ROBO-VOTER with Karnataka Polls, Indian Democracy Enters the Age of Big Data and Micro-Targeting
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SPECIAL: ASHIS NANDY AT 80 LOOKS BACK ON A LIFE OF IDEAS AND IDEALS >> p. 08 May 31, 2018 | Vol. 09 Issue 08 | ` 30 RNI No. UPENG/2010/33798 www.governancenow.com ROBO-VOTER With Karnataka polls, Indian democracy enters the age of Big Data and micro-targeting. Aided by moneybags, the new paradigm reduces the voter to a puppet p.16 Yet again, a Why hasty Engagement with dry run in ordinance on Africa is moving Bundelkhand rape of minors from the political to region is populist the strategic p.30 p.11 p.38 FOUNDERS TEAM Gautam Adhikari Markand Adhikari Anurag Batra MANAGING DIRECTOR Kailashnath Adhikari Contents EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ASHISH ASTHANA Ajay Singh Editor Ashish Mehta Rise of the robots Executive Editor SB Easwaran With Karnataka polls, Indian Deputy Editor Pankaj Kumar democracy enters the age of Big Assistant Editor Ridhima Kumar Data and micro-targeting. Aided by Special Correspondent moneybags, the new paradigm reduce Geetanjali Minhas (Mumbai), Praggya Guptaa (Special Projects) the voter to a puppet Principal Correspondent Vishwas Dass p.16 Sub-Editor Swati Chandra Design Bishwajeet Kumar Singh, Noor Mohammad Photographer Arun Kumar President - Sales & Marketing Ragini Shrivastava 09999673653 Sales Prem Kumar 09711888860 Vaishali Gupta 08851228362 08 “Clear decline in the softer side of life” 11 Circulation & Distribution Eminent political psychologist Devendra Kumar (Senior Manager) Ashis Nandy at 80 looks back Why hasty ordinance on rape of 09999140365 Rahanuramin Lashkar on a life of ideas and ideals minors needs gender balance 08879639953 IT 26 Santosh Gupta (Manager) Alok Mishra (Website Developer) 14 Our jobs, their jobs Some govt-affiliated Database Cell & Operations In pictures: Election fever Srikant Kukreti economists are trying to in Bengaluru browbeat the data, but what Manager HR Rekha Rajpoot about the obvious indicators of rising unemployment? 35 Printed & Published by Markand Adhikari on 30 A dry run in Bundelkhand Electrification: Will there be behalf of the Owner, SAB Events & Governance light at end of tunnel? Now Media Limited. Printed at Amar Ujala Yet again, a region synonymous Publications Ltd, C21,22 Sector 59, Noida, with hardship and farm distress Distt Gautam Buddha Nagar, 201301 (UP), and faces up to the tragedy of farmer 50 published at 24A Mindmill Corporate Tower, Sector 16A, Film City, Noida 201301 (UP). suicides Ph. 0120 4577999, Editor: Ashish Upendra Mehta (responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act.) 38 An African salient Volume 09 Issue 08 India’s engagement with Published for the fortnight May 16-31, 2018. Released on African nations is steadily May 16, 2018. moving from the political to Total number of pages: 52 including covers. the strategic Actor Denzil Smith talks about RNI No. UPENG/2010/33798 www.governancenow.com his love for stage and more Cover Image: Ashish Asthana www.GovernanceNow.com 3 Briefings Capital to face severe water crisis soon There has been a mindless and uncon- the level of 0-5 metres in 2010 but in 17 trolled digging or borewells in the na- years this has shrunk to 11 percent. Al- tional capital in last two decades. Pre- most all of Delhi is placed in semi-criti- senting a dismal picture of Delhi’s water cal and critical zones. scenario to the supreme court, the Cen- In pockets of East and South Del- tral Ground Water Board revealed that hi the water level is insignificant and the captial’s water table is decreasing remains uncharged for years. “Only from 0.5 metre to over 2 metres every some pockets in West and Central dis- year at various places. The reckless ex- trict appear to be safe as of now,” the ploitation of water can lead to a severe board said in its report. While con- crisis if the issue remains unaddressed. struction work might be one reason As per the board’s report, in 2000, the why groundwater is being mindlessly ground water was available at 40 metres, exploited, the other reason is less de- but in 18 years, in 15 percent of Delhi, the pendency on surface water. Of course, level has sunk in to 40 to 80 metres. Sim- the Yamuna happens to be polluted be- ilarly, 27% of the national capital terri- yond measure. And who cares about tory’s 1,483 sq km had ground water at reviving ponds and baolis! VERBATIM 25 years of NHRC No Nobel in literature this year “As this is the first annual report of the Commission, it would be helpful here to recapitulate Following resignations over allega- the considerable scope and range of the functions envisaged tions of corruption and sexual mis- for the Commission under Section 12 of the Act, “all or any” of which are to be performed by it. These functions are to: conduct, the Swedish Academy has (a) inquire, suo motu or on a petition presented to if by a decided not to confer the Nobel prize victim or any person on his behalf, into complaint of - in literature this year. To compensate, i) violation of human rights or abatement thereof or two two laureates will be appointed in ii) negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a 2019, one for 2018 and one for 2019. public servant; The presigious prize was withheld b) intervene in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court with and postponed in the past as well. the approval of such court; The reason for postponing the prize this time, however, is differ- c) visit, under intimation to the State Government, ent as it is not related to academy’s inability but sexual harass- any jail or any other institution under the control of the ment allegations. The academy is in crisis ever since in the wake of State Government, where persons are detained or lodged #MeToo campaign, 18 women claimed to have been raped and for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection sexually assaulted by an influential figure on the Swedish culture to study the living conditions of the inmates and make recommendations thereon; scene. d) review the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend measures for BJP’s fate according to Google prompt their effective implementation; e) review the factors, including acts of terrorism that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and recommend appropriate measures; f) study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation; g) undertake and promote research in the field of human rights; h) spread human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights. From the National Human Rights Commission in its first annual report released in March 1994 4 GovernanceNow | May 31, 2018 Road accidents a Law panel proposes 2 years’ jail for hate speech public health issue The law commission of In- disability or tribe” uses dia has proposed two years “gravely threatening words in jail and `5,000 fine for or advocates hatred” shall any person who indulges be punishable with two-year in hate speech, ridicules or jail and fine which may ex- abuses others on the basis tend to `5,000. The draft of of religion, caste, sex, etc. the Criminal Law (Amend- “Whoever on grounds of re- ment) Bill, 2018 clarifies ligion, race, caste or com- that “means of communica- munity, sex, gender identi- tion” will include “any in- ty, sexual orientation, place formation, audio, video or of birth or origin or such combination of both trans- other grounds relating to ra- mitted, retransmitted, and cial features or to racial be- sent through any telecom- haviour and culture or to racial cus- munication service, communication toms, residence, region, language, device or computer resource” . THIRD EYE by The Delhi government’s draft policy AJIT PatHAK on road safety describes road accidents as a public health issue. The policy emphasises on the rights Amit Bhai ! we are in the of pedestrians and cyclists and Þnal over of the Indian claims that the victims of the road Political League ; let us accidents are mostly people from hit every ball ! the poorer sections of society. The policy envisions reduction in the road accidents cases by 30% from 2018 to 2020. It also claims that the road accidents will be scientifically investigated within three months determine the cause and measures. Policy is being put in public domain for suggestions and objections. The world’s first ever ‘ladies special’ train was started between In about 140 characters Churchgate and Purushottam Agrawal Raina Singh @raina_singh_ @puru_ag *Only civil engineers should opt Borivali As an unabashed Nehru for civil services* fan, I thank hon’ble As per this logic, only Amazon PM and his ‘entire knowledge’ for Prime user should stand up for the post of on May 5, 1992 bringing Nehru back to daily news. Prime Minister. #BiplabDebLogic Source: Indian Railways Visit us at www.governancenow.com n twitter.com/governancenow n facebook.com/governancenow www.GovernanceNow.com 5 In-depth Prescient Timely Bold Visionary l www.governancenow.com In-depth Prescient Timely Bold Visionary Governance. It goes beyond politics and beyond headlines. It is about our lives, day by day. How an intricate web of people, politics, policy and performance shape our todays and our children’s tomorrows. Since 2010, Governance Now has been helping you make sense of this phenomenon; evolving a new kind of explanatory, pro-citizen journalism. For Your Pound of Good Governance For subscriptions contact Devendra Kumar l [email protected]. l +91 9999140365 For sales contact Ragini Shrivastava.