Editor,
I want to lend my support to the views of Toki Blah in his article “To Catch a Thief” (ST July 24, 2025). This article is a follow up to the Op Ed piece by Patricia Mukhim, “Stunning Silence on the Mawpat Forest Plunder” (ST July 19, 2025).
For generations we as tribal peoples have protected and stewarded the eco-systems we all depend on. Even today more than one-third of intact forest landscapes globally lie within the territories of Indigenous Peoples, thanks to their traditional knowledge, governance and social values of sharing and caring of Indigenous Peoples which even today hold keys that are valuable for well-being and climate solutions. Unfortunately, these systems are today being threatened by extractive industries, construction, development and our selfish, individualistic and unsustainable aspirations.
You Madam Editor and Toki Blah have raised an urgent awakening on what is happening to our Mei Ramew and what you called the “Mawpat Forest Plunder.” We need urgent and stringent actions in the Mawpat case and other similar situations. We as a people can neglect this only at our own peril.
Yours etc.,
Phrang Roy
Via email
Stuck in a rut like a broken record
Editor,
If one was to read, regularly and dispassionately, the articles and the letters to the editors, appearing in the paper, one would be tempted to assume that our society suffers from hypochondria.
A surfeit of illnesses and fears are regularly discussed and debated. These range from the fear of being wiped out, the loss of culture, the fear of outsiders, the intolerance, the lopsided reservation, indifferent governance, inequality, vendors and footpaths, and what have you. The sky seems to be not just factually, but even metaphorically clouded, in Meghalaya.
I have yet to see the stock market, cryptocurrency, investing, online marketing, robotics, genetics, or AI capture the imagination of the various writers. And herein lies the real danger. We have to stop staring at our belly buttons and start looking outwards. It is the lack of economic and technological smartness which will spell the doom for society and confine all of us to the bottom rung of existence.
This is what separates the tribes found in Andaman and Nicobar from the not so lost tribes of Israel. The latter matter- even with a small population and a tiny territory- and continue to have a major impact on the world. And let us not forget that for thousands of years they didn’t even have a homeland. The isolated tribes of Andaman and Nicobar even with all the constitutional protection are more likely to be dusted off the pages of history than the Jews who have learnt to adapt to the world. The latter have managed to stand on their own feet and in the process also made a name for themselves. It may come as a surprise to you that the person who made our own Bombay rich was also a Jew called David Sassoon.
Like the wit says it is the money, honey.
Money talks and let us make no bones about it. And it is high time that economy and activities related to it, especially the benefits of fast changing technology assume centre stage in our conversation, more so if survival be our primary concern. The rest will fall into place. Otherwise one can continue to beat about the bush and delude oneself.
Yours etc.,
Paramjit Singh Bakhshi,
Via email
Democracy in the age of compromised media
Editor,
K N Kumar’s article, Delusions of Democracy (ST July 18, 2025) is a hard-hitting reality on astronomical election costs in India with disturbing trends of unaccounted money. Will advocacy for stringent financial audits and transparent public disclosure of all election-related spending ever happen by the political class in India?
Contrasting voter behaviour of a stark divide between committed voters in the Northeast and the vote-buying culture in other regions especially in southern states is well known. It indicates societal disparities in democratic values. Will civic education to voters of economically weak section ever happen to make them responsible citizens across all the regions?
First-hand observations from a responsible IAS officer with Gandhian values and with experience in the EC lends authenticity to the narrative on the systemic weaknesses and societal character’s impact on democracy. Will institutional reforms from the EC happen with strict enforcement through observers at the grassroots level?
Highlighting structural flaws in electoral system with the critique of the ‘First Past The Post’ (FPTP) system is insightful as it stresses the need for electoral reforms towards proportional representation. Will the polity in India honestly initiate a national discourse involving policymakers, scholars, and citizens on the merits and models of electoral reforms?
By warning against the hollowing out of democracy and media manipulation KN Kumar has rightly warned about the erosion of democratic ethos due to compromised media and an uninformed electorate. Will this push for media independence legislation ever happen in the near future? Is India ready for voter literacy campaigns to strengthen well informed and responsible participation?
Yours etc.,
Dr CS Rao,
Bengaluru.
India-UK sign Free Trade Agreement
Editor,
During his visit to UK, Prime Minister Modi will sign the Free Trade Agreement as both countries were negotiating for yèars on this. This is UK’S fourth FTA after Brexit. Moreover India has FTAs with Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Australia, UAE, Mauritius, the 10-nation bloc ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and four European nations’ bloc EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). India is also currently negotiating FTAs with the US, Oman, the European Union (EU), Peru, and Israel.
India and the UK have been negotiating a deal for years which will be completed now and after passing it in the Parliament the same will be Implemented by next year. This is India’s first such agreement with another nation in over a decade. Bilateral trade between the two countries was at USD 55 billion in 2023/24.The deal includes a double contribution convention-also known as a social security pact which will help Indian workers. and it will exempt Indian professionals and companies from social security contributions in the UK for three years which is a huge win for India. The idea behind it is to stop employers and employees from the burden of contributing to social security in multiple countries
The FTA is extremely detailed-comprising 26 chapters on goods, services, investment and Intellectuaĺ Property Rights. India and the UK are negotiating a Bilateral Investment Treaty on a parallel track. The deal will allow 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK to fall under zero-duty category. This will boost labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, apparel and footwear, toys, marine products, gems and jewellery. Many of these currently face tariffs ranging from 4 per cent to 16 percent. Engineering goods, auto components, electric and hybrid vehicles, and sports goods will also benefit. The double contribution pact will be of great help to Indian workers in the UK. It will exempt them from paying for social security for a period of three years.
The India UK free trade agreement is a gamechanger even as the talks with the US are still continuing and it is not known when it will be finalized but the good news is from UK where FTA will come into operation in due course. The UK will see tariff reductions on luxury items such as Scotch whisky and premium cars. In more ways than one it is a win-win situation for both the countries. The UK remains a key economic partner for India and is also the sixth-largest investor in India, with cumulative investments of around 36 billion dollars. India itself is a key contributor to the British economy with at least 1,000 Indian companies operating in the country, employing over one lakh people with a total investment of 20 billion dollars. This is the UK’s most extensive trade deal since Brexit and India’s most significant agreement with a Western economy in over a decade.
This is an agreement that India has signed after overhauling its approach to trade liberalisation. The India-UK agreement marks a new era in India’s economic diplomacy. It reflects India’s growing assertiveness in the domain of foreign economic policy and other developed countries who are looking to seal a deal with India must duly take note of it. It signals India’s new-found willingness to integrate with the global market but it also demonstrates its resolve to do it only on terms beneficial to the country.
The days of signing FTAs for the sake of appearing liberal and seeking validation from economists are over for India. In the face of global headwinds, New Delhi has shown that it is willing to walk the talk of trade liberalisation with the developed world — but only when it also boosts the country’s own economy.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email