15 February 2024

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

1 – All India Conference of Director Generals of Police: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions:

Context:

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India attended the 58th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• It was a three-day being held in hybrid mode with DGPs (Director general of police), IGPs (Inspector-General of Police) and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations.
• A wide range of policing and internal security issues including Cyber Crime, Technology in Policing, Counter Terrorism challenges, Left Wing Extremism, and Prison Reforms were discussed at the conference.
• Another key agenda of the conference is deliberations on the road map for implementation of the new Criminal Laws.

What are the Key Highlights of the PM’s Address?

Paradigm Shift in Criminal Justice:

• The PM emphasized the significant shift brought about by the enactment of new criminal laws, advocating for a justice system focused on citizen dignity, rights, and justice first, moving away from punitive measures to data-driven approaches.
• He highlighted the importance of sensitizing women and girls about their rights under the new laws, urging the police to ensure their safety and freedom to work fearlessly anytime, anywhere.

Positive Image of Police:

• He stressed the need to enhance the positive perception of the police among citizens, suggesting the use of social media at the grassroots level to disseminate positive information and messages.
• Additionally, proposed leveraging social media for disaster alerts and relief efforts.

Citizen-Police Connect:

• He advocated for organizing sports events as a means to strengthen the bond between citizens and the police force.
• He also encouraged government officials to stay in border villages to establish better connections with the local populace.

Transformation of Police Force:

• He encouraged the Indian police to evolve into a modern, world-class force in alignment with India’s rising global profile, aiming to contribute to the vision of a developed India by 2047.

What are the Issues Associated with the Police Forces?

Custodial Deaths:

• Custodial deaths refer to fatalities that occur while a person is in the custody of the police or other law enforcement agencies.
• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), while the number of such custodial deaths had declined over three successive years from 146 in 2017-18 to 100 in 2020-21, they had recorded a sharp rise to 175 in 2021-22.

Excessive Use of Force:

• Instances of excessive force by the police have been reported, leading to injuries and fatalities.
• Lack of proper training and oversight contributes to the misuse of force in some cases.
• A police officer is a public servant and hence is expected to treat its citizens in a lawful manner.

Corruption:

• Corruption within the police force, including bribery, and other forms of misconduct, undermines public trust.
• High-ranking police officials have occasionally been exposed as engaging in corrupt practices, and lower-ranking police officers have also been exposed as accepting bribes.
• Ex: Enforcing the Prohibition laws.
• The laws create a fertile ground for police corruption by boosting demand for banned substances, such as alcohol.
• The combination of increased profitability and law enforcement discretion tempts officers to engage in corrupt practices.

Trust Issues:

• There is a significant trust deficit between the police and the community, affecting cooperation and information sharing.
• High-profile cases of police misconduct contribute to public skepticism and mistrust.

Extrajudicial Killing By Police:

• There have been many instances of Extrajudicial killings by the police in the name of self-defence, which is commonly known as ‘encounter.’
• There are no enigmatic provisions or statute in Indian law that legalizes encounter killing. In various judgments of the Supreme Court, it had limited the use of policy excesses.
• 82 people died in the name of encounter in 2020–2021, and that number rose to 151 in 2021–2022.

What are the Recommendations for Police Reforms?

Police Complaint Authority:

• In the case Prakash Singh v/s Union of India, 2006, the Supreme Court directed to establish the Police Complaint Authority in all the states of India.
• The Police Complaint Authority is authorized to investigate matters relating to any kind of misconduct by police of, above, below the rank of Superintendent of Police.
• SC also directed separation of investigation and law and order functions to better improve policing, setting up of State Security Commissions (SSC) that would have members from civil society and forming a National Security Commission.

National Police Commission Recommendations:

• The National Police Commission (1977-1981) in India made recommendations for police reforms, emphasizing the need for functional autonomy and accountability.

Shri Ribero Committee:

• Shri Ribero committee was constituted in 1998, on the directions of the Supreme Court, to review action taken on police reforms, and to suggest ways ot implementing recommendations of the Commission.
• The Rebeiro Committee endorsed major recommendations of National Police Commission (1978-82) with certain modifications.

Malimath Committee on Reforms in the Criminal Justice System:

• The Malimath Committee on Reforms in the Criminal Justice System set up in 2000, headed by V.S. Malimath made 158 recommendations including that of setting up a central law enforcement agency.

Model Police Act:

• Each state shall establish an authority composed of retired High Court judges, members of civil society, retired police officers, and public administrators from another state in compliance with the Model Police Act, 2006.
• It emphasised on the functional autonomy of the police force, encouraged professionalism and made responsibility vital for both performance and conduct.

Source The Hindu

2 – Concerns Related to Anganwadi Workers: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions:

Context:

• Anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh are on strike demanding better wages and benefits. The State government has invoked the Essential Services and Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1971, against protesting Anganwadi workers and helpers.
• The order prohibits strikes by them for six months in the State, citing the impact of their ongoing indefinite strike on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at Anganwadi Centres.

What are the Anganwadi Services and Role of Anganwadi Workers?

ICDS Scheme and Anganwadi:

• The ICDS scheme was launched in India on 2th October 1975. It was renamed as Anganwadi Services and the services are now offered as part of the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the States/UTs providing early childhood care and development of the beneficiaries i.e children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a large network of Anganwadi workers (AWW) and Helpers (AWH).

Services Provided by Anganwadi:

• It has been provided to all eligible beneficiaries, namely, children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers through the platform of Anganwadi Centres across the country.
• Three of the services viz. Immunization, Health Check-up and Referral Services are related to health and are provided through National Rural Health Mission & Public Health Infrastructure.
• Tracking of Anganwadi Services: ICT platform Poshan tracker has been designed to capture real-time data on implementation and monitoring of Anganwadi Services across the country.
• It provides a 360 – degree view of the activities of the Anganwadi Centre (AWC), service deliveries of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and complete beneficiary management.

Major Roles and Responsibilities of AWWs:

Community Outreach and Mobilization:

• Registering Beneficiaries: Identifying and registering pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under six years old who are eligible for ICDS services.
• Mobilizing Communities: Encouraging community participation in Anganwadi activities, raising awareness about ICDS programs, and promoting healthy behaviors.

Childcare and Early Childhood Education:

• Managing Anganwadi Centers: Ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of the center, maintaining records, and preparing teaching materials.
• Providing Pre-school Education: Conducting age-appropriate play activities, storytelling sessions, and basic learning activities to prepare children for formal schooling.
• Monitoring Growth and Development: Regularly measuring children’s height and weight, identifying any developmental delays, and referring them for further interventions if needed.
• Counseling Parents: Providing guidance on childcare practices, child nutrition, and healthy habits.

Health and Nutrition:

• Distributing Supplementary Nutrition: Providing hot cooked meals, take-home rations, and nutritional supplements to address malnutrition, especially among pregnant and lactating mothers and children under six years old.
• Conducting Health Check-ups: Monitoring children’s health for common illnesses, conducting basic health checkups, and referring them to health facilities if needed.
• Also, to guide Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) engaged under National Rural Health Mission in the delivery of health care services.
• Immunization: Assisting healthcare personnel in organizing and facilitating immunization drives for children, ensuring timely vaccinations.
• Raising Awareness: Educating mothers and communities about health, hygiene, sanitation, and healthy child development practices.

What are the Major Challenges Encountered by AWWs?

• Meagre Remuneration: They are not recognised government employees and the monthly honorarium for Anganwadi workers is significantly lower than the minimum wage in many states, often falling between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 10,000.
• This makes it difficult for them to meet their basic needs and discourages them from dedicating their full attention to their work.
• Delays in receiving their honorarium are also common, adding to their financial insecurity and hardship.
• Overburdened with work and responsibilities: Anganwadi workers are entrusted with a multitude of tasks. Also, State governments often assign them additional work like Covid-19 related duties, Census duties or implementation of govt schemes like Ayushman Bharat without any additional monetary benefits.
• This extensive workload often leads to burnout and hinders the quality of services they can provide.
• Lack of Proper Training and Resources: While Anganwadi personnel undertake basic training, it often falls short of sufficiently preparing them to tackle the difficult responsibilities they face daily.
• Additionally, Anganwadi centres frequently lack essential resources like proper infrastructure, teaching materials, and medicines, further hindering their ability to function effectively.
• Lack of Social Recognition and Respect: Anganwadi workers often face societal stigma and a lack of recognition for their valuable contribution to the community. This lack of respect can negatively impact their morale and motivation.

Way Forward:

Elevated Compensation and Benefits:

• Fair and timely alary revisions aligned with cost of living.
• Robust social security packages including health insurance, provident fund, and maternity leave.

Professional Growth and Recognition:

• Dedicated career progression pathways with promotion opportunities.
• Regular, intensive training programs in child development, health, nutrition, and early childhood education.
• Formalized qualifications and certifications acknowledging their expertise.

Enhanced Working Conditions and Resources:

• Optimal staffing levels with additional Anganwadi helpers to reduce workload.
• Modernised Anganwadi centers with improved infrastructure, equipment, and learning materials.
• Tech-enabled solutions for efficient record-keeping, monitoring, and communication.

Source The Hindu

3 – Shifts in Foreign Portfolio Investments In India: GS III – Economy related issues:

Context:

• Foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) into India have witnessed a significant reshuffling in the pecking order among regions.
• This transformation is attributed to various factors, including regulatory changes, geopolitical events, and strategic alliances.

What are the Significant Changes in India’s FPI Landscape?

Luxembourg’s Ascendancy:

• Luxembourg has become the third-largest region for FPIs in India, surpassing Mauritius, with its Assets Under Custody (AUC) growing by 30% to ₹4.85 lakh crore.
• Globally, its equity assets are now second only to the United States.
• The surge is linked to strengthened India-Europe ties, resulting in three financial agreements.
• Luxembourg hosts over 1,400 FPI accounts out of 3,000 in Europe (excluding the UK).
• Collaborations, notably with GIFT City, have further strengthened financial ties between India and Luxembourg.

France’s Notable Gains:

• France has entered the top ten FPIs with a remarkable 74% growth in AUC, reaching ₹1.88 lakh crore.
• This ascent is fueled by the favourable tax provisions under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and France.

Other Players in the Reshuffled Landscape:

• Ireland and Norway have climbed one position each, now ranking 5th and 7th among FPI jurisdictions.
• Ireland’s attractiveness stems from its tax efficiencies and global reach, offering regulated funds exemption from Irish tax on income and gains.
• Also, despite a 19% year-on-year growth in AUC, Canada dropped one place in the rankings. The impact of the diplomatic tensions between India and Canada on investments remains uncertain.

What is Foreign Portfolio Investment?

• FPI refers to investments made by foreign individuals, corporations, and institutions in the financial assets of India, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
• These investments are mainly for the purpose of short-term gains and portfolio diversification, unlike Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which involves long-term ownership of assets.

Benefits:

• Capital Inflow: FPI results in the inflow of foreign capital into the Indian financial markets, which adds to enhanced liquidity and capital availability.
• Boost to Stock Market: Increased FPI can positively impact the stock market, leading to higher valuations and increased investor confidence.
• Technology Transfer: FPI often involves investments in technology-oriented sectors, leading to induced technology transfer and advancements in various industries.
• Global Integration: FPI promotes global integration of financial markets, allowing Indian markets to align with global trends and attract foreign investors.

Danger:

• Market Volatility and Capital Flight: FPI flows can be volatile, driven by global economic and geopolitical factors.
• Sudden inflows or outflows can lead to market instability and currency fluctuations, harming both domestic investors and the economy.
• Transparency and Identification of Beneficial Owners: Identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of complex FPI structures can be challenging for regulators, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds and tax evasion.

Source The Hindu

4 – Status of Adivasi Livelihoods (SAL) Report, 2022: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions:

Context:

• Recently, a report Status of Adivasi Livelihoods (SAL) Report, 2022, released by the non-profit organization PRADAN highlights that Food subsidy through Public Distribution System (PDS) has reduced the stress that Adivasi households would have faced due to lower income.
• The aim of this report is to understand the status of livelihoods of Scheduled Tribes from India’s central belt.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• The SAL Report, 2022 is based on a household survey covering a sample of 6,019 households.
• The report revealed that the average annual income for Adivasi households in Madhya Pradesh and in Chhattisgarh is much less than the national average annual income per agricultural household during the agricultural year 2018-19.
• In Chhattisgarh, the food and other items consumed by an Adivasi household in a year have a market price of almost Rs 18,000.
• Only around 13% of this amount is spent by households to procure those goods. The remaining 87% of the amount, is the subsidy given by the government.
• An Adivasi household in Madhya Pradesh procures goods from PDS worth Rs 10,000 market price annually, spending only 22% of the amount to procure them.
• In Madhya Pradesh, 32% of Adivasi households, 27 % of non-Adivasi households, and 61% of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) households reported being severely food insecure.
• In Chhattisgarh, 27% of Adivasi households, 42% of non-Adivasi households, and 29% of PVTG households reported being severely food insecure.
• The areas of Madhya Pradesh’s west, dominated by the Bhil community (which overlaps into neighboring Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra), had the highest average household income among both Adivasi and non-Adivasi households.
• It was 1.5 times higher than other regions of the state.
• Adivasi women enjoy more autonomy than their non-Adivasi counterparts. But the workload of doing household chores and livelihood activities is mostly borne by Adivasi women.
• Gender discrimination remains alive in decision-making practices and also customary practices.

Who are the Bhil Tribes?

• The Bhil are one of the largest tribal groups, living in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• The name is derived from the word ‘billu’, which means bow.
• The Bhil are known to be excellent archers coupled with deep knowledge about their local geography.
• Traditionally, experts in guerrilla warfare, most of them today are farmers and agricultural laborers. They are also skilled sculptors.

Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):

• PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.
• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as PVTGs.
• In this context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes.
• Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha.

Source The Hindu