A push in roads construction will boost the economy, like it always does.

FINANCE MINISTER Arun Jaitley seems to have been third time lucky this year. This is his first budget which has broken out of the mould of the past. The proposals for 2016-17 give little in the form of an impetus to investment, but he has managed to  stick to the fiscal deficit goals laid down in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management legislation. The very fact that India has kept to its fiscal deficit target of 3.5 per cent is bound to enthuse global credit rating agencies, for whom meeting this criteria is a vital factor in giving a country a high investor rating. It is a different matter that these same rating agencies remained clueless about the viability of leading western financial institutions just before they crashed and burned in 2008. Nonetheless, it improves the investment climate in India in the eyes of foreign corporates.It will also please RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan who has been persistent in pleas for the government to conform to the fiscal deficit targets. In turn, the central government will now expect the RBI to oblige with cuts in interest rates, which may possibly provide a stimulus to kick-start the investment cycle.The second achievement has been the effort to carry out tax reforms, though these are rather piecemeal and patchy. Undoubtedly, however, Mr Jaitley is finally trying to take power out of the hands of the tax official and bring a system where there are less discretionary powers and thus less scope for corruption. The decision to avoid any more retrospective taxation is also welcome, as are the moves to create a better dispute resolution mechanism to reduce tax litigation.The third positive element is the focus on raising public investment in roads and highways. The investments are pegged at a massive Rs 2.18 lakh crore, though this includes the funding for the railways. A push in roads construction has always provided an impetus to the economy as it did when Atal Behari Vajpayee launched the Golden Quadrilateral project.On the other hand, there is virtually nothing for exporters on the grounds that global headwinds are weak and the country needs to focus on the domestic market. This is a rather defeatist approach as exports are clearly a drag on the economy currently. It is surely time to provide support to export industries which had been growing consistently till about two years ago. The plans for the agriculture sector and the rural economy appear to be more political grandstanding with an eye to the forthcoming state elections, as many targets seem unachievable like the expansion in irrigation over 80.6 lakh hectares. Besides, the aim of doubling farm incomes in five years is laudable, but not possible unless minimum support prices are raised sharply. This could, in turn, lead to a spiralling of food prices and raise prices significantly. Interestingly, the budget proposals also highlight the fact the highest-ever allocation of Rs 38,500 crore has been made for the MGNREGA, UPA’s flagship programme which had been severely criticised by the BJP before winning the elections. It has now been adopted, wisely so, by the NDA as a scheme that can alleviate the problems of the rural populations after two years of failing monsoon.Yet the biggest lacuna in the budget is any real stimulus for the creation of jobs. Barring the proposals for sops to fresh recruitment by companies, there is hardly any incentive for increasing the setting up of manufacturing units. Companies will hire new employees only when they are needed and not just to avail of these relatively minor benefits. In the roads sector, for which big public investments are being made, employment is available largely on a temporary basis and for unskilled workers. The only push to manufacturing, and hence large scale employment, in the proposals are the excise concessions being given to sectors covered by the ‘Make in India’ scheme.As far as the recapitalisation of banks is concerned, the amount of Rs 25,000 crore is far too little compared to the lakhs of crores of stressed assets in this sector. At the same time, the effort to move forward on a new insolvency code as well as the plans for the legislation to prevent illicit deposit scams that ensnare many is laudable. The proposals have little succour for the common man facing rising prices especially of food products. The cost of services will go up across the board with the new 0.5 per cent Krishi Vikas cess. The middle class may welcome the new provisions for pension schemes and the higher deduction for housing loans,  but there is little that is heartening for a segment that used to be the traditional constituency of the BJP. Even the crash in world oil prices has not been passed on by way of lower petrol or diesel prices to consumers. In this context, it is amazing to find a special scheme proposed to lure foreign oil majors to invest in highly expensive projects of deep sea and ultra deep oil and gas exploration. At a time when oil prices are at historic lows, no oil company is likely to venture into the highly risky and costly job of deep sea exploration. Such ventures become cost effective only when prices are ruling at high levels. There are some definite plus points in the proposals, like the scheme to provide LPG stoves to women in rural areas as well as the plan for the modernisation of land records and the digital literacy mission. The allocation for the social sector has also been raised significantly, clearly in response to severe criticism over the cuts made last year. However, it abounds in a mass of trivia about individual concessions especially on the tax side. Mr Jaitley’s third budget is thus a mixed bag. It is a definite departure from the past in terms of presentation, and also in firmly adhering to fiscal goals. But it lacks a holistic vision and, most importantly, fails to provide the much-needed push to investment and employment growth. In the absence of such a stimulus, it may be difficult for the economy to reach the goal of a high growth path of 8 to 10 per cent in the years to come. 

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

With the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan not being taken to Dinanagar town where three alleged Pakistani terrorists had attacked a police station, family members of martyr SP Baljit Singh are angry at the Indian Government for ignoring the attack and the sacrifice made by Punjab Police personnel.Other Punjab Police personnel who participated in the attack are also upset on why Pakistan was not being confronted for carrying out the Dinanagar attack.“The Indian Government has conveniently forgotten the Dinanagar attack. Why is Dinanagar not on the agenda of the Pakistan team? Why did the Centre not raise the issue of Dinanagar with Pakistan?” asks Kulwant Kaur, wife of martyr SP Baljit Singh. Bitter at more importance being given to the Pathankot attack, she said she salutes the heroes of Pathankot, but the Centre can’t give step-motherly treatment to a similar attack that happened a few months ago.

https://youtu.be/7LP7CVrQfb4

The Central Armed Police Forces ( commonly referred to as Paramilitary forces) play an important role in border security as well as internal security. Along with the Defence Establishment, they play an important role in National Security. This video is an effort to explain the role played by the Seven Central Armed Police Forces that come under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil told the Vidhan Sabha during the Question Hour today that the state government would consider raising ex gratia relief to families of martyrs from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.He was replying to a question of Anirudh Singh, Congress MLA from Kusumpti, who suggested that the ex gratia relief should be increased to Rs 20 lakh as given to two jawans from the state who died in the recent Pathankot terror attack and pleaded that the same analogy be applied to other martyrs.Shandil said there were two categories for giving compensation to those who died during war and others who laid down their lives in special operation and the grant was decided on case to case.At this stage, Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal, who was joined by MLA Inder Singh, said “martyrs are martyrs” and there should be no discrimination in amount of relief.

Soldiers being air-dropped at Rohtak. AFP

“Iss se to Angrezon ka raj hi accha tha” (The British rule was better than what we see now),  said an old soldier from Haryana the other day. Having born, brought up and educated in a much bigger joint India, At the age of 21, I, like lakhs of others, bid a forced goodbye to my home and shifted to a truncated India at 21 years after Partition. I loved staying in erstwhile India, which was very peaceful till the time the maverick politicians did not sow the seeds of dissention and religious divide among gullible people. Consequent to Khattar’s announcement in Rohtak on February 15, that the government would wait till March 31 for the report of the committee dealing with the Jat reservation, the latter became restive and  started blocking roads and carrying out protest marches. The non-Jats resented this and began anti-reservation marches, resulting in clashes between Jats and non-Jat groups. This was followed by burning of shops, houses, vehicles, business establishments and offices. Shamefully, on February 22 at Murthal on NH 10, women were forcibly  pulled out of cars by goons, dragged to the fields and gangraped. Their cars were burnt, their husbands were looted and beaten up. There was a discernible division between the ministers and bureaucrats on the basis of caste. This resulted in the collapse of the state machinery. The Haryana police failed to grapple with the worsening situation. At best, some of them acted as a shield between the clashing groups. The rest stood as if nothing had happened. On February 18, rioting took an ugly turn in Rohtak when the rival protesting groups clashed and threw stones at each other and the police.  After that, the BSF troops were deployed. On February 19, the protesters clashed with the police and the BSF personnel. Three persons were killed and more than 100 injured when the security forces opened fire to control the rioters. The police personnel vanished from the scene of violence and even abandoned their posts on February 20. The Army was airdropped at Rohtak on the same day.  The Army carried out a flag march in Rohtak on February 20. The violence by now had spread to several towns in Haryana. After the Army was deployed in parts of Hisar on February 22 and despite the curfew, armed mobs looted, ransacked and burnt down  at least 20 houses at village Dhani Pal. The policemen and an Army column, as per the media reports, failed to control the mob. According to the rule book, law and order is a state subject, it should be controlled by the state police in conjunction with the state armed police. When the situation goes out of the hands of the police, the paramilitary forces are called in, If they too blink, then the Amy, which is government’s last resort, is called in to restore order. Soon after their deployment on this duty,  both police and paramilitary forces start looking over their shoulders for the Army to come and control the situation.  Because of this mindset, they do not take the situation seriously. If commanders of these forces are taken to task for dereliction of duty (as it happens in the Army), they will willy-nilly accomplish their task. Displaying the might of the Army had a catalytic effect on the civil population during the British regime because it was kept away from the people. Its sudden appearance on he scene did, therefore, ring a warning bell in the minds of the trouble makers.                                                                                                                 The flag marches by the Army have become very common. That is why they have lost their effect these days, thanks to the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. These marches are undertaken by the Army when it comes on the scene to create a deterrent in the minds of undesirable elements and to restore confidence among the peace-loving citizens. But unfortunately, the flag marche achieve none of these objectives. On the contrary, these marches can do more harm than good as the marching or mounted columns present a good target to the trained and well-equipped trouble makers. Given the current situation in the country, every move by the troops in the disturbed areas should be tactical and not ceremonial.After the deployment of the Army in Haryana on February 20, there was hardy any media coverage about it. This was unusual  as the Army always comes in for praise whenever it is deployed to quell disturbances. The only mention about it was that “the Army column (in Hisar) failed to control the mob.” There was a whisper in certain quarters that, like the police, the Army also gave a short shrift to law and order in Haryana. Accountability has become the worst casualty in modern India. It is a free-for-all situation and you can get away even after committing a heinous crime, provided you have tonnes of money and /or political support. Ironically, the hedge has started eating the crop. It has become a fashion to wear religion and caste on one’s sleeves and brag about it loudly. Surprisingly, all our problems stem from indecision of the politicians. This reminds one of what William James said: “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision”. Who will stem the rot?The writer, a retired Colonel, is a defence columnist.

Narkanda, 60 km from Shimla, turns white on Saturday. Tribune photo

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12

The higher reaches and tribal areas experienced fresh snowfall while the mid and lower hills were lashed by intermittent showers and hailstorm.The widespread rain and snowfall in the region reduced the winter rain deficit between January 1 and March 12 from 50 per cent to 17 per cent. More rain is predicted in the next two days.The rain caused landslides in the interior areas, blew off roofs and uprooted trees at some places in Kangra, Sirmaur and Mandi districts. Traffic was halted in the interior areas of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Shimla.The Rohtang Pass recorded 90 cm of snow while the Dhauladhar range in Kangra and Churdhar range in Sirmaur have turned white. It has been snowing there since yesterday.Keylong in the tribal areas recorded 35 cm of snow while Kalpa, Bharmaur, Kothi and Hansa received 12 cm, 11 cm 10 cm and 5 cm of snow. Narkanda, Kharapatthar, Sangla and Chitkul also received fresh snowfall.Fresh snowfall in upper Manali and Rohtang has hampered the clearance operation on the Manali-Rohtang-Leh road. Two women were injured when a tree fell on their house near Palampur while a storm hit Pachhad and Sarahan in Sirmaur district.Bharmaur received 150 mm of rain while key tourist resorts of Dalhousie and Manali received 91 mm and 82 mm of rain followed by Hansa 76 mm, Saloni 75 mm, Kothi 71 mm, Dharamsala 58 mm, Shimla 45 mm, Jogindernagar 42 mm, Bangana 40 mm, Kangra 39 mm, Bhuntar, Sujanpur Tira 38 mm and Solan 32.5 mm.The Met Department has predicted heavy rain, thunderstorm and squall at isolated places in the mid and higher hills tomorrow and rain/snow in the region over the next three days.Kangra highway inundatedThe state highway passing through this temple town was flooded today following heavy rain and lack of proper drainage system near the old bus stand.Kangra experienced 30 mm rain in the past 24 hours, leaving the state highway inundated. Residents gathered at the spot and protested the non-availability of a proper drainage system. They raised slogans against the administration. — OCAvalanche warning in Kullu, ChambaAn avalanche warning has been issued for the higher areas of Himachal Pradesh. People have been advised to stay away from these places over the next 24 hours. The advisory has been issued by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ‘Medium danger’ avalanche warning exists in areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba and Kinnaur districts. — PTI

Rainfall

• Shimla 45 mm
• Manali 82 mm
• D’sala 58 mm
• Solan 32.5 mm

Mohana Singh

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 10

Mohana Singh, who is among the first batch of women fighter pilots set to join the Indian Air Force, is a product of the city’s Global Institutes. There are three women who will join the IAF as fighter pilots.Global Institutes vice-chairman Dr Akashdeep Singh felicitated her telephonically and observed that her trail- blazing success would inspire many young women to aim high, work hard and achieve glory. He wished her many more milestones in future also.He said it was a moment of great pride in the history of Global Institutes when the news came that its student Mohana Singh, who did her BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering with 83.68 per cent marks in 2013, received the honour of being one of the first women fighter pilots in the IAF, a rare distinction achieved by only three women of substance, courage and conviction for the first time in India.Hailing from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Mohana had joined the institute while her father Pratap Singh was posted here in the Army.She has brought laurels not only to her alma mater and family, but also to all women of the country with this feat. She has proved that for a woman of determination, sky is the limit. She can, like men, conquer all barriers and obstacles to attain her chosen goal.This is what Mohana has shown as possible. She was determined to make a mark in this exclusive male domain. She has shown to all Indian women that they can achieve what they want and make their life more meaningful and fulfilling professionally also. Mohana had been a focused and hardworking student during her studies at Global Institutes.The management, faculty and the staff were thrilled to hear the news. They sent congratulations to the distinguished fighter pilot and her parents on her grand professional success.

Pakistani delegates during an interaction in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10

Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) today said India should “religiously” follow the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, and allow full water discharge in the Jhelum and Chenab.The leaders said the occasional blockade of water discharge in these two crucial rivers led to immense hue and cry among peasants of west Punjab, as more than half of farmlands there were dependent on river water irrigation.Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid, Leader of Opposition in Provincial Assembly of Punjab (Pakistan), said: “India should religiously honour provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, 1960 and act like an elder brother. Farmers in our country, especially in Punjab, are mostly dependent on the river waters.”The leaders are part of the delegation comprising over a dozen prominent politicians and retired bureaucrats, who are at present visiting India to participate in interactive sessions on sharing of experiences on governance and democracy being organised in various Indian cities. A similar such event was organised today at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID).PML (N) leader Saud Majeed, a member of the Pakistan Senate from Punjab, who has also served as a member of the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013, also said India should ensure full water discharge in the Jhelum and Chenab.During the discussion, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, shared as to how the agriculture sector in Pakistan was facing acute challenges similar to that in India.Admitting that India’s farm sector was still ahead of Pakistan’s, nearly all visitors appreciated India’s effort of developing high yielding seed of cash crops.“High lending rates being charged by commission agents, crop damage due to weather calamity, distress sale of produce and soaring input costs are some of the major problems that are common to farmers of both Punjabs. Even the climatic challenges are almost similar. Therefore, the exchange of technology know-how can benefit farmers of both nations,” said Saud Majeed.

‘Issues can be solved through dialogue’

• The South Asia region should be declared nuclear as well as missile-free zone, said Lt General Abdul Qayyum (retd), who served as military secretary with two Pakistan PMs. He was at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development at Chandigarh for a dialogue between India-Pakistan legislators and public officials. Qayyum is a senator from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and serves as chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence Production of Pakistan Parliament. He said, “The interest of both nations lies in peace not in conflict and no country can become a superpower when it has conflicts at its backyard. There are so many issues that can be solved with dialogue on a table.” He said Sher Shah Suri Marg (GT Road) should be opened and accessible to different vehicles for people of both nations. “It will open new avenues of trade and will strengthen the economy of both countries,” he said.