Article:
India is extending a helping hand yet again in times of crisis by providing 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and 1,00,000 hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets to Madagascar. This comes in response to the severe drought causing a humanitarian crisis in the African nation. The key elements of this assistance and their significance are discussed below.
Details of the Assistance Plan
In its bid to support Madagascar, the aid is being delivered on-board the Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa. But this is not the only objective of the trip. The INS Jalashwa will also be carrying an Indian naval training team for deployment in Madagascar. The intent behind this is the capacity building and training of the Malagasy Special Forces. Further extending its outreach, the naval ship will call at Port Anjoun in the Republic of Comoros. Here, it will deliver another consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of Indian rice.
Historical Background of Assistance
Supporting countries in times of crisis is not new for India. Way back when the Covid-19 pandemic struck globally, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari had carried food items and medical assistance teams to various countries, including Madagascar. This was part of the “Mission Sagar” initiative.
Previously, in March 2020, INS Shardul visited the port of Antsiranana in Madagascar and delivered 600 tonnes of rice as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). This was in response to the heavy floods that affected the Northern region of Madagascar. The Indian Navy was also the first to respond when Cyclone Diane hit Madagascar, providing prompt assistance through Operation Vanilla by INS Airavat in January 2020.
Moreover, India has been active in training the people of Madagascar in capacity building and other high-skilled technical fields through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and India Africa Forum Summit.
Significance of the Aid
The action of providing food assistance and capacity-building support to friendly countries like Madagascar and Comoros aligns with the vision of SAGAR. This reflects India’s time-honoured role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
Recent Developments
India’s geopolitical importance in the region was underlined when it was accepted as an observer of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). The IOC is an important regional institution in the Western/African Indian Ocean, consisting of Madagascar, Comoros, La Réunion (a French overseas territory), Mauritius, and Seychelles as members.
Demonstrating leadership, India hosted the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Conclave to encourage dialogue in an institutional, economic, and cooperative environment. This was aimed at fostering peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. The Defence Minister of Madagascar also participated in the Conclave.