EQUAL FREEDOM AND FORCED LABOUR
Introduction Quote B.R. Ambedkar therefore argued that fundamental rights must also “eliminate the possibility of the more powerful having the power to impose arbitrary restraints on the less powerful by withdrawing from the control he has over the economic life of the people”. Labour rights The 1931 Karachi Declaration and Bill of Rights expressly placed labour […]
NOW OR NEVER: STATES ARE DRIVING BOLD REFORMS
Why in news? Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have ushered in radical labour market reforms by freezing a vast number of acts and giving industries flexibility. MP has initiated a series of ease-of-doing-business process reforms: A single form for registration. Valid licences for the life of a project with no annual renewal. Shops can […]
WHAT LABOUR LAW CHANGES MEAN?
What are Indian labour laws? In India there are over 200 state laws and close to 50 central laws, yet there is no set definition of “labour laws” in the country. Broadly speaking, they can be divided into four categories – Factories Act are to ensure safety measures on factory premises, and promote health and […]
THE FACE OF EXPLOITATION: WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
Why in news? As thousands of migrant workers walk across India in a desperate attempt to reunite with their families, States are competing with one another to provide greater relaxation of labour laws to appear ‘industry friendly’. U.P. Government has cleared an ordinance exempting businesses and industries from labour laws, except for a handful, for […]
RESPONDING TO COVID-19 AT THE GRASSROOTS
Introduction Line Mahatma Gandhi envisioned that a free India would rest on a foundation of gram panchayats, village republics that governed locally and epitomised Swaraj in practice. Locally relevant initiatives and issues The 73rd Constitutional Amendment mandates the constitution of panchayats at the district, intermediate and village levels as devolved institutions of self-government and provides […]
THE TRENDS SHAPING THE POST COVID-19 WORLD
Asia ascending, U.S. waning The first trend which became clear in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis is the rise of Asia. The 2008 financial crisis showed the resilience of the Asian economies, and even today, economic forecasts indicate that out of the G-20 countries, only China and India are likely to register […]
HOW CAN INTER-STATE WORKERS BE PROTECTED?
Why in news? On Friday, May 8, 16 migrant labourers who were trying to return to Madhya Pradesh, their home State, on foot were killed when a goods train ran over them between Jalna and Aurangabad districts in Maharashtra. Hundreds of inter-state workers have been seen trying to walk home to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West […]
DIFFERENCE: PM CARES FUND AND PM’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND
Focus: GS-II Social Justice Why in news? On March 28 2020, the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund, or the PM CARES Fund, was set up to tackle distress situations such as that posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Who may contribute to the fund? The fund receives voluntary contributions from individuals […]
LOCKDOWN AIR: LESS NO2, SAME PM 2.5, URBAN OZONE
Introduction While traffic pollution has been falling, the lockdown may be leading to the generation of a dangerous pollutant, urban ozone, which can cause airway inflammation in humans. Results of a research done in UK: Nitrogen oxides The level of decline ranges from 20% to 80%. Levels of nitrogen oxides fall less in rural areas […]
A NEW CONCERN: EARLY LOCUSTS
Why in news? On April 11-12, scientists at the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) observed groups of desert locusts — the same destructive migratory pests currently devouring acres of maize, sorghum and wheat crops in East Africa. While locusts are seen in India as well, that is normally only during July-October and mostly as solitary insects […]