Brief of newspaper articles for the day bearing
relevance to Civil Services preparation
- GS PAPER 1
- Excavation in Gujarat uncovers monastic cells {Art and culture}
- GS PAPER 2
- The true devolution of power {Governance}
- GS PAPER 3
- AYUSH set to get international treatment {Health}
- ‘PM holds meet on rupee management {Economy}
- Olympics in the time of Zika {International Organisation}
- Women in the workplace: Not yet a better balance {Economy}
GS PAPER 1
[1]Excavation in Gujarat uncovers monastic cells
Context
A structure resembling a Buddhist monastery has been unearthed in Vadnagar (Gujarat)
News
- The excavation at Vadnagar resembles a Buddhist monastic cell. Six to seven cell have been excavated.
- However, this is just an initial analysis. Only with further excavations can it be ascertained that whether the structure was a part of monastery or were secular in nature.
- If and when ascertained, Vadnagar’s claim that it was a popular buddhist centre can be established.
It must be noted that Vadnagar has been mentioned by Huen Tsang in his written accounts.
GS PAPER 2
[1]The true devolution of power
Issue
- States have always asked for more devolution of power from Centre but when it comes to their role of devolution of power to local bodies, they have not showed much enthusiasm.
Context
- Over the years, the State has done little to improve the quality of basic services in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), thereby discouraging citizens from paying taxes on time in return for inefficient civic services.
- The delivery of basic services such as water supply, sanitation, and sewerage has remained poor in the ULBs and PRIs.
- As the Maharashtra State continues to prioritise the implementation of big-ticket schemes such as the Smart Cities Mission, it is demanding greater revenue generation and sustained efforts for overall improvement from its ULBs and PRIs.
- It seems unfair to expect the ill-equipped local bodies to rise to the occasion and support major urban schemes
- Further , it has taken away their key sources of income, the local body tax and octroi, ironically for business reasons.
Running away from responsibility
- While it’s true that local bodies have considerable scope to perk up revenues from their own sources, the responsibility ultimately lies with the State to augment these resources — improving collection of property tax, sharing land conversion charges with the local bodies, and so on.
- Maharashtra did not own up to its responsibility to push the local bodies towards the road map of growth laid out by the 14th Finance Commission (FFC), which included regular submissions of annual accounts by the ULBs and PRIs, increase in their ‘own’ revenue, and publication of benchmarks of urban services.
- There has been little accountability in the enormous amount of spending over the years.
Conclusion
- Maharashtra’s top-down approach to push schemes without laying the foundation for them goes against the spirit of the 74th Amendment of the Constitution which promises devolution of State’s powers, resources and administrative support to the ULBs and PRIs.
- For greater and better participation of ULBs and PRIs in Central schemes, the State must look to enhance their powers and responsibilities through a single legislation.
- Without doubt, there is an urgent need to bring greater accountability in spending at the village and panchayat level.
- The State must bring uniformity across municipal corporations and panchayats in the procurement of supplies and services, effective implementation of projects, and put in place an efficient procurement regime.
- These guidelines must facilitate ease of procurement at the lowest level.
- Once and for all, the State must fully and effectively devolve funds and functions to the local bodies, even if it means giving up on its all-important power to procure and purchase.
- This will mean true devolution of power.
GS PAPER 3
[1]AYUSH set to get international treatment
Context
Indian government has decided to popularize AYUSH internationally.
What is AYUSH?
AYUSH is an acronym that is used to refer to the non-allopathic medical systems in India. It includes the Indian medical system of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and also Homeopathy.
How is it being popularized internationally?
- Ministry of External Affairs will send groups of AYUSH experts who will help set up departments of AYUSH in major universities of the member countries of U.N.
- A group of experts will include teachers, practitioners and demonstrators who will further train first generation teachers and students in other countries.
- To begin with,Iraq, Columbia and Reunion Island have agreed to host the AYUSH experts and three groups of such experts will be sent to these countries.
- The first phase of this project aims at involving 12 more U.N member countries apart from Iraq, Columbia and Reunion Island.
Conclusion
This step by the govt is similar to the steps taken by it to internationalize Yoga which has been a great success. More such projections of Indian initiatives at the international level is bound to boost the image of India worldwide.
[2]‘PM holds meet on rupee management
Context
Government is concerned about the impact on rupee and macroeconomic stability after it was announced that RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan will vacate his office and not continue further when his tenure ends in September.
Analysis
Govt needs to come up with strategies to avoid volatility in the Indian economy due to the recent happening of RBI Governor’s exit.
The first and the immediate step is that RBI should defend the rupee by using its large foreign reserve which it has accumulated.
Also, an area of concern is that the foreign currency non resident deposits redemptions will begin soon as the scheme which started for them in 2013 will mature. This means that there could be a huge outflow of $20 billion.
Strategies to encounter this issue
- One of the strategies is to mobilise funds from NRIs by announcing a new dollar dominated instrument. This could be on the lines of India Millennium Deposit launched by SBI in year 2010 which aimed at giving high interests to the foreign deposits made in India.
- Another strategy is to issue swap instruments using the facilities which RBI has with central banks of other countries.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need to settle this situation because India is all set for an upgrade of rating this year and any such volatile situation might hamper these chances of an upgrade
[3]Olympics in the time of Zika
What happened?
- World Health Organisation has confirmed that the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in August in Rio de Janeiro will go ahead, the Zika virus notwithstanding.
For background and comprehensive coverage of Zika virus, refer to Editorial Today #46- Zika Virus and How it Infects the Placenta.
On what grounds, has the WHO given the green signal?
- According to WHO, there is “very low risk” of the virus spreading globally as a consequence of the Games being held in Brazil.
- The local mosquito population level is expected to drop sharply in August, the Brazilian mid-winter, and the annual infection rate is expected to peak before that.
- Intensive vector-control measures at and around the venue will reduce transmission risks.
- It is possible that a few individuals may get infected and contribute to a global spread and start off a new chain of local transmission.
- But the risk will be the same as in any country where the local transmission of the Zika virus is ongoing; it does not get amplified even when thousands come together, as the committee has noted.
Any particular class which has to take some extra precautions?
- The WHO, however, has stressed that pregnant women should refrain from travelling to Brazil and other countries where the virus is circulating.
- WHO recommends that men and women returning from countries with Zika transmission consider abstinence or adopt safe sex practices for two months, with these strategies extended for at least six months for men who exhibit symptoms.
Responsibilities of Brazil
- The onus is now on Brazil to ensure that mosquito-control measures are intensified, surveillance is enhanced, and as required by the WHO, to make all information public about the virus circulation, surveillance and vector-control measures.
Responsibilities of Indians
- Indians travelling to any country with a Zika transmission trail have to take precautionary measures during their stay and on return.
- As the landscape of Zika transmission is evolving, there is a critical need to exercise caution.
- More so as the Aedes aegypti is widely prevalent in India and the chances of the virus becoming endemic are high.
[4]Women in the workplace: Not yet a better balance
Issue
- The educational growth among women has not translated into an improvement in the economic growth.
What does statistics reveal?
- The gross enrolment ratio (GER) of girls in elementary education has improved dramatically, from 66% in 1991 to 97% in 2014
- GER of girls has also improved in higher education, from 7.5% in 2002–03 to close to 20% in 2012–13 (just a shade behind boys at 22%).
- In fact, women account for 51% of all post-graduates in India today.
- Yet, statistics reveal that improvement in education hasn’t chipped away at the gender disparity in employment.
- The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2015 ranked India at 139 out of 145 countries on the economic participation and opportunity gap.
- India’s overall female labour force participation (FLFP) rate remains low and has, in fact, dropped from 35% in 1991 to 27% in 2014.
Untap the potential
- A widely covered IMF estimate points out that shrinking the gender differences in employment could expand India’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 27%.
- Unlocking this potential definitely requires an increase and shift in the composition of overall employment opportunities as well as questioning of societal strictures.
How organizations are investing to support female employees?
- Organizations are identifying women with high potential and ensuring that they are provided opportunities to accelerate.
- Organisations are open about extending paid maternity leave beyond the grossly insufficient three months mandated by law.
- In Spite of these changes, there needs to be a deep organizational belief in the benefit of increasing women’s representation in the workplace, as well as supportive day-to-day actions and behaviours.
- Without these, the effect of all policy measures will remain superficial and even counter-productive.
Five major behaviours can help corporate employers make this change
- Question the ‘ideal worker’ definition:- Smart work should be rewarded. The old notion of working for longer hours should not be the criterion for an ideal worker.
- Create and celebrate female role models:As women look for examples, they see significantly more men than women, making the path to leadership more difficult to identify with. In such environments, sponsorship initiatives—aimed at identifying ambitious up-and-comers—are crucial for developing the next level of female role models in organizations.
- Encourage flexibility across the workforce:- It includes sabbaticals, work from option, etc.
- Create awareness about unconscious biases: Organizations need to proactively coach employees on biases that unconsciously play out through body language, day-to-day behaviour and word choices. These often go undetected and stand in the way of hiring and retaining the best talent in the organization.
- Continue the affinity groups: Affinity groups and their mission continue to be as relevant as ever. At the same time, the methods must evolve. They need to be a platform for proactive solutions, be more inclusive, and must bring male colleagues to the table, as peers, thought leaders and co-beneficiaries of the mission.
Conclusion
- The productive employment of more women offers a material benefit for the individual, the family and the nation.
- As the country commends itself on world-leading economic growth and aspires towards a $20 trillion economy, organizations need to take women along to make this goal a reality.
- Societal change will be the largest needle mover, but a constant push through the government, organizations and individuals is critical to bend societal norms for the better.
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