NSEIT earned the Best Tech Initiative of the Year award at the Dun & Bradstreet Business Excellence Awards 2022 thanks to the Manthan platform.
The Manthan platform earned NSEIT the Dun & Bradstreet Business Award for Best Tech Initiative of the Year.
Objective
Fostering cooperation between business and the ecosystem of scientific research and development. Office of Principal Scientific Adviser is leading the initiative.
It gives many stakeholders the ability to work together to co-create solutions that are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and our national scientific missions ss Excellence Awards 2022.
4 pillars
Pillar 1: Creation of opportunities, which calls for early-stage innovation, innovation that is market-ready, implementation projects, COE, fellowships, etc.
Pillar 2: Putting up ideas for joint ventures, R&D, etc.
Pillars 3 and 4 provide a space for collaboration by using virtual meeting rooms: Pillar 3: Innovation Exhibition, showcasing innovations through a virtual expo; and Pillar 4: Conference/Meeting Facility.
NSEIT Limited
It is a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India and a worldwide technology enterprise dedicated to providing excellence in a challenging digital environment, especially in the banking, insurance, and capital market ecosystem.
The following are the main service pillars: application modernization, business transformation, data analytics, infrastructure & cloud services, cybersecurity, educational technology, and online test-taking assistance.
By comparing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s departure from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp in Maharashtra to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s fabled escape from Agra, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Mangal Lodha recently stirred up controversy. Political parties and other organisations that regard Shivaji as a Maratha icon without comparison in the past or present harshly criticised his remarks.
Political background
Eknath Shinde’s “revolt” against party leadership and CM Uddhav Thackeray in June this year led to the fall of the coalition government of the Shiv Sena, NCP, and the Congress. He has since taken the reins of Maharashtra as its CM.
Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630–1680): He was born in the modern-day state of Maharashtra on February 19, 1630, at Shivneri Fort in the district of Pune. He was the son of Jijabai, a powerful and determined woman who was the epitome of self-respect and decency, and Shahaji Raje, a general who spent his life serving many Deccan Sultans.
Intent on turning his father’s domain of present-day Pune into an independent Maratha state, Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha kingdom. In the 17th century, he divided the several Deccan states into an autonomous Maratha kingdom. At the time of his death, he controlled about 300 forts over a region spanning the Konkan coast from Surat to close to Goa, which was protected by the important Western Ghats.
Power struggles between modern kingdoms: The Mughals and a number of Sultanates, primarily Bijapur, Golkonda, and Ahmadnagar, were contending for dominance of the Deccan at this period. These Sultanates would become tributary to the Mughal Empire as Mughal authority increased, with the kings and ruling clans receiving posts in the Mughal court (while frequently continuing to quarrel among themselves).
Lifetime battles and conflicts for Swaraj: At the age of 16, he engaged in hostilities with the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur. He would spend the remainder of his life battling different foes, creating the groundwork for the Maratha Empire, which would dominate over a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent until the 19th century.
Forts were crucial in his era: Early in his life, he realised that capturing and retaining significant forts was the key to maintaining dominance in the Deccan—or, for that matter, in many other locations in India at the time. His tactics would therefore be focused on seizing forts in key areas, frequently on hilltops. As his area of influence grew, he also renovated and constructed new forts.
Shivaji Maharaj: how he is remembered?
Shivaji was a Maratha folk hero for two centuries following his passing, serving as an inspiration for those who fought against colonial control. His standing in history and emergence as a national hero of India were characterised by the British Raj and the ensuing anti-colonial movement.
He went from being a folk hero to being a pan-Indian hero, according to nationalist historians, who used him as an illustration of a native Indian monarch who was able to effectively fend off and overthrow the strong and oppressive “outsiders” (Muslim rulers, including both Mughals and the Deccan Sultans). As a result, Shivaji evolved from a folk hero to a nationalist figure and was even considered a proto-nationalist.
Stories of his valour and equitable rule were used to inspire a populace that was experiencing injustice and emasculation at the hands of the British overlords. The story of Shivaji Maharaj during the 19th and 20th centuries emphasised both his valour in battle and his righteous governance.
Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughals
Meteoric rise: The Mughals’ suzerainty faced challenges as a result of Shivaji Maharaj’s meteoric ascension. During Aurangzeb’s expeditions in the Deccan in the 1650s, he had his first direct interaction with the Mughals. Shivaji Maharaj was able to annex more land while Aurangzeb moved north to contend for the Mughal crown.
Using quick and clever military strategies that the Mughals could not comprehend: His strategies for dealing with the Mughals were tailored to the peculiarities of his army and the sluggish Mughal troops. He would raid and plunder Mughal strongholds using quick cavalry attacks. While he occasionally engaged in combat to successfully take and hold Mughal positions, more often than not, he simply caused chaos, raided the treasury, and fled with the Mughals in fear and disarray.
Famous Seize of Surat: In 1664, when the local ruler was hiding in a neighbouring fort, he famously invaded the port of Surat (now in Gujarat) and pillaged one of the wealthiest and busiest trading centres of Mughal India.
Posed the biggest threat to Aurangzeb and the ensuing Purandar Treaty: In 1665, Aurangzeb dispatched an army led by Raja Jai Singh I that numbered 100,000 soldiers and was well-equipped to defeat Shivaji as his fame and the physical extent of his control rose. After putting up a heroic fight, Shivaji was surrounded in the hill fort of Purandar.
The great escape
After the Purandar Treaty, he was brought to Aurangzeb’s court in Agra, where he was received in 1666. He gave Aurangzeb a number of gifts, but when he wasn’t treated well in return, he felt belittled and expressed his discontent in front of the court.
Agra was the location where Aurangzeb placed him under tight house imprisonment. Shivaji realised he had to flee to save himself and his domains because he was far from home and assistance. He started to make plans for how he would get back home and continue the battle with the Mughals.
The ideal escape strategy: The ensuing escape of Shivaji is now a well-known legend. In the commonly reported tale, he started giving brahmans alms every day according to a complex arrangement. His home in Agra would send the charity in huge, covered baskets.
The Mughal guards eventually stopped inspecting the contents of the baskets that daily left his home, which led to the final escape right under their noses. One day, Shivaji hid among the baskets and placed his little son Sambhaji inside a different one. Under the noses of the Mughals, Shivaji and his son departed Agra in these covered baskets.
From there, he would go through Mughal territory in a cunning and quick disguise, living covertly until he arrived at the safer territories closer to home. In some tellings of this tale, he assumed the persona of a wandering hermit, while in others, he used a variety of masks. Although his exact route is unknown, various towns and locations he passed through are frequently mentioned in songs and folktales honouring Shivaji.
Embarrassed Aurangzeb thought of him as his own monarch and was furious and humiliated. But he decided against engaging Shivaji in a direct argument once more. Instead, he gave Shivaji the title of Raja and promised him control over the Maratha territories as long as he recognised the Mughals as the superior race.
Coronation of Shivaji Maharaj to Chhatrapati and the ideal rule
Shivaji had reassembled and assembled a potent army by 1669. He would quickly enter stationary Mughal and Bijapuri strongholds using his old guerilla techniques, plundering the surprised Mughals.
Aurangzeb was preoccupied at the time with Pathan uprisings in the northwest part of his Empire. In the Konkan coast, Shivaji skillfully reclaimed his lost positions. He proclaimed himself Chhatrapati in 1674, formally establishing an independent Maratha kingdom.
His rule was expanded over the course of the following six years as new political rules were created to replace the predominate Indo-Persian court culture. He encouraged the use of Marathi and Sanskrit in his courts and established a complex administrative structure with a “Ashta Pradhan” council of ministers.
Conclusion
For many people, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is more than simply a name or a single individual; rather, he is an ideology, a way of life, and an inspiration for today and tomorrow that is unparalleled in history. His steadfastness, bravery, and dominance served as examples for all who came after him. His bravery knew no limits.
The “Look East” and “Act East” policies of India have transitioned into an Indo-Pacific policy and strategy phase. However, the conceptions of this policy in North-eastern and Eastern India are distinct from what we in the national capital understand as the “Indo-Pacific.”
Indo-pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a geographical area that is understood differently by various nations.
While the geography of the Indo-Pacific extends up to the west coast of India for the US and from the eastern coast of Africa to Oceania for India, this is also the geographic boundaries of the US Indo-Pacific command.
Importance of North-East
India’s security: As it moves toward improved security circumstances and development, the Northeast, which consists of seven “sisters” or States and one “brother,” Sikkim, has undergone transformation.
Biodiversity and geography As the geographical “gateway” for a large portion of India’s indigenous flora and fauna, the north-eastern Indian States are blessed with a diverse range of physiographic and ecoclimatic conditions.
Only connecting link along the Siliguri Corridor: 3.8% of the country’s inhabitants reside in the North-East, which also makes up 8% of India’s total land area. The Siliguri corridor, sometimes referred to as the “chicken’s neck” in West Bengal, connects this area to the remainder of the country’s mainland.
Present condition
Enhanced security: Since 2017, the state of security has greatly improved. However, the fundamental problems driving the insurgency continue to be unsolved.
A significant non-traditional threat The authorities’ and other people’s opinions of security were noticeably different. According to the official line of thinking, insurgent activity, transnational border crime, smuggling, drug trafficking, and the influx of refugees (from Myanmar) constituted serious non-traditional threats.
Chinese involvement in illegal activities: China was thought to be a “continuous participant” behind these illegal activities. The Assam Rifles and other security organisations have been forced to be vigilant and take stern action as a result.
Sensitive border management: The insensitive treatment of individuals involved in legal transactions with neighbours. A fair assessment shows that there is plenty of room for future border management that is both functional and people-focused.
Development as priority in North East
Increasing road infrastructure: The Northeast is headed in the right direction by focusing on economic growth. Roads connecting north-eastern communities will need to be improved, and thousands of graduates from nearby institutions will need jobs.
Manipur should be promoted as a centre for medical tourism for neighbouring countries like Myanmar and other Indian States.
The State’s research and development facilities to take use of the region’s biodiversity need to be developed. Improved management and more investment from Indian corporations and foreign investors are essential for accelerated development.
A strategy for economic growth To help create a practical plan for utilising opportunities related to business, connectivity, and human capital development, the strategic and business community.
Conclusion
It is important to hear from people in eastern and northeastern India when putting India’s Indo-Pacific strategy into practice. Therefore, “Think and Relate East” lies beyond “Look East” and “Act East,” especially within our own nation.
Given that India is a country with many languages and ethnicities in a single State, the recent announcement regarding the adoption of Hindi and local languages as a medium of Instruction in Educational Institutions is still up for debate.
The article discusses the linguistic problems with our federal system.
Need for a single Official language
To uphold cooperative federalism throughout the nation.
To facilitate communication between departments.
To improve ties between the Center and States.
To uphold law and order.
Key Problem
The Constitution-makers pondered the issue of how to express national identity in a linguistically diverse community and even connected it to national status. Language is a fundamental component of identity.
Hindi was suggested as the language of instruction and examination in technical courses in the official language committee’s 11th volume, which sparked a discussion about its implications and viability in terms of the accessibility of course materials and the availability of teachers qualified to convey it effectively.
The proficiency of candidates taking Hindi language exams and competing on an equal footing with those for whom it is their mother tongue is another concern.
The national language issue
Linguistic chauvinism is the practise of asserting one language’s dominance over others.
Overconfidence in one’s native tongue fosters hostility and division.
Imposing Hindi raises a number of issues, such as what it would mean for job market competition.
The national language is not mentioned in the chapters on official languages, directive principles of state policy, or fundamental duties.
The constitutional route would be to utilise Hindi or the language of each Legislature’s choice, as permitted by Article 345, for all official purposes.
Key issues with the recommendations of the 10th report on official language
It emphasised a few of its recommendations regarding the examination format and language used in technical courses. Concerns exist regarding its application and viability in terms of the accessibility of common books and course materials. Another major problem is the lack of educators who are capable of explaining it clearly.
The proficiency of candidates taking Hindi language tests and competing on an equal footing with those for whom it is their mother tongue is a related issue.
There is concern that forcing Hindi on students whose mother tongue is not Hindi would harm them. It has obvious effects on how competitive the labour market is.
The Official Languages chapter is comprehensive and sticks to the Union’s official tongue. No mention of a national tongue is made. The section on Directive Principles of State Policy or Fundamental Duties makes no mention of it.
For the third time in its history, the Supreme Court recently appointed an all-female bench. The first all-female bench was established by the Supreme Court in 2013, and the second one occurred in 2018.
Women Judges in Supreme Court
Justice M. Fatima Beevi, who retired from the Kerala High Court as a judge, was appointed as the first female judge of the Supreme Court in 1989.
Since its founding, India has only had 11 female Supreme Court judges, and there has never been a female Chief Justice of India.
There are now only three female judges on the top court
Justices Trivedi, Kohli, and B V Nagarathna.
In 2027, Justice Nagarathna will become the first female chief justice in the nation.
Status of Women in Indian Judiciary
Data of representation
High Courts
Women make up 11.5% of the judges on High Courts.
Only 17 of the 37 women suggested by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment as high court judges have been chosen so far; the remaining names are still being processed by the federal government.
Collegium has thus far recommended 192 candidates for the high courts.
Of these, 37 (or 19% of them) were women.
Subordinate Courts
About 30 percent are women judicial officers in the subordinate courts.
Advocates
Of the 1.7 million advocates, only 15% are women.
Bar Council
There is not a single woman on the Bar Council of India; only 2% of elected representatives in the State Bar Councils are female.
Importance of Women’s participation in Judiciary
Need for diversification
Institutional changes brought about by diversity are good, and the judiciary needs to be more diverse.
Balanced justice delivery system
The justice delivery system will be significantly improved by the presence of women judges and attorneys.
A methodical and sympathetic attitude
Increasing the number of women in the judiciary could contribute significantly to a more impartial and sympathetic response to matters involving sexual assault.
Gender sensitization has been a topic of discussion frequently, particularly in cases when male judges failed to demonstrate compassion for the female victims.
Legitimacy
If the judiciary is seen as a bastion of privilege, elitism, and exclusivity, people won’t trust it.
Because of this, having women in the judiciary is crucial to its legitimacy.
Suggestions
More in corporate than in decision making
Women are outnumbering men in law school classrooms and are increasingly joining the corporate sector, but their underrepresentation in such decision-making institutions is deplorable.
Way Forward
Maintaining and promoting gender diversity in the higher judicial branch with a set proportion of female judges will help India’s judicial system become gender-neutral.
By raising awareness and emphasising inclusivity, it is necessary to bring about institutional, social, and behavioural change among India’s population.
As the guardian of equality and a profession dedicated to upholding rights, the legal profession ought to serve as a model for gender equality.
Modifying a court’s long-established demographics may encourage the institution to view itself differently and pave the way for future modernization and reform.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) recently released State of the Climate in Asia 2021 at the COP27 in Egypt.
Key findings
Drought, floods, and landslides have all caused a rise in economic losses in Asia, totaling 35.6 billion USD in losses.
These natural disasters had a direct influence on more than 48.3 million people.
Last year, Asia had more than 100 natural disasters. Floods and storm events made up 80% of these. Around 4,000 people perished as a result of this, with floods being responsible for 80% of the fatalities.
The greatest number of fatalities and economic harm were brought on by floods. Most residents in the area were affected by the drought.
China had the greatest economic loss in Asia in 2021. It suffered losses of 18.4 billion USD as a result of severe weather
India had the second-highest loss, dropping 3.2 billion USD.
India (3.2 billion USD), Thailand (3.2 billion USD), and China (18.4 billion USD) suffered the greatest economic losses as a result of flooding (0.6 billion USD).
Storms also resulted in significant financial losses in China ($3 billion), India ($4.4 billion), and Japan (2 billion USD).
The climate problem is making it harder for the globe to move toward sustainable development by escalating poverty and food insecurity..
The lack of access to water is also anticipated to worsen. Outside of the polar zone, High Mountain Asia, which is home to the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, contains the most ice. For the most heavily populated region on earth, the glaciers in this area are the most important source of freshwater. The region’s glaciers have been retreating more quickly than usual in 2021 because to the unusually warm and dry weather.
Extremes of water are reportedly the biggest threat to Asia. The analysis claims that economic damages brought on by various sorts of disasters are rising in comparison to the 20-year norm. Economic losses brought on by landslides have increased by 147%, floods brought on by economic losses have increased by 23%, and drought-related economic losses have increased by 63%.
Reasons for these Disasters
Arabian Sea and Kuroshio Current’s Rapid Warming
These regions are warming three times more quickly than the average global upper-ocean temperature due to the Arabian Sea and Kuroshio Current.
Ocean warming may accelerate stratification, change storm courses and ocean currents, and contribute to sea level rise.
Since the atmosphere is directly impacted by the upper ocean’s warming in terms of convection, winds, cyclones, and other phenomena, this warming is significant.
However, the Kuroshio Current system takes warm water from the tropics and stronger winds force more heat into the current. This makes the Arabian Sea unique because it has pathways to receive excess heat through atmospheric tunnels and bridges and mixed warm water from various oceans is pumped into it.
La Nina
The previous two years also saw a La Nina, and during this period, pressure patterns established in India move from north to south, causing circulations from Eurasia and China.
The Southern Peninsular, which receives the Northeast monsoon, in particular, can have extreme rainfall patterns as a result of this. The pressure trend known as La Nina was responsible for the surplus last year.
Suggestion
• India would need to invest USD 46.3 billion annually (equivalent to 1.7% of India’s GDP) in order to adapt to climate change.
Top adaptation priorities informed by the risk landscape and with high investment cost-benefits, are:
Enhancing infrastructure resilience and early warning systems
Enhancing the resilience of water resource management and agricultural production in dryland agriculture
Putting in place nature-based solutions.
Progress in sustainable development and climate action will be accelerated by investing in these policy initiatives.
Adaptation Fund
Although India lacks a dedicated adaptation fund, the agriculture, rural, and environmental sectors have included funding into a number of their programmes.
A form of official cryptocurrency called the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) has recently been launched for retail customers by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The first four cities where the digital rupee, or “e-rupee,” may be used by customers and businesses are Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar.
The pilot will operate in a closed user group (CUG) composed of participating customers and merchants. Four banks—State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC First Bank—will be involved in the controlled rollout of the digital currency in these four locations.
Customers from specific cities will receive CBDC wallets containing notes that have been digitally printed with the signature of the RBI Governor.
About CBDC
CBDC is a cryptocurrency that the RBI has authorised as legal tender. It is interchangeable one-to-one with fiat currency and is the same as fiat currency.
Its form is the only thing that differs from physical cash; it is not made of paper (or polymer).
The holders of this fungible legal money are not required to have a bank account. On the balance statement of the RBI, CBDC will also show up as a “liability” (currency in circulation).
The types of e-rupee
The RBI has divided the digital rupee into retail and wholesale categories based on usage, the tasks carried out by it, and varying levels of accessibility.
Retail e-rupee: This electronic cash alternative is primarily designed for retail transactions. It has the ability to be used by virtually everyone and can offer access to secure funds for settlement and payment.
Wholesale CBDC is intended for limited access to specific financial institutions. In terms of operational expenses, the use of collateral, and liquidity management, it has the potential to alter the settlement systems for financial transactions carried out by banks in the government securities (G-Sec) segment and on the interbank market.
Uses
E-rupees will be distributed through intermediaries, namely banks, and will be issued in the same denominations as coins and paper money. The participating banks’ digital wallets will be used for transactions, and mobile devices will store the wallet data.
P2P (person-to-person) and P2M (person-to-merchant) transactions are both possible (P2M). At the retailer’s location, there will be QR codes for P2M transactions (like shopping).
Just like with physical cash withdrawals now, users will be able to withdraw digital tokens from banks. He or she will be able to store his or her digital tokens in the wallet and use them to transfer funds via an app, make purchases online, or in person.
Difference between CBDC and other wallets
It will be used in a manner that is not significantly different. However, there is a daily and per-transaction spending cap for UPI-based apps like Google Pay and Paytm. The amount of digital rupees that can be stored in wallets is not capped by the RBI. Transactions in digital rupees over Rs 2 lakh are likely to be reported for tax purposes.
CBDC benefits
It might perhaps result in a more robust, efficient, trusted, regulated and legal tender-based payments option. • It has the potential to offer considerable benefits, such as decreased dependence on cash, higher seigniorage due to lower transaction costs, and reduced settlement risk.
In the future, it is likely to be a weapon in the arsenal of every central bank. A more real-time and cost-effective globalisation of payment systems could be made possible by CBDCs, but setting this up will require careful calibration and nuanced execution.
The widespread adoption of CBDC might also require that monetary policies be designed in such a way as to add more liquidity to the system than is necessary in order to stop currency leakage from the banking system.
CBDCs vs virtual currencies
CBDC as “legal tender issued in digital form by a central bank. It is interchangeable one-to-one with fiat currency and is the same as fiat currency. Its only distinction is in form.
In contrast, “private virtual currencies sit at significant variance with the historical concept of money. They have no intrinsic worth, hence they are not commodities or claims on commodities; some assertions that they are similar to gold are obviously opportunistic.
CBDC is distinct from stable coins and cryptocurrencies, which are produced by private companies. A cryptocurrency’s worth is generated from the assumption that it would be appreciated and used by others, unlike a CBDC, which will be the central bank’s liability.
Tropical Storm Gardo recently moved closer to Typhoon Hinnamnor and developed into a Super-Typhoon exhibiting the Fujiwhara effect.
The strongest tropical cyclone of the year, super typhoon Hinnamnor, was barreling towards Taiwan on September 1, 2022. As they approached one another, they began to dance around the central line between them, demonstrating a classic case of the Fujiwhara Effect.
Fujiwhara effect
Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist who found contact between two cyclonic vortices while they were close to one another, is honoured with the name of this phenomenon.
Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist who published the first report identifying the Fujiwhara incidents in 1921, is credited with discovering the Fujiwhara effect.
Typhoons Marie and Kathy merging in the western Pacific Ocean in 1964 was the first known instance of the effect.
The Fujiwhara effect is any interaction between tropical storms that were formed at the same time in the same ocean region, with their centres or eyes at a distance of less than 1,400 km and intensity ranging from a depression to a super typhoon.
It has an intensity that can range from a depression (wind speed less than 63 km/h) to a super typhoon (wind speed over 209 km per hour).
An frenetic dance between two hurricanes rotating in the same direction starts when they are sufficiently close to one another.
If one storm is significantly stronger than the other, the weaker hurricane will orbit it before colliding with its vortex and being consumed.
Different ways in which Fujiwhara Effect can take place:-
The most frequent scenario is elastic interaction (EI), in which only the storms’ motion direction changes.
These are also the cases that call for more in-depth investigation and are challenging to evaluate.
Partial straining out (PSO), the second method, involves losing a portion of the smaller storm to the environment.
The smaller storm is totally lost to the atmosphere in the third scenario, known as complete straining out (CSO), which does not occur for storms of comparable strength.
The fifth type is complete merger (CM), which occurs when two storms of similar strength merge completely. The fourth type is partial merger (PM), in which the smaller storm merges into the bigger one.
During a merger interaction between two tropical cyclones the wind circulations come together and form a sort of whirlpool of winds in the atmosphere.
When Tamil Nadu’s Jallikattu law sought to protect animals from “unnecessary pain” while also preserving the “culture and traditions” of the State’s residents, the Supreme Court queried activists about what they perceived as its shortcomings.
The News
People’s culture and customs are now recognised as a fundamental right under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TN Amendment) Act of 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017.
The petitioners claimed that an assertion does not grant the status of a fundamental right to a simple action.
It discussed how customs like sati, dowry, widow remarriage, child marriage, etc. were once acknowledged as being essential to our culture and were put an end to by law.
Jallikattu
It is a controversial traditional event in which a bull is let loose among a crowd of spectators as part of a bull-taming sport.
The bull tries to escape while other human participants try to grab the huge hump on its back with both arms and hang on to it.
In an effort to halt the bull, participants hold the hump for as long as they can. Occasionally, riders are required to ride far enough to remove flags from the bull’s horns.
It is commonly practised as part of the Pongal (harvest) celebrations in January in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Problems
The Animal Welfare Board of India’s inquiry revealed that “Jallikattu is intrinsically harsh to animals.”
Human fatalities: A number of people have been killed or injured as a result of the incident, and there have also been multiple bull deaths.
Animal abuse: Bull handling before release as well as during the competitor’s efforts to control the bull raises questions about animal welfare.
Animal intoxication: There are also instances of bulls being forced to consume alcohol in order to make them disoriented, or of bulls being agitated by rubbing hot peppers in their eyes.
Supporting Arguments
Native breed conservation: Its proponents claim that it is not a recreational activity but rather a strategy to support and protect the local livestock.
Sangam manuscripts make reference to jallikattu, which was known to be practised during the Tamil classical period (400–100 BCE).
Some people think that the sport also represents a friendly man-animal relationship.
The northern states of India experience severe winter and summer weather. In winter from extreme cold and in summer from unbearable heat, hundreds of homeless people pass away.
Why is homelessness a problem?
Absence of records: There are no government records that list deaths brought on by homelessness. In the age of statistics, it casts doubt on the severity of the problem and exposes the complacency of the state.
Extreme poverty: Since the majority of homeless people are malnourished and extremely poor, homelessness is one of the worst kinds of marginalisation.
Having a poor health condition: Finding affordable healthcare is another challenge. In many cases, expensive conditions have an impact on mental health.
Violence vulnerability: In addition, these circumstances also encourage drug and alcohol use. It fosters an environment that is favourable to drug misuse. Such situations make a person more susceptible to violence, particularly in the case of women and children.
Reasons for homelessness
Extreme poverty,
Inadequate affordable housing,
High levels of inequality,
Discrimination,
Low wages,
High rents,
The soaring cost of living
Homelessness in India: Statistics
Nearly 17.7 lakh persons were estimated to be homeless in the 2011 census; however, this estimate does not include all homeless people.
Supreme Court Commissioners: Since censuses are held every ten years, the data is decades outdated. According to the Supreme Court’s commissioners, 37 lakh people—or 1% of the metropolitan population—are homeless.
In order to determine the number of urban homeless people, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs performed a third-party poll in 2019. It calculates that there are roughly 23.93 lakh homeless persons. The surge in the number of homeless people has been caused by both population growth and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH)” Scheme
The plan aims to give homeless urban residents refuge. Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission, SUH is a sub-scheme (DAY-NULM). The following provisions are mentioned in the scheme guidelines:
Permanent all-weather shelters will be accessible round-the-clock.
Every 1 lakh people need a permanent community centre that can accommodate at least 100 people.
Depending on the surroundings, each should be able to accommodate 50 to 100 people.
The problems in shelter homes
Entry-level obstacles: Due to regional problems such shelter location, entry fees, and the need for documentation for verification, homeless people encounter entry-level obstacles when trying to access public shelters.
Lack of IDs: The majority of homeless people work in the unorganised sector of the economy and lack essential identification documents like voter IDs and Aadhar cards. They become “invisible” to the city government as a result, and their voice is not heard.
Tackling the issue of homelessness
ULBs are responsible for: The urban local bodies are in charge of reaching out to the homeless population. Surveys must be conducted by the local government to determine the number of homeless people.
Decentralized funding: State governments must put the 74th Constitutional Amendment into effect in its intended manner. When it is put into practise, ULBs will have more power and be able to teach SMCs to handle local concerns and bring all shelter homes under their purview.
Providing benefits through ULBs: This can assist them in securing benefits and ensuring the convergence of various government programs, thereby addressing systemic problems like violence and exclusion.
Conclusion
If the needs of the homeless are not met, the goal of providing shelter for everyone will remain a pipe dream. In the whole housing continuum, providing shelter for the homeless is an important link. To ensure the decentralisation of government, state administrations must give municipal entities more authority.
