Current Affairs 27 July 2023

CONTENTS

1. Manual scavenging
2. Amendment Bill for the Registration of Births and Deaths Act
3. International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2023
4. African Union (AU)
5. Types of Motions Used in Parliament
6. Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023
7. Cantonment Board
8. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Manual Scavenging

Context:

According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E), a total of 530 districts (out of total 766) across the country had so far reported themselves to be free of manual scavenging.

Relevance:

GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to Poverty, Minorities, Welfare Schemes, Government Policies and Interventions)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Manual Scavenging in India
2. Prevalence of Manual Scavenging in India
3. Existing provisions regarding Manual Labour
4. National Action Plan for elimination of Manual Scavenging

Manual Scavenging in India

• Manual scavenging is defined as “the removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers”.
• In 1993, India banned the employment of people as manual scavengers (The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993), however, the stigma and discrimination associated with it still linger on.
• In 2013, the definition of manual scavengers was also broadened to include people employed to clean septic tanks, ditches, or railway tracks. The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice,” and cites a need to “correct the historical injustice and indignity suffered by the manual scavengers.”

Prevalence of Manual Scavenging in India

• As per the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), a total of 631 people have died in the country while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the last 10 years.
• 2019 saw the highest number of manual scavenging deaths in the past five years. 110 workers were killed while cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
• This is a 61% increase as compared to 2018, which saw 68 cases of such similar deaths.
• Despite the introduction of several mechanised systems for sewage cleaning, human intervention in the process still continues.
• As per data collected in 2018, 29,923 people are engaged in manual scavenging in Uttar Pradesh, making it the highest in any State in India.

Why is manual scavenging still a concern after so many years?

• A number of independent surveys have talked about the continued reluctance on the part of state governments to admit that the practice prevails under their watch.
• Many times, local bodies outsource sewer cleaning tasks to private contractors. However, many of them fly-by-night operators, do not maintain proper rolls of sanitation workers. In case after case of workers being asphyxiated to death, these contractors have denied any association with the deceased.
• The practice is also driven by caste, class and income divides. It is linked to India’s caste system where so-called lower castes are expected to perform this job. It is linked to India’s caste system where so-called lower castes are expected to perform this job.

Existing provisions regarding Manual Labour

• Prevention of Atrocities Act: In 1989, the Prevention of Atrocities Act became an integrated guard for sanitation workers; more than 90% people employed as manual scavengers belonged to the Scheduled Caste. This became an important landmark to free manual scavengers from designated traditional occupations.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: Superseding the 1993 Act, the 2013 Act goes beyond prohibitions on dry latrines, and outlaws all manual excrement cleaning of insanitary latrines, open drains, or pits.
• Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees ‘Right to Life’ and that also with dignity. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.

National Action Plan for elimination of Manual Scavenging

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry’s National Action Plan aims to modernise existing sewage system and coverage of non-sewered areas; setting up of faecal sludge and septage management system for mechanised cleaning of septic tanks, transportation and treatment of faecal sludge; equipping the municipalities, and setting up of Sanitation Response Units with help lines.

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020

• As a part of the Ministry’s National Action Plan, this bill will amend the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
• The bill proposes to completely mechanise sewer cleaning and provide better protection at work and compensation in case of accidents.
• The Bill proposes to make the law banning manual scavenging more stringent by increasing the imprisonment term and the fine amount.
• The funds will be provided directly to the sanitation workers and not to the municipalities or contractors to purchase the machinery.

Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge across 243 Cities to ensure that no life of any sewer or septic tank cleaner is ever lost again owing to the issue of ‘hazardous cleaning’.
• The Challenge was launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day.
• Aims to prevent ‘hazardous cleaning’ of sewers and septic tanks and promoting their mechanized cleaning.
• Representatives from 243 cities across the country took a pledge to mechanize all sewer and septic tank cleaning operations by 30th April 2021.
• The initiative is in line with the core of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U)
• The actual on-ground assessment of participating cities will be conducted in May 2021 by an independent agency and results of the same will be declared on 15 August 2021.
• Cities will be awarded in three sub-categories – with population of more than 10 lakhs, 3-10 lakhs and upto 3 lakhs, with a total prize money of ₹52 crores to be given to winning cities across all categories.

-Source: The Hindu

Amendment Bill for the Registration of Births and Deaths Act

Context:

A Bill to amend the Registration of Birth and Death Act 1969 is among the 21 new Bills listed to be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament by the Union Home Ministry.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Bill to Amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act: Enhancing Documentation and Aadhaar Integration
2. Sharing Data and Significance
3. Concerns Regarding the Bill

Bill to Amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act: Enhancing Documentation and Aadhaar Integration

Background:

• Ensuring the right to documentation and identification for every individual is essential for a dignified life.
• The Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969 was introduced to facilitate the registration of births and deaths in the country.
• Currently, Aadhaar is not mandatory for such registrations, but proposed amendments aim to give it legal significance.
• Recently, the Registrar General of India (RGI) was authorized to perform Aadhaar authentication during birth and death registrations.

Key Points of the Bill:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs proposes to make Aadhaar mandatory for tracking new births and deaths in families.
• States will be required to compulsorily share data on registered births and deaths with the RGI, who will maintain its own register.
• Presently, States only need to send annual statistical reports to the RGI.
• The Bill also seeks to make birth certificates mandatory for various purposes, including school admissions, voter registration, marriage registration, passport issuance, government job applications, etc.

Sharing Data and Significance:

• States will sign an MoU with the RGI to share the Application Programming Interface (API) for data access.
• Some States have their own applications for issuing birth and death certificates, but they will integrate with the RGI’s Civil Registration System (CRS).
• The shared database will update the population register or National Population Register (NPR), a step towards the creation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) or NRC.
• Real-time updation will reduce the need for door-to-door enumeration and provide up-to-date population figures.
• The database will also update other essential records like electoral register, Aadhaar, ration card, passport, and driving license databases.

Concerns Regarding the Bill:

• Amending a 50-year-old law may turn a simple state exercise into a mechanism for population control, raising concerns about misuse.
• It could lead to the creation of comprehensive profiles through Aadhaar linking, raising privacy and surveillance concerns.
• Courts have previously recognized the fundamental right to privacy in cases involving Aadhaar databases (KS Puttaswamy case).

-Source: The Hindu

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2023

Context:

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on July 26.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem:
2. Mangrove Forests: Presence and Significance
3. How are Mangrove Forests Useful?
4. The current state of the mangroves

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem:

• Celebrated annually on July 26.
• The International Day was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015.
• Purpose: The day aims to raise awareness about the significance of mangrove ecosystems as unique, special, and vulnerable ecosystems.
• Goal: It seeks to promote solutions for the sustainable management, conservation, and responsible utilization of mangrove ecosystems.

Mangrove Forests: Presence and Significance

• Mangrove forests comprise the interface between wetlands and sea grass meadows along a vast expanse of tropical shorelines all over the world.
• They also occur along bays, estuaries or mouths of rivers by these shores.
• Mangroves are present worldwide on various shorelines between approximately 25°N and 25°S latitude.
• Mangrove forests are one of the greatest sources of biodiversity on this planet.
• They have a rich underwater component, a surface component and an aerial component.
• Mangrove communities include fish, insects, shellfish, birds of many species, saltwater crocodiles, monkeys, algae and fungi.
• Many organisms, especially fish, spend their early years in the protection of the mangroves and their intricate below and above-ground root systems.

How are Mangrove Forests Useful?

• Mangroves, along with sea grasses and wetlands, comprise the ‘blue carbon’ ecosystem of stored carbon in sediments along many tropical and subtropical coastal zones.
• Their complex aerial and submerged root systems moderate current flows and the canopies moderate wind flow — they are the interface between the wetlands and sea grass communities for the continental flow of water and solutes into the ecosystem.
• Mangroves also supply fuelwood and other forest products, like food and medicine, for people.
• And, in addition to the nutrition they give us, mangroves protect us — along with other trees and forests, mangroves sequester a sizeable amount of carbon to offset greenhouse gas emissions created by human activities.
• When mangrove trees die of natural causes, they generally fall into the sea and the carbon may be stored in the sediment on the sea floor for long periods of time.

Types of Mangrove Trees

• The term ‘mangrove’ is used to refer to a whole community of trees and shrubs, which are not closely related.
• The Mangrove trees have all adapted to harsh coastal environments of saline, brackish waters and low oxygen conditions.
• There are over 100 species of trees and shrubs designated as mangroves.
• However, there are three classic groups of mangroves — the red mangroves (Rhizophoraceae), the black mangroves (Acanthaceae) and the white mangroves (Combretaceae).

The current state of the mangroves

• South Asia houses some of the most extensive areas of mangroves globally, while Indonesia hosts one-fifth of the overall amount.
• India holds around 3 percent of South Asia’s mangrove population.
• Besides the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Andamans region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat too have substantial mangrove cover.
• However, infrastructure projects — industrial expansion and building of roads and railways, and natural processes — shifting coastlines, coastal erosion and storms, have resulted in a significant decrease in mangrove habitats.
• Between 2010 and 2020, around 600 sq km of mangroves were lost of which more than 62% was due to direct human impacts, the Global Mangrove Alliance said in its 2022 report.

-Source: Indian Express

African Union (AU)

Context:

India’s G-20 Sherpa recently said that the Indian Prime Minister’s proposal to make the African Union a permanent member of the G-20 has received an overwhelming response from the grouping.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. The African Union (AU)
2. Structure

The African Union (AU):

• The AU is a continental body comprising 55 member states from the African Continent.
• Official Launch: It was officially launched in 2002, succeeding the Organization of African Unity (OAU) established in 1963.
• Primary Objective: To foster unity, cooperation, and development among African nations and promote the continent’s interests globally.
• Vision: To achieve an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa through strengthened political, economic, and social integration.
• Headquarters: Located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Structure:

• Assembly: The highest decision-making body, consisting of heads of state and government of member countries.
• Executive Council: Comprising foreign affairs ministers, it handles policy matters and offers recommendations to the Assembly.
• AU Commission: Based in Addis Ababa, it serves as the administrative arm responsible for implementing decisions made by the Assembly and Executive Council.
• Peace and Security Council: Responsible for maintaining peace and security across the continent.
• Participation of Citizens: The AU encourages African citizens and civil society involvement through the Pan-African Parliament and the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).

-Source: Indian Express

Types of Motions Used in Parliament

Context:

Recently, a Member of Parliament moved adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha citing the need for urgent discussions on ethnic violence in Manipur.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Adjournment Motion
2. Other Types of Motion

Adjournment Motion

• Definition: An adjournment motion is a parliamentary procedure used to discuss a specific matter of urgent public importance with the Speaker’s consent.
• Requirement: To be admitted, the motion must have the support of 50 members and address an issue of immediate concern.
• Extraordinary Device: As it interrupts the normal business of the House, it is considered an extraordinary parliamentary device.
• Applicability: This motion is available in the Lok Sabha, but not in the Rajya Sabha.
• Effect: The passage of an adjournment motion does not require the government to resign, but it serves as a strong censure of the government’s actions or policies.

Other Types of Motion

Closure Motion:

• A motion to cut short the debate on a matter in the House.
• If approved, the debate is stopped, and the matter is put to vote immediately.

Motion with a Vote:

• Brought under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha.
• Allows for a debate with a vote on a specific question, indicating Parliament’s position on the issue.
• Government is obliged to follow Parliament’s decision if the motion is passed.
• Reserved for matters of significant national importance.

Short Duration Discussion:

• Under Rule 193 in Lok Sabha and Rule 176 in Rajya Sabha.
• Allows MPs to discuss a specific issue of public importance without voting.
• Debate lasts for a fixed duration, not exceeding two hours.
• Aim is to bring attention to important issues and allow diverse perspectives to be heard.

No-Confidence Motion:

• Moved in Lok Sabha to test the confidence of the government.
• Requires support of 50 members to be admitted.
• If passed, the government must resign.
• Occurs when the government is perceived to be losing majority support.

Confidence Motion:

• Passed when governments with wafer-thin majority are called upon to prove their majority.
• Indicates continued mandate to govern.

Privilege Motion:

• Initiated when a member believes a minister has violated the privileges of the House or its members.
• Expresses disapproval and criticizes the minister’s actions.

Motion of Thanks:

• Expresses gratitude for the President’s Address at the commencement of Lok Sabha.
• Must be passed in the House; failure amounts to government defeat.

Cut Motion:

• Proposed to reduce the amount of a budget demand.
• Passage indicates want of parliamentary confidence in the government and may lead to its resignation.

-Source: Indian Express

Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023

Context:

The Rajasthan Assembly recently passed a significant Bill aimed at extending social security benefits to gig workers.

This bill aims to address the lack of protection and benefits for gig workers, who were previously classified as “partners” rather than employees in companies like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and Amazon.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023
2. Who is a ‘gig worker’?

Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023

About:

• The bill is introduced in Rajasthan.
• It recognizes the significant contributions of gig workers to the economy.
• Aims to provide essential protection and support to gig workers.

Objective:

• Extend social security and welfare benefits to gig workers operating in the state.

Key Features of the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023:

• Mandatory Registration: All gig workers must register with the state government to be covered by labor regulations.
• Comprehensive Database: The state government will maintain a database of gig workers with unique IDs to track their employment history and entitlements.
• Access to Social Security: Gig workers will have access to social security schemes, including health insurance and accident coverage.
• Grievance Redressal: Gig workers have the right to address their grievances, protecting their rights and providing a platform for issue resolution.
• Establishment of Welfare Board: The Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board will oversee gig workers’ welfare and rights, with representatives from both gig workers and aggregators.
• Funding Mechanism: The “Platform-Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee” will finance social security measures, and aggregators will pay a fee for each transaction involving gig workers.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Aggregators failing to pay the welfare fee on time will face interest charges, and fines can be imposed for non-compliance with the Act.

Who is a ‘gig worker’?

• Gig workers are those who work outside the traditional employer-employee relationship.
• There are two groups of gig workers – platform workers and non-platform workers.
• Gig workers who use online platforms are called platform workers, while those who work outside of these platforms are non-platform workers.
• Gig workers have characteristics of both employees and independent contractors and do not fit into any rigid categorization.
• As a result, gig workers have limited recognition under current employment laws and fall outside the ambit of statutory benefits.

-Source: The Hindu

Cantonment Board

Context:

Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed to excise civil areas in 58 cantonments, with plans to merge them with State municipalities.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Cantonment Board
2. Composition
3. Classification

Cantonment Board:

• It is an organization responsible for administering and managing civilian populations living in cantonment areas.
• Operates under the provisions of the Cantonment Act of 2006 and is under the jurisdiction of the Union Defence Ministry.
• The board consists of elected representatives, ex-officio members, and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.

Composition:

• Eight elected members
• Three nominated military members
• Three ex-officio members (station commander, garrison engineer, senior executive medical officer)
• One representative of the district magistrate

• The station commander of the cantonment is the ex-officio president of the board.
• An officer from the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) or Defence Estates Organisation serves as the chief executive officer and member-secretary of the board.
• The boards have a five-year term.

Classification:

• Category I: Population above 50,000
• Category II: Population between 10,000 and 50,000
• Category III: Population between 2,500 and 10,000
• Category IV: Population below 2,500

• India has a total of 66 cantonment boards.
• Cantonment differs from a military station, as the former includes both military and civilian populations, whereas the latter is exclusively for military personnel and is established under executive orders.

-Source: The Hindu

Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Context:

Recently, in a significant development for tiger conservation efforts, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court has issued a directive to the Goa government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a tiger reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 within three months from 24th July 2023.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Location and Landscape:

• Situated in the Northern part of Goa, Sanguem taluka, near Valpoi town.
• Boasts picturesque waterfalls, including Vazra Sakla Falls and Virdi Falls.
• Famed for its nesting grounds of critically endangered Long-billed vultures near Vazra Falls.
• Showcases a diverse landscape with thick moist deciduous forests and some evergreen species.
• Noteworthy for sacred groves safeguarding rare and indigenous trees.

Rich Biodiversity:

• Abounds with Indian gaur, Tigers, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Wild boar, Indian hare, and more.
• A haven for herpetologists, thanks to various snakes, including the ‘big four’ venomous snakes: Indian krait, Russell’s viper, Saw-scaled viper, and Spectacled cobra.
• Designated as an International Bird Area, providing a habitat for several bird species like Malabar parakeet and Rufous babbler.
• Plays a vital role in the conservation of tigers in Goa.

Unique Geographical Features:

• Home to the three highest peaks in Goa: Sonsogod (1027 mts), Talavche Sada (812 mts), and Vageri (725 mts).
• The lifeline of Goa, Mhadei River, originates in Karnataka, passes through the sanctuary, and meets the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
• Serves as a catchment area for the Mhadei River, ensuring its vital contribution to the region’s water resources.

-Source: The Hindu