Editorial 1 : The moral police again
Introduction: Last week, two horrific incidents of assault in Karnataka underlined, once again, the disturbing intolerance for inter-faith relationships among consenting adults – real and imagined – and the casual resort to violence.
More about the incidences
- In these cases, the criminals objected to Muslim women being involved with men from other communities.
- Their logic is the same as those who raise the bogey of “love jihad” and the prevalence of this disturbing phenomenon across communities and geographies needs a more robust response from the criminal-justice machinery.
- On January 13, seven men were arrested after they assaulted two people – mistaking them for an inter-faith couple – at a park in Belagavi city. The young Muslim woman was with her cousin, a Hindu.
- A day later in Haveri district, five men barged into a hotel room and allegedly assaulted a man and attacked and raped the woman. They recorded and circulated videos of their criminal act.
What is ‘Moral Policing’?
- Moral policing is a term used to describe the enforcement of a particular set of moral values or beliefs on others, often by individuals or groups who are not officially sanctioned to do so.
- It can manifest in various ways, from verbal harassment and social pressure to physical violence and intimidation.
Examples of moral policing
- Vigilante groups harassing or attacking couples holding hands or displaying public affection.
- Religious police in some countries enforcing strict dress codes and punishing those who violate them.
- Community members ostracizing or shaming individuals for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Online mobs attacking and harassing individuals for expressing unpopular opinions or engaging in behaviors deemed morally wrong.
Supreme court’s efforts to curb the moral policing in India
- Supreme Court in 2016, declared Khap Panchayats illegal, which often decree or encourage honor killings or other institutionalized atrocities against boys and girls of different castes and religions who wish to get married or have married.
- Supreme Court in 2017, in its landmark judgement, held that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the constitution and this move would secure freedom from intrusion into one's home, the right to choose of food, etc. This move would curb moral policing such as mob lynching against eating cow meat. This judgment also lays the groundwork for Section 377 of the IPC to be struck down, thus securing the rights of the LGBT community.
- In ‘Tehseen Poonawalla v UOI’, Supreme Court gave guidelines to be followed by Police in the mob lynching case associated with ‘cow vigilantism’. It also came heavily on state to not do enough on moral policing against minorities.
What more can be done?
- Archaic laws should be revoked or reformed to curb moral police who use the loopholes of various laws to attack the freedom of others.
- Police reforms should be carried out with sensitivity training and awareness about constitutional values.
- And also, there should be adequate patrolling, especially, on particular occasions and in public places.
- Local Intelligence gathering, filing FIR, and investigations against moral policing should also be promoted.
- The judicial system needs a complete overhaul for giving access to people affordable, inclusive, and speedy justice.
- In addition to police reforms and judiciary overhaul, awareness generation and education can also help people to dissuade from aggressive stances.
- Public discussion and debates should be promoted in schools and colleges to create awareness and sensitization toward different moral policing.
- People should avoid getting distracted by religious polarization and cherish and uphold the constitutional value of secularism.
- Voting is the biggest weapon and people should elect only the candidates who themselves are secular, tolerant, and respect the diversity of the nation.
- The misuse of technology to broadcast the act of moral policing requires the police to increase their capabilities in dealing with cybercrime.
- Campaigns that address the stigma that often gets attached to victims of sexual violence must be launched.
- As of 2021, the conviction rate in India for crimes against women was an abysmal 26 per cent. That figure represents a shortcoming that must be urgently addressed by investigating and prosecuting agencies.
Conclusion: For the broader political class and civil society, the task is simple: The freedom of choice of individuals must be protected, not sacrificed at the altar of thin-skinned prejudice.
Editorial 2 : Bridging capacity
Introduction: Last week, the country’s longest sea bridge, the 22-km long six-lane Atal Setu was inaugurated. Formally called the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu or the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the bridge has been built at a cost of Rs 17,840 crore.
Significance of the bridge
- By using this bridge, commuters will be able to cut the travel time between central Mumbai and the fast-growing Navi Mumbai from 2 hours to about 20 minutes.
- But viewing the Atal Setu merely as a way to decongest the traffic woes in India’s financial capital would be akin to missing the forest for the trees.
- It is indeed another key step in India’s bid to transform not only its physical infrastructure but also its global image as an investment destination.
India’s push for large infrastructure projects
- Over the past decade, the government has carried out structural reforms that will pave the way for India’s economy to realise its full potential.
- In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, India’s growth story faltered as the economy faced the twin-balance sheet problem — private businesses were over-leveraged while most of the banks were weighed down by non-performing assets.
- These factors threatened to drag down India’s ability to become an international investment destination and compete with the likes of China.
- As things stand today, Indian banks have been nursed back to health, and they are both ready and capable of financing India’s growth.
- In the meantime, the government has taken a lead in boosting infrastructure.
- It has done this both by allocating an increasing amount of resources towards capital expenditure as well as improving the implementation of such projects.
- Most metrics suggest that be it roads, railways, ports, airports or bridges, the pace and quality of construction has risen sharply from the long-term average.
- What’s more, this pace of infrastructure creation is set to increase.
How building infrastructure will help India?
- Focus on boosting infrastructure — be it physical or digital — is of paramount importance if India wants to truly take advantage of the disenchantment with China that’s setting in several parts of the world.
- Developed country markets and investors are looking for countries that can replace China in the global supply chain.
- India can leverage this opportunity to become a developed country in the next quarter of a century if it can find a way to match its existing advantages of a young and ambitious labour force, a free-market economic system and a vibrant democracy with the kind of infrastructure these deserve.
- However, a bulk of the capacity enhancements are a result of direct government spending.
- In an emerging economy, there are limits to how long the government can go all by itself.
- For sustained growth, the private sector needs to step in as well.
Existing Policies to attract private investments in infrastructure
- National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP): Launched in 2019, the NIP outlines over 8,000 projects with an estimated investment of $1.4 trillion, across sectors like energy, transport, and urban infrastructure. This aims to provide transparency and a long-term pipeline for investors.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): The PPP model has been a key driver for private participation in infrastructure development. The government can further improve project viability, streamline approval processes, and share risks effectively to attract more investors.
- Investor-friendly reforms: Initiatives like the Ease of Doing Business reforms, streamlining land acquisition, and simplifying dispute resolution mechanisms aim to create a more conducive environment for private players.
- Sector-specific incentives: The government offers tax breaks, viability gap funding, and other financial incentives to encourage investment in specific sectors like renewable energy or social infrastructure.
Potential Strategies to Further Attract Private Investment:
- Enhanced project selection and preparation: Focus on prioritizing commercially viable projects with clear revenue streams and well-defined risk allocation to attract private capital.
- Strengthening contract sanctity and regulatory environment: Ensure predictable and transparent regulations, and establish robust mechanisms for resolving disputes quickly and fairly.
- Leveraging innovation and technology: Encourage the use of innovative technologies like drones, modular construction, and digital payments to reduce costs and improve project efficiency.
- Developing long-term financing mechanisms: Explore diverse financing options such as infrastructure bonds, public-private investment funds, and pension fund participation to broaden the investor base.
- Focus on sustainable infrastructure: Promote investment in green infrastructure projects like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green transportation to align with global trends and attract environmentally conscious investors.
- Building capacity and skill development: Enhance the skills and knowledge of government officials and private sector professionals to effectively manage and implement PPP projects.
Conclusion: Atal Setu is a significant step in India’s bid to project itself as a key investment destination. The more challenging task would be to continue this momentum and bring more private sector investments in infrastructure.