“Conviction rates tell the tale. Whereas in most rich countries 89 percent or more of those charged with crimes are found guilty, in India the rate is between 40 and 50 percent — and for cases involving politicians just 6 percent.”
The Economist on India’s failing law and justice system (August 24)
“The larger issue remains a police and prosecution that is woefully under-staffed and ill-equipped, and thoroughly subservient to the political executive so as to be unable to properly investigate and punish crimes.”
Editorial on the ‘Misdiagnosis of the lynching problem’ (Economic & Political Weekly, August 24)
“It is unclear whether the policymakers in New Delhi have a clear strategy of winning over ordinary Kashmiris after rubbing their nose in the dirt. The time-tested formula of announcing development grants and packages is unlikely to work because that still denies the political nature of the problem.”
Bharat Bhushan, well-known journalist (Deccan Chronicle, August 29)
“Rural distress is real and deeper and greater than the much-hyped distress of angel investors and high net worth individuals; so a massive increase in rural public expenditure, including in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to provide public works as well as in social spending would provide immediate relief.”
Jayati Ghosh, professor of economics at JNU, Delhi on reviving the Indian economy (The Hindu, August 29)
“Reading — something teachers no longer appear to manage — was something almost all those teachers did with a passion. They read because they loved reading… And teachers need to start reading again. Period.”
Anjuli Bhargava in ‘The teachers we knew’ (Business Standard, August 31)
