Tracking Transition 2014: Post election hope, ministries face challenge of delivering

[Defence]

Forces moving, but miles to go

By: PRANAV KULKARNI

The November 9 cabinet reshuffle finally gave the Defence Ministry a full- time minister in Manohar Parrikar. The Modi government has gone some distance in ending the stagnation that had set in under the UPA, rolling out long-awaited decisions on big ticket defence programmes and increasing the FDI cap in defence production to 49 per cent. But there is more the defence forces need — not only in terms of equipment modernisation but also towards manpower, training, defence industrial base and fulfilment of promises made to ex-servicemen.

Submarines under project 75i for the Navy, artillery systems for the Army, and Apache and Chinook choppers for the IAF received a push in the first six months of the new government. But while the government has raised the FDI cap to 49 per cent, Parliament was recently informed that since 2000, when the defence sector was opened to FDI, just 33 proposals have been approved, and only Rs 24.36 crore of FDI received.

A mechanism for timely induction of platforms, and creating a robust defence industrial base are expected in the coming years. Parrikar has indicated systemic changes in defence acquisition, and signalled a defining of the role of middlemen — “representatives” in his words — in the revised Defence Procurement Policy.

The stand-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, and the frequent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan — 152 instances until October — remain significant issues. Analysts have argued that forces along the LoC need to be backed up with “teeth” in 2015 — this involves the strengthening of sensors and shooters and, more importantly, the morale, indiscipline, numbers and training of the men behind the weapons.

The forces remain short of 9,845 officers and about 41,000 men. The Army has set itself a target of reducing the shortage of officers by one per cent per year until 2020. How the ministry goes about achieving this remains to be seen.

Parrikar has agreed that the Border Roads Organisation faces a “problem”. The government has already cleared four critical railway lines along the border with China. But the ministry will be judged by the timely implementation of projects such as raising a mountain strike corps.

[Railways]

Prabhu in the loco, need to go full power ahead

By: AVISHEK G DASTIDAR

DV Sadananda Gowda followed Mallikarjun Kharge as the Modi government’s first Railway Minister, but stability in Rail Bhawan remained elusive. Gowda, whose performance in office was described as “unremarkable”, was replaced by Suresh Prabhu, who has a reputation of being a pro-reform, tech-savvy, man of action.

The Modi government’s first Rail Budget in July gave out the message that the days of seeking freebies from the Railways were over. Citing severe financial crisis, the Rail Budget shortlisted only 30 ongoing projects to fund, and took up customer service as an area of action — cleanliness being the main focus. A fare hike of around 14 per cent — approved by the outgoing UPA regime — was effected.

The hyped high-speed rail project was formally sanctioned its first funds — Rs 100 crore. A new expression came into being in the Railways ecosystem — Diamond Quadrilateral, a 10,000-km network of high-speed railways connecting all major cities. Delhi-Chennai, the country’s longest bullet train route, a part of the quadrilateral, received formal sanction.

[Education]

Lots to cover in important course

By: RUHI TEWARI

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has been in the news, mostly for controversies it has generated.

From replacing German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to the University Grants Commission clampdown on Delhi University’s Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), from UGC asking IITs to align their courses and degrees with the ones it recognises to the latest row over the resignation of the IIT Delhi director, the Smriti Irani-led ministry has been spending more time on firefighting than on policy matters.

The ministry’s directive to educational institutions to organise activities and events on December 25 to mark “Good Governance Day”, and its mishandling of the issue in Parliament and outside, brought needless embarrassment to the government.

In 2015, the ministry will be looking to refocus — concentrating on policy initiatives and clearing important pending appointments. Top of the agenda is the new education policy, deliberations on which are expected to begin soon. Irani has said the policy would be decided after discussions with a national sweep.

The minister has also said a review of the Right to Education Act and the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan would be carried out. The ministry will look to appoint the NCERT Director, CBSE Chairman, Vice Chancellors of some central universities, and the ICSSR and ICHR councils.

A revision of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), drawn up in 2005, is also on the cards. The Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyaan programme will also be set in motion.

The next year will be crucial in understanding the government’s policy thrust in education, and in determining the extent of the influence the RSS is likely to wield.

[Women & Child Development ]

WATCH

Changes in National Commission for Women Act to give it more teeth.
New NCPCR chairperson.
Changes in Domestic Violence Act.
Crackdown on corruption in adoption.
Training of anganwadi workers under the Nutrition Mission.

[Minority affairs]

WATCH

A DBT way for minority scholarships has been planned.
Equal Opportunities Commission may finally see the light of day.
National Commission for Minorities could shrug off its inertia.
‘Hunar’ for traditional skill development may finally get off ground.