Biodiversity & Environment
Cyclone Management Framework
Why in News
Recently, Cyclone Jawad has hit the east coast of India particularly the State of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
- Although the cyclone weakened and didn’t cause much damage, it highlighted that India’s cyclone management approach was largely based on evacuation.
- Thus, India’s cyclone management must incorporate Mitigation and Preparedness measures. Mitigation means measures taken prior to the impact of a disaster to minimize its effects.
Key Points
- About Cyclone: Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area. The air circulates in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
- Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather.
- The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake.
- It was coined by Henry Piddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear like coiled serpents of the sea.
- Classification of Cyclone: There are two types of cyclones:
- Tropical cyclones: Tropical cyclones develop in the region between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
- They are large-scale weather systems developing over tropical or subtropical waters, where they get organized into surface wind circulation.
- The World Meteorological Organization uses the term 'Tropical Cyclone’ to cover weather systems in which winds exceed ‘Gale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour)
- Extra Tropical cyclones: They are also called Temperate cyclones or middle latitude cyclones or Frontal cyclones or Wave Cyclones.
- Extra tropical cyclones occur in temperate zones and high latitude regions, though they are known to originate in the Polar Regions.
- Tropical cyclones: Tropical cyclones develop in the region between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
Case Study of India’s Cyclone Management
- Cyclone Phailin & Fani: India has gained much recognition globally for its swift action during some of the major cyclones in the recent past such as Cyclone Phailin (2012), Fani (2019), etc.
- The state government of Odisha has started undertaking mega evacuation drives in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone in 1999.
- For example,more than a million people were evacuated for both these events.
- The evacuations were considered to be the primary reason for the limited human deaths reported.
- However, there is an inadequate focus on response aspects other than evacuation, such as measures to minimize crop damage, assistance for quick harvest, adequate relief and timely distribution of post-cyclone assistance such as for damaged houses, etc.
- The state government of Odisha has started undertaking mega evacuation drives in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone in 1999.
- Cyclone Jawad: Too little attention being given to key disaster response functions other than evacuation.
- The current threat from Cyclone Jawad, which comes at a time when crops in most parts are nearing harvest.
- There was distress selling and premature harvesting because of the cyclone.
Mitigation and Preparedness Measures for Cyclone
- Hazard Mapping: Hazard mapping for cyclones represents the results of cyclone hazard assessment on a map, showing the frequency/probability of occurrences of various intensities or durations.
- Land Use Planning: Policies should be in place to regulate land use and enforcement of building codes.
- Vulnerable areas should be kept for parks, grazing grounds or flood diversion instead of human settlements.
- Engineered Structures: Some examples of general good construction practice include:
- Constructing buildings on stilts or on earthen mounds.
- Buildings should be wind and water resistant.
- Buildings storing food supplies should be protected against the winds and water.
- Cyclone Shelters: Cyclone Shelters are necessary for areas vulnerable to recurrent cyclones.
- The construction of cyclone shelters requires substantial funding, therefore, generally linked to support from government or external donors.
- For construction of cyclone shelters, the most appropriate sites should be selected, using the Geographical Information System.
- Flood Management: Flooding will result from a cyclonic storm. Storm surges will flood the coastal areas. Heavy rains will bring in flash floods.
- Embankments along the rivers, sea walls along the coasts may keep water away from the flood plains.
- Water flow can be regulated through construction of reservoirs, check dams and alternate drainage channels/routes.
- Mangrove Plantation: Mangroves protect the coastal area from storm surge and wind accompanied with cyclones.
- Communities should participate in the mangrove plantation which could be organized by the local authorities, NGOs or the community itself.
- Mangroves also help in erosion-control and coastal conservation.
- Public Awareness Generation: Public awareness through education is the key to saving many lives. It has been proved that most of the damage to lives and livelihoods are due to lack of public education and awareness.
- End to End Warning System: There is a need for an end to end early warning which will enable people at all levels to respond quickly and effectively.
- The community should be well aware of the warning system, the warning signals and the source where they can get the early warning of cyclones.
- Community Participation: Since the local people are the persons best aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their area, location, culture and customs, some mitigation measures should be developed by the community themselves.
- These community mitigation activities can be achieved with the support from government and other civil society organizations.
Governmental Initiatives for Cyclone Management in India
- National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project:
- India initiated this project to undertake structural and non-structural measures to mitigate the cyclone’s effects.
- The aim of the project is to protect the vulnerable local communities from the impact of cyclones and other hydro-meteorological calamities.
- After the formation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the management of the Project was transferred to NDMA in September, 2006.
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project:
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has unveiled the draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for Integrated coastal management.
- The draft plan will dictate how prospective infrastructure projects would be assessed for clearance by laying out guidelines for coastal States.
- Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ): The coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters which get influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line have been declared as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) in 1991.
- The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
- Color Coding of Cyclones:
- It is a weather warning that is issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to alert people ahead of natural hazards.
- The four colors used by IMD are Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.
Indian History
1857 Uprising
Why in News
A memorial-museum is being built by the Haryana government at Ambala to honour the martyrs of the 1857 uprising.
- The objective of constructing a war memorial in Ambala is to immortalise the bravery of those unsung heroes who never got credit for scripting the first revolt (against the British).
- It will also highlight Haryana’s contribution to the freedom struggle with a special emphasis on revolt incidents at Ambala.
Key Points
- About the 1857 Revolt:
- It was the first expression of organised resistance against the British East India Company
- It began as a revolt of the sepoys of the British East India Company’s army but eventually secured the participation of the masses.
- The revolt is known by several names: the Sepoy Mutiny (by the British Historians), the Indian Mutiny, the Great Rebellion (by the Indian Historians), the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Insurrection, and the First War of Independence (by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar).
Revolt in Haryana
- Centre of Revolt: According to the historian KC Yadav, the 1857 uprising actually started in Ambala, and not Meerut as popularly believed.
- He had documented his findings in his book titled ‘The Revolt of 1857 in Haryana’.
- Important Leaders: Rao Tula Ram in Ahirwal, Gaffur Ali and Harsukh Rai in Palwal, Dhanu Singh in Faridabad, Nahar Singh in Ballabhgarh etc. were the important leaders of revolt in Haryana.
- Battles Fought: Many battles were fought by the rulers of the states and by the farmers also, sometimes defeating the British army.
- Some most important battles were fought at Sirsa, Sonipat, Rohtak and Hissar.
- In Sirsa the famous battle of Chormar was fought.
- Causes of Revolt:
- Political Cause:
- British policy of expansion: The political causes of the revolt were the British policy of expansion through the Doctrine of Lapse and direct annexation.
- A large number of Indian rulers and chiefs were dislodged, thus arousing fear in the minds of other ruling families who apprehended a similar fate.
- By applying the doctrine of lapse, Dalhousie annexed the States of Satara (1848 A.D.), Jaitpur, and Sambalpur (1849 A.D.), Baghat (1850 A.D.), Udaipur (1852 A.D.), Jhansi (1853 A.D.), and Nagpur (1854 A.D.)
- British policy of expansion: The political causes of the revolt were the British policy of expansion through the Doctrine of Lapse and direct annexation.
- Social and Religious Cause:
- The rapidly spreading Western Civilisation in India was alarming concerns all over the country.
- The abolition of practices like sati and female infanticide, and the legislation legalizing widow remarriage, were believed as threats to the established social structure.
- Introducing western methods of education was directly challenging the orthodoxy for Hindus as well as Muslims
- Economic Cause:
- In rural areas, peasants and zamindars were infuriated by the heavy taxes on land and the stringent methods of revenue collection has led to the losing the lands that peasants had held for generations.
- Large numbers of sepoys belonged to the peasantry class and had family ties in villages, so the grievances of the peasants also affected them.
- After the Industrial Revolution in England, there was an influx of British manufactured goods into India, which ruined industries, particularly the textile industry of India
- Indian handicraft industries had to compete with cheap machine- made goods from Britain.
- In rural areas, peasants and zamindars were infuriated by the heavy taxes on land and the stringent methods of revenue collection has led to the losing the lands that peasants had held for generations.
- Military Causes:
- Indian sepoys formed more than 87% of the British troops in India but were considered inferior to British soldiers.
- An Indian sepoy was paid less than a European sepoy of the same rank.
- They were required to serve in areas far away from their homes.
- In 1856 Lord Canning issued the General Services Enlistment Act which required that the sepoys must be ready to serve even in British land across the sea.
- Immediate Cause:
- The Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges.
- A rumour spread that the cartridges of the new Enfield rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.
- Before loading these rifles the sepoys had to bite off the paper on the cartridges.
- Both Hindu and Muslim sepoys refused to use them.
- The Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges.
- Political Cause:
| Centres of Revolt, Leadership and Suppression |
||
| Places of Revolt | Indian Leaders | British Officials who suppressed the revolt |
| Delhi | Bahadur Shah II | John Nicholson |
| Lucknow | Begum Hazrat Mahal | Henry Lawrence |
| Kanpur | Nana Saheb | Sir Colin Campbell |
| Jhansi & Gwalior | Lakshmi Bai & Tantia Tope | General Hugh Rose |
| Bareilly | Khan Bahadur Khan | Sir Colin Campbell |
| Allahabad and Banaras | Maulvi Liyakat Ali | Colonel Oncell |
| Bihar | Kunwar Singh | William Taylor |
Cause of Failure of Revolt
- Limited Uprising: The revolt was mainly confined to the Doab region.
- The large princely states, Hyderabad, Mysore, Travancore, and Kashmir, as well as the smaller ones of Rajputana, did not join the rebellion
- The southern provinces did not take part in it.
- No Effective Leadership: The rebels lacked an effective leader. Although Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai were brave leaders, they could not offer effective leadership to the movement as a whole.
- Limited Resources: The rebels lacked resources in terms of men and money. The English, on the other hand, received a steady supply of men, money and arms in India.
- No Participation of the Middle Class: The English educated middle class, the rich merchants, traders and zamindars of Bengal helped the British to suppress the revolt.
Outcome of Revolt
- End of Company Rule: The revolt marked the end of the East India Company’s rule in India.
- Lord Canning at a Durbar in Allahabad announced that Indian administration was taken over by Queen Victoria, which, in effect, meant the British Parliament.
- Religious Tolerance: It was promised and due attention was paid to the customs and traditions of India.
- Administrative Change: The Governor General’s office was replaced by that of the Viceroy.
- The rights of Indian rulers were recognised.
- The Doctrine of Lapse was abolished.
- The right to adopt sons as legal heirs was accepted.
- Military Reorganisation: The ratio of British officers to Indian soldiers increased but the armoury remained in the hands of the English. It was arranged to end the dominance of the Bengal army.
Social Justice
Human Rights Violations
Why in News
Recently data related to human rights violations in states was provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Rajya sabha.
- Around 40% of human rights violation cases lodged annually by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the past three financial years till this 31st October (2021) were from Uttar Pradesh.
Key Points
- About:
- A human rights violation is the disallowance of the freedom of thought and movement to which all humans legally have a right.
- While individuals can violate these rights, the leadership or government of civilization most often belittles marginalized persons.
- This, in turn, places these people in the cycle of poverty and oppression. Individuals who approach life with the attitude that not all human lives are of equal value then perpetuate this cycle.
- Examples:
- Forcibly evicting people from their homes (the right to adequate housing)
- Contaminating water, for example, with waste from State-owned facilities (the right to health)
- Failure to ensure a minimum wage sufficient for a decent living (rights at work)
- Failure to prevent starvation in all areas and communities in the country (freedom from hunger).
- Types of Human Rights Violations:
- Directly or Intentionally:
- Violations can either be intentionally performed by the state and or come as a result of the state failing to prevent the violation.
- When a state engages in human rights violations, various actors can be involved such as police, judges, prosecutors, government officials, and more.
- The violation can be physically violent in nature, such as police brutality, while rights such as the right to a fair trial can also be violated, where no physical violence is involved.
- Violations can either be intentionally performed by the state and or come as a result of the state failing to prevent the violation.
- Failure by the state to Protect Rights:
- It occurs when there's a conflict between individuals or groups within a society.
- If the state does nothing to intervene and protect vulnerable people and groups, it's participating in the violations.
- In the US the state failed to protect black Americans when lynching's frequently occurred around the country.
- Directly or Intentionally:
- Current Scenario in India:
- Total Violations:
- The total number of rights’ violation cases in India lodged by the NHRC reduced from 89,584 in 2018-19 to 76,628 in 2019-20 and to 74,968 in 2020-21.
- In 2021-22, till 31st October (2021), 64,170 cases were lodged.
- The total number of rights’ violation cases in India lodged by the NHRC reduced from 89,584 in 2018-19 to 76,628 in 2019-20 and to 74,968 in 2020-21.
- Caste-based Discrimination and Violence:
- According to a report released last year, crimes against Dalits increased by 6% from 2009 to 2018 with over 3.91 lakh atrocities being reported.
- Communal and Ethnic Violence:
- Many people were attacked by vigilante cow protection groups and many of those affected were minority groups.
- People from African countries faced racism and discrimination in India.
- Freedom of Association:
- The government cancelled the registration of several civil society organisations which specifically prevented them from getting foreign funding, even after the United Nations (UN) claimed it was not in accordance with international law.
- Freedom of Expression:
- Several people were arrested under sedition laws for expressing their dissent with government policy and several Indians were arrested for even posting comments on Facebook.
- Violence against Women:
- Recently released report National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5, points to rising instances of domestic and sexual violence against women in the state.
- It shows that married women, between the ages of 18-49, who have ever experienced spousal violence, has more than doubled from 20.6 in 2014-15 to 44.5%.
- Recently released report National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5, points to rising instances of domestic and sexual violence against women in the state.
- Children's Rights:
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals a total of 1,28,531 crimes against children were recorded in India last year (2020), implying that an average of 350 such cases were reported each day during the pandemic.
- Total Violations:
Way Forward
- Achieving a sustainable, practical and effective method of protecting human rights around the globe that also allows local values and culture to remain intact.
- Humans must recognize the beauty of individual differences and attempt to understand each other before a change can happen.
- Starting with the smaller steps, like understanding victims of rape, violence and discrimination instead of perpetuating a victim-blaming culture, might be more influential than viewing the situation through such an expansive lens.
- Only then will these examples of human rights violations turn into examples of human kindness.
Indian Economy
Reforms in Handloom Sector
Why in News
Recently, the Government has taken several steps to boost and also address the issues arising out of pandemic in the handloom sector.
- A textile can simply be understood as a thread used for knitting or a cloth made out of it.
- Whereas, the handloom is the manufacturing part of textiles, it involves workers and machines used for weaving.
Key Points
- Steps Taken By the Government:
- Requesting States: The Ministry of Textiles has requested the States and UTs for their State Handloom Corporations/ Cooperatives/ Agencies to make purchases of the finished inventory available with the handloom weavers/artisans.
- Registering Weavers on GeM Portal: Steps have been taken by the government for registering weavers on Government e-Market places.
- This will enable them to sell their products directly to various Government Departments and organizations.
- So far about 1.50 Lakh weavers have been on-boarded on the GeM portal.
- Establishing Handloom Producer Companies: To enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and ensure better incomes, 128 Handloom Producer companies have been formed in different States.
- Easy Credit Policy: Under Concessional Credit/Weaver MUDRA Scheme, financial assistance, Interest subvention, Credit Guarantee are provided
- Design Resource Centers: Design Resource Centers (DRCs) have been set up in Weavers’ Service Centers at major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, etc.
- The objective of these DRCs is to build and create design-oriented excellence in the Handloom Sector.
- It also envisages to facilitate weavers, exporters, manufacturers and designers access design repositories for sample/product improvisation and development.
- Establishing Handloom Export Promotion Council: To promote marketing of handloom products, Handloom Export Promotion Council has been organizing International Fairs in virtual mode.
- To promote e-marketing of handloom products, 23 e-commerce entities have been engaged for online marketing of handloom products.
- Raw Material Supply Scheme: This scheme is being implemented throughout the country to make available Yarn to Handloom weavers.
- Under the Scheme, reimbursement and price subsidies are provided for the raw material in the Textile sector.
- Educating Weavers: Many Chaupals were organized in various States to educate the weavers to avail benefits of various handloom schemes for their welfare and socio-economic development.
- Significance of Textile Sector:
- The sector accounts for 7% of India’s manufacturing output, 2% of GDP, 12% of exports and employs directly and indirectly about 10 crore people.
- Owing to the abundant supply of raw material and labour, India is:
- The largest producer of cotton, accounting for 25% of the global output.
- The world’s second-largest producer of textiles and garments after China.
- The second-largest producer of man-made fibres — polyester and viscose.
- Most importantly, in India a strong domestic market is available.
- Challenges of the Textiles Sector:
- Highly Fragmented: The Indian textile industry is highly fragmented and is being dominated by the unorganized sector and small and medium industries.
- Outdated Technology: The Indian textile industry has its limitations of access to the latest technology (especially in small-scale industries) and failures to meet global standards in the highly competitive market.
- Tax Structure Issues: The tax structure GST (Goods and Service Tax) makes the garments expensive and uncompetitive in domestic as well as international markets. Another threat is rising labour wages and workers’ salaries.
- Stagnant Exports: The export from the sector has been stagnating and remained at the USD 40-billion level for the last six years.
- Lack of Scale: The apparel units in India have an average size of 100 machines which is very less in comparison with Bangladesh, which has on an average of at least 500 machines per factory.
- Lack of Foreign Investment: Due to challenges given above the foreign investors are not very enthusiastic about investing in the textile sector which is also one of the areas of concern.
- Though the sector has witnessed a spurt in investment during the last five years, the industry attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of only USD 3.41 billion from April 2000 to December 2019.
Way Forward
- Toward an organized sector: India can make the sector organized by setting up mega apparel parks and common infrastructure for the textile industry.
- This will increase the scale of production and help Indian players to produce faster and at a lower cost with maximum efficiency in operation.
- Facilitate modernisation of the industry: Focus should be on the modernisation of the obsolete machinery and technology. This can help increase the production and productivity of the textile industry and thereby increase the export also.
- Programmes such as the National Technical Textiles Mission, Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) and Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP) should be implemented in the most effective manner.
- Need for rational labor laws: Several high-level expert panels have recommended removing limitations on firm size and allowing flexibility in hiring and firing.
- Thus, there is a need for early rationalization of such labor laws.
- Increasing export: India also needs to sign trade agreements with developed countries to enhance export opportunities.
- Such Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can help gain duty-free access to large textile markets such as the European Union, Australia and the UK.
Indian History
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Why in News
Recently, the Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji on his martyrdom day.
Key Points
- About Guru Teg Bahadur (1621-1675):
- Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru, often venerated as the ‘Protector of Humanity’ (Srisht-di-Chadar) by the Sikhs.
- He is known as a great teacher, Guru Tegh Bahadur was also an excellent warrior, thinker, and poet, who wrote detailed descriptions of the nature of God, mind, body, and physical attachments among other things spiritual.
- His writings are housed in the sacred text, ‘Guru Granth Sahib,’ in the form of 116 poetic hymns.
- He was also an avid traveler and played a key role in setting up preaching centers throughout the Indian subcontinent.
- During one such mission, he founded the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, which later became a part of Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib.
- In the year 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed in Delhi under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
- About Sikhism:
- The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple'. Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus.
- Sikhs believe in one God (Ek Onkar). They believe they should remember God in everything they do. This is called simran.
- The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat (Punjabi: “the Way of the Guru”).
- According to Sikh tradition, Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus.
- The development of Sikhism was influenced by the Bhakti movement and Vaishnava Hinduism.
- The Khalsa upholds the highest Sikh virtues of commitment, dedication and a social conscience.
- The Khalsa are men and women who have undergone the Sikh baptism ceremony and who strictly follow the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions.
- They wear the prescribed physical articles of the faith (5K’s: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kara (a iron bracelet), Kachera (cotton underpants) and Kirpan (an iron dagger).
- Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
- It preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God.
- Sikh Literature: The Adi Granth is believed by Sikhs to be the abode of the eternal Guru, and for that reason it is known to all Sikhs as the Guru Granth Sahib.
| Ten Gurus of Sikh Religion | |
| Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539) |
|
| Guru Angad (1504-1552) |
|
| Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) |
|
| Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) |
|
| Guru Arjun Dev (1563-1606) |
|
| Guru Hargobind (1594-1644) |
|
| Guru HarRai (1630-1661) |
|
| Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664) |
|
| Guru Teg Bahadur (1621-1675) |
|
| Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) |
|
Governance
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission
Why in News
According to the Lok Sabha, Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) has performed significantly well in the last four years.
Key Points
- About:
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2016 by the MInistry of Rural Development (MoRD) to deliver integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas, which also include development of economic activities and skill development.
- A predecessor to SPMRM was the Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), announced in 2003.
- Main objective of the scheme is bridging the rural-urban divide-viz: economic, technological and those related to facilities and services.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2016 by the MInistry of Rural Development (MoRD) to deliver integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas, which also include development of economic activities and skill development.
- Background:
- According to the 2011 Census, India has more than 6 lakh villages while there are around 7,000 towns and urban centres. Out of a total population the rural population accounts for 69% and urban population 31%.
- About 70% of the population lives in rural areas and about 50% of the overall labour force is still dependent on agriculture that is not productive enough.
- The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) contribution of agriculture to the nation is only about 14% while for industries and services sector (employers of people living in urban areas), it is 26% and 60% respectively.
- Large parts of rural areas in the country are not stand-alone settlements but part of a cluster of settlements, which are relatively proximate to each other. These clusters typically illustrate potential for growth, have economic drivers and derive locational and competitive advantages.
- These clusters, once developed, can then be classified as 'Rurban'. Hence taking cognizance of this, the Government of India, has launched the SPMRM, aimed at developing such rural areas by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.
- According to the 2011 Census, India has more than 6 lakh villages while there are around 7,000 towns and urban centres. Out of a total population the rural population accounts for 69% and urban population 31%.
- Rurban Clusters (Non-Tribal and Tribal):
- They are identified across the country’s rural areas showing increasing signs of urbanization - i.e. increase in population density, high levels of non-farm employment, presence of growing economic activities and other socioeconomic parameters.
- For the purposes of SPMRM, Rurban areas refer to a cluster of 15-20 villages having about 30 to 40 lakh population.
- The clusters will be geographically contiguous Gram Panchayats with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas.
- Role of states:
- The State Government identifies the clusters in accordance with the Framework for Implementation prepared by the MoRD.
- For the selection of clusters, the MoRD is adopting a scientific process of cluster selection which involves an objective analysis at the district, sub district and village level, of the demography, economy, tourism and pilgrimage significance and transportation corridor impact.
- Progress:
- Out of 300 rurban clusters, 291 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs) and 282 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been developed by States /UTs with a proposed investment of Rs. 27,788.44 (Critical Gap Fund + Convergence Fund).
- Out of total 76,973 projected works, a total of 40,751 (55%) works are either completed or near completion.
- Significance:
- SPMRM growth clusters are playing a role in reducing urban migration by ensuring that basic infrastructure, utilities are provided and industrialization is promoted.
- It is very relevant for ensuring transformational developments as against transitional developments in India’s rural development sector.
Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas
- About:
- PURA was mooted by the former President Dr. Abdul Kalam in January 2003 as a way of empowering and accelerating rural development.
- PURA 2.0 as a central sector scheme was launched in 2012 focussing on the development of potential growth centres such as census towns.
- It was launched in order to ensure Provision of livelihood opportunities and urban amenities in rural areas to bridge the rural – urban divide.
- PURA was mooted by the former President Dr. Abdul Kalam in January 2003 as a way of empowering and accelerating rural development.
- Mission:
- Holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (or a group of Gram Panchayats) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas.
- Amenities and economic activities provided under PURA include Water and Sewerage, Construction and maintenance of Village streets, Drainage, Solid Waste Management, Skill Development, village street lighting, telecom, electricity generation, village linked tourism, etc.
Important Facts For Prelims
PANEX-21
Why in News
Recently, a Curtain Raiser Event for PANEX-21 for the member nations of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries was held recently.
- The exercise is planned to be conducted later this year (2021).
Key Points
- About:
- It is a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise.
- It will be participated by subject matter experts and delegates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- A Multi-Agency Exercise (MAE) comprising a static display showcasing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HDR) equipment employed by the Indian Armed Forces and various civil agencies will also take place.
- Aim:
- To foster joint planning and build regional cooperation for responding to natural disasters.
- Natural disasters are sudden ecological disruptions or threats that exceed the adjustment capacity of the affected community and require external assistance.
- Natural disasters can be broadly classified into categories including geophysical such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, hydrological such as floods, meteorological such as hurricanes; climatological such as heat and cold waves and droughts; and biological such as epidemics.
- To foster joint planning and build regional cooperation for responding to natural disasters.
- Importance of the Exercise:
- Covid-19 pandemic along with other natural disasters have brought out new lessons which involve a change in drills and procedures for carrying out disaster mitigation and management of disaster.
- The exercise is being conducted keeping in mind these changes and the challenges after the pandemic.
- Covid-19 pandemic along with other natural disasters have brought out new lessons which involve a change in drills and procedures for carrying out disaster mitigation and management of disaster.
BIMSTEC
- It is a regional organization which comprises seven countries.
- Five of these seven countries- India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh- are from South Asia while the remaining two, Thailand and Myanmar, are from Southeast Asia.
- The group remained dormant for many years till it was revived a few years ago as an alternative to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which despite having the potential, has not been able to move forward due to friction between India and Pakistan.
- With a focus on intra-regional cooperation, the BIMSTEC has also formed a platform with the SAARC and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.
- Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
