Iran oil

The US has announced the waiver of Iranian oil import sanctions to eight countries, including India. The import restrictions have been revoked with a condition to re-apply and obtain a new sanction within the next six months. One also appreciates Indian diplomats for achieving such a significant, though short-term, strategic victory. Oil imports by India is a necessity owing to non-availability of sufficient crude oil resources and dependency of Indian oil companies on such imports.

India is also facing consistent oil price hikes and fluctuations over the past few months. India now should tread cautiously and make optimum use of this waiver, after duly examining the much awaited Significant Reduction Exemption (SRE) details to fulfil the import requirements.

As the general elections for 2019 is nearing, the government should ensure that strategic decisions related to oil imports from Iran are not affected.

As for India’s role with regard to Chabahar port, jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan, there is a need to create an exclusive strategy channel for both port development and oil imports. Such a move will pave way for a better negotiation channel for India with both Iran and US on port development.

Further, India should also continue to push for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which forms as an alternate trade corridor (apart from standard route) to Iran through Russia, Central Asia, Iran and Europe.

Bengaluru

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced the setting up a new airport to be named after Lord Ram and a medical college in the name of his father, king Dashrath, in the district Ayodhya. This is indeed a welcome initiative. One hopes the government undertakes such infrastructure development work than spend huge amounts of money on building statutes and monuments.

Faizabad

The results of the by-elections in Karnataka have not come as a surprise to many who have been totally disappointed with the way the NDA government at the Centre led by the BJP has let down the people on all counts.

Right from demonetisation and the haphazard manner in which the GST was implemented — which made the poor still poorer and many medium and small-scale units to close down — to the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal has made people lose faith in the BJP regime. People are also upset that the party is trying to create a wedge among the people in the name of religion.

Chennai

Every time you see a sparkler lighting up the sky or crackers bursting during Diwali, think for a moment of the plight of children working in the fireworks industry. Just before Diwali, these child labourers work overtime in fireworks factories to make other school-going kids happy.

These labourers often have to work under very tough employers who pay them pittance and don’t provide safety equipment or gloves. Their hands turn yellow due to the presence of harmful chemicals in the gum they use. Prolonged exposure to such chemicals used in making fireworks can cause lung, skin and eye problems.

But, unfortunately, the families of these labourers are living Below Poverty Line (BPL). The families have no other option but to send their children to such factories. The employers exploit this situation. The kids who should be going to school and playing out in the open sit in dark dingy rooms making crackers. Do they deserve this kind of life? Let us put an end to this exploitation. It is time to fully automate the manufacture of crackers.

Chennai

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