News Wrap
AGD

Sector-wise, the Indian economy is 59% for services, 27% for manufacturing, and 14% for agriculture. The gross domestic product has grown at just 5% in 2012-13, a sharp fall from the 9-plus-percent growth rates of the mid-2000s. Hundreds of millions of Indians are struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. The country’s per capita is growing at just 2.9% a year. The Indian economy is burdened by widespread corruption, counter productive regulations, weak infrastructure, and government ownership of most banks, and many major corporations.

The union ministry of railways budget for the first time linked passenger fares and freight rates, to the fluctuating prices of diesel and electricity. The modest plan outlay of Rs 63,363 crore for fiscal 2013-14, extends over just seven new railway component factories, and just about 100 new trains, including 67 long-distance mail/express trains. The money spent to earn every Rs 100, i.e. the operating ratio stands at 88.8%, and the target for 2013-14 is 87%. Railways’ net revenue has more than doubled to Rs 15,750 crore for 2012-13, compared to the previous year, 2011-12. Provisions for depreciation, the development fund and capital fund have been slashed by almost a third.

India’s Economic Survey notes India’s growth plunging to around 5%, for 2012-13. The slow down has led to lower than targeted tax and non-tax revenues. Remittances by Indians abroad and software earnings, are not sufficient to cut current account deficit (4% of GDP), arising from a high share of imports, vis-a-vis exports. The Budget (2013-14) projects a fiscal deficit of 4.8% of GDP, compared to 5.1% of the previous year, largely through savage cuts in plan expenditure. With the government’s finances under strain, the new budget has given little to low-income groups, and taken some from the better off. The tax as to GDP ratio is targeted at 11.9% compared to 9.9% of last year. Rs 10000 crore is for Food Security Bill and Rs 80000 crore for food subsidy.

Information Commissions
The information commissions in India exercise administrative functions, and not even quasi-judicial functions, over disputes between two parties, over the right of the applicant for information, which would not be detrimental to the larger public interest. An Indian tribunal’s basic function relates to ‘‘adjudicative acts of administrative officials’’. Recently a Division Bench of the Supreme Court has delivered a judgement that recommends some of the provisions of the Right to Information Act, be amended by the legislature, so that Chief Information Commissioners be appointed from judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of High Courts. It has also been directed that lawyers be appointed as Information Commissioners, with experience in ‘‘social service’’.

Campus Violence in West Bengal
Education campuses in West Bengal are witnessing unprecedented violence. Around 210 incidents of campus violence have occurred in the state, since mid-2011. Students Federation of India [CPI(M)], Chatra Parishad [Congress] and Trinamool Chatra Parishad have been involved in violence. Only 50 such incidents were reported in 2010-11. Of the 323 state run colleges in Bengal, elections to students unions were held only in 149 colleges. The SFI managed to file nominations in 16 colleges, and won in 11 colleges. TMC won in 300 colleges, uncontested. The CP retained hold in seven colleges of districts Murshidabad and Malda. After the break in alliance between Congress and Trinamool since September 2012, there have been increasing clashes between opposing students unions. Students unions in colleges have been infiltrated by anti-social elements. Welfare of the students scarcely receive attention, and student leaders recklessly follow political identity. Preceding a students union election, violence erupted outside Harimohan Ghosh College in Garden Reach area of Kolkata, in mid-February 2013, where a police sub-inspector was shot dead. Trade union rivalry, jobs for casual workers and real estate constructions in the port area, are linked to the violence. The state higher education department is indecisive over a uniform election code.

China’s Pipe Lines via Myanmar
China’s super development has been concentrated in cities on its eastern coast. From May 2013, China will have a western sea board. Passing through central Myanmar, a 800 km gas pipeline will connect Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, to the Bay of Bengal. An oil pipeline will open along the same route in 2014. Road and Rail are expected to follow. The gas pipeline is a mile stone in Beijing’s ‘‘Two Oceans—Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean’’ policy. Struggles over human rights and democracy continue in Myanmar, but Myanmar is one of Asia’s most strategic states. Presently about 80% of China’s oil goes through the narrow strait between Malaysia and Sumatra, a congested point controlled by the US Navy. China’s dependency on Malacca strait is calculated to be reduced by third, as the new oil pipeline will transport oil shipped from the Middle East. Representing 28% of China’s current gas imports, the gas pipeline has an annual capacity of 12 billion cubic metres.

Millions of ethnic Chinese have migrated to Myanmar. The second city, Mandalay, has a huge Chinese population. The Wa ethnic minority controlled territory, has no effective border with China, but is reachable from Myanmar only through military check points. Chinese companies have invested billions in mines and dams of Myanmar. There is a geopolitical scamble for Myanmar. The country suspended the $3.6 billion Chinese funded Myitsone dam, as it dramatically opened up to US interests. Mainly through aid agencies and supply of technical assistance via multi-lateral bodies, USA and Europe have increased their presence. Japanese engagement continued during the sanction years. And has recently written off $6.3 billion of debt. In February 2013, the Paris Club of western creditors also struck a debt deal, paving the way for new flows to Myanmar. Japan is interested in the vast Dawei Seawater Port. USA has allowed Myanmar to observe joint US-Thai military exercise, early this year. Myanmar is inquiring into allegations of land seizure and environmental destruction at the Chinese owned large Monywa copper mine. Beijing is also annoyed with Myanmar for firing artillery into Chinese territory, during recent bombardments of Kachin rebels.

Linguistic diversity in England

Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 37, Mar 24-30, 2013

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