Table of Contents
The new reservation
Maratha agitation – consensus across the political spectrum does not guarantee reasonable policy. New logic of reservation – Not social inequality but ECONOMIC inequality and QUOTA system
It might have deeper implications for
• the politics of social justice and
• our understanding of the constitutional project of ensuring equal opportunity
Root causes of the problem –
• Reservation is increasingly seen as a remedy for the adverse effects of illthought out development policies.
Gujarat And Maharashtra :-
• Agrarian distress, stagnation in employment growth and distortions in the development trajectory.
• For governments – easier to talk of reservation than to make a course correction in development path and long-term structural repair and reform
• For the Opposition – the reservation discourse is convenient over economic policies critique 1960s and 70s – reservation demand because of – unfairness of the social system NOW – because of unfair development policies
The meaning of backwardness?
Constitution – “social and educational” backwardness Criteria adopted by MANDAL COMMISSION in this order:-
1. Social backwardness
2. Educational backwardness
3. Economic disadvantage Logic and meaning of reservation gets altered –
➢ OBC reservation demands on the basis of contemporary economic backwardness more than backwardness shaped by traditional social injustice.
➢ Numerical or political strength.
Socially dominant castes – Patel and Maratha agitations
Last caste census data – 1931 census. ‘’The state does not care to collect accurate information of the share of different castes.’’ The new idea Of reservation –
• Quotas – all groups should get “seats” in proportion to their strength in the population
• 50 per cent limit set by the court need not be upheld in practice. The judiciary is seen as an external and non-legitimate player because the issue is no more seen as originating in the constitution.
Conclusion
• The fundamental shift is about competitive claims over public resources such as education and state employment.
• Reservation is seen as a mechanism falling outside the purview of the normative frame set by the constitution.
• It is more about a new, emerging power-sharing where proportionality governs.
A defence without Aadhaar
❑ Disclosing Aadhar number publicly is against the rules
❑ Real ISSUE is NOT security of the number
❑ Aadhar made applicable to every walk of public life despite assurance from the government that it was voluntary
❑ 48 % of Indians who do not avail of any subsidy or service – why Aadhar for them?
❑ Black money and tax evasion are deep-rooted and Aadhar will not make the slightest dent to these evils.
❑ Not possible without Aadhar –
❑ Telephone connection, Admission for child even in private school, Cremations , Entry into Tirupati temple
❑ Right to live in peace and not be compelled to have their every activity monitored and recorded
Cities At Crossroads:
Managing the run-off
Delhi floods – what to do and who to blame ? The multiple government authorities are busy pointing fingers at each other.
Depending on their size the storm water drains are under –
• Municipal Corporations,
• Public Works Department
• Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
The sewerage network under – DJB.
Report by IIT Delhi – ‘How to Make Drainage Work in the National Capital Territory of Delhi 3 major drainage basins (large DRAINS) in Delhi : Najafgarh, Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna basins
These “drains” are actually the waterways that Carry the run-offs from the plains to the river Yamuna + Recharge groundwater + Support biodiversity
They are being encroached upon and are disappearing 19 out of the 201 natural drains from 1976 master plan cannot even be traced today.
Filled with solid waste, construction debris Function merely as sewers.
The recommendations for improving drainage :-
1. No encroachment of any storm-water drain should be allowed.
2. No construction should be allowed inside any stormwater drains.
3. Sewerage network should be totally separated from the drainage network.
4. No solid waste or garbage is to be dumped into storm water drains
5. No silt from the road should be allowed to be dumped into bell-mouths that lead to drains on the side of the road.
6. No Construction and Demolition waste should be allowed to be dumped into storm water drains
7. Access points for covered drains must be provided at an appropriate distance so that desilting of drains can be carried out regularly.
OTHERS –
Rejuvenate urban water bodies, use parks and green spaces for rainwater harvesting, use bioswales to manage and filter the storm water runoff.
ONLINE SHOPPING SET TO CHANGE
A task force of the Commerce Ministry has submitted its recommendations on a draft national e-commerce policy.
Why does India need an e-commerce policy to begin with?
➢ India’s e-commerce sector- $25 billion to $200 billion in 10 years.
➢ Next phase of growth to come from tier-II and tier-III towns – 3G and 4G networks have put consumers online.
➢ Job creation, productivity improvement, and increased consumer presence on online platforms.
➢ Creating a one-stop shop for the norms and regulations under which online retailers will be covered.
Recommendations for the new policy?
➢A 70-member “think tank” was set up – Minister for Commerce and Industry + secretaries + Industry reps – to suggest a framework for the national policy on e-commerce.
Taskforce set up by the Think tank
Inventory model of marketplace operations
➢ Online retailers with foreign investments can only operate as marketplaces
➢ The government does not currently allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce companies that hold their own inventories.
*inventories –
portion of a company’s assets that are either ready to order or will be ready for sale soon. Ecommerce businesses most likely deal with the latter – finished goods that are currently in their possession
Recommendations :
➢ FDI may be allowed in inventory-based e-commerce companies up to 49%, with the condition that the e-retailer sells 100% Made-in- India products
➢ This will allow e-commerce firms to offer their own brands — as they are made in India.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
➢ In terms of customer’s dissatisfaction in terms of quality, pricing , fake products delivered, there is no such centre for complaints.
➢ To provide a forum for consumers set up CCP Changes in Payments made for online purchases change :-
➢ e-commerce platforms will have to mandatorily provide the government’s RuPay payment option.
➢To make payments safer, the task force has also suggested creating a fraud intelligence mechanism
➢Cash-on-delivery option?
WhatsApp