India: Time for rethinking social security
Ambar Kumar Ghosh
India celebrated its 74
th Independence Day last week. Achieving political freedom from a prolonged reign of colonial rule was indeed a significant feat which was driven by a formidable mass-based freedom struggle. More importantly, the independence from the foreign rule heralded the beginning of popular sovereignty as independent India became a democratic polity. The introduction of parliamentary democracy laid the foundation of political equality which accords one man with one vote which has one value for choosing the political representatives.
But “a life of contradiction” that would mark the discourse of democratic politics in India was
highlighted by Dr B.R. Ambedkar in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly. Such a contradiction emanates from the deeply embedded economic and social inequality that would have to co-exist with the political equality that Indian democracy promised. Ambedkar went ahead and warned that the perpetual existence of such a contradiction might endanger the very foundations of political democracy in India.
However, the impediments of deepening social and economic inequalities didn’t dislodge the existence of democratic polity in India. But such inequalities have undoubtedly diminished the possibility of realising freedom in the truest sense for a major section of vulnerable and marginalised sections in India. As they need to perennially
struggle for basic means of survival, their political right to vote appears to be largely devoid of substantive impact on their lives.
Constitutional design
But the constitutional design as well as the imperative of democratic accountability have led to the formulation of certain measures to ameliorate the sufferings of these marginalised sections. The Indian Constitution
ensures right to equality for all sections of people regardless of their social and economic vulnerability or strength. Article 21 of the Constitution also
guarantees the fundamental right to life with basic dignity to all. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution also
envisions a basic source of livelihood of the citizens of the country.
The administrative apparatus of the Indian state, which constitutes both the Centre and the States, have been
obligated to roll out a social welfare policy regime for uplifting the economically vulnerable population from the scourge of poverty, deprivation and insecurity. Moreover, as the materially deprived sections constitute a major section of the society, they are
instrumental for the electoral mobilisation of the political elites. Hence, a multi-dimensional social security measures became one of the major means through which Indian democratic state negotiates with its economic and social inequality since from the time of its inception.
However, the ongoing pandemic have once again
reminded us of the abysmal level of deprivation and deep-rooted vulnerabilities that defines the lives of a substantial section of population in India. The massive health crisis has also brought to the
forefront the glaring
loopholes in the social security measures that aims at reducing the sufferings of these marginalised sections. The Covid-19 crisis have revealed two of the major challenges, amongst others, that have crippled the effective working of social security measures in India.
Exclusionary approach
One of the most prominent loopholes regarding the social security policy in India that got revealed during the Covid-19 is that it is largely
exclusionary in nature which keeps a considerable section of needy population out of its purview. The prolonged lockdown and the pandemic have resulted in
massive joblessness and livelihood crisis for the daily wage labourers largely in the unorganised sector. Under such circumstances, the food security schemes, although has been expanded considerably in this crisis, still had a
limited impact to completely cater to the needs of all sections of people. The Food Security Act, 2013
seems to have been unable to touch a major section of people who were in dire need of food for survival. The lack of adequate documentation of the people who were entitled to the social welfare benefits made it
largely exclusionary and inadvertently selective in nature.
Moreover, ground level corruption and ineffective implementation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) have further
aggravated the problem. Apart from the possibility of mass hunger, the lockdown also revealed a massive
lack of proper housing facilities for the migrant labourers working as daily wage labourers in various urban conglomerates in India. Though the Central Government has taken
concerted efforts to bring universal ration card for effective reach of PDS benefits and social housing
schemes for labourers, these measures appeared largely to be reactive and would require substantial amount of time for implementation.
Inadequate implementation
A reason for such exclusionary, delayed and inadequate implementation of social welfare measures can be attributed to the
lack of humane imagination in policy making. First, the hurriedly declared lockdown and the unpreparedness of both the Centre and the States in dealing with the situation of the migrants
show how these vulnerable migrant population remained at the margins of the priority of the governance ecosystem.
Furthermore, when the migrant workers crisis blew out of proportion during the lockdown, the priority of the government was to stop the march of migrant workers back to their villages. So, a major section of them were kept in shelters made by the government and provided them with necessities like food and shelter. But what
evaded the imagination of the state is that apart from the economic crisis, there were other emotive factors behind the mass return of the migrant workers to their villages. The economic migrant who were stuck in the alien urban centres in the middle of the health crisis, wanted to go back to their native villages for getting the comfort and security of their family in such uncertain times.
Second, the government issued directives for maintaining social distancing in order to curb the spread of the disease. But it seemed to have skipped the attention of the policy makers that as a large section of people dwells in congested and overcrowded homes, social distancing might be an
unachievable idea. It is true that all sections of people appeared equally susceptible to the disease. But it is the vulnerable sections who suffered much more in the pandemic due to lack of structural social security which is more sensitive to their needs.
Hence, the pandemic provides an opportune moment for the social welfare policy regime in India to undergo a paradigmatic shift in its approach towards policy designing as well as its implementation. Only a more inclusive and humane approach towards perceiving the need of social welfare can guarantee an effective way of assuaging the suffering of the vulnerable sections of the population. The present crisis once again has send out a crude reminder that unless social and economic inequalities are better managed in a more cohesive manner, the benefits of political freedom will be limited to a major chunk of Indian populace.
Maldives: Unlike China’s, India’s infra projects offer multiple benefits
N Sathiya Moorthy
Unlike being made out by a section of the Indian media, following the video-conference between the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid recently, it is not true that China is not entirely out of the archipelago-nation.
In the video-conference, India and Maldives agreed on major projects, one being the
$ 500-m ‘super low cost’ funding for a ‘high visibility’ sea-bridge in Maldives –
- in addition to the $ 900-m projects now under way. On island-specific smaller projects, where New Delhi had taken the early initiative, Beijing still is present, but a clear Maldivian reiteration now that India and Indian Ocean security will always be high on the nation’s mind seems to have provided an edge to India.
Also, the wide media coverage of the video-pact between Jaishankar and Shahid goes on to underline the positive popular perceptions in India, unlike any time in the past. The video-pact formalises the bilateral agreement for the ‘Greater Male Connectivity Project’, the nation’s single largest infrastructure scheme, linking capital Male with Vilimale, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu islands through sea-bridges and causeways. It was part of the $ 1.4-b package aid that Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised during the maiden State visit of Maldives President Ibrahim Solih in December 2018.
When completed, the 6.7-km bridge will be more than thrice the length of the China-funded Sinimale sea-bridge, connecting Male with airport-island, Hulhule’, which was conceived and constructed during the reign (2013-18) of jailed former President Abdulla Yameen. The new Indian project goes a step further as it will help de-congest Male, the capital with the highest population density.
A third of Maldives’ 400,000 population resides in Male, contributing to unaffordable rentals, extremely cramped family spaces, which in turn challenges personal hygiene and leads to social disharmony in the Islamic community with high incidence of divorce and re-marriage. In time, there could be further decentralisation of education and healthcare facilities, which is high on the average Maldivian’s personal and national priorities.
Of the $ 500-m package, India is giving $ 100 m in grants and the rest as credit at an affordable rate. In contrast, as elsewhere where China has funded infra projects, in Maldives, too, the term ‘debt-trap’ is in common employ. Unlike China, the India-funded projects inherently aim at creating local jobs and accepting local partnerships, thus boosting host economies, at the personal and national-level.
In the case of Maldives, local efforts still need to be made to motivate the youth, who prefer government jobs to acquiring skills, for which, again India, for instance, can help set up multi-layered technical school(s) like the ITIs back home, as different from the IITs. Local jobs apart, the transport cost of construction material, which Maldives anyway has to import, will be cheaper from India, considering the distance.
Favourite aid provider
India has also extended a $ 250-m budgetary support for Maldives, an area where New Delhi seems to be the favourite aid-provider. Given the inherent weaknesses of a small population spread across small and tiny islands spread across a 900-km in the Indian Ocean, the Maldivian economy will take time to become self-reliant.
The four-decade old tourism industry is the nation’s economic mainstay, but Tsunami-2004 and Pandemic-2020 have pulled it back, making low-cost external borrowing inevitable. In this regard, the two sides have signed an agreement, called an ‘
air bubble agreement’, for a quarantine-free arrival from each other country. This will help boost Maldivian tourism, which opened up on 15 July, besides it helping Maldivians who need to avail emergency medical care and higher education in India.
For a further boost to tourism, the two Foreign Ministers revived the pre-Covid idea of a 700-km Male-Kochi
ferry service through Kulhudhuffushi. Minister Jaishankar said the ferry service would boost economic partnership between the two countries while a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs added that it will (also) “enhance sea-connectivity and provide predictability in supplies for importers in Maldives and exporters in India. It will also reduce logistics costs and times for traders”. This apart, India is extending financial support for work on the existing airport in Kulhudhufushi and for a port in Gulhifahu. In the case of ferry service, however, India could take a closer look at the revival of the forgotten one with post-war Sri Lanka less than a decade back, for reasons and rectification in the case of Maldives.
Independent of the video-con, but as a part of the larger Indian aid package, Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir and Maldives Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor, among others, recently signed an agreement for developing five
eco-tourism zones in the southern Addu Atoll, as part the India-aided ‘High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP), on a total grant of $ 5.5 m. At present, another nine HICDP projects are being implemented in Maldives.
As High Commissioner Sudhir pointed out, developing high-impact assets, building capacities within the local councils and supporting the local island economy are the most important objectives of these projects. Three such HICDP projects in Addu, relating to setting up of fish-processing plants, were awarded last month, HC Sudhir said adding that taken together, these projects would bring about a transformation in the economic and employment landscape of Addu.
‘Landmark moment’
President Solih
hailed the Indian assistance as “a landmark moment in Maldives-India cooperation”. In response, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that “our special friendship is, and will always remain, as deep as the waters of the Indian Ocean”. He said that India will continue to support Maldives in mitigating the economic impact of the Covid19 pandemic.
In his turn, Maldivian Parliament Speaker and former President Mohammed Nasheed
reiterated his known position that financial packages from India is exactly what Maldives needs, and different from loans that will leave the nation mired in debt. That is mainly because, even more this time, New Delhi lets the host-nation decide on individual projects, big and small, without imposing its ideas. Nasheed described the Indian aid as “super low-cost development assistance”. It is “genuine help from a friend,” and ere different from “eye-wateringly expensive commercial loans that leaves the nation mired in debt”, he added without naming China on this occasion.
Nasheed was obviously referring to China, which he has not shied away from naming on other occasions. Independently, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer declared that the nation would not fall into a
‘sovereign default’. The question became relevant after China served notice on Maldives recently to pay up $ 10 m as part of a $ 127-m loan granted for a resort project of Ahmed ‘Sun’ Siyam, under a ‘sovereign guarantee’ from Yameen’s Maldives. The government has since announced that Siyam’s Sun Group had
paid up the China dues.
Public diplomacy-plus
In the era before China’s ‘String of Pearls’ and Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), India had near-exclusive ties with Maldives on all fronts, under Presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (1978-2008) and his ‘democratic successor’ in Nasheed. It is in this context that the periodic re-assertions by Nasheed and the more recent one by Economic Development Minister
Fayyaz Ismail on the security front assume significance.
In a comprehensive approach at a
Rajje TV programme, Minister Ismail said that his government did not have any problems with China, but it will not allow the country to be used to endanger the security of a neighbouring nation or disrupt the peace of the Indian Ocean.
"We will obtain loans from China, and Chinese investment is also welcome. We are also maintaining a close relationship with China,” online
Sun News journal quoted Minister Ismail as saying. But the problem with China arose after that nation took ownership of certain locations following of non-repayment of loans.
Minister Ismail, in particular, responded to the Yameen-centric Opposition charge that India wanted to occupy Maldives, by creating differences between the people and the Government. "If India wished to capture Maldives, it would have been done centuries ago. We have to accept the reality, that nothing that threatens the security of India can be done in the Maldives," he added.
Maldives should prioritise regional security, Minister Ismail said, adding the nation was not oblivious to rivalries between world powers, and would still prioritise the safety of Sri Lanka and India as a neighbouring State. “We three are neighbours and cannot be re-located elsewhere,” he pointed out.
Country Reports
Afghanistan
Final round of prisoner release
Decided at the Consultative Peace Jirga held by President Ghani few days ago, the last batch of 400 Taliban prisoners has begun to be released by the government. Their release is expected to speed up the process of direct talks between the government and the Taliban, as mandated by the US-Taliban deal signed in February 2020. Many of the prisoners scheduled to be released are either on death row, or have been convicted of conducting high profile attacks against Afghan and foreign forces operating in the country.
IMF extends credit facility
The International Monetary Fund reached an agreement with the government to build on the existing economic reform agenda in the country, by way of an extended credit facility arrangement worth US$364 million. The credit facility aims to support governance reforms, maintain macroeconomic stability, and mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s economy. More specifically, the line of credit seeks to strengthen the development agenda of the government, by supporting the objectives laid down in the National Peace and Development Framework for 2021-2025.
Bangladesh
$ 3.15-b loan from Japan
Japan has decided to provide US$ 3.15 billion to Bangladesh for seven development projects in the country. The loan, the largest ever offered to the country, will be under the 41st Official Development Assistance (ODA) package. The Japanese envoy to Bangladesh and Ms Fatima Yasmin, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD) signed the Exchange of Notes of the 41st ODA in Dhaka this week. The project, funded under the 41st ODA package, includes Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction Project (II), Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (II), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (IV), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line 5 Northern Route) (I), Chattogram – Cox’s Bazar Highway Improvement Project (E/S), Food Value Chain Improvement Project and Urban Development and City Governance Project. Bangladesh will have to repay the loan at 0.65 per cent interest rate in 30 years where 10 years grace period will be available.
Per capital income up
The country’s per capita income witnessed a record growth of $ 2064 in the financial year 2019-$2020, from $1,909 in 2018–19. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics informed that per capita income increased by $155 in the just-concluded FY20 with the GDP growth rate at 5.24 per cent. The per capita income in the country has been growing steadily in the past few years. In 2013 per capita income was $1054, which grew to $1610 in 2017, and 1751 in 2018.
Bid for Chinese funds
The Ministry of Water Resources is likely to seek financial assistance from China for a “Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project”. The project estimated $985 Million is expected to address issues including riverbank erosion that has been responsible for yearly flooding in the country. Additionally, the project will help to secure water in the dry season when the availability of the water is less in the river.The project is expected to boost economic development in the catchment area of the river.
Bhutan
Nation-wide lockdown
The Bhutanese population woke up on 11 August to the announcement of a nation-wide lockdown by the Prime Minister’s office. This measure was taken after a woman tested positive a fortnight after her release from quarantine. The country went into lockdown to trace all those who came into contact with the woman. Earlier, the 27-year old had returned from Kuwait on 26 June and was placed in a mandatory quarantine facility in Paro. She tested positive for Covid-19 on 10 August in Gelephu. Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering said that community transmission could not be ruled out.
$ 1.2 m from SAARC Fund
Bhutan received $ 1.2 million from the SAARC Development Fund (SDF), which has approved $ 7.7million (M) to seven of its member-countries for projects in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The projects were approved under SDF’s Social Window-health thematic area to support the countries in responding to the pandemic.Alongside, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka received USD 1.2 million each and Afghanistan received USD 1.54 million for the projects.
India
PM declares digital health mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort informed of the government’s plans to strengthen health care in India. Modi announced a National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) which will provide the citizens with health IDs, personal health records, Digi doctors, and a health facility register. The government assured that the mission will ensure better health care services through the health card.
End to Rajasthan crisis
The month-long political tussle between the two Congress factions in Rajasthan led by chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot ended last week. Pilot sought to end his differences with the party after meeting the national leadership of the Congress -- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi. He has also been assured that his grievances against Mr Gehlot will be looked into by a 3-member committee which Congress President Sonia Gandhi would form. Following such assurances, Mr Pilot and other rebel MLAs went back to Rajasthan and attended the Congress legislative party meet displaying the unity of the party. Ashok Gehlot government also won the floor test on 14 August as it enjoyed comfortable majority in the house.
Maldives
India funds $ 500-m sea-bridge
Through a bilateral agreement through video-conference, Foreign Ministers S Jaishankar and Abdulla Shahid of India and Maldives cleared a $ 500-m project for a sea-bridge connecting capital Male with three other islands. The 6.7-km sea-bridge will be the single largest infra project in the country and is thrice as long as the China-funded Sinimale sea-bridge to the airport island of Huluhule. India will also be funding a port and airport modernization project in the country, apart giving a $ 250 m budgetary support.
Myanmar
USDP, NLD name candidates
Dr. Nandar Hla Myint, spokesperson of the USDP, has issued a statement that a total of 1,129 representatives will contest in Myanmar's general election scheduled to be held on 8 November. Of them, 320 candidates will compete for the House of Representatives (Lower House), 165 for the House of Nationalities (Upper House), others for region or state parliaments and for seats in region or state parliaments reserved for ethnic minorities. Meanwhile, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, vice-chairman NLD stated that over 1,100 representatives from the ruling party will take part in the general election.
Financial support for IDPs
The Social Welfare Department under Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement stated that the government is planning to give financial assistance to families living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the country at the rate of 65,000 kyats per family. According to Aung Kyaw Moe, Deputy Director General, Social Welfare Department, they have received 13.255 billion kyats from Lift Fund (established by the international donors) for assistance. Around 4.153 billion kyats will be provided to each household in the IDP camps and around 3.248 billion kyats has been earmarked for giving assistance to disabled persons.
Nepal
NCP sets up taskforce to end feud
The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is on the verge of crumbling down, owing to the long extending feud between its leaders -- Prime Minister K. Sharma Oli and Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Holding an inevitable consequence for the nation at large, the disagreements have been emanating from ideological differences. In order to end the dispute, a six member task-force has been formed. Apparently, the discussion went well too. Now only time can reveal the future of the party and the government.
National grid in action
Nepal has made a major claim of being able to provide 90 per cent of its population with uninterrupted electricity supply. While around 86.44 per cent of the households have access to the national grid, the remaining places are receiving electricity through solar and micro hydroelectricity under Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC). The aim now is to electrify each household by 2022. This has been a major achievement for the country.
Pakistan
Jamiat criticises FATF Bills
Chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has slammed Imran Khan-led Pakistani government on passing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related bills without consultation of parliamentarians. He said the bills were approved in haste and are anti-Pakistan. He attacked the civilian government on weak governance and futile foreign policy that did not absorb the pressure of FATF. He pointed out that Pakistan had earlier also been on the FATF grey list, but previous governments were not blackmailed by FATF under pressure from New Delhi.
Army chief to visit Saudi Arabia
Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa will visit Saudi Arabia to soothe the sentiments in Riyadh following the recent criticism of Pakistan on its approach towards ‘Kashmir issue’. Islamabad has been urging the Saudi-controlled Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) for a high-level meeting on Kashmir issue. Riyadh was irked by Qureshi’s recent statement. Saudi Arabia has not still responded to Islamabad’s request to extend the oil credit facility. Last year under pressure from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan pulled out of the Muslims countries’ summit held in Malaysia, considered as a challenge by Riyadh to OIC.
Sri Lanka
New ministry sworn in
Following the parliamentary poll victory of his SLPP combine, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa swore in elder brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for a full five-year term. The new team includes three more Rajapaksa clan members, and has a total of 28 Cabinet Ministers against the sanctioned 30. In doing so, the Rajapaksas also desisted from the temptation of having a higher number of Cabinet berths by citing the predecessor-facilitated 19-A. While there were no surprise inclusions, former President Maithripala Sirisena and some of his aides who had targeted the Rajapaksas while the latter were out of power have been left out.
Bibliography
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’Inclusivity’? Turning EU Rhetoric Into Reality for Afghan Peace”,
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Polarity at its Peak”, 15 Aug 2020
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Coronavirus paving the way for higher inflation in Bangladesh?”,
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China’s Stake in Bangladesh IsOverplayed”,
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Bhutan
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Lockdown a surprise gift”,
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Bhutan and COVID-19 pandemic”,
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Nation has not given adequate importance to health of its citizens. We need to break from the past”,
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Being free requires empowering yourself and helping others step out for change”,
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The disjunct between the promise and reality of GST”,
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L-G Sinha must create a politically inclusive J&K”,
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Maldives
Opinion Pieces
Aisha Hussain Rasheed,
“No, Qua’ran does not endorse victim-blaming”,
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Myanmar
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China Experts Wanted”, 11 August 2020
Nepal
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What to expect from Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism meeting”,
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Editorials
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Pakistan
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A sham democracy”,
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Trolls and hate”,
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Intra-Afghan peace talks”,
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The Saudi pivot, Pakistan and Kashmir — is there a chasm?”,
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US mediation”, 13 August 2020
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US mediation”, 13 August 2020
Sri Lanka
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Shivanthi Ranasinghe,
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The Island, 16 August 2020
Kumar David,
“Gotabaya autocracy: Inducements and impediments”,
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“Are Tamil tilting towards national politics?”,
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Kamanthi Wickremesinghe,
“’Right to Reject’ as a fundamental right”,
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Kelum Bandara,
“Non-career lawmakers secure political authority”,
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Ravi Nagahawatte,
“When political power dwarfs everything around”,
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Rudroneel Ghosh,
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The Times of India, 14 August 2020
Contributors
Afghanistan: Shubhangi Pandey
Bangladesh: Joyeeta Bhattacharjee
Bhutan: Mihir Bhonsale
India: Ambar Kumar Ghosh
Maldives & Sri Lanka: N Sathiya Moorthy
Myanmar: Sreeparna Banerjee
Nepal: Sohini Nayak
Pakistan: Ayjaz Wani
Coordinator: Sreeparna Banerjee
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