Oct 5th The Hindu Imp News Articles & Editorial

Edition: International Table of Contents

 Page 01 : GS 3 : Internal Security : Challenges to Internal Security of India

At least 28 Naxalites were killed by security forces in a gunfight in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.

Naxalism in India

• The term Naxalism derives its name from the village Naxalbari of West Bengal.
• It originated as rebellion against local landlords who bashed a peasant over a land dispute. The rebellion was initiated in 1967, with an objective of rightful redistribution of the land to working peasants under the leadership of Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal.
• Started in West Bengal, the movement has spread across the Eastern India; in less developed areas of states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is considered that Naxals support Maoist political sentiments and ideology.
• Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances.

Causes

• Tribal discontent:
  • The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 deprives tribals, who depend on forest produce for their living, from even cutting a bark.
  • Massive displacement of tribal population in the naxalism-affected states due to development projects, mining operations and other reasons.
• Easy Target for Maoists: Such people who do not have any source of living are taken into naxalism by Maoists.
  • Maoists provide arms and ammunitions and money to such people.
• Gaps in the socio-economic system of the country.
  • Government measuring its success on the basis of number of violent attacks rather than the development done in the naxal-affected areas.
  • Absence of strong technical intelligence to fight with naxalites.
  • Infrastructural problems, for instance, some villages are not yet connected properly with any communication network.
• No Follow-Up from administration: It is seen that even after police takes hold of a region, administration fails to provide essential services to the people of that region.
• Confusion over tackling naxalism as a social issue or as a security threat.
• State governments considering naxalism as the central government’s issue and thus are not taking any initiatives to fight it.

Steps taken by the Government

• Operation Green Hunt: It was started in 2010 and massive deployment of security forces was done in the naxal-affected areas.
  • From 223 districts that were affected due to naxalism in the year 2010, the number has come down to 90 in nine years.
  • The government even started ‘Relief and Rehabilitation Policy’ for bringing naxalites into mainstream.
  • Members of Central Committee Politburo of communist parties have either been killed or arrested.
• Aspirational Districts Programme: Launched in 2018, it aims to rapidly transform the districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas.
  • Continuous efforts of government have reduced the frequency of violent attacks in the naxalism-affected regions.

UPSC Mains PYQ : 2020

Ques: What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?

Page 01 :  GS 2 : International relations

In the first such visit in nearly a decade, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad to attend the Heads of Government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on October 15 and 16.

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, “Mr. Jaishankar’s visit was “mainly” for the SCO grouping’s meeting, given India’s focus on “regional cooperation mechanisms”. No bilateral meetings on the sidelines have been decided thus far.
• The invitation to the SCO meeting was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Pakistan government last month.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

• The membership of SCO has expanded since 2001, and it currently has eight member states.
• 1996: ‘Shanghai Five’ established by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
• 2001: After adding Uzbekistan in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
• 2015: At Ufa, Russia, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members.
• 2016: India and Pakistan signed the memorandum of obligations in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), thereby starting the formal process of joining the SCO as full members.
• 2017: At Astana, India and Pakistan officially joined SCO as full members
• 2021: It was announced that Iran would become a full member of the SCO.

Significance

• Areas of Cooperation: The SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, its fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism, and promoted regional development.
• Accommodating large population and world GDP: It covers 40%of the global population, nearly 20% of the global GDP and 22% of the world’s land mass.
• Strategic significance: The SCO has the potential to act as a catalyst for achieving regional integration among Asian countries and promoting stability across borders. Additionally, the SCO’s efforts can foster improved connectivity throughout its area.
• Bulwark against terrorism and drug trafficking: It has focused not only on counter-terrorism but also on drug trafficking, military cooperation, and economic collaboration.
• Comparison with QUAD: SCO has displayed a much greater capacity to advance shared military and security goals through its range of initiatives such as “Peace Mission” drills that involve all members than the reformed Quad has been able to do thus far.

Importance and relevance of SCO for India

• Counter-terrorism: The SCO focuses on counter-terrorism and security cooperation, which is a key concern for India, given its long-standing conflict with Pakistan and the increasing threat of terrorism in the region.
• Regional stability: As a member of the SCO, India has the opportunity to contribute to the maintenance of regional stability and security in Central Asia and beyond.
• Connectivity: The SCO has emphasized connectivity and infrastructure development, which aligns with India’s own priorities of enhancing connectivity with its neighbors and improving its own infrastructure.
• Economic cooperation: The SCO will help India to enhance economic cooperation with member countries, which could potentially lead to greater access to markets, technology, and investment opportunities.
• Multilateral diplomacy: The SCO provides India with a platform to engage in multilateral diplomacy and deepen its engagement with member countries.
• Boosting relations with Central Asia: SCO is a potential platform to advance India’s Connect Central Asia policy.

UPSC Prelims PYQ : 2022

Ques : Consider the following:

1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

India is a member of which of the above?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Page 04 : GS 2 : International Relations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday met Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo and pledged India’s “full support” to the island nation’s economic recovery and growth.

• His discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership covered India’s security interests, the persisting fisheries conflict, and the pending political settlement of Sri Lanka’s Tamils, according to official statements issued by both sides.
• Jaishankar, on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended an invitation to Mr. Dissanayake to visit India at a mutually convenient date. Mr. Dissanayake, too, extended an invitation to Mr. Modi to visit Sri Lanka, the President’s office said.
• The visit assumes significance, coming barely a fortnight after Sri Lankans elected leftist leader Mr. Dissanayake as their new President, the first to be held after the country’s 2022 economic crisis.
• Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Mr. Jaishankar was the “first high-level foreign dignitary” to visit Sri Lanka after Mr. Dissanayake assumed office.

Relations Between India and Sri Lanka

• Historical Ties:
  • India and Sri Lanka have a long history of cultural, religious, and trade ties dating back to ancient times.
  • There are strong cultural ties between the two countries, with many Sri Lankans tracing their heritage to India. Buddhism, which originated in India, is also an important religion in Sri Lanka.
• Financial Assistance from India:
  • India provided approximately USD 4 billion worth of aid to Sri Lanka during an unprecedented economic crisis, which was crucial for the country to survive the crisis.
  • Sri Lanka was hit by a catastrophic financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves.
• Role in Debt Restructuring:
  • India has played a role in collaborating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and creditors to help Sri Lanka in restructuring its debt.
  • India became the first country to hand over its letter of support for financing and debt restructuring of Sri Lanka.
• Joint Vision for Connectivity:
  • Both countries have agreed on a joint vision that emphasises comprehensive connectivity, including People to People connectivity, renewable energy cooperation, logistics, port connectivity, and grid connectivity for electricity trade.
• Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA):
  • Both countries are exploring the possibility of an ETCA to integrate their economies and foster development.
• Agreement on a Multi-Project Petroleum Pipeline:
  • Both India and Sri Lanka have agreed to establish a multi-product petroleum pipeline from the southern part of India to Sri Lanka.
  • This pipeline aims to ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy resources to Sri Lanka. Recognition of energy’s critical role in economic development and progress is driving the focus on establishing the petroleum pipeline.
• Adoption of India’s UPI:
  • Sri Lanka has now adopted India’s UPI service, which is a significant step towards enhancing fintech connectivity between the two countries.
  • The use of rupee for trade settlement is further helping Sri Lanka’s economy. These are concrete steps to help Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and growth.
• Economic Ties:
  • India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination, after the US and UK. More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s exports enjoy the benefits of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. India is also a major investor in Sri Lanka.
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India amounted to around USD 1.7 billion over the years from 2005 to 2019.
• Defence:
  • India and Sri Lanka conduct joint military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
• Participation in Groupings:
  • Sri Lanka is also a member of groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a leading role.
• Tourism:
  • In 2022, India was the largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka with over 100,000 tourists.

Significance of India and Sri Lanka Relations

• Focus on Regional Development:
  • India’s progress is intricately linked with its neighbouring nations, and Sri Lanka aims to enhance its own growth by integrating with the Southern economy, in South Asia.
• Geographical Location:
  • Sri Lanka, positioned near India’s southern coast across the Palk Strait, holds a crucial role in the relationship between the two nations.
  • The Indian Ocean is a strategically important waterway for trade and military operations, and Sri Lanka’s location at the crossroads of major shipping lanes makes it a critical point of control for India.
• Ease of Doing Business & Tourism:
  • The enhancement of digital payment systems across the two nations will promote economic integration and simplify business transactions between India and Sri Lanka.
  • This advancement will not only streamline trade but also improve connectivity for tourism exchanges between the two nations.

UPSC Mains PYQ : 2022

Ques : ‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement.

Page 09 : GS 1 : Indian Society

The Chenchus, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Andhra Pradesh, face significant socioeconomic challenges due to reliance on traditional livelihoods and changes in government employment schemes.

• Their struggle highlights the urgent need for tailored interventions to improve their living conditions and economic integration.

Chenchus Tribe

• The Chenchus are one of the oldest aboriginal tribes in India, primarily located in Andhra Pradesh.
• They are categorised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• Traditionally, the Chenchus are foragers, relying on the forest for food and non-timber forest products.
• The tribe has extremely low literacy rates and faces socio-economic challenges.
• The population of Chenchus in Andhra Pradesh is approximately 28,349.
• They possess a rudimentary understanding of modern society, making adaptation difficult.
• The tribe is heavily dependent on the forest, which has historically been both their source of livelihood and sustenance.

Problems Faced by the Chenchus Tribe

• Economic Vulnerability: Reliance on low-wage agricultural labor with insufficient income to support families.
• Loss of Employment: Discontinuation of the MGNREGS Chenchu Special Project led to reduced work opportunities and income insecurity.
• Aadhaar-Linked Challenges: Mandatory Aadhaar registration for wage payments creates barriers due to low literacy and lack of access to technology.
• Health Issues: Nutritional deficiencies, high infant and maternal mortality rates, and prevalence of genetic disorders.
• Forest Access Restrictions: Conservation laws limit their access to forest resources, impacting their traditional livelihood practices.
• Housing and Infrastructure: Deteriorating living conditions with inadequate housing, lack of electricity, and poor transportation facilities.
• Cultural Displacement: Difficulty in transitioning from a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle to modern agricultural practices.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)

• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are marginalised tribal communities in India characterised by low development indicators, pre-agricultural livelihoods, and declining populations Identified by the government, there are 75 PVTGs across 18 states and one union territory.
• They face severe socio-economic challenges, such as limited access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• Special programs under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, like the Development of PVTGs Scheme, aim to uplift these communities through targeted interventions in health, education, and livelihood.

UPSC Prelims PYQ : 2013

Ques : Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?

(a) State Forest Department

(b) District Collector/Deputy Commissioner

(c) Tahsildar/Block Development Officer/Mandal Revenue Officer

(d) Gram Sabha

Ans: (d)

Report In News : EnviStats India 2024

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) compiled and released the 7th consecutive issue of the publication “EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts”.

About EnviStats India 2024:

• It is compiled in accordance with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEAA).
• The current publication which is seventh in the series covers Energy Accounts, Ocean Accounts, Soil Nutrient Index and Biodiversity.

Highlights EnviStats India 2024

• There has been around 72% increase in the number and around 16% increase in area for the Total Protected Area during the period 2000 to 2023.
• The coverage of Mangroves, which is an important sub-ecosystem of the ocean ecosystem has increased around 8% over the years 2013 to 2021.
• The report also includes the taxonomic faunal and floral diversity of India, the status of the Leopard and Snow leopard and information on Genetic Conservation using data from the stakeholder Ministries/agencies.
• Also, the Species Richness of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species by taxonomic groups has been compiled using spatial datasets from IUCN.

What is System of Environmental-Economic Accounting?

• It is an agreed international statistical standard for describing the interaction between the economy and the environment, as well as the stocks and changes in stocks of environmental assets
• It aims to integrate perspectives from other disciplines and, where relevant, provide an improved body of information for environmental economic accounts.
• There are two sides of SEEA–the SEEA-Central Framework (SEEA-CF) and the SEEA-Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA)
  • SEEA-Central Framework: It focuses on the individual components of the environment that provide material and space for all economic activities.
  • SEEA-Ecosystem Accounting: It is a complementary framework of SEEA-CF and constitutes an integrated and comprehensive statistical framework for organising data about habitats and landscapes, measuring the ecosystem services, tracking changes in the ecosystem assets and linking this information to economic and other human activity.

Page : 06 Editorial Analysis

Context :

• The article discusses the increasing vulnerability of Kerala to natural disasters, particularly landslides and floods, due to unplanned development, climate change, and environmental degradation
• It emphasises the need for proactive disaster management and community-based risk reduction strategies.

Introduction

• Landslides in Wayanad district of Kerala have exposed the State’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
• The recent event, ranking among the deadliest in India, has prompted a reassessment of disaster management approaches in Kerala.

Kerala’s Shifting Disaster Risk

• Kerala, previously considered a relatively disaster-free zone, has seen increased frequency and intensity of disasters.
• Settlements spread from coastal areas to steep hill slopes, with infrastructure built without considering natural drainage and slope stability.
• Coastal erosion affects more than 250 km of Kerala’s 590 km coastline, while the lowlands face recurring floods.
• Landslides in the Western Ghats and increased extreme weather events are attributed to climate change and rapid warming of the Arabian Sea.

Need for Landslide Inventory Map

• Wayanad, characterised by deep gorges and ravines, is vulnerable to landslides, with tremors often preceding such events.
• A scientific reappraisal of landslide causes is needed, as the understanding remains incomplete.
• Kerala requires a landslide inventory map to identify zones prone to landslides, considering factors like geology, soil characteristics, and human activities.
• This would facilitate better monitoring of triggering mechanisms like rainfall or tremors, allowing timely warnings.

Impact of Climate Change

• Warming of the Arabian Sea has increased the risk of extreme weather events in Kerala, such as floods, heatwaves, and cyclones.
• Rising sea temperatures have made the region conducive to cyclogenesis, which impacts Kerala’s weather patterns.
• Events like Cyclone Ockhi highlight the growing impact of climate change on Kerala’s vulnerability.

Need for a Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management

• Kerala’s disaster management practices are reactive, focusing on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation.
• A shift to proactive practices is needed, as suggested by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Kerala should define disaster risk zones based on multiple physical and social criteria, covering watersheds/river basins.

Community-Based Disaster Risk Management

• People’s participation is essential in preparing disaster risk maps and ensuring effective disaster risk management.
• The introduction of community-based disaster risk management in Kerala can strengthen community involvement and integrate disaster risk management into local development.
• A quadruple helix model, involving community organisations, academia, government, and industry, can enhance resilience and response to disasters.

Way forward

• First, Kerala needs to work out disaster risk zones based on multiple criteria covering both physical and social components within a social ecological frame with the help of subject experts and generate a permanent database. As landslides and floods follow watershed boundaries, the disaster risk zones must be translated according to the watersheds/river basins.
• Second, Kerala needs the people’s participation in preparing disaster risk maps. Given its experience in the People’s Plan Campaign, it is important for Kerala to introduce a community-based disaster risk management in which at-risk communities are actively engaged in identifying, analysing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating disaster risk reduction initiatives.
• This would provide opportunities for strengthening communication, discussion, and learning within the community and between the community and the local and Central government. It would also ensure a bottom-up approach, help reduce tension and potential conflicts and pave the way to integrate disaster risk management in local level development.
• A quadruple helix model involving community and social organisations, academia/research institutes, the government, and business and industry may be useful.

The Landslide Atlas of India by ISRO:

• India is among the top 5 landslide-prone countries globally.
• Others are China, US, Italy and Switzerland.
• In India, about 0.42 million sq. km (12.6% of land area) is prone to landslide hazard.
• Reported landslides in India are distributed as follows:
  • 5% in the Northwestern Himalayas
  • 8% in the Northeastern Himalayas
  • 7% in the Western Ghats
• As per the Geological Survey of India, the economic loss due to landslides may amount to as much as 1% to 2% of the Gross National Product (GNP) in many developing countries

Major Landslide-Prone Areas in India:

• The Northeastern Region (comprising about 50% of the total landslide-prone areas)
• Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir along the Himalayas.
• Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu along the Western Ghats
• The Araku region in Andhra Pradesh along the Eastern Ghats.
• Nearly 17,000 sq km of area in Kerala, mostly on the western side of the Western Ghats, is mapped as landslide-prone.

Major Landslides in India

• Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in 2013
• Pettimudi, Kerala in 2020
• Mumbai, Maharashtra in 2021
• Tupal, Manipur in 2022
• Raigarh, Maharashtra in 2023
• Aizawl, Mizoram in 2024
• Shirur, Karnataka in 2024

How do Landslides in the Western Ghats Differ from Those in the Himalayan Region?

Recommendations of Various Committees on Western Ghats

• Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, 2011 (Headed by Madhav Gadgil):
  • All of the Western Ghats be declared as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA)
  • with only limited development allowed in graded zones.
  • Classify the Western Ghats into ESA 1, 2 and 3 with ESA-1 having a high priority where almost all developmental activities are restricted.
  • Specified the system of governance to be a bottom-to-top approach (right from Gram sabhas) rather than a top-to-bottom approach.
  • Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) to be constituted as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • The report was criticised for being more environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities.
• Kasturirangan Committee, 2013: It sought to balance the development and environmental protection in contrast to the Gadgil report:
  • Instead of the total area of Western Ghats, only 37% of the total area to be brought under ESA.
  • Complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESAs.
  • No thermal power projects to be allowed and hydropower projects be allowed only after detailed study.
  • Red industries i.e. which are highly polluting to be strictly banned.
  • Exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the purview of ESAs making it a pro-farmer approach.