Delhi is not the problem, its NCR!

Over the last few weeks, there has been a sudden outcry against the critical pollution levels in Delhi. The Delhi government has come up with multiple plans that may have far ranging impact on the situation. The most controversial of these is the odd- even formula where citizens would be allowed to use their cars only for odd/ even days as per their number plate. In addition to this, the government has promised to take multiple other steps to curb the pollution.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this time indeed is desperate for Delhi. However, the odd- even formula can at best be a short term emergency measure. Till the time the city develops a comprehensive network of public transport, and by comprehensive I mean safe and reliable last mile transport, a plan like this will fall in the first few weeks. There are many exceptions that can be applied to the above and most have been endlessly debated on the media, primarily around safe transport for women and elderly and occasional use. Also, it may promote the use of additional cars for people who can afford it, thereby beating the whole purpose.

I take exception to this plan because I feel that the plan hits on the issue from the top. At the bottom of the issue lies the landlocked territory of Delhi surrounded by the most polluted areas of Faridabad & Gurgaon (Haryana), and Noida & Ghaziabad (UP). The last wave of cleanup in Delhi saw polluting industries being shunted out of Delhi into these suburbs that have now become independent industry clusters.

These cities are consistently ranked amongst the most polluted places in India ( seehttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ahmedabads-air-2nd-worst-Faridabad-tops-the-list/articleshow/47142739.cms,http://cpcb.nic.in/divisionsofheadoffice/ess/Faridabad.pdf, andhttp://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/industries-polluting-groundwater-hc-flak-for-ghaziabad-dm-pollution-board/ Since most of these places are beyond the control (and eyes) of the government in Delhi, the increased checks in Delhi will not amount to much if these cities are allowed to go unchecked.

Take Kaushambi as an example, the former residence of the current Delhi CM. It is separated from Delhi by half a road, but instead of CNG rickshaws in Delhi, Kaushambi makes do with the archaic "Vikrams" that mostly run on a concoction of diesel and kerosene (because its cheaper) ferrying people to the suburban areas of Vaishali, Vasundhara, Indrapuram and Mohan Nagar. Add to this, around 1,000 small scale, poorly monitored industrial units in the area (including Sahibabad) plus the 20,000-odd trucks that pass by on NH 24 and the SH 57 every night. This past April, the PM10 reading for Kaushambi was 342 µg/m3 whereas on the same day, the Mandir Marg reading was 132 µg/m3. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/on-delhis-edge-a-township-of-25000-more-toxic-than-delhi/#sthash.Jv1jCWlF.dpuf

This is the story of a township that literally shares the boundary wall with Delhi. Go further deep into the suburbs of NCR, and the pollution levels, not just air, are extremely high. Add to this, the burning of crops in Punjab and Haryana and winter fog, there is little that any measure promulgated by the Delhi government can do.

To improve the air and water quality of Delhi, we will have to take the entire NCR under one umbrella. The NGT for example would need to come up with strict laws regarding industrial emission and waste, regarding use of diesel vehicles for private use and regarding crop burning and disposal. Only when Delhi restrictions find their way to these bustling suburbs will we be able to comprehensively tackle the problem. Anything less will just be window dressing for the moment.

Why India Should Give Up Claim On Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir

Earlier this year, Pakistan raised the issue of India building a wall along the LOC in the UN Security Council. Pakistan said that India has plans to "convert the LoC into a "quasi international border". According to the Security Council resolution of 1948, J&K is recognised as a disputed territory with both Pakistan and India laying claim to it. Adding to this mix is the Kashmiri populace, some of whom are advocating a separate state.

The area, in general, has been referred to as a potential flashpoint between two nuclear powered nations with one post-nuclear conventional war fought between the two countries in 1999 -- Bill Clinton famously referred to this area as the most dangerous place in the world.

Declaring the LoC as an international border will end the disputed status of Kashmir in both the countries.

The problem with the current arrangement is that the LoC is not a recognised international border. Pakistan lays claim to the entire Kashmir region in accordance with the Pakistan Declaration of 1933, while India cites the instrument of succession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir during partition. Both the countries control roughly half of the disputed territory with the Aksai Chin area under Chinese control. Despite the Simla Accord, where both countries accepted the demarcation, the LoC is not an internationally recognised border.

This state of confusion pushes both parties to keep their claim on all of Kashmir alive. Pakistan openly supports the Hurriyat Conference, a self-styled "separatist" organisation. The Hurriyat, in turn, does not let the Valley return to normalcy. They do not have any legitimate claim to be the leaders of the Valley except for the fact that they provide money believed to be drawn from various sources in the fight against India.The BJP government has tried to keep the Hurriyat at bay by questioning their legitimacy and trying to prevent them from meeting with the Pakistani leadership. However, it does not stop them from fomenting trouble in the Valley.

To look for long-term peace and prosperity in the Valley, the Indian government should relinquish its claim on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This would put international pressure on Pakistan to give up the counter claim on the Indian territory. As it is, even though a Parliament resolution proclaims all of Kashmir as Indian, India will never attempt to take over PoK forcibly (for fear of a nuclear reprisal), and to expect a peaceful surrender is a day dream. Declaring the LoC as an international border will end the disputed status of Kashmir in both the countries.

In a stroke, it will also remove any legitimacy that the Hurriyat enjoys in Kashmir since Pakistan will have to endorse Indian sovereignty over the existing J&K. The Hurriyat leadership enjoys close ties with Pakistan with many of their family members living in the neighbouring country. A change in Pakistan's stance would force the Hurriyat to blend in to the new system to gain legitimacy. They would have to fight the elections that they have been boycotting for the last many years. The terrorist organisations operating in the Valley will also have to rethink their fight since they will no longer be able to get funding as mercenaries of freedom.

In a stroke, it will also remove any legitimacy that the Hurriyat enjoys in Kashmir since Pakistan will have to endorse Indian sovereignty over the existing J&K.

What this would do for the Valley? Surely, the hopes of all independence-seekers in Kashmir would be dashed, but the idea of a small landlocked independent nation between three nuclear powers is a non-starter. Kashmir does not have any economic/military strength of its own that would help it to keep its own. As for Kashmiris being divided, they have and will always be divided under the current arrangement. It is better for the people to be a part of either country and enjoy the growth that has been denied to them.

An assimilation of J&K into India followed by political normalcy in the state would allow industries to set up shop in the area. Youth, many of whom are unemployed and have no hopes for the future, will have access to opportunities and move towards creating a peaceful paradise. Trade relations between the two countries can open up and they can benefit from the smaller distances. Perhaps, travel restrictions can be lifted and people allowed to cross the border for work or meeting family.

If such an experiment succeeds, maybe India can do the same with the LAC in the Aksai Chin area to settle the long-standing border dispute with China along the entire eastern front.

The need for a new National Compensation Policy

In the aftermath of the Gurdaspur terror attack, the family of the slain Gurdaspur SP refused to cremate him until all his children were given high-ranking government positions. This was on top of the cash compensation announced by the state and the Centre. Then there was the case of a high-profile murder case in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal  the Delhi CM announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs to the family, but politely refused when he was asked to award the same sum to other victims of murder.

The idea of a nation rests on its constituents believing in the concept of a state as bigger than a land mass. There is no other explanation why in a country like India, in the absence of a compulsory draft, youngsters voluntarily sign up for the armed forces and similar dangerous jobs.

A news item caught my attention recently. In the aftermath of the Gurdaspur terror attack, the family of the slain Gurdaspur SP refused to cremate him until all his children were given high-ranking government positions. This was on top of the cash compensation announced by the state and the Centre. Then there was the case of a high-profile murder case in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal  the Delhi CM announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs to the family, but politely refused when he was asked to award the same sum to other victims of murder. Clearly, the lack of a national policy allows politicians to get into a game of oneupmanship depending on the media coverage an event receives.

Further in the list is the differential compensation to families of soldiers who die in the line of duty -- compensation for getting killed in a major attack is much higher than one for a lesser known ambush. In 2008, Minister of State for Defence admitted in the parliament that Kargil martyrs and those wounded in Operation Vijay received Rs 11.5 lakh more than those in other military operations. Again, this could be directly attributed to the amount of media attention the issue receives and the number of governing bodies involved.  Even here, in multiple cases, the widows of the soldiers received all the money leaving the parents in a state of misery.

In recent accidents, the Bihar government announced ex-gracia compensation of INR four lakh rupees to the next of kin of those killed in the April earthquake, whereas in the case of the recent train accident in MP, the next of kin were awarded a compensation of INR two lakh only. In both the cases, the victims died in their sleep for factors beyond their control.

This anomaly continues in another provision awarding jobs on compassionate grounds to families of government servants who die while in service. It is not required that the death of the person concerned was while rendering the service. Hence, even if someone dies at 59 of a heart attack, his family is often eligible to get a job on compassionate grounds. No such provision exists, however, for families of people working in the private sector. In 2012, the SC observed that "Appointment on compassionate grounds cannot be claimed as a matter of right. As a rule, public service appointments should be made strictly on the basis of open invitation of applications and merit."  However, that does not stop families from making such demands, primarily because a government job is still considered to be the most stable source of livelihood.

I believe that the government should base ex-gratia payments on a victim's potential future earnings, his/her age, as well as the level of negligence he/she suffered. Victims can, of course, seek legal recourse but the lengthy process deters many.

We need to study the system the USA followed after the 9/11 attacks. The US Congress set up a September 11th Victim Compensation Fund soon after the attacks. Payouts to families of the deceased were decided on a case-to-case basis, taking into consideration the economic losses suffered due to sudden death, the emotional burden it placed on the family of the victim as well as the worth of the family's existing collateral sources of income or insurance, with a minimum $500,000 for deceased with dependents. 

In India, the multiplicity of agencies and politicians on the prowl for populist measures only complicate matters. We need to create a new committee to study the various compensations (monetary/ employment/non-monetary) awarded in the last five years and highlight the differences. Then we need to create a framework for compensation in all possible scenarios. Such a system would lay clear guidelines for any compensation to be awarded and will mitigate the media factor to treat the loss of life/health as the same in all circumstances.

A nation is best if it treats all subjects equally, in front of or away from the spotlight.