Open Forum

New Delhi, 30 June 2021

Modular Hospitals

HEALTH CARE DELIVERY VITAL

By Dr Oishee Mukherjee

In India, out of pocket (OOP) expenditure makes up 63 per cent or almost two-thirds of total health expenditure as per World Bank data. This is obviously quite high compared to the UK, where the government bears over 80 per cent of people’s medical expenses. In fact, France has the lowest OOP medical expenses,whereas India has the highest. In Turkey, Germany, the UK and the US, OOP expenses are around 20 per cent.

As per a study the overall medical expenses pushed 4.5 per cent of India’s population into poverty. Roughly 3.8 crore have become poor due to OOP expenses on medicines alone. The situation has worsened since 2010-12 and in the last fiscal, the number must have doubled, more so because of Covid-19. However, the year’s Economic Survey estimated that an increase in public spending on health care from one per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP can reduce private expenditure from 65 per cent to 30 per cent of overall health care spending, bringing India closer to China’s current level

Undeniably, serious government intervention is called for in a bigger way, more so because the majority of the population belongs to the poorer or economically weaker sections. In such a situation, to quickly revamp State health infrastructure, the Centre planned to set up 50 innovative modular hospitals across the country in the next two-three months. Modular hospitals will be built adjacent to an existing hospital building as an extension of operational infrastructure. A 100-bedded modular hospital with a dedicated zone of ICUs can be set up at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 3 crore in three weeks and made fully operational in 6-7 weeks.

It is understood that any government hospital, having basic facilities such as electricity and water supply and oxygen pipeline will be eligible to have a modular hospital attached to it. The first batch of modular hospitals is expected to be commissioned in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Amravati, Pune and Jalna in Maharashtra and Mohali (Punjab)along with a 20-bed hospital in Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Bengaluru will have one each of 20,50 and 100 beds in the first phase.

Though this is a welcome decision, it would have been better if these modular hospitals are set up in districts, specially which are disease-prone and need more beds. Moreover, efforts should be made to increase the figure to at least 100 with private participation in the current fiscal, if possible.  

Another significant stimulus that is being worked out by the government is a package that could include a scheme to promote health infrastructure in non-metro cities for augmenting Covid-19 treatment facilities, including ramping up of hospital beds, strengthening the procumbent of essential medical equipment and drugs. Moreover, the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme ((ECLGS) is proposed to be expanded to hospitals, which can take up to Rs 100 crore in facilities at non-metros.  

It is well-known that most hospitals in sub-divisions are in poor condition due to various factors. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has exposed government health initiative to a great extent though most State governments have gone out of the way to revamp health centres to the extent possible in a relatively short time. While resource constraints of States are a major reason due to increase in patient load, there are other factors also. 

According to available statistics, Bihar has one doctor for every 42,000 people and Delhi one for every 2200 people but both are a far cry from WHO recommendation of one doctor for 1000 population. Lack of workforce is largely driven by attrition with 30 per cent of individuals with a medical degree not a part of the current workforce, a high proportion relocating to other countries.

A deep mistrust of the Indian healthcare system has developed in the public eye with may citizens taking multiple opinions to achieve a solution to their problems. Thus, nearly 80 per cent Indians who died of Covid had existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease and other co-morbidities. They are the most likely to have long-term complications. If these co-morbidities could be better controlled or even prevented, then these complications and deaths most likely may not have occurred. Experts believe that between 2012 and 2030, India will have had an economic loss of $4.6 trillion due to non-communicable diseases, if these are not controlled.

It would have been better if a section of experts’suggestion of appointing para medical staff with one or two years’ medical training and posting them to rural areas would have been encouraged as it would help serve the rural populace in a better way. The inadequate number of doctors and healthcare workers may have been compensated by appointment of such staff and help fight diseases effectively in remote areas of the country.

The Union Health Ministry’s rural health statistics show that over 2900 posts of doctors in district hospitals were vacant in five States in March 2020, with shortfalls of 676 in Bihar, 637 in Uttar Pradesh, 1106 in Bengal 377 in Maharashtra and 171 in Punjab. But opposition from doctors’ organisations may have possibly been the reason for the government not accepting the suggestion.

As per Rural Health Statistics 2019-20, “compared to requirement for existing infrastructure, there is a shortage of 78.9 per cent of surgeons, 69.7 per cent obstetricians and gynaecologists, 78.2 per cent of physicians and 78.2 per cent paediatricians” Among the States with significant shortfalls are Gujarat lacking 996 specialists against a requirement of 1088, Madhya Pradesh with a requirement of 916 is short of 867 and Bengal which requires 380 specialists but has fewer 247 specialists

Uttar Pradesh, the site of a grand Ram Mandir, has one of the worst healthcare systems in India. The biggest State has among the lowest doctor-patient ratios in the country. There’s a 23 per cent shortfall of dotcoms in PHCs in rural areas. Against the sanctioned strength of 3578, there are 2579 doctors. Mandirs, masjids, memorials and monuments have been built everywhere. Some experts have suggested that it would be a novel idea if a hospital within the compound of the big structures could have considered. Historically, India’s budgetary allocation to healthcare has been pathetic, hovering at around 1 per cent of GDP.

In the current scenario, the need for developing the rural health infrastructure has been somewhat realised and with scarce resources both the Centre and States are trying to do more though the steps should have initiated right after the first wave. It is a great pity that over decades, successive governments have not cared to develop health infrastructure in rural areas, specially in the backward districts, though promises are oft heard.

It is imperative that modular hospitals and other such facilities be taken up to strengthen the health infrastructure, to aid the deprived sections. Right to health and fair treatment is obviously a part of Article 21 of the Constitution and the government has the responsibility to ensure this right. Governments cannot avoid their duty to provide adequate medical services merely because of financial constraints. Plus, a well-designed plan alone shall not do, creation of structure and infrastructure must be made top priority. Action and not words are needed.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Political Diary

New Delhi, 29 June 2021

Terror’s new wings

TIME TO GEAR UP

By Poonam I Kaushish

It was a tumultuous week. In the first, the ice cracked as Prime Minister Modi met with back-from-the-cold mainstream J&K leaders on how to reduce “Dil ki doori, Dilli se doori” and begin a new phase of reconciliation. In the other, a first-of-its kind drone attack the Jammu Air Force station was hit by two improvised explosive device exploding injuring two personnel Sunday. Another attack was fobbed by Army troops over the Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military areas Monday, heralding a new terror challenge. Paradoxical, as every peace initiative in the Valley engenders an offensive response from across the border.  

New Delhi suspects it is the handiwork of Pakistan’s Lakshar e Toiba and a part of Islamabad’s nasty asymmetric strategy of new-age cheaper militancy, less labour-intensive and high-visibility warfare which it can deny and lowers the risk of India unleashing a Balakot type retaliation or force it into a costly, massive military deployment.

This is not the first, nor the last attack. Security sources assert they have fobbed of 300 drones couriering armaments, explosives and drugs along the LoC post the 2019 abrogation of Article 370. Recently, Punjab police recovered two crashed drones near the border, allegedly used for ferrying weapons and ammunition to Khalistani groups. It was only a matter of time before terrorists used these for aerial strikes from the safety of stand-off distances.

Perhaps terror backers across the border wanted to send a message about their ability to attack high security defence installations along-with their adroitness in using technology to inflict damage. Underlining the terror apparatus is still active and will not be sidelined by dangling an olive branch, as they would resort to what they specialize in ---- violence.

Undeniably the drone attack has not just opened a new chapter in India's continuing tryst with terrorism but also an innovative and dangerous phase in warfare in South Asia. True the two low-intensity bombs couldn’t do much damage yet it underscores there is no quick-fix solutions against this terror uniqueness.

Security experts aver drones are perfect warriors against Indian targets which can be fired from within the country and closer to the target the launch pad is, more difficult it would be to detect and neutralize, especially if they are dumped in dozens. It kills without remorse, obeys without any questions and never reveals the names of its masters.

Unless each attack drone whether it flies in isolation or in formation of tens, hundreds or thousands, can be neutralised or diverted by deploying counter-techniques and technologies, which may come relatively cheaper in terms of costs, it would be akin to deploying elephants to stamp out ants --- which might still survive!

Recall, the US “war on terror” in Afghanistan charted the future aerial trajectory of unmanned warfare through drone strikes. But it was the Iran-backed Houthi rebels attack on Saudi Arabia Aramco’s oil refineries in  September 2019 that made the world sit up to this new combat. This was followed by the US drone attack killing Iran’s military chief Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. In an eerie coincidence, imported as it has been from Syria and Iraq.

New Delhi has been flagging the threat posed by non-State players with State backing and Pakistan’s  dubious role which continues to follow Bhutto’s strategy of a ‘thousand-year war and bleeding India with a thousand cuts’ via low-intensity cross-border terrorism perfected by Zia ul Haq post the 1971 war which has made us perhaps only the second nation in the world to have faced continual terror attacks, after Israel.

Moreover, it realizes that together with Chinese encampment in the Galwan Valley and the drone attacks the future holds a long bleeding war for India, but without a battle and without India being able to point a finger at Pakistan before the international community. Yet there is no way the Indian State is going to lose, vow defence strategists.

Kashmir is a war which nobody is winning. Call it suspicion or trust deficit in Kashmiris for New Delhi policies or whatever, but the fact is that there is a huge Kashmiri population who do not like the Indian State. Many Muslims believe in the idea of Pakistan while others feel they do not want to be part of a Hindu majority State. Then there are those who have grievances but all have been caught up in the vortex of the ongoing war in Kashmir.

Add to this mainstream Kashmiri politicians who speak one language in New Delhi and another in the Valley. Resulting in deep mistrust of New Delhi whereby many vested interests want young Kashmiris to get radicalised. Pertinently, the Army’s Operation All Out launched in summer2017 to eliminate terrorists only gave rise to more militancy.

Confided a Kashmiri leader, “We know how to kill a terrorist, but we do not know how to stop an innocent boy getting radicalized as there are many vested interests in Kashmir which want young people to get radicalised. In madrasas, schools or mosques most teachers spew venom against the Indian State resulting in radicalization.

“Besides, there is a whole generation of young Kashmiris born after 1990 who have grown up amidst crackdowns by the Indian Army, CRPF soldiers or the J&K police. This has allowed soft separatism to prevail in the Valley. New Delhi needs to adopt a counter-terrorism approach wherein our security forces might know how to kill a terrorist, but are clueless on how to stop an innocent boy getting radicalised.”

Undeniably, war is not something that can be pussyfooted around and a conventional war is not in fashion today and neither is it seen as being able to deliver the objective. New Delhi has both soft and hard options. Soft are in the diplomatic, political and economic realm. Raisina Hill has to stay the course. Keep its backchannel dialogue with Pakistan  alongside  enhance its security and display political inclusivity and openness. What the spoilers don’t want.

With terror outfits rapidly adapting to technological advances attacks will get more sophisticated and deadlier. Drones could target civilian infrastructure like oil refineries and deliver biological or chemical weapons. New Delhi needs all its wits, military intelligence, resources, wisdom and restraint to ensure that it remains in control of the Indo-Pak script.

Consequently, New Delhi has its task cut out: thorough review of security preparedness across vital installations, modernise its military radar systems to discover small drones, develop offensive capabilities like swarm drones, pursue technological upgrades that disorient and disrupt drone communications. It needs more boots on the ground and high-tech solutions which can pre-empt the threat from the skies.  

In the long run New Delhi needs to demonstrate a progressive political consensus on Kashmir and national security by sending appropriate messages. Kashmiri Parties and politicians alongside national leaders need to look at the bigger picture to insure they are on the same page. They need to collectively build consensus without which there could be no forward movement and  new beginning.  

For any counter terrorism operation to succeed one must be focused on the vitals, keeping a watch on the essentials, deliberate and debate the options and leave the desirables till the vitals have been achieved and essentials addressed. The nation which has the wisdom to recognize the threat and will to turn it back survives.

Certainly, in this zero sum game staying ahead is the name of the game till the core issue of Kashmir is resolved. Let not any one ‘drone-out’ India with tall talk of bleeding India with a thousand cuts! ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Economic Highlight

New Delhi, 28 June 2021

Economy & China

EXPANSIONARY POLICY VITAL

By Shivaji Sarkar

The roller coaster Indian economic journey is likely to continue. It is recovering at 11.5 per cent in April-June quarter, says the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), a think tank, but the State Bank of India, says the second wave has hit the economy. The SBI, being practitioner has the pulse on its tips. None is wrong. The NCAER has taken the negative base of 2020-21 to measure activities and the SBI knows the reality. The results are definitely mixed.

In this debate, people have overlooked the fact that amid clashes with China, the country is ceding its economic interests in the neighbouring Taliban-infested Afghanistan and a long-time trusted friend -- Afghanistan, to the rival, who is also trying to make ingress into Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Indian Ocean region.

Iran is a critical example of how years of good work and relations could be lost under western sanctions to China. Iran has been critical for India in petroleum imports at rupee-rial terms and was mutually beneficial. It has come down to zero. India initiated the Chabahar – meaning “four seasons” port – in the middle of a storm over the fate Indian investments. The port project is the creation of Atal Behari Vajpayee’s NDA-I in 2003.

India has virtually lost most of it, due to inability in countering sanctions, including the 1000-km rail project to Turkmenistan, free trade zone and more importantly developed as a trade link to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived it with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in 2016. It was supposed to create jobs in India, Iran and Afghanistan. It reminds of non-aligned movement (NAM) and how the country withstood many super power machinations.

External relations decide domestic economic health, which has to be strengthened, else the country might lose in other areas as well. Disagreements with Russia are rising as Russia-West-US confrontation makes it lean more on China. This has impact on relations in and around the sub-continent. Post-pandemic criticality has even otherwise impacted external trade.

Increasing exports to Bangladesh may be a silver lining but much of it is “re-exported” to the North-East for ages. India’s $ 500 billion forex kitty overflow is linked to it. The Reserve Bank of India has to spend on managing this kitty and rupee rates. If trade and international relations grow that expense is reduced.

The country is active on increasing relations but it is not easy in choppy international waters. The direct impact is being seen in higher crude oil import costs, tried to be managed with the highest doses of taxation, leading to a severe inflationary situation.

Amid these comes an assessment by S&P Global ratings. It says that India’s economic recovery is expected to be “less steep” than the bounce back in 2020 and early 2021. The reason is households are having a tough time with erosion of their savings. The rate of household bank deposits to GDP declined to 3 per cent in the third quarter of FY 20-21 from 7.7 per cent in second quarter, when economic activity resumed a bit. In addition, the household debt-to-GDP ratio has been increasing since end-March 2019. It rose to 37.9 per cent in December 2020 from 37.1 per cent in September 2020, according to RBI.

This could hold back expenditure on consumption as the economy re-opens because of concern of households to rebuild their savings in a country where social security is at its lowest and job-losses continuous. The second phase lockdowns reduced mobility by 60 per cent and disrupted the services the most though manufacturing and exports were less hit. The problem is manifested in reduced consumption, including vehicle sales. The S&P says a gradual revival is underway and economy may grow at 9.5 per cent, as RBI predicts.

Revival may not be that easy perhaps. The Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) latest Business Outlook Survey finds 79 per cent of the respondents expect production, supply and sales to be adversely affected and consumption demands depressed in the coming period. It is concerned about people losing jobs and livelihood. This could bring down overall demand and growth.

The CII says the GDP will grow but depends on factors such as fresh stimulus, new reforms and the state of the global economy. It has called upon the government to inject Rs 3 lakh crore spending through printing of currency notes and direct cash transfers, rural job schemes and reducing GST rates. In other words, CII has suggested higher money circulation and cash flow to speed up the economy. This is an indirect criticism of the post-demonetisation fad for electronic transaction that keeps most money blocked in banks and increases hunger and cash flow.

The CII view is contrary to its previous opinion that said supporting the poor with doles increases crowding of cities and raises costs of the industry and creates “irresponsible” governance through severe deficits. Its support for printing money is to keep the lending rates low as government’s extra borrowing from the market would increase competition between the government and private sector will drive up interest rates. The flip side is that more money circulation would further increase prices and hit the poor more. Interest rates would also rise.

The CII prescription is not easy, is proven by a statement of Oberoi group CEO Vikram Vohra that he has been approached by many hotel owners who want to sell their properties in the post-Covid-19 scenario. The combined debt in the hotel sector is estimated at Rs 50,000 crore and many owners and investors are in severe stress. Mergers and amalgamations are to be reality but that do not indicate that the sector would be back in health in the near future.

The NCAER is not hopeful as it says though there could be some moderation in inflation for a month or so it will rebound beyond August with rise in farm wages, crude oil prices and other factors adding to rise in prices. The NCAER, like the CII, calls for an expansionary policy. The situation remains difficult despite the government spending Rs 67,000 crore on free food policy.

The revival has to be there but the prescription would be complex and time-consuming. The roller coaster journey would continue and may take two to three years to return to the 2019 level.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Round The States

New Delhi,  26 June 2021

Kashmir Meeting

OVERCOMING TRUST DEFICIT?

By Insaf

Removing ‘Dilli ki duri’ and ‘Dil ki duri’ with Kashmir is a challenging goal indeed that Prime Minister Modi has set for himself. His invitation to People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, derided by him and his Home Minister Shah as ‘Gupkar Gang’, for a meeting on Thursday last suggests there’s more than meets the eye. Remember, in the past two years they have termed the alliance as ‘irrelevant’ and determined to ‘banish them from public life’.So, was the meeting called just to prepare a future course of action or holding elections eventually? Not really. It’s sheer realisation by the Centre that it does need to get mainstream regional parties on board if it wants to get the delimitation exercise underway, the first step towards Assembly elections. Perhaps, pressure from the new dispensation in Washington DC? Or rather it’s time BJP redrew electoral boundaries in J&K to its advantage. But for that it needs a measure of legitimacy like did the DDC elections. However, it’s not easy. ‘New Kashmir’ remains a slogan as 14 leaders first demanded restoration of Statehood at the meeting. They were ‘unwilling’ to accept revocation of J&K’s special status and bifurcation into two UTs. It was made amply clear they would continue to protest, but peacefully. Be that as it may, there is already the first deadlock: delimitation first, says Modi, Statehood demands the alliance. Can it be overcome and how soon? When the curtains will fall down on Central rule, imposed in June 2018? The answer perhaps lies in whether New Delhi can build trust, unquestionably lost since the aftermath of 5 August 2019.

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Meghalaya Vaccine Poser

The vaccination drive gets an interesting twist in Meghalaya. On the one hand, its High Court held that vaccination was ‘need of the hour, an absolute necessity’ and on the other was against mandatory or forced vaccination, saying it impinges on Constitution’s Article 19(1). This it said, while dealing with the court filing a suo moto PIL after State authorities had asked shopkeepers, vendors, taxi drivers and others in many areas to get themselves vaccinated before resuming business.On Thursday last, the CJI’s bench opined putting a pre-condition on taxi drivers, shopkeepers etc “vitiates the very fundamental purpose of the welfare attached to it… and impinges on fundamental right(s) under as such, especially when it affects the right to means of livelihood…” It also observed it was the State’s responsibility to disseminate information and sensitise citizens of the entire exercise of vaccination and to stop misinformation on it. Interestingly, a day earlier, the court asked all business houses, shopsand commercial vehicles to put on display the ‘vaccinated’ status of employees at a “conspicuous” place to allow people make a conscious decision before using their services.Similarly, owners of local taxis, auto-rickshaws, taxis, and buses, must too put up a sign with the vaccination status of drivers, conductors or helpers.Guess the message to many would read as: ‘You can’t have the cake and eat it too!

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WB Speaker Joins In

The bitter feud between West Bengal-Centre reaches the doorstep of House of the people, the Lok Sabha. On Tuesday last, State Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee took the opportunity provided by the virtual All India Speakers’ Conference on Tuesday last, and complained to his Lok Sabha counterpart Om Birla about “excessive interference” of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in matters related to parliamentary democracy and the House’ functioning. Not a political turn, but more to do with business of the House? Apparently, despite the Assembly passing bills, Banerjee said, several of these were lying at Dhankar’s desk waiting for his signature. This, he added, ‘is unprecedented in history of West Bengal’s parliamentary democracy.”It’s no secret, that the Governor, who assumed office in July 2019, has repeatedly been accused by TMC leadership of acting as BJP’s mouthpiece, not just interfering in functioning of the Mamata Banerjee government but maligning it too. Expectedly, State BJP unit rubbishes the allegations saying Dhankar was only exposing reality—of lawlessness in the State. And though there have been complaints against him earlier, it adds, all turned out to be baseless. Be that as it may, the big question is what will the Lok Sabha Speaker do? Remember,  the CBI’s repeated requests to chargesheet MPs, including turncoat Suvendu Adhikari, who is now BJP’s Leader of Opposition, continue to gather dust on his desk. Adding fuel to fire? 

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Bihar’s Churnings

Will political Gen Next hold hands, is a question doing the rounds in Bihar. The turmoil in the LJP and its beleaguered leader Chirag Paswan has made RJD’s firebrand leader Tejashwi Yadav, leader of Opposition, reach out to him. The enemy i.e. BJP seems common, though somewhat blurred in LJP’s case. The revolt in the party by his uncle, has disenchanted Chirag with his alliance partner’s silence and feels JD(U) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may be playing mischief. Chirag is set to embark on ‘Aashirwad Yatra’ from July 5, his father Ram Vilas Paswan’s birth anniversary to test waters. There’s a ripple already. Reminding him of how his father Lalu Prasad had helped Ram Vilas to get a Rajya Sabha seat in 2010 when LJP had no MP or MLAs, Tejashwi said “It’s Chirag to decide if he would continue to live with followers of Guru Golwalkar’s ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ or with BR Ambedkar, maker of Constitution.” Though Chirag has yet to respond, there appears political logic for the two to come together. While Chirag failed miserably in Assembly poll, the two have their respective vote banks, Paswans and Yadavs are political castes and not antithetical and can work for next poll cycle. Importantly, the two are not really averse to each other. Recall it was Chirag keen to partner with BJP, though his father had in past left Vajpayee Cabinet due to differences with Modi after 2002. Time will prove the ancient proverb: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

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Kerala Steps In

Glimmer of hope appears in Lakshadweep for its protestors. On Tuesday last, the Kerala High Court stayed two provocative orders of the UT administration headed by Praful Patel, following a petition by a lawyer and native of Kavaratti. These relate to closing down dairy farms on the islands and changing midday meal diet of school children by excluding chicken, beef, and other meat from the menu. Patel through a new set of proposals these past months had stirred up a hornet’s nest. The petitioner termed the decisions as being ‘violative of human rights’ as these were ‘aimed at destroying culture and eating habits of islanders.’ Besides, like other proposals, the decision to shut down dairy farms and auction off the animals was taken without any consultations with elected local bodies. The islands have been witnessing unprecedented protests under ‘Save Lakshadweep Forum’ (SLF),a group of six political parties with the population observing ‘black day’ and day-long fast demanding ‘justice’.All eyes are now on the UT’s response to the Kerala court. Will Patel be convincing and continue to ride rough shod with his right-wing leanings or will his clips be eventually clipped? New Delhi must step in too. 

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‘Third Front’ In Offing?

An evening in Delhi has created a flutter in political circles. Is a ‘third front’,against the formidable BJP, in the offing as leaders of 8 political parties along with some intellectuals got together on an invitation of Rashtra Manch, at NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s home on Tuesday last? The organisers deny any such move and explain individuals and not parties were invitedto discuss ‘current political and economic situation in the country.’ Not convincing enough as other than NCP, leaders of TMC, SP, AAP, Rashtra Manch (founded by former Yashwant Sinha), SP, Left parties, RLD and NC were present. The absence of Congress raised some eyebrows, though it was said its members were invited. Among the non-politicos were former Delhi HC Chief Justice A P Shah, writer and former MP Javed Akhtar, Sudheendra Kulkarni, economist Arun Kumar and former diplomat K.C. Singh. The timing of the meeting is interesting too—followed after Pawar having a 2^nd sitting with poll strategist Prashant Kishor within 10 days. More so as though leaders say a common strategy must emerge to deal with issues such as joblessness, farmers’ protests, freedom of press, inflation etc, it is important to make a note of Kishore’s reaction. He said “I don’t believe a Third or Fourth Front could emerge as a successful challenge to the current dispensation…The ‘tried and tested’ 3^rd Front model is archaic and does not suit the current political dynamic..’ Should one read into the group strategizing at the State level with eye on winnability? It’s a long way off to 2024, but an early start may give a lead.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)