Four young men died from an overdose of the psychotropic drug Chitta—three different synthetic, adulterated forms of heroin-diacetylmorphine—in two localities in Shimla in 10 days between the end of November to the beginning of December this year. All four were less than 25 years of age.
Germany is changing, its strategic worldview is evolving, and its arrival on the global stage as a geopolitical player comes with immense possibilities. This was displayed during German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock’s maiden visit to India last week. Her clear and confident articulation of Berlin priorities was in sync with expectations in New Delhi about the need for a robust India-Germany and India-European Union (EU) partnership to tackle the formidable challenges that the world faces.
At the 27th Conference of Parties of the UN Climate Convention, or COP27, in Egypt, key documents highlighted how to meet the 2050 climate targets set in the Paris Summit. The Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan, VIII- Implementation-pathways to just transition, stresses the need for just solutions based on meaningful and effective social dialogue and the participation of all stakeholders with a clear focus on economic development and poverty eradication. This insight is critical to local clean ecology that supports communities and for which they must be fully onboard in decisions that affect them from the very beginning.
Much of the multilateral discussion and collective decision-making on climate change takes place at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC), better known by its nomenclature of COP (conference of parties). There is a strong case to begin a parallel track, which radically changes the contours of the conversation under India's presidency of G20. It is a terrific opportunity for India to lead the world into a more realistic pathway to achieving more concrete outcomes in the battle against climate change.
After being elected as Shimla's deputy mayor, I first removed the red and green lights outside the office. This ensured no-hindrance access to the office for the town's people to the office. Thus, promoting a culture of high accessibility that has existed in the state of Himachal Pradesh right since its formative days. Even the earlier chief ministers would meet the people directly, ensuring a better dialogue with them.
Whichever way one looks at it, the promise by select state governments and political parties to return to the Old Pension System for Government employees is a freebie of the kind that Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to as Revadi. It is not affordable. It is not targeted at the deserving. It is not productive. It creates a terrible precedent. It ought to carry the following “health” warnings: disastrous for state finances, additional liabilities for future taxpayers and detrimental to the economic well-being of the majority.