US and Cuba, finally ice is melting

Kerry at U.S. Embassy’s Flag-Raising Ceremony in Cuba

Recently I watched Godfather I and II (again). In second part, there was a scene where Michael Corleone said, soldiers are paid to fight but rebels are not; and there is a chance that they will win. Following sequence of events proved him right. Rebels took over and protagonists escaped to US.

Actual take over happened on 1959 January, when rebel forces led by Fidel Castro finally able to oust Batista. This event led to rupture of ties between Cuba and US. Later incidents like, Bay of Pigs, Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Cold war, Suspension of Cuba from Organization of American States (OAS), trade sanctions, Cuban support of MPLA in Angola etc only made it worse. Cuban missile crisis almost took the world to third (and probably last) world war. Last because there may not be enough people left to fight fourth world war. 

Cold war didn’t finish in this part of the world even after the breakup of USSR. However, a lot of this changed for Cuba. She lost her major benefactor – USSR and Rubles. Later Cuba found some solace in neighboring Venezuela and her leader Hugo Chavez. Like Castro, Chavez was also against US and Market economy. However, mismanagement of Petroleum reserves and fall of oil price in global market crushed Venezuela.

Cuba also witnessed an administrative change - leadership changed from fiercely anti American (but aging) Fidel to his brother Raul Castro. In US also Obama - who received Nobel Prize for Peace before he actually did something - tried to restore relations with Cuba. He may already considering this as his legacy and probably want to make complete reset before he leaves office.

Last year, US re-established their embassy in Cuba and also received credentials from José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez (first Cuban ambassador to US since 1961). 

Now Obama selected Jeffrey DeLaurentis (served as chief of mission for US in Havana since 2014) as new Ambassador. This is indeed a good move to normalize relations between two countries. 

Obama administration is also trying hard to relax restrictions on trade and travel to Cuba.

However, an effective progress also requires the lifting of trade embargo which requires help from Congress. Without this, there are limitations to improvements Obama can make. Will Congress rise to the occasion and repeal the ban before Obama leave office? Will the new government continue the polices of rapprochement? Will Raul government go ahead with administrative, economic and political reforms? Let's wait and watch. 

Whatever it may be relationship between two nations is certainly going to improve and I believe Obama will be able to leave office with some justification for the Nobel Peace prize. 

Sajeev.

Photo Courtesy: US Embassy Website

Thank you Rosetta

Rosetta’s lander Philae has returned the first panoramic image from the surface of a comet

On Friday Rosetta will finally say good bye to humans and jump right in to comet; marking the end for 12-year long eventful expedition. 

Built by ESA (European Space Agency), Rossetta’s primary mission is to study Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and send all information back to earth for further analysis. For last two years she was roaming around the comet and transmitting data back to earth. Problem is, as Comet move further away from Sun, her solar panels won’t be able to generate enough power to sustain the mission. 

Alternate way is to hibernate Rosetta for now and awake her later (when the comet approaches sun again). However scientists decided against this approach, as it may not be possible to wake her up later. Instead scientists decided to capture close-up data while Rosetta hit the comet in her final sprint. 

It’s a job well done by Rosetta and ESA team behind it (Rosetta, also had small lander called Philae which it send to the surface of Comet 67P back in Nov 2014). 

Some important findings from Rosetta are, 

a. Comets Can Stick Together.

b. Initial images of Comet 67P confirmed that the comet is not in round shape.

c. Rosetta’s early observations confirmed the lack of much ice on its surface. 

d. Scientists now know for sure that water did not come from comets like Comet 67P. Quantity of deuterium in the stream of water molecules coming off was much higher than the one in Earth’s water.

Sajeev

Courtesy: Multiple Newspapers, ESA.

Government doubled maternity leaves to 26 weeks

Rajyasabha passed amendments to Maternity Benefit Act [1961] to increase maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Further, this benefit can be availed before 8 weeks from the date of expected delivery (earlier it was 6 weeks). Maternity Benefit Act covers establishments employing 10 or more workers.

Bill also introduces 12 weeks’ maternity leave to,

a. Woman who legally adopts a child below three months of age.

b. Commissioning mother (biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in another woman). 

12 weeks will be calculated from the date child is handed over to adoptive/commissioning mother.

In addition to this, every establishment with 50 or more employees have to provide crèche facilities within a prescribed distance.  Woman will be allowed 4 visits a day (including her interval for rest).

With the passage of Maternity Benefit Bill 2016 in coming winter session in Loksabha, as many as 1.8 million women in formal sector will get its benefits. However, this law will not provide any relief for more than 10 crore women working in farms or as domestic help.

Government is also trying for a contributory maternity benefit scheme for unorganized sector employing more than 10 crore women. This will significant help them with the expenses due to child birth.

Sajeev

Tripurasundari – All the way from North East

Sabroom - Chittagong distance

I was planning for a north-east trip on last May for 17 days. Due to some personal reasons I had to cancel that journey in last moment. One problem I faced while planning was - so many places to visit but limited transportation facilities. Even if I want, I wouldn’t be able to visit all North Eastern States due to lack of quick links between them. It is indeed hard to build railway tracks and 4/6/8 lane roads through those mountain ranges.

What make me smile now is the news that, rail track to Agartala became broad-gauge and new train Tripura Sundari express started running between Tripura and New Delhi. A regular train service between Agartala and Kolkata will start on next month.

Government also started working on a direct link between Agartala and Akhoura (Bangladesh), which will allow passengers and commodities to travel seamless across the border.

Tripura is located very close to Bay of Bengal in maps; but without any direct links, as it is separated by Bangladesh territory. Now a new rail track will be extended to Sabroom (the southernmost city in Tripura). The best part is, this town is just 60km from Chittagong Seaport. This will make the movement of goods from rest of India to North East very easy. For e.g. from Chennai, Visag, Paradip, Kolkata etc to Chittagong and then from there to other north-eastern states of India through rail and road.

Next time when I go there an itinerary through Tripura's rail network is definitely in the plan.

Sajeev

Good and Services (GST) Bill – This time it may pass

Hopes are high again regarding the passage of GST (Goods & Services Tax Bill) in Rajya Sabha (Council of States). After all, this is probably the biggest and most radical piece of legislation came out of Indian Parliament after revolutionary Right to Information Act (RTI) and Right to Education Act (RTE).

GST (122^nd Constitution Amendment bill) basically put forward the concept of comprehensive tax code on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services in India. This will replace numerous taxes levied by central and state governments.

There were numerous oppositions from multiples states, especially manufacturing power houses of India – Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Gujrat, regarding various sections of the GST. Finally, the Union government on Tuesday agreed for the removal of 1% additional levy on supply of goods and full compensation to the states for all revenue loss they may encounter for next five years.

In addition to these changes; GST rate won’t be capped at 18% and dispute resolutions will be through a mechanism created by GST Council (not by dispute resolution panel as envisaged earlier).

As per many models and experts’ opinion; implementation of GST will not only simplify the tax structure but also help companies to operates more smoothly as far as taxation is concerned. Experts also hope that; this implementation may also add a couple of points to India’s GDP growth rate.

As two of the concerns raised by Congress is already addressed, they may in favour of the passage of GST bill in Rajya Sabha. Main problem in Rajya Sabha is, for passing this constitutional amendment government requires the support of 2/3 of Rajya Sabha members present and voting (i.e. 163 votes). Out of this, ruling NDA alliance only have 72 votes, and congress have 60.

The good side is, in addition to 72 votes GST is currently supported by 19 members of Samajwadi Party (SP), 6 members of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 10 members of Janata Dal (U), 5 members of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), 3 members of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 12 MPs of Trinamool Congress and another 8 from Biju Janata Dal (BJD). This will take the total to 135 votes in favour. Now, if Congress also favours the bill; then it can be passed easily in Rajya Sabha in coming session.

In addition to the passage in Rajya Sabha, this bill has to be ratified by half of Indian state assemblies.

Hope that this time there will be consensus for the smooth passage of bill.

Sajeev