Fighting radicalisation: On CDS Bipin Rawat’s comments
GS Paper – 3
Topic: Linkages between Development & Spread of Extremism J&K Separatism Left Wing Extremism Right Wing
Mains: factors contributing to radicalization, types of radicalisation
What’s the News?
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat at the Raisina dialogue argued that there has been a significant increase in radicalisation among young people in Kashmir and that youth should be “isolated from radicalisation in a gradual way” and to be “taken out separately and possibly taken into some deradicalisation camp.
Radicalization
It is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.
Background:
- The Sufi and Bhakti tradition in Pakistan and India are two such trends from within Islam and Hinduism respectively that are focused more on the unity of humanity as a whole, overcoming sectarian divides.
- The saints from these traditions had massive appeal among people of different religions and they were away from the centers of power, unlike the clergy.
- We have seen rich traditions of people like Kabir, Tukaram, Narsi Mehta, Shankar Dev, Lal Dedh, clearly from within the Hindu tradition, while Nizamuddin Auliya, Moinuddin Chishti, Tajuddin Baba Auliya Ajan Pir, Nooruddin Noorani (also known as Nund Rishi) coming from a clear Sufi tradition and Satya Pir, Ramdev Baba Pir, having a mixed lineage, where Bhakti and Sufi themselves are deeply intertwined.
- Sant Guru Nanak did try a conscious mixing of the two major religions of India. He traveled up to Makkah to learn the wisdom of Islam and went to Kashi to unravel the spiritual moral aspects of Hinduism. His first follower was Mardan; and Miyan Mir was the one who was respectfully invited to lay the foundations of the Golden Temple of the holy Sikh Shrine.
- Guru Granth Sahib has an inclusive approach to religious wisdom. No wonder people referred to him as, ‘Baba Nanak Sant Fakir, Hindu ka Guru Musalman ka Pir’ (Saint Nanak is a saint for Hindus and a pir for Muslims).
- However, in the last few years, there has been a rise in protests and violence in the Kashmir Valley, besides disaffection that has peaked following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its conversion into a Union Territory.
- Today this includes those from among the mainstream polity, either facing curbs or under detention, the ground has become fertile for the revival of radicalism, which has been expressed either as a shrill form of separatism or invoked as extremist Islamist ideology.
Factors contributing to vulnerability:
- Individuals can be drawn into the process of radicalisation in a number of ways.
- In this context, vulnerability means individuals who, because of their circumstance, experiences or state of mind can be led towards a terrorist ideology.
Mis-governance, the politics of entitlement, all pervasive corruption and rampant rent-seeking together with despicable babudom contribute to the erosion of faith in the system. As values of merit, honesty and integrity are seen as impediments to material success, a society loses its moral fibre: this has happened throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
Types of Radicalisation:
Right-Wing Extremism – It is also associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants and/or left-wing political groups.
Politico-Religious Extremism – It results from political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.
Left-Wing Extremism – It focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause.
Issues:
- While deradicalisation is certainly an imperative, however the solution of deradicalisation camps is way off the mark.
- Segregation of youth and individuals from family and community — many could be juveniles — is a recipe for further alienation and public revulsion and also plainly illegal.
- It is not the job of the Army or security forces to undertake what is a mandate for the agencies of the civilian State.
Solutions:
- Deradicalisation is best achieved through effective teaching and incorporation of civic studies in the school curriculum for children who are getting radicalised due to the prevailing circumstances in the Valley.
- Besides this, there has to be an administrative outreach to the citizenry not to give in to radical demands and the rhetoric of extremists.
- More importantly, the reversal of repressive conditions such as limited Net access and the detention of political representatives is a must.
- Ultimately, Kashmir needs a new generation of young leaders — and there are many around — who may not be compliant with the dictates of the Intelligence Bureau or meet the stereotypes of the security establishment, but are thoughtful, creative and brave young men and women who value their ideas as much as their self-respect.
- Winning Kashmiri hearts and minds (WHAM) is a long battle; needs to be systematically promoted: not as a slogan, but as a comprehensive policy.
- Resurrect the syncretic culture of Sufi Islam that promoted tolerance and helped create the space for Kashmiriyat. Only a culture that privileges non-violence and dialogue, and institutionalises traditional norms of tolerance and dissent is the best guarantor against violence and intolerance.
Mains question:
‘There has been a significant increase in radicalisation among young people in Kashmir and it is often suggested that the youth should be “isolated from radicalisation in a gradual way” and to be “taken out separately and possibly taken into some deradicalisation camp.’’ Critically analyse the statement.
Solar imports soar, it’s now more make-in-China than make-in-India
Paper: III
For Prelims:
For Mains: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Context of News:
- Recently, India achieved the third rank globally for solar installation capacity. Mercom India, a clean energy research organisation, has reported that the installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has reached over 28 GW as of December 2018.
- However, this accounts for only about 5.5 per cent of the total global cumulative installations. India may have emerged as the third largest market for solar, but a comparison at the global front suggests that India has a long way to go in order to become a solar super power.
- An estimated 85 per cent of this equipment has been imported from three countries — primarily China, alongside Vietnam and Malaysia — with a surge ,there is also entering a point of uncertainty and due to growing tendency of Import.
Steps taken by Government of India for supporting solar Energy use:
- Financial incentives:
- The Government of India has been offering several financial incentives to promote the solar sector. But as cost of solar power is coming down, these benefits are being slowly phased out.
- Viability gap funding (VGF):
- Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has allocated 4,835 MW of project capacity under the VGF route, whereby a capital subsidy is provided to project developers bidding for projects at a predetermined tariff.
- Government subsidy scheme for rooftop solar systems:
- Both the Central Government as well as State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) offer subsidy schemes to the people for installing rooftop PV systems. This encourages people to exploit renewable energy and to cut their electricity bill.
Challenges associated with using solar Energy in India:
- Lack of a manufacturing base for upstream stages signals a policy failure despite the massive domestic solar push. The fact that most of the imports come from China, export markets that buy Solar PV cells and modules at higher prices thereby increasing their profits. Many new suppliers have tie-ups with foreign players in Europe and United States thereby prioritizing export demand. This could result in reduced supplies for the fast-growing local market.
- Cost and T&D Losses: Solar PV is some years away from true cost competitiveness and from being able to compete on the same scale as other energy generation technologies. Adding to the cost are T&D losses that at approximately 40 percent make generation through solar energy sources highly unfeasible.
- Land Scarcity: Per capita land availability is very low in India, and land is a scarce resource. Dedication of land area near substations for exclusive installation of solar cells might have to compete with other necessities that require land.
- The lack of closer industry-government cooperation for the technology to achieve scale.
Way Forward:
- An outlook for linking of solar energy targets with the current missions on ‘Make in India’, ‘Smart city mission’ and ‘Digital India’ as a promise for developing capabilities and transformation of entire power system in the country is recommended.
- Development of off-grid systems that are ‘Grid ready’ for rural and remote areas, and making by-laws for new buildings for grid connected as ‘Rooftop ready’ should be the suggested goals for the future. If these initiative works are executed as envisaged, it is only a matter before India becomes one of the world leaders in Solar Energy.
- The need for focused, collaborative and goals driven R&D to help India attain technology leadership in PV.
- The need for a better financing infrastructure, models and arrangements to spur the PV industry and consumption of PV products.
- Training and development of human resources to drive industry growth and PV adoption.
- The need for intra-industry cooperation in expanding the PV supply chain, in technical information sharing through conferences and workshops, in collaborating with BOS (balance of systems) manufacturers and in gathering and publishing accurate market data, trends and projections.
- The need to build consumer awareness about the technology, its economics and right usage.
- India has a target of installing 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 and is still 72 GW short of it. To achieve this ambitious goal, a ramping up of the yearly targets is the need of the hour. Yet, the challenges are immense, to achieve the 100 GW target, India needs to invest $65 billion in the next four years.