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Women's Participation in MNREGS Continues to Rise

GS Paper 2: Gender, Issues related to Women, Government Policy and Intervention.

Context:
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the female Labour Force Participation Rate has increased in the country in recent years.

    • Women's participation in the MGNREGS was the highest in 10 financial years, with the proportion of women person-days in the total touching 59.25% during the current financial year 2023-24.

Highlights:
      • The rates of participation of women in the MGNREGS, defined as women person-days out of the total in percentage, stood at 57.47% in 2022-23 and 54.82% in 2021-22.
      • It was 53.19% during 2020-21 at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak and 54.78% in 2019-20 during the pre-Covid period.
      • The broad trends indicate a steady rise in women's participation in the rural job guarantee scheme.
      • While the southern states like Kerala (89%), Tamil Nadu (86%), Puducherry (87.16%) and Goa (72%) have recorded women participation rate of over 70%.
      • It has been hovering around 40% or below in northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh over the years.
      • In 2023-24, 5 states/UTs with the lowest women participation rate under NREGS are UTs of Jammu and Kashmir (30.47%) and
      • Lakshadweep (38.24%), Uttar Pradesh (42.39%), Madhya Pradesh (42.50%) and Maharashtra (43.76%).
      • However, an uptick has been reported in 3 of them during the current financial year: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Lakshadweep.
Reasons for the Rise:-
    • COVID-19 Pandemic Impact: Economic challenges during the pandemic led to increased job losses, prompting more women to seek employment opportunities, and MGNREGS provided a reliable option.
    • Enhanced Awareness: Greater awareness campaigns and outreach programs improved understanding and accessibility of the scheme, encouraging more women to participate.
    • Policy Focus: Specific policy interventions or directives aimed at enhancing women's participation and empowerment within the scheme might have been implemented.
    • Local and State-Level Initiatives: Some states and local governing bodies might have introduced special measures or incentives to encourage women's engagement in MGNREGS, thus boosting participation rates.
    • Shift in Perception: Changing societal norms and perceptions regarding women's roles in the workforce might have positively impacted their willingness to join such employment schemes.
    • Skill Development: Efforts focusing on skill development and training for women to engage in various types of work under MGNREGS might have attracted more participants.
    • Economic Empowerment: Recognizing the scheme's potential for economic empowerment, women might have actively sought opportunities within MGNREGS to contribute to household incomes.

About MGNREGA:
The MGNREGA was introduced as a social measure that guarantees “the right to work”.
The key tenet of this social measure and labour law is that the local government will have to legally provide at least 100 days of wage employment in rural India to enhance their quality of life.

Key objectives:
Generation of paid rural employment of not less than 100 days for each worker who volunteers for unskilled labour.
Creation of durable assets in rural areas such as wells, ponds, roads and canals.
Create rural infrastructure by using untapped rural labour.
Proactively ensuring social inclusion by strengthening the livelihood base of rural poor.
Reduce urban migration from rural areas.

Eligibility criteria:
A person must be a Citizen of India to seek NREGA benefits.
He/she has completed 18 years of age at the time of application.
He/she must be part of a local household (i.e. application must be made with a local Gram Panchayat).
The Person/applicant must volunteer for unskilled labour.

Challenges:-
  • Fund Misappropriation: Social Audit Units under Rural Development Departments nationwide discovered Rs 935 crore misused in various MGNREGA schemes over four years. A mere 1.34% (Rs 12.5 crore) has been recovered, highlighting significant financial mismanagement.
  • Payment Delays: The Union Ministry of Rural Development considers wages paid once the Fund Transfer Order (FTO) is signed by the second signatory. However, delays occur in processing signed FTOs, and the Management Information System (MIS) doesn't factor compensation for these delays.
  • Banking Challenges: Rural banks, severely understaffed, often face excessive overcrowding. This leads to multiple visits for wage withdrawals by workers. Such difficulties result in delays and added costs for workers, impacting their timely access to wages when needed most.

Related Search:
Minimum Wages Act, 1948
Panchayati Raj Institutions

Prelims Specific:
Findings of Periodic Labour Force Survey
Reasons for the Women's Participation in MNREGS Rise
About MGNREGA
Key objectives
Eligibility criteria
Challenges

Dengue has increased globally

GS Paper 2: Health-related issues

Context:
There has been a ten-fold increase in dengue cases between the years 2000 and 2019, according to an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Major Highlights:-
There is a sharp increase in cases globally after the lull between the pandemic years 2020-2022.
The Americas were the worst affected.
In the Southeast Asia region, 10 out of 11 member states are known to be endemic for dengue virus.
The African region was affected by many arboviral diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, O'nyong nyong, Rift Valley fever and zika.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Oman have reported the highest number of confirmed cases thus far in 2023.  

Reasons for Increase:-

  • Vector Distribution Changes: The rise in vector-borne diseases could be attributed to shifts in the distribution of carriers, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, expanding their habitats into new areas.
  • Climate Influence: Factors like increased temperatures and alterations in rainfall patterns, often linked to El Niño climate patterns, can favour breeding conditions for disease-carrying vectors, amplifying disease transmission.
  • Health System Vulnerabilities: Fragile health systems post-pandemic may struggle to effectively manage and respond to outbreaks, creating an environment conducive to the spread of vector-borne diseases.
  • Political and Financial Instabilities: Countries facing political or financial instabilities may encounter challenges in implementing effective disease control measures, potentially exacerbating disease transmission rates.
  • High Population Movements: Significant population movements, whether due to migration, travel, or displacement, can contribute to the spread of diseases carried by vectors, increasing the risk of outbreaks in new regions.

About Dengue:
Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is a severe flu-like illness that affects all age groups.

Symptoms:
Apart from the commonly-known symptoms such as high fever, cold and cough, here are some other symptoms accompanying the viral infection.
It can cause serious complications like hemorrhagic fever, bleeding from the nose and gums, liver enlargement and even circulatory system failure.
Pain in muscles and joints
Rashes in the body
Severe headache
Discomfort behind the eyes
Vomiting and feeling nauseous

Types of Dengue:
It occurs in two forms: Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever(DHF).
Dengue Fever is a severe, flu-like illness.
Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a more severe form of disease, which may cause death

Causes:
With the absence of any credible vaccine against the disease yet, prevention from mosquitoes remains the most important course.
Unlike other mosquitoes, the dengue virus carrier is mostly a day-biter and is believed to be most active during dawn and dusk time.
Children older than six years of age are most likely to be infected by this mosquito-borne pathogen.

Treatment and prevention:
Timely medical attention and supervision are known to prevent the risk of complications arising from the disease.
Keeping fever under control and consuming a lot of fluids to rehydrate the body’s lost hydration.
The only way to control or prevent the transmission of dengue is to “stop the breeding of mosquitoes as much as possible through a series of measures”.


Related Search:
Vector Control Research Centre
About Vector-borne diseases
El Niño

Prelims Specific:
Major Highlights of the report
Reasons for Increase
About Dengue
Types of Dengue
Its Causes
Treatment and prevention

PM-JANMAN 

GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.

Context:
PM-JANMAN package for the PVTGs, the Union government has set a target of one week to achieve Aadhaar, caste certificate, and Jan Dhan account saturation across 15,000 PVTG habitations in 100 districts.

Need:
Several PVTG families in these areas do not have any basic form of documentation.
The campaign also intends to produce awareness material like pamphlets, videos, wall paintings, jingles, thematic wall paintings, and cultural programs, in local and tribal languages.

About PM JANMAN:-
The PM JANMAN initiative is a government program designed to integrate tribal communities into the mainstream.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and collaborating with State governments and PVTG communities, this scheme encompasses both Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Inclusion:-
Focusing on 11 pivotal interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries, it ensures the effective implementation of existing schemes within villages inhabited by PVTGs.
Included in the plan are the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for forest produce trading, off-grid solar power systems for 100,000 households, and the installation of solar street lights.
Anticipated outcomes involve a significant improvement in the quality of life and well-being of PVTGs, addressing various forms of discrimination and exclusion while acknowledging and valuing their unique and substantial contributions to both national and global development.

Targeted Sectors:-
The initiative spans multiple sectors, aiming to provide safe housing through the PM-AWAS Scheme, access to clean water, enhanced healthcare, education, nutrition, improved road and telecommunications connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Challenges in Implementation:-

    • Outdated Census Data: The last available census data for PVTGs dates back to 2001, tallying around 27.6 lakh individuals within these communities.
    • Ongoing Baseline Surveys: Efforts by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to conduct baseline surveys aim to update population figures, but a comprehensive and current dataset is yet to be compiled.
    • Incomplete Population Reporting: The population data submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2022, based on the 2011 Census, excluded PVTG populations in Maharashtra, Manipur, and Rajasthan, creating gaps in accurate representation.
    • Obstructed Needs Assessment: The absence of current data obstructs accurate assessment of the needs and progress of PVTG communities, hindering targeted support.
    • Missing Specific Census: The absence of a dedicated Census for PVTG communities, as recommended in 2013, poses challenges in gathering comprehensive information regarding their education, health, and housing.
    • Diverse Regional Needs: PVTGs exhibit diverse needs across regions and states, necessitating customized and flexible interventions tailored to their capacities.
    • Social Stigma and Discrimination: PVTGs face societal stigmatization, demanding sensitization efforts among stakeholders and the public to foster inclusivity.
    • Effective Scheme Coordination: Coordinating the scheme with existing central and state programs requires efficient resource utilization and service delivery for effective implementation.

About PVTG-:
According to the ministry of tribal affairs, tribal communities who are technologically backward, who have stagnant or declining population growth, extremely low level of literacy, and a subsistence level of economy are declared as PVTG.
PVTGs have low health indices and largely reside in isolated, remote, and difficult areas in small and scattered hamlets/habitats.
The ministry has identified 75 PVGTs in 18 states and one Union Territory.
In 2019, the MoTA started a scheme for their protection and improvement in terms of social indicators like livelihood, health, nutrition and education to decrease their vulnerability.

States recognized habitat rights-:
Out of 75 PVTGs in India, only three have habitat rights.
The Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first, followed by the Kamar tribe and now the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.


Related Search:
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.
PM PVTG Mission.

Prelims Specific:
About PM JANMAN
Ministries included
Targeted Sectors
Challenges in Implementation
About PVTG

INS Imphal

Context:
INS Imphal (Pennant D68), is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy.

    • It is the third of four warships of Project 15B that together form the Visakhapatnam class stealth-guided missile destroyers.

Characteristics:-
  • Physical Specifications:
      • Visakhapatnam class: 163m long, 17.4m wide, displacing 7,400 tonnes.
      • INS Vikrant (comparison): 262m long, 62m wide, 43,000 tonnes loaded.
  • Propulsion and Speed:
      • Utilizes a 'combined gas and gas' (COGAG) configuration with four gas turbines.
      • Reaches max speed of 30 knots, covers 4000 nautical miles range.
  • Survivability Features:
      • Multiple fire zones, advanced battle damage control systems, and enhanced power distribution for extreme operational scenarios.
      • Total atmospheric control system (TACS) for protection against chemical, biological, and nuclear threats.
  • Combat Capabilities:
      • Features a cutting-edge combat management system for threat evaluation and resource allocation.
      • A secure network integrates sensor and weapon system data.
  • Armament:
      • Arsenal includes BrahMos surface-to-surface cruise missiles and Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles for long-range targeting.
      • Equipped with a 127mm main gun, four AK-630 30mm guns, 533mm torpedo launchers, and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
      • Can operate two multi-role helicopters like Sea King or HAL Dhruv with rail-less helicopter traversing and hangar facility.


Strategic Significance:-
These vessels, due to their speed and attack capabilities, play crucial roles in naval offensives.
The Visakhapatnam class, an advancement from the Kolkata class, incorporates Navy insights and features like cutting-edge stealth, minimal radar visibility, and a substantial indigenous component for strategic advantage.
Arguably one of India's most advanced ships, the Visakhapatnam class operates independently for offensive missions.
Outfitted with advanced sensors and communication systems, it's a linchpin in network-centric warfare, employing technology to synchronize forces effectively during conflicts.

What is Project 15B?
    • Between 2014 and 2016, the Indian Navy introduced three Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers—INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai—under 'Project 15A.'
    • This series marked a leap forward from the preceding Delhi class, comprising INS Delhi, INS Mysore, and INS Mumbai, built between 1997 and 2001 under 'Project 15.'
    • For the more advanced versions of the Kolkata class, a contract under 'Project 15B' was inked in January 2011.
    • The lead ship, INS Visakhapatnam (Pennant No D66), joined the Indian Navy in November 2021, followed by the second vessel, INS Mormugao (D67), in December 2022.
    • The yet-to-be-commissioned fourth ship, D69 (to be named INS Surat), was launched in May of the previous year.
    • Crafted by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by MDSL in Mumbai, the four ships of Project 15B are named after major cities—Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat—spanning all corners of the country.
    • The class is identified by its lead ship, INS Visakhapatnam.

Related Search:
INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai

Prelims Specific:
About INS Imphal
Its Characteristics
Strategic Significance
What is Project 15B?

MV Chem Pluto Incident

Context:
Chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto was hit by a drone strike on Saturday (December 23), roughly 200 nautical miles (370 km) off the coast of Gujarat.

    • Affiliated with Israel due to its owner, potentially targeted by Iran, as claimed by the Pentagon.

Reason:-
A likely reason that the tanker was targeted is its Israeli affiliation.
Its operator, Amsterdam-based Ace Quantum Chemical Tankers, is jointly owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, the eighth richest man in the world.
Notably, Ofer recently resigned from the board of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Management citing the board’s weak response to anti-Israeli protests on the campus.
This would be one of many attacks on Israel-linked vessels in recent weeks (more on that later).

Houthi Involvement:-
Houthi rebels, engaged in Yemen's civil war, have targeted Israeli-affiliated vessels in response to Israel's Gaza actions.
Houthis are supported by Iran, escalating tensions in the region.

Regional Dynamics:-
Yemen's civil war is seen as a proxy conflict between Iran (backing Houthis) and Saudi Arabia/West (supporting the Yemeni government).

Global Impact:-
Attacks in the Red Sea area disrupt vital trade routes, affecting around 12% of global trade passing through the Red Sea.
Companies like AP Møller-Maersk and BP altered shipping routes, anticipating impacts on the global economy.
Ships in the area face increased war risk surcharges.

International Response:-
US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian involves several nations to protect merchant vessels in the region.
Countries like the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, and others are part of this initiative, conducting joint patrols to safeguard trade routes.

Rare earth processing technologies

Context:
China, the world's top processor of rare earths, banned the export of technology to extract and separate the strategic metals, as it overhauled a list of technologies deemed key to national security.

Details:
China also banned the export of production technology for rare earth metals and alloy materials as well as technology to prepare some rare earth magnets.
The move comes as Europe and the United States scramble to wean themselves off rare earths from China, which accounts for 90% of global refined output.
The prohibition extends beyond extraction and separation technologies, encompassing the export of production technology concerning rare earth metals, alloy materials, and particular rare earth magnets.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets for use in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other electronics.

About:
Rare earth elements are crucial components in various modern technologies, and their processing involves several methods. Here are some key rare earth processing technologies:

  • Mining and Extraction: Initial extraction occurs through traditional mining methods. Rare earth minerals are separated from ore through processes like crushing, grinding, and flotation to concentrate the ores.
  • Hydrometallurgy: Involves dissolving rare earth concentrates using acids or alkalis, followed by separation and purification through solvent extraction, ion exchange, or precipitation techniques.
  • Pyrometallurgy: Utilizes high-temperature processes like roasting, smelting, and refining to extract rare earth elements. This method is energy-intensive but effective for certain ores.
  • Ion Adsorption Clays (IACs): A specific extraction method for rare earths found in clay deposits. It involves washing the clay with acids or other solutions to release the rare earth ions, which are then further processed.
  • Novel Technologies: Ongoing research explores innovative methods like bioleaching (using microorganisms) and molecular recognition technology for more efficient and environmentally friendly extraction and separation of rare earth elements.
  • Recycling: Another critical aspect involves recovering rare earth elements from end-of-life products like electronics. Recycling technologies aim to extract these elements from discarded materials for reuse, reducing reliance on primary mining.

Self-pollination

Context:
In the first evidence of rapid evolution, scientists have discovered a flower growing in Paris, France is producing less nectar and smaller flowers to attract fewer pollinators and is self-pollinating.

About Self-pollination:
Self-pollination is the process by which plants reproduce themselves.
The behaviour is contrary to the convention of angiosperms, which rely on insects to pollinate to reproduce — an interconnected relationship in nature.
Plants produce nectar to attract insects, which collect nectar for food and transport pollen between plants in nature.
The interlinked give-and-take relationship has evolved over 100 million years of coevolution.
Self-pollination ensures reproductive success, especially in habitats where pollinators are scarce.
However, it also diminishes genetic variability within plant populations and poses a risk to the plant-pollinator interaction system.


Its Phenomenon:-
Anther and Stigma Proximity: Within self-pollinating plants, the anther (producer of pollen) resides close to the stigma (receiver of pollen) within a single flower.
Pollen Transfer: The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma occurs either through physical contact or via the plant's internal mechanisms.
Fertilization: After this transfer, the pollen tube extends down the style to reach the ovary, culminating in fertilization and the formation of seeds.
Genetic Similarity: As both pollen and ovule originate from the same plant, the resulting offspring inherit identical genetic traits from the parent, leading to restricted genetic diversity.

Railway officers to be trained in disaster management

Context:
The Ministry of Railways has made training in disaster management mandatory for railway officers.

    • The National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara, and the Indian Railway Institute of Disaster Management (IRIDM), Bengaluru, would work together in imparting the comprehensive training programme.

Reason and Need:-

    • Odisha Train Tragedy: The Odisha train tragedy underscored the necessity for swifter disaster response measures.
    • Delay in Response: Following the investigation into the June 2023 train collision in Balasore district, where approximately 290 passengers died and many were injured, shortcomings in disaster response time were highlighted.
    • Tamil Nadu Flood Incident: During recent floods in Tamil Nadu's southern districts, a breached railway track halted a Superfast Express at Srivaikuntam station. Initial aid arrived hours later via Indian Air Force helicopters dropping food packets.
    • Report Findings: The Commissioner of Railway Safety's report emphasized the need for enhanced disaster management within the Railway Board, particularly in Zonal Railways.
    • Response Approach: While Railway Accident Relief Trains are stationed at major junctions with resources for incident sites, the focus primarily remains on restoring rail traffic. The railways depend heavily on State and Central agencies for relief and rescue operations.

Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS):
The CRS is a statutory body led by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, mandated to oversee rail safety under the Railways Act, 1989.
Its primary duties include investigating significant train accidents and offering recommendations to the government.
Headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the CRS operates independently, not under the Ministry of Railways or the Railway Board.
Surprisingly, it falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
This placement aims to maintain the CRS's autonomy, shielding it from potential influence by the railway establishment, and minimizing conflicts of interest.