The Canadian Parvasi - Issue 102

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Issue No : 102
Email: editor@canadianparvasi.com Contact Number : 905-673-0600 July 12, 2019 | Toronto | Pages 12
India fully committed to Kartapur Sahib
corridor, says MEA over Pak's allegations
The Canadian Press
New Delhi : The External Affairs
Ministry said on Thursday
India was fully committed to the
Kartarpur Sahib corridor project
and wanted the work to be completed
expeditiously.
The assertion came after a section
of media reported that India
is lagging behind in the construction
of the Kartarpur corridor.
"We are fully committed to
this project and want it to be expeditiously
completed," Ministry
of External Affairs Spokesperson
Raveesh Kumar said at the weekly
media briefing.
He said the government is
aware of the sentiments of people
and pilgrims for the Kartarpur
Sahib.Kumar said the work on
two important aspects— the state
of the art passenger terminal and
the four-lane highway which is
going to connect the zero point
of the Kartarpur corridor to the
national highway—will be completed
in time. "One (should be
completed) by September 2019
and the other by October 2019. So
the reports that we are slow on
work is not the correct depiction,"
Kumar said.
The first meeting to finalise
the modalities for the corridor
took place on the Indian side
of the Attari-Wagah border on
March 14.
A meeting will be held on the
Pakistan side of the Wagah border
on July 14.
"Our desire to have talks basically
conveys that whatever the
differences are, we will have talks
and we will take up those matters
with Pakistan when we meet
them up on 14th of this month,"
Kumar added.
India had earlier conveyed its
strong concerns to Pakistan over
the presence of a leading Khalistani
separatist in a committee
appointed by Islamabad on the
Kartarpur project. Issues related
to providing facilities to pilgrims,
including allowing a larger number
of pilgrims to move across
the corridor, and other modalities
for the project will be further
discussed at a meeting on July 14,
sources said here.
Continued on page 08
Canada: Chair For Sikh
Wedding Couple Causes
Uproar, Hsca Issues Apology
SC to hear Ayodhya pleas
from July 25 if talks nixed
The management of the
Oakville Gurdwara in Halton
(Ontario, Canada) in a statement
apologized to the Sikh
community after a ‘untraditional’
marriage ceremony
solemnized at the gurdwara
was not executed according
to the Sikh tradition.
In a video clip which
went viral on social media,
a Sikh woman getting married
to a white man could be
seen doing the Anand Karaj
‘lavan’, around the Guru
Granth Sahib in a Sikh wedding,
and then sit on a chair
after every circumlocution.
The video caused uproar
among Sikhs and various
Sikh bodies commended this
act, as per Sikh wedding the
couple sits on the ground,
along with the rest of the
congregation. Halton Sikh
Cultural Association (HSCA)
manages the gurdwara
where this incident took
place on 4 July 2019. In response
to the incident, HSCA
president Balbir Singh Chohan
and general secretary
Amrik Singh Deol issued a
statement apologizing for the
violation of Sikh tradition
and assuring that in future
they will be more careful.
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Thursday
said it would begin day-today
hearing to settle ownership
of the 2.77-acre Babri
Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi
land in Ayodhya if it concludes
on July 18 that continuing
the four-month-old
SC-appointed mediation
panel’s search for a negotiated
solution may not be
fruitful.
A bench of CJI Ranjan
Gogoi and Justices S A
Bobde, D Y Chandrachud,
Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul
Nazir requested panel
chairman, SC exjudge FMI
Kalifulla, to submit a report
by July 18 on the “progress
of mediation till date and
the stage at which the said
process is presently at”.
“We also make it clear that
if this court comes to a conclusion
(on July 18) that,
having regard to the report
of Justice Kalifulla,
Continued on page 08
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The International News Weekly Canada
July 12, 2019 | Toronto 02
CIF Global Indian Award Gala 2019
Stephen J. Harper
The Right Honourable
Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime
Minister of Canada, was
honoured with the Canada
India Foundation’s Annual
Global Indian Award for
2019 at a glittering Gala held
Friday 5 July at Pearson
Convention Centre 2019.
The Right Honourable
Doug Ford, the Premier
of Ontario, presented Mr.
Harper with the trophy accompanied
by His Excellency
Vikas Swarup, the
High Commissioner of India
in Canada, and Honourable
Deepak Obhrai, Member of
Parliament.
Canada India Foundation’s
Executive team comprising
Anil Shah, Chair;
Satish Thakkar, National
Convener; Pankaj Dave, National
Co-Convener; and Mr.
Dennis Kossack, Manager
of Commercial Credit, TD
Commercial Banking, the
presenting sponsor of the
Award, were also present on
the stage.
In his acceptance
speech, Mr. Harper thanked
the Canada India Foundation
for honouring him with
the Global Indian Award.
He said that it was his government
that had taken the
initiative to end the decadeslong
deep freeze of Canada-
India relationship.
The former Prime Minister
emphasized the need
to denounce Khalistani sympathisers
operating in Canada.
He said, during his tenure,
“as a government and
as a party, we denounced
and we refused all relationship
with those Khalistanis
and others who seek to
bring the battles of the past
to Canada and who seek to
divide the great country that
is modern India.”
The audience, comprising
the who’s who of the
Indo-Canadian community,
broke into a thunderous
applause even before Mr.
Harper could complete his
sentence.
Talking about his efforts
to swiftly normalise relations
with India, Mr.
Harper said he found
a great partner in Dr.
Manmohan Singh, and,
of course, his friendship
with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, led to
Mr. Modi’s historic visit to
Canada, a standalone Prime
Ministerial visit after 42
years. Mr. Harper said his
government worked to build
strong relationship with
Gujarat when Mr. Modi was
Gujarat’s Chief Minister.
Earlier, Ontario’s Premier
Doug Ford said that
his government’s priority
is job creation and to have a
government that is working
for the people. He said his
government would emulate
Harper’s example of achieving
a balanced budget.
The Ontario Premier
lauded the contributions of
the Indo-Canadian community
to the development of
the province. Mr. Ford also
announced that he would
be making an official trip to
India in 2020 and would enhance
economic and trade
relations between Ontario
and India.
Hon. Ahmed Hussen,
Canada’s Minister for Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship,
represented the federal
government at the Gala.
He recalled his long association
with the Canada India
Foundation and lauded the
Foundation’s efforts to enhance
bilateral relations between
Canada and India.
He enumerated the initiatives
that the federal government
has undertaken
to promote better ties with
India and facilitate more
students from India to come
to Canada to pursue higher
education.
His Excellency Vikas
Swarup, the High Commissioner
of India in Canada,
during his brief remarks,
said that Canada India
Foundation’s decision to
honour Stephen Harper
was commendable because
as Prime Minister and even
thereafter Mr. Harper is a
great friend of India, who
was among the first world
leaders to understand the
economic and geopolitical
significance of India.
Mr. Ani Shah, Chair,
Canada India Foundation,
in his remarks, emphasized
the need for Canada’s politicians
to understand the new
India that has emerged under
the leadership of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
“Politicians in Canada
who continue to claim the
victimisation of one religious
minority community
or another in India are unaware
or unwilling to accept
the present Indian reality,”
he said, adding, “Indians today
are focused on pursuing
econ
o m - i c
goals. And the Indian state
is enabling this wish fulfillment
by doing its best
to implement policies that
help rapid economic development
for all Indians.”
Such Canadian politicians
choose to ignore India’s
syncretic and secular
traditions, which are constitutionally
enshrined, and
have always been a way of
life for most Indians. He
said Canadian politicians
should desist from indulging
in “vote-bank” politics
by supporting fissiparous
forces that seek to break India’s
territorial are inimical
to the Canada – India relationship.
Political leaders of all affiliations
participated in the
Gala. They included Amarjot
Sandhu, MPP; Amrit
Mangat, Former MPP; Aris
Babikian, MPP; Deepak
Anand, MPP; Deepak Obhrai,
MPP; Dipika Damrela,
Councillor; Michael Tibollo,
Minister; Nina Tangri, Parliamentary
Assistant and
MPP; Sonia Sidhu, MP; Stephen
Crawford, Parliamentary
Assistant and MPP;
Zeeshan Hamid, Councillor;
and Vandana Kumar, Joint
Secretary, Government of
India. As with all the previous
CIF annual Galas, the
former Mississauga Mayor
Hazel MacCallion was once
again a centre of attraction.
CIF’s Global Indian
Award is presented annually
to an outstanding person
who has demonstrated global
leadership, vision, and
personal excellence. Previous
recipients include Sam
Pitroda (2008), Tulsi Tanti
(2009), Ratan Tata (2010),
Deepak Chopra (2012), NR
CIF Members and Corporate Sponsors with Stephen Harper, Premier Ford, HC Swarup and MP Obhrai
Narayana Murthy (2014),
Subhash Chandra (2016),
Swami Ramdev (2017) and
Sparsh Shah (2018).
CIF’s Annual Global
Indian Gala is a marquee
event that sees enthusiastic
participation from top
industrialists, political and
government decisionmakers,
entrepreneurs, corporate
executives, top-tier professionals,
academicians,
among others. The evening
is replete with the finest
entertainment and cuisine,
and, of course, policy pronouncements
by political
and community leaders.
TD Bank was the Presenting
Sponsor of Canada
India Foundation’s Global
Indian Award Gala 2019;
Pearson Convention Centre
was the Platinum Sponsor;
Air Canada was the Gold
Sponsor; AV Terrace Bay,
CIBC and ICICI Bank Canada
were the Bronze Sponsors;
and Warraich Meats
was the Food Sponsor.

The International News Weekly Canada
July 12, 2019 | Toronto
03
Ontario Improving Employment Services in Peel
Brampton: Ontario’s
government is putting people
first by strengthening
local employment services
to connect more people with
good, quality jobs. Peelis one
of three regions to launch a
new service system that will
focus onthe needs of local
communities, workers and
employers. This new system
will help job seekers find and
keep good jobs and assist
employers in recruiting the
skilled workers they need.
Sylvia Jones, MPP
for Dufferin-Caledon, was
joined by PrabmeetSarkaria,
MPP for Brampton South, to
make this announcement at
The Learning Place, an organization
that provides literacy
education and programming
for the Peel Region.
Beginning Fall 2019, the
new employment services
model will launch in three
diverse urban and rural
communities:Region of Peel,
Hamilton-Niagara and Muskoka-Kawarthas.Employ-
ment services across the rest
of the province will move to
the new system starting in
2022.
“The new localized delivery
model offers great
opportunities for Peel. It
allows us to better help job
seekers find and keep good
jobs, and to help employers
find and recruit the workers
they need to grow their
business,” said Sylvia Jones,
MPP for Dufferin-Caledon.
“We’re improving a vital set
of services to keep Peel and
Ontario open for business
and open for jobs.”
Ontario will modernize
the employment services
system starting inthree prototype
regions by:
• Creating an easy and
efficient system to meet the
employment needs of all
businesses, communities
and job seekers, including
those on social assistance or
with a disability.
• Delivering employment
services in a way that
better matches the needs of
the local economy in each
community.
• Selecting service
system managers who will
plan and deliver employment
services at a local level
and receive funding based
on achieving results.
“We want to ensure current
employment services
are delivering results and
providing job seekers with a
clear path to employment,”
said PrabmeetSarkaria, MPP
for Brampton South. “That’s
why our government is creating
a stronger system that’s
easy-to-use and localized to
help all workers, small businesses
and communities.”
The selection of service
system managers for Peel
and the othertwo regions
will be determined through a
competitive process later this
summer and will be open to
any public, not-for-profit or
private sector organization.
Learn more at https://ontariotenders.app.jaggaer.com/
esop/nac-host/public/web/
login.html.
As the new system is implemented
in the prototype
regions, the government will
continue to work with service
delivery partners across
the province to plan and deliver
stronger, locally-focused
employment and social assistance
services that help more
people find and keep jobs.
“We want all Ontarians
to have the skills they
need to get a good job. That
is why our government is
creating a stronger employment
services system for
Ontarians, including those
on social assistance,” said
Ross Romano, Minister
of Training, Colleges and
Universities. “By helping
people find jobs and making
Ontario open business, we
are making life easier for
hard-working families and
individuals and returning
Ontario to its rightful place
as the economic engine of
Canada.”
Math Supports for Peel Region Students and Parents
MISSISSAUGA: Ontario’s Government
is launching a major effort
to strengthen math skills for all students
in the province.
“I am proud that our government
is investing $1,523,500.00 for
the 2019-2020 school year to help
Peel Region students build the math
knowledge and skills they need to
succeed now, and in the future,” said
Kaleed Rasheed MPP for Mississauga
East-Cooksville. “As a father
of four children, this is a great step
towards a better and brighter future
for our future generations.”
These local supports are part
of a four-year math strategy, which
is focused on fundamental math
concepts and skills, and how to apply
them. In 2019-2020, Ontario will
be supporting the strategy with a
$55-million investment. The math
strategy will ensure that students
are prepared for success in the classroom
and in their future, teachers
are confident and capable in teaching
math, and parents and families
are confident and equipped to support
their kids.
"We are listening to parents and
educators. Ontario students need
greater support to strengthen their
math skills to achieve success in
school and into their careers. This
investment provides our young
people with access to the skills they
need to enter the workforce with
confidence, and further underscores
our government's focus on STEM in
the classroom," said Stephen Lecce,
Minister of Education. In addition to
funding for the Peel District School
board, the government is committed
to helping improve math scores by
investing more than $6 million for
summer initiatives throughout the
province.
Several local school boards
across the province are offering a
three-week, math-focused Summer
Learning Program for students in
Kindergarten to Grade 5. This will
help students who require additional
supports minimize summer learning
loss, build confidence, increase
skills, and have greater success during
the regular school year.
The Government has also
launched a virtual resource, which
will act as a summer learning refresher
for students and parents.
The online resource, called Math
at Home, will help support student
learning, mitigate against summer
learning loss and ensure parents are
aware of opportunities to help prepare
their child for success in math.
Other resources available
throughout most of the year for students
and parents include:
• TVO's Mathify: Ontario Certified
Teachers provide free one-onone
English-language math tutoring
for students in grades 7 to 10.
• SOS Devoirs: Ontario Certified
Teachers provide free one-on-one
tutoring and educational resources
in all subjects for French-language
students from grades 1 to 12.
• Doing Mathematics with Your
Child: a guide for parents to help
their children from Kindergarten to
Grade 6.
• Frontier College programs:
that support the development of
foundational literacy and numeracy
skills of high-priority students who
live in under-served communities,
including First Nations and remote
communities.
Springdale Branch Library wins award of excellence in Ontario
BRAMPTON: The City of Brampton
and Brampton Library are excited
to announce that Springdale
Branch Library has won the Ontario
Library Association (OLA)
New Library Building Award.
The 2019 award recipients,
including Springdale Branch Library,
were honoured yesterday,
Wednesday, July 10, in Ottawa,
Ontario, at the Annual Institute
on the Library as Place conference.
The OLA Library Building
Awards are awarded every three
years to encourage and showcase
excellence in new library buildings
in Ontario.
Springdale Branch Library
boasts 25,000 square feet of library
space, including room for
programs, quiet study, engaging
activities and a stunning children’s
area with an imaginative
skylight, all capped by a green
roof, grey water system, geothermal
heating and cooling, and
other attributes that combine to
make this branch a candidate for
LEED Gold certification.
“Our Springdale branch is a
game-changer that reinvents perceptions
of public library space,”
said Brampton Library CEO
Rebecca Raven. “The vision to
inspire connections in this wellestablished
neighbourhood culminated
in the spectacular building
design. We wanted the public
to see themselves here and the
response has been tremendous.
Over 1000 people use our Springdale
Branch every day.”
The design by Rounthwaite
Dick & Hadley (RDH) Architects
Inc. is both functional and aesthetically
striking. The windows
are covered in a solar-responsive
ceramic frit that resembles the
pages of a book and helps to reduce
glare and heat gain. RDH
also designed the four-acre greenfield
site outside of the library,
which won the firm a 2015 Canadian
Architecture award for design
excellence.
The City of Brampton recently
opened Komagata Maru
Park beside Springdale Branch
Library. The park is a tribute to
those who were on the SS Komagata
Maru ship, and honours all
immigrants and their struggles,
triumphs and contributions to
the mosaic of Canada. The park
is designed around the concept of
a “library in the park”, where the
shapes of playground equipment,
such as slides and climbers, spell
the word IMAGINE.
“Brampton is a Green City,”
said Mayor Patrick Brown. “We
make it a priority to design and
construct buildings that set a
high standard for beauty, functionality
and environmental responsibility.
Springdale Branch
Library embodies these priorities
and, alongside Komagata Maru
Park, it has become an important
community hub. We are proud to
be recognized by the OLA for this
outstanding facility.”
For more information on
Brampton Library, visit www.
bramptonlibrary.ca. For details
on Komagata Maru Park, visit
www.brampton.ca.

The International News Weekly CANADA
04
July 12, 2019 | Toronto
Kristy Duncan longside MP Sonia Sidhu
announces funding for Sheridan College
Brampton: Collaborations
between college researchers
and businesses
help our national and local
economies thrive and prepare
young Canadians for
the jobs of the future. Canada’s
colleges are at the heart
of communities across the
country and fuel research
that helps businesses innovate
and grow.
The Honourable Kirsty
Duncan, Minister of Science
and Sport – alongside Sonia
Sidhu, the Member of Parliament
for Brampton South –
announced nearly $150,000 in
funding to support research
at Sheridan College. This
funding is part of a $57-million
investment through the
College and Community Innovation
Program (CCI) that
Minister Duncan announced
on June 13, 2019.
The grant for Sheridan
College will allow researchers
at the Screen Industries
Research and Training Centre
to buy the equipment they
need to develop interactive
computer-generated 3D characters.
These animated characters
can be used in a range
of industries, from films and
gaming, to healthcare and
wellness to create new products
and services that will
benefit all Canadians.
This investment is part
of Canada’s Science Vision
and the Government of Canada’s
historic commitment
of more than $10 billion to
science and research. It includes
the largest ever boost
for college research funding.
Minister Duncan also
signed the Dimensions Charter
at Sheridan College. Institutions
that endorse the
charter commit to embed the
principles of equity, diversity
and inclusiveness in their
policies, practices, action
plans and culture.
“Our government is committed to returning science and research to their rightful place.
That’s why we’re investing in students and small-to medium-sized businesses so they can work
together to make discoveries and continue innovating to improve the quality of life of all Canadians.
These collaborations will boost economic development and create jobs across the country.”
~ The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport
“I am proud to be part of a Government which is so dedicated to science and research. The
investment being celebrated today will not only enhance Canada’s world-class research capacity,
but will also help businesses innovate to create growth, and help colleges train the next generation
of researchers and entrepreneurs. I am particularly delighted that Brampton South’s own
Sheridan College is benefitting as well, and I can wait to see the developments they make.”
~ Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South
“NSERC values the tremendous contributions of Canada’s colleges in the research and innovation
ecosystem. Today’s investment will enhance our country’s world-class research capacity,
help businesses innovate to create growth, and train our next generation of researchers and
entrepreneurs.”
~ Dr. Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada
Quick facts
• The College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program is led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Funding support
for infrastructure is provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
• The CCI Program is one of the largest vehicles for funding applied research at colleges, polytechnics
and cégeps across Canada. Since its launch in 2008, the CCI Program has invested
more than $553 million in 3,158 projects at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
• Sheridan College also signed the Government of Canada’ Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and
Inclusion Canada charter, a new pilot program inspired by the United Kingdom’s internationally
recognized Athena SWAN Charter. The Dimensions Charter will address systemic
barriers in research, particularly those experienced by members of under-represented and
disadvantaged groups.
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Brampton North Conservative MP Candidate Arpan Khanna
and team hosted their official door knocking blitz in
Brampton North. With over a 100 volunteers, Team Khanna
met with thousands of residents and discussed ways to
make our community safer, support families and seniors
while strengthening our economy. With 106 days to go
till election day, momentum is building and residents are
looking for change that gets results in Brampton North.
REAL ESTATE
Sale/Purchase of Residential & Commercial Properties
Mortgage Enforcements & Lease
Refinance & Private Mortgages
BUSINESS LAW
Incorporation & Shareholder agreements
Sales & Purchase of Assets & Shares
Notarization & Affidavits
WILLS & ESTATE
Wills
Certificate of Estate Trustee with/without will
Power of attorney for Property & Personal care
CRIMINAL LAW
Drink & Drive offences
Bail Hearings
Domestic Assaults
IMMIGRATION
Skilled Worker Category
Spousal & Family Sponsorships
Students permit Visas & Renewals
138-2960 Drew Road Mississauga, ON. L4T 0A5 (Airport/Drew Rd, Near Malton Gurughar)

The International News Weekly July 12, 2019 | Toronto
05
Setting a new trend in Ethnic Radio
An hour long
English Language Newstalk
Radio Show
“Peel Matters”
Joe Horneck Ryan Gurcharn BILL MCBAIN
On 960 AM Sauga News Talk
Monday - Friday: 7 PM - 8 PM
Don’t forget to tune in !!

The International News Weekly Edit
06
July 12, 2019 | Toronto
The
w w w . canadianparv asi. c o m
Publisher & CEO
Associate Editor
Editor (India)
Online
Graphic Designer
Official Photographer
Contact
Editorial
Sales
Rajinder Saini
Meenakshi Saini
Gursheesh
Kshitiz Dalal
Naveen
Bashir Nasir
editor@canadianparvasi.com
sales@canadianparvasi.com
Blast From The Past
India’s regression to protectionism
marks revival of failed
import substitution policy
US President Donald Trump directed yet another
blast of criticism at India’s policy on import
tariffs. This comes on the heels of the Union
Budget where customs duty on a large number
of goods, including newsprint, was hiked. This
round of tariff increase is not an isolated development,
but one more instance of a recent reversal
of long-standing policy. After almost three
decades, protectionism has re-emerged as a
policy tool to promote domestic manufacturing
– ignoring the elementary economic lesson that
high import tariffs also act as a tax on exports,
reducing the competitiveness of Indian exports.
For about two decades world trade has been
dominated by global value chains (GVCs). In
concrete terms, it meant that emerging markets
such as India and Vietnam could become one
among many destinations in the manufacture of
a sophisticated product. More than two-third of
world trade is on account of GVCs, and China is
their biggest beneficiary.
Resurgence of protectionism is tantamount
to rejection of an influential factor that lifted
millions out of poverty. Protectionists overlook
an intrinsic element of GVCs. Import intensity
of economies will usually increase as production
is spread across frontiers. A recent report
put out by WTO, among others, showed that in
almost all countries the share of domestic value
added in exports has trended downwards on account
of GVCs. Trade data doesn’t capture this
adequately. For example, China’s domestic value
content of ICT exports is only about half of
the total value.
The Narendra Modi government’s tariff
policy can result in lost opportunities. Japan’s
Nintendo this week announced that it will shift
a part of its production line out of China to Vietnam
to hedge the risks arising from US-China
trade friction. Vietnam has embraced greater
integration and is one of the big beneficiaries of
GVCs. India, on the other hand, is bringing back
a policy which it had tried in the past, in the Nehruvian
years before liberalisation, and which
failed conclusively. Meanwhile, Washington
is breathing down New Delhi’s neck and could
punish it further after dropping India from its
generalised system of preferences; other countries
could retaliate against it too. Government
must reverse tariff hikes and discard the idea of
using them as a policy tool. Make in India will
happen, and India get up to $5 trillion by 2024,
only if the world comes knocking. TNN
India’s Shifting Population Profile
Working people will continue to grow, but we
also need to plan for burgeoning elderly
Argentina Matavel Piccin
There is increasing
realisation of the growing
numbers of older people
in India. Some even
claim that India will soon
be a country of old people.
Is there reason for
alarm or rather a sign of
success? On the face of it,
the numbers do certainly
stack up.
Currently 8.4% of India’s
population is above
the age of 60 years. In
numbers, this translates
into approximately 102
million people. According
to the United Nations
Population Fund (UN-
FPA) projections, by 2061
the elderly population
(of and above 60 years)
in India will increase
to 425 million. In other
words, every fourth person
in India will be 60
years old or more. Or to
reiterate, in 42 years, the
number of 60+ people will
be four times its current
strength.
However, let us not assume
we are staring into
a bleak reality of old men
and women outliving
the young. India’s youth
population is not on
the decline. Projections
show that India’s youth
population will continue
to grow. Starting 2001and
till 2030, India will have
seen a huge increase in
its working age population:
390 million will be
added to the existing
working age population,
resulting in a billion plus
strong workforce in India
by mid 2040s.
The good news is,
mortality is on the decline,
life expectancy
is on the rise. In other
words, Indians are living
longer, working longer,
and will continue to do
so. Projections by UN-
FPA also show that women
will live longer than
men, an important factor
that needs to be kept in
mind while formulating
policies and designing
programmes for elderly
people. Life expectancy
for women will increase,
from 69.4 in 2011 to 79.7
in 2061 as opposed to for
men, from 66.0 in 2011 to
76.1 in 2061.
India’s fertility rate,
or the number of children
who would be born
per woman, has decreased
rapidly from 3.6
in 1994 to 2.2 in 2015-16.
We are that much closer
to reaching the replacement
fertility rate of 2.1.
This means, among other
things, more and more
women today have access
to choices and opportunities
made possible by access
to family planning
services. It also means
women today are claiming
the right to their bodies
and asserting their
right to choose whether,
when and the number
of children they want to
have. They can choose to
stay in school longer, to
enter the labour market,
participate in political
life, to contribute more to
their communities.
So then, why aren’t
we celebrating? Because
even as we take these
large strides towards a
demographic dividend,
our social structures
– also going through a
transformation – are not
keeping pace.
With migration on the
rise and the young leaving
their homes to move
to more productive and
economically lucrative
states, families comprising
of the elderly are being
left behind to fend for
themselves. A UNFPA
study also shows, poverty
is higher among the
elderly. This trend will
only continue and perpetuate.
Furthermore, large
family units have broken
down into nuclear families,
leaving the elderly
alone.
The breaking down of
gender stereotypes has
also made way for the
young daughters-in-law,
traditionally caregivers
of the elderly, to transition
to working women.
It’s all good news, except
that the old are falling
through the cracks.
Unlike countries like
Japan that provides a
comprehensive social
healthcare package to
the elderly, India is not
quite ready to deal with
this demographic transition
that is taking place.
The World Assemblies
on Ageing (Vienna, 1982
& Madrid 2002) signalled
the need for governments
to implement measures
to address this. In India
too, several consultations
have been held,
and southern states like
Kerala are leading the
way by setting aside 10%
of annual village funds to
take care of the elderly.
The need of the hour
is context specific policy
planning for the elderly
in India. Ageing will happen
at a different pace in
different states. For example,
there is an almost
ten-year difference in the
male life expectancy in
Kerala and Bihar; 77.8 vs
69. In 2061, the female life
expectancy will be 85.5
and 79.1 years in Kerala
and Bihar, respectively.
Per capita income, which
could be taken as an indicator
for economic wellbeing
of people including
the elderly, is Rs 22,890
in Bihar while it is more
than Rs 1lakh in Kerala
and Tamil Nadu.
While policies and
plans can’t be a one size
fits all, there is need for a
minimum national package
of services to ensure
dignity for the elderly. At
the same time, it is important
to keep in mind
that most of the labour
force in India is not covered
by retirement pension
plans and the elderly
are generally dependent
on children or on property
for an alternate source
of income.
Innovative and sustainable
models of social
support, care and social
protection need to be
planned and institutionalised
now so that the
country is ready with
viable models and solutions
to support the large
number of elderly people
in the not too distant future.
Social bridges could
be established to ensure
that the knowledge sitting
with the old can be
transferred to the young,
and that the young can
help the elderly bridge
the technological gap
such as use of smartphones
and social media.
Without it, India’s elderly
population remains
highly vulnerable to
loneliness, ill health and
neglect. India cannot let
them fade from its collective
consciousness.
Source Credit: This article
was first published in The
Times of India. The writer is
India Country Representative,
United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA). Today
is World Population Day
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The International News Weekly world
July 12, 2019 | Toronto
07
Wrong placing of height barrier blamed
for Dubai bus crash that killed 12 Indians
Dubai: The lawyers of
the Omani bus driver, who
rammed the vehicle into a
height barrier in Dubai that
killed 17 people, including
12 Indians, have told a UAE
court that the restriction
bar violated the GCC safety
guidelines.
Twelve Indians were
among the 17 people killed in
the horrific bus accident on
June 7 when the bus, coming
from Oman, wrongly entered
a road not designated for buses
and crashed into a height
barrier that cut the left side
of the bus and killed passengers
sitting on that side.
The other deceased include
two Pakistanis, one
Omani and one Filipina.
Mohammad Al Tamimi,
one of the two lawyers representing
the driver, told the
Dubai Traffic Court that the
distance between the warning
signboard and the height
barrier was only 12 metres,
the Gulf News reported on
Tuesday.
“The mistake is in the
place of the height barrier,
according to the pictures in
the accident scene. The Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC)
guideline for positioning advance
warning signs states
that if the road’s speed limit
is 60km/h, then the distance
between the signboard or
height restriction chain and
the height barrier should be
60 metres, not 12 metres in
our case,” Al Tamimi told the
court. According to Traffic
Prosecution, the speed limit
on that road is 40 km/h.
The Dubai Police blamed
the 53-year-old Omani driver,
who was moderately injured,
for the accident, saying “at
times a small mistake or negligence
can lead to adverse
consequences”.
“It was too short a distance
to stop the vehicle. It is
not the defendant’s mistake
and not his negligence. Putting
the height barrier in a
wrong place caused the accident,”
Al Tamimi said.
Al Tamimi claimed there
is no proof that the defendant
was driving the bus at 94kph
when the crash happened.
He asked the court to assign
a specialised engineer
from the Roads and Transport
Authority (RTA) to inspect
the crash site and make
a report of the positioning of
warning signboards and the
height barrier, the report
said. Meanwhile, the second
defence lawyer Mohammed
Al Sabri accused the RTA of
eight “mistakes” found by a
report prepared by the company
that owns the bus.
He submitted a copy of
the report to the court and
requested the appointment
of an expert to examine the
accident location and check
if the “mistakes” were committed
by the RTA.
“The reason behind the
accident was the solid height
barrier and its positioning.
The sun at the time of the
accident [5pm] blurred the
signboards to the driver. The
confession of the driver is not
enough to convict him,” Al
Sabri told the judge.
Last week, prosecutor
Salah Bu Farousha Al Felasi,
director of Traffic Prosecution,
said the driver couldn’t
follow the signboards as the
sun shade had obstructed
his view. “He admitted to
lowering the sun shade and
didn’t notice the signboards
or warning signs, despite
having used the road several
times before the accident,”
said Al Felasi.“His reckless
driving, not paying attention
to the road and his speeding,
caused the disaster,” he added.
The verdict in the case is
expected on July 11, while
the defendant will remain
under police custody.
14 killed, 79 injured
of threat from ‘overseas forces’
in Pak train accident
Islamabad : At least 14 people were killed and 79
others injured when a passenger train collided with a
democratic system.” Tsai,
who faces re-election in January,
has repeatedly called
for international support to
defend Taiwan’s democracy
in the face of Chinese threats.
freight train in Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday,
authorities said.
The accident occurred around 4 a.m. at the Walhar
Railway Station in Sadiqabad.
Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jamil
Ahmed Jamil said all passengers, onboard the Akbar
Beijing has regularly Express headed to Quetta, had been removed from the
sent military aircraft and train and track clearance operations were underway,
ships to circle Taiwan on
drills in the past few years.
Tsai last went to the United
reports
news.
Jamil
Dawn
added
States in March, stopping that heavy ma-
over in Hawaii at the end of a chinery was being
Pacific tour.
used to remove
a night at a time on transit was looking forward to finding
Seeking to bolster Taiwan’s
passengers who
stops.The US State Department
has said there had been
no change in the US “one-
China” policy, under which
Washington officially recognises
Beijing and not Taipei,
while assisting Taiwan.
more international space
for Taiwan. “Our democracy
has not come easily, and is
now facing threats and infiltration
from overseas forces,”
Tsai said, without naming
any such force.
defences, the United
States this week approved an
arms sale worth an estimated
$2.2 billion for Taiwan, despite
Chinese criticism of the
deal. Taiwan has been trying
to shore up its diplomatic alliances
were stuck in the
train, adding that they were being provided with food
and water.
Rahim Yar Khan DPO Umar Farooq Salamat said
that based on initial reports, when the signal changed
on the track, the passenger train went on to the loop
line where a freight train was parked resulting in the
Speaking at Taipei’s “These challenges are
amid pressure from accident.
main international airport also common challenges China, which has been whittling
Prime Minister Imran Khan offered his condolences
at Taoyuan, Tsai said she
would share the values of
freedom and transparency
with Taiwan’s allies, and she
faced by democracies all over
the world. We will work with
countries with similar ideas
to ensure the stability of the
down its few remaining
diplomatic allies, especially
in the Caribbean and Latin
America.
to the families of the victims.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has
announced compensation of 1.5 million Pakstani rupees
for the families of the deceased.
US House passes Bill removing country-cap on issuing Green Cards
Taiwan Prez leaves for US, warns
Taoyuan (Taiwan): Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen
left for the United States on
Thursday on a trip that has
angered Beijing, warning
democracy must be defended
and the island faced threats
from “overseas forces”, in a
veiled reference to China.
China, which claims selfruled
and democratic Taiwan
as its own and views it
as a wayward province, has
called on the United States
not to allow Tsai to transit
there on her overseas tour.
She is spending four
nights in the United States
in total, two on the way there
and two on the way back on
a visit to four Caribbean allies.
Tsai will go to New York
on her way there, and then is
expected to stop in Denver on
the way back.
Tsai’s time in the United
States will be unusually long,
as normally she spends just
Washington: The US
House of Representatives
has passed by an overwhelming
majority a legislation to
remove the seven per cent
country-cap on Green Card
applicants, a development
which could end the agonising
wait of tens of thousands
of talented professionals
from countries like India
who have sought permanent
residency.
The bill, when signed
into law, increases the percountry
cap on family-based
immigrant visas from seven
per cent of the total number of
such visas available that year
to 15 and eliminates the seven
per cent cap for employmentbased
immigrant visas.
A Green Card allows a
non-US citizen to live and
work permanently in America.
Indian IT professionals,
most of whom are highly
skilled and come to the US
mainly on the H-1B work visas,
are the worst sufferers of
the current immigration system
which imposes a seven
per cent per country quota
on allotment of the coveted
Green Card or permanent legal
residency.
The bill titled ‘Fairness
for High-Skilled Immigrants
Act of 2019’ or ‘HR 1044’ to
eliminate the per-country
numerical limitation for employment-based
immigrants,
to increase the per-country
numerical limitation for family-sponsored
immigrants,
and for other purposes, was
passed on Wednesday by an
overwhelming 365-65 votes in
a 435-member House.
Lifting the per-country
cap would mainly benefit
professionals from countries
like India, for whom the wait
for Green Card is more than
a decade. Some of the recent
studies have said the waiting
period for Indian IT professionals
on H-1B visas is more
than 70 years. The bill also
establishes transition rules
for employment-based visas
from Financial Year 2020-22
by reserving a percentage of
EB-2 (workers with advanced
degrees or exceptional ability),
EB-3 (skilled and other
workers), and EB-5 (investors)
visas for individuals not
from the two countries with
the largest number of recipients
of such visas.
Of the unreserved visas,
not more than 85 per cent
would be allotted to immigrants
from any single country,
Congressional Research
Service (CRS) said.
The bill, however, has
to be passed by the Senate,
where the ruling Republican
Party enjoys a majority,
before it can be signed into
law by US President Donald
Trump.

The International News Weekly India
July 12, 2019 | Toronto 08
India fully committed to
Kartapur Sahib corridor, says
MEA over Pak's allegations
Continued from page 01
Three rounds of technical
level discussions have
been held with the Pakistani
side and they have
been asked not to create
structures that will, in any
manner, endanger life and
property on the Indian side
due to flooding, the sources
said.
India is already building
a bridge on its side to
provide all-weather connectivity
for the Kartarpur
corridor, they said.
Pakistan has also been
urged to build a similar
bridge on their side
that will provide safe
and secure movement of
the pilgrims and also address
concerns regarding
flooding, according to the
sources. The passenger
terminal building is being
constructed by the Land
Ports Authority of India.
The work for it was awarded
to the Shapoorji Pallonji
Group on May 29.
The land acquisition
process has been completed
with the support of the
Punjab government and
the project is scheduled to
be completed by October
31. The total cost of the
project is Rs 177.5 crore.
The four-lane highway
connecting the 'zero
point' of the Kartarpur
corridor up to National
Highway-354 is being constructed
by the National
Highway Authority of India
(NHAI), the sources
said.
In November 2018,
Pakistan agreed to set up
the border-crossing linking
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib
in Kartarpur, the final
resting place of Sikh faith
founder Guru Nanak, to
Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's
Gurdaspur district.
Kartarpur is located
in Pakistan's Narowal district
across the Ravi river,
about 4 km from Dera Baba
Nanak. Vice President M
Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab
Chief Minister Amarinder
Singh had, on November
26 last year, laid
the foundation stone of the
Kartarpur corridor in Gurdaspur
district.
Two days later, the
Pakistani prime minister
laid the foundation stone
of the corridor in Narowal,
around 125 km from Lahore.
SC to hear Ayodhya pleas from
July 25 if talks nixed
Continued from page 01
the mediation proceedings should be ordered
to be concluded, the court will do so and order
commencement of the hearing of appeals before
it, tentatively on and from July 25. Hearings, if
required, will be conducted on day-today basis,”
the bench said.
The order came after Hindu parties joined
hands to demand an end to the mediation process
which has been favoured by the Muslim side.
Both Hindu and Muslim parties to the dispute
have challenged in SC the September 30, 2010
judgment of Allahabad HC which had divided
the 2.77-acre disputed land into three equal parts
and given ownership of one part each to Ram Lalla
(idol), Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni waqf board.
Amid the heat of arguments, the SC on March
8 brushed aside vehement opposition from Hindu
parties and suo motu set up a three-member
panel comprising Justice Kalifulla, renowned
mediator and senior advocate Sriram Panchu,
and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar to explore
the possibility of anegotiated settlement.
While the Sunni waqf board has consistently
supported negotiations, the Nirmohi Akhara
broke ranks with Hindu parties and lent its support
for mediation. However, four months later,
the Akhara, through its counsel Sushil Jain, did
a U-turn on Thursday and criticised the procedure
adopted by the SC-appointed panel.
“There should be a joint meeting of parties.
When mediators are not attempting any meeting
of the parties to the dispute, what negotiated
settlement can take place?”
CM reviews power scenario in
state in Sidhu’s absence
Chandigarh: With cabinet
minister Navjot Singh
Sidhu, who was given the
power portfolio after a reshuffle
following the Lok Sabha
election results, not
assuming the new
charge, Punjab chief
minister Amarinder
Singh has stepped
in to oversee the
functioning of the
power department.
Capt Amarinder
on Wednesday ordered a ordered
a crackdown on power
theft to check the huge losses
suffered by the Punjab State
Power Corporation Limited
(PSPCL), particularly in areas
bordering Pakistan and
Haryana.An official spokesperson
said Amarinder
chaired a high-level meeting
to review the state’s power
situation in the prevailing
peak power demand season.
He directed the chief secretary
to issue detailed guidelines
to the district police and
civil administration in the
districts concerned to work
with PSPCL to check power
theft.
PSPCL chairman-cummanaging
director B S Sra informed
the meeting that maximum
losses on urban power
supply (UPS) feeders were reported
in the border towns of
Bhikiwind (80%), Patti (71%),
Zira (61%), Patran
(57%), Baghapurana
(55%),
Tarn Taran (51%)
and Ajnala (50%).
He also asked the
chief secretary
to tie up with the
DGP to ensure
adequate police protection to
PSPCL staff engaged in taking
action against unscrupulous
elements engaged in
pilferage of power through
‘kundi connections’.
To clear PSPCL’s mounting
subsidy arrears, Amarinder
directed the finance
department to ensure timely
release of payments to help
the power entity operate efficiently.
He asked the finance
department to ensure release
of subsidy payments at regular
intervals.
On the tardy supply of
coal to thermal power plants
in the state, Amarinder informed
the CMD, PSPCL,
that he had already taken up
the issue with the Centre and
requested it to direct Coal India
Limited to ensure regular
and uninterrupted supply
for smooth generation of
power in the state. He asked
the CMD to expedite the
Shahpur Kandi Power Project
as an alternate source
of eco-friendly hydropower
generation, which would
result in financial benefit
of Rs 250-300 crore per year
to PSPCL. It was pointed
out that the total power demand
in the state went up by
17.78% in June this year, and
further escalated to 33.31%
as of date, compared with the
corresponding periods of the
year gone by.
This, he said, was the
result of the prolonged dry
spell and delayed monsoon.
There was also a substantial
increase of 37% in the
demand for power consumption
in agriculture sector
this June as against the corresponding
month last year,
primarily due to advancement
of sowing of paddy
by 10 days. The maximum
demand during 2019-20 was
13,633 MW as compared to
last year’s demand of 12,638
MW.

The International News Weekly india
July 12, 2019 | Toronto
09
Lynchings: UP law panel pushes for special
legislation, punishment up to life term
Lucknow: Taking cognisance
of incidents of mob lynching, including
those by cow vigilantes,
the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission
has submitted a draft Bill
recommending up to life imprisonment
for the crime.
Commission chairman Justice
(retd) AN Mittal submitted
a report on mob lynching, along
with the draft Bill, to Chief Minister
Adityanath on Wednesday.
The 128-page report cited
various cases of lynching in the
state and recommended the immediate
enactment of a law as
per recommendations made by
the Supreme Court in 2018.
The commission said the existing
laws to combat lynchings
were not sufficient and asserted
that there should be a separate
law to tackle them.
It suggested a punishment
ranging from seven years in
jail to life imprisonment for the
offence.
Suggesting that such a law
may be called the Uttar Pradesh
Combating of Mob Lynching
Act, the commission specified
the responsibilities of police officers
and district magistrates,
spelling out the punishment for
failing in their duty.
The panel said the law
should also provide for compensation
to the family of the
victim for grievous injury or
loss of loss of life and property.
There should also be provisions
for the rehabilitation of
the victims and their families,
it said.
According to data available
from 2012 to 2019, 50 incidents of
mob violence have taken place
in the state.
Of around 50 victims, 11
died. Twenty-five of these were
cases of major assault, including
those by cow vigilantes.
"In the backdrop of this situation,
the commission took up
the study suo motu and accordingly
recommended the state
government the need for having
a comprehensive law to combat
lynching," law commission secretary
Sapna Tripathi told media
on Thursday.
The report said only Manipur
has made a special law
against lynchings and, as per
media reports, the Madhya
Pradesh government is soon going
to enact it.
It referred to various cases
of lynching and mob violence
in the state, including the 2015
killing of Mohammed Akhlaq in
Dadri on the suspicion of beef
consumption.
It mentioned the killing
of Inspector Subodh Singh on
December 3, 2018, in a clash
between police and Hindutva
groups in Bulandshahr after
cattle carcasses were found in
a field.
The chairman noted that
mobs were now turning on police
as well.
"Incidents of mob violence
have taken place in districts of
Farukkhabad, Unnao, Kanpur,
Hapur and Muzaffarnagar. Police
are also becoming victims
as people have started thinking
of them as their enemy," Mittal
said in the report.
"The killing of a head constable
in Ghazipur and a jail
warden are examples of this,"
he said.
The panel studied laws of
different countries and states,
and decisions of the Supreme
Court while preparing the draft
legislation.
It suggested punishment for
conspiracy, aid or abetment in
such cases, as well as for obstructing
the legal process.
Teen raped at rly station
by 2 home guard jawans
in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur : A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped
by two Punjab home guard jawans at Cholang railway
station here, police said.
Accused identified as Dilbagh Singh and Dharampal,
posted at the railway station, have been arrested and a
rape case was registered against them, they said.
The minor girl was waiting for a train on Thursday
morning to go to her village near Mukerian, police said.
Accused after questioning about her whereabouts allegedly
took the minor to a room at the railway station
and then raped her, Deputy Superintendent of Police
(GRP), Surinder Kumar said.
An Assistant Sub Inspector, who was the in charge of
the Government Railway Police post at the railway station,
has been suspended, Kumar said.
The medical examination of the victim was conducted
at a hospital in Tanda, police said.
Set up censor board for songs:
Punjab women’s panel chief
Chandigarh: Expressing displeasure over use of vulgar
language by rapper Honey Singh in his latest Punjabi
song, Punjab State Women Commission chairperson Manisha
Gulati demand setting up of a censor board for songs
in Punjab. Gulati said vulgar language used in the song
‘Makhna’ by Honey Singh crossed all boundaries. “I demand
that a censor board be constituted for the songs on
the line of the censor board for films. The song ‘Makhna’
sung by Honey Singh misguide the youngster with its lewd
lyrics,” said Gulati.
Terming it as need of the hour, Gulati said that a censor
board for songs will act as deterrent against such singers
who were singing vulgar songs. She said that she would personally
meet the chief minister to request him to form the
censor board in Punjab. Gulati also urged Punjabi singer
Gurdas Mann to come forward and support the Punjab State
Women Commission in its campaign against vulgar songs.
She said that Gurdas Mann should persuade the singers
and producers not to produce vulgar songs in future. She
said after the commission acted against Honey Singh, some
of his supporters are threatening her of dire consequences.
She said she had informed the police about this.

The International News Weekly INDIA
July 12, 2019 | Toronto 10
Why high income tax rates
are so unjust in India
Govt Pointed To Other High-Tax Nations To Justify Levy On Super Rich, But It Hardly Matches Up To Them On Social Welfare Coverage
New Delhi : It’s true,
there are countries where
the super rich pay even
higher taxes than they
do in India. The government
used this to justify
the higher taxes that those
earning above Rs 2 crore
will now have to pay. But
there was something it did
not mention: most hightax
countries invest heavily
to finance free education
and healthcare along
with various social security
schemes. That doesn’t
quite hold true for India.
Global experience suggests
that among the most
effective affirmative actions
that alleviate poverty
and bring equality are universal
access to affordable
health and education. India
fails miserably on both
counts.
According to a 2018
UK government report, of
the total 87.4 lakh primary
and secondary students
enrolled in the country,
91.3% were studying in
government schools. For
the same year, US government
estimated that 89.6%
of the total 5.7 crore school
students in the country
were enrolled in public
schools. World Bank data
shows that in 2016, enrolment
in private schools at
the primary level was 15%
in France and 9% in Canada.
This was 33% in India.
At the secondary level, 25%
of French students were
enrolled in private schools
while this was 8% in Canada.
In India, this was 51%.
And the only reason this is
so is because there aren’t
enough good government
schools in India. As a result,
the taxpayer is not
only paying taxes, but also
paying large sums for her
child’s education.
Now consider health.
In 2016, 64.6% of all our
health expenditure was
borne by Indian citizens —
in other words, this was an
out-ofpocket expenditure.
This was less than 15% for
Canada, US and France. A
2011 WHO estimate shows
that more than 5 crore Indians
were pushed below the
$1.90-PPP a day (international
poverty line) because
of health expenditure.
“Education and health
are state subjects and
many of the tax hikes are
imposed through cess and
surcharge, which are not
shared with the states.
Given the weak notion of
social contract between
the state and citizens in
India, it is necessary that
it is visible to citizens that
revenue mobilised is going
to the right causes,”
said Malini Chakravarty
of CGBA. “There is a huge
centralisation of tax revenue
and, unlike many
other countries, our states
don’t have similar freedom
to increase their tax revenue,
especially after GST
came in,” she added. “By
making outcome of outlays
more accountable, public
sector delivery can be vastly
improved,” said NR Bhanumurthy
of NIPFP. “With
today’s digital tech, we can
have a far better assessment
by tracking the flow
of information, like in the
case of direct benefit transfer,”
he added.
World Bank data shows
that the Indian government’s
spend on education
as a proportion of GDP is
much lower than many
high-tax countries. “The
low spend on healthcare
and education can partly
be attributed to India’s
low tax-GDP ratio,” says
Anurag Behar, CEO, Azim
Premji Foundation. “To up
welfare spending, India has
to widen its tax base, but
there are many structural
problems — bulk of workforce
is in unorganised sector,
which remains excluded
from tax base, and justly
so,” he said.
World Bank data shows
that India’s central government
tax-GDP ratio
of 11.2% is far lower than
countries like France and
UK, where it is above 20%.
“The lack of money for government
to finance education
led to rapid for-profit
privatisation of the sector,
which is not desirable and
has led to inequity and
poor quality,” Behar added.
“Developed countries
experimented with market
oriented neo-liberal
policies when they were
already at a much higher
level of development. That
wasn’t the case with India
when neoliberal policies
were introduced,” said
Chakravarty. Since neoliberal
policies inevitably
require keeping fiscal
deficit in check, spending
on social sectors becomes
the first casualty when adequate
revenue is not generated,
she added.

The International News Weekly July 12, 2019 | Toronto
11
with thats from times of India

The International News Weekly July 12, 2019 | Toronto 12
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