Mains a Day 
 (M.A.D.)

Lecture -48

GS 1

Discuss how the Cold War influenced decolonization process in Africa.

GS 2 India accounts for the highest TB incidence (23%) and mortality (26%) globally. How can India combat TB effectively? Discuss strategies. 

GS 3

Critically examine the features of Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) initiative and its likely impact on economic growth of India.   GS 4 What is the difference between accountability and responsibility? According to you, which between the two is a higher ethical value?

GS - 1 Q. Discuss how the Cold War influenced decolonization process in Africa.

Structure of Answer General introduction of Decolonisation Impact of Cold War on Decolonisation of Africa Discuss Impact in terms of Success or Failure of independent nations

Decolonisation in Africa The Process of decolonization began, in most African territories, at the close of World War II Culturally and politically, however, the legacy of European dominance remained evident in the - National borders - Political infrastructures - Education systems - National languages - Economies - Trade networks of each nation In 1960, seventeen African territories gained independence from the strong arm of European colonial rule

Impact of Cold War Western powers viewed African independence through the lens of the Cold War, which rendered African leaders as either proWest or pro-East; there was little acceptable middle ground. Naïvely, most African leaders believed that they could navigate the political land mines of the Cold War through political neutrality. Combined with the strong residue of the colonial political structure, African politics remained mindful of the Western powers' vigilance against socialist or communist influences

Impact of Cold War Defining the Success or Failure of Decolonisation of Africa Although Western European powers granted aid to African nations, they also coerced governments to support their agendas and instigated and aided coups against democratically elected governments They also fomented civil unrest to ensure that governments friendly to their Cold War agenda remained in power and those that were not were removed by political machinations or assassination

Tragedies/Events Owing to Cold War Coup against Nkrumah, Ghana From a Western standpoint, Nkrumah forged alliances that increasingly placed him in the camp of the Eastern Bloc. Western governments understood Nkrumah's agenda to be socialist and worried about his influence on other African leaders. There are debates about the forces behind the coup that overthrew him in February 1966, but there is strong evidence from the State Department Archives that the United States was interested in removing him from power and that they worked to manipulate the international cocoa price to fuel dissatisfaction with his regime

Tragedies/Events Owing to Cold War Assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister Battled the forces of the Cold War but with more tragic consequences. On Independence Day, June 30, 1960, Lumumba delivered a speech in the presence of the king of Belgium, denouncing the atrocities of colonial rule and declaring that Congo would establish an autonomous government and an economy for the people Western powers viewed Lumumba as dangerous and vulnerable to falling under Soviet sway, and they quickly collaborated on a plan with the United Nations' assistance to undermine him. He served as prime minister for fewer than seven months before he was deposed and assassinated as part of a plot drawn up by the United States, Belgium, and their allies within the Congo Because Western powers feared that the country's resources would be nationalized or, even worse, be made available to the Soviet Union, they thought it necessary to have a pro-Western government installed, regardless of its legitimacy within the Congo or its commitment to democracy and development

Tragedies/Events Owing to Cold War Proxy War in Angola In 1975 Angola gained its independence from Portugal, and three nationalist groups subsequently fought for control of the government 1) Cuban and Soviet support 2) American support 3) Zaire

Initiatives to Avoid Cold War Tussles 1955 Bandung Conference Representatives from twenty-nine Asian and African countries gathered to chart a course for neutrality in the Cold War conflict Organization of African Unity To look beyond these accepted borders toward pan-Africanist or even regional confederations Arusha Declaration Published in February 1967, Nyerere, first president of Tanzania, declared African socialism as the model for African development. Contrary to the Western model of economic development, Ujamaa socialism, and African socialism generally, emphasized collective responsibility and advancement in place of the individual

GS2 Q. India accounts for the highest TB incidence (23%) and mortality (26%) globally. How can India combat TB effectively? Discuss strategies.

Some Points to Remember Tuberculosis Infectious bacterial disease Mainly affects the lungs Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Major Challenge the bacteria becoming drug resistant

To Combat TB Effectively Multi Pronged Approach Taking Together Stakeholders like 1) Government Machinery 2) Private Health Care 3) Patients and Kins 4) Media 5) Technology 6) Society and TransNational Agencies, NGOs

1) Government Machinery Making Drugs and Diagnosis AAA Roll out more CBNAAT machines - offering rapid quality diagnostics Linking at least one such machine for each district and monitoring Drug Resistant TB case New anti-TB drug Bedaquiline be introduced aggressively under Conditional Access Programme (CAP) to improve outcomes of drug resistant TB treatment IT based E-Nikshay platform have been made user friendly so that Private Doctors find it easy to notify Decongesting Urban Area, Slums Sanitation Strengthening I I I

2) Private Health Care Reporting Monitoring Affordable Care Organising Camps (even under CSR)

3) Patients and Kins Support (Financial + Emotional) Continuing the Course Not Stigmatising the patient Patients to avoid crowded situations and meeting children and pregnant women

4) Media Awareness Information Education Communication

5) Technology Subsidising and Promoting R&D in CBNAAT E-Nikshay Portable X-Ray Machines Promoting Generic Medicine Manufacturing (Cost effective)

6) Society and TransNational Agencies, NGOs People should get themselves checked when symptoms show People to not ostracise those with TB (Instead show solidarity and support) Not Stigmatising the patient NGOs - IEC Collecting Data For better planning and policy implementation

GS 3 Q. Critically examine the features of

Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) initiative and its likely impact on economic growth of India.

The Government of India launched “BharatMala Pariyojana”, a new umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of road traffic movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. Under Bharatmala project, over 83,000 km of national highways will be constructed at an estimated investment of Rs 7 lakh crore. The deadline set for the project is March 2022.  Features of Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) initiative It’s an umbrella project with the objective of optimal resource allocation for a holistic highway development initiative.  The components of the Phase-I are Economic corridor development, Inter-corridor and feeder roads, National corridor efficiency, Border and international connectivity roads, Coastal and port connectivity roads and Expressways. The BharatMala project will be funded in three-pronged manner – market, private investment and asset recycling of NHAI’s toll assets.
 Bharatmala Pariyojana has been designed to bridge the gaps in the existing highways infrastructure so as to make the movement of man and material more efficient. Special attention has been paid to fulfil the connectivity needs of backward and tribal areas, areas of economic activity, places of religious and tourist interest, border areas, coastal areas, port areas and trade routes with neighboring countries under the programme.

Impact It is aimed to solve issues related to traffic congestion, seamless cargo movement across ports and border area connectivity. It will increase exports, improve trade imbalance help to turn current account deficit to surplus. Bharatmala will bring down logistics cost, impacting investment. It will also help generate a large number of direct and indirect employments in the construction activity Infrastructure- related industries like cement, steel, would get a boost It will generate demand at the bottom of the pyramid.  Challenges Raising huge fund accounting more than 5 lakh crore from Debt, PPP, etc. Private participation could be challenging due to the continued stretched balance sheets of many infrastructure developers 
 Land accusation has been always remained tough task Environmental clearances Delays Most of road development project is still run late Since most of the projects are to be constructed in remote areas, mobilisation of equipment and raw materials would be challenging  Timely redressal of dispute by establishing a regulator is also crucial before undertaking such a large scale project because of possible arbitration issues. Timely and efficient implementation of Bharatmala project will surely give positive impetus to country economic development.

GS 4 Q. What is the difference between accountability and responsibility? According to you, which between the two is a higher ethical value?

In ethics and governance, accountability is answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of accountgiving and Responsibility may refer to being in charge, being the owner of a task or event. The main difference between responsibility and accountability is that responsibility can be shared while accountability cannot. Being accountable not only means being responsible for something but also ultimately being answerable for your actions. Also, accountability is something you hold a person to only after a task is done or not done. Responsibility can be before and/or after a task. Both are equally important & interlinked as without designating responsibilities how could anyone know whom to hold accountable by redressal mechanism Responsibility also helps to know on what basis will a person be judged. Responsibility depends more on personal values & ethics while accountability on external & specific standards but both have each others’ elements intermixed and mutually reinforce each other.

Thank You