16 October 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. Discuss the issues faced by the Indian Policing System? Also, suggest some of the long term solutions.

GS II – Judiciary related issues

Introduction:

• Police reforms have been a prominent concern for administrations since the time of independence. However, despite the passage of almost 75 years, the police force continues to be perceived as exhibiting selective efficiency and lacking empathy towards marginalised communities.  There is a pressing need for reforming the policing system to align with contemporary circumstances and enhance its capacity to address criminal activities and offenders, while simultaneously ensuring the protection of human rights and the preservation of the lawful interests of all individuals involved.

The Indian policing system has been the subject of several concerns and challenges:

• The Status of Policing in India Report 2019 reveals that the police force in India operates at a capacity of 77 percent in relation to their authorised strength. Furthermore, the average daily workload for police employees amounts to 14 hours.
• The country faces a significant deficiency in infrastructure, as evidenced by the absence of wireless communication in over 70 police stations, the lack of telephone access in 214 police stations, and the absence of vehicles in 240 police stations. The audits conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have also identified deficiencies in the armament supplies of state police forces. As an illustration, it may be observed that Rajasthan and West Bengal experienced deficits of 75% and 71% respectively in the acquisition of essential armaments for their respective state police forces.
• Insufficient training: The training institutes have failed to adapt to the evolving paradigm in the fields of law and crime, and are predominantly staffed by officers who lack motivation. In the year from 2012 to 2016, a mere 6.4% of police staff underwent in-service training.
• The police force’s limited staff diversity contributes to an insensitive approach in its interactions with marginalised people, including disadvantaged individuals, minorities, and women. The prevailing sentiments against individuals hailing from different states are also characterised by negativity. Law enforcement agencies often hold the assumption that individuals who migrate are more inclined to engage in criminal behaviour.
• The second Annual Report of the Australian Research Council (ARC) has identified the issue of politicisation within the police force, highlighting that political influence has exerted undue control on police officers, leading them to prioritise political objectives in their service.

Requisite Reforms for the Transformation of the Police System:

• The modernization of police stations necessitates the implementation of many key measures. Firstly, it is imperative to augment the staffing levels of the police station to ensure sufficient personnel are available to effectively carry out their duties. Additionally, the infrastructure of the police station should be enhanced through the integration of improved transport systems, advanced communication technologies, and state-of-the-art forensic facilities.
• The amendment of the Police Act 1861 is necessary to address the inadequacies of the existing legal framework in ensuring the establishment of a responsible and accountable police force. The legislation should be revised, in alignment with the directives provided by the Supreme Court and the Model Police Act of 2006.
• Gender sensitivity is a crucial aspect that warrants attention in the context of law enforcement. It is imperative to enhance the gender sensitivity of the police force, which can be achieved by implementing a reservation policy that reserves 33% of positions specifically for women.
• The Padmanabhaiah Committee proposed a series of structural modifications encompassing several aspects such as recruiting, training, reservation of posts, public participation in crime prevention, police patrolling on national and state highways, and the design of police stations. The expeditious implementation of these recommendations is imperative.
• In accordance with the judgement rendered by Prakash Singh, the execution of orders issued by the Supreme Court is being undertaken.
• Establishing a State Security Commission (SSC) is important in order to safeguard against undue influence or coercion exerted by the state government upon the police force.
• It is imperative to establish a merit-based and transparent procedure for the appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP), while also guaranteeing a minimum tenure of two years.
• Delineate the distinct roles and responsibilities of the police in conducting investigations and maintaining law and order.
• There exists a necessity to incorporate the notion of SMART policing, which entails the establishment of a law enforcement agency that exhibits qualities of strictness and sensitivity, modernity and mobility, alertness and accountability, reliability and responsiveness, technological proficiency and training. If these objectives were to be achieved, it would signify a significant transformation in the functioning of the police force, leading to a promising future for the citizens of the nation.

Q2. Define a Cooperative Society in your own words. Also describe the issues faced and solutions to improve their functioning.

GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

Introduction:

• The national multi-state cooperative export society is an organisation that operates on a national level and facilitates cooperative efforts among several states for the purpose of exporting goods and services.
• The establishment of this organisation would enhance the export capabilities of the cooperative sector by serving as a central entity responsible for facilitating and advancing export activities. This initiative has the potential to enhance the international market presence of Indian cooperatives.
• The proposed society is expected to facilitate a growth in the production of goods and services by cooperatives at different levels, as a result of higher exports. The implementation of measures to improve the processing of commodities and elevate service quality to meet global benchmarks can also lead to the creation of supplementary employment opportunities.
• The promotion of “Make in India” and the achievement of Atmanirbhar Bharat can be facilitated by the enhanced export of cooperative products.
• The implementation of a ‘Whole of Government Approach’ will facilitate the acquisition of export-related benefits from several ministries, thereby aiding cooperatives in their endeavours.
• The national multi-state cooperative organic society is an organisation that operates on a cooperative basis and focuses on promoting organic practises throughout multiple states.
• This initiative has the ability to facilitate the realisation of the untapped demand and consumption opportunities for organic products in both domestic and international markets.
• The National Multi-State Cooperative Organic organisation aims to support organic producers by offering technical help, training, and capacity building opportunities. Additionally, the organisation will establish and manage a specialised market intelligence system to enhance the marketing of organic produce.
• The implementation of aggregation, branding, and marketing strategies on a wide scale can assist cooperatives and their farmer members in capitalising on the advantageous pricing of organic products. This can be achieved by facilitating economical testing and certification processes.
• The national multi-state cooperative seed society is an organisation that operates on a cooperative basis across multiple states, with the primary objective of facilitating the distribution and exchange of seeds.
• The seed cooperative organisation will serve as a central organisation responsible for the production, procurement, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-quality seeds.
• Furthermore, it can also be applied in the domain of strategic research and development pertaining to seeds.
• The implementation of this strategy is expected to have a positive impact on the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and Varietal Replacement Rate (VRR). It will enhance the involvement of farmers in the cultivation of high-quality seeds and the evaluation of seed varieties. Furthermore, it will facilitate the manufacture and sale of certified seeds under a unified brand name.
• The establishment of a comprehensive framework for the conservation and advancement of native organic seeds will be facilitated by the collaboration of pertinent governmental departments and a nationwide network of cooperative organisations.
• Cooperatives must have a global perspective while implementing local actions in order to effectively utilise their competitive advantage. The establishment of these novel cooperative societies will contribute to the realisation of the objective of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ by means of the inclusive growth paradigm of cooperatives.