National
Curbing population growth: Challenges and expectations from Modi govt
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made a provision in this year’s interim budget to constitute a High Power Committee to comprehensively consider the challenges arising from rapidly increasing population and demographic changes. Probably this is the result of the continuous voice being raised for population control across the country.
This is why on August 15, 2019, on the occasion of the first Independence Day after the formation of his second government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort for population control to strive for a good future for their next generation by becoming responsible parents.
Before making any kind of policy regarding population control, it was necessary to abolish different personal laws and implement a uniform civil code for all communities. It was started by the Uttarakhand government of Pushkar Singh Dhami with the formation of an expert committee to prepare the draft of the Uniform Civil Code in the year 2022. After long discussions with the people of Uttarakhand and stakeholders, the draft of the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024, submitted by the Expert Committee to the Government of Uttarakhand, was passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, 2024. At present, the work of preparing its rules and regulations is being done by another committee. Soon after the rules are prepared, the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand.
Many other states and central governments are also waiting for the same. Now the eyes of the country are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 2024, on the occasion of the first Independence Day after the formation of his third government, whether he will be able to make laws like Uniform Civil Code and Population Control in the country during his tenure of this coalition government?
To fulfil his dream of One Nation One Election, it is also necessary that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should quickly complete the census which has been postponed since 2021 and constitute a Delimitation Commission. Demographic changes also affect Indian politics.
In some Lok Sabha, MPs are elected with less than one lakh votes and in others with more than 20 lakh votes. Demographic change will also be a big challenge for the new delimitation. Probably, keeping this demographic change in mind, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the formation of a High Power Committee. But no information about the formation of that committee is available yet. Is this because the government is not with full majority this time? Will this topic be put on the back burner again? The idea of forming such a committee would undoubtedly be with a vision of a bright future for the country by addressing the challenges arising from the rapidly increasing population and demographic changes.
But due to political constraints, our country, which was the first in the world to initiate family planning, has today become the most populous country in the world. Will the efforts being made by the Central Government on this subject again fall prey to political compulsions? If the Central Government wants to realise its Nation First sentiment in the real sense, then it should not stop its efforts in this direction, leaving aside the compulsions of the coalition government.
The recent incident in Hathras has shocked all the countrymen. While all the political parties are accusing the government of not making proper arrangements, they must also consider how the people of our country get trapped in the trap of blind devotion and fall prey to the sorceries of fake babas. Just think that those people who do not understand what is right and what is wrong for their and their children’s future and those who are unable to make the right decisions for their family properly, they are the ones who elect the leaders to run the country.
Prime Minister Modi also said in his address on August 15, 2019, that the number of children in the family should be according to one’s resources and the same applies to the country as well. The country, which has about 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area and only 4 per cent of water, is home to about 18 per cent of the world’s population. The main reason for many problems spreading in India like unemployment, poverty, hunger, pollution, and illiteracy is the population of the country not being commensurate with the resources. Those who point to India’s population as the biggest reason for it becoming the world’s third-largest economy must look at the resources and population of the developed countries of the world.
Today, while most of the edible foods in our country are not pure, the potable water and the air to breathe have also become polluted. Due to these reasons, today our country has become the capital of diseases like cancer and problems like pollution in the world. Due to the increasing population in India, the cultivable land is continuously decreasing and due to family partitions, the size of the fields is becoming smaller. This is the biggest reason for the problems of farmers in the country.
But our leaders are busy only treating the symptoms instead of treating the underlying disease. Every political party is busy distributing taxpayers’ money in the name of getting votes. An example of which we have clearly seen in the lines to take Rs 8,500 after the results of this Lok Sabha election. There is a need for the intellectuals of the country to stop only earning money for their future generations and start putting pressure on all political parties and their leaders to enact population control laws, otherwise, in the future, their children will not be able to use the money earned by them.
Now it is up to the intellectuals and taxpayers of the country to think about what kind of India they want to leave behind for their children. Today, every intellectual, taxpayer, woman and youth of the country is looking towards Prime Minister Modi with hopeful eyes to see what he has to say on the occasion of this Independence Day on the subject of the challenges arising from the rapidly increasing population and demographic change.
(Manu Gaur is a population expert and Member, Expert Committee, Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand)
–IANS
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Jaipur, July 30 (IANS) Rajasthan Governor designate Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde reached Jaipur on Tuesday.
He was greeted by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa along with other members of the cabinet, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, Director General of Police UR Sahu and senior administrative and police officers also welcomed him.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma introduced the members of the cabinet to the Governor-designate. He was also given a guard of honour by the R.A.C. battalion at the airport and took the salute of the parade and inspected the guard of honour.
On reaching Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s Secretary Gaurav Goyal welcomed him by presenting a bouquet of flowers.
After reaching Raj Bhavan, the Governor-designate first worshipped Lord Shiva and offered water at the Raj Rajeshwar temple located at Raj Bhavan. He also offered Bilva leaves and Prasad to the Lord and wished well for everyone.
He also met the outgoing Governor Kalraj Mishra.
–IANS
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Bengaluru, July 30 (IANS) Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Karnataka government, addressed the FICCI CASCADE’s conference on ‘Combating Illicit Trade: Insights, Challenges, and Solutions’ here on Tuesday.
“Smuggling and counterfeiting not only finance terror groups but also undermine global security, posing severe threats to safety and economic growth. The proliferation of counterfeit products, including pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, endangers public health and safety, with the WHO reporting that 1 in 10 medicines in low and middle-income countries is substandard.
“In response, Karnataka is taking decisive action by supporting 43 GI-tagged products and working closely with law enforcement (agencies) to combat illicit trade. Our commitment to preserving traditional crafts and ensuring access to genuine, quality goods is crucial for safeguarding our economy, health, and security,” Krishna said in her address.
Prabha Rao, Executive Director, South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs, and Scholar, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said, “Counterfeiting and smuggling undermine legitimate businesses, government revenues, heritage, and the livelihoods of artisans.
“To combat these illicit practices, it is crucial to engage grassroots communities and local leaders, raising awareness about their severe economic, health, and societal impacts.”
P.C. Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, and ex-Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), said, “In recent years, we have made tremendous gains in advancing our formal economy, moving steadily towards our goal of becoming a developed nation.
“However, amid these advancements, one critical challenge remains largely overlooked — illicit trade. Illicit activities, such as counterfeiting and smuggling, pose significant threats to our economic stability and development. It needs to be highlighted that tackling and mitigating counterfeiting and smuggling is essential to achieving a $5 trillion Indian economy.”
“In October last year, FICCI CASCADE in a novel report, said that when India’s economy crossed the $3 trillion mark in 2021, money laundering in the country reached $159 billion, highlighting the severe impact of illicit markets. As India strives to transform its economy into a $5 trillion powerhouse in the coming years, the current trade composition of smuggling at 30 percent would make the trade value at $1.5 trillion,” added Jha.
This magnitude of the problem was highlighted in a FICCI CASCADE report in October 2023 titled ‘Hidden Stream: Linkages between illicit markets, financial flows, organised crime and terrorism’.
Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and former Special Commissioner of Police, Delhi, said, “Just last week, Bengaluru Customs officials made a significant breakthrough by intercepting a major gold smuggling attempt. They seized 2.57 kg of gold estimated to be worth Rs 1.68 crore at the Kempegowda International Airport.
“Apart from gold smuggling, Karnataka also faces various other forms of illicit trade like red sanders, drugs, including synthetic drugs, endangered wildlife species, and illegal cigarettes. More interventions are required to control this menace.”
“However, it must be said that the Karnataka government and the enforcement agencies have been making consistent efforts and have done remarkable work in addressing the menace of illicit trade. Their systematic and vigilant approach has led to the successful seizure of numerous illegal goods, reflecting their dedication to addressing smuggling and counterfeiting,” he added.
Kotraswamy M., Commissioner, Bengaluru North CGST Commissionerate, highlighted that to effectively combat illicit trade, we must form a united front — a human chain of solidarity and resolve against this global menace.
Collaboration between central agencies, state enforcement bodies, and civil society is essential to successfully tackling this challenge and safeguarding our economy and society.
Karnataka has been facing a range of smuggling issues, with authorities making significant strides in uncovering various criminal networks. They have successfully dismantled numerous operations, including interstate drug rackets, international wildlife trafficking rings, and extensive smuggling operations through airports, trains, roads, waterways, and ports.
The other eminent speakers at the seminar included Siddhartha Agarwal, Co-chair, FICCI Karnataka State Council; Kameswari Subramanian, former Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs, and Service Tax, Bangalore Zone & International Expert, Customs Law; Kalyanam Rajesh Rama Rao, Additional Commissioner, Customs; Gunjan Arya, Deputy Director, Security, State Intelligence, Bengaluru; Prem Mahadevan, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime; and Jyothi VK, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.
–IANS
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Hyderabad, July 30 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday launched the second phase of the farm loan waiver scheme.
Under this phase, crop loans of up to Rs.1.5 lakh will be waived
The Chief Minister launched the second phase at a programme held in the Assembly premises.
Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar adjourned the House for some time to enable legislators to participate in the event.
For the second phase, Rs. 6,198 crores are being deposited in the bank accounts of 6.4 lakh farmers.
The Chief Minister said under the first phase Rs.6,035 crores were deposited in the bank accounts of 11.34 lakh farmers.
In both, the first and second phases the loans of 17.75 lakh farmers have been waived, for this the government spent Rs.12,225 crore.
He said the government proved its commitment by waiving the farm loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh within a month. Farm loans up to Rs 2 lakhs will be waived by August and free the farmers from debt burden.
The government will be spending a total of Rs.31,000 crore on crop loan waiver in three phases. He said no state in independent India has so far waived farmers’ loans on such a large scale.
“July and August will be remembered as significant months in the history of Telangana. The Telangana State has created history in the country by waiving the farm loans in a record one month time,” he said.
The Chief Minister thanked the legislators for attending the programme irrespective of their party affiliation in the interest of the farmers.
He recalled that the Congress announced the Farmer Declaration on May 6, 2022, in Warangal to bring happiness to the lives of distressed peasants.
The Chief Minister alleged that the previous BRS government failed to waive the farm loans even up to Rs 1 lakh in four phases during the 60-month rule. The last government waived farm loans hardly to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore.
He said some people raised serious doubts about the implementation of farm loan waiver amid the deep financial crisis the state was facing. “Our government prepared plans to waive the loans despite facing fund crunch. We mobilised required funds,” he said adding that this shows the Congress government’s sincerity and commitment.
He claimed that Congress has always been supporting farmers. He mentioned that former Prime Minister Nehru introduced the Green Revolution with the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi nationalised banks to provide low-interest loans to poor farmers.
Sonia Gandhi introduced the Food Security Act in the country. Congress-led Union governments waived Rs. 72,000 crores of loans in the country, he said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and other ministers were present.
–IANS
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Shimla, July 30 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the 75th state-level ‘Van Mahotsav’ on Tuesday by planting an oak sapling at his official residence, Oak Over, here.
He said the Forest Department has set a target to plant saplings on 9,000 hectares across the state.
The Chief Minister also launched the beta testing of the e-forest software, a new initiative aimed at streamlining departmental operations and enhancing transparency within the Forest Department.
He emphasised the importance of increasing the plantation of fruit trees in forest areas from 30 to 60 per cent, with anticipated positive outcomes within 10 years. He highlighted that the Forest Department and the Forest Corporation processed 15,000 salvage trees last year, generating substantial revenue from timber sales, which increased the state government’s royalty income from Rs 35 crore to Rs 70 crore in one and a half years.
In the remote Lahaul-Spiti district, Mahila Mandals (women groups) have been engaged in plantation activities and forest conservation, generating revenue for these women’s groups.
Underlining the state’s green initiatives, CM Sukhu said a 32 MW solar power plant at Pekhubela in the Una district has been established, while two more solar plants are expected to become operational in the next six months.
Additionally, the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oil India Company for green hydrogen production, which would further propel the state towards its green energy state goal.
–IANS
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Guwahati, July 30 (IANS) Lakshman Prasad Acharya was on Tuesday sworn in as the Governor of Assam.
Acharya, who was Governor of Sikkim, replaced Gulab Chand Kataria, who has been appointed as the Governor of Punjab and administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi administered the oath of office to Acharya at a function in the Srimanta Shankardev Kalakshetra in the state capital.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his Cabinet colleagues, senior civil and security officials, and several dignitaries were present in the event.
A former RSS and BJP member, Acharya, 69, would also hold additional charge of Manipur, replacing outgoing Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
Acharya was also a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
–IANS
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