#rajasthan ev policy

[electricparivahan]

राजस्थान में ईवी कस्टमर को नहीं मिल रही सब्सिडी, अधिकारियो ने बताया कारण

इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पर राजस्थान में स्टेट सब्सिडी के बावजूद अभी तक हजारों कस्टमर अपने इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल के लिए सब्सिडी के इंतजार में हैं। रिपोर्ट की माने तो लगभग 50,000 हजार इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल ओवनर को अपने इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पर सब्सिडी नहीं मिली है, और इसमें इलेक्ट्रिक स्कूटर, इलेक्ट्रिक बाइक, इलेक्ट्रिक थ्रीव्हीलर और इलेक्ट्रिक कार के साथ साथ इलेक्ट्रिक बसें भी शामिल…

[kpigreenenergy]

5 Smart Ways to Invest in Solar Energy: Key Benefits for 2024

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Solar energy appears as a ray of opportunity and optimism in an age when sustainability and inventiveness coexist. 2024 will see this industry see unheard-of expansion, driven by strong government incentives and technological improvements. Here are five smart ways to invest in solar energy, a subject rich with opportunity for both financial gain and environmental benefit brought to you by the leading Solar Power Company in Gujarat.

1. Stock Investments in Solar Manufacturing Companies

India's commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity has seen a surge in both domestic and international solar manufacturing companies establishing a presence in the market. Investing in the stocks of companies that have a significant operational footprint in India, such as Adani Green Energy, Tata Power Solar, KPI Green Energy and ReNew Power, offers investors a direct pathway into the burgeoning solar sector. These companies are not just manufacturing solar panels but are also involved in large-scale solar project developments across the country. Their growth is bolstered by government policies aimed at increasing solar capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Investors can benefit from the growth of these companies as they expand their operations and increase their contribution to India's solar energy capacity.

2. Land Development for Utility-Scale Solar Projects

The Indian government's ambitious targets for solar energy production have made land development for utility-scale solar projects a highly attractive investment. With policies supporting solar park developments and offering various incentives for renewable energy projects, the potential for high returns on investment is significant. States such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, known for their high solar installation, have become hotspots for such developments. The key to success in this avenue is navigating the regulatory environment and leveraging government incentives to maximize the investment return. This approach not only promises financial benefits but also supports India's transition towards sustainable energy sources.

3. Commercial Solar Installation Tax Reductions

The Indian government offers a range of financial incentives to encourage solar energy investments, including capital subsidies, accelerated depreciation benefits, and tax credits. These incentives are designed to reduce the upfront cost of solar installations and improve the project's overall financial viability. Investors can take advantage of these benefits by funding commercial and industrial solar projects. Such projects not only provide a steady return on investment through power purchase agreements (PPAs) but also contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of businesses. With India's increasing focus on sustainability and clean energy, the demand for commercial solar installations is expected to rise, offering ample opportunities for investors.

4. Investing in Solar EV Charging Stations

With India's electric vehicle (EV) market poised for significant growth, investing in solar-powered EV charging stations emerges as a forward-thinking strategy. This initiative aligns with the government's push towards electric mobility and its broader environmental goals. Solar EV charging stations leverage India's abundant solar energy to provide clean, renewable power for electric vehicles, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of solar panels with EV charging infrastructure not only ensures a sustainable energy source but also capitalizes on the synergies between the solar and electric vehicle sectors. This investment avenue is particularly attractive due to its dual benefit: supporting the expansion of India's solar capacity while facilitating the transition to electric mobility. As the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, the demand for charging infrastructure will rise, presenting a lucrative opportunity for investors to contribute to India's clean energy future.

5. Be a Proud Solar Home Owner

Investing in solar panels can significantly lower, and sometimes even eliminate, your electricity bills. The upfront cost is balanced out by the long-term savings on energy expenses, with homeowners typically breaking even within eight years. Furthermore, solar energy systems can increase the resale value of your home and reduce your carbon footprint. In Gujarat, for instance, a subsidy is available for the installation of grid-connected solar rooftop power plants, making solar energy more accessible to residential and institutional buildings.

India's Solar Energy Landscape

India's commitment to solar energy is robust, with the government rolling out schemes like the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) and the Solar Park Scheme to bolster domestic manufacturing and solar power generation. With an ambition to become a net-zero carbon country by 2070, India is setting the stage for a renewable revolution, aiming for 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

KPI Green Energy: Pioneering Journey Towards Sustainable Future

Under the "Solarism" brand, KPI Green Energy as the leading Solar Energy Company in Surat is racing towards a monumental goal of 1000+ MW in solar energy by 2025, having already achieved significant milestones in hybrid energy solutions with 198+ MW as orders and 54+ MW capacity energized as of Q3FY24. This aggressive push towards renewable energy aligns with the Government of India's initiatives, contributing to a cleaner and greener future for humanity.

Get in touch

Email: info@kpgroup.co

Contact: +912612244757 | +912612234757

Website: https://www.kpigreenenergy.com/

[newswave-kota]

PHF Leasing Ltd. announces hiring of over 200 people

Openings will be across 10 states and Union Territories of Operations  Newswave @ Jallandhar PHF Leasing Limited, the Metropolitan Stock Exchange listed (PHF / INE405N01016), deposit accepting NBFC, headquartered in Jallandhar, Punjab, announced their hiring plans for the next two quarters. From the current 400+ employees, the company is targeting to employ another 200 people across sectors over the next two quarters, in keeping with its growth plans and new office openings.

PHF Leasing is a category “A” Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company registered with Reserve Bank of India since 1998. PHF Leasing has been on a growth overdrive, clocking over 100% growth over the last 3 years, by opening new segments (Loan Against Property and Electric Light Commercial Vehicles) and new geographies. Today, it has presence in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Madhya Pradesh and most of the recruitment will be to strengthen the teams in these places as well as open some eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal, etc. “As we grow, our people requirement will grow significantly too. In the immediate future, we hope to increase our staff strength substantially and PHF will become a force to reckon with in our areas of operations. We hope to recruit around 200 people across all functions by September / October of this year. We invest heavily in our human resources and this will continue”, says Shalya Gupta, CEO, PHF Leasing Limited. “People Centricity is one of our core strengths and at PHF Leasing we ensure that the bond with the employees is not transactional but carefully nurtured at a personal level as well. We have put systems in place to ensure that our employees feel comfortable, motivated and excel in their jobs. Cross functional connections is one of the mainstays of our HR policy and our teams have a deep bond within the company. We are happy to have low attrition and hope to maintain it in the years to come”, he adds. About PHF Leasing Limited : Incorporated in 1992, PHF Leasing Limited is a Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India listed, deposit accepting NBFC, headquartered in Jallandhar, Punjab. The Company is a category “A” Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company registered with Reserve Bank of India since 1998. The product portfolio includes Mortgage loans against immovable property (LAP) and financing E-vehicles primarily E-rickshaws, E-loaders and EV – 2 wheelers. Operating in Nine states & UT, PHF Leasing is operating in 100+ Locations and employs 400+ people. For more information, please visit: www.phfleasing.com Read the full article

[thegreenenergy]

Climate Change and Deployment of Renewable Energy

Climate change has evolved as a major concern for the entire world. The earth is heating, there is uneven rainfall, there is a rise in greenhouse gases, and many more factors leading to global warming. The mainstream topic for the world is now “Climate Change".

According to the "Tracking Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)7," an accelerated deployment of renewable energy is required in the electricity, heat, and transportation sectors to achieve universal access to affordable, dependable, and sustainable energy and achieve climate change goals.

There are several activities undertaken by the Indian Government towards the deployment of renewable energy. India ranks fourth worldwide in the consumption of solar energy, and it has more than 40 solar power plants across the country. The largest solar power park in the world is located in India's Bhadla Rajasthan and covers more than 14,000 acres or roughly twice the size of Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Companies such as Adani, Hindustan Power, Reliance, TATA, JSW Steel, and many more are playing a significant role in renewable energy in India. Solar, wind, hydro, thermal and green hydrogen have been their prime focus to meet cope with the energy demand in India and to maintain the ecological balance. Ratul Puri who is The Chairman of Hindustan Power considers that the transition towards renewable energy will significantly contribute to meeting the climate change goals.

The UPA government’s "Aatmanirbhar (self-sufficient) Bharat" vision, to make India energy independent with the widespread deployment of renewable energy will play a crucial role in combating the challenges of climate change. The government is also promoting the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to maintain a clean environment with zero emissions. The Chairman of HPPPL Ratul Puri sees these as a remarkable step in addressing the power sectors of India and a method to address the climate change issue.

According to a press release from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), India and the US have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat climate change and meet Indian Railways' goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

According to the official statement, the MOU will make use of the partners' combined knowledge, capital, and inventiveness to hasten the adoption of energy storage, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies in line with the net-zero objective. This has been done to combat the issues of climate change.

The sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth are all abundant sources of renewable energy that replenish themselves naturally and emit little to no greenhouse gases or other air pollutants. Nature itself consists of every element that is essential to maintain the ecological balance. Renewable resources are like a gift of nature to mankind, and it requires positive harnessing and utilization to combat the threat possess by climate change.

Thus, there is a need for strong policies, administration, and proper harnessing of renewable resources so that they can play a vital or considerable role in addressing the issues of climate change, which is posing a serious threat at a global level currently. The deployment of renewable energy will lessen the pressure from non-renewable resources and will create a bridge of balance. This will in a way help in addressing the issues of climate change.

Both government and private entities require a systematic approach to tackling such environmental issues. Uneven rainfall, heat, melting of glaciers, cyclones, and other natural hazards are the results of climate change. Since it is an alarming issue and needs to be addressed at the earliest before it's too late. The only solution to this at the moment is deployment of renewable energy.

[abhayhatia]

Rajasthan govt to roll out EV policy soon - ET EnergyWorld

Rajasthan govt to roll out EV policy soon – ET EnergyWorld

New Delhi: Close on the heels of Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat and Telangana, Rajasthan is also ready to launch the much-awaited Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy. “The EV policy draft is ready and will be sent to the finance department very soon for approval,” Mahendra Soni, Commissioner, Transport Department, Rajasthan government, told IANS. The state government recently announced a few incentives,…

[gaadikey]

Rajasthan Govt announces incentive of Rs. 10,690 per electric motorbike sold

Rajasthan Govt announces incentive of Rs. 10,690 per electric motorbike sold

EV makers in India welcomed the Rajasthan Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 announced by the state. In the backdrop of other states recently coming up with incentives for adoption of electric vehicles, Rajasthan also announced its EV policy whereby customers of electric two wheelers will get incentives based on battery capacity of vehicle. With battery capacity of 3.24KWh these incentives for Revolt…

[themachinemakersblog]

The Rajasthan government last week introduced its electric vehicle policy 2021 in which it stated that the state will reimburse state goods and services tax (SGST) on the sale of electric vehicles (EV) in Rajasthan. The SGST refund would be calculated using the SGST amount specified in the bill of sale. E2W and E3W are eligible for subsidies based on their battery capacity. Looking closer, it becomes clear that Rajasthan's subsidies are significantly lower than those offered by states such as Gujarat. The Gujarat EV Program covers a 20,000 ($270) subsidy for E2Ws costing up to 150,000 ($2,018); a 50,000 ($673) subsidy for E3Ws costing up to 500,000 ($6,731); and a 150,000 ($2,018) subsidy for electric cars costing up to 1.5 million ($20,193). In addition, no subsidies for the purchase of electric cars and buses were offered in Rajasthan, and there was no mention of EV charging infrastructure. There is no major subsidy for electric vehicles or SUVs.Some may be surprised to learn that the policy excludes electric cars and SUVs and does not provide significant incentives to buyers of such vehicles. Only buyers of electric two- and three-wheelers are eligible for the one-time subsidy

[indianpolsoc]

FC Barcelona and the Indian National Congress: The uncanny resemblance

The following is a piece by Anunay Chowdhury. Anunay is a second-year student of Law at King’s College London. 

Perhaps this is the strangest analogy that you would read today. FC Barcelona and Indian National Congress do not have any substantial similarity but, atypically, two of the most prominent organizations in their respective fields have much more in common than one would expect. The exit of a brilliant Brazilian player, Neymar in 2015 made Barcelona vulnerable and has been witnessing some of the most embarrassing moments in the club’s modern history. On the other side, the Indian National Congress is barely keeping up in the wake of Bhartiya Janta Party’s dominance in the national scene. A closer look at two organizations, who operate in two very distinct professions may reveal a similar flaw.  

The recent headlines have put the Grand Old Party on a very fragile tactical ground. After the episodes in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, Indian National Congress is trying to salvage whatever remains of its minuscule repute in the state of Rajasthan. Sachin Pilot, a next-gen leader of the Indian National Congress and has been rumoured to be in direct conflict with local state leadership. He had single-handedly helped INC win the Rajasthan state elections in 2018. In 2015, INC only won on 21 seats out 200 in Rajasthan. The number increased to 100 seats in the 2018 election. Post his absence from the state Indian National Congress meeting; he has been dishonourably relieved from his duty as the INC Rajasthan President. As a mitigating response, the party leadership has called all the MLAs to gather in a fancy resort to contain the horse-trading from the other side – somehow the epistemology of this idea always escapes me. There were widespread rumours that Sachin Pilot was denied CMship in 2018 after the so-called resurgence of the Indian National Congress in the national scene after the near-lethal drubbing of INC after the 2014 national and state election.

The story of FC Barcelona of 2019, however coincidently, mirrors the near demise of Indian National Congress in the Indian political landscape. The FC Barcelona is the 2nd biggest club in the world by revenue - 2nd only to the national rival Real Madrid. Despite having, inarguably, the best player in the history of football, FC Barcelona has only been consistent in their dreary and insipid football. Under their former manager Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona played one of the best football and embraced much of the identity for which they were known till date. The oozing display of possession and creativity has now decayed into relentless horizontal passing with no intent to threaten the opposing side. Almost all of their offensive movement goes through Lionel Messi, who in his day can still manage to outperform all the of the rest of the players on the field. Managers still fail to draw tactics to contain a single player in a game of 22. Lionel Messi has been, for the past two years, in a Super-Saiyan mode and has been dragging Barcelona alone. But the miracle-man still plays a team game, despite creating havoc on the field, the rules of the game remain the same – one who scores more will win. The ageing squad of FC Barcelona and dystopian management is at the core of the problem. Messi is himself 32, and he has to respect the biological limit of his body. Eight of the 20-player squad is above the age of 30. On average, 5 of the ten outfield players in a match are above the age of 30. The team does not have a classical wing player and depends on newly promoted 18-year-old Ansu Fati for occasional help. The team often seems confused and static and depend only on Lionel Messi to produce an opening for an attack. The management has spent more than 800 million pounds after the exit of the star player Neymar. Amidst the race to replace Neymar, FC Barcelona nearly killed the career of Phillipe Coutinho who joined Barcelona on the premise of winning big trophies. He has, since then, seen his former club, Liverpool FC, win everything that he was meant to win at FC Barcelona.

The ageing squad has run out of ideas, strength and passion for competing at a higher level. The manager seems reluctant to preclude ageing players due to their enormity of stature in the team. Management is disinclined to allow youth players into the first team. There seems to be a kind of hegemony of older players which undermines the managerial authority in the team selection process. Imbecilic man-management lead to expenditure on players that do not fit the requirement of the team. Barcelona is often seen succumbing to the pressure by other teams if they press high or lay deep back in defence. It only exposes off the field leadership in the hierarchy of players.

In short, Barcelona does not inspire confidence among fans, like me, that they can compete with the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid. As long as they are dependent on just one man supplemented with their boring and dull tactics, lack of speed on the wings, midfielders not having freedom and creativity to anchor attacks, Barcelona is doing just everything to fall into oblivion like AC Milan and Manchester United. Fans have nothing but to sporadically orgasm on historical achievements of the club.

That surely rings a bell. The story of the Indian National Congress is the same. The recent ousting of Sachin Pilot from the Rajasthan state wing of the Indian National Congress has been linked to the weakened relations with the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot. Some political analyst speculates that the souring relationship is due to the growing prominence of Sachin Pilot in the Rajasthan cadre of the Indian National Congress. Ashok Gehlot felt threatened due to diminishing prospect of his son growing in the ranks of the Indian National Congress in Rajasthan. Previously, Ashok Gehlot’s push to favour his son for the post of Rajasthan Cricket Association had created a concern for the local leaders of the party[1]. This is not the first time we have seen that despotic top tier party members exercise influence over the party decisions resulting in neglecting deserving candidates.

In recent times, the progression of the local leaders to the higher posts in the party has become a big concern. Much of the consternation is due to the power-hungry party veteran that does not let grassroot-workers to climb up the ladder. Former spokesperson of the party Sanjay Jha had penned the same concern in recent columns in Times of India. Instead of introspection, party discharged Sanjay Jha of his duties. He grew very critical of the lack of transparency in the internal party matters[2]. As for the matter of corroboration, he further wrote that his colleagues in the party expressed appreciation that he raised a very pertinent issue but simultaneously was left aghast by the lack of public support[3].

The leadership vacuum is another major problem. It emanates explicitly from the fact that Rahul Gandhi does not understand politics – plain and simple. Recklessness aside, BJP installed LCD TVs in the remotest of the areas in West Bengal during the Covid-19 pandemic for Amit Shah’s virtual rally for the upcoming West Bengal state elections.  As against, Rahul Gandhi uploaded a video on Facebook critiquing Modi’s policies only to realise that around 70% of the voters in the elections do not have access to Facebook. Some student in 2017 wrote to Guinness Book of World Record to enlist Rahul Gandhi as the man who lost most elections [4]. He assumed the responsibility of the President in 2017 from his mother, Sonia Gandhi. After the 2019 Lok Sabha election, as Salman Khan would choke on 21st-century film-making after watching likes of Inception, Rahul Gandhi could barely fathom the enormity of the loss. As a response, Rahul Gandhi resigned from the post of President and submitted the letter of resignation to his mother, who has since taken charge instead. Initially, Sonia Gandhi was reluctant to accept the resignation but accepted it eventually. Rahul Gandhi was projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the Indian National Congress. The man has not held any administrative post in his entire life and managed to lose his constituency of Amethi, Uttar Pradesh was is nearly considered to be the family heirloom of the Gandhi’s. INC won 13 out of the 15 Lok Sabha elections that were held in Amethi before 2019 Lok Sabha election. The seat has been previously held by Rahul Gandhi’s father and mother – Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. These days, the former President of the INC has been reduced to memes and a universal symbol of political comic relief. In the times of alleged historical appropriation by Bhartiya Janta Party, Rahul Gandhi can be seen invoking his great grandfather – Jawaharlal Nehru, advocating on his behalf about the magnificence of his stature and his contribution to building modern India. Rahul Gandhi is nowhere near the acclaim of Jawaharlal Nehru. If resuscitated, Nehru would prefer going back to his grave than to witness the abysmal result of his progeny.

It is not the first time that the politicians are jumping the ships but what is surprising in the case of INC is the level of leadership and how they quit. Jyotiraditya Scindia was not any other leader in the Indian National Congress. He had a firm grip on the central Madhya Pradesh constituencies and had the support of 22 MLA’s while quitting the INC. As the media outlets reported, he grew discontented by the INC leadership or lack of it. Part of leadership is to maintain a close grip on prominent regional leaders and to make sure that their efforts are reciprocated. Despite delivering, Scindia did not feel having an essential role in the Madhya Pradesh government.  

Once the beacon of freedom and liberty, the Indian National Congress is now in complete shambles and has been showing every symptom of an imminent implosion. The party has run out of ideas and lacks a democratic structure internally. All the next-gen leaders that were given an early opportunity by the INC, Like Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Milind Deora, Priya Dutt and Jitin Prasada seems to have only cemented their resolute against Sonia-Rahul hegemony over INC. The party has no one to blame but itself for its fallout with leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot. Rahul Gandhi is not a leader and can never be a leader, in the race of gladiators; he is merely a loony tune character.

Indian National Congress needs to revamp its internal structure to revive confidence among the party members and local party workers. The party needs a leader with inherent qualities to man-manage the party to march them forward. It is running out of time to be trying to groom and spoon feed a baby adult into believing that he is a leader. The party requires a more liberated federal structure. A fresh approach to reach masses at grassroot level is the need of the hour.  If there is any chance for INC to salvage anything before the 2023 election, the time is of the essence. In the period from 1998 till today, INC has had only two presidents irrespective of the result as against Bhartiya Janta Party has had ten presidents in the same period. While the one is a beacon of democratic liberal values and the other one is regarded as a fascist organization. The party has to look beyond the clutches of the Rahul-Sonia leadership. An apposite effort-reward equation has to be set among the party lines, so the deserving candidates have necessary means to prove their mettle. The communication divide between the so-called “High Command” has to be bridged by delegation and more transparency.

FC Barcelona presidentship is up for elections in 2021 with the leading candidate, Victor Font promising a bright project including bringing back Xavi Hernandez, one of the leading squad member of 2011 Barcelona squad and a close apprentice of Pep Guardiola, as the head coach of the team. Xavi promises to bring back the electrifying football of FC Barcelona with particular reliance on youth and academy players. It remains to be seen what Indian National Congress would do to stop leakage of prominent next-gen leaders out of the party. How congress party will approach the 2023 general election would set the tone for the ultimate future of the party.  

 [1] https://theprint.in/politics/ashok-gehlot-son-rajasthan-cricket-congress/300861/

[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sanjay-jha-removed-as-congress-spokesperson-days-after-he-penned-critical-article-against-party/story-cHG4SZysgjtHKqTt1vWouO.html

[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/congressmen-watching-silently-as-party-hurtles-towards-political-obsolescence/

[4] https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/rahul-gandhi-might-make-it-to-guinness-book-for-losing-27-elections-117032100523_1.html

[pwcindia2-blog]

Towards eMobility: Putting the consumer at the wheel

An overview of the demand and sales of electric vehicles in India

The Indian automotive industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6% over the last four years. The Indian electric vehicle market has also seen growth through government regulations and investment outlays, especially in the areas of affordability and charging infrastructure. Electric vehicle (EV) sales in India have reached 0.759 million in FY 2019.

 Impact of the FAME I scheme in India

Phase I of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme was one of the key government policies for electric vehicles launched in 2015.

FAME I was launched to promote the manufacturing of electric vehicles and improve their viability from a consumer perspective.

The scheme has been successful, with sales of electric vehicles in India having crossed approximately 7.5 lakh in FY 2019.

While the majority of sales in the Indian electric vehicle segment have been in the three-wheeler category, the demand for incentives under the FAME I scheme in India has been primarily from two-wheeler (61%) and four-wheeler categories (38%).

States which have contributed 80% of the sales of two-wheelers under the FAME I scheme in India are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

States which have contributed 80% of the sales of three-wheelers under the FAME I scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Assam and Odisha.

States which have contributed 80% of the sales of four-wheelers under the FAME I scheme in India are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

For more detail please click here: https://www.pwc.in/research-insights/2019/towards-emobility.html

[theautomotivetimes]

🚨 Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 : Updated by Rajasthan Government. . . Highlights : ➡️ The policy states that Rajasthan will refund the state component of GST (SGST) to the consumers of the EVs in the state. The buyers who will purchase EVs between April 2021 and March 2022 will receive this benefit. ➡️ Over and above this SGST refund, all the electric two and three-wheeler consumers will be eligible for additional cash subsidies. Amount of this cash subsidy will range between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000, depending on the size of the battery. ➡️ The electric two-wheelers will receive cash benefits between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 depending on battery capacity between2 kWh and over 5 kWh. Electric three-wheelers on the other hand will be eligible for cash benefits between ₹10,000 and ₹20,000, depending on battery capacity between 3 kWh and more than 5 kWh. ⚠️ However, unlike other states, the Rajasthan government will not provide any cash subsidies for electric passenger vehicles or electric buses. Also, the quantum of EV subsidy for two and three-wheelers are lower than in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. . . ➡️ Do follow @theautomotivetimes.at . . #theautomotivetimes #news #dailynews #automotivefacts #automotiveupdates #automotivenews #newsupdates #newsupdate #trending #latestnews #latest #trendingnow #electricvehicle #teslaindia #indiatesla #tesla #electriccar #EV #EvPolicy #ElectricVehiclePolicy #RajasthanEVpolicy #EvPolicyRajasthan #electricCarsubsidy #EVsubsidy #buyelectriccar #nexonEV #MGZSEV #HyundaiKona #tataNexonEV #tataTigorEV https://www.instagram.com/p/CReOmCyA-D4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nasiknews]

EV: Rajasthan announces subsidies to promote electric vehicles after Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat announce similar schemes

EV: Rajasthan announces subsidies to promote electric vehicles after Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat announce similar schemes

The Rajasthan Government on Friday announced a policy to subsidise the sale of electric vehicles (EV) making it the latest state to have such a policy after Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. As per the policy document, the state component of the goods and services tax (SGST) would be refunded to buyers of all EVs in Rajasthan between April this year and March 2022. Moreover, buyers of electric…

[bbcbreakingnews]

Congress ratchets up pressure on govt on eve of farmers talks

NEW DELHI: Upping the pressure on the eve of the Centre’s talks with farmers, Congress Tuesday said that Modi regime should repeal the three controversial farm laws and bring fresh bills with proposed amendments in Parliament. It said the government should settle the standoff according to the demands of the farmers. Asked if his comment about making amendments marked a shift in Congress demand that the three laws should be annulled, AICC spokesperson Rajiv Shukla clarified, ���You first repeal the laws and then bring new laws incorporating the changes that the farmers are demanding. It is the normal legislative process.” Shukla told a press conference that farmers were seriously worried about the attempts to end the MSP regime and Mandis, adding that it was reprehensible that government and the ruling BJP were trying to paint the agitation as a political conspiracy. “The government’s motives are dubious,” he, along with Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Dotasra, said. Dotasra claimed that farmers in Rajasthan were agitated over the “intransigence” of the Centre and were set to join the protest at the Delhi border if Wednesday’s talks don’t yield a positive result. “PM Narendra Modi sought votes by promising that he will work in the farmers’ interest and raise the MSP according to a formula based on input costs. Now, he is conspiring against the farmers. The farming community is angry and is keenly watching the talks being carried out by the Central government,” he said. Shukla said every section of society was unhappy with the Modi government because of its policies like demonetisation, GST and farm laws.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2020/12/30/congress-ratchets-up-pressure-on-govt-on-eve-of-farmers-talks/

[vsplusonline]

A $163 billion industry struggles to reduce its dependency on Chinese imports

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/a-163-billion-industry-struggles-to-reduce-its-dependency-on-chinese-imports/

A $163 billion industry struggles to reduce its dependency on Chinese imports

A 21-day nationwide lockdown and very high dependency on China has meant one of the bright spots in India’s manufacturing sector finds itself in severe stress. The chemical industry, a sector worth $163 billion, covering more than 80,000 commercial products, is now struggling.

Much before the Covid-19 crisis, a strong year-on-year performance meant India’s national investment promotion and facilitation agency, Invest India, forecasted that the domestic chemical industry is projected to reach $304 billion by 2025. But now, this ambitious target looks a far fetched dream.

ET Digital reached out to some industry stakeholders, who held a unanimous view that both the outbreak and the lockdowns across factories and plants have severely throttled the domestic chemical manufacturing. More importantly, in their view, this will get further worsened due to disruption in supplies of raw material and capital goods etc.

The Indian sector has long been dependent on China to critical source imports. The neighbouring country, known as the world’s factory, is India’s biggest source of intermediate goods, a sector that, as per official estimates sees bilateral trade worth $30 billion a year.

So, can the Indian chemical sector not do without a helping hand from China? According to Satish Wagh, Ex-Chairman, Chemexcil, the existing level of dependency on China for procurement, sourcing of raw material is huge, and in the short-term, it is hard to find a replacement.

“Chemical Industries will be highly impacted due to shortage and non-availabilities of raw materials from China, finding an alternative to China now is next to impossible,” says Wagh.

The industry expert adds that to ramp up domestic production in such a scenario, suppliers from US, EU, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN Countries, South Africa and others can fill the space vacated by the Chinese suppliers. However, for that to become a possibility, these countries have to get out of their own lockdowns, sort out trade preferences, capacity constraints, high logistics cost and non-tariff barriers and restrictions.

Urgent, to do list For Parag Jhaveri, Managing Director, Yasho Industries, a global exporter of chemicals, one thing that players can certainly try out in this precarious situation is to re-strategise their supply chains. “Diversifying supply chains can certainly help because any concentration in the supply chain can result in potential damages to businesses just as happening today. Indian businesses can diversify their vendors and supply chains so that the overall risk is mitigated,” he suggests.

This is particularly important when it comes to a situation like a pandemic, where much of the world is seeing large scale disruptions. U Shekhar, Chairman, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd says he has alternative supplies from Europe and part of Asia such as Korea, Japan etc. The trick here is to have many suppliers to hedge your bets against large scale disruption. Also, as the Covid-19 virus progresses, different regions find themselves in different levels of lockdown. While much of Europe and the US has come to a halt, factories in Japan and South Korea and still functioning, while China is slowly coming back online.

Echoing a similar view, Jhaveri adds that for the last three years, the company has started minimising its dependence on Chinese markets since a lot of supply disturbance was witnessed on a regular basis. “The US, Japan, Korea and EU based suppliers are a bit costlier than Chinese ones, but we are continuing with them. Not just us, many fellow players have started minimising their exposure to China market,” he highlights.

iStock

Outbreak as opportunity For players like Jhaveri, Covid-19 minus all the distress, can also be seen as a black swan event for the sector. The country ranks sixth in the world in chemical sales and is placed 14th in export globally.

“Post the coronavirus scare, the world will not rely on China alone now. When we talk to foreign customers, we get a sense that they have now started giving a hard look to Chinese supplies. They are now increasingly looking at alternate sources, he says.”

In the case of chemicals, the best options come from India or South Korea, chemical players now see an excellent business opportunity for India, if they can ride the current storm.

On the things the industry must urgently do, Wagh is of the view that the Government and trade and Industries need to think and act both together, tactically as well as strategically.

He adds that procurement of mines of critical raw materials, rare earth materials, natural resources in other countries and implementation of a well thought “Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) to enhance India’s trade share in global trade”, is the need of the hour.

Asked what the government can do to ease the economic fallout of the outbreak in the short term, the industry expert suggests that the government needs to quickly find resolutions to the issue of environmental moratorium in major industrial estates in Gujarat and Rajasthan, besides allowing product mix changes and capacity expansion as a temporary measure.

“Negotiation for a reduction of the substantial increase in product registration costs and prolonged timelines (3-5 years) for registration in countries like the EU, South Korea, Turkey, the USA, Russia, China and Brazil must also be taken up,” Wagh adds, highlighting only then the damage can be controlled to some extent.

Representatives from the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) also highlight some of the steps the Government must take to help the sector, which is also the “backbone of India’s industrial and agricultural development”.

“The chemical industry needs to better its feedstock allocation policy, government investments in chemical clusters across the country, easier access to capital due to its capital intensive nature, and simpler pollution compliance laws. Policies favouring the chemical sector will give a fillip to all industries dependent on this industry, from Led lights to electronics, from EVs to apparels,” affirms HS Karangle, General Director, Indian Chemical Council.

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[wionews]

My home, My maid's prison: The state of domestic workers in India

The number of female domestic workers in cities across India has been increasing rapidly since 1999. Yet, domestic workers occupy little or no place in most of the contemporary discourse on economic development. Domestic workers do not have the required collectivities or associations or popular spokespersons to voice their concerns. This is not to claim that domestic workers as a category is completely ignored in public discourse. It does figure in academic circles sporadically as a growing category of female employment, and their reference in intervention programmes is largely limited to their status as migrant workers. However, they are largely absent from state policy – be it labour laws or social policy. 

In Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan domestic work is now included under the minimum wages notification.

  ×

Thanks to collective struggles, some interventions have come through in a few states. In Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan domestic work is now included under the minimum wages notification. In Tamil Nadu, domestic work is added to the scheduled list under the Manual Workers Act (Regulation and Employment and Conditions of Work Act), 1982. However, even in Karnataka, which is the first state to fix minimum wages for domestic workers and has a strong organisational backing of domestic workers, the legislative benefits are yet to reach a large chunk of workers. The politics at work is evident in its removal from the scheduled list in 1993 (after a year of its inclusion) till 2004, when it finally reappeared in the schedule. Apart from these sporadic interventions, national level interventions are yet to begin in this sector. 

Size, Growth and Characteristics 

The importance of the sector in our economy can be gauged from a careful analysis of its size and growth. Private households with employed persons who are largely domestic workers are next to only education in terms of the share in female employment in the service sector. The percentage of domestic workers in total female employment in the service sector increased from 11.8 per cent in 1999-2000 to 27.1 per cent in 2004-05, with a phenomenal increase in the number of workers by about 2.25 million in a short span of five years. The data shows a feminisation of the service with the share of female workers increasing sharply over the period. 

The increased demand for domestic workers has also been related to the reduction in provision of public social services, which has forced families to depend on market oriented care services to cope with childcare and other domestic duties, especially when women members are employed outside the home. 

  ×

Domestic work in itself has undergone tremendous changes. Domestic workers used to be attached to one single household and undertook one or more work such as cleaning or cooking. In the modern system of domestic work, this has changed and a large number of workers undertake heterogeneous work in different households. Thus a domestic worker may do cooking in one house and only cleaning work in another. This system of “part time domestic work” is typically associated with the phenomenon of urbanisation and the emergence of modern nuclear middle class families. The social value of the labour of the domestic servants has assumed a different orientation, with a large number of women seeking job outside the home; and the comparatively limited capacity of large sections of the middle class to employ and patronise full-time domestics. The increased demand for domestic workers has also been related to the reduction in provision of public social services, which has forced families to depend on market oriented care services to cope with childcare and other domestic duties, especially when women members are employed outside the home. 

The patterns of urbanisation in urban centres have ensured the existence of pockets of urban slums that service the surrounding middle and upper class areas in a variety of ways, and domestic service is one of the most important provisions thus rendered. Interstate migrant women account for a majority of the domestic workers. Growing demand for domestic workers has also resulted in a regular flow of domestic helps from particular pockets of out-migration areas. With the increase in the number of workers and the demand for domestics the occupation has got segregated into a number of differentiated tasks. The preference for domestic work among poor women is documented in many studies. Poor women find it convenient to be employed as domestic labour in the surrounding residential areas. Since it is convenient for them to shoulder their own double burden if work is in the close vicinity, and especially if it permits them a few hours at home in between the shifts. Although it is definitely not unskilled work, there are fewer barriers to entry, and many of them perceive it as an extension of work done in one’s own home, although in a different socio-cultural situation. 

Though the sector occupies a central role in women’s employment, there is no uniformity in the level of wages, hours of work, number of working days, nature of payment and other conditions of work. Domestic work occurs in isolated, largely non-regulated and privatised environment and most domestic workers negotiate job terms and pay on an individual basis. The pay of the domestic workers is often determined by the task performed, the locality, their social status and other labour market conditions. Studies have shown that there is clearly a hierarchy among domestic workers in terms of type of work done that is reflected in the wage structure. Total emoluments for cleaning work in urban areas ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 400 per month for tasks such as washing clothes, cleaning utensils, sweeping and cleaning floors. On the other hand, childcare fetches monthly wages in the range of Rs 500- 1,000, and cooking is the best paid in the range of Rs 500-1,500 per month. Further, the number of members in the employer family (for washing clothes, utensils and cooking) and the area of the dwelling (sweeping, mopping, etc) also affect the wage rate. 

The conditions of work and lower socioeconomic status of these workers gives sufficient pointers to the possibility of physical and sexual violence, which is largely under-reported

  ×

The working hours of domestic workers also vary. Research on domestic workers suggests that many workers suffer from occupational health problems especially backaches, joint pains and allergies to detergents and other cleaning agents  However, there is no provision for social security in terms of provident fund, health insurance or pension. The conditions of work and lower socioeconomic status of these workers gives sufficient pointers to the possibility of physical and sexual violence, which is largely under-reported. 

Commercialisation of Domestic Work 

Domestic service is still a highly personalised service. However, the market possibilities of the sector have affected the organisation of the service drastically, posing further challenges in the regulation of this sector. The huge amount of commission involved and the absence of any regulation are the major attractions. During the past few years there has been an upsurge in the number of agencies supplying domestic workers especially in metropolitan cities. As per broad estimates, there are over 800-1,000 placement agencies in the capital city of Delhi itself. 

Since agencies differ considerably in terms of functioning, doubts are often raised about the genuineness and method of functioning of these organisations. The tribal pockets (of the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa) are often the hubs of such recruitment from where large number of women (especially unmarried girls) are mobilised. Single women migrants depend on these agencies, as they are unaware of the dispersed employment opportunities in the city. The linguistic barrier of the migrant is another factor, which makes the role of a middleman or agency inevitable. The existence of various layers of recruitment agents and the system of advance payments adds to the complexity. It is widely documented that a large number of agencies take undue advantage of the illiteracy and ignorance of these workers and non-payment of wages and the element of forced/bonded labour are also rampant. Trafficking for domestic work and the possibility of sexual exploitation of domestics (by the middlemen, agents and employers) are among the concerns often raised in this context. Thus, in reality, there are regular traumatic incidences in which domestic workers are exploited in the cities by agencies as well as employers – a trend that is sure to increase in the future unless appropriate policy interventions take place soon. 

Need for Regulation 

Lakhs of women and girls turn to domestic work as one of the few options available to them in order to provide for themselves and their families. This definitely poses serious concerns in terms of women’s work and the larger issue of women’s agency and empowerment. The relocation of work from public to domestic, which are governed by personalised service conditions and are often oppressive, pose serious challenges. The domestic worker has an ambiguous status, and remains “a special type of worker who is neither the member of the family, nor an employee in the public sphere enjoying the full advantages of socialised work. 

Domestic work poses challenges in terms of regulation in the context of its fragmented nature, different tasks and a multiplicity of employers. The emergence of middlemen and agents further complicates the scenario. Notwithstanding this, instead of guaranteeing better employment conditions, governments have systematically denied them key labour protections extended to other workers. Given a history of neglect of issues of women workers in general it is not surprising that domestic workers have been excluded from even a basic labour law like the Minimum Wages Act. The first attempt to regularise domestic work, i e, the drafting of the Domestic Workers’ Bill (Conditions of Service) 1959 is now a matter of history. Along with efforts to include domestic workers in the pending Unorganised Sector Workers’ Bill (2004) there are also demands for a separate bill, which would address the special employment conditions of this category of work. In this context, the bill framed by the National Commission for Women deserves special mention.

The present bill, though it takes into account many of the specificities of domestic work, needs to be developed further especially on the implementation aspects. This calls for extensive consultations and discussions with various stakeholders across the country.

  ×

The process was initiated following a growing number of media reports on the exploitation of tribal girls by placement agencies and employers in Delhi. The Commission held a series of discussions with various stakeholders and came out with a draft bill, the Domestic Workers (Registration of Social Security and Welfare) Act 2008, the details of which are on its web site. Apart from regulating placement agencies the bill also stipulates conditions of work and also addresses the social security concerns of domestic workers. The present bill, though it takes into account many of the specificities of domestic work, needs to be developed further especially on the implementation aspects. This calls for extensive consultations and discussions with various stakeholders across the country. If enacted it would surely improve the conditions of millions of domestic workers. Whether this bill becomes just an addition to the numerous bills that various commissions have drafted and which have not seen the light of the day is a matter of real concern.

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[healthnewsorf-blog]

Risking life for life: Maternal deaths in poll bound states

Source: WHO

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

MATERNAL

NUTRITION

Maternal health and well-being has remained a neglected aspect of our political discourse

The relationship between a mother and her child is beyond words and description.  But it is unfortunate that not every mother is able to live with her newborn and not every child is blessed with mother’s love.Maternal deaths, in many ways,mirrors our health system and is a sentinel indicator of our development. Given its relevance, the United Nations

Millennium Declaration

warranted achieving a 75% reduction in maternal mortality from 1990 to 2015 but several nations, including India (68.7% reduction), were still behind

target

.  Such limited success has re-focused global attention with maternal mortality reductions being stated as a prime target under the Sustainable Development Goals (

SDGs

).There is a wide acknowledgment that maternal deaths are almost entirely

preventable

but the extent to which we fail to do so reflects our underperformance as a society and a nation.

Maternal mortality in India

The burden of maternal deaths is usually reported as maternal mortality ratio (MMR) defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. 

United Nations

expert group estimates that in 2015 India had a MMR of 174 implying that each year 45,000 women die due to causes related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.  After Nigeria, India is the second largest contributor to global burden of maternal deaths accounting for 15% of the total 303,000 maternal deaths worldwide.  India’s MMR is six times higher than China (MMR 27).

MMR in poll bound states

How is the burden of maternal deaths distributed across poll bound states?  According to the latest round of Annual Health Survey, during 2012-13,

Uttar Pradesh

(UP) and

Uttarakhand

had an MMR of 258 and 165, respectively whereas

Punjab

had an MMR of 141.  With over 14,500 maternal deaths,UP alone accounts for one-third of the total maternal deaths in India.  Punjab and Uttarakhand contribute to over 600 and 300 maternal deaths, respectively.  We do not have official numbers for Goa and Manipur.  However, a

Goa Medical College

study suggests Goa’s MMR to be in the range of 90 which translates into 21 maternal deaths each year.

Figure 1: MMR and annual burden of maternal deaths across major states

Figure 2: MMR across administrative divisions (Mandals) in Uttar Pradesh

Does place of residence matter in UP?

It is indisputable that UP is the battlefield if India has to improve its odds of meeting the SDGs in maternal health.  But there are numerous challenges including huge

Mandal-specific

disparities.  MMR within UPranges from 151 in Meerut Mandal to 366 in Devi PatanMandal.  More than five Mandals from Central and Eastern UP, including the Lucknow Mandal, have MMR of more than 300 whereas Mandals from western region report lower MMR.  These disparities are deeply rooted within social, cultural and economic divide where women from marginalized communities find themselves at an elevated risk of maternal mortality.

Progress toward the SDGs

Punjab

took a decade to decrease MMR from 178 in 2001-03 to 141 in 2011-13.However, during the same period UP/Uttarakhand were able to reduce MMR from 517 to 285.  These comparisons suggests that at low levels of MMR it becomes more of an achievement to reduce it further.  The effect is visible from

data

for 2010-11 and 2012-13 which show that UP’s MMR declined from 345 to 258 whereas during the same period Uttarakhand witnessed much slower reductions (188 to 165).  Because of higher base levels UP continues to gain rapid absolute reductions but Uttarakhand and Punjab are found struggling to reduce MMR below 100.  Given such nonlinear pace of improvements it will be increasingly difficult for these states, particularly UP, to achieve the SDGs target of reducing MMR to below 70 by 2030.Interestingly, Kerala and Maharashtra have already achieved the national SDGs target with Tamil Nadu all set to join the club.

A first step to reduce maternal deaths

Institutional care in the presence of skilled birth attendants is a prerequisite for ensuring rapid reductions in maternal mortality.  There are pockets inUP, Uttarakhand and Manipur with high home-based births. 

Reports

show thatUP and Uttarakhand have 42% and 41% home-based births, respectively.  Hilly districts of Chamoli, Bageshwar, Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal have over 50% home-based births.  In this regard, Manipur’s profile is similar to Uttarakhand but Punjab and Goa are better-off because of favorable social, economic and health system related factors.

Complementing Institutional Care

With advances in scientific knowledge and proven clinical interventions, it is possible to prevent most of the maternal deaths. But we have to addressthe delays 1) in decision making and care seeking at the household level, or 2) in arranging transport and reaching the health facility, or 3) in receiving appropriate care at the health facility. About 50% of

maternal deaths

in India occur at home, 14% during transit, and 36% at the health facility. Policy efforts are warranted to address thesethree-delays by improving awareness, transport infrastructure and emergency care. With high levels of anemia and undernutrition, it is necessary to have a good network of facilities with emergency obstetric careincluding blood transfusion and C-section.  But such services are clustered in urban areas and there are several districts across UP and Uttarakhand who fail to provide timely emergency care (EmOC).   Districts often struggle to ensure complete EmOC staff (Gynecologists, anesthesiologists and surgeons) in regions with poor amenities.  Clearly, the hardware of physical infrastructure is of no use in the absence of trained doctors. Economic growth, high

public health expenditure

and improvements in female literacy can go a long way in reducing such eventualities.  Chronic poverty and undernutrition- which the former Prime Minister branded as a

national shame

– are often the fundamental causes of maternal death.All these are inter-linked factors that partly showcases our economic capabilities but in part reflects social attitude towards gender equity and empowerment. The tribal population as well as other marginalized communities are specifically disadvantagedin these factors.  Field studies in

Uttar Pradesh

show that staff corruption and discriminatory treatment often compromise access to quality care for the poor and marginalized.  Therefore, improved health system responsiveness and attitude is clearly the need of the hour.

Policies and best practices

Two major initiatives under the National Health Mission (NHM) – Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram – directly aim to incentivize beneficiaries to avail delivery care services at health facilities.  There is also a rich bouquet of best practices from other Indian states that can be adopted by poll bound states, particularly UP, Uttarakhand and Manipur.  For instance, Gujarat has worked with the private sector under the Chiranjeevi Yojana to improve levels of institutional delivery.  Rajasthan provides free drugs and diagnostics service to all. Tamil Nadu has several unique features such as streamlined health administration with effective public health cadre, robust maternal mortality surveillance system, well-planned emergency care transport services, good public procurement of drugs and supplies. 

Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme

in Tamil Nadu provides aconditional cash benefit of Rs.12,000 to each beneficiary women for uptake of antenatal care, institutional delivery, and child immunization.  In this context, the

Prime Minister’s

decision to introduce a nation-wide scheme for financial assistance of Rs. 6000 to pregnant women is expected to help reduce maternal mortality in a big way.  Clearly, this has budgetary implications but with effective planning these poll bound states can emerge as a role model in provisioning of good health at low cost.

Message for poll bound states

Demonetization proved that we keep a good account of our money but apparently we lack expertise and motivation in counting maternal deaths, most of which are entirely preventable. Regular and comprehensive data on maternal deaths disaggregated by place of residence, caste, class and religion can help to comprehend the varied dimensions of the problem. It is imperative that the public administration should improve maternal death reporting via health management systems and civil registration systems (CRS).  Though the CRS is reasonably good in Goa and Punjab but it is severely challenged in UP, Uttarakhand and Manipur. Given the magnitude of the problem, the international and national organizations are rightly concerned about achieving faster reductions in maternal mortality.  In this regard,

Prime Minister’s

 recent commitment to launch a financial assistance scheme for mothers further increases the relevance of safe motherhood as a policy objective.  However, our state health systems currently follow a uniform operational strategy to improve maternal and child health and which is fundamentally an extension of NHM umbrella.  Though from the perspective of central government it makes sense to provide a broad framework but instead of turning the centre’s approach into a

one-size-fits-all

label, the states should adopt a spirit of innovation to devise context specific policies to achieve SDGs in health.We also have a shared responsibility of motivating the policymakers to invest adequate resources in health, particularly for recruitments and development of emergency services in neglected areas. In conclusion, it is worth reiterating what

Prime Minister

Modi remarked on New Year eve that, “

when

policies and programmes are made with clear objectives in mind, not only are beneficiaries empowered, but both short term, and long term benefits are achieved

”. It is one thing to understand the importance of healthy mothers but it is also time that we appreciate this fact as voters and citizens and make a difference. For more details visit our links below

William Joe is Assistant Professor, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi.

HEALTH

HEALTH