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EDITORIAL TODAY (ENGLISH)
In this section, we are presenting our raders/aspirants compilation of selected editorials of national daily viz. The Hindu, The live mint,The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, PIB etc. This section caters the requirement of Civil Services Mains (GS + Essay) , PCS, HAS Mains (GS + Essay) & others essay writing competition
1.Underestimated utility: On rural jobs scheme fund crunch
Lowered outlay for rural guarantee scheme has led to used up allocation and wage delays
That as many as 21 of 35 States/UTs have utilised, by October 29, over 100% of their allocated funds under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for FY2021-22 is not a surprise. In the previous year, the allocations for MGNREGS were increased by ₹50,000 crore to meet the demand for work, with the Revised Estimates for spending for the scheme going up to ₹1,11,500 crore. MGNREGS was a life-saver for the poor, especially migrant labourers, following the sudden lockdown announced by the Union government. In this year’s Budget, the Finance Minister allocated ₹73,000 crore for the scheme, which was higher than the previous year’s absolute number in Budget allocations, but this amounted only to 2.1% of the Budget expenditure, the lowest outlay in those terms in the last six years. By October-end, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh had utilised more than 130% of their respective allocations for the scheme, indicating the extent to which rural workers depend on the scheme even in relatively better-off States. Clearly, the Union government has underestimated the demand for work under the scheme, which even if it involves arduous and menial labour has accounted for a large chunk of rural employment at a time when the economy suffered a steep contraction due to the effects of the pandemic.
In response to a report, officials in the Rural Development Ministry accused States of “artificially” creating demand, but this has not been borne out from ground reports which continue to indicate rising demand for work and wages in rural India; civil society activists claim that some workers have been turned away by officials despite the demand for work because of the paucity of funds. The Union Government must ensure that the allocation is adequate for wage payments to be done and for demand to be met in the remaining months of this financial year. The utility of MGNREGS as a scheme that alleviates distress has never been in question. From acting as an effective substitute in the absence of crop and weather insurance in aiding poor farm households and helping to provide wages during agrarian crises, to being an avenue for employment during the economic crisis induced by the pandemic and the response, MGNREGS has turned out to be a salve for farm workers and labourers. Delays in wage payments could also result in a decline in rural consumption, which plays a vital role in stimulating the economy. Besides the scheme’s utility in distress, it also has the potential, if works are upgraded suitably, to continue to improve rural development and infrastructure. The Union Government must consider this during allocations and not be conservative in its outlay or remain unmindful of the overall potential of the scheme.
2. The big push: On Joe Biden’s social security and climate change plan
Biden will have to negotiate to promote his vision for social security and climate change
In what appears to be a rush to the finish line but is in fact the intention to fulfil long-standing policy promises of the Democratic Party, U.S. President Joe Biden sought to push through Congress an omnibus mega-bill seeking $1.85 trillion for social security and climate change. While the initiative seemed to be thrust forward on a shorter timeline so that Mr. Biden could speak of his domestic agenda achievements at the G20 meeting in Rome and COP26 in Scotland, the once-in-a-generation bill speaks to issues such as providing universal pre-kindergarten, extending an expanded tax credit for parents, further reducing health-care premiums for those covered under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, reducing a waiting list for in-home care, building a million units of low-income housing, and worker training and higher education. To balance the implied considerable hike in federal public expenditure, the bill proposes to raise revenue via a 15% minimum tax on the reported profits of large corporations, clamping down on profit-shifting by multinationals, tighter enforcement for large corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals, a 1% tax on corporate tax buybacks, an additional 5% tax on incomes exceeding $10 million a year and another 3% tax on incomes above $25 million, and policies to limit business losses for the very wealthy and a 3.8% Medicare tax on people earning more than $400,000 a year who did not previously pay that tax.
Although Democrats have 50 Senators in the Upper House of Congress and Vice-President Kamala Harris could cast a tie breaking vote should the need arise, the passage of this bill which will be remembered as a major component of Mr. Biden’s legacy, hangs on the razor’s edge. This is in part because at least two Senators, from Arizona and West Virginia, are potential holdouts. The conundrum that Mr. Biden is facing is a paradox of omnibus bills — different constituents view only some parts of the bill as desirable. For example, House Democrats appear unwilling to pass a version of the bill that the Senate has already cleared, sanctioning a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. Lawmakers such as Pramila Jayapal have opined that the Congressional Progressive Caucus would only support the broader vision of the Build Back Better Act, which includes the ambitious climate change programme, federal paid leave for families, a substantial expansion of Medicare policy and two free years of community college. To succeed, Mr. Biden will have to negotiate with all stakeholders to find a compromise formula. At stake is the U.S.’s prospect of climbing out of the recessionary economic trough it was pushed into by the pandemic, not only by directly spurring commercial activity through public expenditure but also by investing in education and social security to keep America’s workforce competitive.
3. A climate power: India must be atmanirbhar in clean technology. GoI should create a big fund to incubate ideas
It’s a no-brainer that COP26 should achieve something meaningful. But that’s a tough ask. Nations can’t even agree on the most important baselines like net-zero emissions or the when and how much of green financing. Different groups of nations have different priorities, understandably. For example, the UK’s proposal on phasing out coal in a short time looks to be undoable for large coal-dependent economies like China and India.
India exemplifies the bewildering complexity of climate mitigation efforts. It has a large number of people dependent on the coal economy for jobs and 70% dependence on coal for energy needs. The grim reality is coal has a large footprint across many Indian states, and moving away from coal is as much a political job as a technological one. And not just coal mining, the political economy of climate change includes industries like thermal power, cement, iron and steel, all of which are major economic players in some states. The long transition from a coal economy can witness stiff regional political pushbacks.
Plus, with over half its 1.3 billion population under 30 and a significant proportion still tied down to agriculture and looking for an escape, India must keep churning out non-rural jobs. Manufacturing remains the best bet here, as it was for East Asian economies transitioning out of rural societies. And as millions see higher incomes, Indians will buy more air-conditioners and cars. All this is potentially climate-negative.
Clean technology is obviously an answer. And here, trying to morally shame rich countries into providing financing and IP-free tech is unlikely to work. After all, rich and middle-income countries, India included, were quite happy to vaccinate their own populations without aiding poor countries substantially. India, a major economy that hopes to grow fast, therefore has too much to lose by simply waiting for tech transfers from the West. GoI’s plans on green hydrogen, a clean fuel that’s well within India’s technological capacity to produce in very large quantities, must be executed fast. And GoI should create a separate and generous fund for incubating clean tech, and incentivise private players further via huge tax breaks. This fund should be managed by professionals hired from industry and academia, and should be free of bureaucratic interference. We managed to become a space power and a nuclear power. There’s no reason we can’t become a climate power.
4. Aye, aye captain: Virat Kohli goes to bat against discrimination based on religion. Team spirit has no room for it
It was India’s cricket captain at his leaderly best, except off the field, taking all the targeted trolling and hate speech that has been shoved at Mohammed Shami since the cricket team’s T20 World Cup loss to Pakistan, head on. On that day, the Pakistan team played really well, and the Indian one did not. But as a Muslim, Shami was singled out for abuse – “traitor”, “Pakistani”. When quizzed on this at a presser, Virat Kohli forcefully laid out what is wrong with such bigotry in general and in cricket specifically. First, religion is a very sacred and personal thing to every human being, so it should be left there.
Second, given that Shami has won India n number of matches and has been our primary bowler alongside Jasprit Bumrah in recent years, questioning his loyalty to the country is completely irrational. Kohli also underlined that while anonymous handles on social media play this “pathetic” game, it has not even “0.0001%” room in the Indian team. It is plain antithetical to competing at the international level, where win or lose the cricketers must stick together, back individuals, focus on strengths … and get ready for the field again.
Ahead of the match, the Indian team had taken a knee against racism, which seemed ironic in light of the Islamophobia that followed. Equally swiftly followed comparisons to how England’s Football Association had categorically condemned the online racist abuse of some players after the Euro 2020 final loss. As much of all this hatred is fomented on social media, where algorithms reward negative comments, it is notable that Kohli made his consequential intervention at an old-fashioned press conference. In a country where the love of cricket is shared by all, his words shall be heard by all for sure. May they also be heeded.