Prices Will Shoot Up Further in India

The government has decided to hike the retail price of urea by 10 percent, and fertilizer manufacturers have been given the right to raise the prices of mixed fertilizers like KAP, MOP, and NPK, based on their nutrient content. Companies import chemicals according to the requirements of these fertilizers. Their prices will, therefore, depend on the rise and fall of prices in international market. The government has taken this step to reduce the burden of spiraling fertilizer subsidy bill caused by expensive imports.

Hike in Fertilizer Prices
The government justified its decision to hike fertilizer prices on the ground that prices of urea and other fertilizers had not been increased in the last 10 years. In addition to fallouts of this decision, prices will certainly shoot up, thereby increasing the burden of farmers and the common people. Expensive fertilizers will increase the cost of production of food grain. This, in turn, will increase their prices further.
Food products have already become quite expensive. They have gone up by almost 18 percent recently. The relief in prices with the harvesting of the Rabi crop in April is not likely to last long.
The rise in fertilizer prices seems to have dashed all government hopes to become self-sufficient in pulses. The decision to launch such a mission was made in view of the reduced availability of pulses in the country and the world. Maximum mixed fertilizers are used in production of pulses. This decision will, thereby give a jolt to the government's decision to increase production of pulses.

Subsidies to Farmers
The point to be noted here is that so far, the government has not implemented its decision to give farmers the direct benefit of fertilizer subsidy. Yet, at the same time, it has given fertilizer companies the liberty to fix prices on the pretext of nutrients.
Fertilizer manufacturers have been, for years, accused of gobbling up the part of subsidies that should go to farmers. The decision to hike fertilizer prices is also said to have been caused by pressure of the fertilizer manufacturers lobby.

India Not To Remain Indifferent to Nepal in View of Prevalent Situation

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent successful India tour and now Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav's visit to the country send around the impression that India is paying due attention to its neighboring countries. It is extending monetary support to them and is desirous of cordial relations with them.

Maintaining Positive Relations
With Sheikh Hasina as prime minister, there is hope that she would strengthen relations with India, for she always favored better ties with the country. Her father Sheikh Mujibjur Rehman also maintained friendship with India. He used to feel grateful for India's support in the liberation of Bangladesh. Yet, all Bangladesh Governments formed thereafter his assassination worked against India. The India-Bangladesh relations had not been good. During this period, certain militant groups carried out anti-India activities from that country. Eventually, Hasina after coming into power not only extended friendship to India but also preferred to take action against militant groups active against India.
Likewise, Nepal also is one of those neighboring countries that by and large maintained positive relations with India. It is worth mentioning that the Maoist movement had become very strong because of the situation that prevailed there. Moreover, the Nepali Congress and other political parties also unleashed an agitation against the rule of monarchy that has been reigning supreme for a long time there.
Finally, as a consequence of collective endeavors monarchy was done away with in Nepal. Democratic order was restrained thereafter, when under the leadership of Parchanda and with the cooperation of other parties, the Maoists came into power.

New Constitution for Nepal
The Nepali Congress and other parties made all out efforts to run the country fully on democratic principles. Just as the Constitution was being given the final touches Maoist leader Parchanda developed differences with the Army Chief and other political parties and he had to step down from power. While India's relations with Parchanda had not been so cordial, he often severely criticized India because the Indian Government accorded preference to other parties. In addition, Maoists in Nepal not only developed more proximity with China but also maintained close relations with Maoists in India. The Indian Government had always been leveling the charge that Maoists of the two countries extend support to each other.
It is in this context that Nepali President Ram Baran's tour of India is being attached special significance. Ram Baran has accorded preference to the Indian democratic system in the formation of the new Constitution for Nepal. He has expressed such sentiments during his tour of India. India has promised economic support to Nepal which it needs the most now. India has also signed some agreements with Nepal for extending major cooperation to its development.

Interfere in Internal Affairs
Although India is not supposed to interfere in the internal affairs of Nepal, it can ill-afford to remain indifferent toward its neighboring country in view of the conditions prevalent there. The conditions in Nepal can impact the situation in this country.
Even as Nepal is an independent country its relations with India continue to be maintained until today. Nationals of the two countries are doing trade transactions of all types with each other. There is no restriction on the exchange of mutual visits. Nonetheless, India being a big country is supposed to fulfill its obligations toward neighboring countries. Every neighboring country looks to India with expectations. India should come up to their expectations through earnest endeavors and with a liberal approach.

Human Trafficking Network

The arrest of four members of a group of human traffickers shows that no task is very difficult to be taken up in our system. Is it not the weakness on the part of the system, which made preparation of forged documents on real working visas possible? The forged passports, laptops, and documents of various government departments are enough to prove how well organized this business is.
Confessions of the arrested members on questioning are equally startling. They claim to have sent almost 200 people abroad with forged documents every month. Can this be done without the connivance of government departments?

Lust for Money
The distressing side of the story is that highly educated people are involved in the same. They do not have to struggle for two square meals. They stoop to such crimes to enjoy a life of luxury and pleasure. Their victims are also those who dream of going abroad to earn money. This business is based on pure greed.
A lust for money makes people fall in this trap. The other side takes advantage of this weakness to earn money through foul means. This explains why clerks and officers in government administration are eager to help them. They are not bothered to find out whether their dealings are legally correct! All that they care for is to amass wealth.

Lack of Transparency
Truly speaking, there is lack of transparency in preparation of government documents like passports, visas, and driving licenses. The process is highly complicated and difficult, leaving ample scope for corruption. The common man is unaware of complications of the license process. There are too many formalities and complexities for an ordinary man to follow. The easy and simple way of overcoming these obstacles is to depend on corrupt clerks or middlemen. The illegal business of human trafficking and preparation of forged passports and visas is mainly flourishing due to this reason.
It is necessary to simplify the process for issuing passports and licenses. The system of e-licensing should also be encouraged.