Environment

A torrid crisis

Source: The Hindu

Context

• Northern India is experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above normal, exacerbating power and water crises. The monsoon's sluggish progress adds to the region's challenges, straining infrastructure and resources.

Details

Key Points

• Northern India faces an unprecedented heatwave:
  • Northern India is experiencing one of the longest and most severe heatwaves in 15 years, affecting millions of people and various sectors.
• Temperatures consistently exceed normal levels:
  • Day temperatures exceed 45°C in some states, while night temperatures remain 3°-6°C above average, intensifying discomfort and health risks.
• Monsoon progress is stalled, with below-normal rainfall:
  • The monsoon, which began early, has halted since June 12, leading to an 8% shortfall in expected rainfall for June, worsening drought conditions.
• Power demand surged to a record 89 GW:
  • On June 17, power demand in northern India surged to an unprecedented 89,000 MW, highlighting the region's energy consumption spike during the heatwave.
• Infrastructure strain evident, including power blackouts and water shortages:
  • The heatwave has caused blackouts, like the half-hour outage at Delhi’s airport, and severe water shortages due to increased demand and limited supply.
• Immediate coordinated action needed from central and state governments:
  • Urgent, collaborative efforts by central and state governments are necessary to address the heatwave's impacts, focusing on power and water management.

Heatwave Impact

• Temperature Extremes:
  • Minimum day temperatures exceed 45°C in some states.
  • Night temperatures are 3°-6°C above normal.
  • Caused by lack of moisture and rain.
• Monsoon Delay:
  • Monsoon stalled in central India since June 12.
  • Initial forecast of normal rainfall revised to below normal.
  • Estimated 8% shortfall in expected June rainfall.
  • Uncertainty about monsoon's progress to northwestern and northern states.

Power Crisis

• Record Power Demand:
  • Northern India recorded a surge to 89 GW on June 17.
  • 25%-30% of power was imported from other regions and possibly Bhutan.
  • Installed power capacity in northern India is 113 GW.
  • Suggests inability to fully utilize existing capacity.
• Infrastructure Strain:
  • Instances of blackouts, such as a half-hour outage at Delhi’s international airport.
  • Increased cooling demands further strain the power grid.

Water Crisis

• Exacerbated Demand:
  • Heatwave has increased water demand.
  • Haryana, a major water supplier to Delhi, unable to increase supply due to its own constraints.
  • Water pilferage adds to the crisis.

Policy and Management

• Need for Holistic Approach:
  • Coordinated action required from central and state governments.
  • Recognition of prolonged summer and heatwave as a natural disaster.
  • Focus on immediate relief measures and long-term strategies to mitigate impacts.

Sources:

The Hindu

Society

Caste away

Source: The Hindu

Context

• The Justice K. Chandru Committee in Tamil Nadu recommends measures to curb caste pride displays among schoolchildren, aiming to reduce caste-based violence and promote social justice and equality in educational institutions.

Details

Background:

• Incident: The committee was formed after a violent attack on two SC siblings by dominant caste schoolmates in Nanguneri.
• Historical Context: Previous efforts to reduce caste influence included removing caste names from transport corporations, districts, and textbooks.

Key Points

• The Justice K. Chandru Committee addresses caste violence in schools:
  • The committee was formed to tackle the issue of caste-based violence and discrimination among schoolchildren in Tamil Nadu.
• Recommendations include banning caste identifiers like wristbands and rings:
  • It suggests prohibiting students from wearing wristbands, rings, or forehead marks that indicate their caste to reduce visible caste distinctions.
• Proposes the removal of caste references in school names and bicycles:
  • Schools should not have names or allow bicycles with symbols that reflect caste, helping to create a more inclusive environment.
• Suggests forming a Social Justice Monitoring Committee for curriculum oversight:
  • A committee of academicians and social activists should oversee school curricula to ensure they promote social justice and equality.
• Recommends revising B.Ed and Diploma syllabuses for inclusivity:
  • Teacher education programs should be updated to include training on inclusivity, ensuring future educators are prepared to foster an inclusive classroom.
• Opposes centralised kitchens for school meals due to practical issues:
  • Central kitchens may hide caste identity of cooks but can’t ensure fresh food; localized kitchens are better for practical reasons and nutrition.
• Warns against a uniformed Social Justice Students Force:
  • Instead of creating a new student force, existing groups like NCC, Scouts, and NSS should be utilized to promote social justice activities.
• Emphasizes the need for village-level transformation and political will:
  • Lasting change requires addressing caste issues at the community level and strong political commitment to overcome caste-based discrimination.

Recommendations

• Ban on Caste Identifiers:
  • Prohibits students from wearing coloured wristbands, rings, and forehead marks indicating caste.
  • Forbids bicycles with caste-related signs and school names bearing caste appellations.
  • Ensures confidentiality of students' caste identities.
• Curriculum and Educational Reforms:
  • Establish a Social Justice Monitoring Committee consisting of academicians and social activists.
  • Revise the curriculum to include topics on social justice, equality, and non-discrimination.
  • Update B.Ed and Diploma syllabuses to promote inclusivity.
• Noon Meal Scheme:
  • Opposes the recommendation for centralized kitchens in every block/panchayat union due to practical difficulties and the importance of hot, fresh food for children.
  • Central kitchens may mask the caste identity of cooks but do not address underlying discrimination.
• Social Justice Students Force:
  • Cautions against creating a uniformed Social Justice Students Force.
  • Existing programs like NCC, Scouts, and NSS are deemed sufficient for student activities.

Challenges and Considerations:

• Infrastructure and Practical Issues:
  • Centralized kitchens may face logistical challenges and deprive children of nutritious meals.
  • Removing visible caste identifiers requires significant changes in community infrastructure.
• Political and Social Dynamics:
  • Electoral success of caste-based parties perpetuates caste divisions.
  • Leaders exploiting teenagers for political gain complicate efforts to establish harmony.
  • A village-level transformation and strong political will are essential for meaningful change.

Sources:

The Hindu

Economy

Cost of inequality

Source: Indian Express

Context

• The 2024 Global Gender Gap Index ranks India 129th out of 146 countries, highlighting persistent gender inequalities in economic participation, educational attainment, health and political empowerment despite some improvements.

Details

Key Points

• India's Global Gender Gap Index Ranking:
  • In 2024, India ranks 129th out of 146 countries, placing it among the bottom 20 globally in terms of gender parity.
• Focus of the Global Gender Gap Index:
  • The index measures gender gaps in economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment, emphasizing women's relative positions compared to men.
• India's Performance in Health and Education:
  • India has closed 95.1% of the health and 96.4% of the education gaps, yet ranks 142nd in health and 112th in education.
• Economic Participation and Opportunity:
  • India ranks 142nd in economic participation with a score of 39.8%, reflecting significant gender gaps in labour force participation and wage parity.
• Political Empowerment:
  • India ranks 65th in political participation, closing only 25.1% of the gap, showing a decline from its 2021 position of 51.
• Regional Comparison:
  • South Asia ranks 7th out of eight regions globally, with India ranking fifth among South Asian countries, below Bangladesh which ranks 99th globally.
• Economic Costs of Gender Inequality:
  • Gender-based discrimination could cost the global economy up to $12 trillion, with reduced gender discrimination potentially boosting GDP growth.
• Need for Mainstreaming Gender Equality:
  • Economic policies should integrate gender equality, treating women as independent and capable adults in all decision-making levels.

• India's Global Gender Gap Index Ranking:
  • India's 2024 rank: 129th out of 146 countries.
  • India's position has consistently been in the bottom 20, reflecting persistent gender inequalities.
• Focus of the Global Gender Gap Index:
  • Introduced in 2006, it combines four sub-indices: economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
  • The index score ranges from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating complete gender parity.
  • It focuses on relative gender gaps rather than absolute positions.
• India's Performance in Health and Education:
  • Health and Survival Score: 0.951 (95.1% gap closed), ranks 142nd.
  • Educational Attainment: 96.4% gap closed, ranks 112th.
  • Despite high scores, relative ranking is low due to better performance by other countries.
• Economic Participation and Opportunity:
  • Subindex includes labour force participation, managerial positions, wage gaps, and wage parity.
  • India's score: 39.8%, ranks 142nd.
  • Improvement from 2021 (32.6%) but still low, and lower than the 2012 score of 46%.
• Political Empowerment:
  • Measures gender gaps in political participation and representation.
  • India has closed only 25.1% of the gap, ranking 65th.
  • Declined from 51st in 2021, indicating a worsening trend over the last decade.
• Regional Comparison:
  • South Asia ranks 7th out of eight global regions.
  • India ranks fifth in South Asia, with Bangladesh leading at 99th globally.
  • Reflects the overall low performance of the region in gender parity.
• Economic Costs of Gender Inequality:
  • Gender discrimination in social institutions could cost the global economy up to $12 trillion.
  • Reducing gender discrimination can significantly boost GDP growth rates.
• Need for Mainstreaming Gender Equality:
  • Gender equality should be an integral part of economic policymaking, not an afterthought.
  • Society must view women as independent, capable adults and include them in all decision-making levels.

Sources:

Indian Express