|
Dr. Ashwani Mahajan Associate Professor, Department of Economics, PGDAV, College, University of Delhi |
Dr. Phool Chand Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, PGDAV, College, University of Delhi |
On the Modi government's mission of perform, reform and transform, there was need to have a paradigm shift. With this mission, on 1st January, 2015, the Government of India estabilised ‘NITI Aayog’ as the ‘Think-Tank’ of India. Till Now Aayog has done less and recommended more for the overall development of the country. The stated vision for NITI Aayog's creation is to foster involvement and participation of states in the economic policy-making process. The emphasis of Niti Aayog is on bottom-up approach that will make the country to move towards co-operative federalism. This paper is an attempt to analyse the role of NITI Aayog with respect to its recommendation it made for GM-technology.
Key Words: - NITI Aayog, Co-operative Federalism, GM-technology
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is a Think Tank of Government of India, established by the BJP government replacing the Planning Commission which followed the top-down model. The stated vision for NITI Aayog's creation is to foster involvement and participation of states in the economic policy-making process of Government of India. The emphasis of NITI Aayog is on bottom-up approach that will make the country to move towards co-operative federalism. It came into existence on 1 January 2015.
On the Modi government's mission of perform, reform and transform, there was need to have a paradigm shift. In fact, India has undergone a paradigm shift over the past six decades - politically, economically, socially, technologically as well as demographically. Similarly, the role of present Government in national development has seen a parallel evolution. Keeping with the changing times, the Government of India has decided to set up NITI Aayog, in place of the erstwhile Planning Commission, with an objective to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. NITI Aayog is a policy Think Tank of the central government, incepted with an objective of 'bottom-to-top' approach to policy making through the inclusion of cooperative federalism. One and the most important feature of this institution is that, it empowers States as equal partners in national development; operationalizing the principle of Cooperative Federalism. This implied that every act, advice and suggestion that is made or to be made by NITI Aayog must involve the suggestions/advices of almost all the states for which decisions are relevant. Since the prime job of NITI Aayog is to keep its role and functions under the purview of Modi government's mission-perform, reform and transform, this paper is an attempt to analyse the role, objectives and functions of NITI Aayog which is an intermediary in nature between Centre and States with special reference to recommendations/suggestions made by the NITI Aayog for GM technology.
In order to examine the quality of work that Niti Aayog is serving, it is necessary to have a close look at the NITI Aayog’s stated objectives and functions. These are as follows:-
After having a close look on the objectives and functions for which Niti Aayog is constituted, the overall governance of Niti Aayog can be analysed with respect to its “7 Pillars Approach”. This 7 Pillars are:-
In the following Picture, all these elements of effective governance are briefly explained.
Figure 1:- Pillars of Effective Governance on Which Niti Aayog is based
Source; - http://niti.gov.in/content/functions
Now, it is imperative to analyse the overall performance of NITI Aayog in the context of ‘7 pillars approach’. If we see carefully all these 7 pillars of effective governance can be achieved only if Aayog performs all functions keeping in consideration the bottom to top approach rather than top-to bottom approach. It is so because bottom-to-top approach is necessary as well as an essential condition behind the successful implementation of all these elements of governance. This approach indicates that NITI Aayog is supposed to do a ground level work that initiate at bottom level and, then analyse the work for the betterment of different states and stakeholders and finally approach at central level with its own advices and recommendations. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to analyse critically the overall governance of NITI Aayog with respect to its recommendation for GM –technology.
NITI Aayog is rechristened Planning Commission that shifted its approach from top down approach to bottom up approach with focus on cooperative federalism and empowering states to participate in planning process. The rationale behind this shift is to encourage local level participation, as states have better information about the local resources and hence can be better planners.Centre would play a role of facilitator in integrating the resource planning.
NITI Aayog provides a platform for communication and collaboration between centre and the states. Increased transparency and regular meetings of the State governments and the Centre will promote the agenda of development in the country. Therefore, the prime job of NITI Aayog is to remove or resolve any kind of conflict prevailed or to be prevailed between centre and state governments. This can be achieved only when the job of NITI Aayog itself is performed as per the objectives, role and functions set forth for the Aayog. The present paper is an attempt to analyse critically the performance of NITI Aayog in the context of its recommendations for GM technology.
This paper tries to examine the overall performance of NITI Aayog for its recommendation or suggestion that it has made for GM technology. It is notable that GM technology will have a significant impact on:-
Now in this section we will critically examine the role/performance of NITI Aayog in the context of GM-technology and the sustainability of agriculture sector, health sector and overall environment.
GM- Technology and Agriculture Sector Sustainability
As we know that our country is predominantly an agricultural economy, with the agriculture sector providing employment and subsistence to almost 60 per cent of the workforce. There has been some remarkable contribution from the agriculture sector to food grain production in the last six decades. The country has been able to increase food grain production from a nearly 50 million tonnes in the 1950s to 252.23 million tonnes in 2015-16. Despite these achievements, the condition of the farming community is bad considering that 70 per cent of our farmers are small and marginal, and there is a complete absence of pro-farmer/pro-agriculture policies which has led to an environment of severe agrarian distress. So the need of hour is to realise the importance of agriculture sector and its sustainability for improving the overall economic health of a country. In the context of implementation of any new technology in the agricultural sector, we need to keep in mind the sustainability of agriculture. In the following Figure 2, an attempt is made to provide a framework wherein the sustainability of agricultural sector can be analysed in the context of forceful implementation of GM technology.
Figure 2: GM-Technology, Sustainability of Agricultural Sector and Role of NITI Aayog
Source: - Own Creation
From the figure, it is clear that if a country is having a better quality of agricultural produce, the farmer may demand the optimum/fair prices, which will surely increase their loan repaying capacity. This will definitely reduce the menace of farmers’ suicides. This entire cycle will provide buoyancy to the agricultural sector whose significant contribution thereafter can be seen on the overall economic health (GDP). NITI Aayog based on its objective for which it was formed, should do this. In this context, the major role that NITI Aayog is supposed to perform is the protection and sustainability of agriculture sector. This can be ensured with the high quality production and fair price of domestically produced agricultural commodities.
Now’s day, there is a debate on the issue of GM technology and its impact on agriculture sector. NITI Aayog, as a Think Tank which is supposed to follow bottom-to-top approach, must do a ground work before making any recommendation about the use of GM technology. This implies that NITI Aayog should do a comprehensive field research work which significantly proves the advantages/disadvantages of any new technology, especially GM technology. Apart from this, Aayog must ensure the full participation of all the concerned states where GM technology is likely to be used. It is because one of the concerns raised strongly by those opposing GM crops, is that India is a centre of origin for many important crops like rice, brinjal, mustard and many others; and introduction of genetically modified versions of these crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of these crops.
What NITI Aayog Did in this Context?
It will be very surprising to know that Aayog recommended the use of GM technology without providing its significant impact on the yield of GM mustard, quality of the produce, price of GM mustard, impact on foreign trade and the survival of the sector itself. As a responsible institution of a country, NITI Aayog should not follow the recommendations of any research done out of country as well as recommendation or agenda framed by the top level officials/minsters to provide undue advantage to commercial entities, especially MNCs.
In this context, it is notable that the performance of agricultural production recently is on right track (Mahajan, 2016). Specially, Kharif season (of 2016) food grain production increased to 135 million tonnes, from 124 million tonnes last year. Similarly, the production of pulses, oilseeds and coarse grains increased significantly by 57%, 41% and 19% respectively. Such increase in the production surely will force prices to decline. This shows that agricultural sector is quite self-sustainable. The need of hour is to encourage growing of these crops by way of improved seeds, better prices, finance and warehousing rather than deliberately focusing/adopting GM technology primarily developed by corporate (mostly MNCs) with an objective to monopolise seeds. From the policy makers/advisors (NITI Aayog as a Think Tank),the requisite action is to promote and implement a policy that should be a pro-farmer/pro-agriculture rather than pro- profit making MNCs and private entities.
Environmental sustainability and what it means for us all? Environmental sustainability is the ability to maintain the qualities that are valuable in the physical environment. For example, most people want to sustain (maintain):
Threat to these aspects of the environment means that there is a risk that these things will not be maintained. For example, the large-scale extraction of non-renewable resources (such as minerals, coal and oil) or damage done to the natural environment can create threats of serious decline in quality or destruction or extinction.
Sustainability issues arise wherever there is a risk of difficult or irreversible loss of the things or quality of the environment that people value. And whenever there are such risks, there is a degree of urgency to take action.
Like agricultural sector, in the following Figure 3, an attempt is made to provide a framework wherein the sustainability of environment sector can be analysed in the context of forceful implementation of GM technology.
Figure 3: GM-Technology, Sustainability of Environment and Role of NITI Aayog
Source: - Own Creation
From the Figure, it is clear that if a country is having a sustainable environment, there are high chances to live and enjoy the natural life for non-human and human beings. In this context, the major role that NITI Aayog is supposed to play is the protection and survival of natural lives of humans and non-humans and maintaining the quality of land and environment also. By protecting all these, protection and sustainability environment can be ensured.
What NITI Aayog Did in this Context?
It is unfortunate that, the officials and members of NITI Aayog have done nothing in the context of GM technology and protection of environment. Responsible members of Aayog have not produced any research material for supporting GM technology in terms of its ill effect on environment.
GM-Technology and Health Issues
When natural production of any commodity is modified with the use of any new technology, the responsible authority should ensure that such innovated produce/commodity will not be harmful for animals/humans being. In this context, NITI Aayog should ensure with their research work that there will be no harmful effects of GM-technology on the health of animals/humans. In the following Figure 4, an attempt is made to see the impact of GM-technology on health issues. Globally, it has been found that GM technology has severe adverse effects on the health.
Figure 4: GM-Technology, Sustainability of Health Sector and Role of NITI Aayog
Source: - Own Creation
At global level, most of the concerns surrounding GMO’s relates to their potential for negative effects on the environment and human health. This is so because, GMO’s could directly affect human health as they are primary products that can enter the human food supply. There are several types of potential health hazards that could result from the insertion of a novel gene into an organism. Health effects are of primary concern to safety assessors are production of new allergens, increased toxicity, decreased nutrition, and antibiotic resistance (Bernstein et al., 2003).
Moreover, in US also, by a study done by AAEM, 2009, on animals, it has been found that there are very serious health risks associated with genetically modified (GM) food such as infertility, immune problems, accelerated ageing, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastro-intestinal system. The AAEM has asked physicians to advise all patients to avoid GM foods.
What NITI Aayog Did in this Context?
Again in this direction also, NITI Aayog has failed to provide any answer to the possible health hazards arising out of introduction of GM in our food chain. Now the big is question that arises here, how a responsible organisation may produce a report recommending the use of GM technology, without going into the details and making consultations with the stake holders including state governments.
Conclusion
In this paper we have analysed the basic role and functions of Aayog. The paper finds that it is unfortunate to see what Aayog has done by supporting GM technology without doing a ground level work. For instance, in India, the only commercialised GM crop is Bt cotton. Both Industry and the Central government have deliberately painted a picture of success about it. They have been saying that it has led to an increase in production and that the costs of cultivation have gone down. However, the ground realty is bluntly different. Lakhs of BT cotton farmers have committed suicides, BT cotton seed has failed in reducing the usage of pesticides and price of cotton seeds multiplied to monopolisation of BT cotton seed. All this has led to a debate about the suitability of BT/GM for India. In this context we can see the complete failure of “7 Pillars approach of Effective Governance of NITI Aayog as it has failed to analyse the effect of BT/GM in India in the past.” This is so because the expected role of Aayog in this context should have been to recommend a ban on GM technology. But surprisingly, it has suggested that India should adopt GM technology.
Af ter analysing the performance of NITI Aayog with regards GM technology, it is very much obvious to say that the members/officials of NITI Aayog perhaps are not clear about their role. The basic difference between planning commission and NITI Aayog was that the former used to work on the principle of “Top-to-Bottom” approach while later was expected to work on “Bottom-to Top” approach. Moreover, NITI Aayog is supposed to win the confidence of the entire stake holders before making any advice to the centre. But with regard to GM technology Aayog has done even reverse of its prime and prescribed job. The purpose may be to give the benefit to one company or another. However, as a researcher this is not our area of competence. Being a researcher in the field of GM technology and its impact we have discovered so many endpoints in the performance or discharging the basic responsibilities of the Aayog. The Aayog is basically promoting or going towards forcefully implementing, the agenda of some big corporate. So, there is a need to see the direction and control of all the activities in the line of its (NITI Aayog) prescribed basic roles and functions.
Bernstein, A., et al. (2003). Clinical and Laboratory Investigation of Allergy to Genetically Modified Foods, Environmental Health Perspectives. Volume 111, Number 8, June 2003
Mahajan, Ashwani (2016). Agricultural Performance on the right track. The Stateman, Tuesday, 04 October, 2016.
Occasional paper (2015). Raising Agricultural Productivity and Making Farming Remunerative for Farmers, http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/RAP3.pdf
http://niti.gov.in/content/functions
http://niti.gov.in/content/niti-aayogs-role
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/PageFiles/434214/GM_Fact%20Sheet_Health_%20and_Env_Impacts.pdf
http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/publication_electronic/gen_modify_crops.pdf
