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  • Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

    A Troubling Statistic in India’s Nutritional Landscape

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues

    nutrition

    Central Idea

    • A troubling statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data, conducted in 2019-21, is not well-known. Going without food for an entire day at this critical period of a child’s development raises serious concerns related to severe food insecurity.

    Statistics from the NFHS-5 data

    • Zero-food: Among mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months, 18% reported that their child did not eat any food whatsoever (“zero-food”) in the 24 hours preceding the survey. The zero-food prevalence was 30% for infants aged 6-11 months, 13% among 12-17 months old, and 8% among 18-23 months old.
    • Zero-protein: More than 80% of children in the age group of 6-23 months had not consumed any protein-rich foods for an entire day (“zero-protein”). Close to 40% of children in the age group of 6-23 months did not eat any grains (roti, rice, etc.) for an entire day.
    • Zero-milk: Six out of 10 children in the age group of 6-23 months do not consume milk or dairy of any form every day (“zero-milk”).

    The current measures for undernutrition

    • Stunting: It is a measure of chronic malnutrition, where children are too short for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s height with the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards.
    • Wasting: It is a measure of acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their height. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.
    • Underweight: It is a measure of both chronic and acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.

    Limitations of current measures of undernutrition

    • Anthropometric measures: The assessment of the extent of nutritional deprivation among young children in India has relied on measures of anthropometric failure such as the percentage of children short for their age (stunting) or weighing less given their height (wasting), compared to a reference population. These measures are, at best, proxies suggesting plausible overall deficiencies in the child’s environment, without any guidance on the specific nature of the deficiencies. They do not provide insight into the specific food groups that are lacking in the child’s diet.
    • Multifactorial nature: Given the multifactorial nature of what causes stunting or wasting among children, it is challenging for any single ministry or department of the Government of India to take responsibility for designing, implementing and monitoring policies to reduce undernutrition among children.
    • Sensitivity: The sensitivity of the stunting prevalence to what population reference is being used makes it problematic as a policy metric for creating and evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and interventions.
    • Lack of data: The fact that we do not know what India eats highlights a core deficiency in data related to food and dietary consumption. This limits the ability to design effective policies and programs to improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative

    Description
    NFHS-5 Conducted in 2019-21, it revealed that 18% of mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months reported zero-food intake.
    Mission Poshan 2.0 A flagship programme aimed at achieving SDG 2 “zero hunger” and focuses on food-based initiatives.
    Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Increased access to improved toilets among Indian households from 48% to 70% between 2016 and 2021.
    Zero Food Metric A food-based metric that provides a good start to monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0.
    White House initiative on hunger, nutrition and health Launched by the US to end hunger by 2030.

    Calorie intake recommendations by WHO

    • According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33 per cent of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food. This proportion increases to 61 per cent at 12 months of age.
    • The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food.
    • It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through on-demand breastfeeding, meaning the child is breastfed whenever they need it throughout the day and night, and not solely when the mother is able to provide it.
    • Consequently, the percentage of food-sourced calories only increases further when a child cannot receive breast milk when needed.

    What is the need for Poshan 2.0?

    • Achieving SDG 2: Poshan 2.0 is a flagship program that aims to achieve SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and ensure year-round access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food by 2030.
    • Targeting maternal and child nutrition: Poshan 2.0 focuses on food-based initiatives, including its flagship supplementary nutrition program service as mandated by the 2013 National Food Security Act, to target maternal and child nutrition.
    • Developing food-based metrics: To effectively monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate food-based metrics to measure the extent of food insecurity among Indian households.
    • Improving nutritional security: The goal of Poshan 2.0 is to ensure affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children to improve nutritional security among Indians.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments: A national effort to establish routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population is the need of the hour to measure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children, and constitute the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Way ahead

    • Elevating food intake among young children to be of primary importance, as opposed to being referred to as “complementary” in policies and guidelines related to maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
    • Extending the 24-hour recall questions on consumption of various food items to the population of children under five years to better understand food security for all populations in India.
    • Developing appropriate food-based metrics to effectively monitor and assess the performance of Mission Poshan 2.0.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population to measure the availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children.
    • Consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India and ensuring affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.

    Conclusion

    • Given the urgency of the situation and the critical need for prompt action to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition among Indians, it is recommended that India takes inspiration from the United States. Recently, the US launched a high-level initiative aimed at ending hunger by 2030, which could offer valuable insights and guidance to India’s efforts in this direction.

    Mains Question

    Q. Statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data on hunger and malnutrition is troubling. In this backdrop discuss the need for Poshan 2.0 for India.

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    A reality check on Nutrition programs

     

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  • Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Global Implications

    Ukraine War Impact on Global Politics and India’s Diplomatic Agenda

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Ukraine

    Central Idea

    • The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect on global political and financial systems, leading to shortages of essential commodities and rising prices. The conflict is rooted in Putin’s revanchist claims that Ukraine is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture, and spiritual space. On the other hand, Putin accuses the US and Europe of violating their assurance to Gorbachev that NATO would not advance eastward. The crisis poses a dilemma for India, which must balance its partnerships with Russia and China in the BRICS and SCO formats while maintaining strategic autonomy.

    Two Essential Facets of the Conflict?

    • Putin’s Assertion of Russia’s Dominance: Vladimir Putin argues that Ukraine is not a sovereign nation and that it is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture, and spiritual space. He makes revanchist claims to camouflage Russia’s quest for dominance. Such claims are echoed in China’s Nine-dash line in the South China Sea, its occupation of India’s Aksai Chin, and blatant claims on Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Alleged Violation of NATO’s Assurance: Putin accuses the US and Europe of bad faith, citing the assurance given to a worried Gorbachev that NATO would advance not an inch eastward. This solemn undertaking was allegedly violated when NATO enlisted 10 former Warsaw Pact members in the next decade. With Finland as the latest entrant, NATO is now 31-strong, and Russia feels truly cornered.

    Impact of the war in Ukraine on global political and financial systems

    • Shortages of Essential Commodities: Ukraine is a key contributor of grain, edible oil, and fertilizers to the world’s supply chains, and Russia is a major exporter of natural gas and crude oil. The war has disrupted the production and transportation of these commodities, leading to shortages and rising prices.
    • Falling Stock Markets: The war in Ukraine has caused a decline in global stock markets as investors become increasingly nervous about the economic impact of the conflict.
    • Public Discontent and Political Upheaval: The shortages of essential commodities and rising prices have led to public discontent and even political upheaval in some countries. For example, in India, rising fuel prices have led to widespread protests and political unrest.
    • Realignment of Global Alliances: The war in Ukraine has led to a realignment of global alliances as countries seek alternate sources of food, energy, commodities, and arms. This has resulted in a polarisation of the global community and realignments in diplomatic relations.
    • Economic Sanctions: The international community has imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine, which have had a significant impact on the Russian economy.
    • Threat of Nuclear War: The conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns about the possibility of a nuclear war, particularly given Putin’s reckless nuclear sabre-rattling.

    What is the Dilemma for India?

    • India’s Engagement with Russia and China: India is engaged with Russia and China in various multilateral forums, including the BRICS format and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). At the same time, India is partnering with the US in the Quad and Malabar groupings. The conflict in Ukraine has created a complex situation for India as it seeks to maintain strategic autonomy while engaging with multiple partners.
    • Security Environment: India’s security environment is of paramount concern, given the recent Poonch ambush and persistent cross-border terrorism by the Pakistan army-ISI combine. In addition, there is stonewalling of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s demarche about the violation of existing agreements by his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu.
    • Lack of Defense Technology: India is a nuclear-weapon state and space power with the world’s fourth-largest military. However, the lackadaisical performance of its military-industrial complex has rendered it abjectly import-dependent for weaponry. India seeks to promote its atmanirbharta (self-reliance) policy, but technology has long gestation periods, and India needs to acquire defense technology from its partners.

    How Quad and Malabar Groupings can help India? 

    • Convergence of strategic interests: The Quad and Malabar groupings represent a convergence of strategic interests between India and the US, which can help India strengthen its security and diplomatic ties with the US, Japan, and Australia.
    • Military-diplomatic purpose: These forums serve a useful military-diplomatic purpose, allowing India to deepen its military cooperation with the US and other Quad members, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Power-balancing: India needs to accord priority to power-balancing on its diplomatic agenda, and the Quad and Malabar Groupings can play a significant role in this regard. India can leverage these groupings to balance China’s growing influence in the region.
    • Technology acquisition: India is abjectly import-dependent for weaponry and needs to acquire advanced technologies to address its security concerns. The Quad and Malabar Groupings can help India access advanced military technologies from the US, Japan, and Australia, which can enhance India’s defense capabilities.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative Objective Countries Involved Key Features
    Quad Strengthen security and promote economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region India, United States, Japan, Australia Regular high-level meetings, joint military exercises, cooperation on maritime security, infrastructure development, and technology transfer
    AUKUS Strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific region through advanced military technology sharing and cooperation United States, United Kingdom, Australia Joint development and sharing of advanced military technologies, including nuclear-powered submarines, and joint military exercises
    iCET Promote cooperation on critical and emerging technologies between India and the United States India, United States Cooperation on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and 5G, with a focus on sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices

     New US initiatives

    • AUKUS: AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between the US, the UK, and Australia, aimed at enhancing security cooperation and sharing advanced military technologies. While the focus of the pact is primarily on Australia, it can indirectly benefit India by strengthening the US security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region and deterring China’s aggressive behavior. The pact can also lead to the development of new technologies, such as advanced unmanned underwater vehicles, which can enhance India’s maritime security.
    • Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET): The iCET is aimed at boosting cooperation between India and the US in the field of critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. This initiative can help India access cutting-edge technologies and knowledge, which can enhance India’s technological capabilities and address its security concerns.

    Way ahead: Self-reliance in defence production and reduce dependence

    • Invest in R&D: India should invest heavily in research and development (R&D) to develop cutting-edge military technologies indigenously. This can help reduce India’s dependence on imports and enhance its military capabilities.
    • Promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP): India can promote PPPs to encourage private sector participation in defence production. This can help bring in much-needed investment, innovation, and expertise into the defence sector, thereby enhancing India’s defence capabilities.
    • Facilitate Technology Transfer: India can facilitate technology transfer from foreign defence manufacturers to domestic firms to enhance their technological capabilities. This can help Indian companies acquire critical technologies and expertise, which can be leveraged to develop advanced military systems indigenously.
    • Focus on Export: India should focus on promoting defence exports to enhance its defence manufacturing base and generate much-needed revenue. This can help reduce the cost of domestic production and make Indian defence products globally competitive.

    Conclusion

    • India needs to navigate the conflict in Ukraine deftly to maintain its strategic autonomy while balancing its partnerships with Russia and China. India must prioritize power-balancing and technology acquisition on its diplomatic agenda and focus on building self-reliance in defense production.

    Mains Question

    Q. The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect on global political and financial systems. In this backdrop highlight the dilemma for India and discuss how Quad and Malabar Groupings along with US initiatives help India on Defence and strategic issues ?

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    India’s role in Russia-Ukraine war

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  • Prime Minister’s Office : Important Updates

    Constitutional Punctuality: Need of The Hour

    op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Comparison Of The Indian Constitutional Scheme With That Of Other Countries

    constitutional

    Central Idea

    • The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently passed a resolution that urges a time frame for Governors to act on Bills passed by the State Legislature. The resolution was passed because the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N. Ravi, had withheld assent to as many as 13 Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. This highlights the need for a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism for Governors, Speakers of Assemblies, and the President of India, emphasizing the importance of time-bound governance.

    What the resolution is all about?

    • The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union Government and President to advise the Governor to decide on the bills passed by the State Legislatures within a reasonable time period.
    • The resolution, proposed by the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, argued that it was important to protect the sovereignty of the Legislatures and, ultimately, safeguard parliamentary democracy.
    • The resolution seeks to provide a time frame for Governors to act on Bills passed by the State Legislature and ensure that they do not sit over Bills indefinitely. The resolution also encourages other Opposition-ruled states to pass similar resolutions in their Assemblies.

    What is mean by Constitutional Punctuality?

    • Timely discharge of duties in accordance with the constitutional provisions: Constitutional punctuality refers to the timely discharge of duties and responsibilities by various constitutional high offices in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Constitution. It involves adhering to a strict time frame to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure the smooth functioning of the constitutional scheme.
    • Growing concerns over misuse of discretionary powers: This concept has gained importance in recent times due to the growing concern over the misuse of discretionary powers by constitutional authorities such as governors, which can lead to a delay in the enactment of important legislation and undermine the principles of parliamentary democracy.

    Need for Constitutional punctuality in terms of Governors role

    • Upholding the sovereignty of legislatures: When the Governor of a state withholds assent to bills passed by the state legislature indefinitely, it undermines the sovereignty of the legislatures. It is essential to provide a time frame for the Governor to act on bills to safeguard the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution.
    • Ensuring timely delivery of justice: The Constitution of India guarantees the right to speedy justice to all citizens. The delay in the Governor’s assent to bills passed by the legislature leads to a delay in the implementation of new laws, which could impact the timely delivery of justice.
    • Preventing misuse of power: Governors hold a significant position of power, and the discretion they exercise in giving assent to bills should not be misused. The absence of a time frame for them to act on bills provides them with an opportunity to misuse their powers, which could harm the interests of the people.
    • Advancing the constitutional scheme: Providing a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism advances the constitutional scheme. It ensures the smooth functioning of the democratic process and upholds the principles of accountability and transparency.
    • Building public trust: When constitutional high offices, including that of the Governor, President, and Speakers of Assemblies, discharge their duties in a time-bound manner, it builds public trust in the democratic institutions of the country. It ensures that people’s will, as expressed through their elected representatives, is implemented without undue delay.

    Facts for prelims

    Ambit of judicial review on matters of delays by constitutional authorities

    • In India, matters involving delays in exercising powers by constitutional authorities have been brought under the ambit of judicial review by the courts.
    • In the case of Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs The Hon’ble Speaker Manipur (2020), the Supreme Court issued a writ of mandamus to the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to decide on disqualification petitions within four weeks.

    Time bound governance

    • The concept of time-bound governance has been successfully implemented in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where there are strict timelines for the assent or veto of bills by the respective authorities.
    • In the US, if the President does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days, it automatically becomes an Act.
    • In the UK, there has been no royal veto since 1708.

     Conclusion

    • The resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is a step in the right direction towards a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism. Constitutional high offices, including Governors, Speakers of Assemblies, and the President of India, must evolve strict time frames and avoid unnecessary delays. Such an approach would advance the constitutional scheme and safeguard

    Mains Question

    Q. What do you understand by mean constitutional punctuality? Discuss the need of constitutional punctuality specifically in terms of Governors role in the state?

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    Governor’s Constitutional Limits: A Resolution to President

     

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  • Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

    Re-examination of Sedition Law in motion: Govt informs SC

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Central idea: The Centre has informed Supreme Court that it has initiated the “process of re-examination” of Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and consultations are in its “final stage”.

    What is the Sedition Law?

    • Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition. The IPC was enacted in 1860, under the British Raj.
    • The then British government in India feared that religious preachers on the Indian subcontinent would wage a war against the government.
    • Particularly after the successful suppression of the Wahabi/Waliullah Movement by the British, the need was felt for such law.
    • Throughout the Raj, this section was used to suppress activists in favor of national independence, including Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi, both of whom were found guilty and imprisoned.

    Do you know?

    Queen-Empress v. Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1897) was the first case in which Section 124A was defined and applied. Again in 1908, when Tilak was tried under same section, then young barrister and a staunch protagonist Mohammed Ali Jinnah defended Tilak.

    What is Sedition?

    • The Section 124A defines sedition as:

    An offence committed when “any person by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India”.

    • Disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.
    • However, comments without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, will not constitute an offense.
    • Sedition is a non-bailable offense.
    • Punishment under Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up to three years to a life term with/without a fine.

    Sedition as a cognizable offense

    • Sedition was made a cognizable offense for the first time in history in India during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1973, that is, arrest without a warrant was now permissible.
    • In 1962 the Supreme Court of India interpreted the section to apply only if there is, say, “incitement to violence” or “overthrowing a democratically elected government through violent means”.

    Is it constitutionally valid?

    • Violative of FRs: Two high courts had found it unconstitutional after Independence, as it violated the freedom of speech and expression.
    • Reasonable restrictions: The Constitution was amended to include ‘public order’ as one of the ‘reasonable restrictions’ on which free speech could be abridged by law.
    • Kedar Nath Case: Thereafter, the Supreme Court, in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962) upheld its validity.
    • Limited use: At the same time, it limited its application to acts that involve “intention or tendency to create disorder” or incitement to violence.
    • Strong criticism doesn’t amount to sedition: Thus, even strongly worded remarks, as long as they do not excite disloyalty and enmity, or incite violence, are not an offence under this section.

    sedition

    Why the controversy now?

    • Frequent use: In recent times, the resort to this section is seen as disturbingly frequent.
    • Curbing dissent: Activists, cartoonists and intellectuals have been arrested under this section, drawing criticism from liberals that it is being used to suppress dissent and silence critics.
    • Misuse for propaganda: Authorities and the police who invoke this section defend the measure as a necessary step to prevent public disorder and anti-national activities.
    • Irrelevance: Many of them have also been detained under the National Security Act and UAPA.

    What is being debated about it?

    • Demand for its scrapping: Liberals and rights activists have been demanding the scrapping of Section 124A.
    • Provision is outdated: It is argued that the provision is “overbroad”, i.e., it defines the offence in wide terms threatening the liberty of citizens.
    • Various calls for its reconsideration: The Law Commission has also called for a reconsideration of the section.
    • Tyranny of the law: It has pointed that Britain abolished it more than a decade ago and raised the question of whether a provision introduced by the British to put down the freedom struggle should continue to be law in India.
    • Doctrine of severability: Some argue that a presumption of constitutionality does not apply to pre-constitutional laws as those laws have been made by foreign legislature or bodies.

    Need for such law

    • There are some tendencies exist even today who wish to overthrow the state apparatus and constitutional scheme of India.
    • It falls on the judiciary to protect Articles 19 and Article 21 of the Constitution.
    • Undue exercise of free speech has led to overture of ordinary dissent into an anti-national insurrection or uprising.
    • There are areas in the country that face hostile activities and insurgencies created by rebel groups, like the Maoists.
    • There must be restrictions on expressing unnecessary contempt or ridiculing of the Government beyond certain limits.

    Way forward

    • India is the largest democracy in the world and the right to free speech and expression is an essential ingredient of democracy.
    • The sedition law should not be abolished as some measures are needed to check communal violence & insurgency activities like Naxals.
    • The definition of sedition should be narrowed down, to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.
    • Section 124A should not be misused as a tool to curb free speech.

     

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-ASEAN

    ASEAN-India maritime exercise in South China Sea

    Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    south china sea asean

    Central idea: The article highlights India’s increasing military cooperation with ASEAN countries, with a special emphasis on the upcoming ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in the South China Sea.

    ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise

    • The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) is set to commence on May 2, 2023, with war games to be held in the South China Sea.
    • INS Satpura and INS Delhi will participate in the exercise.
    • The exercise is divided into two phases: ‘Harbour Phase’ and ‘Sea Phase.’
    • The exercise is aimed at fostering close cooperation and conducting seamless operations in the maritime domain between the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies.

    About ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

    Details
    Members Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
    Formation August 8, 1967
    Headquarters Jakarta, Indonesia
    Purpose To promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development
    Economic integration ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
    Political cooperation ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
    Cultural cooperation ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)
    Relationship with India Strategic partnership, trade, and investment

     

    Why such exercise?

    • Defying territorial claims: The South China Sea is a critical waterway that connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, and it is also a contested region where multiple countries have territorial claims.
    • Support freedom of navigation: Conducting exercises in this region allows India to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and upholding international maritime laws.
    • Indo-Pacific Strategy: India’s growing strategic ties with ASEAN are part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to promote a rules-based order and ensure stability in the region.
    • Counterbalancing China: As China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific grows, India sees ASEAN as a key partner in balancing China’s assertiveness and promoting regional stability.

    India’s stakes in South China Sea

    The South China Sea plays a critical role in India’s security and well-being as-

    • Global common: The SCS is not China’s sea, but a global common.
    • Unimpeded navigation: It has been an important sea-lane of communication for centuries, and passage has been unimpeded. Indians have sailed these waters for well over 1,500 years with a continuous trading presence.
    • Global trade chokepoint: Nearly $200 billion of India’s trade passes through the South China Sea, and thousands of Indian citizens study, work and invest in ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

    Key significance: India’s Responsiveness to ASEAN

    India needs to be responsive to ASEAN’s expectations.

    • Meeting ASEAN’s aspirations: While strategic partnerships and high-level engagements are important, ASEAN expects longer-lasting buy-ins by India in their future.
    • History of lesser importance given by India: ASEAN has taken the initiative time and again to involve India in Indo-Pacific affairs, even though India’s current level of trade or investment with ASEAN does not make a compelling argument.
    • Broader perception of India as key partner: ASEAN has deliberately taken a longer-term view, given the importance of regional arrangements for economic recovery and rejuvenation.

     

    Back2Basics:  South China Sea Dispute

    • It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys – two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries.
    • China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims.
    • Alongside the fully-fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks, and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.
    • China claims by far the largest portion of territory – an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
    • Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims.
    • It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan.

     

     

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  • Pharma Sector – Drug Pricing, NPPA, FDC, Generics, etc.

    Psychedelics and its uses to treat Depression

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    Central idea: The context of the article is about the use of psychedelic drugs for both recreational and medicinal purposes.

    What are Psychedelics?

    • Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter an individual’s perception, mood, and thought processing while still allowing the individual to remain conscious and with unimpaired insight.
    • They are non-addictive and non-toxic, and cause less harm to the end user compared to illicit drugs.
    • The two most commonly used psychedelics are LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin. Researchers have also developed synthetic psychedelics.
    • In India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 prohibits the use of psychedelic substances, except for ketamine which is used under strict medical supervision.

    History of psychedelics

    • Humans have used psilocybin and mescaline for ceremonial, healing, and spiritual rituals for millennia.
    • The modern-day use of psychedelics is commonly associated with the German chemist Arthur Heffter isolating mescaline from the peyote cactus in 1897.
    • In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD while investigating compounds related to ergotamine.
    • LSD was widely used as a therapeutic catalyst in psychotherapy between 1947 and 1967, until it was criminalized in the US due to medical concerns and the Vietnam War.

    Experience of using psychedelic substances

    • Users of psychedelic substances report changes in perception, somatic experience, mood, thought-processing, and entheogenic experiences.
    • Perceptual distortions most commonly include the visual domain.
    • Somatic experiences may include the visceral, tactile, and interoceptive domains.
    • Mood changes may include elation, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia.
    • Entheogenic experiences include transcendental and ineffable spiritual experiences.

    How do they work inside the body?

    • Classical psychedelics boost brain serotonin levels.
    • Psilocybin’s therapeutic effects require a ‘trip’ that is mediated by the activation of serotonin receptors.
    • Modern neuroimaging suggests that psychedelics increase the cross-talk between different brain networks, and this correlates with the subjective effects of psychedelics.

    Can psychedelic substances cause any harm?

    • Death due to direct toxicity of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline has not been reported in the literature despite 50-plus years of recreational use.
    • Synthetic psychedelics have been associated with acute cardiac, central nervous system, and limb ischemia, as well as serotonin syndrome.

    What is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?

    • Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has three types of sessions: preparatory, medication, and integration.
    • In the medication session, the patient is accompanied by a male-female co-therapist dyad and a psychedelic drug is administered in a comfortable and well-appointed room.
    • Over the next 6-8 hours, the therapists listen to the patient while maintaining a neutral therapeutic stance.
    • In the integration session, the therapists work with the patient to interpret the contents of their psychedelic experience into meaningful long-term change, based on their thoughts and ideas.

    Uses to treat Neuropsychiatric Disorders

    • Research has shown that psychedelic substances have potential therapeutic benefits in treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
    • In recent trials, a single dose of psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce depression scores and improve symptoms of PTSD in participants.

    Back2Basics: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

    Details
    Purpose Combat drug abuse and trafficking in India
    Scope Consolidates and amends the existing legal framework related to narcotics and psychotropic substances
    Regulations Strictly regulates and controls the production, manufacture, sale, transport, possession, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
    Special Courts Establishment of special courts and appointment of special public prosecutors to handle cases related to drug trafficking and abuse
    Covered Substances Opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy
    Classification Substances classified into different schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use
    Punishment Imposes different levels of punishment for offenses related to each schedule
    Enforcement Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), and state-level drug enforcement agencies
    Functions Prevention of drug abuse and trafficking, investigation and prosecution of drug offenses, rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts

     

     

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  • Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

    Copper plates decoded reveal new info on Shilabhattarika

    Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

    Central idea: The article talks about the discovery of new information on the celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika through the decoding of copper plates by the Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute.

    Who was Shilabhattarika?

    • Shilabhattarika was a 9th-century Sanskrit poet from India.
    • She lived near the Narmada River and the Vindhya mountains.
    • Her poetic skills were praised by medieval Sanskrit literary critics.
    • It is speculated that she may be the same as Shilamahadevi, the queen of 8th-century Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruv.
    • According to recent research, she was the daughter of Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II.

    Her literary works

    • Shilabhattarika is known to have written at least 46 poems on various topics, such as love, morality, politics, nature, beauty, the seasons, insects, anger, indignation, codes of conduct, and the characteristic features of various kinds of heroines.
    • Shilabhattarika is considered a leading figure of the Panchali literary style, which maintains “a balance between words and meaning”.
    • According to Rajashekhara, the Panchali style can be traced to the works of Shilabhattarika, and possibly in some of the works of the 7th-century poet Bana.
    • Sharangadhara-paddhati, a 14th-century anthology, praises her and three other female poets for their great poetic genius and erudition.
    • One of the most iconic songs of the noted Marathi poetess Shanta Shelke, “toch chandrama nabhat” (it is the same moon in the sky), draws inspiration from the verses of Shilabhattarika.

    Key findings of the recent research

    • The research analyzed a copperplate charter consisting of 5 copper plates dating back to the reign of Badami Chalukyan ruler Vijayaditya (696-733 CE).
    • The plates were held together by a copper ring that bore the varaha (boar) seal, which is the trademark of the Badami Chalukyas.
    • The Sanskrit text inscribed in late-Brahmi script contained a total of 65 lines.
    • The charter revealed that King Vijayaditya Chalukya had donated the village of Chigateri to a scholar named Vishnu Sharma, based on the recommendation of Mahendravarma, Shilabhattarika’s son.
    • Shilabhattarika’s husband, Dadiga, was deputed as the governor of Kogali, while his elder brother Polavira succeeded their father Mokkara as the ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty, which acted as subordinates to the Chalukyas of Badami and fought against the Pallavas of Kanchi.
    • The plates also mentioned the names of Shilabhattarika’s father-in-law, Mokkara (or Mushkara), and his father, Durvinita, who was a proficient composer and had patronized Bharavi, the author of the classical epic Kiratarjuniya.

     

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  • Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

    May Day and the Challenge of Regulating Working Hours

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 3: Issues relating growth and development, employment

    May Day

    Central Idea

    • May 1st commemorates the historic Haymarket Square affair and is celebrated globally as International Labour Day or May Day. The day holds immense significance as it signifies the struggle of workers to secure their rights. However, the idea of reducing working hours to improve social welfare is still a dream for many in India, despite it being adopted by several countries. Instead, we see a growing trend of increasing working hours, especially in the garment and electronic industries, in the name of increasing productivity.

    Significances of International Labour Day

    • Honouring the labour movement: International Labour Day is an occasion to pay tribute to the labour movement and honour the contributions of workers worldwide.
    • Celebrating the rights of workers: The day is an opportunity to celebrate the hard-won rights of workers, including the right to fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to form unions.
    • Advocating for workers’ rights: International Labour Day is also a platform to raise awareness about the need to protect and advocate for workers’ rights, particularly in countries where labour laws are weak or not enforced.
    • Recognizing the role of labour unions: Labour unions have played a significant role in securing better working conditions and benefits for workers. On International Labour Day, the contributions of labour unions are recognized and celebrated.
    • Promoting social justice: The day promotes social justice by advocating for fair treatment of workers, regardless of their gender, race, or other factors that may lead to discrimination or exploitation.
    • Remembrance of struggles: International Labour Day is also an opportunity to remember the struggles of workers in the past and the sacrifices made by those who fought for workers’ rights.
    • Building solidarity among workers: The day fosters a sense of solidarity among workers, encouraging them to come together to promote their rights and advocate for better working conditions.

    May Day

    What are the reasons behind growing trend of increasing working hours?

    • Global competition: Companies feel pressure to work longer hours to keep up with international competition and maintain their market share.
    • Cost-cutting: Employers may increase working hours to cut costs and boost productivity, rather than hiring more workers.
    • Increased demand: As demand for goods and services grows, companies may feel the need to work longer hours to meet that demand.
    • Technology: Advances in technology have made it easier to work remotely, leading to an expectation of being available and connected 24/7.
    • Flexibility: Employers may offer more flexible schedules, but with the expectation of working longer hours to complete tasks.
    • Emphasis on economic growth: Mainstream economists prioritize economic growth, even if it is at the expense of labor rights and human rights. They believe that working longer hours and increasing exports will lead to economic growth.
    • Subsidies and exemptions: Regional governments offer subsidies and exemptions to attract global and domestic capital, and employers may prefer weaker unions in exchange for these incentives.

    May Day

    Facts for prelims

    International Labour Day

    • International Labour Day, also known as May Day, originated in the United States in the late 19th century when labor unions and socialist movements organized demonstrations and strikes calling for better working conditions, higher wages, and an eight-hour workday.
    • On May 1, 1886, workers in Chicago organized a massive protest rally, and the following days were marked by violent clashes between police and protesters.
    • In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared May 1 as International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Chicago protests and honor workers around the world. Since then, May Day has been celebrated globally as a day to recognize the contributions of workers and to advocate for their rights and fair treatment.

    Maharashtra day

    • May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Day to commemorate the formation of the state of Maharashtra.
    • On May 1, 1960, the Bombay Reorganization Act came into effect, and the state of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed. Hence, May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Day in Maharashtra, India.
    • It is a public holiday in the state, and various cultural events and parades are held to mark the occasion.

    What are the concerns over increasing working hours?

    • Adversely Affecting Health: Extending working hours can lead to physical and mental fatigue, stress, and burnout, which can affect the health of the workers. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in absenteeism, accidents, and medical costs.
    • Diminishing Marginal Productivity: As the hours of work increase, the efficiency and productivity of the worker may decrease, leading to a decline in the quality of output. It can also lead to a decrease in the quality of life of the workers, as they have less time for family and leisure activities.
    • Violation of Labour Rights: Increasing working hours can be a violation of the fundamental rights of the workers, as it denies them the right to rest and leisure, which are essential for the physical and mental well-being of the workers.
    • Job Insecurity: Increasing working hours can lead to job insecurity as employers may replace workers with automation or outsourcing to cut costs. It can also lead to a decline in wages, as employers may argue that they are paying for more working hours.
    • Adverse Impact on Women Workers: Increasing working hours can disproportionately affect women workers, who may be responsible for domestic chores and childcare. Long working hours can lead to a decline in their physical and mental health and an increase in their workload, which can have an adverse impact on their family life.

    May Day

    Why it is necessary to regulate working hours?

    • Protecting workers’ health: Working long hours can have adverse effects on workers’ physical and mental health. It can lead to fatigue, stress, sleep disorders, and other health issues.
    • Ensuring safety at the workplace: Workers who are overworked may become fatigued, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries at the workplace. Regulating working hours can help ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
    • Promoting work-life balance: Long working hours can negatively impact workers’ personal lives, reducing their time with family and friends, and limiting their ability to engage in other activities outside of work. Regulating working hours can help promote a healthy work-life balance.
    • Enhancing productivity: Research has shown that working long hours can lead to a decline in productivity and an increase in errors and accidents. By regulating working hours, employers can ensure that workers are well-rested and productive.
    • Protecting workers’ rights: Regulating working hours is an essential component of protecting workers’ rights. It helps to prevent exploitation and ensures that workers are compensated fairly for their time and labor.

    Conclusion

    • May Day serves as a reminder of the struggle of workers for their rights. In this context, India must prioritize the welfare of its labour force and regulate working hours to improve their social welfare. The government must ensure that labour laws are not weakened, and trade unions must unite to ensure that the rights of workers are protected. Multinational corporations must be held accountable for skilling their workers and not exploiting the cheap labour offered by developing countries. Only then can India move towards inclusive and sustainable development.

    Mains Question

    Q. There is a growing trend of increasing working hours, especially in the garment and electronic industries, in the name of increasing productivity. Discuss the reasons and discuss why it is necessary to regulate working hours?

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    Also read:

    Why May 1 is observed as Labour Day?

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  • Poverty Eradication – Definition, Debates, etc.

    Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): India’s Progress Analysis

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues,Issues relating growth and development, employment

    SDGs

    Central Idea

    • India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the first meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s G20 Presidency, expressed concern about the slowing down of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given India’s large population, the success of achieving these goals is crucial for global progress. While India has made progress towards achieving some SDG targets, there are concerns regarding others.

    SDGs

    India’s progress on SDG’s

    • Neonatal and under-five mortality: India is on target to meet the SDG indicators for neonatal and under-five mortality. Both indicators have substantially improved in the last five years.
    • Full vaccination: India is on target to meet the SDG indicator for full vaccination.
    • Improved sanitation: India is on target to meet the SDG indicator for improved sanitation. The country has made significant progress in this area in the last five years.
    • Electricity access: India is on target to meet the SDG indicator for electricity access.
    • Access to banking: The number of women having bank accounts has improved across a vast majority of the districts between the years 2016 and 2021.
    • Adolescent pregnancy: The SDG indicator for eliminating adolescent pregnancy has improved across a vast majority of the districts between the years 2016 and 2021.
    • Multidimensional poverty: The SDG indicator for reducing multidimensional poverty has improved across a vast majority of the districts between the years 2016 and 2021.
    • Women’s well-being and gender equality: India has made progress in increasing mobile phone access, with 93% of households having access to mobile phones. However, only 56% of women report owning a mobile phone.

    Facts for prelims

    Recent findings by National Family Health Survey

    • Multidimensional poverty declined: At a compounded annual average rate of 4.8 per cent per year in 2005-2011 and more than double that pace at 10.3 per cent a year during 2011-2021.
    • Declining child mortality: There are some issues with the 2011 child-mortality data, but for each of the 10 components of the MPI index, the rate of decline in 2011-2021 is considerably faster than in 2005-2011.
    • Average decline in overall indicators: The average equally weighted decline for nine indicators was 1.9 per cent per annum in 2005-2011 and a rate of 16.6 per cent per annum, more than eight times higher in 2011-2021.
    • Consumption inequality decline: Every single household survey or analysis has shown that consumption inequality declined during 2011-2021. This is consistent with the above finding of highly inclusive growth during 2011-2021.

    Lessons from COVID-19 Approach

    • Leadership: Strong political leadership and responsive administrative structure are critical to success, and India’s COVID-19 response demonstrated that a mission-oriented ethos that provides adequate support for accomplishing district-level SDGs is urgently needed.
    • Infrastructure and Coordination: India’s success with COVID-19 was largely possible both because of the existing digital infrastructure, as well as new, indigenous initiatives such as the Co-WIN data platform and the Aarogya Setu application. Following these examples, India must put in place a coordinated, public data platform for population health management.
    • Targeted delivery: A targeted SDG strategy delivered at scale must be executed with the same timeliness of India’s COVID-19 relief package. Key to this relief programme was a mix of spending to provide direct in-kind and economic support, as well as measures aimed at revitalising the economy, small businesses, and agriculture.

    Concerns regarding India’s progress towards achieving SDGs

    • Unequal progress across districts: While India is on target to meet 14 out of 33 SDG indicators, the progress is not uniform across all districts.
    • For example: neonatal and under-five mortality rates are on target for the country as a whole, but many districts are not on track to meet these indicators.
    • Pace of improvement: The current pace of improvement is not sufficient to meet the SDG targets for 19 out of 33 indicators.
    • For instance: despite a national policy push for clean fuel for cooking, more than two-thirds of districts remain off-target for this indicator.
    • Gender inequality: India is facing significant challenges in achieving gender-related SDG targets.
    • For example: no district in India has yet succeeded in eliminating the practice of girl child marriage before the legal age of 18 years. Also, despite the overall expansion of mobile phone access in India, only 56% of women report owning a mobile phone, with many districts remaining off-target for this indicator.
    • Multidimensional poverty: Although India has made progress in reducing multidimensional poverty, many districts are still off-track to meet this SDG indicator.
    • Environmental sustainability: India has made progress in some areas related to environmental sustainability, such as improved sanitation and access to electricity. However, the country is still off-target for indicators related to clean cooking fuel, water and handwashing facilities, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Way ahead

    • Implement targeted policies and programs that are aligned with the SDG goals, particularly for areas where progress has been slow or lacking.
    • Improve the digital infrastructure, and create a coordinated public data platform for population health management.
    • Ensure strong and sustained political leadership that is supported by a responsive administrative structure at all levels.
    • Prioritize and accelerate efforts to address gender inequality and women’s well-being.
    • Strengthen implementation and monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely and effective delivery of SDG policies and programs.
    • Foster partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector to mobilize resources and expertise to achieve SDG targets.
    • Develop a decadal plan that outlines concrete steps and targets for achieving SDG goals in the next ten years.

    SDGs

    Conclusion

    • India needs to innovate a new policy path to achieve its SDG targets, especially those related to population health and well-being, basic quality infrastructure, and gender equality. India’s successful COVID-19 response has shown that it is possible to deliver at scale in such an ambitious and comprehensive manner. To achieve SDG targets, India needs a similar concerted, pioneering, and nationwide effort.

    Mains Question

    Q. India’s progress towards SDGs id often described as mixed progress. While there have been positive improvements, there are still concerns that needs to be addressed. Discuss along with a way ahead.

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    Also read:

    A recent analysis published in The Lancet has concluded that India is not on-target to achieve 19 of the 33 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators.

     

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  • Waste Management – SWM Rules, EWM Rules, etc

    Link between poor Solid Waste Management and Stray Dog Attacks

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

    stray dog

    Central idea: Several incidents of stray dog attacks in Indian cities have shed light on the link between urban solid waste management and the issue of stray dogs.

    Stray Dog Attacks in India

    • Cities have witnessed a sharp increase in the stray dog population, which as per the official 2019 livestock census stood at 1.5 crore.
    • However, independent estimates peg the number to be around 6.2 crore.
    • The number of dog bites has simultaneously doubled between 2012 and 2020.
    • Experts agree there may be a correlation between urbanisation and solid waste production, made visible due to the mismanagement of waste disposal.
    • Tepid animal birth control programmes and insufficient rescue centres, in conjunction with poor waste management, result in a proliferation of street animals in India.

    Reasons behind

    • Poor waste management: Inadequate waste disposal facilities and the mismanagement of solid waste often lead to the congregation of stray dogs around garbage dumps and landfills, where they scavenge for food.
    • Unplanned urbanization: The population boom in Indian cities has led to a sharp increase in the stray dog population. Rapid urbanization has led to the creation of slums and unmanaged solid waste, which attract dogs.
    • Lack of food and shelter: The availability of food and shelter determines the carrying capacity of a city. In the absence of these facilities, free-ranging dogs become scavengers that forage around for food, eventually gravitating towards exposed garbage dumping sites.
    • Territoriality: Stray dogs often become territorial and aggressive about public spaces where they are fed, leading to increased attacks on humans.
    • Improper sterilization and rescue centres: Tepid animal birth control programmes and insufficient rescue centres, in conjunction with poor waste management, result in a proliferation of street animals in India.

    Food wastage in India

    • A population boom in Indian cities has contributed to a staggering rise in solid waste production. Indian cities generate more than 150000 metric tonnes of urban solid waste every day.
    • According to a 2021 UNEP report, an estimated 931 million tonnes of food available to consumers ended up in households, restaurants, vendors and other food service retailers’ bins in 2019.
    • Indian homes on average also generated 50 kg of food waste per person.
    • The presence of free-roaming dogs in urban areas is determined by the “carrying capacity” of a city, which is the availability of food and shelter.

    Urban Stray Dogs and Waste Disposal

    • Food and shelter: The wastage food often serves as a source of food for hunger-stricken, free-roaming dogs that move towards densely-populated areas in cities, such as urban slums which are usually located next to dumping sites.
    • Sanitation assists food hunt: In the absence of proper sanitation and waste disposal facilities, stray dogs become scavengers that forage for food around exposed garbage dumping sites.

    Impact of Unplanned and Unregulated Urban Development

    • ABC Program: Under Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, municipal bodies trap, sterilize, and release dogs to slow down the dog population. This approach aims to control the number of strays while avoiding the inhumane practice of killing them.
    • Rabies Control Measures: Another anchor of India’s response is rabies control measures, including vaccination drives. Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans through dog bites. Thus, preventing rabies is essential in addressing the issue of stray dogs.
    • Informal Measures: These include mass killing of dogs in states like Kerala, which is a controversial practice as it is often inhumane and does not address the root causes of the issue. Other measures include imposing bans on the entry of stray dogs in colonies or feeding them in public.

    Why address stray dog attacks issue?

    • Adds Vulnerability to the poor: The disproportionate burden of dog bites may also fall on people in urban slums, which are usually located in close proximity to dumping sites.
    • Exposes harsher realities: The rise in such attacks speak to core issues of lack of serviced affordable urban housing for all, lack of safe livelihood options and improper solid waste management”.

    Empathizing the strays

    • Abandoned, not strayed: Stray dogs are sentient social beings capable of feeling pain, fear, and joy. Urban living patterns have largely impacted their abandonment.
    • Subjected to abuse: They are often victims of neglect, abuse, and abandonment, and are forced to survive in harsh conditions on the streets.
    • Neglected community guardians: Stray dogs can serve as community guardians by alerting us to potential dangers and can also provide emotional support to humans.

    Way forward

    • Improve waste management: Efficient management of solid waste can help reduce the availability of food for stray dogs and limit their population growth.
    • Increase vaccination and sterilization: ABC and vaccination programs should be implemented in a more organized and efficient manner to control the stray dog population and the spread of rabies.
    • Encourage responsible feeding practices: Regulating feeding around bakeries and restaurants and improving waste management in public spaces can reduce the carrying capacity of the environment for stray dogs and minimize the congregation of dogs in certain areas.
    • Develop national policy: There is a need for a comprehensive national policy that addresses the issue of stray dogs and their management in a more systematic and humane manner.
    • Stop gruesome brutality: Stopping brutality towards dogs is a crucial step towards creating a more compassionate and just management of stray dogs menace.

     

    Also read:

    Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Why is it needed?

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