Letters to the Editor: Can India become a permanent UNSC member?

Permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has always been a critical issue for India. If you trace the events and the decisions of the past, one can see that the UN is a political body driven by members' own self interest. And the decisions of the UNSC are largely determined by its P5 permanent member countries, i.e. France, Russia, China, UK and USA and their veto power. Political ambitions of the permanent members, especially of China against India, have always been a roadblock. The structure of the UNSC is still frozen in the same mode set by the victorious allies after World War-2. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and many world leaders suggested reforms especially related to either increasing the membership of the UNSC to more members or rethink the veto power of the P5. India was amongst the 51 original founding members of the UN. And there is no doubt that India has made itself heard in the global platform regarding this issue. India begins its 8th term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Moreover, India has been amongst the largest contributor of troops in UN peace-keeping missions. 200,000 Indians have served in 49 UN peace-keeping missions, including an all women contingent in Liberia in 2007. India's nuclear power and its membership of the MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement make a strong case for UNSC permanent membership. Long back, Barrack Obama had endorsed India's permanent membership of the UNSC. Even the Biden administration has this agenda in their manifesto. Although India's case is strong, but reform of the UN Charter is the need of the hour to make India's dream of becoming a permanent member a reality.

Siddharth Roy,

Rehabari, Guwahati.

Rainwater harvesting

As we well know, there is a severe water shortage in the world, which is believed to get worse every year. So now is the time to take advantage of any and all opportunities to save and recycle the water available from natural sources. Rainwater is one such natural resource, and it is also the one that is used the least. People should start collecting rainwater and so should the Government. Assessing the infrastructure we would require is the first step. It is possible to develop new public and private structures with integrated water collection systems.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.