1. society
2. crime
3. sexual offence
4. rape

Contemporary Issues
Society
Contemporary Analysis
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SOCIETY
1) Women
Violence against Women (VAW)
Types of VAW –
Feticide and infanticide, i.e, VAW starts even before the birth in the form of feticide.
2.
Domestic violence
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1.
a. Physical abuse (including dowry deaths).
a. Sexual abuse (includes child abuse as well as even raping of old women).
b. Verbal abuse.
c. Emotional abuse.
d. Economic abuse.
3.
Sexual harassment (rape, eve teasing, touching body parts, commenting)
a. i.e. sexual harassment at workplace.
b. Sexual harassment while travelling in buses, auto-rickshaws, metros, etc.
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c. Parading women’s naked (It’s more in case if she belongs to a lower caste).
d. During communal riots and inter-caste conflicts – as women are seen as a symbol of honor.
e. Honor killings – killing of women to save family’s honor.
4.
Witchcraft related murders (or magico–religious beliefs)
5.
Sati is very-very rare occurrence. (Last reported case was of Roop kunwar in 1986).
6.
Custodial violence: Soli Soren case…. stones were inserted in her vagina.
2) India’s Daughter Controversy
It is a documentary on December 16, 2012 Delhi gang-rape by Leslee Udwin (she herself is a rape victim).
Now it created controversy on 3 grounds (1) regarding rapists, (2) regarding defense lawyers, (3) regarding
government reaction.
1.
Regarding rapists –
Notes
a. What they said –
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i. Firstly she provoked us (taali ek Saath se nahi bajati). It’s a character flaw, if a women is roaming
around with a guy in the night.
ii. And we were right in punishing the deviant around the city. (Well in reality they were already
heading towards red light area, were looking for sex).
iii. If she had submitted passively to the rape we would have been less brutal; but she fought back
which is her fault that’s why we took out her intestine as more punishment.
b. Comment –
i. Even after 2 years there is no guilt, remorse.
2.
Regarding defense lawyers –
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a. What they said –
i. Agreed with the views of above.
ii. If women are put in the right place then she is worshipped as a gem, but if in the wrong place
then has to be punished.
1. Counter argument – right place means home. Are they safe their? What about a) Domestic
Violence, (b) Rape.
iii. We have the best culture in which there is no place for women.
iv. One lawyer said that if his sister/daughter is found having pre-marital or extra-marital affair with
a man he would burn her alive.
b. Main point –
i. They are contemporary Manu.
3.
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ii. Educated; English speaking fools.
Regarding state’s reaction –
Notes
a. What they said –
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Arguments given by Indians government for banning
Counter-arguments
Boardcasting it will instill fear among women, promote
violence against them.
People come to know the mindset of rapist, why
they commit.
Leads to public outcry thus law and order problem.
•
In Rangarajan v P. Jagjivan Ram case, 1989 SC
said that mere apprehension of law & order
problems does not provide enough grounds for
banning a film.
•
It is state’s duty to provide security.
1.
The case is already through all the stages of
investigation and trial by HC, it is at the appellate
stage in SC. This means no new witness will be
examined, no new evidence will be heard.
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Appeal by convicts is pending in SC, so it can influence
the judgment.
Permission condition (i.e. only for social purpose instead
of commercial purpose) laid by Tihar were violated.
2.
If we talk of banning documentary then by this
logic we should also ban TV and newspaper
reporting as they can also influence the judges.
3.
Judges, by training and permanent, especially
those of higher courts like SC with long career
are immune to happenings of public sphere.
Firstly conditions were changed to this – “that it
should be shown to Tihar prison security to ensure
there is no breach of prison security”
Secondly, it was shown to them and they approved
of it.
She took Mukesh Singh permission
Image of the country
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Deception
India banned because it would affect tourism.
a. Comment –
Image of India is tarnished not by the documentary
but by cases like Nirbhaya and Budaun cases. Stop
them instead of documentary.
i. Rape is normal, but a film which is an insult to the nation is a taboo.
ii. It puts us in the company of North Korea and Pakistan.
iii. Many of the government officials opposing the film screening might not have even seen the film.
iv. Instead of addressing problem of rape they are banning a movie.
4.
Nirbhaya’s Parents –
a. Instead of feeling ashamed, they are at the forefront of keeping this issue alive.
3) Rape (an overview)
Notes
1) Present status –
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1.
Rape, molestation, eve teasing (eye-rape), misbehaviors with girls while traveling in buses and metro etc
all these are on rise
2.
Increasing in
a. Number –
i. Statistics by NCBR – In 2013, 33,700 rape cases were reported. Conviction rate stood at 27%.
ii. Many cases are not reported due to fear that even police can rape them, social stigma and even
police is not interested.
b. Brutality –
i. Badaun, Delhi Gang Rape, Soli Soren (stones were put in her private parts by police in custody
on the pretext that she is a Naxalite)
Recent ones – within last year
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3.
a. In Delhi By Uber cab driver in December 2014.
a. On New Year’s Eve, in Badaun district of UP, 2 constables raped a 14-year-old girl in a police station.
b. January 2015 – Birbhum gang-rape; a 20 yr old women was gang-raped on the order of Khap Panchayat
as punishment for having relationship with a man from a different community.
c. In March 2015, a 70 year old nun was raped in Nadia district in WB.
d. Rohtak gang rape (Feburary 2015) –Nirbhaya like case in Haryana – In February another Nirbhaya
like case happened where a north-eastern mentally challenged girl was brutally raped and killed like
in Delhi gang rape case.
2)(a) Reasons – Why arises at the 1st place
1.
Lack of morals:
2.
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a. India’s daughter – no shame.
Women’s are breaking out from the traditional role:
a. Earlier they were accepting violence, now they are resisting and even reporting it.
3.
But the patriarchal mindset still remains.
4.
Failure of parents and schools – these are the 2 primary agents of socialization. And if a person is engaged
in rape/molestation then it means they have failed to imbibe values about respecting women; failed to
check the deviant tendencies in women.
5.
Commoditification of Women:
a. It means portraying women as commodities, inanimate objects that, unlike living beings, don’t have
feelings and can be treated any way by the person owning them.
b. Example
Notes
i. Most advertisements, whether on television or in the print media, draw attention to the products
they promote by featuring beautiful women. Their presence is purely ornamental and passive and
serves only to attract the attention of men.
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ii. Skirt only rule
1. In 2011 the Badminton World Federation (BWF) proposed to implement a skirt only rule
for women so to make the women’s game more “attractive” and “marketable”. But in 2012
the rule was dropped.
c. Instead we should develop a healthy perception of women as person, as a human being instead of
an object.
6.
Pornography
a. Overview:
i. Pornography is also one of the main reason for VAW.
ii. Pornography material is easily downloaded from websites and sold in CDs, DVDs or chips.
b. SC notice to government:
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iii. Many of the accused disclosed to the police that they had watched pornography on mobile
phones before committing the rape.
i. In April 2014, SC issued notice to the Union government on a petition seeking a ban on
pornographic websites on the ground that their contents were the root cause of all crimes,
especially offences against women and children.
ii. The petitioner said pornography material was easily downloaded from websites and sold in CDs,
DVDs or chips and the Centre had the power under the existing laws to block these websites.
7.
Communal riots and inter-caste conflicts:
a. Whenever communal riots and inter-caste conflicts happen then women’s are targeted by molesting,
raping and even killing them.
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b. It is because women’s are a symbol of honor of men, family, particular caste or of religious
community. Nothing can be more degrading for the husband and community that they can’t protect
their women’s honor.
c. Example: a in Godhra riots many women’s were raped.
8.
Alcoholism:
a. i.e. under the influence of alcohol.
9.
More if they are disabled:
a. And the violence is more in case the victim is mentally or physically disabled as disability makes
women even more vulnerable to sexual abuse and restricts them from challenging it.
b. If they are mentally disabled then the victim doesn’t comes much to know that he is being harassed.
i.e. she does not realize that she is a victim.
c. If physically disabled then he is helpless i.e. it’s easy to rape a person who can’t speak as she can’t
shout or easy to rape a blind person as she can’t identify abuser or one with any disability with limbs
can’t fight.
Notes
10. Self appointed upholders of morality, politics:
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a. In 2009 in Mangalore, the self-appointed guardians of morality, the Sri Ram Sema, set about dragging
women out of a pub, pulling their hair, hitting them — and all of this in full view of television
cameras.
b. On July 28, a mob belonging to the Hindu Jagaran Vedike decided that a group of boys and girls
enjoying a birthday party were attending a “rave” event which was wrong. Do they know what a
“rave” is? Certainly not. But definitions do not matter because these upholders of public morality
decided that what was happening was “immoral”.
c. At Valentine’s Day they grab couples and beat them.
d. In all these cases, the victims are deemed “immoral” while the attackers believe they are the torchbearers of decency and morality.
11. Uneven modernization (pseudo modernization):
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a. At the macro level we have adopted modern laws, modern constitution, modern gadgets, etc. but at
micro level we have a patriarchal mindset; thus we think of dominating women.
b. At level of great tradition we have, e.g., in Hinduism female prowess, Shakti, etc. And thus women’s
are given equal place in religious scriptures, Bharat Mata etc, but not in real life.
12. Patriarchal mindset
a. Even women’s have too much internalized the patriarchal mind-set as they also harass the other
women. i.e. most of the domestic violence is not by men against women rather by a woman against
women i.e. mother in law fights with her daughter in law as now women also have internalized
patriarchy.
2)(b) Failure to prevent it –
1.
Ruchika Girhotra case:
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a. Remember ruchika case who was a budding tennis star. She was molested by SPS Rathore. (an IPS
officer of IG rank).
b. Must do it as to show how civil servant abused his power. She and her family were so harassed that
she committed suicide. And how difficult it was to get justice as he was a top bureaucrat.
2.
CCTV cameras for Obama –
a. In January 2015, Delhi HC criticized the government saying that the government had installed CCTV
cameras in Delhi for the visit of obama, but it didn’t acted fast for the security of citizens. For a
foreign president you do it in weeks, but for citizens you take months or maybe years.
b. Some 15,000 CCTV cameras were for installed for Obamas visit.
c. A PIL was filed that these shouldn’t be removed for women’s security.
3.
Laws
a. They are weak.
b. Not implemented properly.
c. Women’s are not aware of it .
Notes
4.
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Organization and the following ministry etc. have failed.
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a. Ministry of Women’s and Child Development
b. National Commission for Women.
5.
Criminal Justice System
a. Police
i. There is shortage of police on roads etc.,
ii. they are not gender sensitive,
iii. shortage of women police,
iv. Either the police personnel don’t register, or women’s feel shy because there are few women
constable.
b. Judiciary
ii. very little conviction rate
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i. Justice is either not given and if given, then given too late.
iii. In 2009 there were 21,397 reported cases of rape. And although 94. 2 % of these reported cases
were charge-sheeted, there were only 26. 9 % convictions. This is obviously a major reason why
women do not persist with rape cases, even after having overcome the hesitation to report them,
and often withdraw the case when they realize how long it will take and how difficult it is to get
a conviction. (Remember Damini film)
c. Politics- In 2009 in Mangalore, the self-appointed guardians of morality, the Sri Ram Sena set about
dragging women out of a pub, pulling their hair, hitting them — and all of this in full view of television
cameras. But the government did not take any action as they were aligned to the party only.
In October 2012, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala
backed the view of khap panchayats that the marriageable age for girl be lowered to prevent the rising
number of rapes in the state. (as if married women’s are not raped, leav aside the gharms of child
marriages)
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Politicians themselves charged with rape;
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6.
a. See statsistics from PRS about 16th LS
8.
Attitude of politicians
a. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur of the Bharatiya Janata Party who says rape is “sometimes
it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong”, to another member of his party,
b. Home Minister of Chhattisgarh who suggests that rape happens “by mistake” and that “nobody
commit’s rape on purpose”, to Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil of the Nationalist Congress
Party who thinks that it is impossible to prevent rape because the majority of rapes occur within homes
where policemen cannot be posted.
3) Recent steps by government –
Notes
1. Scheme for Safety for Women in Public Road Transport in the country has been approved by CCEA
on 02.01.2014. This Scheme envisages setting up a National Level Vehicle Security & Tracking System
and City Command & Control Centre with installation of GPS/CCTV/panic buttons in public road
transport in the Country.
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2.
Crisis management centers – NDA government in it’s 1st budget in June 2014 announced it’s setting up
in NCT of Delhi. As of Feburary end, 2015, 11 such centers have been setup for rape survivors.
3.
Nirbhaya fund –
a. It is a 1,000 crore fund launched by the government in 2013 union budget.
b. It’s aim is to ensure the safety and security of travelling women.
c. The funds were to be used for following projects:
i. Installation of close circuit television cameras at important public places,
ii. GPS and emergency buttons in transport buses to link them with police stations,
iii. Toll-free numbers, and
d. Present status:
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iv. Self-defence lessons for the needy.
i. In 2013, nirbhaya fund was setup with a corpus of Rs. 1000 crore.
ii. Of these, Rs. 800 crore lies unused as regulated by RTI query in March 2015.
4) Usefulness of mobile apps in preventing violence
1.
Since Delhi gang rape of 2012, many apps have been launched, the latest being the Himmat app by Delhi
police.
2.
Most of these apps merely facilitate a quick call for help to the police.
3.
Limitations:
a. Apps are available to women with smart-phone (which as of mid Feburary 2015 are owed only by 13%
of population)
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b. All these will be of use only if the official state machinery is responsive; but police is apathetic.
c. It’s a good thing, but first we should change the culture and undertake police reforms.
b) Acid attacks –
1.
Introduction
a. Although acid attacks happen all over the world but majority of these attacks occur in South Asia
(mainly Bangladesh and India)
b. According to NCRB, 309 acid attack cases were registered in 2014. However, this seems to be an
underestimation as according to NGOS, some 400 acid attacks occurs every month across the country.
2.
Reasons –
a. Grounds on which acid is thrown
i. Refusal of marriage proposal or any indecent proposal;
Notes
ii. Family disputes; domestic violence; relationship conflicts;
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iii. Suspicion of infidelity;
iv. Jealousy (in one case some men threw acid on a women because she was very educated).
b. Easy availability of acid
i. SC in Laxmi vs Union of India 2013 ordered the government to regulate the sale of acids.
ii. But still no concrete step has been taken. No policy is there to regulate their sale.
c. Underlying reasons for acid attacks
i. Patriarchal mindset where men believe that they are superior to women and should control them,
and violence is justified to teach women a lesson to keep women in their places.
ii. Sadist nature – where a person derives pleasure from hurting the other person.
Consequences
a. Physical –
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i. In most of these attacks, hydrochloric and sulphuric acid are used which cause the skin tissue to
melt, exposing their bones. Sometimes the acid dissolves the bones too.
ii. Acid is mostly thrown on the victims face which can enter in their eyes, ears and nose thus causing
the related disability (blindness, deafness).
b. Psychological – upon recovery they live under fear and depression.
c. Social – Due to the resulting disability victims are forced to give up their public lives, work and
education.
4.
Solution –
a. Preventing attack
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i. Changing the mindset of men that women are not their property or commodity;
ii. Preventing the easy availability of acid (SC guidelines to be implemented).
1. SC directions in Laxmi vs Union of India case – (in 2013).
a. Buyer side
i. No acid will be sold to anyone below 18 years of age.
ii. Buyers will be sold the chemical only after they show their government issued photo identity
proof, and purpose of purchase.
b. Seller side
i. Only non-harmful form of acid will be available over the counter.
ii. No seller will be allowed to stock or sell acid without license. He should disclose all stock of acids
to the local sub-divisional magistrate within 15 days.
Notes
iii. The seller will be obliged to record the sale details and submit them with the local police within
three days fo sale.
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c. Laboratories, etc.
i. In laboratories, hospitals and other institutions where acids are used, a person will be placed incharge of storing acid, and of compulsory checking of students and personnel leaving the institution.
iii. Bangladesh case study –
1. In 2002, Bangladesh passed 2 laws restricting import and sale of acid in the open market.
2. Acid attack incidents came down to 98 in 2012 compared to 496 in 2002, according to Acid
Survivors Foundation.
b. If attack happens:
i.
Rehabilitation
1. Physical –
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a. Ensuring speedy and cash-free treatment to victims so that the damage is minimized.
b. In 2013, section 357C was inserted in CrPC whereby all hospitals (public & private) will
provide free medical treatment to the victim.
c. MHA is proposing the creation of Central Victim Compensation Fund from which treatment
amount is to be paid from.
2. Psychological – provide them counsellors
3. Social:
a. Compensation
i. SC in it’s 2013 order directed state/UTs to pay Rs. 3 lakh as compensation to the acid attack
survivors.
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ii. In 2013, Section 357B was inserted in Cr PC according to which compensation paid by the State
Government under section 357A will be in addition to the fine paid to the victim under sections
of IPC.
b. Government is thinking of including acid attack victims in the category of Physically Challenged
Persons/persons with disability, so that they are able to access the benefit’s of reservation, training,
self-employment, loan, etc.
ii. Victim –
1. CrPC act, 2013 was amended in 2013 under which a person convicted for acid attack is to
be sentenced to imprisonment for ten years or life.
2. Government also proposes to bring suitable amendments in law to fix time frame for disposal
of appeals by courts especially in cases of heinous crimes including acid attack to ensure
speedy justice.
c) Prostitution (Should it be legalized?) – In October 2014, NCW chairperson advocated legalizing sex
work.
Notes
1.
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a. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956 does not prohibit sex work per se. But it criminalizes
pimping, brothel keeping and clients of sex workers.
b. Now as these are involved in prostitution so we can say that ‘theoretically’ prostitution is not illegal,
but ‘practically’ it is illegal in India.
2.
No, it should not be legalized
a. Against culture. This is especially said by moral vigilante.
b. Can create cultural disorder in society.
c. Legalization of prostitution will only help the traffickers/middle-men.
3.
Yes, it should be legalized – In October 2014, NCW chairperson advocated legalizing sex work. Legalization
would cover various aspects — from working hours, remuneration and health care of sex workers to
education and economic alternatives for their families. It is because:
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a. Government will be able to generate money
i. At present it is part of underground economy which is all black.
ii. This money is also used to fund organized crime.
iii. So, by taxing government can regulate it’s movement and can monitor the flow of money.
b. Countries where it is legalized and regulated, there conditions of prostitutes is better.
c. Prostitution is not against culture
i. Devdasi system.
ii. Even in ancient India it was accepted and they enjoyed a higher position (as shown in 1980s
movie Utsav which was based on 2nd century BC Sanskrit play Mricha-katika).
d. Will curb trafficking
e. Harassment by
i. Clients
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i. Will bring down trafficking in women (it’s because a vast majority of women in sex trade are
trafficked; if it is legalized then commercial trafficking can be dealt with stringently).
1. They misbehave, verbal/physical abuse and even can cause fatal injuries.
2. Being illegal they can’t lodge a complaint against a client who misbehaves.
ii. Police
1. They have to pay Haftas.
2. Even physical and sexual abuse.
f.
Middlemen
Being illegal, there are many middlemen who negotiate deal between client and sex worker.
Thus sex worker gets only a small amount of what she deserves for her service. If legalized
then they can be get more money.
Notes
i.
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g. High STD risk groups
i. Due to low awareness among prostitutes.
ii. Also being illegal there is little government intervention.
iii. In Bangkok where it is legal, sex workers take regular blood tests and show the results.
h. Denial of government benefit’s
i. Labor/social security benefit’s – Being illegal they are denied labor-related benefit’s, like minimum
wage, compensation, etc. and other social security measures.
ii. Basic amenities – Red light areas lack basic amenities; less schools.
iii. Can’t demand these as they lack any formal identity:
Women’s right to sexuality
i.
Many women do it by choice because of need of extra money. Now doesn’t she have a right
to decide whether to sell her sexuality or not.
ii. Poor rehabilitation
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i.
1. They are placed in correctional homes and are not provided alternative livelihood; rather it
restricts their freedom of movement.
j.
Children’s of prostitutes
i. Lack of school and recreational facilities in these areas.
ii. And this pushes the children’s into same business.
k. Seen as stigma, denied right to dignity human rights violated.
l.
Social exclusion – from social, cultural and political life.
1) Present status –
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5) Child Sex Ratio
1.
CSR is continuously declining since independence. It was 983 in 1951 reached at 919 in 2011 (provisional
data of census said 914, later it was corrected) (lowest since independence).
2.
According to 2011 census, CSR has declined in 27 States and UT’s (including Kerala & Pondicherry). i.e.
CSR fell practically in the whole country and thus shows that patriarchal mindset of female selective
abortion is SPREADING to even those parts of the country where it was not noted earlier.
3.
Now this practice is more prevalent in Northern and Western part of India as compared to rest of the
India. And the 2 states at the forefront are
a. Haryana – 830
b. Punjab – 846
2) Reasons for low CSR (or female feticide) –
Notes
1.
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Low CSR means a “GIRL CHILD IS UNWANTED and therefore not allowed to be born”. Now why
is this obsession with male child and rejection of girl child:
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a. Girl child is seen as a liability due to dowry, hosting marriage ceremony for big fat Indian wedding,
but a male child will bring dowry.
b. Money invested on girl child will go away, i.e., girls are Paraya dhan. But Male child is seen as an
investment as he will stay with us,
i. So, practically having a girl child is not a good investment deal.
c. There will be continuation of family name (Khandaan aage bhadaana).
d. Support in old age as male child will stay with us (although we have seen that so many old age homes
would not have come up in the last 50 years; countless parents are unhappy despite having sons).
e. And even women have internalized this patriarchy as they feel that they will get proper attention by
their in-laws only if they bear a male child (because inspite of scientific findings, gender is still
generally associated with women).
2.
Also this practice is highly prevalent in educated upper and middle class people. This shows that
having a college degree and modernization are not synonymous.
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f.
Small family norm:
a. Now educated urban middle class people want a small family because it’s too expensive to rear many
children’s.
b. But due to this obsession with male child, this ideal small family is built at the expense of dead female
fetus.
c. Earlier if the 1st child is girl then they will keep on having children until they give birth to son but
now if the 1st child is a girl they keep on ABORTING the fetus till they gave birth to son.
d. According to a research paper published in September 2014 by economists of University of Boston
and Essex, making 2 child norm as eligibility criteria to contest Panchayat elections has led to decline
in child sex ratio in 11 states.
Technology issue:
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3.
a. Easily available – All the doctors need is an ultrasound machines which is affordable. Also newer
medical technologies are increasingly being used in the name of ‘genetic testing’.
b. Marketing by doctors - Nursing home carry an advertisement that how an expenditure of few thousands
(at aborting a female) would eventually save many lakhs in the future. i.e., promoted as an investment
scheme.
c. Rising income and education level among the masses who are aware of it and can afford it. Thus this
practice of feticide is more common in educated and rich people as compared to so-called illiterate
and poor people.
i. This is an example of uneven modernization – at materialistic level they are modernized, but at
intellectual level they are not.
4.
Failure of government:
a. Failure to create awareness about it.
Notes
b. Non-implementation of law
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i.
Government has enacted PC-PNDT Act, 1994 to check female feticide. And it was amended
in 2003 to make it more stringent.
1. Pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques (prohibition of sex selection) act
1994
ii. Under the act, Doctors and radiologists conducting, or soliciting parents for, sex determination
tests can be imprisoned up to five years and fined up to Rs. 50,000.
iii. But the law has failed to act as a deterrent:
1. Its awareness is low. People don’t know that it is illegal.
2. Conviction rate of registered cases is low (doctors haven’t been punished).
3) Consequences of low CSR:
1.
Matter of shame:
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3. Even the vigilance authorities in the government don’t know what action they have to
take.
a. Firstly it is a matter of shame for a country which calls itself the oldest civilization. This shows our
hypocrisy that females are only worshipped in the form of goddess (Sheravalia, Kali, Saraswati, Laxmi
mata), but not in reality.
b. PM Modi righty called female feticide as a sign of ‘mental illness’.
2.
Social implications:
a. If the decline in CSR continues for another 20-30 years, the number of marriageable females will be
far less than that of marriageable males.
b. This will lead to the disappearance of the dowry problem and the old practice of giving and taking
a bride price will come back into vogue.
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i. Bride purchase – It is an increasing phenomenon in Punjab and Haryana under which
1. Women from Bihar, Jharkhand, north-east and other places are purchased for sexual gratification
and having a son.
2. After that they are sold to brothel to recover back money.
c. Polyandry (a woman having more than one husband at a time) may also emerge.
d. Since monogamy is the ideal in India, many men may be required to embrace celibacy.
e. Will increase violence, including rape, against women.
f.
With many men remaining unmarried, prostitution will increase substantially.
g. In short, what was depicted in the 2003 movie, Matrabhoomi will become a reality.
h. As rightly said by PM that “countless Kalpana Chawlas are killed in the wombs of their mother”
(Kalpana Chawla was from Haryana, the first Indian woman to have travelled in space).
Notes
In this background following steps have been taken –
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4)(a) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) – January 2015
1.
Facts
a. Launched on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana
i. Panipat in Haryana that has among the lowest child sex ratio in the country (837 girls to 1000
boys).
ii. Along with it Sukanya Samridhi Yojna (girl child prosperity scheme) was launched.
b. It is a joint initiative of 3 ministries
i. Women and Child Development,
ii. Health,
iii. Human Resource Development.
2.
Aim:
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c. It has been launched in 100 districts with low Child Sex Ratio.
a. Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination.
b. Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child.
c. Ensuring education of the girl child.
3.
How to achieve that aim –
a. Promoting registration of pregnancies in first trimester in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs);
b. Increased institutional deliveries;
c. Monitor implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCP&DT) Act,
1994 by
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i. Strengthening PNDT Cells;
ii. Setting up Monitoring Committees.
d. Registration of births;
e. Community Mobilization; Reward for those who spread awareness of this issue (e.g., If a Village uses
“innovative” methods to improve sex-ratio, it’ll be given Rs. 1 crore)
f.
Making schools, Girl Child friendly, e.g., by Construction of Functional Toilets for girls.
g. Strict implementation of Right to Education (RTE);
i.
i.e. Universal enrolment of girls; and
ii. Decreasing drop-out rate.
4)(b) Sukanya Samriddhi account – January 2015
1.
Facts
Notes
a. Launched along with beti bachao, beti padhao on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana
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b. It is a sub-part of it.
2.
Aim – for meeting the following 2 needs of girls
a. Higher education needs
b. Marriage needs
3.
Key feature of the scheme –
a. Opening of account
i. Account opened in girl child’s name any time before she attains the age of 10.
ii. The account can be opened in any post office or authorized branches of commercial banks across
the country by producing birth certificate of the girl child.
b. Deposit’s
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iii. Minimum deposit required for opening account – Rs. 1000
i. Subsequently, amount in multiple of 100s can be deposited in account; maximum limit of deposit
– 1.5 lakh/year.
c. Government will provide 9.1% interest rate for the saving account; No income tax will be charged
d. Withdrawal
i. Amount can’t be withdrawn till the girl child attains the age of 18 years; this has been kept to
prevent early age marriage of girls.
ii. 50% money can be withdrawn by the girl child after she has achieved 18 years of age to meet
her higher education need.
e. Closing of account –
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i. Account will remain operative for 21 years from the date of opening of the account or till
marriage of the girl child after attaining 18 years of age whichever is earlier.
1. It’s not if she attains the age of 21 rather for 21 yrs from the date of opening of account.
ii. Pre-mature closer – only in 2 cases
1. Untimely death of the account holder.
2. Hardship to the account holder – if the central government is satisfied that operation of the
account or continuation of the account is causing undue hardship to the account holder
(guardian) in cases like need of medical support in life threatening diseases, death etc.
4)(c) Regarding online ads –
1.
Online ads on sex determination under lens – January 2015
a. On January 8, 2015 the Union government filed an affidavit to SC.
Notes
b. In that it requested the SC to direct the search engines Google and Yahoo and Microsoft, which runs
the Bing search platform, to reveal the monetary gains they made from allowing online advertisements
of pre-natal sex determination technologies in violation of the Indian law.
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c. The Centre also wants details of the measures adopted by them to block and/or filter keywords and
sponsored links that violates the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of
Sex Selection) Act.
2.
SC cracks down on search engines – January 29, 2015, The Hindu
a. SC directed the Internet search engines Google, Yahoo and Microsoft (Bing) to neither advertise nor
sponsor pre-natal sex determination advertisements.
b. On March 11, the Bench consided the government’s suggestion that the three search engines provide
it with a list of URLs and IP addresses hosting pre-natal sex determination
6) Witchcraft related murders (or Magico–Religious beliefs)
1.
Overview –
b. Happens mainly in rural areas.
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a. i.e., women which deviate from customary norms are declared as witches. Thus, women’s are being
accused of practicing witches and are thus killed.
c. Citing NCBR (national crime bureau records) statistics, an NGO in 2010 cited that nearly 200 women
are killed every year in the country after being tagged as ‘witches’. And the number is less as many
of the incidents are not reported.
2.
Rajasthan brings Bill against witchcraft - April 3, 2015
a. The Rajasthan Prevention of Witch-Hunting Bill was tabled in the Assembly in April 2015
b. Defines the following –
i.
“Witch” is described as a woman, locally known as “Dayan”, “Dakan” or “Dakin”, who has
been identified by any person or persons believing her to be in possession of, or as having, any
evil power for causing any harm to any person or property.
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ii. “Witchcraft” has been described in the Bill as use of supernatural or magical powers with evil
intention to call up a spirit or cast a spell or discover stolen goods.
iii. “Witch-hunting” means any act or conduct on the part of any person, identifying, accusing or
defaming a woman as a witch or harassing, harming or injuring such woman whether mentally or
physically or by damaging her property.
c. Penal provisions
i. Branding women as witches, witchcraft and such practices will become punishable offences in
Rajasthan.
ii. It provides for life imprisonment if witch-hunting causes death, and imprisonment up to five years
and a fine for practicing witch-hunting, witchcraft and so on.
iii. Importantly, the Bill proposes to impose a collective fine on the inhabitants of a place who abet
the crime, harbor persons committing it, suppress evidence or fail to render all assistance in their
powers to discover or apprehend the offenders.
Notes
iv. The fine shall be spent on the rehabilitation and resettlement of the victim.
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d. Apart from this, the State government proposes to roll out one or more schemes for the rehabilitation
and resettlement of the victim and to conduct awareness programs on superstitions and such practices.
7) Reservation for women in legislature?
1) Present status –
1.
Many famous women parliamentarians in past (like Vijay Laxmi Pandit, Indira Gandhi, Meria Kumar (she
lost in this election) and at present like (Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj (MEA), Smriti Irani (MHRD),
Najma Heptaullah. Along with this many states had women CMs.
2.
But this gives a wrong picture that they are adequately represented in legislatures inspite of accounting
for 50% of population.
3.
In 16th LS, women’s share 11% (62 women). And this is the highest proportion of women in the history
of women in LS. Similar status is in RS and state assemblies
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2) Why need of affirmative action –
1.
It is necessary to jump start the process of equality.
2.
Role models – with women occupying the highest positions can inspire women’s in country.
3.
Studies of effect of reservation in PRIs have shown that political participation has increased.
a. Thus more women have entered into public sphere; started playing an more important role in
community; became more aware; involved in decision-making; developed leadership skills; given them
a confidence
b. Women invest more in the public goods closely linked to women’s concerns.
c. Women’s issue like violence in all forms, alcoholism, female feticide, etc., will get more attention.
Women’s issue can’t get that attention by male legislatures.
Their political awareness will increase automatically with their participation.
5.
Women’s constitutes half of the population and thus should be represented appropriately.
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4.
3) Affirmative action – ok, but in what way?
a) Reservation of 1/3rd seats – NO
1.
Introduction
a. Demand is there since mid-90s in the aftermath of reservation at Panchayat level. And subsequently
every government has promised it, more recent being the BJP government.
b. In the past, 4 times, bills have been introduced in parliament but also these lapsed with the
dissolution of their respective Lok Sabhas.
c. The last one was 108th constitutional amendment bill, 2008; it was passed by RS but lapsed in
2014 with the dissolution of 15th LS.
2.
Key features of 108th constitutional amendment bill
Notes
a. Provisions:
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i. One-third of all seats to be reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative
assemblies.
1. One third of the total number of seats reserved for SCs and STs shall be reserved for women
of those groups.
ii. Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the state or union
territory.
b. Problems with it:
i. Rotation of reserved constituencies in every election.
1. It reduces the incentive for an MP to work for his constituency as he may be ineligible to seek
re-election from that constituency.
2. Plunder can increase as their will be no accountability to voters of that constituency.
iii. Ghettoisation
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ii. It would perpetuate the unequal status of women since they would not be perceived to be
competing on merit; their leadership will be seen artificial.
1. It is unlikely that women’s will obtain party tickets to run for office outside the reserved
constituencies, no matter how competent they are. Thus like SC’s and STs Candidates they
will be ghettoized to reserved constituency.
iv. Restricts choice of voters to women candidates which restricts their choice.
v. It could lead to election of “proxies” or relatives of male candidates.
vi. OBC’s arguments
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1. OBC MPs have argued that reservation for women in the legislatures would reduce the
representation of OBCs who had fought a long and hard battle to get their share in Parliament,
as women candidates would be drawn largely from the elite, upper-caste sections.
vii.This policy diverts attention from the larger issues of electoral reform such as criminalization of
politics and inner party democracy.
viii. Also male MPs will oppose it as it will dilute their power.
b)(i) Reservation for candidates within political parties – YES
One of the many reason for poor women representation is that Parties are not giving tickets to women (In
2014, out of a total number of 8,163 candidates, 636 women contested elections across the country. Around
7%)
1.
Provisions
a. RPA, 1951 should be amended to make it mandatory for parties to nominate women candidates in
1/3rd of the constituencies. (among seats reserved for SCs and STs, 1/3rd shall be for women)
b. Each party can chose to where it wishes to nominate women candidates duly talking local political and
social factors. (thus ensuring flexibility)
Notes
c. To prevent party from women candidates only in states/constituencies where party’s chances of
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winning elections are weak. To ensure even spread of women, the Unit for consideration (unit in which
at least 1 out of 3 party candidates shall be a woman)
2.
Advantages
a. Above challenges of rotation of seats, proxies, no legitimacy, no competition between men and women
will be less, democratic choice to voters.
b. Allow more flexibility to parties to choose candidates and constituencies depending on local political
and social factors.
3.
Apprehension
a. In the absence of reservation of seats, there are fear that women may not be elected in 1/3rd
constituencies as voters might have gender bias.
b)(ii) Undertake other reforms –
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b. However according to evidence, chances of a women winning is more than that of men. This is the
trend since 1984 (except 1989). In 16th LS elections, the winning percentage of women is 9.13% while
that of Men’s is 6.36%.
But we should also address the FUNDAMENTAL issues which are preventing women’s entry.
1.
Social reforms – solve these problems
a. Patriarchal mindset of society
b. Literacy is still less
c. Violence against women
2.
Electoral reforms – solve these problems
a. Lack of inner party democracy;
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b. Criminalization of polity and thus intimidated;
c. influence of black money I.e. money power;
d. Low political awareness; mainly confined to domestic chores thus less participation in outdoor activities.
8) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014
1) Intro, Timeline –
1.
It was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2014. As of end of March 2015 the bill is pending there.
It was send to standing committee which gave its report in Feburary 2015.
2.
It will replace the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
2) Background to the bill –
The bill was introduced following the huge public outcry over the Delhi gang rape. A juvenile was among
the accused and the brutality of his actions prepared the ground for proposing differential treatment to
juveniles in the 16-18 age group in case of heinous crimes.
2.
Along with this there were cases if harassment of children’s and their subsequent running away from day
care homes.
Notes
1.
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3) Key provisions of the bill –
1.
Age:
a. The Bill defines a child as anyone less than 18 years of age.
b. However a juvenile between16-18 year old who has committed heinous offences can be tried as adults.
2.
Institutions:
a. Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs)
i. One or more JJBs to be constituted, for each district.
ii. Responsibilities:
1. Ensuring legal aid for a child;
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2. Adjudicating and disposing of cases related to children in conflict with law;
3. Conducting regular inspection of adult jails to ensure no child is lodged in such jails;
4. Conducting inspection visit’s of residential facilities for such children.
b. Child Welfare Committees (CWCs):
i. States shall constitute one or more CWCs for each district for addressing needs of children’s like
orphans, sexually abused children, etc.
c. Police
i. A Special Juvenile Police Unit’s (SJPU) will be established in each district, consisting of a police
officer and two social workers.
ii. One Child Welfare Police Officer will be present in every police station. Heinous crimes case
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3.
a. See debate from below
4.
Adoption
a. A single or divorced person can also adopt, but a single male cannot adopt a girl child.
b. Parents must be physically fit, financially sound, and mentally alert and motivated/consenting to
adopt.
c. Address issues of delay in adoption.
5.
Penalties are imposed on childcare institution for following:
a. For not reporting an abandoned or orphaned child within 24 hours;
b. For non-registration of child care institutions;
c. For giving a child intoxicating liquor, narcotic or psychotropic substances.
4) Debate on provision of treating 16-18 yr old juvenile as an adult in case of heinous crime
Introduction
Notes
1.
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a. Juveniles above 16 years could be treated at par with adults if involved in heinous crimes, like rape
and murder, for which there is a minimum imprisonment of seven years.
b. JJB will decide whether cases where a juvenile is involved in a heinous crime would be tried under the
provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act or normal trial court.
c. However juveniles convicted for heinous offences are saved from death penalty and life sentence.
d. Now this provision generated a debate.
2.
Arguments in favor of it:
a. NCRB STATS
i. According to NCRB Data, 31,700 cases reported in 2013, an increase of 13% as compared to
2012 (28,000). In 2011, 25,000 cases were reported.
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b. Increasing maturity of children’s.
c. Sympathizing is one thing and empathizing (putting oneself into the shoes of other) is a different thing.
d. Most of the crimes are committed in the age group of 16-18, that’s why needed to lower the age.
3.
Arguments against it – called as a retrograde decision
a. This categorization goes against the core principle that everyone should be treated as a child until the
age of 18.
b. It will interfere with their rehabilitation and denial of restorative justice.
c. Counter-argument to NCRB stats, 2013 –
i. NCRB report states that juvenile crimes comprise only 1.2 % of the total number of crimes in
India.
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ii. Of these juvenile crimes, 65% are property-related crimes such as theft, while just about 5 to 8
per cent constitute serious offences such as rape and murder. Although media reportage of juvenile
crimes might have increased, this may not mean that instances of juvenile crime as a whole are
in themselves increasing.
d. Even the Parliamentary Standing Committee was against trying 16 to 18 year-olds as adults in cases
of heinous crimes, and called for a review of this provision in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
of Children) Bill, 2014.
e. Differential treatment of children between 16 and 18 years need to be reviewed as subjecting them
to an adult judicial system goes against.
f.
It cited SC judgment of 2013 in which the court had observed that there may be child offenders who
cannot be “re-integrated into mainstream society, but such examples are not of such proportions as to
warrant any change in thinking’’, and it is better to try and mainstream them rather than allow them
to develop into hardened criminals.
Notes
g. The UNICEF is also on record describing the proposed amendment as a “real step back’’ as worldwide
evidence shows that the process of transfer of judicial cases to adult courts has not resulted in
reduction of crime or recidivism.
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h. Civil society groups are skeptical about the NCRB basing its data on the number juveniles named in
FIRs and not on the number of children found guilty.
9) Bachpan Bachao Aandolan
1.
It is an India-based movement campaigning for the rights of children started in 1980 by Kailash Satyarthi.
2.
It’s focus has centered on –
a. ending bonded labor, child labor and human trafficking,
b. as well as demanding the right to education for all children.
As of 2014 end, it has so far freed 80,000 children from servitude, including bonded laborers, and helped
in their successful re-integration, rehabilitation and education.
4.
And for his efforts he received the Nobel peace prize.
5.
Kailash Satyarthi wasn’t even recognized for Padma Shri/Vibhushan and he gets a Nobel peace prize. Slap
on the face of the Government of India. Even after he won a Nobel, then also he didn’t got any award
subsequently on R-Day, 2015.
10) Child labor
1) Introduction
1.
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3.
Definition – Child labor refers to any kind of work in which children’s being employed are exploited and
thus is harmful to their physical, mental and social development.
i. Global position: But one thing is sure that “India is home to largest number of child laborers in
world”. According to UN reports 1/4th of child laborers live in India.
2) List of Reasons
From view point of children (& his/her family) – supply side reasons:
a. Poverty in general
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1.
b. Male head – And it’s more when there is no male head due to death or a case of an alcoholic & drug
addict father who is not working.
c. Presence of Bonded labor i.e., pledging of children by parents as collateral for loans; i.e., my child.
d. Run away children’s (street children) – they leave home due to violence or economic conditions and
for their survival they work.
2.
From view point of EMPLOYERS and society – i.e., demand side reasons
a. They are cheap to employ, can be paid less
b. They can’t form a trade union, thus can’t revolt.
c. There are many industries like beedi rolling, match-making which doesn’t require much skills.
Notes
d. Social acceptance – “if we don’t employ them they will die, we are only helping them to come out
of poverty”.
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3.
From view point of Government
a. Not prohibited – Our constitution and laws only prohibits child labor in hazardous places, but can be
employed in non-hazardous places, e.g., as domestic servant.
b. Debate over age, definition; thus difficulty in enforcement – Juvenile act, international conventions
define a child as those below the age of 18, but consttitution and 1986 act sets the age as 14. Thus
there is conflict in enforcement.
c. Weak enforcement of laws due to multiple laws, loopholes in them apathy, lethargy, corruption,
shortage of manpower in organization.
d. Failure of government to provide them education even after 67 yrs of independence
i. In rural areas there is absence of schools, then obviously they will engage in agricultural work.
3) Consequence –
4.
On children’s –
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ii. Even if there are schools then the education doesn’t provide them vocational skills. Thus, they
drop out and get back to child labor.
a. Destroys their childhood – The age in which there should be toys and books in their hands, they have
dirty dishes to clean in their hands.
b. They are the most exploited. They work long hours with less pay; there is violence, verbal abuse which
affects their physical and mental health.
c. Occupational hazards –
i. E.g., Children’s working in beedi factory suffers from lung diseases due to tobacco dust.
ii. Children’s working in quarry industry suffers from silicosis, etc.
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iii. All this even leads to early death.
d. Also the girl’s education is sacrificed first and is thus forced to work as domestic servant while his
brother continues to go to school.
5.
National level
a. Wastage of demographic dividend.
b. Also RTE act can’t be successful without eliminating child labor.
c. It’s a shame on country which is aiming to be a superpower.
d. Also many of them engage in organized crime to supplement their income.
4) Solution –
1.
Conduct a child labor census at a district level.
2.
As a short-term measure
a. conduct raids and inspection to withdraw children labors.
Notes
b. Convict the employer by setting up fast track courts.
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4.
Rehabilitate them by putting up in a transitional schools so that they can be introduced into mainstream
schools. Create a tracking mechanism so as to track rehabilitated children’s that whether they haven’t
dropped out of school and didn’t go back to become a child labor.
5.
Take family out of poverty so that there is no need to work by providing them funds, work, forming SHGs
5) Steps by government –
1.
Constitutional Provisions
a. Article-21A – i.e., RTE which says that State shall provide free and compulsory education to all
children of the age of 6 to 14 years.
b. Article-24 – Prohibits employment of children below the age of 14 in hazardous employment.
c. Article-39 (a DP) – Citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter a vocation unsuited to their
age
Laws
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2.
a. Child labor prohibition act, 1986 – main act
b. The Juvenile Justice (Care And Protection) Of Children Act, 2000
c. Bonded labor prohibition act, 1976
d. Child labour amendment Act, 2006
e. Child labour amendment Bill, 2012 (Yet to be passed)
3.
Organizations like ministry of women and child development, NCPCR (national commission for protection
of child rights)
11) URBAN
i) Schemes –
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a) Steps by government – including recent ones by NDA government
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)
1.
It will be in force till October, 2019
2.
All statutory towns will be covered under the SBM.
3.
The objectives of the SBM are –
a. Elimination of open defecation,
b. Eradication of manual scavenging,
c. Modern and scientific solid waste management, and
d. Generating awareness about sanitation and it’s linkage with public health.
HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana)
Finance minister of NDA government in his budget in June 2014, announced the launch of HRIDAY
Notes
1.
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2.
It is a project for preserving the heritage characters of cities such as Mathura, Amritsar, Gaya, Kanchipuram,
Vellankani, and Ajmer.
3.
The project will work through a partnership of Government, Academic Institutions and local community
combining affordable technologies.
4.
Allocation of 200 crore in the current Budget for it. Apart from this PM of India urged Japans’ PM (on
his visit to Japan) that the 2 countries should work on preserving their heritage cities.
Smart City Scheme
1.
It is proposed to develop 100 smart cities identified on the basis of stipulated criteria.
2.
These cities will have smart (intelligent) physical social, institutional, and economic infrastructure to
improve public services.
3.
Detail from below
1.
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ii) Other steps –
The following 2 ministries were given to same minister for better coordination
a. Ministry of Urban Development
b. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister.
2.
Targets set by Modi government for “Housing For All by 2022”. One of the 13 goal under Amrut
Mahotsav (75th year of independence) is housing for all – 2 crore houses in Urban areas and 4 crore houses
in Rural areas.
3.
Kyoto-Varanasi partnership – January 14, 2015
a. An agreement on Sister City Cooperation was signed between India and Japan during Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan.
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b. The Centre has identified five areas for the Kyoto-Varanasi partnership, based on which the Japanese
will extend their expertise to help rejuvenate the holy city.
c. These include
i. Solid-liquid waste management,
ii. Transport management,
iii. Developing the Buddhist tourist circuit in and around Varanasi,
iv. Industry-university interface and
v. Setting up of a convention centre on public-private partnership basis for giving a fillip to the
cultural activities in the city.
d.
Also a sum of Rs. 80 crore was recently sanctioned for Varanasi under the Heritage City Development
and Augmentation Yojana (Hriday).
12) Smart Cities
Recently following developments happened regarding smart cities
Notes
a. Budget 2014
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i. 100 Smart cities will be developed as satellite towns of large cities and by modernizing the
existing mid-size cities.
ii. For this allocated Rs. 7060 crore in current fiscal.
iii. FDI conditions to be eased to attract investment for development of smart cities.
iv. Budget 2015 didn’t allocated anything.
b. Singapore help:
i. With assistance from Singapore, the first city coming under this project is Gujarat International
Financial Tec (GIFT) City.
c. USA help:
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i. USA promised Indian PM that it will help India in developing three smart cities at Allahabad,
Ajmer and Visakhapatnam.
d. World bank signs pact for smart cities – January 2015
i. The Government of Gujarat, the Government of India and the World Bank have entered into a
tripartite agreement in support of Gujarat’s smart city initiative at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
Meaning of smart cites
a. In smart cities ICT like sensors, cameras, wireless devices, data centers and powerful analytics will be
used by the government to provide efficient services.
b. Main areas of applications of ICT:
i. Efficient delivery of public utilities such as water, electricity, solid waste, sanitation, and sewerage
as well as associated government services;
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ii. Monitoring transport services to provide congestion free roads, and minimal waiting time for
public transport commuters;
iii. Active surveillance to provide public safety for citizens; and
iv. On-demand availability of reliable emergency services such as ambulance, fire safety.
c. Apart from this traveling time and cost should be minimized which will save fuel and reduce pollution.
Life in the city has to be comfortable. For that one needs housing, clean and adequate water, sanitation,
solid waste collection and disposal, a clean environment, 24/7 power supply, safety and recreational
facilities.
d. Example –
i. Surat – online monitoring of water quality.
ii. Dublin (Ireland) – mobile apps for parking slot.
Critical aspect
a. Advantage
Notes
i. At present we are witnessing a wave of migration from rural to urban India and this is creating
tremendous pressure on urban infrastructure. Now merely enhancing investment in physical infra,
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i.e., roads, metros and bridges will not serve the purpose alone. Investment in digital infra is also
required to improve governance.
ii. Will make living conditions simpler.
iii. Offer convenient transport service.
iv. Will reduce carbon footprint:
1. Efficient transport system will reduce energy consumption and
2. Sustainable materials for building facilities
v. Promise number of direct and indirect jobs.
b. Concern/challenge
i.
Our existing municipalities (ULBs)do not have the capability to initiate such a program.
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ii. The smart cities will be developed on the outskirts of the existing cities. It’s possible that
instead of easing the burden on the existing one it can become a barricaded area between rich
and poor. If the existing cities will be ignored then smart city project would turn out to be
an expensive real estate meant to serve a few.
iii. The Government has allocated Rs 7000 crore in this budget which is around Rs 70 crore per
city, this is definitely not enough. In the words of minister of urban development in December
2014, the 100 smart cities planned across the country will require roughly 10 years and Rs.
45 lakh crore.
iv. It is good only if it’s like an initial token amount to kick start the project and later more funds
will be arranged (which may happen in next budget).
v. The Land development is a state subject and states active enthusiastic participation is necessary.
This can only happen when the center can arrange enough funds for them.
1.
Introduction
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13) Urbanization challenges
a. The level of urbanization has increased from 27.78% in 2001 to 31.18% in 2011.
b. According to Census 2011, as many as thirty-five cities in India had a million plus population.
c. At current rate of growth, urban population in India is projected to reach 575 million by 2030.
2.
Reasons for it
a. Rural to urban migration and its reasons.
b. As cities expand, rural areas surrounding it come into its its fold, e.g. Noida and Gurgaon around Delhi.
c. Unplanned urbanization.
d. Initially Government’s failure to realize related problems. It’s from some years that it is focusing on
it.
Notes
i. Recent examples. – RAY is non-functional.
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3.
Impact/challenges of urbanization
a. Migration.
b. Housing –
i. Living in congested places which lack proper ventilation, natural lighting, etc.
ii. Unauthorized colonies.
iii. Due to shortage of houses people live in unsafe buildings.
iv. Lacking basic amenities – drinking water, electricity, etc.
c. Slums
i. Similar to old Jewish ghettos.
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ii. Slums are characterized by substandard housing, overcrowding and lack of electrification, ventilation,
sanitation, roads and drinking water facilities.
iii. Slums have been the breeding ground for diseases, environmental pollution, demoralization, and
many social tensions.
iv. Crimes, like juvenile delinquency, gambling, have also increased.
d. Transport
i. Road accidents
ii. Parking problem
iii. Noise pollution
iv. Lack of public transport in many cities
e. Sanitation
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v. Traffic congestion, long red lights
i. Lack of drainage system and sewerage
ii. Unsafe garbage disposal
f.
Infrastructure
i. Infrastructure of India’s present towns is very poor.
ii. Sewage, water, sanitation, roads and housing are woefully inadequate for their inhabitants.
g. Suburbanization urban sprawls
i. The process of urbanization in India has also been accompanied by sub-urbanization. The
development of modern modes of transport, and increasing demands on housing have led to the
growth of sub-urbanization.
ii. The sub-urban areas are growing at a faster rate in the metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Mumbai,
Chennai and Delhi and in all big cities of India.
Notes
h. Economic
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i.
Unemployment
ii. Poverty
i.
Health
i.
Lifestyle diseases
ii. Clean air is less
iii. Indoor air pollution
j.
Negative affects (challenges)
i.
Slum
ii. Congestion
iv. Urban infra
v. Urban sprawls
k.
Crime
i.
4.
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iii. Transport chaos
Organized criminal groups have come up
How to tackle it
a. Empower local bodies (increase Funds, devolution of functions, increase Functionaries)
b. Increased allocation to urban infra
c. Have a long term strategy
d. Create new urban centers.
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14) POPULATION
A) Family Planning –
(Bilaspur case in November 2014 attarcted huge media attention)
1) NPP, 2000
1.
Objectives of NPP 2000
a. Immediate objective regarding quality
i. To improve the availability of contraception, hospitals and health care personnel for basic
reproductive and child health care.
b. Mid-term objective
i. To achieve a TFR of 2.1 per cent by 2010 (it was 2.8 in 2011)
c. Long term
Notes
i. To attain population stabilization by 2045. (now the date has been pushed back to 2070).
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2.
Approach
To abandon
Targets (regarding everything like TFR, contraception prevalence rate, sterilization, institutional delivery,
registration of births, and marriages)
Incentives (monetary benefit’s) disincentive (i.e., removal from employment, barring from contesting Panchayat election);
any other type of coercion, compulsion.
To follow
Target free approach
Voluntarily:
Before accessing government officials and doctors should inform them about the positives and negatives of
accessing the technology.
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Coordinated approach: Coordination of all ministries & programs related to health, education, employment
and partnership with civil society and panchayats.
Decentralized Planning And Program Implementation: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments Act,
1992, made health, family welfare, and education a responsibility of village panchayats.
2)(a) But still we follow the old approach of target and incentive.
•
But at present we still follow the target and incentive approach inspite of it being in opposition to IPCD,
1994 and NPP-2000.
•
Various instances have been reported in Rajasthan, MP where:
Sterilization has been made a pre-condition to access development schemes.
o
Persons with more than two children are prohibited to contest for panchayat/municipal elections in
certain States.
o
Millions of women are being sterilized when just 21 years or less.
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•
o
In this background health rights activists have formed a National Coalition against the two-child norm and
coercive population policies in 2011, housed in Delhi.
2)(b) Recent developments in support of it –
Target approach still continues – (gender bias in sterilization)
1.
Bilaspur district death –
a. In November 2014, more than 13 women lost their lives following sterilization surgeries in a medical
camp in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
2.
Directed towards female –
a. In India sterilization, somehow, is understood as a permanent method of contraception only for
women.
Notes
b. According to official statistics, government (center and state) promote female sterilization
disproportionately. Of the total sterilizations performed in 2012-13, as many as 97 % per cent were
tubectomy procedures.
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c. Also it has seen that in Post Partum IUCD insertions, consent of the rural women is not even taken.
3.
Incentives still continues – especially for sterilization:
a. In October, 2014 Centre announced an ‘Enhanced Compensation Scheme’ for sterilization services in
11 States having high Total Fertility Rates (TFR).
b. It also added a new component of Post Partum Sterilization (PPS) — done soon after delivery or
within 7 days — to the package for which an extra amount of Rs. 3,000 would be given.
4.
Sterilization instead of others is promoted –
a. An analysis by NGOs suggests that in 2013-14, India spent 85 % of its family planning expenditure
on sterilization.
b. Thus disregarding other methods such as condoms, oral pills, IUDs.
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c. Sterilization constitutes 75 per cent of India’s total contraceptive use, which is the highest anywhere
in the world.
d. Less than 1.5 per cent of the annual expenditure on family planning went towards spacing methods.
e. From the mid-1980s, the numbers of tubectomies have risen steeply and on average 4.5 million
surgeries are performed each year.
f.
For this Incentives have been raised.
15) NORTH – EAST
A) Discrimination, Racism against North-Easterns’
1.
Ways of discrimination
a. Daily life
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i. Landlords refusing accommodation,
ii. Abusing by calling them Chinki, noodles, Momos, Thupka, etc.
b. Violence including killings
i. Last year Nido Tania (a 19 year old boy from AP) died after being attacked by shopkeepers in
Delhi; then 2 manipuri youths were attacked; another Manipuri girl was raped)
c. They have to prove their identity that they are Indians too. Many times, these people are confused
with Tibetans residing in Indian cities.
2.
Reasons for discrimination
a. Poor awareness of their cultural heritage;
b. Unique identity of north eastern states;
c. Attitude of neglect by government.
3.
Consequences
Notes
a. Lack of assimilation is a threat to cultural identity
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b. All this creates genuine apprehensions in their mind that their life won’t be protected outside northeast
4.
Way forward
a. Use recommendations of Bezbaruah report
b)
Bezbaruah Committee Report
1)
Overview –
1.
Background
a. Bezbaruah Committee, headed by M. P. Bezbaruah, Member, North Eastern Council, was set up in
February 2014 after the death of Nido Tania, a 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh in January
2014.
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b. The Committee’s mandate was to
i. Listen to the issues raised by people from Northeast India living in other areas of the country,
especially metro cities; and
ii. Suggest measures which could be implemented by the Government of India.
c. The Committee filed its report with Ministry of Home Affairs on July 11, 2014.
2.
Findings
a. Over 2 Lakh people from the North East have migrated to Delhi between 2005 and 2013 and that
about 86 percent of them have faced discrimination.
b. Delhi is the worst offender among the metro cities when it comes to racial discrimination against
people from the North-East.
3.
Recommendations
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a. Law against discrimination:
i. Either create a new law or amend IPC. Offence should be cognizable and non-Bailable.
b. Make NE people aware of their rights:
i. Legal awareness campaigns in neighborhoods that have a significant presence of members from
the North East community;
ii. Introduce lectures on legal rights for university students.
c. Prosecution
i. Investigation of the FIR should be completed with in 60 days by a special squad, trial should be
completed in 90 days.
ii. Institutional mechanism:
1. For investigation Create a special police squad supervised by NE special unit to do investigation
of cases.
Notes
2. For prosecution appoint a special prosecutor and setup FTC.
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d. Interventions in Education i. NE student should be given proper place in schools and curriculums to make other people more
aware about them.
ii. Higher education institution should be setup in NE areas so that large scale migration doesn’t
happen.
e. Use of social media in improving communication with the community.
i. A dedicated Facebook page should be created and nodal police officers should be in constant
touch with members of the community on WhatsApp.
f.
Sports
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i. Take steps to hold regular national and international events in the North East, as such events will
create greater harmony and better understanding. For this create new and improve the existing
facilities.
ii. Indigenous games of the North East should be promoted.
2) Implementation of Bezbaruah committee –
1.
On January 2, 2015 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced the Government’s decision to implement
some recommendations of the Committee.
2.
Implemented Recommendations –
a. Amendment to IPC to bring in new sections of 153C and 509A.
b. NE culture and history will be included in the curriculum of schools and university books especially
their role in freedom movement.
c. “Under the ‘Ishan Uday’ scheme, 10,000 scholarships of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 5,000 per month will be
granted for undergraduates from 2014-15.
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d. Under the ‘Ishan Vikas’ scheme, select students will be taken to the IIT’s, the NIT’s and other engineering
institutes for exposure/internship,”.
e. Besides, the Sports Ministry has taken initiatives to encourage talent from the region. The government
has already allocated Rs. 100 crore for a National Sports University in Manipur.
f.
The Home Minister said the Ministry for the Development of the North-eastern Region had taken a
series of measures, including construction of hostels at Jawaharlal Nehru University and four other
colleges in Delhi.
g. It was exploring ways to resolve the problems faced by the people from the region in finding
accommodation and also of high rent.
3.
Reaction
a. NE favored a separate law instead of amending IPC sighting that NE differ not only in their physical
look but also in their culture, food habit, political and historical background.
b. No time frame has been given for implementation of recommendation.
Notes
c. No announcement regarding monitoring system inspite of strongly recommended.
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1.
Introduction
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B) Bodo-adivasi clashes - (late 2014)
a. The massacre of 68 Adivasis by militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit),
or NDFB (Songbijit), in serial attacks on several villages and the subsequent retaliatory violence on
some Bodo villages by Adivasi miscreants.
b. Besides northern Assam’s Sonitpur district, the violence affected Kokrajhar, Chirang and Udalguri,
three districts of the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) were affected.
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c. The militant attacks and the retaliatory violence have claimed 80 lives, most of them women and
children. More than two lakh people belonging to both the communities have been displaced in the
four districts.
d. The attack was brutal and barbaric: for instance.
2.
Reason –
a. The violence that occurred in the last week of December and the consequent displacement of village
residents brought two pertinent issues to the fore—
i. The recognition of Adivasis, including the tea-tribe and communities in Assam as S.Ts and
1. Bodos are the largest plains tribe of Assam. Adivasis are demanding S.T. status. KochRajbangshis, Morans, Mataks, Tai-Ahoms and Chutias are the other five communities that
have been agitating for inclusion on the State’s S.T. list.
ii. Granting land rights under the S.T. and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Rights) Act to Adivasi and Bodo forest dwellers in denuded forest areas.
Notes
b. Recognizing adivasis as a Scheduled Tribe will have wider political ramifications in the BTAD than
anywhere else in the State. Political rights such as reservation of the council seats are enjoyed exclusively
by the S.Ts
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c. Bodo leaders are concerned that granting S.T. status to Adivasis and Koch-Rajbangshis will offset the
political equilibrium in the BTC and take away the political rights which the Bodos have enjoyed
following the creation of the autonomous territorial tribal council in lieu of a separate State. Thirtyfour of the 40 seats in the BTC are reserved for S.Ts and five seats for non-S.Ts
d. In the BTAD, Bodos form the largest S.T. group and, therefore, have been ruling the tribal council since
its inception in 2003. With elections to the BTC due in April 2015, and elections to the State
Assembly scheduled for 2016, these issues are likely to dominate politics in the BTAD areas.
3.
Steps by government –
a. Security forces have launched an all-out operation against the NDFB (Songbijit) after the governments
at the Centre and the State announced that the policy of “zero tolerance” would be pursued against
terror attacks.
4.
Way forward –
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b. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh ruled out any dialogue with the militant outfit.
a. It has revived the long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status to Adivasi forest dwellers.
i. Adivasis argue that permanent peace in the BTAD areas will remain elusive if Adivasis are not
given S. T. status and land rights under the S.T. and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act.
b. Security measures –
i. Permanent security forces –
1. Most of the camp inmates demand permanent security measures to prevent the recurrence
of militants’ attacks and avoid frequent displacement. The displaced people felt violence
returned to the BTAD areas because of the absence of permanent security measures.
ii. Intensify operations –
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1. Intensifying operations against the militants is critical to the return of peace and normalcy in
the affected areas.
5.
About Bodoland -
i. Bodoland consists of four districts, namely, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri.
ii. It came into being in 2003 as a memorandum of settlement (MoS) between the Assam government,
the Union government, and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT, a former militant group).
iii. Under this Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was created under the Sixth Schedule of the
Constitution.
C) Dimapur lynching
On march 5, there was public lynching in Dimapur of a Muslim from Assam accused of rape. Detail -
•
Sharif khan was a resident of Assam. He was married to a naga women.
•
On February 24, he raped a women (although it’s not proved as it could have been consensual sex). This
women was the cousin of Sharif Khan’s wife. He was subsequently caught by police.
•
After a week this news came out in media. Rumors spread that the person is an IBI (illegal Bangladeshi
migrant)
Notes
1)
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•
On March 5, mob marched into Dimapur central jail, dragged out of the rape accused from judicial
custody and lynched him in public.
2) Underlying reasons –
1.
There is a growing non-Naga population in Dimapur.
2.
Divide between Nagas and migrants in Nagaland.
3.
They argue that migrants especially IBI have taken their lands and jobs and there is unemployment.
4.
Their growing frustration with administration for not working for socio-economic development and jobs.
3) Criticism –
Firstly, mob taking law into their hand and blame corrupt police, shocking acquittal slow judicial process.
2.
If women has right to her body, so has the victim right to due process of law.
3.
This is not a sign of justice, instead sign of lawlessness.
4.
They haven’t made streets safe for women, instead more dangerous for everyone.
5.
Nagaland treats outsiders be it Bangladeshi or other; all are foreigners; it shows unsuccessful integration
of Nagaland to India.
6.
Comparision with Saudi Arabia where death by stoning happens.
7.
Police & criminal justice system
a. Police was clearly outnumbered.
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1.
b. Prisons need to be improved so as to prevent Diaper’s (mob attack).
16) TRIBALS
1) Introduction
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a) Virginius Xaxa committee -
1.
UPA government constituted a high level committee regarding Tribals under the chairmanship of Virginius
Xaxa (a prominent sociologist).
2.
It has prepared a position paper on the present socio-economic, health and educational status of STs.
3.
It submitted its report in 2014.
2) Key recommendations
1.
Land alienation
a. Prevent all kinds of tribal land alienation.
b. Impose penalties on officials, if delayed implementation of Forest Rights Act or PESA.
c. Gram sabha
Notes
i. Gram Sabha’s consent compulsory for any type of land acquisition. Even if the government
wants land for its own use.
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ii. If anyone obtains Gram Sabha’s consent fraudulently then impose penalties and cancel such
projects.
iii. Empower Gram Sabhas to restore alienated land back to original owner, even while case is
pending in court. This will discourage non-tribal buyers from committing frauds.
d. Unused land
i. Unused Government land should be used for tribal-resettlement.
e. Dams
i. Promote small sized water-harvesting structures instead for large dams.
2.
Mining in tribal areas
a. In Scheduled Areas, only permit tribal’s to exploit mineral resources.
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b. After mines are exhausted, return the land back to original owner. Amend the Coal-Bearing Areas Act,
1957 to implement this.
c. In Andhra Pradesh, tribal-cooperative societies can do mining activities. Other states need to adopt
same model.
3.
Linkage with Extremism
a. Naxal offence
i. There is no legal basis for terming anything a “Naxal offence”.
ii. Yet many tribals are arrested for protesting against developmental projects.
iii. Appoint a judicial commission to investigate such “Naxal cases” registered against tribal’s and
their (non-tribal) supporters.
b. Salwa Judum
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i. Avoid making Salwa Judum like policies to combat left wing extremism.
2) Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojna –
1.
Finance Minister in his budget speech announced the launch of VBKY with initial allocation of Rs. 100
crore.
2.
It was formally launched in October 2014.
3.
The scheme is being piloted in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
4.
Aim to improve the following in tribal population area
a. infrastructure and
b. human development
5.
How it work?
Notes
a. The scheme allots Rs. 10 crore to each block with a tribal population of over 33 per cent.
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b. The VKY will focus on convergence of different Central and State schemes of development with an
outcome-oriented approach.
17) POVERTY
a) Overview of poverty –
1.
How many –
a. According to Rangarajan report of 2014, 29.5% of the population is poor.
2.
Reasons - Inspite of Garibi Hatao, inclusive growth agenda poverty persists due to:
a. Why arises at 1st place
i. Lack of Education/poor skills thus confined to informal sector.
iii. Financial Exclusion.
iv. Unemployment.
v. Vicious cycle of poverty.
1. Child labor
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ii. Out of pocket health expenditure (rich have insurance, poor dont).
2. Networks Rights connections or networks play an important role in recruitment.
vi. LPG: Due to IMF conditionality’s there is less spending on social welfare; Due to challenges to
PSU’s MSME’S agriculture, etc. rise of unorganized sector
vii.Social reasons
1. Dowry
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2. Caste system
viii. The Law of Increasing Poverty by Karl Marx poverty is inevitable in capitalism
1. Because capitalists intend to increase profit, they always intend to reduce wages.
2. Because of mechanization there is unemployment
b. Why government fails to eradicate it
i. Setting up an unrealistic poverty line
ii. Issue of BPL cards – wrong inclusion & exclusion
iii. Failure of programs – apathy, corruption
iv. Others – getting neutralized by
1. Inflation
2. Population
3.
Consequence
Notes
a. Migration to cities
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b. Breeding ground of
i. Regionalism, communalism, caste conflicts
ii. Crime organized crime and LWE/naxalism
c. Education deprived child labor
d. Hunger/malnutrition
e. Women trafficking
f.
Disaster poor people are worst affected in case of disaster because
i. They live at Vulnerable locations
1. Either there is no other land available at reasonable cost.
ii. Unsafe shelters
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2. Or it is close to the employment opportunities (fishermen in coastal areas).
1. Also the dwellings they live in are made up of low cost material without giving much
consideration to technical aspect and thus are easy targets of various hazards.
4.
Solution
a. Setup a realistic poverty line;
b. And then ensure that all the beneficiaries get the card;
c. And implement all programs so as to remove poverty;
d. For permanent removal focus on agriculture where most people are employed; develop infra; financial
inclusion.
1) Background
•
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b) Rangarajan Panel report -
According to Tendulkar committee criteria
o
Poverty line is at (for family of 5 per month) Rs. 4080 for rural and Rs. 5000 for urban areas.
o
And thus according to it, the number of poor has declined to 22% from 37%.
•
But this line and the total number of poor came under heavy criticism.
•
And it was in this background to review it, government in 2012 set up an Expert Technical Group under
the chairmanship of C Rangarajan to revisit the methodology for estimation of the poverty and identification
of the poor.
•
In July 2014 it gave its report.
2.
Consumption expenditure is the main criteria in measurement of poverty line. Consumption on food and
non-food items.
3.
Basis of poverty line/methodology: Poverty line to be based on
Notes
a. Food component
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i. On the basis of average requirements of calories, proteins and fats based on ICMR norms.
b. Non food items
i. Expenditure on Essential items i.e., for education, for avoiding diseases, for shelter;
ii. Behaviorally determined expenditure for other non-food items.
Poverty line
Consumption exp.
Rural areas (2011-12)
Urban areas (2011-12)
Per capita per day
Rs 32
Rs 47
Per capita per month
Rs 972
Rs 1407
For a family of 5 per month
5.
Rs 4860
Rs 7035
How many poor
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4.
a. 3 out of 10. To be precise 29. 5%.
b. According to Rangarajan panel poverty declined from 38% in 2009–10 to 29.5% in 2011–12.
c. According to Tendulkar panel poverty declined from 38% in 2009–10 to 22% in 2011–12.
6.
Comment:
a. It’s in consonance with the global standards.
b. Apart from private expenditure, people also benefit from public expenditure on health, education, etc.
c. Also instead of looking at “per capita per day” people should look at poverty line “for a family of
5 per month”. Thus according to him it’s at appropriate level.
18) SANITATION
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(Cleanliness, Open defecation)
a) Reasons for poor sanitation –
1) Quantity There is lack of toilets at all levels
1.
Personal toilets
a. Many people either don’t have a house (homeless) or are living in a kutcha house and because of this
they don’t have a personal latrine.
2.
Public toilets.
3.
In institutions like schools, etc.
a. According to 2009 stats, 4.5 lakh primary schools did not have toilet facilities.
2)
Quality of toilets (Lack of maintenance, water): Even if toilets are there then also they are unusable
due to various reasons
a. Lack of regular water supply and non-functional flushes.
Notes
b. Maintenance staff either not there and if they are the don’t work properly.
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c. Many public toilets are open (no shed); so it hard to use them in rainy season
3)(a) People’s attitude
1.
Low awareness about associated health hazards
2.
Rarely we have heard that the voters are demanding ‘Hygienic public toilets’ as an election promise
3)(b) Governments attitude
And the above problem is because
1.
It’s only in the last few years that attention is being given to them, otherwise they were ignored.
2.
Lack of funding
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a. According to Jairam Naresh sanitation programs are the “most severely under-funded” program in
India.
b. According to Ramesh in 2012, our earlier budget for Rural Development is just Rs. 2000 crore which
is just 2% of entire budget which is close to Rs. 1 lakh crore.
3.
Failure of our programs
a. Also we have launched various programs like Total Sanitation Campaign and Nirmal Gram Puruskar
but success is not substantial.
b. As of June 2012 only 10% of our gram panchayats have been declared as Nirmal Gram Panchayats.
b) Consequences –
1) Dignity of women
It is no secret that women in several small hamlets have to sometimes wait till sunset to answer the call
of nature.
•
A sanitary toilet, within or near home, provides privacy and dignity to women.
2) Impact on health
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•
i.
Open defecation causes various diseases and infections such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and
Hepatitis A.
ii.
Malnutrition
a. There is a medically proven link between malnutrition and sanitation
b. i.e., young children living in poor sanitary conditions ingest large quantities of faecal bacteria which
causes malnutrition related disorder.
iii. These diseases arising out of poor sanitation is the leading cause of IMR.
3) Effect on education (especially girl child)
1.
Drop out
Notes
a. Many schools don’t have toilets. And even if there are then there are no separate toilets for girls in
many schools.
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b. Due to this many times parents don’t send their children’s especially girls.
2.
Poor performance
a. Also due to various diseases due to poor sanitation they perform poorly.
4) Economic impact

According to a world bank study in 2006, 6% of India’s GDP is wasted annually due to consequences of
poor sanitation.

It’s because of
Poor productivity – as school children’s leave school who could have done better and the labor is sick
thus can’t work productively.
o
Spending by government – government allocates huge money to cure, treat various diseases etc. arising
out of poor sanitation like diarrhea, pneumonia.
5) Manual scavenging

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o
Due to open defecation manual scavengers are required which is a problem in itself.
6) Environment: Lack of adequate sanitation is a major threat to the environment, i.e., it leads to
1.
Pollution of fresh water and lakes by untreated human waste, the result being smaller, contaminated fish
catches. (i.e., effects biodiversity)
2.
Degradation of the urban environment by the indiscriminate disposal of solid and liquid waste
19) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
1.
Facts
a. Launched on 2nd October, 2014
c. Nodal ministry
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b. A partial CSS
i. Urban development ministry for urban area
ii. Rural development ministry for rural areas
2.
Aim
a. By 2019, every city, town and village has to be clean
b. Focus
i. Toilets
1. Public convenience to be build
2. Pucca toilets in all households
ii. Safe drinking water
Notes
iii. Safe disposal system
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iv. Clean roads and neighborhood
v. Focus on behavioral change
3.
Subsequent steps
a. Corporates
i. They have come forward for funding and making toilets
ii. TCS, Bharti, Dabur, L&T, GAIL
b. HRD ministry
i. All government school to have toilets till July 2015
ii. Include cleanliness in education system
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iii. The CBSE has also been advised to set up questions on cleanliness, hygiene and environment in
the examinations conducted by them.
c. Tourism ministry announced cleanliness index for cities to encourage best performance.
4.
Hurdles: It’s success depends on
a. Behavioral change,
b. Cooperation of states,
c. Empowerment of local bodies by tech, funds and functionaries.
20) TRANGENDERS
a) Overview
1) Introduction
Definition – Those who transgress social gender norms, i.e., they identify themselves with the gender role
‘opposite’ to their biological sex.
2.
And thus they
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1.
a. Either cross-dress occasionally or full time; and
b. Can even get sex change operations (like men having breast enhancement or getting castrated)
3.
Transgender community is not a homogenous community as various diverse sub-groups having different
names and cultures comes under this umbrella term of transgender Some of them are:
a. Hijras,
b. Aravanis (in Tamil Nadu)
c. Shiv-Shakthis
d. Jogtas/Jogappas, and
e. Kothis
Notes
4.
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a. Roughly about 5,00,000 transgender.
2) Reasons (Why do people become transgender)
1.
Biological
a. A person is born as impotent i.e., sexual organs not well developed, intersex variations.
b. It is believed that all of them been born with male intersex variations. But it’s not true. In general
Hijras are born with typically male physiology, but due to various reasons they convert into the
opposite gender.
2.
Identify themselves as women
a. People who feel feminine and thus like dressing as girls and thus run away from home or are thrown
by parents and thus they join hijra community.
Homosexuality
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3.
a. Some people turn into hijra to satisfy homosexuality urge.
3) Problems faced by them
1.
Discrimination by society (trans-phobia)
a. Low awareness
i. Majority of the people don’t even know what transgender means.
ii. And thus a no. of false beliefs like
1. It is a mental illness (inspite of psychologists accepting it).
b. It is outside our culture (inspite of they being a part of culture since ages).
c. Harassment
d. By family
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i. They are harassed in various ways like forced sex, physical abuse, verbal abuse, blackmail for
money, threat to life.
i. Families even try to get him married as they believe that marriage will bring stability to him; or
they disown him.
ii. It is because they argue that doing so will
1. Bring disgrace and shame to the family;
2. Diminished chances of their child getting married to a woman in the future and thus end of
their generation (if they have only one male child); and
2.
Discrimination by government
a. Homosexual sex is criminalized under section 377, which is basic human rights of Transgender
b. Except in some states there is lack of social welfare schemes
Notes
c. Harassed by police:
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i. Physical and verbal abuse,
ii. Forced sex,
iii. Extortion of money and materials.
3.
Economic Aspect
a. Most people in the community have low socio–economic status and they live in poverty;
b. Either they are disowned or they run away from family. Thus they are denied financial support,
education and share in propertyl;
c. They are less educated because they are denied by schools;
d. And due to lack of education they find it difficult to get jobs;
e. And even if educated then they don’t get jobs due to discrimination by employers;
Due to all this they resort to
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f.
i. Begging (which is also called as Badhai i.e., clapping their hands and asking for alms) + Giving
blessing to new-born babies, newly wedded couples…i.e., to ward off bad luck. But if refused
then they embarrass that person by using obscene gestures, profane language, and even sexual
advances.
ii. Prostitution and thus health risk
iii. They earn for their living as astrologers, soothsayers, and spiritual healers;
iv. While some may be self-employed or work for NGO’s (non-governmental organizations).
Health issues related to Indian transgender
a.
STD’s They belong to very high risk group (as a large number of them suffer from STD’s).
b.
Mental health they face great challenges in coming to terms with one’s own gender identity; face loneliness,
depression and suicidal tendencies.
c.
Hijras/TG communities consume alcohol and drugs possibly to forget stress and depression that they face
in their daily life.
d.
SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery) (MOST IMPORTANT)
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4.
i.
SRS which includes Castration (emasculation) process is central to the hijra community. (it also involves
breast enhancement and other hormonal challenges like facial changes). There are following issues with it
•
There is no clear law or medical guidelines for SRS and in its absence it is not done properly
•
Done by quacks or hijra themselves (not by professionals) because it is not done in government
hospitals and they can’t afford private sectors. And as they are unqualified, so bad surgical procedures
are adopted due to which many Hijras develop post-operative complications - especially urological
problems.
4) Solution –
1.
What to do
Notes
a. Recommendations of expert panel are relevant and thus should be implemented.
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2.
Steps by government
a. Constitution Article-15, Article-16, Article-19 and Article – 21
b. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
i. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been designated as the Nodal Ministry for
Transgender Persons with effect from July 2012.
c. Expert committee
i. In October 2013 it set up an Expert Committee to look into the issues of Transgender. It
submitted its report in March 2014.
d. Targettted interventions regarding AIDS
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i. The Department of AIDS Control has been working intensely on addressing issues of most atrisk populations like Transgender and Hijras in India by targeted interventions.
e. Census 2011
i. (Transgender: A separate category in Census 2011)
ii. Transgender were included in census 2011 in ‘Others’ category.
iii. This was the first time they were included as other category…. earlier they were included in the
male category.
f.
In electoral rolls
i. In Feburary 2010 the Election Commission of India allowed inter-sex and trans-sexuals, the right
to register as transgender in electoral rolls.
ii. i.e., they can indicate their gender as “O” for ‘others’ in the electoral rolls.
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20 (a) Recent Developments
1) Expert committee March 2014
1.
An Expert Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in October
2013 to look into the issues of transgender. The committee submitted its report in early 2014.
2.
Recommendations:
a. In general
i. Transgender’ be declared the third gender.
ii. Individual should have the right to choose gender.
b. Regarding discrimination
i. Regarding Law
1. Prepare a new law to prevent discrimination and atrocities against these people.
2. Existing Laws against sexual assault and domestic violence to be made transgender-inclusive.
Notes
ii. Take action against (very important):
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1. Parents who neglect or abuse their gender non-conforming children,
2. Doctors who practice electro-shock or other kinds of unethical “conversion” therapy,
3. Police who violates human rights of transgender persons.
iii. Role of bodies
1. NCRB’s role compile statistics of crimes against transgender persons and cases registered
against them.
b. Regarding health issues
i. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should prepare a policy statement on providing essential
gender-transition services in public hospitals, and
c. Awareness
2.
Follow up
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i. The committee has called for an intensive publicity media campaign.
a. The Ministry has asked the States to implement the recommendations of the committee.
2) SC’s judgment regarding Transgender
1.
Introduction
a. In April 2014 SC gave a judgment on a PIL filed in 2012 regarding problems faced by Transgender
community.
b. SC relied on Yogyakarta Principles — norms on sexual orientation and gender identity evolved in 2006
at Yogyakarta in Indonesia — to bolster its reasoning.
2.
What it said in judgment?
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a. Supreme Court recognized the transgender community as a third gender along with male and female.
b. By virtue of this verdict, all identity documents, including a birth certificate, passport, ration card and
driving license would recognize the third gender.
c. SC also directed the Centre and States to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally
backward classes and extend reservation for admission in educational institutions and for public
appointments. i.e. third gender entitled to job, education quota, etc.
3.
Subjective
a. India has become one of the few countries in the world as it recognizes them.
b. Constitutional angle – It will implement A – 15, 16, 19 and 21 in true spirit.
c. Awareness: Will make people more aware regarding them.
d. Will ensure their socio-economic development:
i. As reservation is extended to them.
Notes
ii. Will be able to access basic services as identity cards will recognize them.
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4.
Still more needs to be done
a. Section 377 needs to be removed as it’s against their rights
b. Also still we need to ensure that the problems faced in daily life by them are removed i.e., harassment
in general by society, ensuring that they get proper medical facilities etc.
c. For this recommendations of the expert committee which recently submitted its report should be
implemented ASAP.
3) In schools July 2014
1. Ministry of HRD advised all states/UT’s to take steps to include third gender children’s in educational
institutes.
4) Maharashtra welfare board
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2. UGC issued a circular that transgender would be included as a 3rd gender among various scholarships
& schemes of the UGC.
•
In August 2014, Maharashtra also announced the formation of a welfare board.
•
It is the 2nd state (after Tamil Nadu) to do so.
21) HOMOSEXUALITY
a) Section 377 (Of IPC) 1.
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 was introduced during British rule of India.
2.
Literal wording
a. Title of section: Unnatural offences
b. Section 377 of IPC criminalizes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”.
3.
Interpretation
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c. Carnal means relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities.
a. This phrase was interpreted to mean all forms of sexual activity other than heterosexual penile-vaginal
intercourse.
b. Thus it criminalizes the following
i. Child abuse
ii. Beastality
iii. Heterosexual couples who indulges in non–vaginal intercourse (oral and anal sex)
4.
Punishment
a. Person convicted under this section can be imprisoned for 10 years and even for life
b) Battle to remove section – 377
The movement to repeal Section 377 was initiated in early 1990’s and it was revived in the next decade,
led by the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, an activist group, which filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court in
2001, seeking legalization of homosexual intercourse between consenting adults.
Notes
1.
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2.
Delhi HC judgment in 2009 (Naz foundation vs NCT of Delhi, 2009)
a. It de-criminalized homosexuality
b. Arguments in favor: It is in violation of fundamental rights under 14,15,16 and 21.
3.
Appeals against Delhi HC judgment
a. Batches of appeals were filed with the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court judgment.
4.
SC verdict in December 2013 (Suresh Kumar Koushal Judgment)
a. SC reversed the 2009 Delhi High Court order and ruled homosexuality to be a criminal offence. i.e.,
it recriminalized it.
b. However it noted that the Parliaments should debate and decide on the matter.
c. Arguments sighted for this judgment
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i. Only Parliament can change the law and not judiciary. (IMPORTANT)
1. SC said that the 2009 order of the High Court is “constitutionally unsustainable as only
Parliament can change a law, not courts”.
ii. Doesn’t criminalizes people or violates equality
1. Gay rights activists’ plea that Section 377 criminalizes a group of people and deprives them
of equal citizenship was also rejected by a Court that held on to a textual reading that the
law only criminalizes certain acts but not people or identity.
d. Reaction to it
1. Appreciated: It was met with support from religious leaders.
ii. Criticized: It was criticized not only in India but also globally. UN secretary general and UN
human right chief expressed their disappointment. It was called as a significant retrograde step.
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e. Review petitions filed
i. Following this, central government, NAZ foundation and others filed a review petition in SC
against its December 11 verdict on Section 377 of IPC to change its verdict.
ii. On January 28, 2014 Supreme Court dismissed these review Petitions filed.
f.
Curative petition
i. In April 2014, SC agreed to hear arguments on admitting a curative petition challenging the apex
court’s December verdict.
g. Transgender recognized as 3rd gender in May 2014
i. SC recognized transgender as 3rd gender. So after it demand has further increases to revoke section
377.
5.
Way forward
a. Curative petition
Notes
i. Previous cases show that curative petitions are seldom successful, because the case will most
likely be posted before the same judges who dismissed the review.
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ii. Further the Court has been open to entertaining curative petitions only where violation of natural
justice was observed: where concerned parties are not heard, or there is an apprehension that
judge(s) may be biased. Since the review petition was dismissed summarily without even an oral
hearing, the possibility of a successful curative petition appears slim indeed.
b. Parliament way
i. It is unlikely that the parliament will decriminalize homosexuality as BJP holds majority in LS.
(The ruling BJP (then in the Opposition) that had backed the Supreme Court’s decision in support of
Section 377 in 2013. At the time, BJP president Rajnath Singh had called homosexuality “an unnatural
act. )
6.
Status of section 377 as of March 20, 2015 – Review petitions have failed; only a curative petition is
before the Supreme Court.
Arguments against
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21 (a) Debate
1)
It’s unnatural
•
“Spiritually, human sexual relations between man and woman.
•
In a society, a family is made up of a man and a woman, not a woman and a woman, or a man and a
man.
2)
Mental diseases
•
It has been on various occasions called as a mental diseases; a bad addiction.
3) Against culture
All religious leaders argue that it’s against their teachings of religious scriptures.
•
E.g. in India people argue that our culture is different from that of others and it has no place in our
country.
4)
STD’s/HIV
•
MSM (men having sex with men) fall in the high risk categories.
5) Population decline
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•
•
It will lead to population decline as they won’t be able to have kids.
•
This argument has been used by Russia which is witnessing population decline.
6) Argument by parents that it will make their children a homosexual
•
Parents fear that their own children’s will become homosexual if they see others, as if it’s a communicable
disease.
Arguments in favor
1) It’s not unnatural
Rigveda, says ”Vikriti Evam Prakriti” meaning what seems “un-natural is also natural”.
•
Love is blind. Love is not sexual only, it’s an emotional attachment
Notes
•
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•
Homosexuality exists even in other species
2) It’s not a mental illness
View of psychologists
In general medical and psychologists community have clearly states sexuality and sexual orientation
is not “mental perversion” or “emotional and psychological disorder”.
o
Freud’s argument every person is a bisexual.
Successful people
o
Sports-person Martina Navartilova, Billie Jean King
o
Actors/actresses Angelina Jolie
o
Singers like Elton john, George Micheals, Ricky Martin
o
Authors vikram seth
o
Fashion designers like Rohit bal, Wendell Roddicks
3)(a) It’s not against culture
i.
Present in all religions
ii.
o
Hinduism
o
Islam
o
Christianity
Since ancient times
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•
o
iii. (So it’s no more problem of Westernization)
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3)(b) Culture/society are not static (Society is changing)
•
Many things which were earlier unacceptable have become acceptable with passage of time. E.g., phenomena
of live-in relationship, single parents and artificial fertilization are considered normal today.
•
The IPC was enacted way back in 1860 by colonial masters. Now with the passage of times, it should
be changed too.
4) Regarding STD’s/HIV
i.
Decriminalization’s hinders fight against AIDS
a. Section – 377 has been termed as the biggest hurdle in dealing with control of AIDS in the country.
b. Director of UNDP on HIV/AIDS has argued that inappropriate criminalization hinders universal
access to essential HIV, health and social services.
ii.
Even heterosexual are not immune
a. It’s true that MSM falls in high risk categories but even heterosexual couples are not immune to
STD’s.
Notes
iii. Spreading awareness and targeted intervention is the way instead of making it illegal
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5) Regarding population decline
•
With technology and surrogacy they can have children’s
6) Counter argument that parents that it will make their children a homosexual
•
It’s not a communicable diseases that exposing the children will turn them into a homosexual.
Development in last few years –
1.
England legalizes same-sex marriages
a. Legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales was passed by the Parliament of the
United Kingdom in July 2013 and came into force on 13 March 2014.
b.
NDA government –
a. Sept 2014 –
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2.
The first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014.
i. India abstained from a vote on violence and discrimination against sexual minorities.
b. Russian resolution and India’s stand on it – March 2015
i. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had extended marriage benefit’s available to
spouses of UN employees to same-sex couples.
ii. In March 2015, Russia moved a resolution that would allow national law to override this extension,
and India supported it; the resolution was, however, defeated.
iii. This stand of India was called as regressive as the government argued that the issue was one of
sovereignty, not of gay rights.
22) DISABILITY
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a) Problems faced by them –
Our constitution provides them right to equality, equality of opportunity and right to life which includes living
with dignity but still they are the most deprived, neglected and harassed.
1.
Attitude of others
a. Being extra benevolent, attitude of pity (Disabled people may act with anger with this attitude).
b. Made fun, ridiculed (Thus parents on their parts should teach their children’s sensitive to others).
c. They are not seen as normal people, i.e., don’t have normal needs.
d. Inspite of scientific explanation of cause of disability people still believe that they are paying for the
sins committed in last life (i.e., karmic curse)
2.
Emotional
a. Due to relative deprivation they undergo emotional turmoil which often includes anger, guilt, grief,
jealousy, resentment, helplessness, and frustration.
3.
Marriage, children
Notes
a. The task of finding another person for marriage is very difficult
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b. There is doubt about the ability of disabled parents to have a normal child and to parent it adequately.
4.
Accessibility
a. Physical: They face difficulty in accessing buildings, parks and roads.
b. Electronic: Internet, ATM’s, Mobile phones.
5.
Sexual abuse of disabled people: Disabled people (especially, mental retardation) are at high risk of sexual
abuse because
a. They are viewed as powerless by abusers,
b. They are brought up as being passive, isolated.
6.
Education: Violation of SSA, RTE
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a. Now the schools deny admission inspite of the fact that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program and the
Right to Education Act say that every child in India is guaranteed an education.
b. They cite the following reasons
i. Lack of infrastructure and
ii. Lack of trained special educators.
7.
Economic
a. A huge number of disabled populations are unemployed and if they are then they fall into the
unskilled and semi-skilled categories.
b. It is because
i. They don’t have appropriate educational requirements and
ii. Also they are discriminated
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c. As a result of this unemployment
i. They are dependent on others and
ii. Lives in poverty
iii. Often perceived as a burden with little hope of being financially independent.
b) Recent Developments –
1.
Marrakesh treaty India ratifies it (July 2014).
a. About the treaty
i. World Intellectual Property rights Organization (WIPO)’s Marrakesh Treaty aims to help visually
challenged people to access copyrighted books.
b. Features
Notes
i. Copyright doesn’t apply if book is reproduced for visually challenged (VC) people i.e., in Braille
language, audio-books, etc.
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ii. Even permit’s cross-border exchange and translation of such books for the benefit of VC.
iii. But they can do only if the given organization/person is doing it for non-profit purpose. They can
only charge the cost of production.
c. Present status
i. Will come into force when 20 WIPO Member nations ratify this treaty.
ii. Thus at present it is not in force
d. Regarding 2014
i. India ratified it in July 2014
ii. More than 250 million people around the world are visually challenged. 25% of them live in our
country. Therefore, India’s readiness to sign and ratify this treaty is a commendable step.
Budget 2014–15 announcements (by new government )
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2.
a. Rupee notes and coins to be made more accessible for the blind
b. Assistance to State Governments to establish fifteen new Braille Presses and modernize ten existing
Braille Presses.
c. National level institutes for Universal Inclusive Design, Mental Health Rehabilitation and a Centre for
Disability Sports to be established.
23) MANUAL SCAVENGING
1) Swachhta Udyami Yojana –
Launched by union government in October 2014
2.
It is a scheme of National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.
3.
Objectives – Two main objectives to achieve the overall goal of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
a. Cleanliness, and
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1.
b. Providing livelihood to Safai Karamcharis and liberate Manual Scavengers.
4.
How will it achieve twin objectives
a. Provides financial assistance to Safai Karamcharis and identified Manual Scavengers for Construction,
Operation and Maintenance of community toilets in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode and for
Purchase of Sanitation related Vehicles.
b. The entrepreneurs of the target group may also avail assistance for purchase of vehicles such as Jetting
and Suction machines, Vacuum Loaders, Garbage collection and disposal vehicles, etc.
c. Beneficiaries can also take contracts from the Municipalities to operate these vehicles in areas under
their jurisdiction.
d. Beneficiaries will be provided loan at a very concessional rate of interest of 3-4 percent per annum.
The maximum amount allowed for construction toilets and for procurement of sanitation related
vehicles will be 25 lakhs rupees and 15 lakhs rupees respectively.
Notes
e. Each identified Manual Scavenger will be provided capital subsidy upto 3.25 lakhs rupees.
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b) Why it should be eliminated
5.
Physical effect: Scavengers come in direct contact with human excreta. And all this leads to various kind
infections.
6.
Mental effect: Psychologically also it is so degrading that one person is carrying excreta of other person
on his head.
7.
Social exclusion: Those born in the community (even if not directly engaged in MS) are considered
untouchable and thus socially excluded.
8.
Economic aspect: Due to strict caste system these people are not allowed to leave it. Thus it’s a kind of
forced labor (don’t use the word bonded labor as it’s different aspect). They are paid less than minimum
wages.
23) KHAP PANCHAYAT
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a) Recently in news –
1.
November 2014 – Khap panchayat in the Muzaffarnagar district of UP issued a Talibani diktat instructing
girls not to wear jeans and to avoid using mobile phones, whatsapp as they are part of western culture;
spoiling our culture. (But what about men using mobile phones).
2.
December 2014 – Khap Panchayat in Barmer district (Rajasthan) ordered chopping off woman’s nose
for complaining of rape against her father-in-law which led to his arrest. (women and her father sought
police protection)
b) Overview –
1) What are they
Clarification
•
o
These shouldn’t be confused with Panchayati raj institutions which have been established by constitution.
o
Khap panchayats are a part of the rural social architecture and have a long history of existence
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•
About Khap panchayat
o
•
Khaps are clans and they correspond to gotra (lineage segment) within caste groups.
About Khap
o
•
The Khap Panchayats are village councils – usually comprising of 10-15 elderly men from the community
– that set the rules in an area comprising of one or more villages inhabited by the members of a single
clan (gotra).
About Sarva Khap panchayat
o
2)
A number of Khaps formed a ‘Sarva Khap’ embracing a full province or state.
Where are they found
Notes
These Khaps are found in North-western India, primarily in Haryana, Eastern Rajasthan and Western Uttar
Pradesh, but also extended down to Madhya Pradesh (as shown in Figure).
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3) What are its functions?
The main work of these panchayats revolves around
•
Dealing with issues threatening the peace of villages;
•
Settling disputes over property and inheritance and sexual/marital transgressions;
•
Upholding village norms, acting as custodians of rural culture and guardians of public morality.
4) Criticism –
1.
Punishments given out by them are barbaric and archaic in nature like
a. Public humiliation like blackening of the face, shaving of the head
b. Banishment from the caste which is considered as the harshest punishment.
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c. Beating and even killing (including honor killing).
d. They have taken law into their hand on various occasions.
2.
Caste related:
a. Acts as a roadblock in removing casteism from society and creating a pan–Indian identity.
b. Leads to caste violence.
3.
Especially, against women (main focus)
a. (Include all aspect of honor killings)
b. Patriarchal in nature:
i. Areas dominated by these khaps are patriarchal in nature. And in these areas, women are expected
to obey their father and husband.
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ii. These khaps are all–male dominated.
iii. These show patriarchal anxieties highlighting their declining control over women.
c. Honor killing
i. If they perceive that any act (rape, sex outside marriage, love marriage especially, outside caste
or inter-gotra, etc) has brought dishonor to them then they resort to severe punishments (like
declaring married couples as siblings; outcasting them) and even honor killing.
d. Rape and Diktats
i. They put the blame of rape on women’s.
ii. Few years back, Khap Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh’s Bagpat region issued the following diktats
1. Women (below the age of 40) are banned from stepping out of villages.
2. They should cover faces and heads whenever venturing out of their houses.
Notes
3. Women’s are forbidden from using mobile phones.
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iii. Also few years when Haryana state recorded a sharp rise in number of rape cases (15 rapes in
one month alone), the Khap ordered that the girls in the villages be married off by the age of
15, to control the crime. (Although, the proposal was rejected by Maha Khap Panchayat)
4.
Concluding remark
a. It was in this background that SC in 2011 declared these institutions to be illegal which needs to be
eradicated.
b. That’s why these undemocratic institutions have been equated with kangaroo courts or Taliban
(India’s own version of Taliban).
5) Challenges – (Failure to tackle them)
Inspite of being in news for all wrong reasons government has failed to tackle them due to various reasons.
Approval by society:
a. Dominant caste
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1.
i. The Khap panchayats generally consist of powerful elements of the dominant caste who have a
great hold both at the local and provincial levels.
ii. Thus no one wants to annoy these powerful elements.
b. Quick Justice
i. They are happy with the Khaps since they decide cases promptly unlike the Courts.
c. Caste affiliation caste is still rooted in the mindset of people.
2.
Approval by politicians
a. As said above that they consist of powerful elements of the dominant caste that have a great hold
both at the local and provincial levels.
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b. During elections these are used by politicians to mobilize support.
c. Example, former CM Om Prakash Chautala, Bhupinder Singh Hooda have voiced against any step
which threatens the existence of these Khaps.
3.
Police
a. Police is not equipped to go against them.
b. Also they themselves are rooted in patriarchy and casteism.
4.
Failure of PRI’s
a. Failure to reach down to hinterland. In states like Haryana Khap or caste panchayats wield much more
power than the statutory panchayats.
6) Solution –
The Khap Panchayats are social entities and not legal entities. Thus it would be wrong to expect that by
passing a law these would cease to exist within some time.
b.
Thus allow them to function with limited mandate.
Notes
a.
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c.
But monitor their functioning.
d.
And if found any mischief then punish them
e.
Also take the following steps like
i.
Strengthen PRI’S to gradually replace them
ii. Ensure speedy justice
iii. Police reforms in these areas.
24) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1.
What is SD?
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a. Definition-Development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the
ability of the future generation to meet their own needs’.
b. The concept of sustainable development was emphasized by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1987.
2.
Why Economic growth have to be guided by the compulsion of sustainability?
a. Because none of us has the luxury, any longer, of ignoring the economic as well as the environmental
threat, that a fast-deteriorating ecosystem poses to our fragile planet. (threat of climate change,
depletion of the ozone layer and contamination of freshwater, etc.
b. Also environmentalists emphasize that we have a moral obligation to hand over the planet earth in
good order to the future generation
3.
What all comes under unsustainable development some e.g.,
a. Manufacturing sector can lead to environmental degradation during all stages of production cycle,
namely,
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i. Procurement and use of natural resources,
ii. Industrial processes and activities, and
iii. Product use and disposal.
b. Following agricultural practices harms the environment:
i. Use of chemical fertilizers result in both water pollution and soil deterioration.
ii. Unregulated withdrawal of ground water.
c. Present way of calculating GDP doesn’t takes into account environmental damage caused by production
of goods and services.
4.
To achieve sustainable development, the following needs to be done:
a. Regarding resource utilization
i. Technologies to be developed which are input efficient and not input consuming.
Notes
ii. Resources should be extracted on a sustainable basis, that is, rate of extraction should not exceed
rate of regeneration.
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iii. Increase emphasis on non-conventional energy sources like Solar, Wind, Gobar gas, Natural Gas,
Mini-Hydel plants instead of big dams.
iv. Pricing natural resources properly e.g., removing fossil fuel subsidies.
v. Organic farming.
vi. Develop more energy efficient technologies. For this we need funds and technology transfers.
vii.Government should spread awareness by promoting activities like encouraging judicious use of
water, planting trees, car pooling, etc.
b. Regarding output/impact
i. Avoiding the imposition of added costs or risks on future generations
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ii. E.g., inefficiencies arising from pollution should be corrected because climate change once crosses
the tipping points then can’t be back.
iii. Green tax: Implementing polluters pay principles
1. Imposing green tax on a product that damages the environment, in an attempt to reduce its
production or consumption
2. Pollution to be more costly.
3. Impact tax on industries.
4. Coal Cess by GOI is an example of it.
c. Limiting the human population to a level within the carrying capacity of the environment.
d. Decreasing poverty by providing lasting and secure livelihoods so that it minimizes environmental
degradation.
e. Green accounting.
Steps taken by India –
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5.
a. According to 12th plan, India has been part of 94 Multilaterals Environmental Agreements such as the
Ramsar Convention, CITES Convention, CBD, UNFCC (India is committed to the UNFCCC principle
of Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR).
b. At the national level we have taken various steps like:
i. Formulating NAPCC comprising 8 missions.
Notes
ii. Increased emphasis on renewable energy we have set an ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable
energy by 2022.
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