Round The States
New Delhi, 30 May
2020
SC On Migrant Workers
APPLIES BALM, WILL IT HEAL?
By Insaf
The Supreme Court
finally applies the balm. Noticing “several lapses” in dealing with the migrant
workers crisis, the court did yield the stick and put a structure for Centre to
follow. In no uncertain terms, it ordered: No fare either by train or bus shall
be charged from the migrant labourers (it should be shared by States); the
originating State should provide meal and water at the station, while Railways
will provide the same during the journey; those who are stranded should be
provided food by States concerned at places, which shall be publicized/notified
for the period they are waiting their turn; those found walking on roads,
immediately be taken to shelters and provided food and all facilities; the State
shall oversee their registration and ensure they are made to board train/bus at
an early date; Railways needs to provide trains as and when State governments put
in a request and when a migrant worker wishes to go to a State, no State can
say that we will not take you. The specifics from a three-judge bench came
after taking suo moto notice of ‘unfortunate and miserable conditions of
migrant labourers’ walking on foot and cycles from long distances,” as reported
in media. A welcome change for two weeks ago, the apex court had observed
hearing a PIL that it couldn’t be expected to stop migrants from taking the
hard, life-threatening option of trekking thousands of miles to their villages
amid the lockdown! The big question is will orders be followed? Should there be
hope for India’s unfortunate?
* * * * * * *
High Alert In Ladakh
Ladakh has put both
North and South Block on high alert. Chinese incursions on the Line of Actual
Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have been on the rise. In fact, while its
normal to witness continued incidents of ceasefire violations and infiltration
attempts on Line of Control with Pakistan, this summer the LAC has been
unusually active. Both Indian and Chinese troops are said to have come to blows
on the banks of Pangong Tso on May 5-6 with matters coming to a head when
Chinese incursions were detected at three locations along the LAC on Wednesday last.
The Chinese have a huge build up that includes upcoming military-style bunkers,
new upcoming permanent structures, military trucks, road-building equipment and
even a warehouse! Army Chief General Naravane has given an operational review
of the situation on the ground on Wednesday last, and has deployed
reinforcements at the four standoff points without halting work on the border
infrastructure work. The Ministry of External Affairs is firm “India will defend
its territorial integrity and sovereignty.” And while the Chinese flex their
muscles, New Delhi is confident of taming the dragon, even if it means a long
haul.
* * * * * * *
Locusts Storm
‘Locust warning alert’ has been sounded off in
five States--Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Active
swarms of desert locusts have already wreaked havoc in Rajasthan and MP,
forcing the Centre to step in. “89 fire brigades for pesticide spray; 120
survey vehicles; 47 control vehicles with spray equipment and 810
tractor-mounted sprayers have been deployed, says the Union Agriculture
Ministry. While 11 districts in Vidarbha and four in north Maharashtra are gearing
up for bigger assault, Odisha government has issued guidelines for a possible
attack asking farmers to take preventive steps. As is known, locust swarms can devastate
crops and cause major agricultural damage, which can lead to famine and
starvation. However, a lot depends on which way the winds blow. This time
though these are in different directions. In the past, most of the locust attacks,
since 1993 had been localised to Rajasthan alone. Obviously, fear is mounting.
Already plagued by an economic slowdown and Covid-19 lockdown, the country can
ill-afford an agrarian crisis. Fingers must be kept crossed.
* * * * * * *
Himachal’s Blot
Himachal Pradesh may
well open a can of worms. Rather, it may turn out there could be many more cans
if only anti-corruption bureaus across the country get cracking during the
pandemic. Wednesday last, the ruling-BJP was left red faced as its State party
chief Rajeev Bindal put in his papers following investigation into procurement
of medical supplies by the government for Covid-19 since February. Bindal is
alleged to be part of an audio clip, under probe by the vigilance and
anti-corruption bureau, in which two men are purportedly heard discussing
handover of Rs 5 lakh “bribe.” One of them, Director, health services Dr A K
Gupta was arrested last week, giving the Opposition ammunition to target the government
by claiming the person heard “offering the bribe” is a “ruling party leader”. Bindal
denies any link, but resigned on “high moral grounds”, so the probe is “not
influenced in any way”. Be that as it may, the incident should put State
governments and vigilance departments on alert to stem the rot that has seeped
in, even in the times of corona.
* * * * * * *
TN Sound Advice
Governments can learn
a lesson or two from Madras High Court’s judgement. Dealing with an ordinance
by ruling AIADMK to take temporary possession of Veda Nilayam, former Chief
Minister Late Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence in Chennai, to establish the
Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa Memorial Foundation, a division bench
expressed strong reservations. “When there are so many essential amenities
which are yet to be provided by the welfare state, public money cannot be
wasted for purpose of constructing memorials. The real tribute to any leader
should be paid by following his/her principles and working for people’s benefit
and development of society,” it said on Wednesday last. Further, it declared Jayalalithaa’s
niece and nephew as Class II legal heirs of her property, and that the government
can’t acquire the property without their consent. The two could be
administrators for utilising half-acre property, worth over Rs 100 crore, as Chief
Minister’s official residence and convert a portion into a memorial. This way,
the two won’t have to be compensated for acquiring land and government could
use the amount for ‘developmental purposes such as building infrastructure,
providing potable drinking water, cleaning of water bodies etc…” Sound advice
indeed.
* * * * * * *
Flyover Outrage
Sparks are flying
over naming of a flyover in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru. On Thursday last,
the civic body cancelled the inauguration by Chief Minister Yediyurappa of
“Veer Savarkar” flyover, named after Hindutva ideologue/freedom fighter, on his
birthday, citing the lockdown. Not really true. Both Congress and JD(S) have
vociferously opposed the name saying: it’s an “insult to freedom fighters from
Karnataka’s soil… the hasty decision is proof the administration isn’t run by elected
government but by those behind the scene.” Ruling-BJP has hit back: “Naming
circles, buildings, infrastructure after Nehru and fake Gandhis are the ‘naamdar’ party’s honour to freedom
fighters.” In this tu-tu-mein-mein
there’s another voice -- pro-Kannada activists, who have questioned all parties
about “contributions during their rules”. Thus, Twitter users have started social
media movement #DontWantSavarkarName. Their justification: National parties
name projects after their political leaders to get High Command’s attention! They
are hopeful of a victory as in 2009 movement-- the airport was eventually named
Kempegowda (Bengaluru’s founder) International Airport. Who said what’s in a
name? ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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