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Dear Reader,
The tragic killing of 14 civilians in Nagaland in a purported case of mistaken identity by the Assam Rifles last week has raised demands that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be withdrawn from the Northeast. The Act gives the Indian military extraordinary powers to use force and still be immune from prosecution.
AFSPA, The Print argues, is a “deadly intoxicant” and “self-destructive power kick”, that the Indian state indulges in, and calls for the Act to go forthwith. Terming its continuation in the present form not in the army’s or the nation’s interest it should, at best, be restricted to 25-30 km along the border with Myanmar.
Echoing these sentiments, The Caravan reports that students unions, academicians, armed Naga groups and human rights organisations are united in their demand that AFSPA should be immediately revoked in the Northeast; and, a “lasting peace accord” arrived at.
In Andhra Pradesh, families displaced and rehabilitated by the Polavaram Irrigation Project are facing a “peculiar challenge” – they no longer know which Gram Panchayat their new addresses fall under. Down To Earth explains the conundrum.
In less than thirty years, every second Indian will be living in a city or town. With a projected urban population of about 900 million, India Development Review emphasises the need for instituting deep and urgent urban governance reforms. If not done, this massive transition would be a potent recipe for ‘urban distress’.
And, HW News analyses the findings of the World Inequality Report 2022 which confines India to one of the most unequal countries in the world. It points out that the top 10% and top 1% in India hold 57% and 22% of the total national income, respectively.
For more such stories from the grantees this week, please read on.
Warmly,
Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF
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