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Political Movements: NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS’ EFFICACY, By Dhurjati Mukherjee, 13 January 2021 |
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Open Forum
New Delhi, 13 January
2021
Political Movements
NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS’ EFFICACY
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
It is a well-known
fact that society has become rather explosive and tension-ridden i.e. it is
prone to violence in most parts of the Third World. The quest for material
prosperity and yearning for more power and wealth, resulting in poverty and
squalor along with ever rising inequality and a deep sense of despair and
frustration of a major section of the population in these countries, including
India, may be considered the major factors that have made the social climate
violent. But it is also a fact that non-violent movements have been witnessed
and these have successfully raised national concerns.
It is thus quite
apparent that political protests have been rampant due to unjust policies
adopted by the ruling dispensation and viewed by some as anti-people and an
encroachment of their rights. The question that needs to be analysed is whether
such protests or movements are non-violent in character. This is most important
in the land of Mahatma Gandhi who gave the concept of non-violence and
Satyagrah to the world, which succeeded in India gaining independence. The
ongoing sustained agitation of farmers, for one, has so far proved the efficacy
of non-violent agitation against the brute force of the State.
Delving into the
issue of violence, it may be said to be fundamentally a primitive animal
instinct. However, the manifestations of violence have become wider, possibly
with the diversification of the urges of man for freedom, for establishing his
viewpoint and a sense of belonging. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar had
observed: “Men have been fighting for freedom since the beginning of humanity.
Similarly, he has also been striving to get recognition and he gets a sense of
exaltation if he is able to contribute to the human achievement. Deprived of
this opportunity, he is bound to be rebellious against the social system, which
deprives him from this favour”.
According to Mahatma
Gandhi’s definition, violence can be ascribed to exploitation. The centralised
bureaucracies, large organisations, monoliths of industry and business all
combine together to unleash violence amongst the people. However, the
establishment may be passive and concerned with the welfare and well-being of
the people and may not have an exploitative tendency; still the concentration
of power cannot be beneficial for real development to take place.
Prof. Sugata
Dasgupta, a well-known Gandhian scholar, aptly pointed out: “The establishment
exploits and since all exploitation hurts, the violence of exploitation too
hurts all concerned . . . . In short, the violence of establishment spills
blood, as such a dagger or a gun does; the only difference being that this
violence is not seen and often unrecognised and unaccounted for.”
One may recall here
the towering leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan and his movement called ‘Total
Revolution’ that brought Opposition political parties together on a common
platform. This movement connected disparate student movements in Gujarat and
Bihar and melded it with the grievances of farmers and workers, thereby giving
it a national character. It must be noted that an uplifting political vision
does not mean an exact political programme. JP’s ‘Total Revolution’ – a mix of
democratic decentralisation and corruption-free governance – was vague enough
to attract a broad swath of the population while being inspiring enough to
energise people into anti-government action.
Recently, the anti-Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA) protests, although they were forthright in their
ideological challenge to the government, were largely unsuccessful in expanding
beyond minority-dominated spaces and, hence, at no point did they threaten the
political calculations of the government. In both cases, as experts pointed
out, the protests remained confined to their particular constituencies because
of an absence of leadership. Thus, it may be stated that the Opposition
political parties have singularly failed to capitalise on the government’s
failures and the resulting undercurrent of resentment have ceded space to civil
society organisations.
However, it has to be
agreed that the anti-CAA protests (from December 2019 to February 2020) were a
truly democratic upsurge spearheaded by women and students who stepped forward
to reclaim the country’s egalitarian essence. The Preamble, the national flag
and the national anthem were the overarching symbols of this mass movement. The
unexpected solidarity across class and community rattled the government, which
attacked anti-CAA protesters as anti-national, fanning anarchy and endangering
the rule of law.
One may mention here
that draconian laws such as the NSA and the UAPA have been used with
devastating effect to stifle dissent. The transformation of the peaceful
anti-CAA protests into a ‘secessionist’ movement propagating ‘armed rebellion’,
as portrayed in the police charge sheets on the Delhi riots, is Kafkaesque in
its distortion.
Most Opposition
parties acquiesced to the larger ideological framework of the BJP and are too
timid to mount a serious ideological challenge. These recurring protests are an
outcome of the contradictions in the ruling party’s system of dominance; yet
there is no political leader of JP’s stature who has the skill, credibility and
acceptability to convincingly articulate how these contradictions lie into each
other, formulate an alternative political vision and build a sustained
political movement based on it.
At the same time, the
recent sustained protests by the farming community are testimony to the fact
that even without a strong personality to lead protest movements, the issues
has equal importance. This is well manifest from the farm protests led by
peasants from Punjab, Haryana, eastern Uttar Pradesh and also other States
where the subject can be considered to have national appeal, as the farmers fear
the business groups subverting their interests and livelihood. The movement has
managed to get a national character as experts have opined that the government
had no constitutional right to legislate on agricultural marketing since it
happened to be a State subject.
Political protests
and movements are bound to continue in a democratic polity though the ruling
dispensation would try to break these peoples’ demands by unethical means, as
happened in India during the CAA agitation and now the farmers’ stir. Moreover, while non-violence is the preferred
mode, and this is desirable, these agitations are being handled by a brute
police force of the State that very often resorts to violence.
Therefore though
there have many obstacles to democratic functioning, protests have emerged in
the country from time to time, and quite successfully, to voice concerns
against policy issues. The strength and resilience of the people in India needs
to be appreciated as they have organised protests, both at the State level as
also nationally in spite of a brutal police force and administration. The
blessings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and many others have
possibly imbued the masses to fearlessly stand up in protest. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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Changing Energy Mix: USE OF ALTERNATE FUELS VITAL, By Dhurjati Mukherjee, 6 January 2021 |
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Open Forum
New Delhi, 6 January
2021
Changing Energy Mix
USE OF ALTERNATE FUELS VITAL
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
Energy efficiency has
been in sharp focus for quite a few years and there have been global pressures on
countries to adopt new technologies. Several measures have been taken by India
but considering the challenges before the country additional efforts are
certainly required. Also to ensure that pollution levels are effectively
tackled, strict monitoring by government agencies as also awareness generation
at all levels need to be expedited at a faster rate.
On the one hand while
experts have repeatedly opined that renewable targets are quite laudable, on
the other the area of concern is that fossil fuel generation has been
increasing. Some plants are yet to be modernised in tune with technological
developments. The lack of control by environmental agencies and/or municipal
authorities leads to such plants emitting more fumes and polluting the
environment, thereby affecting large sections of population.
The scenario in the
transport sector may appear encouraging theoretically with Bharat-VI vehicles
being sold presently and sufficient awareness in metros and big cities. But the
case is completely different if one travels to small cities through highways.
The highly polluting trucks are amply evident, emitting fumes, obviously
because these vehicles have not passed pollution checks in a fair and honest manner.
On the Indian roads, these vehicles are not penalised by the police as these
should be, perhaps of sheer laxity and proper instructions from higher
authorities.
Though in recent
times, the manufacture of electric vehicles have increased at a rapid pace,
promotional campaigns and benefits of
use of such vehicles are not taken up effectively, either by the
manufacturer or the government. Even in the metros and big cities, most
educated people are not well versed about these e-vehicles and why these need
to be used extensively, both for personal benefit as also for the community.
Recently at the
launch of electric two-wheelers at Kolkata of a well-known company at its
manufacturing facility in Pune, the business head observed that it has inducted
state-of-the-art techniques which have made the price of each product cost
effective as also safe, lightweight and sturdy. However, he admitted that
keeping in view the potential of such vehicles, there is need to make people
aware and conscious of the benefits of its use. Meanwhile, the Union Road Transport
and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed at a recent meeting that the US
electric vehicle major Tesla will start operations in India this year, while
Mercedes-Benz was also keen to launch its electric truck in the country.
Thus, along with
increasing use of electric vehicles, use of electric furnaces in industry, use
of electric conduction cooktops instead of fuel-based stoves and obviously use
of renewables to provide clean power is the need of the day. The need for
all-round energy efficiency through the above measures as also usage of LED
light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs helps to a greater extent. Besides, we
need new consumer incentives such as demand response interventions by utilities
distributing electricity.
Experts believe that
such transition does not require huge technological breakthroughs; it needs
that there is use of energy efficient appliances and mix the renewable power we
have. The transition to renewables would obviously save lives and protect us
from the looming environmental crisis that is becoming severe with every
passing year.
Meanwhile, while
renewable targets may be exceeded in the coming two years, there are other
encouraging developments that the government has taken. Recently, the Union Petroleum
and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan planned a $60 billion investment
for creating gas infrastructure in the country till 2024 and the share of gas
in the energy mix is expected to rise to 15 per cent by 2030 or even earlier.
“We are ushering a gas-based economy by increasing the share of natural gas in
India’s primary energy mix”, he stated.
In this connection,
it may be mentioned there is good news emanating from Asokenagar-1 well in the
Bengal basin in 24 Paragana district in West Bengal, 47 km from Kolkata. Oil
and gas has been found there which some experts believe is of better quality
than the Bombay High. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had been exploring
the State for the past six years, pouring in Rs 3358 crore in the process, and
the field appears to have more natural gas reserves than oil. It is understood
that three more wells would be drilled here by January 2022. And other than
cleaning up environment, it should help increase prosperity and local
employment in the State.
Another significant development
has been the government’s decision to substitute Rs 8 lakh crore of petroleum
products with ethanol made from surplus sugar, rice and corn. According to
Union MSME Minister Ntin Gadkari, the Centre is mulling over a policy that can
diversify surplus agricultural produce towards the energy and power sector.
Such a policy would help reduce imports though production of ethanol on such a
large scale would need specialised industrial units which the Centre would have
to formulate.
The changing energy
mix that has been envisaged in the coming years has to be taken seriously and
action plans, encompassing all sectors evolved for the coming five years, say
till the year 2025. Whether in industry or in agriculture, whether it is water,
air or soil pollution, the approach has to be different. For example, there is
need to change from industrial farming to regenerative agriculture and this is
being advocated by experts, not just in our country but across the globe.
The looming environmental
crisis with increasing emissions, whose reports from various studies are
frequently being aired in India and elsewhere, can only be tackled if energy
usage is effectively managed. Moreover, the need to bring about a drastic
change through a green outlook is imperative at this stage for achieving a
sustainable developmental outlook.
Finally, one may
refer to the UN Climate Disaster Report, where global fossil fuel production
needs to decline 6 per cent every year for the next decade for a 1.5°C rise in
temperatures. Even for a 2°C rise, it needs to keep decreasing 2 per cent
year-on-year. An important recommendation has been that the rich countries are
expected to support developing countries so that these can leapfrog the fossil
fuelled development path taken by developed nations and enter the green path,
which is sustainable and ever-lasting. A sustained reality check would aid
climate change watch.----INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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Budgetary Forecast: UNREALISTIC, CHAOS FEARED, By Shivaji Sarkar, 7 June 2021 |
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Economic Highlight
New Delhi, 7 June
2021
Budgetary Forecast
UNREALISTIC, CHAOS FEARED
By Shivaji Sarkar
Consumer confidence is at all time low, says the Reserve Bank of India,
amid slumping of Indian growth to minus 7.3 per cent in 2020-21, highest
jobless rate at 18 per cent and impoverisation of 97 per cent of the
population. In its monetary policy meet, the Central bank also lowered 2021-22
growth forecast by 1 per cent to 9.5 per cent from earlier assessments of 10.5
per cent due to Covid-19 virulent second
phase. This one per cent in real terms downsizes a number of activities.
The government’s budgetary projections are far off the mark and soberly
being called conservative. If Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) provisional
deficit estimates are taken into account at Rs 18.21 lakh crore, the GDP
projection may come to 9.3 per cent.
The impact is reflected in high joblessness at 17.88 per cent, according to
Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) on May 30. It has risen by
three per cent from 14.71 per cent a fortnight earlier. Urban labour force
participation also came down to 35.69 per cent from 37 per cent and rural
around 5 per cent during the fortnight.
The lockdowns causing closure of activities are being stated as prime
reasons for the grim situation. The unemployment situation may remain high for
about six months amid policy uncertainties and knee-jerk localised lockdowns and
administrative highhandedness. Employment situation remains critical almost in
all industries FMCG, automobile, informal sectors, hospitality and tourism. In
Noida, close to Delhi, eateries and restaurant have shut shops permanently as
the owners have lost their reserves.
Thus, the RBI outlook on consumer confidence is a mere indicator of the
stark reality. In gross terms it means consumers do not have cash to buy
products even if they are in dire need. The indices touching record lows may
indicate a graver situation. Both the Current Situation Index (CSI) and the
Future Expectation Index fell to an all-time low of 48.5 and 96.4 in the latest
RBI consumer survey. The figures a year
ago were CSI 63.7 and FEI 97.9, when the lockdown was more severe. These are
the lowest since 2012. The wariness is because of the feeling of uncertainty about
the future.
Whether this would mean grimmer future or not is not easy to say. The GDP
had contracted 24.4 per cent and 7.4 per cent in the first and second quarters
of 2020-21 and grew by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter. But the second wave
of LD has hampered recovery. The eight core sector industries in April 2021
slumped to 126.7 (IIP), the lowest since November 2020. It rose to 149.2 in
March 2021 as activities started in construction (14.5 per cent) and
manufacturing (6.9 per cent). Most others like labour-intensive activities like
hotels, transport, entertainment and communication contracted. The Nomura India Business Index fell to 60 on
May 23 from 99.3 on February 21.
The RBI report notes that the values of other indices on non-essential
items have worsened and are in the negative. In the prevailing situation RBI
has drastically cut quarterly projections. Its revised projections are – 18.5
per cent, 7.9 per cent, 7.2 per cent and 6.6 per cent against those expressed
in RBI annual statement – 26.2 per cent, 8.3 per cent, 5.4 per cent and 6.2 per
cent. This cuts growth to 9.5 per cent. The situation remains fluid, the
numbers have come down but the threat of disruption to normal work remains.
Another aspect has been the large unemployment of the tiny daily use goods market
reeling under a cash crisis. A large population still is getting food doles
though all beneficiaries of last LD are not included. Large numbers of people lost
jobs, including in the IT sector, in the first phase of LD, are still without
jobs. Many revivals owing to dwindling of savings may not be easy though the
government has announced special loan packages of Rs 15000 crore for MSMEs, it
is not certain how many would be in a position to avail it.
Another critical aspect has been the repeated displacement of labour. As
uncertainties about Covid-19 may continue, the industry may continue to have
labour shortage. It would affect production.
It is also linked to global situation. Union Trade Minister Piyush Goyal has
put a target of $ 400 billion export target this year against $ 290 billion
last year. But India’s trade deficit touched an eight-month low in May at $ 6.3
billion because of fall in imports due to lack of domestic demand. The May
exports remained at $ 32.2 billion but imports contracted to $ 38.5 billion.
One reason for import slump is due to rising global prices. The WTO last month
said that merchandise trade would continue to increase by 8 per cent, considered
a bit more optimistic. The world uncertainty may dent India’s trade.
In this situation the rising forex kitty to $ 590 billion may not be as
rosy as it looks. The RBI does it by various gold and foreign currency
management much to the chagrin of the US as it feels that dollar prices are
suppressed. It also needs to be assessed against total external debt, and
corporate external commercial borrowings (ECB) and repatriation costs.
The rising figures of FDI, not all, are suspect. The IMF says it is being
used for routing black money. According to RBI, large percentage of the FDI $
20110 million came from Mauritius and Singapore and a mere $ 3401 million from
the US. It is to be noted that Singapore comprised a mere 0.42 per cent of
world economy and the US 24.42 per cent. This is not considered a quality FDI
but projects a larger than life picture through virtual inbreeding. It calls
for a proper scrutiny of large net-worth groups.
Globally, phantom FDI
investments amount to an astonishing $15 trillion. India is also a part of it.
Such siphoning and rerouting of investments affect the basic economic
conditions and increases disparity. Whether this should be linked to increasing
hunger and poverty in the country or not is a moot question. It is sometimes
believed that 80 crore people are on food dole for this kind of inversion.
The lack of consumer
confidence and purchasing power emanates from such operations. Ignoring it for
long is never desirable. It is a bubble but if it bursts there could be social
trouble. Cosmetic promises and doles cannot contain it for long. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature
Alliance)
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Centre-Bengal Row: VENDETTA Vs PROTOCOL, By Insaf, 5 June 2021 |
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Round The States
New Delhi, 5 June
2021
Centre-Bengal
Row
VENDETTA Vs
PROTOCOL
By Insaf
‘Political vendetta’
or ‘breach of protocol’, is the latest tug-of-war between Prime Minister Modi
and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This time it has gone beyond
petty politics between BJP-ruled and non-BJP States. It has engulfed the
country’s bureaucracy leading to a debate wherein a section bats for former
Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and the other against him. True to her
style, Mamata has hit out at New Delhi’s recalling of Bandyopadhyay and sending
him a showcause noticeunder the DMA seeking his explanation for skipping a
cyclone review meeting, after he had resigned and become her advisor. The
Centre, she said cannot ‘force an officer to join it without the permission of
the State government…it’s not the battle of Bandyopadhyay. This is a battle for
all bureaucracy. I can’t accept this.” In his reply, former CS has said he was scheduled
to visit cyclone-affected areas and was following his CM’s orders. So was he
right or wrong? Where does one draw the line? A section of civil servants argue
the Centre over-reachedas it is smarting under its recent poll defeat, while
others say by not being present to brief the PM,he transgressed professional
lines. The rule book is being interpreted differently. What is static is the
bitter Modi-Mamata feud. And Didi never misses an opportunity to use it to the
hilt and more ferocious. The incident, she says, is a great blunder of the
Centre. “They want to bulldoze State government totally. They want to play
political vendetta… What do you want, Mr Busy Prime Minister? Mr Mann Ki
Baat Prime Minister? You want to finish me? Can you do it? Never and ever…”
Guess, protocol and stature demand Modi should ignore the vendetta.
* * * *
States’ SOS To Centre
Odisha and Kerala
have upped the ante against the Centre’s unfair and discriminatory vaccination
policy. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote earlier this week to all CMs urging
centralised procurement of vaccines by Union government, rather than by
individual States, arguing that while many of us have floated global tenders,
vaccine manufacturers are unwilling to get into supply contracts with State
governments. Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan too wrote, but only to CMs of 11 non-BJP States urging them to
push for the same. In fact, its Assembly went a step further on Wednesday
unanimously passing a resolution the Centre ‘make vaccines available free of
cost to all States in a time-bound manner.’ Asking States to procure vaccines
from open market was “highly objectionable”. Mizoram CM Zoramthanga too joined
the chorus citing north eastern States “stressed economic resources”, and
asking Centre to procure and distribute vaccines free. West Bengal’s Mamata
Banerjee, slammed ICMR’s claim the entire country would be vaccinated by
December as a “hoax”. The BJP, ‘does this type of political propaganda. Before
Bihar election, they said people will be vaccinated free, but did nothing after
it.’ Will Modi oblige or throw it back in their face -- Centre was willing,
States demanded change in policy! In this political opera, where do citizens’
figure?
* * * *
UP’s Introspection
Startling
preparations are underway in Uttar Pradesh for ensuing electoral battle in
February next. Nervousness within the BJP, both at headquarters and State is
palpable. The focus appears to be whether Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath can
retain the party’s supremacy, as his handling of the pandemic has put a big
question mark. However, party national General Secretary (Organisation) B L
Santhosh choose to give a picture that all is well. The two-day meeting held
with ministers and other leaders in Lucknow was said to “review social work
done by our party leaders” and to plan for the possibility of a third wave. In
fact, he wrapped it up giving Yogi full marks saying Covid management in the
State was “unparalleled”. Not many are willing to accept this, for since Yogi
took over the kursiin2017, this is the first such meeting held by a
senior BJP leader with his team. Plus, it takes place in backdrop of some party
ministers and MLAs openly voicing concern over mishandling of Covid situation.
Recall, the BJP’s poor performance in recent panchayat polls, with rival SP
claiming to have given a tough fight. Viewed as semi-final, before the big
fight, BJP now gets down to what it’s best at doing. Propaganda: we shall do
better in 2022 and go beyond 300-mark! Let’s just say time will tell.
* * * *
Himachal Gift To
Media!
Himachal Pradesh
government has unwittingly helped the fourth estate, journalists across the
countryThe issue relates to sedition being used increasingly against
journalists and wherein a . On Thursday last, the Supreme Court quashed the
sedition case registered against well-known journalist Vinod Duaby the Himachal
police following a complaint by a local BJP leader
in Shimla last July. Every journalist, said the apex court, “is entitled to
protection under the Kedar Nath Singh judgment.” In the verdict of 1962 on scope
and ambit of sedition in the IPC, while the court upheld section 124A’s
validity,it said sedition charges couldn’t be invoked against a citizen for
criticism of government actions as it would be in conformity with freedom of speech
and expression. Obviously, conveniently forgotten by authorities to browbeat
journalists. Dua was charged under sections 124A, 268, 501 and 505 for his 15-minute YouTube show on March 30,
after the complainant said Duaaccused Prime Minister Modi of using “deaths and
terror attacks” to get votes!Dua knocked on the apex court’s door and got
protection to the extent that police was stopped from taking coercive action
till further orders. Insafhails the verdict as it gives hope that intolerant
governments’ repeated attempts to stifle press freedom through sedition law
shall be halted, finally? Learn from Himachal’s experience.
* * * *
Punjab Cong Blues
Will the Congress
high command at least put its house in order in Punjab? The question begs an
answer after its party leader Navjot Sidhu, who has consistently been gunning
for Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, had a hearing before a three-member AICC
committee on Tuesday last. True to his style, after the meeting Sidhu told
reporters he came on ‘invitation’ of high command and conveyed ‘the voice of
people at the grassroots level in the State… my stand is people’s democratic
power that goes to government in form of taxes should go back to the people, in
whatever form. I have completely uncovered the truth…” The bitter truth is he
has been hitting sixes against Amarinder on Twitter: promises unfulfilled and a
quid-pro-quo with Akalis, terming it a 75-25% partnership. Apparently, he’s
smarting as Amarinder has thrown his suggestions into the dustbin. These
include cash-crunched and debt-ridden Punjab could fill empty coffers if its
pilferage to private pockets is checked and the State having three rivers can
make millions from sand as well as liquor sales! Enough is enough, must sigh
Amarinder. Can he be optimistic? Sidhu’s diatribe must be put an end to. Or
will it meet same fate as the infamous Letter of 23, seeking changes in party? February
polls are not too far away.
* * * *
Bihar’s Novel Plans
Killing two birds
with one stone. That’s what Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar proposes with his
plans to reserve 33% seats to girls in medical and engineering colleges.
Clearly, not only will give a further boost to his women vote bank
constituency, but the provision in two Bills will put Bihar as the first State
to do so. With his government proposing to bring the Bills -- Bihar Engineering Universities Bill and Bihar
Medical Education Bill in next Assembly session, Nitish on Wednesday last at a
review meeting to give fine tune these, recommended one-third seats for girls in medical and
engineering colleges be reserved, to raise their numbers in technical
education. Remember, he has nurtured women voters all these years: reservation
of 50% seats for girls in primary and 35% in secondary schools at panchayat
level; 35% jobs for women in police and 33% in other government jobs; Rs 50,000
cash incentive to encourage girl graduates to pursue higher education and of
course his popular schemes such as bicycles and school uniforms for girls.
Guess, this gives further impetus to open engineering colleges in every
district and medical colleges in some districts, so that students don’t have to
go out of the state for such education. What an idea, Sirji!---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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Exams Under Examination: PARIKSHA PE CHARCHA,by Dr. S. Saraswathi, 22 April 2021 |
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Events
& Issues
New
Delhi, 22 April 2021
Exams Under Examination
Pariksha pe Charcha
Dr. S. Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi urged students
to look upon exams as an
opportunity and not as an end
of life’s dreams. He was conducting
the fourth annual interaction session with students – “Pariksha
pe Charcha” in a
new virtual format to avoid physical presence in view of
the pandemic. PM connected directly with students, teachers, and parents
to get their views on the current examination
system and associated matters.
This
is part of a movement to create a “stress-free atmosphere” for the
young called the “Exam Warrior”. The objective
is extremely relevant in
the context of growing
exam-related problems and the
tension that has gripped children
, youth,
and parents as the consumers and
teachers and managers as service providers. PM has also outlined a new approach
to education, knowledge, and holistic
development of students in the publication “Exam Warrior”. He has tried to put exams - a ritual-like
educational activity thoroughly upset under
the pandemic - in proper perspective.
This movement dri ven
by the PM has
the aim of promoting an environment “where the
unique individuality of each
child is celebrated, encouraged, and allowed
to express itself fully”.
Exams, in the course of evolution of the
education system, have become the
starting point of education and also
the goal post of education. Even
pre-KG kid seeking admission has
to appear for an interview along with
his/her parents before teachers and
school authorities.
School
and college life is a series of exams
of different levels of importance. Entry to various courses and exit
from them after
completion of the course are possible
only through the gate called exams. And so
when COVID-19 has intruded into school life,
universal worry is not so much about the
interruption caused to learning
and acquisition of knowledge as about the interruption to various
examination schedules and
subsequent entry into and completion of various courses, and likely wastage of months and even years .
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has
cancelled Board examinations
for Class X and postponed
Class XII examinations in view of the pandemic situation getting worse day by day. It set the precedent to be followed by State
Boards sooner or later.
States
were at different stages of preparation for
conducting Board exams at that
time. Preparation has two sides –
physical preparation of making
arrangements for observing COVID protocol strictly and for
taking immediate action if any emergency
were to arise, and mental
preparation of students to write
the exams amidst uncertainty. In normal
years, students are provided many revision sessions , given assignments and tests so that they get ready to face the
final. All these
have fallen flat with only uncertainty before them as the reality.
Exam stress multiplied
enormously affecting large sections of the population besides
students.
In the month preceding cancellation/postponement
of CBSE
exams, state governments have
taken varied steps with regard to state board exams
which add to confusion.
“All
pass order” already
issued by the
Government of Tamil Nadu cancelling all arrear examinations has been
declared an “uninformed political
decision” by the Madras
High Court directing the State to conduct online examinations
to those who have arrears to clear.
The Government has to abide by the
verdict and has informed the
court that “no student would be declared passed without writing an online exam”.
However,
practical exams for Class XII students have been commenced in many States with
special safety precautions.
Laboratory readiness to prevent virus
entry is more important than
student preparation. CBSE also
restored the full syllabus
which was curtailed for 2021
for Classes IX to XII. Score improvement examinations , which have the
effect of lessening exam-related
tension, are planned to be
conducted in 2021.
PM’s Charcha has opened the door for examination reforms. The vision of making exams less
stressful is sought
to be realized by new measures designed
to transform assessments and
focus on students achieving success
through learning outcomes rather than
rote memorization. It is
termed competency-based assessment and will be
gradually introduced.
In
2020, board exams included competency-based questions. Their proportion will be increased year after
year so as to get a weightage of 50 to 60%
by 2025. It is intended to equip students with employability skills.
The
on-going CBSE plan for making
exams less
stressful includes introduction of Holistic Progress Cards
(HPC) to provide students
with information on their
strengths , areas of interest, and areas
of focus to help them make optimal
career choices. The object is remove
the notion of exam as
an end
in itself and make it a means for improving life beyond it.
Holistic Education started as a movement in education by
the pioneering efforts of the South African
military leader, General Smutts
(1870-1950) who was responsible for the
creation of the Union of South Africa. Holistic
education was mostly used to
refer to the more democratic and humanistic types
of alternative education. It seeks to
engage the learner totally with mind, body, and spirit. It is
based on the premise that each
person finds identity, meaning, and
purpose in life through connections to their local community, to the natural world, and to the humanitarian
values such as compassion and peace.
Thus, education may become a felt
experience useful throughout
one’s life.
National Education
Policy in India (2020) discards
traditional modes of evaluation of
students and opens a more comprehensive
and multi-dimensional approach to student
assessments. It states that a national assessment body - the Performance Assessment, Review,
and Analysis of Knowledge for
Holistic Development- (PARAKH) will be established. This body
will be responsible for setting
standards, norms and guidelines for evaluation of students for
all recognized school boards.
NEP requires that teachers have
to be prepared for the transformation in the Assessment System to be commenced by
2022-23 academic session.
In
the new
system, students will be graded on self-awareness, inter-personal relationships, problem-solving,
and
dealing with stress and creative
skills. Multiple sources will be used to
continually gather information on a student’s development to provide
feedback to support and guide
learning. Students will clarify
learning intentions, assess themselves and one
another, set goals for improvement,
and track and communicate their
progress.
Redesigned
Report Cards will reflect in detail the progress and individuality of each
learner in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
The Report will record assessment
by self, peer,
and teacher. It sounds fantastic, but much depends on
keenness and commitment of the three assessors
to produce expected results.
The
change of the Examination system is described as change from “formative
assessment” at the end of a course to “summative assessment” which involves
continuous assessment. School leaving examinations
have already been cancelled, postponed or modified across Europe. But, nowhere is it seen as an opportunity to
overhaul the education system.
Under
Covid compulsion, education is getting linked with technological development long
after media, telecommunication, and financial services. But, if online exam were
to continue testing students’ retention ability like the old
system, the change would make no difference to education system. We want a total transformation of education.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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