A festival of rash Promises (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 4: Social Justice
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws

Context

• This festival of democracy will last for about a month-and-a-half.
• China may have done better when it comes to economic growth, but can Indians accept the one-child norm that China enforced between 1981 and 2016?
• Can there be open dissent in China’s media about its government’s policies as we have on Indian media channels?

How it can be resolved?

• The obvious answer is no.
• We can accept a lower growth rate of 7 per cent per annum, compared to China’s 9-10 per cent, but cannot compromise on our democracy, no matter how messy it is.
• The state’s first duty is to provide security to the lives and property of people.
• Next, it must eliminate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
• Since more than two-thirds of our population still lives in rural areas and their main occupation is agriculture, agri-food policies are crucial to the welfare of the masses.
• The manifestos of political parties should be evaluated by keeping this yardstick in mind.
• Since the mid-1960s— brought about the Green Revolution (wheat and rice), White Revolution (milk), Red Revolution (meat, especially poultry), Blue Revolution (fisheries), Golden Revolution (fruits and vegetables), Gene Revolution (cotton) and so on.

Way forward

• India is today the largest exporter of rice, buffalo meat and the second largest exporter of cotton.
• Overall, it is a net exporter of agri-produce — although in the last five years, agri-export surpluses have come down significantly.
• The task of eliminating hunger and malnutrition remains an unfinished one.
• Global Hunger Index for 2018 ranked India 103 out of 119 countries.
• The country’s score on the hunger index (31.1) is the highest amongst all BRICS countries, almost four times higher than that of China.
• Direct income support (DIS) to certain sections of society NYAY, which may cost the exchequer nearly Rs 3.6 lakh crore.
• Both schemes are supposed to be add-ons to the existing subsidy schemes.
• Both schemes beg the question: From where will the resources come and how will the potential beneficiaries be identified?
• There are no fool-proof lists about incomes of people even land records of farmers.

Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Five schemes have been launched under Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakaram. Which of the following come under those?
1) Revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.
2) Apprentice Protsahan Yojana
3) Universal Account Number Scheme
4) Random Inspection Scheme

A. Only 1 and 2
B. 2, 3 and 4
C. 1, 3 and 4
D. All of the above

Answer: D

Mains Questions:
Q.1) INDIA HAS BEEN RANKED AT 103 OUT OF 119 COUNTRIES IN THE GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2018, WITH HUNGER LEVELS IN THE COUNTRY CATEGORIZED AS “SERIOUS”. DISCUSS THE POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT TO ELIMINATE IT.