• 23 Sep 2024

Women in Haryana Assembly

Why in News?

Recently, the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections highlighted the persistent gender disparity in political representation, reflecting the state's historical gender imbalance.

Key Points

• Women in Haryana Politics: 
  • Since Haryana's formation in 1966, only 87 women have been elected to the Assembly. 
  • The state has never had a female chief minister. 
  • Haryana’s gender ratio remains skewed at 916 females per 1,000 males (2023). 
  • Since 2000, 47 women legislators have been elected in Haryana. 
  • In 2014, 13 women won seats, the highest number ever. This dropped to 9 in 2019. 
• 33% Reservation for Women: The Bill granting reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies, passed recently, will take effect from 2029. 
• Notable Women Contesting in 2024: 
  • Arti Singh Rao : Daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, contesting from Ateli. 
  • Shruti Chaudhary: Granddaughter of former CM Bansi Lal, contesting from Tosham. 
  • Geeta Bhukkal : Four-time MLA and former education minister. 
  • Vinesh Phogat : Wrestling icon, contesting from Julana. 
  • Savitri Jindal: Asia’s richest woman, contesting as an Independent from Hisar. 
  • Chitra Sarwara: Contesting independently from Ambala Cantonment after being denied a Congress ticket.

Women's Reservation Act, 2023

• The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs. 
• The reservation will be effective after the publication of the census conducted following the Act’s commencement and endures for a 15-year period, with potential extension determined by parliamentary action. 
• The rotation of seats allocated for women will be governed by parliamentary legislation after each delimitation process. 
  • Currently, around 15% of the total members of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) are women while in state legislative assemblies, women on average constitute 9% of the total members.

97% SC Atrocities from 13 States

Why in News?  

Recently, a government report revealed that 97.7% of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) in 2022 were concentrated in 13 states, with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh recording the highest number of such cases.

Key Points  

• Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes (SCs) in 2022: 
  • 97.7% of all atrocities against SCs (51,656 out of 52,866 cases) were reported from 13 states. 
  • Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of cases (12,287 or 23.78%). 
• Atrocities Against Scheduled Tribes (STs) in 2022: 
  • 98.91% of all atrocities against STs were reported from 13 states (9,735 cases total). 
  • Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of cases (2,979 or 30.61%). 
  • Rajasthan followed with 2,498 cases (25.66%) and Odisha recorded 773 cases (7.94%). 
• Conviction Rate: 
  • The conviction rate for cases under the SC/ST Act, 1989 declined to 32.4% in 2022, down from 39.2% in 2020. 
• SC/ST Protection Measures: 
  • SC/ST protection cells have been set up in states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and others. 
  • Special police stations for handling SC/ST offences are established in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh.

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: 

• SC ST Act, 1989 is an Act of Parliament enacted to prohibit discrimination against SC & ST communities members and prevent atrocities against them. 
• The Act is also a recognition of the depressing reality that despite undertaking several measures, the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes continue to be subjected to various atrocities at the hands of upper-castes. 
• The Act has been enacted keeping in view the express constitutional safeguards enumerated in Articles 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination), 17 (Abolition of Untouchability) and 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution, with a twin-fold objective of protecting the members of these vulnerable communities as well as to provide relief and rehabilitation to the victims of caste-based atrocities. 
• In the amended SC/ST Act, 2018 preliminary inquiry is not a must and no prior approval is also required for appointing authorities for senior police officers to file FIRs in cases of atrocities on SC and ST. 

Flood in Bihar

Why in News?  

Recently, Bihar has been severely affected by floods, with 12 districts submerged and over 12 lakh people impacted.

Key Points  

• Flood Situation: 
  • Heavy rainfall in Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand has led to rising water levels in the rivers of North and South Bihar. 
  • The situation has caused widespread flooding in Bihar, particularly along rivers like the Ganga. 
• Affected Areas: 
  • 12 districts are affected, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Patna, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, and Katihar. 
  • A total of 12.67 lakh people in low-lying areas have been impacted by rising water levels. 
  • Affected trains include Patna-Dumka Express, Saraigarh Deoghar Special, Jamalpur-Kiul Memu Special, and Bhagalpur-Danapur Intercity Express. 
  • The Bihar Disaster Management Department (DMD) reported that 361 panchayats have been affected. 

Floods

• About: 
  • Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. 
  • Between 1998-2017, 2 Billion people have been affected worldwide due to floods.  
• Causes:  
  • These are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas. 
• Types of Floods:  
  • Flash Floods: These are caused by rapid and excessive rainfall that raises water heights quickly, and rivers, streams, channels or roads may be overtaken. 
  • River Floods: These are caused when consistent rain or snow melt forces a river to exceed capacity.  
  • Coastal Floods: These are caused by storm surges associated with tropical cyclones and tsunami.

Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Nirman Yojana

Why in News?  

Recently, the Bihar government approved the "Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Nirman Yojana" (MGSNY) to boost rural infrastructure through the construction of small bridges in the state.

Key Points 

• Objective of the Scheme: 
  • The "Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Nirman Yojana" (MGSNY) aims to enhance connectivity in rural Bihar. 
  • The scheme is focused on constructing 1,000 small bridges across various rural areas. 
• Target Areas: 
  • The initiative prioritizes remote and rural regions that face difficulties due to inadequate infrastructure. 
  • It is expected to address the issue of inaccessibility during monsoon seasons, when rivers and streams overflow and disconnect villages. 
• Expected Benefits: 
  • The bridges will significantly improve transportation for rural populations, enabling easier movement of goods and people. 
  • Enhanced infrastructure will contribute to economic development in rural areas by connecting farmers, traders, and service providers to markets. 
  • It will also improve access to education and healthcare, ensuring quicker and more reliable transit for school children and patients in need of urgent medical care. 

Bihar Tourism and Market Policy-2024

Why in News?  

Recently, Bihar has approved the Bihar Tourism and Market Policy-2024 to boost tourism infrastructure and market integration in the state, making it a hub for cultural, ecological, and heritage tourism.

Key Points  

• Objective: 
  • To promote sustainable tourism development in Bihar, enhancing its appeal as a tourist destination. 
  • To boost local economies and create job opportunities through tourism-related activities. 
• Key Features: 
  • Infrastructural Development: Focus on improving transportation, accommodation, and amenities to support tourists. 
  • Heritage Promotion: Emphasis on showcasing Bihar's rich cultural and historical heritage, including sites like Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, and Rajgir. 
  • Public-Private Partnerships: It promotes private investments in tourism infrastructure and services.  
    • It provides financial support and subsidies for tourism-related businesses and startups. 
• Marketing and Promotion: 
  • Launch of aggressive marketing campaigns to highlight Bihar’s unique attractions. 
  • Utilization of digital platforms and social media for broader outreach. 
• Famous Tourist Places in Bihar:  
  • Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodhgaya 
  • Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Rajgir 
  • Nalanda, Ancient city of Patliputra 
  • Valmiki Nagar Tiger Reserve in the West Champaran 
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