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GS Paper: GS1

  • Gender pay gap in India

    women empowermentContext

    • Despite notable progress in closing the gender pay gap over time in India, the gap remains high by international standards. Asymmetries still abound in the country’s labor market stopping women empowerment .
    • Time to reassess the progress made in to close the Gender pay gap.

    Background

    • The third International Equal Pay Day is observed globally on September 18, 2022.
    • It is a United Nations-recognized event to highlight the issue of gender pay gap.
    • International Labor Organization’s “Global Wage Report 2020–21” which suggests the crisis inflicted massive downward pressure on wages and disproportionately affected women’s total wages compared to
    • This greater wage reduction for women means that the pre-existing gender pay gap has widened.

    women empowermentCovid-19 Impact

    • While it is difficult to tell exactly what the economic damage from the global covid-19 pandemic has been, it is clear that its impact has been uneven, with women being among the worst affected in terms of their income security.
    • Many women reverted to full-time care of children and the elderly during the pandemic, foregoing their livelihoods to do so.

    What is gender pay gap?

    • The gender pay gap or gender wage gap measures the difference between the average earnings of women and men in the workforce.
    • In simple term it is a measure of what women are paid relative to men.
    • Women are generally found to be paid less than men.

    Why is the gender pay gap?

    • Education: low investment o girl education, Girl children are kept out of schools, or made drop out of school at early age, girl is considered as burden on family in many societies.
    • workforce : even if they are educated they are not allowed to work by their families, very limited or no decision making power, lack of women friendly work environment, discriminatory practices at workplaces.
    • Household: early marriage , responsibilities of the household at early age , spending more times on domestic chores,
    • Healthcare: malnutrition, anemia, Maternity, child care, looking after health of the elderly family members etc.

     

    These are some of the reasons which affect education, skills, experience and the career prospectus of women as compared to men and contribute to widen the gender wage gap.

     

    women empowermentDiscrimination as factor

    • A part of gender pay gap attributed to education, skills or experience, a large part of the gender pay gap can still purely because of discrimination based on one’s gender or sex.
    • Gender-based discriminatory practices include: lower wages paid to women for work of equal value; undervaluation of women’s work in highly feminized occupations and enterprises, and motherhood pay gap lower wages for mothers compared to non-mother.

    women empowermentStatus in India

    • The gender pay gap in India is among the widest in the world.
    • Indian women earned, on an average, 48% less compared to their male counterparts in 1993-94
    • According to labor force survey data of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) gap declined to 28% in 2018-19.
    • Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 show an increase in the gap by 7% between 2018-19 and 2020-21.
    • Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022.
    • According to the estimates of the World Inequality Report 2022, in India, men earn 82 per cent of the labor income whereas women earn 18 per cent of it.

    women empowermentSteps taken by India

    • Minimum Wages Act in 1948: It is an act of parliament, aimed at statutory fixation of minimum wages that must be paid to skilled and unskilled labours. Payment of wages below the minimum wage rate amounts to forced labour.
    • Equal Remuneration Act in 1976: This act of parliament provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the prevention of discrimination. It helps in bridging the gap between unequal remuneration faced by the women of our country.
    • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005: MGNREGA contributed to the rapid rise in overall rural and agricultural wages in the country. It benefited rural women workers and helped reduce the gender pay gap, both directly and indirectly. Directly, by raising the pay levels of women workers and indirectly to women involved in agricultural occupations through higher earnings.
    • The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017: has increased the duration of paid maternity leave available for women employees to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among mothers in the median and high end wage earners working in the formal economy also it will help in women empowerment.
    • Skill India Mission: To equip women with market-relevant skills to bridge the learning to-livelihood gap and the gender pay gap.
    • In 2019, India carried out comprehensive reforms in both the legislation and enacted the Code on Wages.

    Way ahead

    • While the gender pay gap is slowly narrowing, acceleration and bold actions to prevent the widening of gender pay gap is the need of the hour.
    • Equal pay for work of equal value is necessary to close the gender pay gap.
    • Closing the gender pay gap is key to achieving social justice for working women, as well as economic growth for the nation as a whole
    • Without social justice women empowerment is a futile exercise.

     

    Mains Question

    Q. Define gender equality .Equal pay for equal work is necessary to bridge the gender pay gap India .Comment.

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  • How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten’s suggestions?

    The new Naval Ensign (flag), which will be unveiled by PM in Kochi, has brought into focus the flags and ranks adopted by the Indian military after Independence.

    Do you know?

    The octagonal shape with twin golden borders draws inspiration from the seal of the great Indian emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet

    Why in news?

    • Documents accessed from National Archives of India show that Lord Mountbatten, former Viceroy and Governor General of India, played a major role in suggesting new flags and rank badges.
    • This was when India was about to become a Republic on January 26, 1950.

    When did India switch from British-era flags and ranks?

    • The switch from British-era flags and ranks took place when India became a Republic (26th Jan, 1950).
    • Prior to that the flags and badges of ranks of the military were of the British pattern.
    • The new, Indian pattern of flags of Army, Navy and Air Force, and also the Regimental Flags of the Army and badges of ranks of all three services were adopted on January 26, 1950.
    • The ‘Kings Commission’ granted to Indian military officers was also changed to ‘Indian Commission’ on the same date.
    • And at a subsequent date the King’s Colours of the various Regiments were laid to rest in Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

    When did Lord Mountbatten come into the picture?

    • The national archives have files, dated 1949, that include a detailed note from Lord Mountbatten regarding names, flags and ranks of the armed forces, and then PM Nehru’s letter to the then Defence Minister Baldev Singh regarding Mountbatten’s suggestions.
    • The note, archives reveal, was given to Nehru by Lord Mountbatten when the two met in London.
    • The note was forwarded from the PM’s office to the office of then Governor General C Rajagopalachari on May 24, 1949, stating that it is on the issue of ‘Names and Insignia of Indian Armed Forces’ after India becomes a Republic.
    • The letter also stated that the note should be placed before the Governor General.

    What did Lord Mountbatten say in the note?

    • The note begins by saying that consequent to becoming a Republic the word ‘Royal’ shall be dropped from India’s Army, Navy and Air Force.
    • Mountbatten strongly recommended that no other word like ‘State’ of ‘Republican’ should replace the word ‘Royal’.
    • This was because it would have the effect of separating the forces of India psychologically from the other services in the Commonwealth.
    • He further suggested in the letter that the Crown should be replaced from the insignias and replaced by the “three lions of Ashoka”.
    • Regarding the Naval Ensign, he said that all Commonwealth navies fly the same flag which consists of a large white flag with a red-cross and Union Jack in the upper corner nearer the staff and is known as the ‘White Ensign’.
    • The new Ensign, the note suggested, should continue to have the red-cross but the Indian national flag should replace the Union Jack.
    • He suggested this to maintain commonality with the Commonwealth flags.

    What changes did Mountbatten suggest for uniforms?

    • He strongly urged that existing uniforms should be changed as little as possible.
    • He added that the Crown worn on badges of ranks of Majors and above should be replaced by the “three lions of Ashoka”.
    • The Star of the Order of the Bath should be replaced by Star of India or another form of star.
    • He also suggested that the crossed sword and baton on the badges of ranks of Generals should be retained.
    • The former Viceroy advocated retaining the stripes of rank in Navy and Air Force saying these were internationally almost the same.

    How did the Indian government react to Mountbatten’s suggestions?

    • Nehru wrote to the then defence minister in September 1949 saying that he agreed with the suggestions made by the former Governor General that there should be as little change as possible.
    • The then PM particularly mentioned the changes suggested by Mountbatten for the Navy.
    • Then Governor General C Rajagopalachari also wrote back to Nehru in May 1949 itself agreeing to Mountbatten’s suggestions.
    • In the end, Mountbatten’s suggestions were virtually all accepted and implemented with effect from January 26, 1950.

     

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  • In news: Sittanavasal Rock Cave Temple

    Sittanavasal

    The Sittanavasal Rock Cave Temple, a major centre of Jain influence for 1,000 years just before the Christian era, is in need of better upkeep.

    Sittanavasal

    • Sittanavasal is a small hamlet in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India.
    • It is known for the Sittanavasal Cave, a 2nd-century Jain cave complex. From the 7th to the 9th century A.D., the village flourished as a Jain centre.
    • Sittanavasal is the name used synonymously for the hamlet and the hillock that houses the:
    1. Arivar Kovil (temple of Arihants — Jains who conquered their senses)
    2. Ezhadipattam (a cavern with 17 polished rock beds), megalithic burial sites and the
    3. Navachunai tarn (small mountain lake) with a submerged shrine

    What makes it special?

    • The artwork on the ceiling of the sanctum and the ardha mandapam of Arivar Kovil is an early example of post-Ajanta cave paintings of the fourth to sixth centuries.
    • It was also done using the fresco-secco technique (a process that dispenses with preparation of the wall with wet plaster).

    Features of the cave paintings

    • The ceiling paintings show ‘bhavyas’ (exalted souls who work to achieve moksha or spiritual liberation) enjoying themselves in a pool, full of lotuses; today much of it is obscured by patchy plastering.
    • Faint outlines linger of dancing girls on the ‘ardha mandapam’ pillars.
    • The colours are a mixture of plant dyes and mineral elements such as lime, lamp black, and clay pigments such as ochre for yellow and terre verte for the greyish-green tints.

    Why in news now?

    • Unrestricted public access and general exposure to the elements have led to a gradual fading away of these paintings.
    • At the Ezhadipattam, inscriptions have been vandalised beyond recognition.

    Also try this PYQ:

    Q.There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

    (a) Bagh caves

    (b) Ellora caves

    (c) Lomas Rishi cave

    (d) Nasik caves

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”qd62vk8saj” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • What is International Argo Program?

    argo

    The International Argo Program system to observe carbon concentration in the world’s oceans is extremely inadequate to meet the growing and urgent need for information on oceanic carbon, says a report.

    What is Argo?

    • Argo is an international program that uses profiling floats to observe temperature, salinity, currents, and, recently, bio-optical properties in the Earth’s oceans; it has been operational since the early 2000s.
    • The real-time data it provides is used in climate and oceanographic research.
    • A special research interest is to quantify the ocean heat content (OHC).
    • Each instrument (float) spends almost all its life below the surface.
    • The name Argo was chosen because the array of floats works in partnership with the Jason earth observing satellites that measure the shape of the ocean surface.
    • In Greek mythology Jason sailed on his ship the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece.

    What are its aims?

    • The data that Argo collects describes the temperature and salinity of the water and some of the floats measure other properties that describe the biology/chemistry of the ocean.
    • The main reason for collecting these data is to help us understand the oceans’ role in earth’s climate.
    • For example, the changes in sea level (once the tides are averaged out) depend partly on the melting of icecaps and partly on the amount of heat stored in the oceans.
    • Argo’s temperature measurements allow us to calculate how much heat is stored and to monitor from year to year how the distribution of heat changes with depth and from area to area.
    • As ocean heat content increases, sea level rises, just like the mercury in a thermometer.

    How does it work?

    • Each Argo float (costing between $20,000 and $150,000 depending on the individual float’s technical specification) is launched from a ship.
    • The float’s weight is carefully adjusted so that, as it sinks, it eventually stabilizes at a pre-set level, usually 1 km.
    • Ten days later, an internal battery-driven pump transfers oil between a reservoir inside the float and an external bladder.
    • This makes the float first descend to 2km and then return to the surface measuring ocean properties as it rises.
    • The data and the float position are relayed to satellites and then on to receiving stations on shore.
    • The float then sinks again to repeat the 10 day cycle until its batteries are exhausted.

     

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  • What is Ambedkar Tourist Circuit?

    The Central government has announced a special tourist circuit encompassing five key sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

    Why in news?

    • Activists have urged that Mahad, located in Raigad District of Maharashtra, famous for Mahad Lake Satyagraha should also be included in the proposed circuit.

    Ambedkar Circuit

    • The five cities in the tourist circuit as announced are Mhow (his birthplace), London (where he resided and studied), Nagpur (also studied here), Delhi (where he passed away) and finally Mumbai (where he was cremated).
    • With a special AC train, the government is looking to trace the footsteps of Ambedkar in India by giving better connectivity to four of these spots.
    • The idea is to attract tourists beyond the Dalit community, who mostly visit these places as a pilgrimage.
    • The journey will include meals, ground transportation, and entry to the sites.

    About the sites

    1. Janma Bhoomi– Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow
    2. Shiksha Bhoomi– the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK
    3. Deeksha Bhoomi– the place in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism
    4. Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi- the place of his demise in Delhi and
    5. Chaitya Bhoomi- the place of his cremation in Mumbai

    Back2Basics: Tourism Circuits

    • The government had identified 15 tourist circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15.
    • Besides the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits, others include Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage, North East, Himalayan, Sufi, Krishna, Rural, Tribal, and Tirthankar Circuits.
    • In terms of train collaboration, the Ramayana, Buddhist, and North East Circuits are already active, while Ambedkar will be fourth.

     

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  • Census in India

    censusContext

    • As there is no official reassurance that India will not skip its decadal Census, we can declare that we have a case of the missing census.
    • The census is a very important source of statistics on various indicators.
    • The ability to hold a census peacefully, and not coercively, has been the hallmark of a civilized state and state of affairs.

    What is a census?

    • Census is nothing but a process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating statistical data regarding the population.
    • It covers demographic, social and economic data and is provided as of a particular date.

    What is the purpose of the census?

    • To collect the information for planning and formulation policies for Central and the State Governments.
    • The census tells us who we are and where we are going as a nation.
    • It helps the government decide how to distribute funds and assistance to states and localities.
    • The census data is widely used by National and International Agencies, scholars, business people, industrialists, and many more.

    censusWhy is the census important?

    • Provides most credible source of information: information on Demography (Population characteristics), Economic Activity, Literacy and Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanisation, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data.
    • The delimitation/reservation of Constituencies: Parliamentary/Assembly/Panchayats and other Local Bodies are also done on the basis of the demographic data thrown up by the Census.
    • Administration: Census is the basis for reviewing the country’s progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing Schemes of the Government.
    • Planning the future: It provides pathways for planning and resolving problems, and fixing deficiencies. Government goes through analysis over the census data and formulates policies for the future accordingly.
    • Detailed accounts: The best of sample surveys find it impossible to beat a census as It carries the promise of counting each and every Indian. A census is when the state connects to every individual and it will find it hard to hide or duck from the data.
    • Welfare schemes: Identifying the actual beneficiaries, Census is the key to creating identity and affirming it over time .Census data enable neat, inter-temporal comparability.

    Censuses in India so far

    • Census operations started in India long back during the period of the Maurya dynasty.
    • It was systematized during the years 1865 to 1872, though it has been conducted uninterruptedly from the year 1881 being a trustworthy resource of information.
    • India has held its decadal censuses regularly from 1881 to 2011, despite diseases, world wars, Partition and other instances of turmoil only COVID-19 as an exception.
    • Census 2011 is the 15th National Census of the Country.
    • The Census established that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is coming down at a very rapid pace and is well on its way to stabilization.
    • The 2011 Census also dispelled the notion of divorce rate differentials between city and rural India. The urban divorce rate (0.89%) is almost equal to the rural rate (0.82%).

    censusWhy census 2021 has been postponed indefinitely?

    • The Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha in August, 2021 that the massive, decennial exercise came to a grinding halt due to the advent of Coid-19 pandemic.

    What was the original timeline of the Census and how is it being delayed?

    • Gazette notification: The Centre’s intent to conduct Census 2021 was notified in the Gazette of India on March 28, 2019. The exercise was to have been conducted in two phases, with the housing Census from April to September 2020 and population enumeration from February 9, 2021.but it did not take place due to the spread of COVID-19.
    • Alternative timeline post-covid-19: In March 2021, the Home Ministry gave a Parliamentary panel a tentative alternative timeline. The fieldwork for the first phase, which would provide data on housing conditions, household amenities and assets possessed by households, is expected during 2021-22, while the fieldwork to count the population and provide data on demography, religion, Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST), language, literacy and education, economic activity, migration and fertility would be done in 2023-24, it said.
    • Said Provisional data: The Ministry added that provisional data would be released in 2023-24 before the next general elections. Usually, more detailed tables providing village-level data on specific indicators will continue to be released for several years after the key information.

    censusImpact of delay in census 2021

    • Public distribution system:
    • The National Food Security Act, 2013, says that 75% of the rural population and 50% of the rural population are entitled to receive subsidised food grains from the government under the targeted public distribution system (PDS).
    • Under the 2011 Census, India’s population was about 121 crore, hence PDS covered approximately 80 crore people.
    • If we apply projected population of 137crore ,current delay in Census data would continue to deprive more than 10 crore people of subsidised food entitlements, with the biggest gaps in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with 2.8 crore and 1.8 crore projected exclusions respectively.
    • welfare schemes:
    • Although the Government’s intent to use SECC data but failed at budgetary allocation for the projected expansion.
    • Census data may not be used to calculate the beneficiaries of most schemes, but it is critical to policy planning, budgeting and administration.
    • A number of schemes need to use the disaggregated age and fertility indicators to assess effectiveness as demographics change over time.
    • Huge lag in Migration data:
    • From the COVID19 lockdowns it is realized that the Numbers, causes and patterns of migration, which could not be answered using outdated 2011 Census data.
    • The D-tables on migration from the 2011 Census were only released in 2019, so it’s outdated by the time it came out.
    • Apart from the One Nation, One Ration card scheme which now allows for portability of food subsidy entitlements, the migration data is actually not used too much in broader economic policy and planning.

    Why there is a demand for caste census in India?

    • India’s population has since increased three-fold to 1.21 billion in 2011.
    • Experts believe the economic status of the dominant OBC castes have improved in the past 80 years and certain castes have not benefited as much.
    • So, the new caste census is required to measure the economic and social well-being of all castes.

    Other related information Key findings of 2011 census

    • Population:
    • India’s population grew by 17.7 per cent during 2001-11, against 21.5 per cent in the previous decade.
    • India’s total population stands at 1.21 billion, which is 17.7 per cent more than the last decade, and growth of females was higher than that of males.
    • The growth rate of females was 18.3 per cent which is higher than males — 17.1 per cent.
    • Among the major states, highest decadal growth in population has been recorded in Bihar (25.4 per cent) while 14 states and Union Territories have recorded population growth above 20 per cent.
    • Rural and urban population:
    • Urban proportion has gone up from 17.3 per cent in 1951 to 31.2 per cent in 2011.
    • Highest proportion of urban population is in NCT Delhi (97.5 per cent).
    • Top five states in share of urban population are Goa (62.2 per cent), Mizoram (52.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (48.4 per cent), Kerala (47.7 per cent) and Maharashtra (45.2 per cent).
    • Literacy:
    • Literacy rate in India in 2011 has increased by 8 per cent to 73 per cent in comparison to 64.8 per cent in 2001.
    • Male literacy rate stands at 80.9 per cent, which is 5.6 per cent more than the previous census whereas the female literacy rate stands at 64.6 per cent, increase of 10.9 per cent than 2001.
    • The highest increase took place in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by 18.6 points (from 57.6 per cent to 76.2 per cent), while in Bihar by 14.8 points (from 47.0 per cent to 61.8 per cent), Tripura by 14.0 points (from 73.2 per cent to 87.2 per cent)
    • Density:
    • The density of population in the country has also increased from 325 in 2001 to 382 in 2011 in per sq km.
    • Among the major states, Bihar occupies the first position with a density of 1106, surpassing West Bengal which occupied the first position during 2001.
    • Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited followed by Chandigarh (9,258), among all states and UT’s, both in 2001 and 2011 Census.
    • The minimum population density works out in Arunachal Pradesh (17) for both 2001 and 2011 Census.
    • Sex ratio:
    • The sex ratio of population in the country in 2011 stands at 940 female against 1000 males, which is 10 per cent more than the last census when the number female per thousand male stood at 933.
    • The number of females per 1000 males in Haryana in 2011 stands at 879 followed by Jammu and Kashmir (889 female) and Punjab (895 females).
    • The other two worst-performing states in terms of skewed sex ration are Uttar Pradesh (912 females) and Bihar (918 females).
    • Five top performing states in terms of sex ratio were Kerala (1,084 females), Tamil Nadu (996), Andhra Pradesh (993), Chhattisgarh (991),Odisha (979).
    • Child population:
    • Child population in the age of 0 to 6 years has seen an increase of 0.4 per cent.
    • There has been a decline of 8 per cent in the sex ratio of 0-6 age group. In 2011, the child sex ratio (0-6) stands at 919 female against 1000 male in comparison to 927 females in 2001.
    • Male child (0-6) population has increased whereas female child population has decreased during 2001-11.
    • The worst performing states in regard to sex ration in the age group of 0 to 6 years are Haryana (834 females), Punjab (846), Jammu and Kashmir (862), Rajasthan (888) and Gujarat (890).
    • The best performing states are Chhattisgarh (969), Kerala (964), Assam (962), West Bengal (956) Jharkhand (948) and Karnataka (948).
    • SC/ST data:
    • According to the Census, Scheduled Castes are notified in 31 states and UTs and Scheduled Tribes in 30 states. There are altogether 1,241 individual ethnic groups notified as SC’s .The number of individual ethnic groups, notified as ST’s is 705.
    • There have been some changes in the list of SC’s/ST’s in states and UT’s during the last decade.
    • The SC population in India now stands at 201.4 million, which is 20 per cent more than the last census. The ST population stands at 104.3 million in 2011 – 23.7 per cent more than 2001.
    • Religious demographics:
    • The religious data on India Census 2011 was released by the Government of India on 25 August 2015.
    • Hindus are 79.8% (966.3 million), while Muslims are 14.23% (172.2 million) in India.
    • For the first time, a “No religion” category was added in the 2011 census. 2.87 million Were classified as people belonging to “No Religion” in India in the 2011 census. – 0.24% of India’s population of 1.21 billion.
    • Median marriage age:
    • The median age increased for men – from 22.6 (2001) to 23.5 (2011) and for women – from 18.2 (2001) to 19.2 (2011).

    Conclusion

    • The census is vital and precious as it is a repository of complete data about the country which is gathered openly, voluntarily, and with the use of public money, making it a social good.
    • The new Census is likely to capture the extent of the observed movement in migration trends towards smaller two-tier towns apart from the large metropolitan centre.
    • It could help answer questions of what kind of healthcare and social services are most needed and where.
    • The Census is about many things. But, fundamentally, it is a way in which the state, by knocking at all doors, displays its desire to connect with the people who ultimately comprise the nation.

     

    Mains Question

    Q. Apart from being used to demarcate constituencies, updated decadal census data is vital to administration. How will the indefinite postponement of census impact the policy formation for the future? Critically Analyse.

     Do follow this link 

    Census 2011 | The basics and summary of important findings

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  • Domestic violence needs to stop for true women empowerment

    domestic violenceContext

    • Due to prevalence of patriarchy women have been discriminated not only in India but in most parts of the world. According to The United Nations, one out of every three women experience domestic violence. The same UN report suggests that the most dangerous place for women is their home. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential for the development and well-being of families, communities and nations.

    How UN women defines Violence against women and girls

    • Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women and girls, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

    Why Women are the victim?

    • Domestic violence is one of the most common forms of violence experienced by women globally.
    • Women are usually the victim of domestic violence that derives from unequal power relationships between men and women.

    domestic violenceWhy there is recent spike in violence against women?

    • According to UN, Violence against women and girls is one of the world’s most prevalent human rights violations, taking place every day, many times over, in every corner of the world.
    • Conditions created by the pandemic – including lockdowns, reduced mobility, heightened isolation, stress and economic uncertainty have led to an alarming spike in domestic violence and have further exposed women and girls to other forms of violence, from child marriage to sexual harassment online.

    What is Domestic violence?

    • Domestic violence is any pattern of behavior that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. It encompasses all physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.
    • Domestic violence can include the following.
      • Psychological violence: Psychological violence involves causing fear, threatening physical harm or forcing isolation from friends, family, school or work.
      • Economic violence: Making or attempting to make a person financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources.
    • Emotional violence: Undermining a person’s sense of self-worth through constant criticism; belittling one’s abilities; verbal abuse.
    • Physical violence: Use of Physical force or hurting or trying to hurt a partner .it also includes denying medical care.
    • Sexual violence: Forcing a partner to take part in a sex act when the partner does not consent

    What is the current Status in India?

    • Nearly one-third of women in India have experienced physical or sexual violence
    • The most common type of spousal violence is physical violence (28%), followed by emotional violence and sexual violence
    • While domestic violence against women has declined from 31.2% to 29.3% in the country, 30% women between the age of 18 and 49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 years, while 6% have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime,.
    • Only 14% of women who have experienced physical or sexual violence by anyone have brought the issue up.
    • 32% of married women (18-49 years) have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional spousal violence.

    Recent findings from National Family health Survey Report-5

    • Status: Domestic violence against women is highest in Karnataka at 48%, followed by Bihar, Telangana, Manipur and Tamil Nadu. Lakshawdeep has the least domestic violence at 2.1%.
    • Rural–urban difference: Physical violence is more common among women in rural areas (32%) as compared to their urban areas (24%).
    • Impact of schooling and education: 40% women with no schooling are subject to physical violence compared to 18% who completed their schooling.
    • Impact of employment and wealth: The experience of physical violence ranges between 39% among women in the lowest wealth quintile and 17% in the highest wealth quintile.

     Why women left behind as compared to men in India?

    • Patriarchal structure: Patriarchal structures and ideologies and the mindset lead to women subordination and gender inequalities
    • Low sex ratio: Sex ratios for women in India Is not good comparatively. It was even bad at the time of independence.
    • Life expectancy: Women’s life expectancy, health, nutritional levels are significantly lower than that of men.
    • Education: low investment on girl education, Girl children are kept out of schools, or made drop out of school at early age, girl is considered as burden on family in many societies.
    • Employment: even if they are educated they are not allowed to work by their families Discrimination at the workplaces, lower wages for the work of equal value.
    • Decision making: The have little say in the families, socio economic, legal and political rules and policy formulations. Very limited or no decision making power.
    • Political participation: The participation of women in political and social decision making power is abysmally low. Their number in parliament has never exceeded more than 10%.

    What can be done for empowering women?

    • Recognition: Recognition of women as productive, vital agents of family and environment should be a precondition for addressing their social needs. We need to change the way they are perceived.
    • Treatment: They must not be only treated only as objects of welfare but needed to be treated as those who are contributing to the economy.
    • Health: To provide quality and affordable healthcare and must be easily accessible.
    • Education: Education of women is the most important component for women’s empowerment.
    • Safe and secure environment: providing safety and security is the precondition for empowerment and social justice.
    • Economic Independence: Helping women to stand on their legs, become independent and also to earn for their family is necessary to empowering women and to raise their hand in decision making process of family, society and nation

    domestic violenceWoman as the foundation stone of every family, society and nation

    • India has an ancient woman worship tradition.
    • In India we see woman as a mother goddess. There are no of evidences to support this idea
    • For instance the Sanskrit text “Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra Devata”which means where women are honored, there gods resides.
    • Which means there is a overall development if the women of the family is happy.

    domestic violenceConclusion

    • Domestic violence against women is major obstacle on progress on achieving development targets. Without addressing it, anybody have little chance of meeting millennium development. Recognition of women as productive, vital agents of family and environment should be a precondition for addressing their social needs. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential for the development and well-being of families, communities and nations.

    Mains Question

    Q. Empowering women on every front is the pre-condition for the overall development of the nation. Discuss.

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  • What is the Dharavi Redevelopment Project?

    The Maharashtra government gave the go-ahead for fresh tenders in the Dharavi redevelopment project, almost two decades after it was first proposed.

    About Dharavi

    • Dharavi, infamous as one of the world’s largest slums, is located in the heart of India’s financial capital – Mumbai.
    • A city within a city, it is one unending stretch of narrow dirty lanes, open sewers and cramped huts.
    • While the land (area of 535 acres) is owned by the government, the houses are maintained by individuals.
    • The Dharavi slum came into being in 1884. It was originally inhibited by fisherfolk when the area was still creeks, swamps.
    • It became attractive to migrant workers from South Mumbai and others when the swamp began to fill in due to natural and artificial causes.
    • The area grew as poor rural Indians migrated to urban Mumbai.
    • Today, an estimated 600,000 to 1 million people live crammed in Dharavi.

    Economic significance of Dharavi

    • Dharavi stands near to India’s richest business district, the Bandra-Kurla Complex, where commercial office premiums are among the highest in the country.
    • The slum sprawl, spread over 2.8 sq.km. is home to an informal leather and pottery industry which employs over a lakh people.

    What is the Dharavi Redevelopment Project all about?

    • The state had envisaged this sprawl be transformed into a cluster of high-rises with improved urban infrastructure.
    • It entailed resettling 68,000 people, including slum dwellers and those with commercial establishments.
    • The state was to provide 300-sqft houses for free to residents with proof that their slum structure was in existence before January 1, 2000.
    • The project was initially mooted in 2004, but never got off the ground due to various reasons.

    When redevelopment was first proposed?

    • In 1999, the government first proposed to redevelop Dharavi.
    • Thereafter, the government of Maharashtra in the year 2003-04 decided to redevelop Dharavi as an integrated planned township.
    • An action plan for redevelopment was approved by issuing a government resolution.
    • It was decided to develop Dharavi by using land as a resource to cross-subsidie the cost of development through a sale component on the basis of the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.
    • The government also decided to notify the whole of Dharavi as an undeveloped area and to appoint a Special Planning Authority for its development.
    • In 2011, the government cancelled all tenders and drew up a master plan.

     

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  • On reservations for disempowered Dalit Christians and Muslims, a question of government’s intent

    dalitContext

    • Union government intends to appoint a national commission to study the status of Dalits (ex “untouchable” castes) belonging to the Muslim and Christian communities. Aim of study to check the socio-economic condition of Muslims and Christian Dalits on par with Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist Dalits.

    Current reservation policy

    • At present, scheduled caste reservation is applicable only to schedule caste (Dalit) belongs to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist. Currently it is unavailable for schedule caste belongs to Muslims and Christians.

    Why Muslim and Christian Dalit needs reservation?

    • In 2008 review-study commissioned by the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) and housed in the Sociology Department of Delhi The remit of the study was to conduct a comprehensive review of already existing social-scientific evidence that might offer answers to three questions.
    1. What is the contemporary status of Dalit Muslims (DMs) and Dalit Christians (DCs) in terms of their material well-being and social status?
    2. How does their situation compare with that of: a) non-Dalits of their own communities, and b) Dalits of other communities?
    3. Do the caste disabilities suffered by these groups justify state intervention?

    dalitWhat were the findings of study?

    • The study reviewed two main kinds of available evidence, ethnographic-descriptive and macro-statistical, in addition to semi-academic NGO reports and publications.
    • The survey of ethnographic materials began with the finding that the existence of caste divisions – including the presence of ex-untouchable castes recognised as such – among both Muslims and Christians – was beyond dispute.
    • DMs and DCs were identified and segregated much like their counterparts in the Hindu or Sikh communities.
    • Evidence was tabulated on five forms of caste-based social discrimination – the practice untouchability; enforced ban on inter-marriage; occupational segregation; social and cultural segregation and finally, economic discrimination.
    • The most common instances were separate mosques or churches (or hierarchically segregated seating); separate burial grounds; strict prohibition on inter-marriage with very severe punishments (sometimes extending to murder) for breaking this taboo; and general avoidance of social interaction and cooperation.
    • The main findings were that DMs are clearly the worst off among all Dalits, while DCs are somewhat better off than other Dalits except Sikh Dalits (who are by far the best off, especially in the rural sector).

    Why DMs and DCs doesn’t have reservation?

    • The courts accept that “caste survives conversion” but complain about the lack of reliable data. No recognition, no data; no data, no recognition.
    • Informal guesstimates (based on the 2001 Census and the 2004-05 NSSO survey) place the proportion of DMs at 1 per cent or less of the Muslim population, and DCs as anything between 40-50 per cent of the Christian population of India.
    • As per the 2011 Census, Muslims are 14.2 per cent and Christians 2.3 per cent of our population. Taken together, DMs and DCs are likely to form less than 2 per cent of the total Dalit population of India, more than 90 per cent of which is Hindu.
    • According to experts Adding DMs and DCs will not rock the boat of reservation, since the increment will be roughly one-fifth of the 10 per cent reservation readily granted to the upper castes as the Economically Weaker Sections.

    What efforts have been made to include Muslims and Christians of Dalit origin among SCs?

    • After 1990, a number of Private Member’s Bills were brought in Parliament for this purpose.
    • In 1996, a government Bill called The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill was drafted, but in view of a divergence of opinions, the Bill was not introduced in Parliament.
    • Then government headed by PM Manmohan Singh set up two important panels:
    1. Ranganath Misra Commission: The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, popularly known as the Ranganath Misra Commission, in October 2004 and
    2. Sachar Committee: A seven-member high-level committee headed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar to study the social, economic, and educational condition of Muslims in March 2005.

    What did they recommend?

    • The Sachar Committee Report observed that the social and economic situation of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians did not improve after conversion.
    • The Ranganath Misra Commission, which submitted its report in May 2007, recommended that SC status should be completely de-linked from religion and Scheduled Castes should be made fully religion-neutral like Scheduled Tribes.

    dalitReception to these recommendations

    • The report was tabled in Parliament in 2009, but its recommendation was not accepted in view of inadequate field data and corroboration with the actual situation on the ground.
    • Few studies, commissioned by the National Commission for Minorities, was also not considered reliable due to insufficient data.

    Conclusion

    • Schedule caste community from all religion India suffers from same fate of untouchability. Change of religion unfortunately, have change their social status. If 70+ year of reservation of Dalit in Hindu haven’t substantially change their social destiny, we have to think beyond reservation for social dignity and economic empowerment of schedule castes in India.

    Mains question

    Q. Reservation policy in India is religion based and not based on overall social discrimination. Comment in the context of demand for Dalit reservation extension to Christians and Muslims Dalits.

     

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  • The heavy rainfall and the crazy Banglore flood: A case to study

    floodContext

    • The recent events of heavy downpours in short period of time and the recent example of Banglore flood, highlights how cities in India and elsewhere need to adapt to climate change as it brings more extreme rainfall in the future.

    What is heavy downpour?

    • A downpour or cloudburst is a sudden and unexpected heavy fall of rain.
    • It is usually local in nature and of brief duration. Most so-called cloudbursts occur in connection with thunderstorms.
    • Heavy downpour in short period causes flood, damage to buildings and infrastructure can disrupt transport, communications and connectivity, loss of crops and livestock.

    The heavy rainfall and the Banglore flood causes

    • Rise in built up area: Lakes and natural depressions may not always fill up during many monsoons so the people who are unaware of hydrology tempts to build and buy in the catchment areas of water-bodies, which will be disastrous when it rains heavily as there is rise in the quantity.
    • Water-logging: rainwater and sewage water are forced to build up, which results in water-logging. The highway acts as a dam for the water ,Garbage frequently clogs drains, which limits the flow of sewage, and they are too small to support the weight of the expanding population.
    • Physical shrinkage of water-bodies: Destruction of lakes is a major issue .lakes can store the excess water and regulate the flow of water however the pollution of natural water bodies and converting them for development purposes has increased the risks of floods. Unplanned growth, Rise in population, rise in the built up areas along streams, canals, around the lakes, leaving no storage capacity.
    • Compromised runoff potential and health hazards: Choked and encroached drains and lakes, ill designed infrastructure and missing pipes compromising run off potential. Not only the physical quantity of the runoff that poses a hazard. When polluted drains and lakes overflow, the flood can pose a health hazard especially to vulnerable and exposed marginal communities living in informal settlements.
    • Zero or limited ability to allow infiltration of water: Encroachments in and around wetlands and green lands harming the natural way of water infiltration and ground water recharge.
    • Lack of vision in rain water harvesting: Ignorance towards the tradition rain water harvesting techniques and no or limited vision for creating new systems of rain water harvesting. Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains have been exacerbated by poor urban planning in the Indian tech hub, showing the need for improved water systems.

    floodWhat are the reasons behind the frequent floods in urban areas?

    • Meteorological factors: change in the weather patterns, increase in the temperature leading to heavy rainfall, sudden downpour, cloudburst, thunderstorms, hailstorms etc.
    • Hydrological factors: Natural surface infiltration rate, soil moisture level, presence or absence of Overbank flows, Presence of impervious cover, the occurrence of high tides impeding the drainage in coastal cities.
    • Man-Made factors:
      • Unplanned urbanization: Unplanned settlement is one of the main cause of urban flooding. Blocking of natural drainage pathways through construction activity and encroachment on catchment areas, streams, rivers, lakebeds. Reduced infiltration and ground water recharge of water, destruction of lakes, Land-use changes (e.g. surface sealing due to urbanization, deforestation) increase runoff and sedimentation. Inefficiency or non-maintenance of infrastructure etc.
      • Outdated Drainage systems: The old and ill-maintained drainage system is one of the main factor making cities in India vulnerable to flooding
      • Encroachments on and around water-bodies: Illegal Habitations started growing into towns and cities alongside rivers and watercourses. As a result of this, the capacity of the natural drains has decreased, resulting in flooding.
      • Climate Change: Climate change due to various anthropogenic events has led to extreme weather events, increasing temperature which resulting in heavy rainfall in one part while drought and dry spells in other.
      • Poor Solid Waste Management System: Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste, poor waste management system, clogging drains because of accumulation of non-biodegradable wastes are major concerns. Domestic, commercial and industrial waste and dumping of it into the drains also contribute significantly to reducing their capacities.
      • Reduced Seepage: use of hard and non-porous construction material making the soil impervious, reducing the seepage capability in no of cities in India.
      • Weak Implementation and lack of awareness:Even with provisions of rainwater harvesting, sustainable urban drainage systems, etc, in regulatory mechanisms like the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), adoption at user end as well as enforcement agencies remains weak.
      • No Community Participation:Flood control measures planned without participation of the affected community are unsustainable as they do not meet the needs of relevant stakeholders.

    What can be done to prevent the urban floods and prevent losses?

    • Developing climate Resilient Infrastructure: using permeable material for roads and pavement, green roofs and harvesting systems in buildings. To reduce the burden of road infrastructure in cities Outer Ring Road should be explored. Innovative approaches like Sponge Cities wetland restoration, flushing systems using collected rooftop water, public spaces as flexible water retention facilities can be applied to Indian urban areas.
    • Use of technology in Early Warning Systems and Communication: Early-warning systems using sensors across waterbodies and drains, and a network of communication for hotspots of emerging flood risk in the wet-season should be put in place. Providing real-time data where traditional systems fail. Tools such as predictive precipitation modelingcan help do that and are also able to link it with the adaptive capacity of urban land use.
    • Proper management and regular upgrade of Urban Drainage System: drains need to be cleaned on a regular basis to permit the free flow of water .Proper management of the drainage system is necessary to ensure that the water does not get stored in one place. Watershed management and emergency drainage plan should be clearly enunciated in policy.
    • Rainwater Harvesting: It will serve the twin purposes of lowering the peak runoff and raising the groundwater table. Many municipal corporations in India have already made rainwater harvesting compulsory. 
    • Conservation of Water Bodies: Urban water bodies like lakes, tanks, and ponds also play a very important role in the management of urban flooding by reducing the flood water run-off by capturing it.
    • Holistic approach: Improved monitoring, forecasting, and decision-support systems. Find out the different method for improving the preparedness for urban flooding.
    • Responsibility on every stakeholder: Locally, citizens, local ward officials and staff will need to work together to minimize dumping of solid waste and garbage in storm-water drains. As this is a socio –political problem, public participation awareness and responsibility of citizen is the need of the hour. To develop a long-lasting solution, all parties must acknowledge the issues and adopt a thorough strategy.

    What we as citizens can do on a personal level to prevent the urban environment?

    • Raising voice at all available forums and platforms
    • Making politicians and bureaucrats accountable
    • Refuse to buy a house in the encroached lands.
    • Applying methods of rain water harvesting on individual level.

    Way ahead

    • Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains have been exacerbated by poor urban planning in the Indian tech hub, showing the need for improved water systems.
    • Urbanization is a global and inevitable process, and with cities as engines of the economy, built-up areas will continue to grow. But we need to draw upon these experiences and the growing perils of climate change and extreme rain events and change course.
    • According to UN projections, by 2050 more than 68% of the world’s population could be concentrated in urban areas.
    • In this context, resilience-based strategies should be adopted to improve the capacity to handle the crisis arising out of climate change.
    • Wetlands are the kidneys of the earth, let’s keep it healthy.

     

    Mains Question

    Q. What are the factors causing flood in the urban cities? What are the measures to prevent the urban flooding keeping in mind the sustainable development? Discuss.

     

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