Office, Mysuru in Karnataka and Dohod Head Office in Gujarat which were the first to commence operations.

4-     Mobile Money Transfer Service:-

Mobile Money Transfer is a service that enables instant money transfer from one place to another using mobile, through Indian Post Offices. The consumer just needs to have a mobile phone while the actual transmission of the money is initiated by the Postal Assistant, using his/her special handset. This service is a boon for those sections of our society who regularly remit money to their homes at faraway places and who have no access to any other financial instrument like bank account, etc. except mobile phones

Role of media in present scenario

President of India’s Ramnath Goenka memorial lecture

It is indeed a privilege as well as a pleasure for me to be invited to deliver the Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture.

When I think of The Indian Express, I think of Shri Ramnath Goenka.

Ramnath ji embodied the finest virtues of journalism: fierce independence, fearlessness and a determination to always stand up to the powerful and fight against the abuse or misuse of power. In fact, there was nothing he enjoyed more than a fight to protect the right of The Indian Express to publish what he thought was proper and just.

He was a fighter. In the face of attempts to control the press, exemplified his willingness to stake all for his principles and to set the highest standards for press freedom in India. The blank editorial published by The Indian Express during Emergency, under the leadership of Ramnath ji, was perhaps one of the strongest protests ever published against censorship in India.

It spoke more loudly than any words could have.

As Ramnath ji wrote in an editorial in August 1942 when he announced suspension of the paper rather than give in to censorship by the British authorities. He said and I quote: “The hard fact of the situation is that if we went on publishing, The Indian Express maybe called a paper, but cannot be a newspaper.” (unquote)

It is also worth remembering today that Ramnath ji was a true patriot. When he founded The Indian Express in 1936 it was in response to a need articulated by Mahatma Gandhi for a national newspaper. He fought for the freedom of the country and for freedom of the press. He took on the Establishment – in colonial times and after Independence – to make democracy more secure and zealously guard the right to free speech as is enshrined in our Constitution. Better than most, he realized that democracy without a free press was like a blank piece of paper.

The ideals he personified need to be reiterated time and again, cast in stone and followed by all journalists who love democracy and freedom.

I am happy to say that The Indian Express has maintained the standards under the leadership of Ramnathji’s son, Shri Viveck Goenka. It has not wavered in its commitment to fairness and accuracy, to independence and a pursuit of the truth.

These are not old-fashioned values.

In fact, the values espoused by Ramnath ji were relevant then, are relevant now and will remain relevant in times to come.

In a way, everyone with a phone can be a publisher and a broadcaster, a schoolteacher, a mother, a student and a political activist.

Technology has led to a phenomenal growth in the means of communication, bombarding the public with unprecedented volumes of data, information and, not least, opinion. This has had many positive outcomes: foremost, it has broken the shackles of silence imposed on the powerless. The sense of liberation that the Internet and social media especially, allows, has ensured that everyone has a voice and that even small voices in the remotest areas can be heard.

The average citizen has been truly empowered in her ability to speak out and to find out. All of this growth has resulted in a plurality and diversity in the access to information. There is a whole new information world out there to be tapped by our people across the length and breadth of the country.

However, the downside is that the sheer scale and volume of data and information means that much of what is available today remains unfiltered and unmediated. In many cases, even unchecked.

Take the case of recent developments in the United States of America and France, where personal communications of political leaders during an election were leaked and made available freely to anyone roaming the Internet.

Such information, in order to make sense needs to be carefully vetted – checked and rechecked -- contextualized and made sense of for it to have value or equally importantly, not be misused.

When so many people speak in so many voices across mediums, many voices are drowned out in the cacophony that is created: and in that noise it is difficult to hear or make sense of what is being said.

This is where good journalism plays a vital and irreplaceable role: it intervenes. It sifts through all the data, separates facts from what is now described as “fake news,” ensures accuracy and provides context, analysis and opinion so that the public can be better informed and form informed opinions.

Aggregation and algorithms, the multiplicity of choices, have meant that while our access to the news is unfettered and vast, it has become increasingly, personalized. People now have the choice to read only what they want to and more importantly, only what they agree with. Inherent in this process of selective sourcing of news, is the danger of people turning a deaf ear to one another, and a refusal to listen to points of view that may differ from our own. This in turn diminishes the room for agreement and can increase intolerance.

As I have said on many occasions earlier, discussion, dissension are crucial to public debate for decision-making in a vibrant, healthy democracy such as India’s. There should always be room for the Argumentative Indian but not for the Intolerant Indian.

That would be contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of India, to the very idea of India itself.

I believe that the bedrock of Indian civilization has been its pluralism and its social, cultural, linguistic and racial diversity. It mesmerises me when I shut my eyes and think that in our country 1.3 billion people who are using more than 200 languages, practicing 7 major religions, belonging to 3 major ethnic groups are residing under one system, one flag and one identity of being Indian. That is the celebration of our diversity. That’s why we need to be sensitive to dominant narratives, of those who make the loudest noise, drowning out those who disagree. That’s why social media and broadcast news have seen angry, aggressive posturing by state and non-state players literally hounding out contrarian opinions.

People in power, across the spectrum of politics, business or civil society, by virtue of the position they enjoy, tend to dominate the discussions and influence its direction. Due to technological advancement, they can now reach out directly to their audience, completely bypassing this crucial process of filtration and mediation.

This often becomes a one-way only communication from the powerful to the less privileged, and an effort to push the narrative in one direction. Indian civilization has always celebrated plurality and promoted tolerance. These have been at the core of our very existence as a people, binding us together for centuries despite our many differences. We must continue to “throw open the windows for fresh breezes” as Mahatma Gandhi observed, without being blown away.

Thus the need to ask questions of those in power is fundamental for the preservation of our nation and of a truly democratic society.

This is a role that the media has traditionally played and must carry on playing.

All stakeholders in the democratic system, from parties to business leaders, citizens to institutions, have to realize that asking questions is good, asking questions is healthy and, in fact, is fundamental to the health of our democracy.

As its role of the primary source of information has diminished due to the variety of mediums now available, the media’s other responsibilities have increased: it must be the watchdog, the gatekeeper and the mediator between the leaders and the public.

It must raise and create awareness about issues concerning public welfare, hold public or private institutions and their representatives accountable for all their actions or indeed, their inactions.

In particular, the media has a duty to give space to the millions who still face the injustices of deprivation, gender discrimination, caste and social bias.

I believe the media must safeguard the public interest, and provide a voice to the marginalized in our society. Our people face enormous inequalities which need to be articulated and highlighted continuously – by the media -- in order to ensure they are addressed by those who govern.

The media can help the one-way communication become a multi-faceted, multi-layered conversation between those who exercise any form of power and the average citizen. It can build a thoroughfare where ideas can travel up and down, to and fro, as it strives continually for accountability and transparency in public life.

I have said before that the media plays a crucial role in educating Indians and providing space for the expression of diverse views. This role of giving a voice to all has become more important than ever before in an atmosphere where there is too much noise out there jostling for our attention.

At the same time, more than ever before, the media needs to play its role with greater responsibility and the utmost respect for facts. I believe fact-checking is one of the most significant roles the media can play in the contemporary space where extreme opinions to the left and to the right, present what is now called `alternative facts’.

When opinion is deeply divided on issues of public importance, be they related to governance, the law, social change or personal beliefs and conduct, objectivity is at a premium. Facts must never be sacrificed to elevated opinions as truth.

In such a situation, journalists must strive – as I know many of you do – to obtain the facts and restore their sanctity.

For it to be able to aim for the highest standards of professionalism, journalists and media organizations must turn the spotlight inwards, on themselves. They must hold themselves to the standards they demand of others.

There is the ever present danger of ‘paid news’. Ownership of media, concentration of ownership and distribution platforms in a few hands, and the personal beliefs of individual journalists can and do create conflicts of interest. They also reduce the plurality and diversity of the media. Objectivity has to be restored to regain public trust.

As Ramnathji showed us, the moral courage of the owner or the publisher is fundamental to the level of freedom in the newsroom.

The sheer scale and diversity of growth in media has been breath-taking and had its own consequences. India already has 400 million Internet users, 300 million smartpthone users; Facebook and Whatsapp have close to 200 million users in India while Twitter has become the most immediate source of information and opinion.

The media too, has witnessed continuous growth, although not on the same scale. Print media continues to grow at a healthy 5 per cent – the regional language press has been at the vanguard of this growth. There are over 400 TV channels which carry news and over 150 dedicated news channels in all regions and languages.

This abundance of media outlets has led to a highly competitive media environment which often results in the survival of the shrillest voices rising above the others to be heard. Dumbing down the news to attract an audience is another consequence of the phenomenal growth of the media.

Together, these compulsions have led to complex issues being reduced to binary opposites which, in turn, create a polarity of views and distort the facts.

Media houses need to ask themselves how they can find sustainable economic models that will allow them to resist all kinds of pressures and let them perform their role with honesty and transparency.

We are living in challenging times, globally and nationally. In India, as awareness has grown and spread through literacy and technology, the people’s aspirations have increased. A young and vibrant population—over 65 per cent of Indians are below the age of 35 -- is eagerly looking towards a future which will offer it sufficient opportunities to fulfil its ambitions.

Even as the youth look to the future, there has been considerable questioning of the past in the public discourse over the last few years. Each generation has the right to look back and reassess the strengths and weaknesses of the past. Let the brave new India draw its own conclusions.

However, such inquiry should not be blinkered by biases or resisted with a closed mind. Indian history and centuries’ old civilization is replete with examples of a willingness of the people to, as I have said, `doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually’. This is the bedrock of our nation; our Constitution is a testament to the accommodation of our differences within the framework of an overarching idea of India. What makes us Indians is our spirit of tolerance and accommodation towards each other and those who differ from us. That has been the survival mantra of our civilization over generations. Dear Friends,

The Press and the media are considered to be the fourth pillar of the democracy. It wields extra ordinary powers of not only holding the other three pillars accountable, but also influencing and shaping public opinion like no other institution of democracy can. While this enormous power, to sustain itself requires the basic dictum of freedom of expression, at the same time it puts an equally enormous responsibility of accountability and credibility on the media itself. To my mind, while the press will be failing in its duty if it does not pose questions to the powers that be, it will have to simultaneously judge the frivolous from the factual and publicity from reportage.

This is a tremendous challenge for the media and one that it must stand up to. It must resist the temptation to take the path of least resistance which is to allow a dominant viewpoint to prevail without questioning it or allowing others the opportunity to question it.

Media must learn the art of withstanding pulls and pressures without sacrificing its commitment to free and fair reportage and always remain on guard against conformity. Because any tendency towards conformity to be enforced, often requires disguising or dissembling the truth and the facts. This is completely alien to the ideals which inform professional journalism which lives and even dies by chasing the facts and the truth.

The question that faces all of us including the media is whether we will choose to define ourselves as a nation enriched by the diversity of views or allow partisan views to dominate our national narrative?

We ought to remember that democracy will be the loser when and if we cease to hear voices other than our own.

For centuries, India has witnessed a clash of civilizations and philosophies – and survived it all to grow into the world’s largest functioning democracy.

As we go forward as a nation we face contradictory forces: on the one hand is a country with immense potential for growth and prosperity; on the other is a growing sense of unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. The media should reflect both in equal measure but it can only do so if it truthfully reflects the reality on the ground.

Such a reality is a contested space where different points of view jostle to be heard. Will the media give a hearing to the voices from Ground Zero? Will it continue to be a forum where people debate, disagree, dissent?

If the media believes in the freedom of expression, a free and a fearless independent media as Ramnath Goenka did, it must choose to reflect a plurality of opinions for that is what breathes life into our democracy and has defined us as Indians. It must always remember that its fundamental task is to stand up and ask questions with honesty and fairness. That’s the sacred compact it has with citizens in a democracy.

PM releases Platinum Jubilee Milestone book on Tata Memorial Centre

PM releases Platinum Jubilee Milestone book on Tata Memorial Centre

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the Platinum Jubilee Milestone book on Tata Memorial Centre, at his residence in New Delhi today.
Shri Ratan Tata, in his welcome address, thanked the Prime Minister for his support, cooperation and vision towards affordable healthcare and cancer research.
Addressing the audience of doctors and students of Tata Memorial Centre via video conferencing, the Prime Minister hailed invaluable contribution of Tata family towards humanitarian services and social responsibilities, particularly in the field of cancer cure, care and research.
The Full text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion is extended below –
श्री रतन टाटा जी,
टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के डायरेक्टर डॉ. आर. ए. बडवे,टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के सभी चिकित्सकों, विद्यार्थियों व साथियों
टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के प्लेटिनम जुबली के अवसर पर आप सभी लोगों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के 75 वर्ष पूरे होने पर Platinum Jubilee माइलस्टोन Book रिलीज करते हुएमुझे बहुत प्रसन्नता हो रही है।
टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर को इस मुकाम पर पहुंचाने में टाटा परिवार का अनवरत सेवाभाव और सामाजिकजिम्मेदारी निभाने के उनके एहसास का अमूल्य योगदान रहा है।
आज इस संस्थान से इन 75 वर्षों में जुड़े रहे सभी लोगों को याद करने का अवसर है।
इस किताब के पन्ने पलटते हुए मुझे 1931 में हुए एक वाकये का पता चला। उस समय मेहरबाई टाटाजी ने कैंसर के इलाज के लिए अमेरिका जाते हुए अपने पति सर दोराबजी टाटा को ये कहा था कि- “मैं तो खुशकिस्मत हूं कि इलाज के लिए अमेरिका जा रही हूं लेकिन अपने देश के उन लाखों लोगोंका इलाज कैसे होगा जिनके पास इतने संसाधन नहीं है”।
मेहरबाई जी के निधन के बाद दोराबजी टाटा को ये बात याद रही और आगे यही टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटरका आधार बनी।
आज 75 वर्षों बाद ये संस्थान कैंसर के इलाज, कैंसर के इलाज के लिए पढ़ाई और कैंसर पर रिसर्चतीनों का प्रमुख केंद्र है।
देश में ऐसे बहुत कम संस्थान हैं जो इतने वर्षों से लगातार राष्ट्र सेवा में लगे हुए हैं। लाखों गरीबों के इलाज के लिए जिस तरह इस संस्थान ने आगे बढ़कर काम किया है, वो देश के बाकीअस्पतालों के लिए भी प्रेरणा है।
ये संस्थान इसका भी उदाहरण है कि सरकार और प्राइवेट संगठन मिलकर कैसे गरीबों की सेवा केलिए एक साथ काम कर सकते हैं।
कैंसर जैसी गंभीर बीमारियों का असर किसी भी परिवार के लिए अग्निपरीक्षा से गुजरने जैसा होता है।शरीर को कष्ट, मानसिक परेशानी और पैसे का सवाल – सभी इससे जुड़े हैं।
जब गरीब बीमार पढ़ता है तो सबसे पहले उसके सामने दवा से पहले रोटी तथा नौकरी का संकट आताहै।
इसलिए जब टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर जैसे संस्थान, उसमें काम करने वाले लोग गरीबों के इलाज के लिए दिन रात एक करते हैं, उनका इलाज करते हैं, उनकी पीड़ा कम करते हैं तो ये मानवता की बड़ी सेवा होती है।
मैं रतन टाटा जी, टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर और उससे जुड़े लोगों को एक बार फिर टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के 75 वर्ष पूरे होने पर बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं।
साथियों, कैंसर मानवता के सामने उपस्थित बड़ी चुनौतियों में से एक है। अकेले हमारे देश में ही हरसाल 10 लाख से ज्यादा लोगों में कैंसर का पता चलता है। हर साल साढ़े 6 लाख लोगों की मौत कैंसरसे होती है।
International Agency for Research on Cancer ने अंदेशा जताया है कि अगले 20 वर्षों में येसंख्या दोगुनी हो जाएगी।
इस स्थिति में हर मरीज को इलाज की सुविधा उपलब्ध कराने के लिए अलग-अलग कैंसर हॉस्पिटलोंको एक प्लेटफॉर्म पर लाना आवश्यक है।
एक ऐसा प्लेटफॉर्म जहां पर कैंसर के मरीजों को सस्ता इलाज उपलब्ध कराने में मदद मिले और इलाजके दौरान आधुनिक तकनीक का इस्तेमाल किया जाए।
2014 में जब ये सरकार बनी तो कैंसर के 36 संस्थान Cancer ग्रिड से जुड़े हुए थे। अब आज की तारीख में उससे ठीक दोगुने संस्थान यानि 108 कैंसर सेंटर इस ग्रिड से जोड़े जा चुके हैं।
अभी कुछ दिन पहले ही Digital Cancer Nerve Centre की शुरूआत‍ की गई है। इसी तरह Virtual Tumor Board की मदद से कैंसर के अलग-अलग एक्‍सपर्टस को एक ही समय पर इंटरनेट से जोड़कर मरीज के इलाज की रूपरेखा तय करने में मदद दी जा रही है।
कैंसर के क्षेत्र में टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के अनुभव का, उसकी expertise का फायदा उठाते हुए, उसकी मदद से देश में चार और बड़े कैंसर संस्थानों की स्थापना की जा रही है।
ये कैंसर सेंटर वाराणसी, चंडीगढ़, विशाखापट्टनम और गुवाहाटी में बनेंगे। इससे इलाज के लिए लंबी दूरी तय करके अस्पताल तक पहुंचने वाले मरीजों को मदद मिलेगी।
इसके अलावा हरियाणा के झज्झर में नेशनल कैंसर इंस्टीट्यूट का भी निर्माण किया जा रहा है।
साथियों, सरकार का लक्ष्य है कि गरीब से गरीब व्यक्ति को सस्ते से सस्ता इलाज मिले और सारी सुविधाओं के साथ मिले।
इसी लक्ष्य को ध्यान में रखते हुए 15 वर्षों के बाद अब इस सरकार में एक नेशनल हेल्थ पॉलिसी बनाई गई है।
Preventive और Promotive Health Care System को सरकार जन-जन तक पहुंचाना चाहती है। सरकार का इरादा आने वाले वर्षों में GDP का 2.5 प्रतिशत तकस्वास्थ्य पर खर्च करने का है।
नई हेल्थ पॉलिसी में चिकित्सा की अलग-अलग पद्धतियों को कैसे integrate किया जाए, इस पर भी काम होगा। जैसे एलोपैथी के जरिए कैंसर के इलाज के समय मरीज कोजो दूसरी तकलीफें उठानी पड़ती हैं, उसमें आयुर्वेद और योग से बहुत मिल सकती है।
इस बारे में आपका संस्थान भी कोई पहल कर सकता है।
साथियों, आज भी देश में 70 प्रतिशत मेडिकल उपकरण विदेश से ही आते हैं। इस स्थिति को भी बदलना है और क्योंकि ये भी महंगे इलाज का बड़ा कारण हैं। इसलिए नईहेल्थ पॉलिसी के तहत सरकार मेडिकल उपकरणों के भारत में ही निर्माण को भी प्रोत्साहन दे रही है।
टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर जैसे संस्थानों की इसमें भी बड़ी भूमिका है।
आपके सेंटर के डॉक्टरों की मदद से ही भाभा एटोमिक रिसर्च सेंटर ने स्वदेशी रेडिएशन मशीन "भाभाट्रोन" का विकास किया।
मैं जब दो वर्ष पहले मंगोलिया गया था तो देश की तरफ से मंगोलिया को "भाभाट्रोन" उपहार में दिया था।
इसलिए सस्ती मशीनें, बेहतर मशीनें बनाने की दिशा में भी हमें मिलकर काम करना होगा।देश भर में हेल्थकेयर सिस्टम को मजबूत करने के लिए सरकार नए एम्स (AIIMS) खोल रही है, मेडिकल कॉलेजों का आधुनिकीकरण किया जा रहा है, ग्रेजुएट और पोस्टग्रेजुअट स्तर पर सीटें बढ़ाई जा रही हैं।
गरीबों को सस्ती दवा के लिए भारतीय जनऔषधि परियोजना शुरू की गई है। 500 से ज्यादा दवाइयों को कम करके उन्हें essential दवाइयों की लिस्ट में रखा गया है।
आपने देखा है कि कैसे स्टंट की कीमत में भी 85 प्रतिशत तक की कमी आई है। ऐसे अनेक फैसले हैं जो affordable healthcare को ध्यान में रखते हुए सरकार ने लिए।
साथियों,
हेल्थकेयर से जुड़े लोगों को ध्यान रखना होगा कि स्वास्थ्य सेवा, सेवा ही रहे कमोडिटी ना बने। किसी बीमार का इलाज बिजनेस नहीं है, ये कभी नहीं भूलना चाहिए।
ये भी नहीं भूलना चाहिए कि किसी और प्रोफेशन के व्यक्ति को भगवान का दर्जा नहीं मिला है। देश के करोड़ों लोगों की आस्था आप में है और आप ही उनके लिए भगवान हैं।
आखिर में, मैं आप सभी को टाटा मेमोरियल सेंटर के 75 वर्ष पूरा होने पर फिर से बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं। आपने अपनी माइलस्टोन बुक के विमोचन का अवसर दिया, इसकेलिए आपका फिर से धन्यवाद।
जय हिंद !!!

A flawed rescue act

A flawed rescue act
The banking regulation ordinance puts its seal of approval on corporate subsidy at the cost of public banks

The buck stops with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)! This is the crux of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance of May 4, 2017, which empowers the RBI to take decisions on the settlement of non-performing assets (NPAs) and a consequent cleaning up of bank balance sheets.

With this direct intervention in the decision-making domain of banks, the RBI is now rewriting the script for the Indian banking system. Surprisingly, despite the severity of the NPAs crises, the business of banking is very much in demand. The RBI recently granted bank licences to 23 applicants which included Aditya Birla Nuvo, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra and Vodafone M-pesa and Airtel. These corporates need to invest ₹100 crore each to gain entry into the banking sector. Ironically, the RBI has assigned public sector banks the role of lambs awaiting sacrifice at the altar of development and financial sector reform.

Banks in India are in possession of ₹6,11,607 crore worth of NPAs as of March 31, 2016. According to a recent Credit Suisse estimate, there could be a default on 16-17% of total bank loans by March 31, 2018. The current food and non-food credit stands at approximately ₹75,00,000 crore. This would translate to about ₹12 lakh crore of NPAs. This is equivalent to approximately 75% of the demonetised (₹500 and ₹1,000 notes) currency in the entire Indian economy during November-December 2016. The ordinance correctly acknowledges the unacceptably high level of stressed assets in the banking system. Indeed, banks are sitting on a huge pile of scrap.

Corporate borrowers

Most of these bad loans are the result of largesse by public sector banks to large corporate groups, given without any consideration to the principles of sound lending. Hence, the resultant inability of the banks to recover either interest or the principal sum lent.

In India, corporates rely on banks as the main source for funds. The February 2017 International Monetary Fund (IMF) report states that 65.7% of Indian corporate debt as of March 31, 2016 is funded by banks. The December 2016 Financial Stability Report states that large borrowers account for 56% of bank debt and 88% of their NPAs. A recent Credit Suisse report highlights the inability of top Indian corporates to make timely interest payments by stating that about 40% of debt lies with companies with an interest coverage ratio of less than 1. The 2017 IMF report also states that about half of the over all debt is owed by firms who are already highly indebted (debt-equity ratio more than 150%). These borrowers are simply not earning enough to meet their interest commitments.

The Reserve Bank cannot feign ignorance of or express surprise at the crises facing the banks. As stated in the August 2016 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) report: “The Reserve Bank is aware that group borrower limit in India is higher than international norms. However, it also needs to be recognized that some of the major corporate groups are key drivers of growth of the Indian economy. As the corporate bond market is not yet matured in India, bank financing is crucial for such corporate groups”.Thus, granting loans to corporates that lacked capital as well as expertise (in sectors that were once the sole preserve of the government) was obviously a decision made at the behest of the RBI and the government with little regard to the best interest of the bank. Being a corporate entity itself, the bank should have aimed at maximising the wealth of its equity shareholders and customer-depositors whose money the bank lends.

Corporate borrowers are a privileged lot whose loans are not backed by sufficient value of security. A glance at the share prices of borrower companies is a useful exercise.

How much less?

A resolution implies settling for less but the dilemma for the banker is ‘how much less’. “Haircut” is the seemingly benign term for a waiver of a part of the loan without inviting criticism of poor financial discipline! Herein lies the reason for the difficulty of closure on resolution. The ordinance puts its seal of approval on corporate subsidy at the cost of survival of public sector banks.

If the writing off of ₹36,359 crore worth of agricultural loans in Uttar Pradesh was bad economics, then the resolution of corporate NPAs is much worse. The former can still find justification as a welfare measure that benefits 21 million small farmers but there can be no justification for rewarding the top 30 corporate groups for their poor business acumen.

The 2017 Economic Survey rightly referred to NPAs as the festering twin balance sheet problem. It is eerie that while banks are being coerced into resolution and imminent insolvency, bailouts from State governments and public sector undertakings are being considered to fix corporate balance sheets. It appears to be designed to send public sector banks into autoimmune, self-destruct mode.

It was for the sake of development that the RBI encouraged banks to lend to corporates. Now, for the same reason, resolution is being thrust on banks. Ostensibly, the RBI is ensuring financial stability in the banking sector. But who are these beneficiaries of financial stability? Is it the majority equity shareholder, the government (using taxpayer money) whose worth is going to be wiped out? Is it the customer whose money is lent by the bank? Is it the elite corporate borrower who passes his losses to the banking system? Or is it the new bank waiting for the collapse, ready to acquire a readymade set of customers and good assets? Will the ghost of Lady Macbeth come to haunt the RBI and the government?

Say no to GM mustard

Say no to GM mustard

There are formidable social, economic and environmental reasons why it should not be cultivated

The manner in which the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recently cleared the proposal for genetically modified (GM) mustard is extraordinary to say the least. It makes a mockery of the commitment in the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto that “GM foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation on the long term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers”. The Prime Minister had delighted consumers by lending his weight to the promotion of organic food. On the other hand, GM and organic are completely incompatible.

The alluring promises of higher yield and lower pesticide usage which induced many, including myself as Textile Secretary to the Government of India in the 1990s, to welcome Bt cotton have now been belied. Despite increased fertilisers and irrigation, the expectations of enhanced cotton yield have not been realised. Most of the countries that have higher cotton yields than India do not grow GM cotton. The package of promises sold to us did not reveal all of this. If I had an inkling of the future at that time, Bt cotton would not have been introduced in India.

Yields as a touchstone

We would now be foolish in accepting the yield promises of the GM variety of mustard, a crop which is an integral part of every Indian’s food. Ab initio the yield claims on which GM mustard has been cleared are not even remotely reliable — being based on comparisons with 30-year-old cultivars, and not on more recent high-yielding hybrids. The highest yields in mustard are from the five countries which do not grow GM mustard — U.K., France, Poland, Germany and Czech Republic — and not from the GM-growing U.S. or Canada (see graph based on FAO data). If India is desirous to increase its mustard yield rapidly and safely, this can be done by adopting the practice of System of Mustard Intensification, for which successful trials have been done in Bihar through a World Bank project. Results showed higher yields and better income. All this without the spraying of any toxic herbicides, which is the undisclosed story of GM mustard.

GM mustard’s yield increase claims have been successfully challenged now, prompting the crop developers and regulators to retract on that front — it is another matter that many reports continue to claim that GM mustard will increase yields.

Gaps in evaluation

There have been numerous severe deficiencies in the evaluation process of GM mustard. The risks to health, environment and agriculture have not been evaluated even through those inadequate tests which were conducted at the time of Bt brinjal examination, though mustard is far more extensively grown and consumed than brinjal.

HT (herbicide tolerant) GM crops have been condemned by a number of medical professionals and other scientists for increasing chemical herbicide use, leading to serious health conditions — at all stages, but most worryingly at the foetal stage. A scientific report from Argentina found a fourfold increase in birth defects and a threefold increase in childhood cancers in HT soya areas. Shockingly, the GEAC has conveniently omitted to have any herbicide-related studies. A small committee was constituted to “examine” the safety dossier — the tests that were done and the deliberations of GEAC were shrouded in secrecy. After a scathing order from the Central Information Commission, the GEAC made a sham of public consultations, through an opaque and perfunctory eyewash process.

The U.S. is a prime example of a country which has galloped into the GM mode of agriculture. Studies have shown a strong correlation between growth of GM crops, the herbicides they promote, and diseases such as acute kidney injury, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer’s and cancers in the past 20 years in the U.S. Seventeen of the 20 most developed countries — including Japan, Russia, Israel and most of Europe — refuse to grow GM crops. An unacceptable marketing trick, that of promotion of a “swadeshi” GM, is being used to break down resistance to GM crops in India’s vast market, ignoring that safety concerns are the same — swadeshi GM or not.

Losses and pernicious effects

The GEAC had itself rejected a similar HT GM mustard proposal by Bayer in 2002. The same reasons apply now. A herbicide-tolerant crop promotes constant exposure to a single herbicide — which eventually results in weeds becoming resistant. Over 20 species of weeds in the U.S. are now resistant to Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide. As desperate farmers tried to control these “superweeds”, there was a tenfold increase in use of glyphosate in 16 years.

Glyphosate has been declared to be a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organisation. The glufosinate-based herbicide to which the proposed GM mustard is tolerant will also have adverse impacts on health.

If GM mustard is now introduced, who will lose? Every Indian who consumes mustard in any form, as s/he will also consume the herbicide residues on it; the millions of poor women who depend on weeding to support their family who will be displaced; the bee keepers whose honey will be contaminated; farmers whose yields will fall eventually as bees die out; and the Indian nation, which will find that it has lost its seed diversity and the international competitive advantage of its non-GM mustard and honey.

A recent report, not by activists but by the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, sums up the end game when it says: “Recent mergers have resulted in just three powerful corporations: Monsanto and Bayer, Dow and Dupont, and Syngenta and ChemChina. They control more than 65 per cent of global pesticide sales. Serious conflicts of interest issues arise, as they also control almost 61 per cent of commercial seed sales. The pesticide industry’s efforts to influence policymakers and regulators have obstructed reforms and paralysed global pesticide restrictions globally.” Their business model ensures that no matter who produces a GM seed, they profit.

The main advantage trotted out in favour of GM mustard is increased yield — there is sufficient evidence that this claim is a myth. As against this alleged advantage, there are formidable social, economic and environmental reasons which cry out against GM mustard — examination of these has been hardly done by the GEAC. As the PR agencies work overtime to push for GM mustard, one can only hope that the Environment Minister, the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court will act in concert to protect Indian consumers, and farmers from the potentially irreversible destruction of an important Indian crop.