SECURE SYNOPSIS: 15 MAY 2019
NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The question is about discussing the significance of employment relevant learning process that is needed in Indian system of higher education.
Demand of the question:
This question seeks to examine significance of employment relevant learning process that is needed in Indian system of higher education with a detailed analysis of recently launched Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS).
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Start with brief introduction highlighting the significance of Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS).
Body
Discuss the following points in detail:
- The Ministry of HRD has launched the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) for providing industry apprenticeship opportunities.
- Discuss the salient features of SHREYAS Scheme-
- It is a programme conceived for students in degree courses, primarily non-technical, with a view to introduce employable skills into their learning, promote apprenticeship and also amalgamate employment facilitating.
- SHREYAS portal will enable educational institutions and industry to log in and provide their respective demand and supply of apprenticeship.
- The matching of students with apprenticeship avenues will take place as per pre-specified eligibility criteria.
- Explain the objectives of the scheme, its operation and implementation strategy.
- Discuss how schemes like SHREYAS will be a major effort in this direction to make our degree students more skilled, capable, employable and aligned to the needs of our economy so that they contribute to country’s progress and also obtain gainful employment.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of such schemes.
Introduction:
The Ministry of Human Resources Development has launched the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) for providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotional Scheme (NAPS). It aims to enhance the employability of Indian youth by providing ‘on the job work exposure’ and earning of stipend. It targets in all the tracks together, it is proposed to cover 50 lakh students by 2022.
Body:
Objectives of SHREYAS:
- To improve employability of students by introducing employment relevance into the learning process of the higher education system.
- To forge a close functional link between education and industry/service sectors on a sustainable basis.
- To provide skills which are in demand, to the students in a dynamic manner.
- To establish an ‘earn while you learn’ system into higher education.
- To help business/industry in securing good quality manpower.
- To link student community with employment facilitating efforts of the Government.
Role of SHREYAS:
- SHREYAS is a programme basket comprising the initiatives of three Central Ministries, namely the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Labour& Employment viz the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), the National Career Service (NCS)and introduction of BA/BSc/BCom (Professional) courses in the higher educational institutions.
- The scheme is for students in degree courses, primarily non-technical, to introduce employable skills into their learning, promote apprenticeship as integral to education.
- SHREYAS portal will enable educational institutions and industry to log in and provide their respective demand and supply of apprenticeship. The matching of students with apprenticeship avenues will take place as per pre-specified eligibility criteria.
- These courses will be available to them from Academic year April-May, 2019. More than 40 higher educational institutions have already been tied up for taking up embedded apprenticeship courses.
- The scheme would be operationalized by coordination of Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Labour.
Conclusion:
Education with skills is the need of the hour and the SHREYAS will be a major effort in this direction to make degree students more skilled, capable, employable and aligned to the needs of our economy so that they contribute to country’s progress and also obtain gainful employment.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The PM Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) that was announced in the Interim Budget-2019 was formally inaugurated by PM Modi recently. The scheme seeks to benefit around 42 crore workers from the unorganized sector of the country.
Key demand of the question:
The question here is straightforward, one has to evaluate the salient features of PM Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM).
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief write up on unorganized sector workers and the facilities they have in terms of policies and programmes.
Body:
- Discussion should include the following aspects –
- PM-SYM is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and Community Service Centers (CSCs). LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
- This scheme seeks to benefit around 42 crore workers from the unorganized sector of the country.
- Then move on to discuss the Salient Features of the scheme – Minimum Assured Pension, role of the central government etc.
- Once the beneficiary joins the scheme at the entry age of 18-40 years, the beneficiary has to contribute till 60 years of age.
- On attaining the age of 60 years, the subscriber will get the assured monthly pension of Rs.3000/- with benefit of family pension, as the case may be.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such schemes in the upliftment of the unorganized working class.
Introduction:
The central govt. of India introduced the new pension scheme i.e. Pradhan Mantra Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) for Labour/ Worker in Unorganised Sector. It was launched to provide assured monthly pension of 3000 rupees per month, with a contribution of 100 rupees per month, for workers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age.
Body:
Salient features of PM-SYM:
- The scheme is for informal sector or unorganised sector workers.
- Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PM-SYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
- The scheme is eligible for persons aged between 18 and 40 and are earning Rs. 15000 are less per month
- Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
- The subscribers have to pay a monthly amount of Rs. 100 if the subscriber joins at age 29 and Rs. 55 if the subscriber joins the scheme at 18.
- The same amount will be matched by the government.
- The scheme is estimated to benefit 10 Crore workers from informal sector.
- The government has allocated an initial fund of Rs. 500 crore for the scheme.
- PM-SYM is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and Community Service Centers (CSCs). LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
Significance of the scheme:
- It is estimated that over 42 crore workers in India are working in the informal sector.
- 50 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from “sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector.”
- As per the India Labour Market Update of 2016, 82% of the Indian workforce is in unorganised sector.
- The workers of the sector include street vendors, rag pickers, porters, beedi workers, rickshaw pullers, agricultural labourers etc.
- The nature of their job and the income they receive are not stable. Often due to non availability of any laws to protect their interest, they are subjected to violation by the employers.
- This uncertain earnings puts pressure on them financially and need some kind of monetary protection to lead a life with means after their productive years.
- About 91 per cent of the informal sector, which was dependent on cash for survival, was harmed due to demonetisation.
- It is why social security schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) becomes necessary where the government is contributing in the premium amount.
- The new pension scheme will run alongside the existing Atal Pension Yojana, which guarantees returns post-retirement
Way forward:
- Along with the social security, Government should ramp up skilling of the workforce, take steps to generate more jobs in the formal sector, change labour laws to include informal workers.
- It will in effect provide wage protection, job security, social security to the workers and ultimately alleviate the hardships they face.
- Eventually it will boost the overall economic growth of the country.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Why this question:
The article captures the debate of pros and cons that Internet of things bring to us. It analyses the issue of data privacy and surveillance of the IoT. One has to weigh the pros and cons for the same.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must argue in detail for and against the Internet of things, one has to analyse the positives and negatives of the IoT.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain the concept of Internet of Things and how Internet of things has been a buzzword in today’s fast-paced world. Internet of things is a core technology in today’s era.
Body:
Body of the answer should discuss the following aspects:
- Start by explaining what are the benefit of Internet of things?
- Discuss the three of the main concerns that accompany the Internet of Things are the breach of privacy, over-reliance on technology, and the loss of jobs.
- Aspect of Privacy and security – In today’s tech-driven world, each and every device that an individual uses is connected via the internet. This increases the risk of any leakage of data that might be important. This is a major drawback of sharing information, as confidential information might not be safe & could be hacked by third parties easily.
- Present points on how it proves to provide an unpermitted data surveillance breaching boundaries of privacy.
- Conclude as to what can be the way ahead.
Conclusion:
Conclude with measures to prevent such data breach and what can be the way forward with it.
Introduction:
Internet of things is an integrated system in which devices are connected in a network of information in such a way that they can communicate with each other without any human intervention. It creates an intelligent system of systems which can manage multiple activities of human concern like traffic control, health management, optimal use of electricity and inventory management etc.
Body:
Benefits offered by IoT technologies:
- Unprecedented connectivity: IoT data and insights from connected applications and devices empower organizations with the ability to deliver innovative new products and services faster than their competitors.
- Increased efficiency: IoT networks of smart and intelligent devices provide real-time data to arm employees with the information they need to optimize their day-to-day efficiency and productivity.
- Cost savings: IoT devices provide accurate data collection and automated workflows to help organizations reduce their operating costs and minimize errors.
- Time savings: Connected smart devices can help organizations enhance the performance of systems and processes to save time.
However, the challenges posed by IoT are critical:
- More than 7 billion devices will need to be made secure by their manufacturers before 2020.
- The need to secure every connected device by 2020 is “critical”.
- IoT botnets, created using a network of out-of-date devices took large websites and services offline in 2016.
- Everything that’s connected to the internet can be hacked, IoT products are no exception to this unwritten rule. (Remember the car hacking scene in the ‘Fate of the Furious’ movie).
- If every product becomes connected then there’s the potential for unbridled observation of users. This will create a lot of privacy issues.
- In today’s tech-driven world, each and every device that an individual uses is connected via the internet. This increases the risk of any leakage of data that might be important. This is a major drawback of sharing information, as confidential information might not be safe & could be hacked by third parties easily.
- IoT devices collect and share personal data in real-time, thus raising concerns on protecting personal information and privacy.
- There is growing concern about the potential for increased government surveillance and a resulting encroachment of civil rights to suppress dissent or marginalise communities.
- Additionally, the annual cost of cybercrime is over $1 trillion.
- Since the IOT is capable of processing the tremendous amount of real-time data, it is possible for hackers and miscreants from accessing and manipulating those data.
- Also, several regulations across the world indicate that IoT companies need to collect user consent prior to collecting the said data.
- However, there is a debate around how best to communicate and receive consent for personal data collected.
- In the future, intelligence services might use the internet of things for identification, surveillance, monitoring, location tracking, and targeting for recruitment, or to gain access to networks or user credentials.
Conclusion:
- Policy-makers, regulators, device manufacturers, supporting industries and service providers will all have to join hands in creating a safer space online.
- We need to upgrade our laws to appropriately account for the impact that IoT will have on our lives.
- The Justice Srikrishna Committee had recommended some provisions for personal data protection including a consumer’s right to information, consent, and right to request companies to erase their data if preferred.
- However, it leaned heavily towards greater regulations and did not specify how to protect consumer data from unnecessary government surveillance.
- Despite these challenges, India must drive full speed ahead towards IoT technology for the greater good of our citizens.
- With effective global alliances and Indian stakeholder alignment, we can work to create more secure devices and help our citizens.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Why this question:
The executive secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), has invited India to be an observer in the CTBT. Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System (IMS). Thus, it is necessary for us to evaluate the same with examination point of view.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must briefly discuss the objective of International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the effect it has on India; one has to analyse India being an observer member what can be the possible repercussions.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
In a few introductory lines explain what is International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
Body
The body of the answer has to capture the following aspects:
- Highlight the background – explain the invite India received to become an observatory member.
- Discuss the objective – The International Monitoring System (IMS) is a worldwide network of monitoring stations that will help to verify compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by detecting events that might indicate violations of the Treaty.
- The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, in all environments. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, but has not entered into force.
- India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed it, but Pakistan is an observer.
- Explain the relevance of it to India – Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System. Also explain India’s stand on the same.
Conclusion
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
The International Monitoring System (IMS) is a worldwide network of monitoring stations that will help to verify compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by detecting events that might indicate violations of the Treaty. The executive secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), has invited India to be an observer in the CTBT. Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System (IMS).
Body:
The IMS uses four technologies to support the CTBT –
- Seismological: There will be 50 primary and 120 auxiliary seismic stations to monitor shockwaves in the earth that could be caused by a nuclear test.
- Radionuclide: Eighty stations worldwide will measure the atmosphere for radioactive particles. Radionuclide evidence can confirm that a nuclear explosion has occurred, if there is a leak.
- Hydroacoustic: There will be 11 hydroacoustic stations listening for sound waves traveling through the oceans that could be caused by a nuclear test explosion.
- Infrasound: When complete, 60 stations on the earth’s surface will be able to detect ultra-low frequency sound waves caused by large explosions; these sound waves are inaudible to the human ear.
Significance for India of International Monitoring System (IMS) of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization:
- India is a non-signatory state to the Treaty; the observer status will let India know what is going on, from the ringside.
- With the status, it can also participate in science and technology meetings.
- Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System — a network which when complete will consist of 337 facilities (321 monitoring stations and 16 radionuclide labs) located in 89 countries.
- This system can detect even small nuclear explosions using seismology, hydroacoustics, infrasound and radionuclide technology.
- It only gives the advantage of following what’s happening, learning what China is doing in the organization, and where the US comes in.
- The strong relationship between the scientific and technological community and the CTBTO helps ensure that the IMS remains at the forefront of technological innovation and that no nuclear explosion goes undetected.
India’s stand on CTBT:
- India perceives its nuclear weapons and missile programs as crucial components of its strategic doctrine.
- It rejects the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) on the grounds that it perpetuates an unjust distinction between the five states that are permitted by the treaty to possess nuclear weapons while requiring all other states parties to the treaty to remain non-nuclear weapon states.
- While endorsing the spirit of test-ban and the self-imposed moratorium on tests, India has said it would join the treaty only if there was no discrimination in favour of the five ‘nuclear weapon states’ in fulfilling the obligations for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
Conclusion:
India’s past with the treaty to ban all nuclear tests in all places for all time is well known. Since the treaty was opened for signature in 1996, a lot has changed for India and the same is true for the treaty itself. India did not support the treaty in 1996 and still does not, but it had been very supportive during negotiations. India’s future with the treaty is still unwritten but now there are opportunities for it to be reengaged and renewed.
Topic : Industrial growth, Government Policies & Interventions
Why this question:
Very recently Several Indian pharmaceutical companies have been accused of collusion to raise generic drug prices in the US. After facing American scrutiny over quality issues, India’s pharmaceutical industry has again landed in the crosshairs of US regulatory action. Thus we have to analyse in detail issues surrou
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the problems facing the pharmaceutical industry in India and the approaches to ensure long term viability.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
write a few introductory lines highlighting the issue.
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects :
- The answer must examine the Pharmaceutical (Pharma) industry and the changes that have occurred particularly over the last few years as a result of the overall economic downturn, the rising cost of healthcare and the costs associated with the development and sales of pharmaceuticals.
- Explain how the response of big Pharma to this has been the recent spate of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, consolidation, diversification, licensing agreements and downsizing in both human and capital resources.
- Discuss the Culture of ‘bending rules’ in India and in what wat it challenges U.S. drug agency.
- Suggest suitable measures to overcome the issues facing the industry.
Conclusion –
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally with the Indian generics accounting for 20% of global exports in terms of volume. In developing countries, India is rendering yeoman service by providing access to lifesaving medicines at affordable prices. Recently, several Indian pharmaceutical companies are accused of collusion to raise generic drug prices in the US. If guilty, punish them. But the fairness of the trial will be under watch
Body:
Issue background:
- Forty-four US states have together sued 20 drugmakers, seven of them Indian, for the alleged fixing of generic drug prices at levels higher than what the market would set.
- Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world’s largest producer of generic formulations, allegedly underpins a shadowy cartel designed to exert monopolistic power in the US.
- Fifteen individuals have also been named in the lawsuit filed in a court in Connecticut.
- The complaint alleges that senior executives of the offending companies often met at trade events, conferences, dinners and even golf outings, and kept in touch via phone and email to raise prices and carve up the market among themselves.
- According to the charges, collusion peaked between July 2013 and January 2015, a period when prices of more than 100 generics went up sharply, some by over 1,000%. These allegations are serious and, if proven, could deal a severe blow to Indian drug exporters that count the US as a major market for off-patent drugs.
Issues facing the Pharma industry:
- Because of fewer costs associated with generic medicines, multiple applications for generic drugs are often approved to market a single product; this creates competition in the marketplace globally, typically resulting in lower prices. Pharma sector in India is also facing steep headwinds on account of this.
- There is a lack of proper assessment of the performance of the pharmaceutical industry and its efficiency and productivity and due to this many plants have not survived.
- Unregulated online pharmacies or e-pharmacies emerging in India have been a major concern for authorized setups.
- There has been a significant drop in the flow of prescriptions as the Indian pharmaceutical industry has been witnessing a decline in the overall quality of its medical representatives (MRs).This is mainly on account of lack of training and support by the industry.
- In countries such as Russia, one requires to be a medical graduate to be a pharma sales representative. In the European Union, one needs to pass stringent examinations to become an MR. Once they qualify, they need to renew their certification every three years. But in India, even non-graduates are performing as MRs without proper guidance.
IPR related issues posed a serious threat to our industry, some of them are:
- Granting Compulsory Licences (LCs), although allowed by TRIPS agreement of WTO, western countries are blaming India for disrespecting patents transgressing India’s judicial use.
- Emergence of new agreements like TPP, TTIP, RCEP seriously affect our industry without rational dealing on public health.
- Emergence of Voluntary Licence (VL) in agreements place restrictions on reaching the global markets.
Measures needed:
- India’s strong innovation capabilities aided partnerships would help in overcoming these problems.
- The introduction of pharmaceutical product patents and the mandatory implementation of good manufacturing practices is the need of the hour.
- It is necessary for the Indian pharmaceutical industry to become globally competitive through world-class manufacturing capabilities, with improved quality and a higher efficiency of production, and there is a need to stress on the up-gradation of R&D capabilities.
- Training and development of human resources for the pharmaceutical industry and drug research and development should be done accordingly;
- There is also a need to promote public-private partnership for the development of the pharmaceuticals industry; promote environmentally sustainable development of the pharmaceutical industry; and enable the availability, accessibility, and affordability of drugs.
- Improvement in industrial practices to provide better training and support services for employees to perform their job functions.
Conclusion:
The affordability of healthcare is an issue of concern even in India, and people here would welcome some clarity on the principles of fair pricing vis-à-vis medical products. It is important that the accused companies are given a good hearing. The Government of India has taken up a number of initiatives to create an ecosystem that fosters manufacturing in pharma industries.
Topic : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Why this question:
For the first time, the entire genome of Asiatic lion has been sequenced by scientists from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
The objective was to understand the species at DNA level and study if there were any specific problems with regard to adaptability to environment or behaviour vis-à-vis other big cats.
Key demand of the question:
Analyse in detail the project and Significance of the project and how it can prove to be a significant turning points in the conservation efforts of such endangered animals.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines highlight some facts depicting the status of Asiatic Lion in India.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- Start by discussing the details of the project – What is genome sequencing? About Asiatic lion and CCMB.
- Highlight the significance of such a project – How it would help researchers to better understand the evolution of Asiatic lions and also make possible comparative analysis with other big cats.
- It would enable scientists to develop specific markers to study population genetics (the differences at the gene level within a population) and get newer insights into its population status and subsequent management.
- It will enable better disease and population management of the endangered big cat by identifying characteristics which are specific to Asiatic lions etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of such projects in the conservation efforts.
Introduction:
A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of science focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. Genomics also involves the sequencing and analysis of genomes through uses of high throughput DNA sequencing. For the first time, the entire genome of Asiatic lion has been sequenced by scientists from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
Body:
The objective is to understand the species at DNA level and study if there are any specific problems with regard to adaptability to environment or behaviour vis-à-vis other big cats.
Importance of Genome Sequencing:
- Sequencing the genome is an important step towards understanding it.
- The genome sequence will represent a valuable shortcut, helping scientists find genes much more easily and quickly. A genome sequence does contain some clues about where genes are, even though scientists are just learning to interpret these clues.
- Scientists also hope that being able to study the entire genome sequence will help them understand how the genome as a whole works—how genes work together to direct the growth, development and maintenance of an entire organism.
- Finally, genes account for less than 25 percent of the DNA in the genome, and so knowing the entire genome sequence will help scientists study the parts of the genome outside the genes.
- This includes the regulatory regions that control how genes are turned on and off, as well as long stretches of “nonsense” or “junk” DNA—so called because significance of it hasn’t been established.
Need and significance:
- This firsthand information would help researchers to better understand the evolution of Asiatic lions and also make possible comparative analysis with other big cats.
- The population of the endangered Asiatic lion is very low — only 523 animals are present in the Gir forests.
- The genome sequencing would enable scientists to develop specific markers to study population genetics (the differences at the gene level within a population) and get newer insights into its population status and subsequent management.
- The study will enable better disease and population management of the endangered big cat by identifying characteristics which are specific to Asiatic lions. E.g.: 21 lions reportedly died between September and October in Gir forest of Gujarat due to Canine distemper virus , Such incidents can be avoided.
- Comparative genomics between African and Asiatic lions could be undertaken once the complete genome of the African lion is sequenced.
- Comparative analysis with other felids and mammalian genomes unravelled the evolutionary history of the Asiatic lion and its position among other felids.
- The study noted that the evaluation of genetic diversity placed the Asiatic lion in the lowest bracket of genomic diversity index highlighting the gravity of its conservation status.
Conclusion:
With the complete genome of royal Bengal tiger, African Cheetah and Jaguar available, comparative studies of all these big cats would be possible. Such researches will help in adopting a multi-pronged approach towards conservation efforts.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail how women can play a role centric to managing disasters. Recently a project named ‘swayamsiddha’ in Odisha’s Ganjam district was initiated wherein women will be trained in evacuation, rescue, restoration and rehabilitation during natural calamities, especially cyclones.
Key demand of the question:
Discussion should be about vital role that women can play in managing disasters.
Directive word:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines highlight how Multi-stakeholder engagement is a fundamental element to managing disasters.
Body:
Many international strategies and frameworks have identified women as one of the key stakeholders in any disaster management efforts due to many reasons. Women play a significant role in disaster response and recovery stages specifically at household level. However, their roles in organizational decision making, particularly in disaster risk governance, is limited due to uncovered reasons. This has created equity and equality issues among one of the most affected communities from hazards.
The answer must attempt to explore and emphasize the role of women in disaster risk governance, risk governance efforts and overall disaster management and to uncover the barriers that limit their role in disaster risk governance.
Use examples from the article – Kerala floods, Odisha cyclone etc. to justify your answer.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
Introduction:
India is one of the most vulnerable countries to natural disasters. The country has faced a number of natural disasters in the last decade which have claimed hundreds thousands of precious lives and heavy economic losses. It has been observed that more than half of the victims in the past disasters were women. Women are seen in their traditional role of home-makers, but their ability to take on managerial roles in disaster risk management cannot be underestimated.
Body:
Factors determining the role of women in Disaster management:
- Patriarchal culture: Many researchers have identified patriarchal culture as a major barrier that prevent or limit the role of women as decision makers or leaders. Some societies accept that wives and daughters as subordinate to husbands and
- Religious believes: Religious believes influence the role of women in public engagement and decision For example, Protestantism promotes and accepts women as religious leaders compared with Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity which limit their involvement
- Structure of the family: Studies found that size of the family and its composition similarly affect the decision making power of women in households specifically in developing countries
- Household work load: Traditional societies expect the role of women to engage only in family work related to child baring, caring and kitchen works
- Level of education: Level of education is an individual characteristic. According to Hora, lack of adequate level of education among women in Ethiopia was one of the major factor that prevent women participating in leadership and decision making role
- Policies and legislations: There was a target of 30% women representation in leadership positions endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1990 and reaffirmed in the Beijing Platform for Action in However, the reality is far more behind from its expected level.
- Household income: Poor socio-economic status affects lower level of engagement of women in decision making at house hold level
- Political environment: Women in political positions are important not because of its strategic importance, but for the benefits and its impact
Role played by women in disaster management:
- Although women’s social, economic and political position in society makes them more vulnerable to natural hazards, they are not helpless victims.
- Women are important agents for change and need to be further strengthened as such.
- Recognizing and mobilizing their skills and capacities as social force and channelling it to enhance efforts to protect their safety and that of their communities and dependants is a major task in any disaster reduction strategy.
- Indian women are the backbone of the rural subsistence economy. Their respective role in family which is of productive nature to a large extent makes the family and society sustainable but it is not acknowledged by and large.
- Women’s work in agriculture is often seen as an extension of their domestic responsibilities, rather than a separate economic activity. In rural areas which are more vulnerable to natural hazards since rural population depend more on the natural resource base for all aspects of life. Securing food, water and fuel are key community concerns, which are predominantly taken care of by women.
- There are many examples of women’s informal community involvement in disaster reduction, but women are still largely excluded from formal planning and decision-making and need to be empowered to do so
- This is essential to ensure effective disaster reduction policies. If some decision-making is shifted Emergency relief and aid processes particularly disadvantage women who must organize food provision, shelter, and child and family care according to chaotic aid-delivery systems and entitlement procedures that rarely take their work or opinions into account.
- Although women commonly organize themselves to distribute supplies, establish shelter, and pool labour and resources to create community support services to meet basic family needs in the emergency period, their efforts are often invisible or go unacknowledged.
Challenges faced:
- Indian women face a number of hurdles in applying and qualifying for aid after a disaster this primarily because of illiteracy or limited literacy, limited access to information on how to apply and navigate the bureaucracy in addition to the eligibility requirements.
- In majority of instances it has been found that relief and rehabilitation schemes favour men over women, where priority has been given to property owners, tenants of record, bank-account holders, and perceived heads of
- Women’s economic condition becomes critical because in large number of cases employment assistance concentrates on workers in the formal economy and business aid is awarded to formal enterprises.
- Post disaster aid and investments generally undermine women’s collective capacity to surmount day-to-day problems adversely affecting the economic base of women.
- There is no consideration for women’s productive and reproductive activities as far as conventional disaster response in India is concerned, It is not at all reflect how important housing and informally held resources and assets are to women’s
- They have to face loss of workspace, tools, equipment, inventory, supplies and markets or even domestic violence
Way forward:
- To identify the barriers that prevent their role in decision making, governance and any Disaster management efforts.
- Based on the literature review, following barriers are identified socio-cultural factors, socio-economic factors, individual characteristics and legal and institutional factors.
- Gender issues must be urgently and effectively integrated into disaster research, planning, and organizational practice.
Conclusion:
It has been noticed that women’s groups that participate in emergency relief, resettlement, and reconstruction efforts following a natural disaster acquire significant knowledge and expertise that can greatly benefit communities that subsequently experience similar crises. When mechanisms are established for promoting the transfer of this knowledge from community to community, poor women are enabled to come out of their homes and form groups to assess their situation, organize, and participate in the range of decisions and programs. When disasters strike, the opportunities to decrease women’s marginalization arise early on, when norms of social control and male-dominated family structures are temporarily disrupted and weakened by the chaos that ensues. If affected women can meet and benefit from the experiences of other women who have managed to deal successfully with disaster- related issues, much valuable time can be saved and mistakes avoided.
Case Study:
In Maharashtra and Gujarat states of India a number of non governmental organizations involved who encouraged local women to participate in relief and recovery operations after earthquake occurrence.
They made various groups to build the skills and capacities required to train the members for post disaster recovery to long-term development.
The remarkable work by an Ngo called Swayam Shikshan Prayog (translated as “learning from one’s own and others’ experiences”) which had more than 15 years experience of working for women and poor communities in rural India proved the capability of women in handling disasters.
In 1993 Latur Maharashtra earthquake, they contributed in repairing and strengthening of damaged houses. In 2001 Bhuj, Gujarat earthquake the grassroots women’s groups from Maharashtra travelled to this neighbouring state to share experiences and pledge long-term assistance.
