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8 EDITORIAL SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019
DELHI THE HINDU
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Ensure a minimum income for all
A basic income scheme will deliver benefits to the poor only if it comes on top of public services
some groups: landless labourers, their business and employment in less, manual scavengers, tribal
agricultural workers and marginal the process. groups, and former bonded la
The Akali factor farmers who suffer from multidi have three immediate benefits. bourers are automatically includ
Moreover, such a scheme will
mensional poverty. These groups
ed. The dataset includes more
With its alliance in Punjab, the BJP admits have not benefited from economic One, it will help bring a large num than six crore landless labourers.
growth. They were and still are the ber of households out of the po It also includes many small farm
the need to take a back seat in some States
Ram Singh poorest Indians. Various welfare verty trap or prevent them from ers who face deprivation criteria
he Shiromani Akali Dal has been among the most schemes have also failed to bring falling into it in the event of exi such as families without any
them out of penury. gencies such as illness. Two, it will breadearning adult member, and
steadfast allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the GETTY IMAGES
he idea of a universal basic A case in point is the access to reduce income inequalities. those without a pucca house.
Ttwo parties having been in coalition since 1998. It income (UBI) is gaining institutional credit issued by banks Three, since the poor spend most The other needy group, small
comes as no surprise that they have aligned again in a Tground globally. It has sup and cooperative societies. Accord sides, it can go a long way in help of their income, a boost in their in farmers, missing from the SECC
seatsharing arrangement in Punjab for the Lok Sabha porters among the political left ing to National Sample Survey Of ing the poor to make ends meet. come will increase demand and can be identified using the dataset
election, with the Akalis as the dominant partner to and right, and among proponents fice (NSSO) data from the 70th Several studies have shown that at promote economic activities in ru from the Agriculture Census of
contest 10 seats in the State and the BJP contesting the as well as opponents of the free round, institutional credits ac high levels of impoverishment, ral areas. Nonetheless, an income 201516. Together, these two data
other three. In 2014, the alliance won 35% of the vote to market economy. A UBI requires count for less than 15% of the total even a small income supplement transfer scheme cannot be a sub sets can help identify the poorest
the government to pay every citi borrowing by landless agricultural can improve nutrient intake, and stitute for universal basic services. Indians, especially in rural India.
secure six of the 13 constituencies in a tripartite contest.
zen a fixed amount of money on a workers; the figure for marginal increase enrolment and school at The direct income support to the However, many households such
The Congress, which won three seats, will seek to build
regular basis and without any con and small farmers is only 30%. tendance for students coming poor will deliver the benefits men as marginal farmers belong to
on its victory in the Assembly elections in 2017 as State
ditionalities. Crucial to the appeal These groups have to borrow from from poor households. tioned only if it comes on top of both datasets. The Aadhaar identi
level incumbents usually enjoy some momentum going for such a demand — for a UBI — is moneylenders and adhatiyas at ex public services such as primary ty can be used to rule out duplica
into a national election. The AkaliBJP alliance took a that millions of people remain un orbitant interest rates ranging Better productivity health and education. This means tions and update the list of eligible
beating in the Assembly election after having been in employed and are extremely poor, from 24 to 60%. As a result, they In other words, income transfers that direct transfers should not be households.
power for two terms, but still managed a substantial despite rapid economic growth in do not stand to benefit much from to the poor will lead to improved at the expense of public services As an approximation, the num
30.6% vote share, which could keep it competitive in the last three decades. The Nation the interest rate subsidy for the health and educational outcomes, for primary health and education. ber of eligible households is 10
the Lok Sabha election. There is also the emergence of al Democratic Alliance govern agriculture sector. Likewise, the which in turn would lead to a If anything, budgetary allocation crore. That is, even in its basic
ment has already unfolded a limit benefits of subsidised fertilizers more productive workforce. It for these services should be raised form, the scheme will require ap
the Aam Aadmi Party as a viable contestant in the State ed version of the UBI in the form of and power are enjoyed largely by seems to be a good idea to transfer significantly. Programmes such as proximately ₹1.5 lakh crore per an
(especially in the southern Malwa region). For the BJP, a the Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman big farmers. In urban areas, con the money into the bank accounts the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Em num. The PMKISAN Yojana can
coalition with the Akalis, despite being allotted only Nidhi Yojana (PMKISAN) which tract workers and those in the in of women of the beneficiary hou ployment Guarantee Scheme be aligned to meet a part of the
three seats, was therefore an imperative. As with its oth promises ₹6,000 per annum to formal sector face a similar pro seholds. Women tend to spend should also stay. With direct in cost. Moreover, the tax kitty can
er coalition partners such as the Shiv Sena, the alliance farmers who own less than 2 hec blem. The rapid pace of more of their income on health come support, the demand for the be expanded by reintroducing
in Punjab too went through degrees of rough weather, tares of land. Going by media re automation of lowskill jobs and and the education of children. programmes will come down nat wealth tax. Nonetheless, the re
ports, the election manifesto of formalisation of the retail sector The effect of an income transfer urally. However, in the interim, it quired amount is beyond the
but there was too much at stake for seatsharing talks to
the Congress Party may announce mean the prospects of these scheme on unemployment is a will serve to screen the poorest in Centre’s fiscal capacity at the mo
fail. Besides reasons of arithmetic, the SAD also pre an even more ambitious version of groups are even bleaker. moot point. In principle, cash the country and give them a cru ment. Therefore, the cost will have
sents a strong and traditionally antiCongress position the scheme. An income support of, say, transfers can result in withdrawal cial safety net. to be shared by States. States such
in its ideological core, tinged with a certain degree of ₹15,000 per annum can be a good of beneficiaries from the labour as Telangana and Odisha are alrea
sectarianism. This coheres well with the overall vision Where it will work supplement to their livelihoods — force. However, the income sup Using datasets dy providing direct income sup
of the BJP. The UBI is neither an antidote to an amount worth more than a port suggested above is not too If basic public services are main port to their farmers. These States
In allocating a larger share to the Akalis in Punjab, the vagaries of market forces nor a third of the average consumption large to discourage beneficiaries tained, there is limited fiscal space can extend their schemes to in
substitute for basic public servic of the poorest 25% households, from seeking work. In fact, it can for direct income support. It will clude the ‘nonfarmer poor’. The
the AIADMK and other partners in Tamil Nadu, besides es, especially health and educa and more than a fourth of the an promote employment and eco have to be restricted to the poorest other States too should join in.
retaining its alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra,
tion. Besides, there is no need to nual income of marginal farmers. nomic activities. For instance, in of poor households. The Socio The income transfer scheme is
the BJP has signalled its awareness of the efficacy of co
transfer money to middle and This additional income can re come receipts can come in handy Economic and Caste Census costly. However, the cost of persis
herent prepoll coalitions based on the party’s highincome earners as well as duce the incidence of indebted as interestfree working capital for (SECC) 2011 can be used to identify tent poverty is much higher.
strengths in these States. The BJPled National Demo large landowners. ness among marginal farmers, the several categories of beneficiaries the neediest. Groups suffering
cratic Alliance has seen some attrition since 2014, with However, there is a strong case reby helping them escape (fruit and vegetable vendors and from multidimensional poverty Ram Singh is a Professor at the Delhi
the loss of the Telugu Desam Party. But it has compen for direct income transfers to moneylenders and adhatiyas. Be small artisans), thereby promoting such as the destitute, the shelter School of Economics
sated with additions such as the Janata Dal (United), be
sides the retention of other allies. Even though it has
projected a certain personalised form of administration The mixed signals from Pakistan
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the dominant
face of the government, the BJP is crucially dependent One can get a fair idea of the Pakistani military’s thinking by analysing the politicians’ statements and actions
on the support of its allies. In the last five years, the par
ty has steadily lost parliamentary byelections and its the current IndiaPakistan stan kistan government not to let the lation have to be measured against
current tally in the Lok Sabha is below the majority doff and its impact on the standing crisis get out of hand. It was also the Pakistani military brass’s ob
of the Pakistani military in the clear from U.S. President Donald session with its honour and credi
mark. Only with the support of the allies does the NDA
eyes of the country’s population. Trump’s statement in Hanoi, in bility among its people. Both have
now have a comfortable majority. The BJP might scoff at
Mr. Khan has, on the one hand, which he suggested that good been severely damaged by its in
attempts made by the Opposition to form a grand coali emphasised his desire for deesca news was about to emanate from ability to anticipate and thwart the
#398299
tion and portray them as an incoherent mishmash of or Mohammed Ayoob lation without accepting blame for South Asia, that Washington had Indian aerial attack on Balakot
ganisations, but the fact that coalitions in Indian polit the initial action, the Pulwama ter put pressure on Islamabad and deep inside Pakistani territory.
ics are here to stay is not lost on its leadership. rorist attack, that triggered the possibly on New Delhi not to en The military is the real power be
ow that the first round of present crisis. While ostensibly ad gage in further military action. hind the throne in Pakistan. Mr.
It is true that the fear of escala
military titfortats is over, it
Hanoi hiccup Nis important that New Delhi dressing the Indian government, AFP tion to the nuclear level haunts Khan’s ascent to office was deftly
he has attempted to present a rea
managed by the military high com
settles down to parsing the mixed sonable face to the international low. Therefore, Islamabad does both Indian and Pakistani deci mand, which, unlike in India, is al
Despite the collapse of talks, the U.S. signals coming out of Pakistan. community by expressing his not deserve extra credit for merely sionmakers and acts as a formida so in control of the country’s nu
and North Korea must persist with CBMs While keeping all options open, it yearning for peace in the subconti fulfilling its international ble restraint preventing both from clear weapons and delivery
is important for the government to nent. He has especially empha obligations. intensifying the conflict. An ac systems.
he abrupt end of talks between U.S. President Do make a definitive assessment re sised the fact that both countries In the same speech, Mr. Khan tionreaction dynamic, such as the
nald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong garding Pakistan’s intentions be are nuclear powers and, therefore, warned the Indian leadership, “Do one that started with the Pulwama The need for care
Tun in Hanoi is clearly a setback to attempts to find fore taking the next step in both any further escalation could lead not take this confrontation furth attack, can conceivably graduate These facts make any future esca
a peaceful solution to the Korean nuclear crisis. Both the military and diplomatic to disastrous results. er”, saying otherwise Pakistan will to the nuclear level if Pakistan, latory scenario look very scary.
sides cut short a twoday summit on the second day on spheres. This is a difficult job, be “forced to retaliate”. He also which does not accept the “no first For, if pushed to the wall and in
Thursday without even signing a joint communiqué. among other things because the The de-escalatory ladder made no apologies for the terrorist use” doctrine, decides to take re danger of losing control of the
real decisionmakers in Pakistan His announcement on Thursday acts committed by jihadi groups course to tactical nuclear wea state, the Pakistani military can
They also gave conflicting versions on why the talks col
are not the Prime Minister and his that Wing Commander Abhinan spawned by Pakistan’s military in pons, which it has stockpiled, if it employ a highly reckless strategy
lapsed. Mr. Trump said Mr. Kim insisted on a full with
cabinet but the top generals en dan Varthaman would be released telligence. Instead, he once again finds itself unable to withstand In that would unleash an unprece
drawal of American sanctions in return for the closure
sconced in General Headquarters “unconditionally” falls in this cate asked New Delhi for proof that the dia’s superior conventional power. dented catastrophe in the Indian
of only one nuclear facility. However, North Korean Fo in Rawalpindi. gory of deescalatory signals. His Pulwama attack could be traced to On the other hand, the Indian subcontinent. It is no wonder that
reign Minister Ri Yongho later said Pyongyang had Nonetheless, one can get a fair statement also made it clear that Pakistan despite the Bahawalpur nuclear doctrine does not make a Mr. Khan has to speak with both
sought only partial sanctions relief in return for dis idea of the thinking by Pakistani he wanted to link the release to the based JaisheMohammad’s ack distinction between tactical and sides of his mouth in a desperate
mantling the Yongbyon nuclear site, the North’s main decisionmakers by analysing the reopening of negotiations with In nowledgement, immediately after strategic nuclear strikes and im attempt to preserve the military’s
facility. Whatever the actual reason, one thing is clear: statements and actions of politi dia in order to find a way out of the the suicide bombing, that it was plies that India will respond honour while attempting to get off
the bonhomie between the two leaders after last year’s cians because they are often or current crisis. responsible for the incident. through massive retaliation even if the escalatory ladder that can lead
chestrated by the military high While India welcomed this There are various reasons one a tactical weapon use does only a to unpredictable consequences.
Singapore summit was missing in Hanoi. After the Sin
command. Pakistan Prime Minis move, it refused to give Pakistan can decipher for Pakistan’s dou limited amount of damage. It is,
gapore meet, both sides had agreed to have “new U.S. ter Imran Khan’s pronouncements credit for what Islamabad consid blespeak. Mr. Khan’s deescalato therefore, difficult to predict in Mohammed Ayoob is University
DPRK [North Korea] relations” and establish a “lasting are, therefore, worth following ers a humanitarian gesture. India ry rhetoric is in part the result of this context where the escalatory Distinguished Professor Emeritus of
and stable peace regime” on the Korean peninsula. closely. His most recent statement has characterised it as an act un external pressure, especially from process, if left unchecked, would International Relations, Michigan State
Pyongyang had also promised to work toward “com in the Pakistan Parliament betrays dertaken in consonance with the the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. The end. University and Non-Resident Senior
plete denuclearisation”. No such comments about the the internal conflict in both his Geneva Convention that Pakistan, Saudi Foreign Minister made a However, all these very real Fellow, Center for Global Policy,
future course of the peace process were issued this and his generals’ assessment of as a signatory, is compelled to fol dash to Islamabad to advise the Pa concerns about uncontrolled esca Washington DC
time. The North Koreans have ruled out any immediate
plans for a future meeting between the two sides. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
A part of the problem was the failure of both Wash
ington and Pyongyang in following up on commitments Step back now in possession of comprehension of the core not have more of such release of the Indian pilot — taking his daughter to school
made in Singapore. A few weeks ahead of that summit It is time to stop the sophisticated weaponry, war issues, we will continue to people and moves in both he deserves to be on his motorcycle and she
in June, North Korea had announced a complete freeze tensions between the two is no option to settle beat around the bush till we countries? complimented. Let this be a received minor injuries after
nucleararmed countries, disputes. There may not be reach the next flashpoint. Kamala Menon Cochran, harbinger of happier things the incident. We hope we
on nuclear and missile tests as a reconciliatory gesture.
India and Pakistan. As the any harm if there are International pressure Secunderabad to come. But will he also see will be able to return next
It had asked the U.S. to reciprocate — its main demand
writer (Editorial page, preliminary rounds of talks should be sustained till the writing on the wall and year to discover funds having
was a formal declaration of an end to the 195053 Ko “Living on the edge”, to defuse the situation. This Pakistan takes concrete ■ Pakistan’s decision to ensure that support for been invested to remove all
rean War, but the Trump administration refused to do March 1), who has indepth will not be construed as a measures against terrorists release the Indian pilot is a terror groups is stopped? stray dogs from public
so. Lack of confidencebuilding measures too blunted knowledge about the sign of weakness but as one and terror outfits. step that will promote peace Saner counsel must prevail. places. Sentiment is one
the momentum created in Singapore. When U.S. Secre politics of the subcontinent, of maturity in dealing with a S. Parthasarathy, and deserves S.V. Venkatakrishnan, thing, suffering is another.
tary of State Mike Pompeo first visited Pyongyang, Mr. says, there should be a way difficult situation. How the Chennai acknowledgement by India. Bengaluru Andy & Hilda Small,
to keep deescalating. God government can manage this We have taught our Cliddesden, Hampshire, U.K.
Kim refused to meet him. Later, the American intelli ■ The Indian reaction to the
gence community reported that North Korea continued forbid if further tensions just before the general neighbour a lesson with the Dog control
between the two election will be interesting. deadly attack on a convoy of air strikes. Now that the We are two holidaymakers Mutilating notes
its ballistic missile programme after the first Trump neighbours become worse D.B.N. Murthy, CRPF personnel triggered a purpose has been served, it from the U.K. entering the The Reserve Bank of India
Kim summit. With these problems still in place, the se and more destructive. Bengaluru quick, justifiable response, is the duty of leaders in both final week of our twomonth, issues instructions asking
cond summit between the leaders was announced. Any Leaders in both countries though it led to the downing countries to deescalate and and the 12th, visit to Kerala. people not to write on
hopes of clinching a big agreement in Hanoi fell as both have the right opportunity ■ Given the fact that a of an Indian fighter aircraft try to explore peace. It may This year we have been currency notes. Despite this,
sides stuck to their respective demands. However, the now to show real number of terror outfits and pilot. The pleasant and not be an exaggeration to say sickened by the increase in one comes across notes that
setback need not necessarily bring the peace process to statesmanship and solve all operate from within Pakistan surprising response by that countries like the U.S. the number of stray dogs on have been scribbled on with
differences at the and have been moving Pakistan has, however, are like merchants of war the beaches and by their pen or pencil. Banks
a halt. Mr. Trump himself has said denuclearisation is a
diplomatic high table. around with impunity for suggested that there may still and genuinely uninterested appalling condition. They continue to dispense such
long process. The freeze on nuclear and missile tests Better sense must prevail. decades now, one is not sure be room for efforts to resolve in peace. scavenge an existence, notes even through their
that Mr. Kim announced is still in place. The Korean pe Javeed Bin Nabi, what action can be taken by the longrunning India P.H. Hema Sagar, suffering from mange and ATMs. When cash is credited
ninsula has been calm, while interKorean relations Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan Prime Minister Pakistan dispute. Could Secunderabad fleas. Most have no hair left, through cash deposit
have markedly improved. Before the Hanoi summit, Imran Khan, or by any other Pakistan Prime Minister and can be seen limping machines, the same notes
there were reports that the U.S. would declare an end to ■ It is noteworthy that there Pakistan Prime Minister for Imran Khan’s move to order ■ There is the widespread from injuries and desperate are often rejected. If banks
the Korean war and that both countries would open were no conditions attached that matter, on such terror the release of the Indian pilot perception that the political for some form of humane themselves cannot follow the
to the release of the Indian organisations. As these now serve as an opportunity leadership in Pakistan is intervention. This year, two RBI’s guidelines, how
liaison offices in each other’s capitals as part of normal
pilot (Page 1, “Pakistan will outfits are being used to for both sides to take a fresh under the thumb of the of our Indian friends were prudent is it to insist on us
isation of ties. They should go ahead with such mea
release Abhinandan today”, stage a proxy war, what kind look? One can only hope so. Pakistan Army and the ISI. If hospitalised with serious following this rule?
sures and build confidence and mutual trust while also March 1). With this, one of a crackdown, and a Let us recall the action of Prime Minister Imran Khan injuries caused while trying Shalini Murthy,
taking a phased approach to dealing with more conten hopes that the war clouds genuine one at that, can be Navjot Sidhu who, in his own has chosen to decide to avoid stray dogs on the Bengaluru
tious issues such as denuclearisation. over India and Pakistan will expected is anybody’s guess. way, sought to improve independently and act boldly road and consequently
more letters online:
fade away. With both nations Unless there is a IndiaPakistan relations. Why on a crucial issue — the cannot work. One friend was www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/
CM A ND-NDE
YK
