Thought for the day
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is
going to get better. It's not. "
-
Dr. Seuss (American,1904-1991)
Word for the day
mot juste (n)(French)
The exact,
appropriate word.
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
Three things BJP could have avoided:
(a) Not holding Delhi elections last summer.
(b) Publicly acknowledging AAP as main opposition.
(c) Turning this tiny election into a critical one by
lending the face of PM to it.
Sustainability vs. speed
In summer of 2013, the tribal villages of Niyamgiri in Odisha,
unanimously rejected the proposal of Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and
Vedanta group to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri hills and forests under the Forest
Rights Act of 2006. The decision was widely hailed as historic.
Two years later, similar situation is emerging in the forests of
Chhattisgarh. As many as 17 gram sabhas, falling under Hasdeo-Arand coalfield,
have passed a resolution opposing the reallotment of coal mines and have
written to higher authorities seeking dialogue on the issue.
The entire area was declared a "no-go" zone by the
previous UPA regime. However, in October last year, the Forest Survey of India
(FSI), the government's top body for assessing and monitoring forests, carried
out a fresh assessment at behest of the environment ministry and recommended
that nearly 90% of coal bearing forest areas could be opened up for mining. FSI
suggested that mining be barred in just 11% of forest areas with proven reserves
of the dry fuel.
Mining was to be permitted in 4,62,939 hectares of the 6,48,750
hectares of coal-bearing forests that were assessed. "India can't afford
to keep 30% of its coal-bearing forests out of bounds. We need to increase
power generation, don't forget that there are as many as 400 million people who
have no access to electricity and power is crucial for industrial growth. As of
now coal is the mainstay of the country's energy basket," a senior
official said, explaining the need to open larger areas for coal mining.
With the beginning of fresh allotment of coal blocks by the
Centre, villagers of North Chhattisgarh, the area which is rich in coal
reserves, have intensified their protest against the move.
The protagonists of faster economic development are dismissing
the protests as yet another mischief of foreign funded NGOs who are allegedly
paid to stop India from becoming an economic super power!
The pragmatic ones would ask, what is the fun in faster
development if it is not sustainable?
The austere and humanitarian Gandhians would say the goal
(faster economic growth to eliminate poverty) is important, and means are
equally important.
I say, a key economic reform would be to earnestly hand over the
ownership of natural resources to “the public”, instead of few ministers
controlling the resources. The trusteeship of all the natural resources may be
vested in the local body of people. The local people should determine how these
resources should be exploited. Industry based on these resources if developed
on co-operative model with equitable ownership of (i) local people (ii)
financial investors and (iii) technical experts who would manage the business,
the growth could be fast, equitable, and sustainable.
Participative democracy after all does not end with casting of votes - it
actually begins from there.
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