Highways and Road Construction

The first major step towards improving roads and highways was taken by AB Vajpayee in 1999 with the projects of the Golden Quadrilateral (connecting the four cities of Delhi, Mumbai. Chennai and Kolkata), and the two corridors - East-West (Porbandar, Gujarat – Silchar, Assam) and the North-South (Srinagar, J&K – Kanya Kumari, Tamil Nadu) corridors. And this had a spill-over effect on many parts of the country.

India has the second largest road network in the world, spanning almost 60 lakhs (6 million) kms. Since 1999, highway construction has been regularly taking place, though at varying pace. The percentage of rural roads has also crossed 70% now which is very impressive indeed – wonder if there is any reclassification here 😊. The length of national highways increased from 70,934 km in 2010–11 to 132,500 km in 2019.  Progress has really picked up in the time of the current government - It was 7 km/day in April ’20, and is rapidly increasing - it even touched a high of 33 km/day in Jun ’20. Thereafter it did dip as the Covid19 crisis resulted in acute shortage of workers etc. with movements back to their home towns; pace is now again very high.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/national-highway-construction-touched-76-km-a-day-in-january-second-week/articleshow/80315589.cms

The Government is working on policies to attract significant investor interest. The recent addition is the Bharatmala Pariyojana – 50 new National corridors, and connecting 550 districts of the country through NH linkages.

Next: Solar Energy in India

Previous: Waste Management

Waste Management

While per capita waste generated by India is low, in absolute terms we are the largest generator. Efforts at management have been made by various govts but significant success is yet to be achieved.

The Solid Wastage Management Rules of 2016 shifted the responsibility to the generators in partnership with the local bodies – individuals like us, hospitals, market associations, hotels etc. Waste to be segregated, brand owners to collect back the non‐biodegradable packaging waste. A bin made compulsory for street vendors. Guidelines cover landfills, waste processing and treatment, monitoring, also the informal sector workers (rag-pickers, kabadiwallahs) - the latter’s life is expected to improve with private players entering waste management.

Efforts of partnering with informal sector in Pune, Maharastra, and source separation of waste in Panaji, Goa, have been appreciated. There have also been pockets of private efforts in some other parts of the country. The new rules promote Waste-To-Energy plants. Composting has increased. Plastic waste in road construction started in 2016 with a small replacement in bitumen. Plastic being recycled into bricks is another attempt.

https://www.timesnownews.com/columns/article/segregating-india-s-waste-management-woes/683231

For us in Noida, the rules became mandatory from 31/12/19. Segregation has started (not only in our residential complex but also in the village across the road) and the कूड़ेदान / dumpsite across our complex is now a beautiful lawn with flowers. 

But this certainly is one area where we still have a long way to go.

Next: Highways and Road Construction

Previous: Survey of Clean Cities - Swachh Survekshan

Survey of Clean Cities - Swachh Survekshan

Swachh Survekshan, launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in cities and towns across India. The first survey was in 2016 covering 73 cities; the latest survey of 2020 covered over 4000 cities - said to be the largest cleanliness survey in the world. This is done, inter-alia, by the Quality Council of India and also takes people’s feedback – about 2 crore (20 million) citizens’ feedback in the latest ranking.

In the ranking of 2020, Indore - M.P. was rated the cleanest city (fourth time in a row); Surat - Gujarat as the second cleanest city, followed by Navi Mumbai - Maharashtra, Ambikapur – Chhattisgarh, Mysore – Karnataka. And the dirtiest is Patna – Bihar. The survey is under various criteria of size of the city etc.

It was a participative approach and the combined efforts of the Indore’s people, public representatives and government officials that have got them this title – and ensured that they kept it. The steps that Indore took are now being followed by many cities in India - I recall reading that there were visits from other countries too, to study their model.

https://www.cnbctv18.com/changing-india/how-indore-continues-to-be-indias-cleanest-city-4-years-in-a-row-6796341.htm

Incidentally my very own Noida falls in the category of cities with population between 1 to 10 lakhs. Ranked at no. 324 in 2018, 150 in 2019, it is now 25th all India and 1st in Uttar Pradesh. And Gaya, Bihar, is the dirtiest.

http://www.swachhsurvekshan2020.org/Rankings

If interested, the above is the link for looking up the rank/score of any city.

Next: Waste Management

Previous: Jal Jeevan Mission and Goa's success

Jal Jeevan Mission and Goa's success

This is further to an earlier post on providing water connections to all in two districts of Uttar Pradesh. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission started in 2019, some other States  were also undertaking the task of ensuring every rural household has a tap - with varying degrees of success. The Jal Jeevan Mission also mandates training five persons in every village, especially women, in using field test kits so that water can be tested there.

Goa is the first State to have achieved 100% success in rural households - over 2 lakh of them - and has now started working on monitoring - both pressure and quality of water.

https://zenews.india.com/india/goa-first-state-to-complete-pm-modis-dream-of-har-ghar-nal-jal-yojna-with-100-tap-water-connections-in-rural-areas-2316144.html

One thing that I have learnt preparing for these posts - how very much was just not given importance to at the ground level and how much is being done / still requires to be done.

Next: Survey of Clean Cities - Swachh Survekshan

Previous: More on FCRA

More on FCRA

Further to the previous post, here is Part 2 on FCRA.

All FCRA NGOs have to submit a utilisation certificate which was not submitted by many even after reminders and extensions. Violations by, and news of, some prominent NGOs are:

Ford Foundation, who were operating in India since 1952, but were not registered, had funded several non-FCRA NGOs. In 2016, after the present govt raised the matter, they opted for registration under FEMA (for commercial activities), but not FCRA (for charities, trusts, social work etc.), hence are under prior permission category.  

Greenpeace's registration was cancelled for their activities, under-reporting and inaccurate foreign contributions, multiple accounts.

Amnesty International’s  Indian arm violated provisions and misused funds for other activities. There was also false reporting.

Oxfam India’s / their UK donor was found to have covered up, in Britain, massive sexual offences. 

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had received funds from the Communist Party of China.

Indira Jaising’s NGO Lawyers Collective, used foreign contribution in advocacy with MPs or the media to organise rallies/dharnas.

Harsh Mander’s Centre for Equity Studies, funded by Christian and pan-Arab organisations. His treasurer was the CEO of Oxfam India. Mander is a senior retired bureaucrat who was a member of the Sonia Gandhi’s NAC.

Some others are World Vision, University of Rajasthan, UP’s Maulana Azad Educational Society, IIT, some Tamil Nadu’s Christian organisations, government-aided National Productivity Council etc. 

https://www.dailyo.in/lite/variety/ngo-oxfam-sex-scandal-amnesty-narendra-modi-fcra/story/1/22693.html

Over 20,000 registrations have been cancelled - this is also approx. the number of existing NGOs registered under FCRA.

 

Next: Jal Jeevan Mission and Goa's success

Previous: FCRA and NGOs

FCRA and NGOs

Despite my best efforts this one is too long, so I prefer to split into two parts, here is the first one.

FCRA - the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, regulates NGOs receiving foreign grants. Registration of NGOs is renewable every 5 years. Large scale violations in compliances and duplicate registrations were seen. In 2017, NGOs that had not filed statements for the past several years were given time; thereafter their licences were cancelled.

Foreign funded NGOs might be engaged in unregistered activities, directly or by funding other NGOs. Under the agenda of donor agencies, they might also lobby on issues – environmental, engage in religious conversions, support protests and political activities. Some office bearers had also been part of the National Advisory Council (NAC), the allegedly unconstitutional body overseeing PM Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet, and having persons from the coterie of Sonia Gandhi. Common donor agencies were also seen across some NGOs.

Recently, FCRA has been further tightened, some restrictions are:

Election candidates, government servants, legislators and political parties are prohibited from foreign funds. No transfer to other FCRA NGOs of foreign grants received. Administrative costs capped at 20% (existing 50%) to prevent lobbying with intellectuals, journalists and government officials. Aadhaar made mandatory for all office bearers. NGOs to spend money on their declared agenda and withdraw from other activities.

https://amp.scroll.in/article/843357/home-ministry-serves-fcra-notices-to-5922-organisations-including-iit-iim-ignou-and-oxfam

Obviously, foreign and Indian organisations and activists have not appreciated these actions and allege that the present government is stifling criticism.

Addendum : A good video on this can be seen here - https://youtu.be/4DyBdnCrTzM

Next: More on FCRA

Previous: Unauthorized occupation of Govt accommodation

Unauthorized occupation of Govt accommodation

An issue facing the govt has been both the rules and the status of (unauthorised?) occupation of govt. accommodation. For example, at least in J&K and in UP, all erstwhile CMs, of whichever party, were allowed to retain their houses (in Srinagar and Lucknow) for their lifetime. This included our present Defense Minister who was UP CM in 2000-2002. It was in 2020(?) that these rules were amended and they had all to move out. Obviously the ex-CMs (of the Opposition) are more than just bugged.

Then eminent personalities – journalists, artistes etc. had been given houses for a limited period of a few years - three years I believe. But quite a few overstayed for several decades, in a few cases families have remained in occupation even after the death of the allotees. 27 of them, served eviction notice in 2015, were again asked to vacate by 31/12/20. They have termed it as inhuman in the time of the pandemic, harassment, humiliation etc. And have again obtained a stay!!!

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/harassment-humiliation-artists-cry-foul-as-govt-asks-to-vacate-accommodation-916284.html

Others are ex-MPs, retired bureaucrats (IAS, IPS) and other govt employees - the numbers ran into a few thousands. There were continuous efforts to get them to vacate. In 2019, the eviction law was amended to ease the process; present number is around 500. 

Narendra Modi is criticised since these personalities also have family members who are powerful too. And vocal. Eg Nandita Das, the film personality, is the daughter of Jatin Das the painter. And each successful eviction generally means one more enemy made.

The courts have been repeatedly pulling up the Centre - both the earlier UPA and the present NDA govts. Yet it is these courts which accept the request for grant of stays. There is also criticism of the govt. for not increasing the number of houses available for allotment to artistes, but no demand or pressure for the existing squatters to vacate.

Next: FCRA and NGOs

Previous: Modi Ji's Diwalis

Modi Ji's Diwalis

Ever since he became PM, every year Narendra Modi has been celebrating Diwali with solders right at the border areas. The locations are different each time.

In 2014, he went to Siachen - the world’s highest battleground. In 2015 he visited the Dograi War Memorial, and the Barki War Memorial along with Asal Uttar, the site of one of the biggest ever tank battles. Both these were at the India-Pakistan border. Diwali of 2016 was at the India-China border - at Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh with the jawans of the Indo Tibetan Border Police, Indian Army and Dogra Scouts.

In 2017, he went to Bandipora district along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2018, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with the ITBP personnel at Harsil in Uttarakhand.

After winning the 2019 elections, Diwali was celebrated at the LOC in the district of Jammu and Kashmir.

And a few months ago, in 2020, he was in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer to celebrate Diwali with soldiers at the Longewala post. 

https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/longewala-pm-modi-to-celebrate-diwali-with-jawans/story

The link below is a pro BJP site. But see it to see more detailed information and actual photos.

https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/in-pictures-since-2014-our-prime-minister-has-celebrated-every-diwali-with-soldiers-guarding-indias-borders

Next: Unauthorised occupation of Govt accommodation

Previous: India Bangladesh enclaves

India Bangladesh enclaves

While there is generally no border dispute between India and Bangladesh, there has been a problem of some villages or enclaves of one country being physically within the other. Apparently from the time of the Mughals when the concerned kings or zamindars did not surrender. This situation remained at the time of the English and also during Independence. Thereafter, gradually, these enclaves became part of one country or the other. 

But we ended up having small incongruous  parts of India being landlocked within East Pakistan/ Bangladesh and vice versa. The problem was compounded by having enclaves within enclaves eg. Indian villages surrounded by Bangladesh villages landlocked within main India. The issue festered with various complications despite multiple agreements, one issue being that the aggregate land area on both sides was not equal.

As a result the people living within the enclaves were effectively stateless, neglected and uncared for, with poor law and order; they could not get say a visa as that involved crossing the other country to reach the concerned consulate. There were approx. 53000 residents and an area of over 100 square kilometres.

The two countries formally exchanged 162 enclaves (111 in India and 51 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh) on August 1, 2015 with citizenship left to the choice of the individuals. One-time movement of persons took place but the border between the two countries is now tightened.

There are issues still in the subsequent development of these areas and peoples as India is a federal structure and the enclaves are mainly with West Bengal and some with the NE States. Resolving issues now devolves upon the concerned State Govt and their will to do so.

https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-2015-india-bangladesh-land-boundary-agreement-identifying-constraints-and-exploring-possibilities-in-cooch-behar/

Incidentally, Vatican City is also an enclave, within Rome, Italy.

Next: Modi Ji's Diwalis

Previous: UDAN and Regional Connectivity

UDAN and Regional Connectivity

 A scheme started in 2017 was UDAN-RCS.

UDAN is Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik – so development of regional airports. At the beginning of the scheme, we had 486 airports, but fully operational for civil operations were limited. Initial target was to develop new, or enhance existing, regional airports with regular scheduled flights from 70 (in May 2016), to at least 150 airports (by December 2018).

RCS - Regional Connectivity Scheme  is to add several hundred, capped-airfare, new regional flight routes to connect more than 100 airports in smaller towns with each other / with airports in bigger cities.

I could not get any comment upon the success of the scheme but there are some financial issues. And corona would certainly have impacted actually flying on new routes - present status is about 300 new routes have been added. 

https://m.economictimes.com/topic/Udan-scheme/amp

This time the link shared is not of the scheme as such but a glimpse into what is in the offing.

Next: India Bangladesh enclaves

Previous: Triple Talaq

Triple Talaq

A small beginning for the rights of Muslim women was made in the famous Shah Bano case – wherein the Supreme Court (in 1985?) passed a judgement for the right to maintenance to Muslim divorced women. Shah Bano, who had been divorced several years earlier, had filed a criminal case against her husband and was granted alimony - of a princely sum of Rs. 300 p.m. if I remember right. However Muslim politicians started a campaign against this and, in an obvious Muslim appeasement attempt, the Rajiv Gandhi Government diluted the ruling and held that a divorced Muslim women was entitled to alimony for the next 90 days only (period of Iddah – three menstrual cycles for confirmation of no pregnancy).

In India, unlike several Islamic countries, triple talaq was legal. This was held illegal by the Supreme Court in 2017 but the practice still continued – the farce going to the extent of the word talaq being pronounced thrice in a single telephonic conversation, a Skype chat, a text message or even on WhatsApp – and the husband might even be away somewhere abroad and the poor wife in India. This triple talaq is irrevocable and remarriage first requires marriage and its consummation with another man. To see the inhumanity of the practice, an old excellent movie is “Nikaah” with Salma Agha and Deepak Parashar.

In the middle of 2019, the present Govt passed a law for the protection of the rights of Muslim women wherein triple talq has been made a criminal offence punishable with a jail term of three years. There is also a provision of subsistence allowance to the woman and dependent children as well as custody of children. While this law too has been protested by several Muslim groups, the government has not given in. It also explains why Narendra Modi is quietly getting Muslim votes too, especially of women.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/law-banning-triple-talaq-a-year-ago-today-we-reached-a-defining-moment-in-empowerment-of-women 

Previous governments of our country took care of the Muslim clergy but did not care for the common Muslims. The present Govt, in implementing various welfare measures, is not discriminating between the religions of the poor. This has further annoyed the opposition parties and the leaders of various factions, the present Government has been bad-mouthed by the powers that be, as being anti-Muslim.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-muslim-neighbours-among-23-countries-that-have-banned-triple-talaq/story-J8b9HkOCwdMAIWyscwxZMK.html

And Triple talaq has been illegal in Pakistan since 1961 !!!!

Incidentally, every American citizen has to follow American laws. There is no place for triple talaq in USA. Even for divorce, alimony and custody of children, the same American laws apply, irrespective of your religion or nationality.

Next: UDAN and Regional Connectivity

Previous: Unmanned railway crossings

Unmanned railway crossings

We had unmanned level crossings in the country and annual deaths of 12-13 thousand on railway tracks. So removal of these, on broad gauge lines was taken as a project with target date of 2020. 

 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/railways-says-it-has-eliminated-all-unmanned-crossings-but-one-1975410

The link - an article of Jan 2019 - is by NDTV, a totally anti-BJP and pro Congress media house. All but one crossing had been taken care of. As I recall this had some issue, at that time, with the locals living there. I have not been able to get a recent article.

And here is another more detailed article on this.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/railways-to-eliminate-last-unmanned-level-crossing-ahead-of-2020-target-119012200523_1.html

Next: Triple Talaq

Previous: Jan Dhan Yojana

Jan Dhan Yojana

Perhaps the first major initiative of Narendra Modi immediately after his election in 2014 was the attempt at financial inclusion. Which meant the opening, in a very very big way, of zero balance accounts for all - called Jan Dhan Accounts. This has been a major success.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jan-dhan-accounts-rise-60-amid-pandemic-help-stifle-crime-sbi-research/articleshow/78902876.cms

And it has led to DBT - Direct Benefit Transfer. So all subsidies and benefits are credited to the persons - immediately, fully, without the involvement of any middlemen who had become powerful, as also bottlenecks and sources of corruption. Recall Rajiv Gandhi's remark of 1985 - of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paisa reached the intended beneficiary. 

In fact this elimination of ground level corruption is a major success. It is also an underlying cause of a lot of political criticism since not only most opposition parties but several of the BJP ground staff have begun to lose sources of income.

https://m.economictimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/bank-accounts-opened-under-pradhan-mantri-jan-dhan-yojana-crosses-40-crore-mark/articleshow/77328277.cms

Just look at the sheer numbers - more than 40 crore (400 million) accounts opened with zero balance. What a mammoth task has been done.

Next: Unmanned railway crossings

Previous: Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna

Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna

Another scheme was the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country, in rural as well as urban areas.

https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/modis-village-electrification-is-among-worlds-biggest-successes-this-year-says-this-report/1380269/

Attempts had been made by all prior goverments, but it was only now that all villages in the country could be electrified. Then the task of individual households was taken up - presently this too is more or less complete, across the entire country.

The next challenge is to provide regular electricity throughout the day to all households.

Next: Jan Dhan Yojana

Previous: Ending Open Defecation in India

Ending Open Defecation in India

Toilet in all households was another vision of Narendra Modi (NaMo). Has generally been fully achieved. The absence of toilets for women means going out only when dark – hence open to rape or falling a prey to snakes, wild animals etc. it is also a reason for the lack of education of girls in rural areas.

 https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/ending-open-defecation

As per the UNICEF report, it has impacted 50 crore persons. And our population is assessed at 130 crores. Let us take these figures with a pinch of salt since the data would be some govt. source. Yet, very very impressive.  

The question really is - why have these basic issues not been addressed in all these decades since Independence, why was this started only now?

However issues remain in using the toilets -  in rural areas there is still some resistance. Also we hear of the toilets being used as storage places. So even here, it is still not the end of the road. But heading in the right direction.

Next: Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna

Previous: Har Ghar Nal Yojna

Har Ghar Nal Yojna

The major difference in earlier schemes and those under Modi ji, is that in the former they were announcements. But now,  they usually reach maximum fruition within the scheduled time frame and sometimes even earlier.

They are generally not named after any person. They address such absolutely basic issues - something which should have been taken up right after Independence itself but were left unattended till now. Imagine, so many households, in so many villages in our country, still do not even have a tap in their homes.

 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-launches-har-ghar-nal-yojna-scheme-to-ensure-water-supply-to-nearly-3-000-villages-in-up/story-fwsoLcg5jLVaP5cYJpGuXP.html

This single project of providing taps in every household is for 3000 villages,  in just two districts of just one State. And is aimed at providing water to 41 lakh villagers. So try to imagine how many million other households there would be in the poor regions of our country.

Next: Ending Open Defecation in India