Category: Culture of India

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Culture of India Social Issues

Moving Beyond Tokenism in Women’s Political Representation in India

  • Women have shattered the patriarchal glass ceiling in a variety of fields, but they continue to confront considerable impediments to political engagement in India. Despite early suffrage, women still hold only 14% of Parliament seats 75 years after independence. It is past time to recognise women’s systematic exclusion from politics and demand action to create a more fair political scene.

Political participation of women

  • Role in India’s fight for independence: Women played a crucial role in India’s fight for independence, by organising demonstrations, leading rallies, and raising awareness.
  • Female representation in the Constituent Assembly: There were many female representatives in the Constituent Assembly.
  • Women Chief Ministers: A decade ago, three of India’s largest states, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, were in the news for having female Chief Ministers.
  • Sonia Gandhi, for example, served as both President of the Congress Party and Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance while Sushma Swaraj led the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Around the same time, India elected its first female president, Pratibha Patil.

The debate on women’s reservations

  • It dates from before the American Revolution: The debate over women’s reservation in India dates back to the pre-independence era, when various women’s associations advocated for political representation for women.
  • 10% of the legislative seats: It all started in 1955, when a government-appointed committee proposed that 10% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures be reserved for women.
  • National Perspective Plan for Women (1988): The National Perspective Plan for Women (1988) advocated that women be given 30% of seats in all elected bodies.
  • National Policy for Women’s Empowerment: This proposal was reaffirmed in the National Policy for Women’s Empowerment, which was enacted in 2001.
  • The Panchayati Raj Act was changed in 1993 to reserve 33% of all seats in local government bodies for women, which was a significant step towards women’s political empowerment.
  • Women’s Reservation Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha: The popularity of this quota prompted calls for similar reservations in other elected bodies; in 1996, the Lok Sabha passed the Women’s quota Bill. The Bill proposed that women be given one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures. However, due to strong opposition from some political parties, it lapsed but regained traction in the early 2000s. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010.

Why is there still a lack of female representation in Parliament and state legislatures?

  • Institutional inaccessibility: Election results demonstrate that, despite committing in their constitutions to guarantee adequate representation for women, most political parties distribute far too few party tickets to female candidates. According to one study, many of the women who do receive party tickets have family political connections or are ‘dynastic’ politicians. Because normal routes of accessibility are limited, such connections are frequently used as an entry point for women.
  • It is still widely accepted in political circles that women candidates are less likely to win elections than men, which leads to political parties granting them fewer tickets.
  • Difficult Structural Conditions: Election campaigns in India are exceedingly time-consuming and demanding. Women lawmakers who have family commitments and child care responsibilities sometimes find it difficult to fully participate.
  • Women politicians have been subjected to humiliation, improper comments, harassment, and threats of abuse on a regular basis, making participation and contesting elections extremely difficult.
  • Expensive election system: Financing is also a barrier because many women rely financially on their relatives. Fighting parliamentary elections may be exceedingly costly, and vast financial resources are required to mount a serious challenge. Women candidates are forced to arrange for their own campaign financing if their parties do not provide appropriate support; this is a significant hurdle that discourages their participation.
  • Internalised patriarchy: An example of ‘internalised patriarchy’ is when many women believe it is their duty to prioritise family and household over political ambitions.

Why is women’s participation in the legislative process so important?

  • Political empowerment: Legislative representation is essential for political empowerment since it allows for participation in the legislative process. Legislators are critical in sparking debates and conversations about many areas of governance, as well as demanding responsibility from the government.
  • Women’s representation in national parliaments is an important indicator of the amount of gender equality in legislative politics.
  • Women add a variety of skills to politics: According to Anne, a political scientist, “women bring different skills to politics and serve as role models for future generations; they advocate for gender equality.”
  • Facilitates representation of individual women’s interests in policy: Women’s engagement in politics facilitates representation of specific women’s interests in state policy and generates circumstances for a revitalised democracy that bridges the gap between representation and participation.
  • Highly effective and less likely to be criminal or corrupt: A study discovered that women legislators outperform their male counterparts in their constituencies on economic indicators. Women legislators are also less likely to be criminals or corrupt, more effective, and less subject to political opportunism.

How might women’s reservations in India help enhance political participation?

  • Ensure representation: Reserving seats in legislatures for women helps ensure that women are represented in decision-making bodies. This can assist address the issue of women’s underrepresentation in politics.
  • Encourage women to enter politics: Reservation can provide a chance for women to enter politics and engage in the political process. This can assist increase the number of women who run for office and participate in politics.
  • Building capacity: Reservation can assist women politicians grow capacity by giving them the opportunity to participate in legislative procedures and gain political experience. This can help them become effective leaders and advocate for women’s rights.
  • Changing attitudes: Reservation can aid in the transformation of societal views regarding women in politics. It might contribute to the notion that women can hold political office and make critical judgements. This can help to dispel prejudices and encourage more women to get involved in politics.
  • Women legislators can contribute to support gender-sensitive legislation that address issues such as violence against women, gender-based discrimination, and women’s health. Reservation can assist ensure that these issues are taken into account during the legislative process.

@the end

Women have waited far too long for the right to govern not only for themselves but also for the greater good. Women’s leadership qualities are not concealed from anyone, thus denying them political representation is a great injustice. As India strives to become a Vishwa Guru, we must not underestimate the critical role that women can play in nation building and development. Women’s reservation legislation cannot be delayed much longer. The legislation must be passed.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/aditi-narayani-paswan-writes-droupadi-murmu-candidature-politics-representation-tokenism-7999113/
Categories
Culture of India

India’s Population Growth: Dividend or a Disaster?

India’s projected transition as the most populous country from China by mid-2023 presents opportunities for demographic advantage, but also requires focusing on the available demographic dividend. The population growth, size, and composition must be viewed from an empirical and scientific perspective to understand whether it is a dividend or a disaster.

India’s Population Projection

  • A recent UN report provided the first official confirmation that India’s population will surpass that of China by the middle of this year at the latest.
  • According to the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) annual State of World Population report, India’s mid-2023 population is 142.86 crore, which is 2.9 million more than China’s population.

What exactly is the State of the World Population Report?

  • The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) publishes an annual report that provides a global overview of population trends and challenges.
  • The report addresses a wide range of population-related issues, including fertility, mortality, migration, family planning, and gender equality.
  • It also offers analyses and recommendations for policymakers and governments on how to handle demographic concerns and promote long-term development.
  • The paper is widely considered as a must-read for population and development academics, policymakers, and international organisations.

How may India’s population expansion be used as a resource?

  • A larger workforce: As the population grows, so does the workforce, which, if properly trained and employed, can contribute to economic growth and development.
  • home market: As the population grows, so does the home market, which can fuel economic growth by boosting demand for goods and services.
  • A larger population can give a larger pool of information and skill, as well as a more diversified spectrum of perspectives and ideas, which can lead to creativity and technical improvements.
  • Infrastructure investment: Population expansion can open up opportunities for investment in infrastructure, education, and health, all of which can boost economic development.
  • Cultural richness and diversity can result from a greater population. A diverse population brings with it a diverse set of languages, traditions, and cultural practises, all of which can contribute to a vibrant and dynamic society.
  • Diplomatic clout: A higher population can offer a country more diplomatic clout on the global arena. India, being one of the world’s most populated countries, wields considerable diplomatic power and can use its demographic heft as a negotiating chip in international discussions.

How is India’s population growth a burden?

  • Natural resources, such as water, food, and energy, may be put under strain as the population grows. This has the potential to cause environmental deterioration, shortages, and conflict.
  • Unemployment: As the population grows, there may be a mismatch between the supply and demand for jobs, resulting in high unemployment rates, especially among young people.
  • Poverty: Population increase has the potential to exacerbate poverty, particularly in rural regions and among marginalised groups. This can lead to social and economic inequality, as well as a lack of access to education, healthcare, and other fundamental necessities.
  • Overpopulation: An increase in population can result in overpopulation, especially in urban areas. This can result in substandard living conditions, increased pollution, and health risks.
  • Infrastructure: As the population grows, infrastructure such as transportation, housing, and sanitation may become overburdened. This can result in insufficient services and bad living conditions.
  • Health: An rise in population can hasten the spread of disease and illness, especially in places with inadequate healthcare facilities. This can result in public health crises and lower life expectancy.
  • Population expansion can put a pressure on education systems, especially when it comes to delivering a quality education to all. This has the potential to hinder social and economic mobility while also contributing to inequality.
  • Migration: As the population grows, more people will move to cities, posing social and economic difficulties such as higher crime rates and inequality.
  • The Asian Confluence (ASCON) in Tripura provided an excellent opportunity to analyse the evolving thinking of experts and policymakers. It demonstrated that the present decade may bring about game-changing shifts in the northeast, bringing the troika of Bangladesh, India, and Japan closer together.
Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289505.shtml
Categories
Culture of India

Duty exemption for medicines used to treat rare diseases

The Centre has exempted from basic customs tax all drugs and food imported for personal use for the treatment of rare diseases mentioned in the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021.

What exactly are rare diseases?

  • Rare diseases are medical conditions that impact only a small proportion of the community.
  • A disease is deemed rare in India if it affects fewer than one in every 2,000 people.
  • These illnesses are frequently inherited and are chronic, degenerative, and potentially fatal.
  • Over 7,000 rare diseases are known, and it is believed that approximately 70 million individuals in India are affected by them.
  • Many of these diseases have no cure, and treatment can be costly and challenging to obtain.

Duty relief is required

  • This decision was made to assist patients and families bear the burden of treatment costs.
  • The drugs and food needed to treat these rare illnesses are frequently expensive and must be imported.
  • This exemption will result in significant expense savings and will provide much-needed relief to patients suffering from rare diseases.

Key medications covered by this clause

  • The central government has completely exempted Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a cancer treatment drug, from fundamental customs tax.
  • Previously, the GST Council reduced the GST rate for Keytruda from 12% to 5% in a meeting in September 2021.
  • When imported for personal use, the life-saving drugs Zolgensma and Viltepso used to treat spinal muscular atrophy were excluded from GST.

What is the new tax exemption?

  • The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) approved the exemption by substituting “Drugs, Medicines, or Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP)” for “drugs or medicines.”
  • To qualify for this exemption, the individual importer must present a certificate from the district medical officer/civil surgeon or the central or state head of health services.

How are life-saving pharmaceuticals taxed?

  • Drugs/medicines are usually subject to a 10% basic customs tax, with some categories of lifesaving drugs/vaccines subject to a 5% or nil rate.
  • The GST Council cut tax rates for several life-saving drugs at its meeting in September 2021.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/govt-exempts-import-duty-on-drugs-food-for-special-medical-purposes-for-personal-use-to-treat-rare-diseases/articleshow/99107825.cms
Categories
Culture of India

Channapatna Toys

  • The Augmented Reality of Channapatna Toys was displayed at the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting.
  • Channapatna toys are a type of wooden toy (and doll) made in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka.
  • The state government protects this traditional craft as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization.
  • Because of the popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as Karnataka’s Gombegala Ooru (toy-town).
  • Traditionally, the job entailed lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, also known as Aale mara (ivory-wood).
  • According to most accounts, their production dates back at least 200 years, to the era of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century.
  • The toys are made with vegetable dyes and non-toxic colours, making them suitable for children.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1649746
Categories
Art & Culture Culture of India

Yaya Tso Lake, Ladakh’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site

  • Yaya Tso Lake was recently designated as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site under the Biological Diversity Act, following multiple rounds of consultations between village stakeholders and the SECURE Himalaya project.
  • After filing the application with the Ladakh Biodiversity Council, the project will facilitate the official notification of the BHS.
  • The proposed Yaya Tso site will have an approximate area of 60 square kilometres, which will also include the lake’s watershed.

Yaya Tso

  • It is a nesting habitat for a large number of birds and animals, including the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane, and brahminy duck.
  • It is also one of the highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane in India.

SECURE Himalaya project

  • It supports the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), a collaborative effort of 12 range country governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector.

Project Landscapes

  • Changthang, Landscape of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
  • Landscapes of Lahaul-Pangi and Kinnaur
  • Landscapes of Gangotri-Govind and Darma-Byans,
  • Khangchendzonga and the upper Teesta Valley.
Source: https://theprint.in/india/yaya-tso-to-be-ladakhs-first-biodiversity-heritage-site/1346143/#:~:text=Leh%2FJammu%2C%20Jan%2031%20(,(BHS)%2C%20officials%20said.
Categories
Art & Culture Culture of India

Dhokra Art of West Bengal

  • The art of Dhokra, named after a nomadic tribe called ‘Dhokra Damar,’ was originally found in the region from Bankura to Dariapur in Bengal, as well as across the metal-rich regions of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
  • It is still practised today in the tribal belt of modern-day Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
  • The Dhokra artists begin by creating a wax model, which is then replaced with molten metal, either brass or bronze, via a lost-wax metal cast.

Dhokra

  • Dhokra is a metal cast art form that employs the age-old lost-wax casting technique.
  • This art is said to be the first of its kind to use non-ferrous metals such as copper and its alloys such as brass (a mix of zinc and copper) or bronze (tin and copper) that do not contain iron.
  • It employs the annealing process, in which a metal is heated to extremely high temperatures and then allowed to cool slowly.
  • The casting is done in two ways: the traditional hollow-casting method and solid casting. Telangana uses solid casting, whereas Central and Eastern India uses hollow casting.

Symbolism of Dhokra

  • Dhokra, which has its origins in ancient civilisations, represents a primitive lifestyle and people’s beliefs dating back to the age of hunting.
  • This is why elephants, owls, horses, and tortoises are frequently depicted in Dhokra art.
  • The elephant represents wisdom and masculinity; the horse represents motion; the owl represents prosperity and death; and the tortoise represents femininity.
  • These iconic symbols have stories in Hindu mythology as well.
  • The world is thought to be supported by four elephants standing on the shell of a tortoise.
  • The tortoise, regarded as Lord Vishnu’s avatar, carries the world on his back, supporting the earth and the sea. 
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bengal-village-lalbazar-a-hub-for-dokra-metalcraft-basks-in-the-lustre-of-metal/article66288504.ece
Categories
Culture of India

Hornbill Festival

  • At the Hornbill festival in Nagaland, the official unveiling of the emblem for India’s forthcoming G20 presidency took place recently.

Hornbill Festival: What is it?

  • Kohima, Nagaland hosts the Hornbill Festival every year from December 1 through December 10.
  • In 2000, the festival made its debut.
  • The enormous, colourful woodland bird that is depicted in the folklore of the majority of the state’s tribes, the Indian hornbill, is the source of the name.
  • The traditional Naga Morungs exhibition and sale, food stalls, herbal medicine stalls, flower shows and sales, cultural mélange – music and dances, fashion shows, etc. are festival highlights.

About

  • IUCN status: Appendix I, Vulnerable (uplisted from Near Threatened in 2018).
  • One of the bigger members of the hornbill family is the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), commonly referred to as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill.
  • The great hornbill has a lengthy lifespan, spending around 50 years in captivity.
  • It primarily consumes fruit, although it also pounces on small mammals, reptiles, and birds when the opportunity arises.
  • It has become significant in many tribal cultures and ceremonies thanks to its amazing size and colour.
  • Their population is primarily concentrated in India, particularly in the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris.
  • It’s also thought that some of the biggest bird concentrations can be found in the Nilgiris North Eastern Range, where the birds build their nests.

Ecological significance

  • Hornbills, known as “forest engineers” or “farmers of the forest,” are indicators of the health and balance of the forests they build their nests in because they are essential in spreading the seeds of tropical trees.

Risks

  • Despite being cultural icons for some ethnic communities in the northeast, particularly the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh, hornbills used to be killed for their casques, or upper beaks, and feathers for embellishing headgear.
  • There are fewer tall trees where the birds nest as a result of illegal logging.
Categories
Culture of India

Awards for UNESCO heritage conservation

Telangana has brought honour to the entire nation by winning accolades on a worldwide scale. With a Distinction of Merit for two initiatives, the state has won twice at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The awards honour private citizens’ conservation activities.

Key Points

  • 13 projects from six nations—Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, and Thailand—have been acknowledged for rewards in 2022, including the restoration of stepwells inside the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex in Hyderabad and the conservation work on the Domakonda Fort in Kamareddy district.
  • The “Award of Merit” has also been given to Topdara Stupa in Charikar, Afghanistan, and Nantian Buddhist Temple in Fujian, China.

Domakonda Fort

  • It was constructed as a private residence in the 18th century and features stucco work, arched pillars, a flat ceiling, and a courtyard with a pond. It has received UNESCO heritage conservation awards in Merit for its conservation efforts.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

  • It was founded as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India in 1922 and has won the Award of Excellence. It is a piece of Mumbai’s world heritage property’s Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles.

Qutub Shahi Tombs

  • The Qutub Shahi Tombs are home to domed structures, terraced gardens, intricate parapets, and exquisite ornamentation, all of which were planned and built by various monarchs who ruled the city and the state in the 18th century.
  • Every year, the Deccan Festival is held there, giving everyone the chance to see the engineering and architectural marvels of the period.
  • The tomb of Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk, the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, is one of the most significant ones of the Qutub Shahi Tombs.
  • He was the longest overseer of the architectural project and built his own tomb in addition to deciding to construct tombs for non-ruling members of the royal families, such as sisters, nephews, and nieces.
  • The Qutub Shahi Tombs were constructed and honour the seven Qutub Shahi rulers and their families who ruled Golconda for almost 170 years.

Architecture

  • It was a grand royal necropolis in the distinctive Qutb Shahi architectural style. It is a blend of Hindu, Persian, Pathan, and Deccan styles of architecture.
  • It represents the Indo-Saracenic entrances, Persian minarets, domed structures, and intricately designed columns.
  • False openings, central pillars, and two-tiered terraces all play an important part in the architecture.

UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards

  • They are provided as part of UNESCO’s strategy plan for the Asia Pacific area.
  • Goal: To encourage the protection of Cultural Heritage sites, which is started by any individual organisation within the private sector or institutional organisation.

The Awards categories

  • Award of Excellence.
  • Award of Distinction.
  • Award of Merit.
  • Honourable Mention.
  • Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts
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