News Wrap
AGD
The stated aim of the Department of Atomic Energy is
to build more and more nuclear plants. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has to ensure that all the safety requirements are complied with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Conflict of interest arises, as the AERB is answerable to the union government of India’s Department of Atomic Energy. The 2004 Tsunami tidal waves and earthquakes claimed more than 6000 lives in coastal Tamil Nadu, adjacent to the nuclear plant in Koodankulam. The NPCIL is loading enriched Uranium fuel rods in the plant. By its own admission, the AERB has maintained that some of the seventeen safety recommendations made after the Fukushima disaster, would take six months to two years to implement. Defying prohibitory orders, thousands of villages are gathered on the beach, in front of the Koodankulam Nuclear Project Area, to register their protests.
Madurai Granite
Daksha is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by the Madras Institute of Technology. The state government of Tamil Nadu has been deploying a UAV drone, for scanning illegal granite quarries in Madurai district. Illegal quarrying in Madurai district has cost the state more than Rs 40,000 crore. Companies involved in the quarrying illegally in the district include Olympus Granites, allegedly owned by Durai Dayanidhi the grandson of DMK chief Mr M Karunanidhi. The alleged quarrying took place during 2006 to 2011, when the state was ruled by Karunanidhi. Out of 175 granite quarries in the district, 94 had violated various norms by destroying water bodies, encroaching on private and government lands, and illicit mining from government as well as private lands. The UAV flow over areas, which were inaccessible under normal circumstances. The high resolution pictures from the UAV, deciphered details about granites hoarded, and illegal quarries. Granites have been stored in illegal silos.
Illegal Mining in Goa
Illegal mining has been mushrooming in Goa for over ten years. The Justice M B Shah Commission has noticed illegal mining of iron ore and manganese. Mining leases have got green clearances, based on wrong facts. Mine owners failed to submit proper documents, in respect of 93 mines in Goa, for obtaining environmental clearances. In Goa, about 16 lessees were operating a group of mines, as a single unit, without having approval under Rule 38 of the MCR 1960. Mining related permission, within a 10 km radius of national parks and sanctuaries, were not referred to the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife.
Renminbi, China and Taiwan
A trade deal between China and Taiwan was signed in 2010. China is now Taiwan’s largest trade partner. A recent agreement allows banks in Taiwan to clear transactions in the Chinese currency, Renminbi. Taiwan has established an interbank and spot market for the Renminbi, known as CNT, in line with Hong Kong’s offshore CNH market. Chinese students have been allowed to enroll in Taiwanese universities. More than two million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Taiwan this year, a rise from 300,000 in 2008.
Garments Sector in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has about 150 million people, and is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Between military rule and fragile democracy, the country has made considerable progress on fronts like women’s literacy, juvenile and maternal mortality, per capita income and life expectancy. Besides Bangladesh’s vibrant civil society, the garment sector has contributed to the upward arc. With about 80% of the workers being women, the garments sector provides socially acceptable jobs to women, in a conservative Muslim country. Bangladesh authorities maintain an ‘‘investment friendly’’ environment for foreign and domestic investors. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazad's government has resisted expanding labour rights, and the owners of about 5000 garments factories wield enormous influence. Some of the major political donors are garments factory owners, who have moved into news media, buying newspapers and television stations. Roughly two-thirds of the members of parliament, belong to Bangladesh’s three biggest business associations. At least thirty factory owners or their family members hold seats in Parliament, about 10% of the total.
Garments account for 80% of Bangladesh’s manufacturing exports, and more than three million jobs. The country is now an export power house, second only to China in global apparels exports. Factories turn out clothing for brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Calvin Klein and H and M. Global Retailers, like Target and Walmart, now operate sourcing offices in Dhaka. At the Ishwardi Export Processing Zone police have been firing rubber bullets and swinging cane poles on workers, increasingly agitating for better wages and working conditions throughout this year. Bangladesh authorities protect cheap labour and foreign investment. The garments workers earn as little as $50 a month, which is less than the cost of one of the knit sweaters they stich for European stores. Anger over cut in wages is directed at the Hong Kong and Chinese bosses, which could damage Bangladesh’s reputation throughout the globe.
Bangladesh has the lowest labour costs in the world, with the minimum wage for garment workers set at $ 37 a month. During the past two years, as the meagre earnings of workers have been eroded by double digit inflation, protests and violent clashes with the police have become increasingly common. The Bangladeshi leaders have deployed the security tools of the state, including ranking officers of the military, the police and intelligence agencies, to monitor the garments sector. Workers are not getting the annual wage raises promised, monthly attendance bonuses or the seventeen paid holidays a year, beyond their usual one day off a week. Only two hours of overtime is paid, against four hours worked.
Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 19, Nov 18-24, 2012
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