Editorial 1: Joshimath: The sinking land, Possible reasons for its Subsidence
Recent Context:
- There is subsidence (ground sinking) in Joshimath at alarming rate over the past days. (at an altitude of over 6,000 feet)which is located in the border district of Chamoli, Uttarakhand
- The crisis unfolding in Joshimath speaks of the failure to respect the special and specific characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the fragile Himalayan Mountain system while planning and executing developmental projects
Recommendation of Committee related to Joshimath
- Alarming situation of Joshimath begun about five decades back when the government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the then Garhwal Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Mishra to investigate the cause of land subsidence in the area.
- In its report submitted in 1976, the committee said that unplanned urbanization and major construction works should not be undertaken in Joshimath because it is located on a moraine places where glacial debris accumulates.
- The town is not actually built on the “main rock” of the mountain which is more stable.
- The report also pointed out that undercutting by the currents of the Alaknanda River makes the area even more prone to disasters.
- Joshimath is located in Seismic Zone 5. That is also one of the most important factors for the cracks and fractures to have developed in Joshimath. Heavy construction work and explosives being used for the construction of roads and tunnels are further accelerating the rate of cracks
Recent Factors which add on the Joshimath disaster:
- in October 2021 that year, Joshimath was battered by a torrential downpour of over 190 mm. Following the rains, residents noticed a movement in the cracks and more frighteningly, new cracks as well, with several cropping up inside homes.
- Over time, layers upon layers of new construction have only weakened the foundation in an area that was never firm, to begin with. Additionally, the construction of the 520 MW NTPC Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power plant has perhaps done more damage to Joshimath’s foundations than anything else.
- The project being constructed on the Dhauliganga river required a tunnel to be built that cut right through the mountain upon which Joshimath is located. Many residents believe that the town would not be facing the current crisis if not for the hollowing of the ground beneath their feet.
- It is also regarded by geologist that Tapovan project has a history of upsetting the region’s complex hydrogeology.
- As pointed out by this newspaper, tunnelling by the power corporation punctured an aquifer in 2009. A year later, a Current Science article by Garhwal University scientists warned that this disruption could have long-term consequences for the region:
- “The sudden and large-scale dewatering has the potential of initiating ground subsidence.” Another aquifer breach was reported in 2012.
- Moreover, construction along the Helang bypass to build an all-weather road is also believed to have disturbed the mountain’s foundation.
Way Forward:
- Primarily government need to deploy the disaster relief forces and rescue the affected people and necessary steps to be taken to shift them at safe location while arranging their food , shelter and other basic amenities.
- Along with government should immediately stop the rampart constriction activities in the areas till the impact of these construction activities are not analyzed.
- The analysis should be carried out with participation of Local people, environment , geological expert and team of ISRO.
- Along with it, the development should be sustainable development while analysing the social , environmental and geological impact of the project on the region for the short and long term duration.
Editorial 2: Indian Diaspora: Indians abroad: History, spread, remittances
Recent Context:
- Recently, 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Indore, Madhya Pradesh .
- PM said that Indians living overseas are “brand ambassadors” of the country on foreign soil.
- Over the years, the convention, which began under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003, has grown and scope, particularly since 2015, when the Ministry of External Affairs turned the event into a biennial affair.
About PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS (PBD)
- 9 January commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) started in 2003.
- 1st PBD Convention was organised on 9 January 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
- Since 2015, under a revised format, PBD Convention has been organised once every 2 years.
- 16th PBD was conducted in a virtual setting with the theme “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in 2021 during the pandemic.
- The 17th PBD Convention will be held from 8 – 10 January 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of the 17th PBD is "Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit Kaal".
History of the Indian Diaspora
- The term diaspora traces its roots to the Greek diaspeiro, which means dispersion.
- The Indian diaspora has grown manifold since the first batch of Indians were taken to counties in the east pacific and the Caribbean islands under the ‘Girmitiya’ arrangement as indentured labourers
- The 19th and early 20th centuries saw thousands of Indians shipped to those countries to work on plantations in British colonies, which were reeling under a labour crisis due to the abolition of slavery in 1833-34.
- Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who addressed the convention as a special guest, referred to this migration, saying 2023 marks the 150th year of the first such journey of Indians to Surinam.
- As part of the second wave of migration, nearly 20 lakh Indians went to Singapore and Malaysia to work in farms.
- The third and fourth wave saw professionals heading to western countries and workers going to the Gulf and west Asian countries in the wake of the oil boom.
Various classifications
- Overseas Indians are classified into three categories: Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).
- NRIs are Indians who are residents of foreign countries. The PIO category was abolished in 2015 and merged with the OCI category.
- However, existing PIO cards are valid till December 31, 2023, by which the holders of these cards have to obtain OCI cards.
Numbers and geographical spread
- According to an August 22, 2022 report of the Parliamentary committee on external affairs, as on December 31, 2021, there were 4.7 crore Indians living overseas.
- The number includes NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and students. Excluding students, the number stands at 3.22 crore, including 1.87 crore PIOs and 1.35 crore NRIs.
- According to the World Migration Report, prepared by the International Organisation for Migration under the United Nations,
- India has the largest emigrant population in the world, making it the top origin country globally, followed by Mexico, Russian and China.
- The countries with over 10 lakh overseas Indians include United States of America (44 lakh), United Kingdom (17.6 lakh), United Arab Emirates (34 lakh), Sri Lanka (16 lakh), South Africa (15.6 lakh), Saudi Arabia (26 lakh), Myanmar (20 lakh), Malaysia (29.8 lakh), Kuwait (10.2 lakh) and Canada (16.8 lakh).
Remittances
- Remittances, according to the World Bank, are a vital source of household income for low- and middle-income countries like India.
- The latest World Bank Migration and Development Brief, released in November 2022, said, “For the first time a single country, India, is on track to receive more than $100 billion in yearly remittances.”
- The World Migration Report notes that India, China, Mexico, the Philippines and Egypt are (in descending order) among the top five remittance recipient countries, “although India and China were well above the rest”.
- In 2020, the two neighbours received the largest amounts of international remittances in Asia, with a combined total of more than $140 billion, it added.
Involvement in politics
- The vocal political positions taken by a section of the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US and the UK, is a fairly recent phenomenon.
- For instance, the Hindu American Foundation, a Hindu advocacy group based in the US, was set up in 2003, the same year the Pravasi Bharatiya Convention was launched.
- At the launch, then PM Vajpayee had said overseas Indians can “project the truth about India to the world in a credible and effective manner” and counter “propaganda”.
- In his speech on Monday, PM Modi echoed similar sentiments, urging Pravasi Bharatiyas to amplify India’s “development story”.
- PM also makes it a point to address large gatherings of the diaspora community when visiting foreign countries. Many prominent overseas Indians play an active role in organising such meetings.
Conclusion:
- The Indian diaspora is the bridge between their nation and India where they can grow simultaneously for betterment of their citizens.
- The diaspora can provide the requisite strategic impulse, which makes it all the more important to unlock their potential.