Curbing Leftwing Extremism
Syllabus: GS3/Role of Non-State Actors
Context:
- Recently, the Union Home Minister informed that the government has adopted an offensive strategy to curb the Leftwing Extremism.
About the Leftwing Extremism (also known as Naxalism):
- It originated in 1967 from an uprising movement, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), in the Naxalbari area of West Bengal.
- The followers of this movement, often referred to as ‘Naxals’, believe in the political theory derived from the teachings of Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.
- The LWE movement has affected several states in India, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala.
- The intensity of the problem varies across these states.
Challenges associated with the LWE in India
- Socio-Economic Issues: Unemployment, poverty, land disputes, displacement, distress migration, improper communication, and food insecurity are some of the socio-economic problems prevalent in the areas affected by LWE.
- Security Threats: LWE poses a significant security threat, leading to violence and loss of lives.
- In 2022, for the first time in four decades, the number of deaths of civilians and security forces was under 100.
- Hindrance to Development: LWE groups often oppose development initiatives such as the construction of roads and installation of mobile towers, thereby hindering the overall development of the affected areas.
- Legal and Institutional Challenges: The government faces challenges in implementing legal and institutional measures to combat LWE.
- For instance, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are working closely with state agencies to attack the financing of Left Wing Extremism.
- Ideological Challenges: The ideology of LWE groups, which involves the use of violence as a means to capture State power, is against the country’s development and bright future.
- This has resulted in a spiralling cycle of violence in some parts of India.
Government’s Response
- Legal and Institutional Framework: The government has strengthened the legal and institutional framework to combat extremism by amending The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 1967, National Investigation Agency Act 2008, etc.
- National Policy and Action Plan (2015): It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security-related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities.
- Security Measures: The Central Government assists the LWE affected State Governments by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations.
- Development Initiatives: Initiatives with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, skilling and financial inclusion.
- Road Network: In the last 08 years, 9356 km of roads have been constructed at a cost of 710718 crores under two specific schemes for LWE affected areas.
- Connectivity: To improve telecom connectivity, 2,343 mobile towers are installed in phase-I of the Mobile Tower Project, which are being upgraded to 4G.
- Financial Inclusion: For financial inclusion of the local populace in these areas 1,258 Bank Branches, 1,348 ATMs and 22,202 Banking Correspondents in 30 Most LWE Affected Districts and 4,903 new Post Offices in 90 districts have been made functional during the last eight years.
- The Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS): 71285 crore released to Left Wing Extremism affected states in the last 4 years under the SRE scheme.
- Funds released under SRE increased approximately 124% during the last 9 years.
- Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management Scheme (ACALWEMS): Rs 73 crore made available for camp infrastructure and 712.06 crore for upgradation of six hospitals during the last 4 years.
- The Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS): 71285 crore released to Left Wing Extremism affected states in the last 4 years under the SRE scheme.
- Skill Development: For skill development, under Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 43 ITIs and 38 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been made functional in LWE affected districts.
- Quality Education: For quality education in tribal blocks of LWE affected districts 245 Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been sanctioned in 90 LWE affected districts, of which 121 are functional.
- Tribal Youth Exchange Program: Under it, 22,000 youths have been taken on tour to large and developed areas of the country with an expenditure of 26.5 crores till date.
- Its objective is to make these youths aware of technological/industrial advancement so that they can be freed from the influence of left wing extremism.
- Intelligence Collection and Sharing: Actionable intelligence collection and sharing mechanisms need to be strengthened3. The state police need to be modernised to be able to tackle the Naxal attacks.
Conclusion:
- While the government’s efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in LWE-related violence, the problem continues to pose a challenge to India’s internal security.
- Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that combines security measures with socio-economic development initiatives.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs ensured people’s participation in the efforts of security agencies by giving additional thrust to the schemes for the welfare of the poor and the development of militancy-affected areas.
Criminalisation of Politics in India
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context:
- As per the latest data available with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about one-third members of Rajya Sabha declared criminal cases against themselves.
Criminalisation of Politics in India
- It refers to the involvement of individuals with criminal charges or backgrounds in Indian politics. It means that persons with criminal backgrounds contest in the election and get selected as a member of parliament or state legislature.
| Key Findings of ADR – Rajya Sabha Candidates: About 36% of Rajya Sabha candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves while the average assets of candidates analysed stood at ₹127.81 crore. – Electoral Bonds: The Supreme Court held that the Electoral Bonds Scheme was unconstitutional for violating the right to information of voters. – Registered Unrecognised Political Parties: According to a report by ADR, the number of registered unrecognised political parties has increased two-fold from 2010 to 2019. – Election Commissioners Appointment: ADR argues that the present practice of appointment of Election Commissioners by the Centre is violative of Articles 14 and Article 324 (2) and the basic features of the Constitution. |
Major Reasons
- Criminalization of political parties is a result of the connection between criminals and politicians and vote-bank politics.
- Lack of enforcement of laws and judgments.
- lack of ethics, and values, and loopholes in the function of the election commission.
- It is also linked to political control of state machinery and corruption.
- The political system is unwilling to change the law or the system.
Issues of Criminalization of Politics
- Question of safety & security: The main purpose of governance is to provide safety and security to citizens who elect their representatives for this role.
- But if the elected members themselves have criminal records, would they be interested in a criminal justice system that is prompt and efficient?
- Low conviction rate: As per the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2021 report, only 10,416 cases of murder were disposed of during the year with just a 42.4% conviction rate.
- The Law minister has admitted to more than 4.7 crore cases pending in various courts.
- Situation in police stations: Politicians play a very powerful role at police stations, compromising both integrity and impartiality of field staff.
- In due course, ordinary criminals graduate to be dreaded ones and form gangs extorting money, grabbing land, threatening witnesses in criminal cases, etc.
Measures to Curb Criminalisation
- The Vohra Committee set up by the Centre in 1993 sounded a note of warning saying that “some political leaders become the leaders of these groups and, over the years, get themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies, and the national Parliament.
- Law Commission’s 179th report: It recommended an amendment to the Representation of People Act 1951, and suggested the people with criminal backgrounds should be disqualified for five years or until acquittal.
- It also recommended that the person who wants to contest the election must furnish details regarding any pending case, with the copy of the FIR/complaint, and also furnish details of all assets.
Related Supreme Court Judgement
- In 2002: Every candidate contesting election had to declare his criminal and financial records along with educational qualifications.
- In 2005: A sitting MP or MLA will be disqualified from contesting the election if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more by a court of law.
- In 2014: The Supreme Court accepted the Law Commission recommendations and passed an order directing that trials against sitting MPs and MLAs should be concluded within a year of charges being framed and conducted on a day-to-day basis.
- As a follow-up to these directives, in 2017, the government started a scheme to establish 12 special courts for a year to fast-track the trial of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs.
- In 2021: The political parties need to upload on their websites and social media platforms the details of pending criminal cases against their candidates and the reasons for selecting them as also for not giving tickets to those without criminal antecedents.
- Recently, the Supreme Court published some necessary mandates to avert the criminalisation of politics as many lawsuits have been withdrawn against MPs and MLAs in the past.
| Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) – It is an apolitical and non-partisan non-profit organisation in India that was established in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. – It focuses on corruption and criminalization in the political process, empowerment of the electorate through greater dissemination of information relating to the candidates and the parties etc. – It has published numerous reports on the criminal backgrounds, financial details, and other relevant information of candidates contesting in various elections. |
Conclusion and Way Forward
- The criminalisation of politics in India is a grave issue that needs immediate attention. The involvement of criminals in politics not only undermines the democratic process but also hampers the development of the nation.
- There is a need to fix the role of Political Parties that should be more transparent and accountable in their candidate selection process.
- The Election Commission of India and other respective authorities need to take transparency measures about the Political Parties and their funding to the People of India so that they can make informed decisions while exercising their vote.
- It is high time that stringent measures are taken to curb this menace and restore faith in the democratic system.
Bitcoin Halving
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In Context
- Crypto traders and Bitcoin miners are preparing for the ‘Bitcoin Halving’—predicted to happen in April.
What is Bitcoin?
- Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 by an anonymous creator known as Satoshi Nakamoto, is a decentralized, digital currency exchanged through a peer-to-peer network without centralized authorities.
- It’s the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency, using blockchain technology to secure and verify transactions.
- The Bitcoin network is public and open-source, meaning anyone can participate.
- Bitcoin combines its network, cryptocurrency, and blockchain to record transactions transparently, prevent double spending, and ensure consensus via a process called “proof-of-work”.
| Indian Government’s stand on Cryptocurrency – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has long recommended a complete ban on all crypto, warning that it has the potential to destabilize the country’s monetary and fiscal stability. – Despite having no regulatory framework for crypto, the Indian government had introduced a new tax regime, taxing crypto income at 30% and a 1% tax deducted at source (TDS) on crypto transactions. |
What is Bitcoin Halving?
- The Bitcoin Halving refers to the 50% reduction in the reward paid to Bitcoin miners who successfully process other people’s cryptocurrency transactions so that they can be added to the public digital ledger known as the blockchain.
- To grow Bitcoin’s blockchain and keep the ecosystem running, Bitcoin miners rely on advanced computer equipment to solve a complex mathematical puzzle through a process known as ‘Proof of work.’
- This intense activity is the reason Bitcoin transactions result in huge carbon footprints and require vast amounts of electricity.
- A halving takes place after 2,10,000 blocks are mined, and has happened so far in 2012, 2016, and 2020 – every four years.
- Reward: The Bitcoin miners solve the puzzle first and claim their prize, which is currently set at 6.25 Bitcoin (BTC).
- While the reward amount is set, the true value of this prize fluctuates based on BTC prices in the market, and when the owner chooses to sell.
Impact of Bitcoin Halving:
- Increase in Price: Bitcoin mining increases the supply of BTC in circulation while the Bitcoin Halving reduces the rate at which these coins are released, making the asset more scarce.
- Scarcity is seen as pushing up prices, as is the case with gold.
- Demand for Cheap Electricity: Both corporate and independent Bitcoin miners are spread across the world, trying to leverage cheap electricity prices in countries like Kazakhstan and Iran to mine as much Bitcoin as they can.
Conclusion
- Every halving in Bitcoin’s history has been different due to factors such as increasing regulation by lawmakers worldwide, more awareness about cryptocurrency investments, greater adoption of Bitcoin, and diverse geopolitical events or economic shocks.
- While the next Bitcoin halving will be a fascinating episode to witness, it is best for crypto watchers to rely on their own research and decide what the halving means to them personally.
Source: TH
Operation AMRITH (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention for Total Health)
Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context
- The Kerala Drug Control Department launched Operation AMRITH to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.
Background
- In 2011, the Indian government introduced the H1 rule to prohibit the over-the-counter (OTC) sales of antibiotics without a prescription, responding to the growing concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- In 2013, the rule to limit the OTC restriction was limited to second- and third-line antibiotics, allowing the sale of first-line antibiotics without a prescription.
- Step was taken to ensure that life-saving antibiotics remained accessible to the public, especially in remote areas
- Operation AMRITH enforces the original H1 rule, mandating a doctor’s prescription for acquiring any class of antibiotics.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
- Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year. The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 3.8 per cent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).
Causes for Antimicrobial Resistance
- Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics: The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. This includes using antibiotics without a prescription, not completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics, and using antibiotics for non-bacterial infections.
- Inadequate Dosage and Duration: When antibiotics are not taken in the correct dosage and for the recommended duration, it can lead to incomplete eradication of the targeted microorganisms, allowing the surviving bacteria to develop resistance.
- Self-Medication: Self-prescription without proper medical guidance contributes to the misuse of antibiotics.
- Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals: Use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals and poultry is a common practice and later it evolves in the food chain.
- Unavailability of laboratory facilities: Over 50-70% of doctor-prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary due to lack of accurate infection diagnosis. Limited access to affordable rapid diagnostic tests contributes to this issue.
Challenges Posed by AMR
- Antibiotic resistance is emerging as the threat to successful treatment of infectious diseases, organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy and major surgeries.
- The issue of AMR causes out of pocket expenditure on health care, especially on medicines. The use of high order drugs or second-line expensive antibiotics pushing treatment costs high.
- Poor Sanitation: The large proportion of sewage is disposed of untreated into receiving water bodies, leading to gross contamination of rivers with antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Global Efforts against Antimicrobial Resistance
- Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP): Globally, countries committed to the framework set out in the Global Action Plan (GAP) 2015 on AMR during the 2015 World Health Assembly and committed to the development and implementation of multisectoral national action plans.
- World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW): It is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
- Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS): WHO launched it in 2015 to continue filling knowledge gaps and to inform strategies at all levels.
- GLASS has been conceived to progressively incorporate data from surveillance of AMR in humans, surveillance of the use of antimicrobial medicines, AMR in the food chain and the environment.
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP): A joint initiative of WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), GARDP encourages research and development through public-private partnerships.
- By 2025, the partnership aims to develop and deliver five new treatments that target drug-resistant bacteria identified by WHO as posing the greatest threat.
- Country wise initiatives:A multi-sectoral $1 billion AMR Action Fund was launched in 2020 to support the development of new antibiotics, and the U.K. is trialing a subscription-based model for paying for new antimicrobials towards ensuring their commercial viability.
- Peru’s efforts on patient education to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
- Australian regulatory reforms to influence prescriber behaviour, and initiatives to increase the use of point-of-care diagnostics, such as the EU-supported VALUE-Dx programme.
- Denmark’s reforms to prevent the use of antibiotics in livestock have not only led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of resistant microbes in animals, but also improved the efficiency of farming.
Measures Taken against Antimicrobial Resistance in India
- National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR): It has a focus on the One Health approach & was launched with the aim of involving various stakeholders ministries/departments.
- AMR Surveillance Network: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) established the AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant infections in the country.
- India’s Red Line campaign: Which demands that prescription-only antibiotics be marked with a red line, to discourage the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics– is a step forward.
- FSSAI has set certain guidelines limiting the antibiotics in food products such as fish and honey.
- National Health Policy,2017: It terms antimicrobial resistance as one of the key healthcare issues and prioritizes the development of guidelines regarding antibiotic use and checks on restricting the growth of antibiotics.
- National Antibiotic Consumption Network (NAC-NET): The network sites compile data on antibiotic consumption in their respective health facilities and send it to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Way Ahead
- Antimicrobial resistance is a socioeconomic problem, and combating it requires measures to improve public health infrastructure, sanitation facilities, and governance.
- While enforcing the OTC regulation is a welcome step, curbing antimicrobial resistance requires a multipronged approach, including reformations to physicians’ prescribing practices and mandating that hospitals report healthcare-associated infection rates.
Source: TH
