Sulking Sachin; Checking China; Zero Food
Opinion Watch
Sulking Sachin
The Indian Express has counselled Congress in its Editorial that “grandstanding on political morality and democracy cannot be a substitute for committed leaders who work hard to fix the organization”. The daily noted that the restive Sachin Pilot, a bete noire of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, threatens to rock the boat of Congress ahead of the polls.
The Noida-based daily was unsparing in its lament against rampant factionalism in Congress in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka also. It faulted the Congress leadership for employing the tactics of buying time to deal with dissensions in the party ranks in the states.
Pilot has been sulking for three years now. Gehlot cut him to size. Pilot tried in past to show his street strength. Yet, he was not able to dictate terms. Congress interests may be better served with restive and impatient leaders leaving the party.
Checking China
The Economic Times has hailed the launch of the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ by Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah from Kibithoo village in Arunachal Pradesh. The business daily, noting that frame holds the picture, lauded the government bid to bring the periphery to the centre with infrastructure heft.
It also stated that the scheme, which was approved by the Cabinet only a few weeks ago, could herald a happy border with infrastructure development in 2967 villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts in four states. The daily also noted the aggressive foreign policy of Xi Jinping, China’s President.
India may be decades late in finding the infrastructure heft in the border areas along the line of actual control with China. This must be matched with an agile military to deter the decades-old Chinese ploy to grab neighbour’s land. Also, this must boost confidence of Nepal and Bhutan to call the bluff of China.
Zero Food
The Telegraph in its Editorial has quoted a research on the basis of the data of the National Family Health Survey finding that there had been 5.9 million ‘zero food’ children between 6-23 months, who were without substantial calories in the last 24-hour. It also quoted the research to state that the percentage of ‘zero food’ children rose from 17.2 per cent in 2016 to 17.8 per cent in 2021.
The Kolkata-based daily named Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand for not arresting ‘zero hunger’. It also counselled that anemic mothers also need to be attended to with adequate policy interventions.
It has been noted that while foodgrains productions have outpaced the population growth rate, hunger still persists in the country. The policy makers may need to revisit strategies to make the better use of the grains lying in godowns to counter hunger.
About The Author
