EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
8 EDITORIAL
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Testing times in the Korean peninsula
Old objectives of denuclearisation and reunification have to be set aside, at least for now
Death of an activist
Gauri Lankeshs killers must be found; or itll
embolden those who stifle dissent rakesh sood
T
he murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh in
he sixth nuclear test by North
Bengaluru has set off a wave of protests across the
country; the chill that has set in is difficult to miss.
It is a fools game right now to hazard guesses about the
T Korea on Sunday has pro-
voked a predictable chorus of
condemnation and hand wringing
identity of the killers, but the manner in which she was in capitals around the world. The
brutally murdered raises extremely worrying ques- test was anticipated, given the shrill
tions. Her killers caught her outside her home, alone rhetoric accompanying North
and with her guard down as she got out of her car they Koreas missile tests. Yet there is
fired at point-blank range, hitting her on the chest and little to indicate if the key countries
(the U.S., China, South and North
the temple. They appear to have fled without even once
Koreas and Japan) are ready to ac-
getting off their motorbike, leaving no finger or shoe knowledge that old policies no
prints, as clean a murder as can be. This has the hall- longer work and a new approach is
mark of a professional hit-job, a pre-meditated assassin- needed to de-escalate tensions.
ation. It is the polices remit to identify and nab the Measuring 6.3 on the Richter
killers, but Lankeshs killing cannot but draw attention scale, this test indicates an explos-
to the various constituencies that she kept on notice. ive yield of approximately 120 kilo-
tons, six times bigger than the
Lankesh, the publisher and editor of the Kannada
Hiroshima bomb. The North
weekly Gauri Lankesh Patrike, wore her activism on her Koreans described it as a successful
sleeve. She came up against the establishment in mul- hydrogen bomb test and also re-
tiple ways, as she sought to bring naxalites to the main- leased a photograph of Supreme
stream, take up the cause of Dalits and farmers, raise Leader Kim Jong-un posing with a
consciousness on the creeping influence of Hindutva hydrogen bomb. In August, reports
groups, give moral support to progressive campaigns, had appeared in the U.S. based on
intelligence estimates that North
and basically bear scrutiny on those in power.
Korea had succeeded in producing
Journalism, especially that of Kannadas uniquely a miniature warhead that could be
tabloid-driven activism, has suffered a loss, and her mated with its missiles.
death must be intensely mourned. But as in the cases of While experts continue to de-
Safdar Hashmi decades ago and rationalists M.M. Kal- bate whether North Korea has
burgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar in re- mastered the technology behind a
cent years, the high-profile death of an activist is a no- fusion device or whether the posed
picture was of a mock-up, the fact is
tice to society in ways that transcend the individuals
that under Mr. Kim, the nuclear
specific life story. It is a confirmation of how formidable and missile programmes have ac-
are the forces, howsoever invisible they may be to the celerated. Four of the six nuclear
arm of the law, that individual activism is up against. tests have been conducted after he
These brutal attacks have the power to potentially scare took over in 2011; the earlier two
off others activists, journalists, complainants from were conducted in 2006 and 2009.
sniffing around too much. Just last month, the eventual Missile development began earlier
but while Kim Jong-il conducted 16
conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on the charge missile tests during his rule from
of rape was a reminder of the high cost that defenceless 1994 to 2011, his son and successor
individuals pay to bring the powerful to book in this Kim Jong-un has undertaken more
case, the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra than 80 missile tests. Longer range
Chhatrapati, in 2002 for first publishing news of the and solid fuel missiles have been
crime. This is why Lankeshs murderers must be exped- tested and North Koreas fissile ma-
terial stockpile is enough for 25
itiously traced and punished another unsolved crime
devices.
will only embolden those who believe that dissent and On July 4, North Korea tested
opposition must be met with violence. Her murder has Hwasong-14, described as an inter-
taken place in a year that India dropped three places in continental ballistic missile (ICBM)
the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters capable of reaching the U.S. main-
Without Borders, from an already bleak 133 to 136. It de- land. Tested in a lofted trajectory, it
mands words and also acts of reassurance from the
A case for universal medical care
Karnataka and Central governments.
The opposition to NEET is a smokescreen to hide inequalities and exploitation
Mountains of garbage
Waste management rules continue to be
ignored even a year after they were notified
T
he collapse of a great wall of garbage in east Del-
his Ghazipur area, sweeping people and vehicles
george thomas
into a nearby canal, is a stark reminder that In-
dias neglected waste management crisis can have
T
he purpose of medical educa-
deadly consequences. More than a year after the noti-
tion is to train medical per-
fication of the much-delayed Solid Waste Management sonnel to handle the medical
Rules, cities and towns are in no position to comply care needs of the country. It is obvi-
with its stipulations, beginning with the segregation of ous that any democratic govern-
different kinds of waste at source and their scientific ment will try to elucidate what
processing. Neither are urban local governments treat- these needs are and tailor the edu-
ing the 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in cation system to fulfil what is re-
quired. Right from the Bhore Com-
the country as a potential resource. They have left the
mittee (1946) to the Mudaliar
task of value extraction mostly to the informal system of Committee (1962) and the
garbage collectors and recyclers. Improving on the na- Shrivastav Committee (1975) to the
tional record of collecting only 80% of waste generated Bajaj Committee (1986) and includ-
and being able to process just 28% of that quantum, re- ing the High Level Expert Group on
quires behaviour modification among citizens and insti- Universal Health Coverage (2011),
tutions. But what is more important is that the muni- the question of what type of med-
ical personnel the country should
cipal bodies put in place an integrated system to
train has been examined. All these
transport and process what has been segregated at committees are unanimous in their
source. The Swachh Bharat programme of the Centre opinion that the country needs a
has focussed too narrowly on individual action to keep large number of basic doctors. It is
streets clean, without concurrent pressure on State and not sufficient to state what type of
municipal authorities to move closer to scientific man- doctors should be trained. It is ne-
agement by the deadline of April 2018 set for most
places, and arrest the spread of pollution from trash. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In the absence of stakeholders at the local body level,
recoverable resources embedded in discarded materi- Murder most foul
als are lost due to dumping. Organic refuse, which Dislodging dissent by
forms about 50% of all garbage, readily lends itself to annihilation is
the generation of compost or production of methane undemocratic. A free-
thinking society such as
for household use or power generation. But it is a major ours has still to recover from
opportunity lost. Organic waste that could help green the shock of the murderous
cities and feed small and affordable household biogas attacks on Narendra
plants is simply being thrown away. It is also ironic that Dabholkar, Govind Pansare
and M.M. Kalburgi. The
while some countries such as Rwanda and Kenya have
introduced stiff penalties for the use of flimsy plastic cold-blooded murder of
Gauri Lankesh is yet another
bags, India is doing little to prevent them from drifting
instance of intolerance. It
into suburban garbage mountains, rivers, lakes and the was doubly tragic that it
sea, and being ingested by cattle feeding on dumped re- happened on the birth
fuse. A new paradigm is needed, in which bulk waste anniversary of Sarvepalli
generators take the lead and city managers show Radhakrishnan.
demonstrable change in the way it is processed. There It may be a fact that Lankesh
has to be a shift away from large budgets for collection was harsh in her criticism
and at times even made
and transport by private contractors, to the processing
intemperate comments. But
of segregated garbage. As the nodal body for the imple- such flaws must be met with
mentation of the new rules, the Central Pollution Con- healthy debate and
trol Board should put out periodic assessments of the discussion and not
countered with bullets.
preparedness of urban local bodies in the run-up to the
deadline. Without a rigorous approach, the national K.C. Kalkura,
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
problem of merely shifting city trash to the suburbs, out
of sight of those who generate it, will fester and choke
It is quite distressing and
the landscape. Considering that waste volumes are offi- heartbreaking that one
cially estimated to grow to 165 million tonnes a year by more intellectual has fallen
2030, many more suburbs are bound to be threatened prey to fascist forces in the
by collapsing or burning trash mountains. country. Muting the voices
of dissent with violence is a
CM
YK
NOIDA/DELHI
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
THE HINDU
in 1993 with North Korea threaten- means to start a dialogue but will
ing to withdraw from the Nuclear not accept any restriction on cap-
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In abilities in return for mere verbal
Pyongyang, there was a leadership
change with Kim Jong-il taking over
assurances. The old carrot and
stick policies will not work. Military
after his fathers death. The crisis action may lead to nuclearisation in
was averted by direct talks with the Japan and South Korea. Sanctions
U.S. leading to an Agreed Frame- have limited utility because China
work in 1994 under which North accounts for 90% of North Koreas
Korea suspended its decision to foreign trade and for China, a nuc-
withdraw from the NPT, agreed to
freeze its nuclear activities and in
return, the U.S. pledged to build
lear North Korea is a lesser threat
than a regime collapse that could
lead to a unified Korea allied to the
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
two light water nuclear power re- U.S.
actors. The 1953 Armistice Agreement
The Clinton administration also was signed by North Korea, China
provided more than $800 million and the U.S. (representing the U.N.
of food aid and humanitarian as- Command) ending hostilities and
sistance. The fact that the NPT was was to be followed by a peace treaty
to be extended in 1995 was un- which remains pending. South
doubtedly a factor in ensuring that Korea (and the U.S.) and North
reached a height of 2,800 km and said, We do not seek a regime North Koreas withdrawal be Korea do not recognise each other;
travelled a distance of 933 km, im- change, we do not seek a collapse blocked. North Korea considers the South
plying a range of 6,500 km in a nor- of the regime, we do not seek an ac- The Bush administration an- under U.S. occupation while South
mal trajectory, bringing mainland celerated reunification of the pen- nulled the 1994 Framework Agree- Korea considers the entire penin-
America within range. It was de- insula, we do not seek an excuse to ment (the two reactors remain un- sula as its territory. Sovereignty is-
scribed as a game changer, some- send our military north of the 38th finished), and in 2002 declared sues have been bypassed when
thing that U.S. President Donald Parallel. North Korea part of the axis of politics is favourable as in 1991
Trump had vowed he would pre- China and Russia have been crit- evil. North Korea reacted by form- when both Koreas were simultan-
vent by doing whatever was ical of North Koreas missile and ally quitting the NPT in 2003 pro- eously admitted to the UN. China,
necessary. nuclear tests, proposing that if the voking the second crisis. China and looking for investment and techno-
U.S. and South Korea were to sus- Russia initiated the Six-Party Talks logy, pragmatically recognised
Trumps ballistic stand pend their joint military exercises, in 2003 which the U.S. joined un- South Korea in 1992, much to North
The U.S. policy under Mr. Trump North Korea could agree to sus- der pressure from its regional al- Koreas annoyance.
has been maximum pressure on pending its tests, opening the way lies, Japan and South Korea. These Today, times have changed and
North Korea and engagement to a dialogue. This was rejected and took place in a broader context there is more mistrust all around.
with China. Since July, Mr. Trumps the joint exercises took place in leading to the 2005 Joint Statement Moreover, Mr. Kim is suspicious of
tweets indicate a growing impa- end-August, as scheduled. Mean- which reiterated the commitment China and the Chinese consider his
tience with Chinas inability to re- while, live firing drills have been to the denuclearisation of the provocations timed to embarrass
strain North Korea. He has blamed taking place in the region raising Korean peninsula, agreed to negoti- President Xi Jinping with missile
China for increasing its trade with the risks of a crisis erupting ate a peace treaty to replace the tests during the Belt and Road sum-
North Korea despite sanctions and through miscalculation or miscom- 1953 armistice, provided for a U.S. mit and the nuclear test during
conveyed disappointment that munication as North Korea pre- security guarantee to North Korea BRICS, and with the crucial Party
they do nothing for us with North pares to celebrate its Foundation which in turn agreed to rejoin the Congress due in October.
Korea, just talk. Day this week with military NPT as soon as possible. However, The old objectives of denuclear-
In August, he tweeted that North parades. when the U.S. imposed new sanc- isation and reunification have to
Korean threats will be met with tions a few months later, North be set aside. North Koreas nuclear
fire and fury like the world has Nuclear crises in the past Korea responded with its first nuc- capability will have to be accepted,
never seen. North Korea Since 1991, this is the third nuclear lear test in 2006 and the Six Party at least for the foreseeable future.
countered with a threat to launch crisis on the Korean peninsula. Talks collapsed. Mutual recognition will have to pre-
four missiles around Guam envel- Post-Cold War, there was a thaw cede reunification and for this, the
oping it in fire, adding that sound when the U.S. (and then the Resolving the issue two Koreas need to begin a dia-
dialogue is not possible with such a U.S.S.R.) withdrew naval and tac- Kim Jong-un took over in 2011 and, logue in due course. Managing this
guy bereft of reason. Meanwhile, tical nuclear weapons globally, in- having seen the outcome of west- requires closer understanding
the U.N. Security Council has met cluding the ones in South Korea. A ern interventions in Libya and Iraq between the U.S. and South Korea
regularly to condemn North Joint Declaration on the Denuclear- and Russian intervention in than is currently on display. For Mr.
Korean missile tests and tighten isation of the Korean Peninsula Ukraine, is convinced that he needs Kim, the stakes are existential and
sanctions. between the two Koreas followed, a nuclear deterrent for regime sur- parallel negotiations on political
While Mr. Trump has indicated even though the two countries do vival. In addition, he wants direct and nuclear tracks are needed if the
that military solutions are now not recognise each other. With re- talks with the U.S. that will provide current crisis is to be averted.
fully in place, locked and loaded, sumption of U.S.-South Korea milit- him recognition and lessen his de-
should North Korea act unwisely, ary exercises and new U.S. sanc- pendence on China, and finally, an Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat and
his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tions on North Korea, positions easing of sanctions. He might agree currently Distinguished Fellow at the
adopted a measured tone when he hardened leading to the first crisis to a temporary halt in testing as a Observer Research Foundation
cessary also to define where they These colleges are filled with the jobs, training abroad (still much
will be employed and who will pay children of doctors, bureaucrats, sought after in spite of all national-
the bills. In short, medical educa- businessmen and others who seek ist talk), and generally adopt met-
tion is the beginning of a process to the social recognition that a med- ropolitan lifestyles. Doctors from
produce a cadre of personnel who ical degree bestows. Anybody with poorer backgrounds will need to
need to be deployed rationally to money, irrespective of aptitude, struggle a lot more. All this can be
achieve the health goals of the gained entry to some of these col- changed if the government abol-
country. leges. Every year the amounts illeg- ishes private practice, institutes
The piecemeal approach to the ally charged rose by leaps and universal medical care and be-
GETTY IMAGES
problem of providing medical care bounds. Governments were com- comes the employer of all medical
in India, treating medical educa- plicit. This egregious state of affairs graduates, similar to the National
tion as though it can be separated led to several persons approaching Health Service of the U.K. All med-
from medical employment, is re- courts. Some semblance of quality ical graduates will be on the same
sponsible for the continuing crisis prized. It is difficult to measure em- has been sought to be restored by level playing field. Patients will be-
in medical services and admissions pathy and most democratic coun- the National Eligibility cum En- nefit a lot. The deprivation of pa-
to medical colleges. Numerous tries use a test of intelligence as a trance Test (NEET). Private col- tients in rural areas will vanish. Un-
commentators have remarked screen to admit medical students leges can no longer admit whoever healthy competition for patients in
upon the skewed distribution of because everywhere there are pays the highest even if the exam- urban areas will disappear too. No
medical personnel with over 75% more candidates than seats avail- ination marks are very low. The Central or State government has
of doctors in urban areas where able. In India, one can accept that rule of reservation is applied after shown any interest in this obvious
only a third of the people live. A because of centuries of depriva- the test scores are obtained. There- solution which will benefit the or-
large number of post-graduate tion, certain communities need af- fore, it satisfies the need for affirm- dinary citizen and the vast major-
doctors and super specialists are firmative action in the form of re- ative action. Unlike marks in the ity of doctors from humble back-
underemployed. The problem servation. However, it is very twelfth standard, which can be grounds. The opposition to NEET
starts right at the stage of medical difficult to accept that expensive only obtained once, NEET offers a is a smokescreen to hide the real
admission. private medical education is useful candidate the chance of another at- truth, the abysmal level of medical
for the country. Permitting private tempt. What the syllabus should be care services and the continued ex-
Semblance of quality medical education was clearly a and who should conduct the test ploitation of poor patients and the
Every country should seek to train concession to powerful pressure can be negotiated. doctors who serve them.
persons with the best aptitude for a groups who sought to circumvent Inequality among qualified doc-
particular task. In doctors, intelli- the difficult entry barriers to med- tors is quite high. The economic- George Thomas is an orthopaedic surgeon
gence and empathy are highly ical education by buying their way. ally well-off can aspire to better at St. Isabels Hospital, Chennai
Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
cowardly act. Lankeshs examples to society at large. Can we learn from these fragile? The moot question Rohingya and provide them
death seems to be a sequel Many of the parties even incidents? Maybe never. here is, do we want the with basic needs. Humanity
to the killings of other condone violence for Because the country is not country to imperceptibly has no religion.
activists. What is even more winning elections. What is ruled by rulers who were and gradually slide into the Preethi Amaresh,
distressing is that the worse, governments of the sensitised by the freedom abysmal pit where Pakistan Chennai
perpetrators of such crimes day have got used to stifling struggle or who faced the and Bangladesh find
still remain at large, making criticism by hook or by consequences of a civil themselves today? The secure babu
a mockery of our systems. crook. In such a milieu, the revolution but by those Anilkumar Kurup, The android operating
Abdullah Ahammed K.P., hue and cry raised by propped up by funds from Thiruvananthapuram system in smart phones has
Areekod, Malappuram, Kerala parties over Lankeshs corporate houses to ensure time and again shown to be
killing is at variance with the growth of crony The nowhere people vulnerable to hacking.
Lankeshs killing must be their precepts and practice. capitalists. We can only As a UNHCR intern in India When it comes to sensitive
strongly condemned. V. Nagarajan, organise a few candle light and having worked on a issues such as national
Gunning down a writer, Chennai protests and share the pain project with Rohingya security, providing safe
thinker or activist for his or of losing valiant torch refugees, I can vouch for the smartphones to bureaucrats
her views is the height of The bullet that killed the bearers of free speech. But fact that the stories of what should be taken with a pinch
intolerance in a democratic Father of the Nation has when will the real revolution they have undergone are of salt. National security
society. Whenever such once again struck to silence begin to herald the true spine-chilling. Many have should be of paramount
incidents happen, political a critic of fanatics. Where is freedom for which our lost their near and dear ones importance and we should
parties are quick to blame the tolerant India? It is lost forefathers fought and died? and continue to live in exile. be aware that we cannot
one another and the issue perhaps in the fanatical Varghese George, Many of the children are afford to lose sensitive
becomes convoluted. Little sounds orchestrated by the Secunderabad school dropouts even information. We need to
do they realise that they are frenzy of religious chants though they are given proceed with caution.
responsible in a big way for and murderous shrill voices What struck me when opportunities in Kushal Gadkari,
stifling dissent in the name of those groups who pander news of the outrageous government schools. India Vadodara, Gujarat
of free speech. Our to politicians, who use them killing broke was how should show some more letters online:
Parliament and legislatures to polarise and thus ensure dissent and strong opposing compassion for the www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/
stand testimony to the fact their chair remains intact, ideas scare some elements
corrections & clarifications:
that unruly behaviour rather whatever be the cost to the to the extent that they will The abbreviation, CERT-IN, stands for Computer Emergency
than healthy debate is the prestige of the nation and stoop low to silence the Response Team India, and not Computer Emergency Response
order of the day. Parties human values enshrined in dissenting voice. Are the System India, as stated in the front-page story headlined Top
with a divisive agenda and the Constitution, for which views and beliefs of these babus given secure mobiles (Sept. 5, 2017).
those that appease certain our freedom fighters people, the perpetrators of The Readers Editors office can be contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300;
sections for votes are bad sacrificed their lives. these murders, so frail and E-mail:readerseditor@thehindu.co.in
A ND-NDE
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THE HINDU
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
NOIDA/DELHI

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OPED 9

Development must be climate-smart Taking WiFi public

As the frequency of extreme weather events increases, urbanisation has to heed ecological principles We need to be attentive to gender nuances that govern
much of India, urban growth over
social spaces
the past few decades has blithely ig- Phadke, Sameera Khan, and Shilpa Ranade
nored the hydrology of the land. In detail various ways in which social norms
Chennai, for example, systematic in- lead to women experiencing spaces that are
trusion into the Pallikaranai marsh ostensibly public in ways that are very differ-
and other wetlands by housing com- ent from men. They observe that women are
plexes and commercial buildings, usually in a state of motion when outdoors
sujatha byravan slums along Cooum and Adyar and rarely found to be standing still or
preeti mudliar
rivers, and large-scale construction hanging out except in very specific places
Heavy rains this year from the south- along the coast are just examples of such as railway stations or their childrens
west monsoon and accompanying the flagrant encroachment of the Recent moves by the Telecom Regulatory Au- schools.
floods have devastated peoples lives built environment that obstructs thority of India (TRAI) to pilot public open Studies of infrastructure have long recog-
in parts of Mumbai, Chandigarh and rivulets and absorption of rainwater WiFi hotspots through a nationwide model nised that the way infrastructures assemble
Mount Abu (Rajasthan), all in the into the earth. of pay as you go public data offices (PDOs) is and evolve also create path dependencies
same period as Hurricane Harveys When it rains heavily, exceeding a concerted bid to make cheap, fast, and reli- that newer advances will inherit and build
rampage through Houston. Mumbai the capacity of the soil to absorb it able Internet affordable and accessible. Ac- upon. Path dependencies include a host of
is reported to have received 400 mm and regular stream flows are blocked cording to the Public WiFi Open Pilot docu- features ranging from technology features to
of rain within a matter of 12 hours from proceeding into the sea, these ment released by TRAI, the PDOs are social norms and can be both positive and
while Houston received about 1,300 heavily built-up areas get inundated. encouraged to be the kind of spaces where negative. Thus, while newer technologies
mm over several days with Harvey. Satellite images from 15 or more consumption of data for the average Indian can reap the efficiencies of their prede-
Climate models have indicated years back show the existence of becomes as common as consuming a cup of cessors, they can equally get mired in the un-
with high confidence that climate hundreds of lakes and tanks, and sev- hot chai. desirable qualities of the old. Overlaying
change will lead to an increase in ex- eral waterways within the citys In its plans to swiftly facilitate and scale WiFi infrastructure on spaces without fully
treme rainfall events. According to boundaries. WiFi infrastructure, TRAI is drawing inspira- recognising the characteristic of the social
the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- For decades, urbanisation has ig- tion from the public call office (PCO) tele- life of these sites runs the risk of the techno-
mate Change (IPCC) Special Report nored ecological principles associ- phone booths that spawned a communica- logy being used in ways that may not really
on Extreme Events, global warming ated with water bodies, vegetation, tion revolution in India. be truly inclusive or public.
leads to changes in the frequency, biodiversity and topography. These TRAI harbours similar aspirations for
Hardship in August: A waterlogged road in Mumbai this monsoon. *
AP
intensity, spatial extent, duration, are not environmental issues to be PDOs as infrastructural hubs of Internet-re- Stuck to mobile plans
and timing of extreme weather and curs, people want to know to what Guardian that climate change made disregarded or attended to only after lated services. It hopes to achieve it by cham- As service providers gear up to set up their
climate events, and can result in un- extent a single event has been caused the impact much worse, because of we have attained growth. Rather, pioning an open architecture based WiFi Ac- PDOs, it may serve them well to remain alert
precedented extreme weather and by climate change, that is, by green- higher sea surface temperatures and they are part and parcel of and integ- cess Network Interface (WANI) that would to the social characteristics of the spaces that
climate events. house gases released through human a blocking region of high pressure ral to how we live and whether we allow any entity to easily set up a WiFi access they choose. Technology is often built and
For India, the average monsoon activities. that kept the rain clouds over Hous- prosper. point and sell Internet data in small denom- implemented without being adequately
rainfall is expected to increase ini- Research that tries to understand ton for a long period. inations to interested customers. Adopting a mindful about the ways in which it will be
tially and then reduce after a few this relationship between anthropo- What is to be done? sachet size strategy, WiFi Dabba, a start-up in used or the constraints that may inhibit its
decades. Examining daily rainfall genic climate change and extreme Urbanisation and hydrology Development needs to be climate- Bengaluru, has already roped in several use. Last year, a rural WiFi solutions pro-
data between 1951 and 2000, B.N. events in particular locations is The actual patterns of flooding in smart, but also avoid social and insti- bakeries and chaiwallahs in the city to retail vider I interviewed in Rajasthan emphasised
Goswami, former Director of the In- called attribution. Is an extreme Chennai, Mumbai and Houston, how- tutional challenges such as moral its pre-paid tokens ranging from 2/100 MB that concerns about gender were completely
dian Institute of Tropical Meteoro- event, such as torrential rainfall or ever, were due to several human-in- hazard. If investments are made in to 20/1GB. This makes it worthwhile to in- misplaced because owning an Internet en-
logy, Pune, showed that there has record storm surges, part of a natural duced activities: rampant increase in places where severe impacts are terrogate the kind of spaces where PDOs are abled device was the only condition to be
been a significant increase in the cycle of variability or due to human- built-up area across natural drainage likely, the government will end up currently being deployed and their claims to able to use WiFi.
magnitude and frequency of extreme induced climate change? To what ex- channels, the diversion or damming bailing out those engaging in such being public. His belief was contested by young girls in
rainfall events along with a decrease tent do poor preparedness and eco- of rivers upstream leading to sedi- risky activities. If the built environ- the community who regularly accessed In-
in the number of moderate events logically insensitive land-use worsen ment transport and siltation, coastal ment and structures of financing and Location matters ternet on their smartphones. Since the girls
over central India. These changes in- the impacts? According to much of subsidence and other effects of housing are locked-in or get firmed While making Internet access and use as were financially able and willing to pay for
teracting with land-use patterns are the literature, it is easier to determ- development. up with regard to institutional ar- commonplace as chai is a laudable agenda, reliable WiFi, they wished for hotspots in
contributing to floods and droughts ine attribution for severe heat or cold Any rain that falls on soil or veget- rangements, these can lead to fur- how gender inclusive are the spaces that locations that were also women friendly
simultaneously in several parts of the waves. NASA scientist James Hansen ation is mostly absorbed into the ther complications. host tea shops and bakeries that are cur- such as the village temple or the girls school
country. earlier found, for instance, that the earths surface. Some of it slowly Still, construction on existing lake rently emerging as favoured locations to host instead of sites that only privileged the male
Texas heat wave of 2011 and the Rus- trickles into shallow or deep protec- beds and other waterbodies needs to PDOs? By virtue of the technology, WiFi sig- user. A finding that emerged from my field-
Understanding extreme events sian heat wave of 2010 were due to ted aquifers that make up what we be removed or redesigned to allow nals are bounded by their limited geograph- work revealed that while the Internet savvy
The main reason for understanding climate change. call groundwater. The rest usually flood drainage along natural water ical reach. This leads to users strategising women in the community remained
extreme events is to help policy- Conversely, for rainfall simulation, flows downhill along surface or sub- channels. As the frequency of ex- their use of space and clustering around the tethered to spotty mobile Internet plans that
makers, emergency responders and climate models cannot mimic or sim- surface stream channels. The spread treme weather events increases strongest coverage area to maximise their constrained use, the service provider was
local communities to plan and pre- ulate extreme rainfall such as the of infrastructure such as roads, high- around the world, losses in rich signal strength when they stop or hang out also missing an opportunity to expand his
pare for them. Cities could be laid kind Chennai experienced in 2015. ways, buildings, residential com- countries are higher in terms of GDP, to use WiFi. However, it is uncommon to find customer base by not recognising their
out to reduce flooding by following According to a paper by Geert Jan plexes, tiled or asphalt-covered land but in terms of the number of people women, even in urban spaces, willing to needs.
natural contours, drainage and tank Van Oldenborgh and colleagues, the obstructs rainwater from percolating at risk, it is the poor countries that linger at spaces around the neighbourhood The act of drinking chai may be common-
systems. Emergency responders 494 mm rain in Chennai was a rare into the soil. Often there are further suffer the most. Those who are the chai tapri or the local bakery sites that are place in India, but the outdoor spaces in
should be well prepared to transport event, with less than a 0.2% chance barriers that block movement of wa- most vulnerable and the poorest end usually recognised as male hangouts. which it is served and consumed is highly
and care for people who may be- of occurring in any given year. The ter and increase flooding. up bearing the brunt of the burdens Recent campaigns such as the #whyloiter gendered. Remaining attentive to these nu-
come stranded during disasters. In- Chennai flood of 2015 did not have a In many parts of the world, con- of climate change and mal-develop- hashtag that spawned both social media and ances that govern social spaces will serve to
surance companies might also be clear climate signature to show that it struction in cities or in urbanising ment, which together operate to offline spaces attempted to draw attention to both making PDOs inclusive as well as
concerned about underwriting was due to warming of the earth. On areas does not take into considera- worsen impacts. the gendered nature of access to what are broaden the paying customer base for ser-
places that are at perpetual risk in the other hand, with regard to Hur- tion the existing topography, surface commonly understood to be public spaces. vice providers.
the future. Once an extreme event ricane Harvey, Michael Mann, a well- water bodies, stream flows or other Sujatha Byravan is a scientist who researches The campaign drew its name from a book by
such as a heat wave or heavy rain oc- known climate scientist, wrote in The parts of terrestrial ecosystems. In science and technology policy the same name, in which the authors Shilpa Preeti Mudliar is a professor at IIIT-Bangalore

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SINGLE FILE FROM ARCHIVES

FIFTY YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 7, 1967
Keep politics out Many train services cancelled
of education The Railway Ministry has decided to curtail non-essential train
services with immediate effect in order to conserve its stocks
of coal. This has been done following the refusal by a section
Colleges need to be freed from of big colliery owners to offer coal except at unreasonably high
prices, and the total stoppage of supplies during the last six
the control of the government days. The curtailment of train services which is now being en-
forced will be restored as soon as the situation created by the
Prashanth Perumal J. unreasonable attitude of the Joint Working Committee of the
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

Colliery Owners Association improves. While the Railways

Test (NEET) has come under huge cri- have been compelled to take this decision, they would like to
ticism after the death of 17-year-old assure the public that all essential movements as well as the
student S. Anitha from Tamil Nadu, more important passenger services will be maintained in full.
who failed to clear the examination.
People against NEET argue that the A HUNDRED YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 7, 1917
exam imposes unreasonable de-
mands on students from rural areas
British Premier on the war situation.
who follow a lighter syllabus. Its supporters, on the other hand, Mr. Lloyd George, in a speech at the Eisteddfod, at Birken-
say that NEET is a welcome push to improve the quality of head [in England], said Germany had not yet felt the final
school education in the State. The Tamil Nadu government, strain of the war. When she did she would realise the binding
they believe, will now make efforts to improve the quality of value of true freedom. If Russia had enjoyed more freedom in
education. Interestingly, both sides agree that the government peace time she would have been more united in time of war,
has a crucial role to play in education. Its just that one group for unity of action was not suppression of freedom but its
wants the Centre to be in charge, while others prefer the State highest expression. The affection of the Dominions to the
government. This consensus among both sides is alarming be- CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC mother country would continue to grow and become deeper,
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cause the root cause of the present crisis, which has distressed more insistent, more compelling as the years rolled by. This
thousands of students in the State, lies in the politicisation of CONCEPTUAL FAQ was the great day of Empire. The world had never seen such
education. powerful Empires confronting each other and rending the
Trade war An elusive peace firmament with the ferocity of their combat. What would have
Political football Economics happened to the liberty of nations but for the British Empire?
When the war was over humanity would recognise how much
As is evident to any keen observer, both the Centre and the This refers to an economic Behind the prolonged crisis in the Darjeeling hills human liberty owed to the fact that the British Empire was no
State government have been more than willing to tweak college situation where countries
admission rules when it suits their political ambitions. The Shiv Sahay Singh ical parties in the hills called the shots neverthe- sham, but a reality. When the end of the war came, the British
raise protectionist barriers
dumbing down of school education standards in Tamil Nadu Why is the agitation were reluctant to talk to less, announcing that the Empire would be greater in reality than ever. The great Em-
against each other to pro-
under former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was the most not- continuing? Almost three the West Bengal govern- strike would continue. pires were necessary for protection and security and strength,
tect local industries from
able of the various populist moves to appease rural voters. The months after the Darjeel- ment, but the Centre Though Mr. Gurung has but small nations were necessary for concentration and in-
foreign competition and
Centres behaviour has not been much different either. Its ing hills plunged into crisis nudged both sides towards softened his stand saying tensive effort. The British Empire was made up of four na-
also to promote exports
stance on NEET has fluctuated in tandem with its political over the demand for dialogue. Three political he will participate in the tions, but to-day they were one in purpose, action, hope, re-
over imports. It may take
equation with the ruling governments in Tamil Nadu. In fact, Gorkhaland, the situation parties of the hills, includ- talks on September 12, the solve and sacrifice and please God, they would soon be one in
the form of imposing tar-
some may argue that the uncertainty created among students remains in a flux, with the ing the GJM, participated West Bengal police has triumph. (Cheers).
iffs and quotas on foreign
drew directly from the political games played around NEET. trade as well as currency West Bengal government in the talks. All stakehold- launched a massive hunt CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
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Such politicisation of education at various levels of govern- manipulation to favour and the main political ers agreed to take forward for him in Darjeeling and
ment, however, is hardly surprising. Handing over the job of local industries. The dec- party heading the stir, the the process of dialogue Sikkim. DATA POINT
managing education to politicians will naturally bring political ades between the two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and emphasised the im-
considerations into it. This will hold true regardless of whether World Wars is often noted (GJM), failing to arrive at a mediate need to restore Is there a solution in sight?
it is the Centre or the State government that is in charge of edu- as a period when major solution. normalcy in the hills. With pressure mounting
cation. So, pinning high hopes on either of them will only lead world economies were en- The indefinite strike is on the GJM, the indefinite
to disappointments in the future. gaged in a trade war by de- in its 11th week, leaving the Is there a rift within the strike may be lifted in the
The only real solution in the long run is to keep politicians valuing their currencies in economy in a shambles; GJM? The hope of restora- days to come. But the end
out of the business of education. Colleges need to be freed from a competitive fashion. It schools and colleges have tion of normalcy was of the strike may not bring
the control of the government, which will naturally also free was carried out under the been shut since the second short-lived with rifts lasting peace in the hills.
them from its populist diktats. They should be allowed to belief that a cheaper cur- week of June and normal within the GJM coming to Since the mid-1980s, the
choose the tests, or other criteria, based on which they will ad- rency would encourage life has come to a grinding the fore. Binoy Tamang, Darjeeling hills have wit-
mit students. Such a vibrant market for education, marked by more demand for a coun- halt. The agitation which assistant general secretary nessed agitations over the
free competition, will improve both the quality and the access- trys exports, thus boost- started over protests on of the GJM, who particip- demand of a separate
ibility of education to the poor. Many, however, fear that in the ing the domestic economy. the issue of imposing ated in the talks on behalf state. The formation of re-
absence of a central regulator, colleges will admit students Bengali State-wide spread of the party, was expelled gional autonomous bodies
without sufficient screening, which in turn calls for an all-India to the entire hill districts after he announced tem- brought peace for a while,
exam such as NEET. This is untrue. Colleges which have their of Darjeeling and Ka- porary lifting of the strike but it was temporary. With
reputation on the line will care more than the government CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
limpong. before the next round of the Centre and the West
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about the quality of students they admit, which will reflect in talks on September 12. Bengal government show-
their screening methods. Of course, colleges that employ ques- MORE ON What about talks with the Even as Mr. Tamang and ing no signs of approving
tionable screening methods too will exist in such a market, but
with commensurate reputation. On the other hand, the failure
of government regulators such as the University Grants Com-
THE WEB
All you need to know about
3 State government? Talks
between the State govern-
ment and political parties
his associates stayed put in
the hills with the State gov-
ernments backing, GJM
the demand for Gorkha-
land, granting more
autonomous power to the
mission to uphold education standards is already there for the Assam floods in the hills were held on president Bimal Gurung hill people may be a way
everyone to see. trib.al/lTQKEE1 August 29. Initially, polit- went into hiding, but out of the impasse.
CM A ND-NDE
YK