A ‘Reform Wave’ Lakshadweep Could Do Without

Context: The draft legislation of reforms in Lakshadweep with the aim of transforming Lakshadweep into a renowned international tourist destination bags stringent criticism.

About Lakshadweep

• Decentralised political culture: Adopted Panchayati raj much before 1993.
  • E.g. Island Development Council mandated to advise Administrator on development.
• Strategic position: Having a vast and exclusive economic zone with three distinct ecosystems: land, lagoon and ocean.
• Economy: Fishery is a primary occupation here.
• High human development indicators: Total literacy with no poor and high calorific consumption.
• Vernacular building traditions: As a theme of all government housing projects were undertaken in the islands in the 1980s.
• High technology adoption: Every island in Lakshadweep had a computer by 1990, helping in “speedy and accurate generation of accounting information”.
• Language: The language, except in Minicoy, is Malayalam; in Minicoy, Mahl is spoken.
• Social fabric: Matriarchal society, Islam is the major religion (Shafi school), and also had similarities in attire with the Mappilas.
• Cultural aspect: Vatteluttu the earliest script used with its heavy Sanskrit component, evidence in the sailing manuals of local pilots (malmis)

An overview of draft laws

• The Lakshadweep Animal Preservation Regulation, 2021: Bans slaughter of cows, calves, bulls or bullocks.
• The Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation (PASA): Provides for administrator to order detention of a person for a period of upto one year if offender’s actions “adversely affects maintenance of public order”.
• The Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2021: Disqualifies those with more than two children from becoming gram panchayat members.
• he Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021: Creation of Lakshadweep Development Authority, LDA.

Criticisms against the reform’s agenda

• Misplaced and hollow policies
  • Cow slaughter ban in a territory where there are no cows (except in government-owned dairy farms).
  • Preventive detention law where there is no crime.
  • Steps to undermine tribal land ownership, with judicial remedy denied, and plans for road widening on the islands where maximum road length is 11 km.
  • Restricting population growth in a territory where, according to National Health and Family Survey-5 (2019-20), the total fertility rate is 1.4 (far behind the national average of 2.2).
• Environmental concerns: Provision to allow mining and exploitation of mineral resources which could convert islands into a hub for cement manufacture.
• Democratic concerns: Policies drafted without taking people and local administration into confidence.
• Concerns regarding Maldives model of development: Expensive plans keeping interests of investors above islanders.
  • Overlooking climatic compulsions: Questionable feasibility of water bungalows in Lakshadweep.

Way forward

• Re-visit views of Island Development Authority (IDA) constituted in 1980s: An environmentally sound strategy for both (Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar) island groups hinges on better exploitation of marine resources coupled with much greater care in the use of land resources.
  • Land ownership constitutionally protected, be opened to international tourism not as a means of generating wealth for investors from the mainland but to bring prosperity to the islanders.
• Adopt people-centric approach that enriches fragile coral ecology:
  • E.g. Focus on renewable energy development exploiting solar and wind energy, supporting essential industries like desalination plants, piped water supply etc.
• Reassess policy priorities: Need to develop policies for enhancing employment opportunities, environment-friendly management of fisheries, sanitation, waste disposal and widening access to drinking water and equipping people with modern education and skills.
  • Address widening income disparities due to long lines and refrigeration led expansion of fishing sector.
  • Addressing environmental concerns like indiscriminate trawling endangering corals (banned in Maldives).