Category: Governance

• The PM JANMAN programme provides a new opportunity to improve the lives of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Communities.

Government initiative: 

• Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission. Announced for fiscal year 2023-24 to strengthen the socioeconomic situation of PVTGs.
• The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) was launched in November 2023.
• The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gramme Yojana includes the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) and the Tribal Sub-Plan.

PM JANMAN’s Objectives:

• Provide basic services to PVTGs, such as safe housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation.
• The largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme in the initiative.
• Plans to reach 4.90 lakh PVTG homes by 2026.
• Households will receive ₹2.39 lakh in three payments. 

Technical challenges in the PM JANMAN 

Housing Scheme, app functionality and data gathering:

• Data Collection Areas: The ‘Awaas+’ app tracks geographical locations, household profiles with geotagging, and bank account information for payment transfers.
• Mandatory Jobcard: Registration needs a jobcard, although many have been removed, compromising PVTG eligibility.

Jobcard Issues:

• Deletion of Job Cards: The widespread deletion of over eight crore MGNREGA jobcards over the last two years has made many PVTGs ineligible for the scheme.
• Jobcard Misuse: Fraudulent registrations using someone else’s job cards complicate the registration process. 

Discrepancies in the village list

• Inconsistent Data: The app’s pre-populated list of communities does not correspond to the MGNREGA Management Information System (MIS). For example, the app displays 22 villages whereas the MIS includes 31 villages for Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Vanjari’ Panchayat, which causes confusion.

Aadhaar-related Issues:

• Name Matching: The software requires names to match Aadhaar information but does not specify what to do if Aadhaar is missing.
• PVTG Identification: The app does not explicitly identify PVTGs and instead uses the default ‘ST’ option, which results in non-PVTG registrations.

Certification Issues:

• Local Certification: Due to ineligible registrations, local officials ask PVTGs for certification from sarpanches/mukhiyas.
• Conflict of Interest: Non-PVTG sarpanches/mukhiyas in mixed communities may act against the interests of PVTGs, making the certification process difficult. 

Geo-tagging Problems:

• Network Issues: Poor network connectivity disrupts geo-tagging for planned development sites, preventing proper data collecting.

Bank Selection Complexity:

• Overwhelming Options: The app’s bank dropdown lists are too extensive. For example, selecting ‘Commercial Bank’ displays over 300 alternatives, while picking ‘State Bank of India’ in Andhra Pradesh displays over 500 branches, creating additional complication for both PVTGs and authorities. 

Opportunity/Next Steps for PM JANMAN Housing Scheme

• Simplify the App Interface: Update the ‘Awaas+’ app’s UI to make it more user-friendly and remove extraneous complications, such as extensive dropdown lists for banks.
• Clear guidelines for Aadhaar: Provide precise guidance on what names to use in the absence of Aadhaar, so that all eligible PVTGs can register.
• Verify Jobcard Authenticity: Introduce strong safeguards to prevent fraudulent registrations using other people’s jobcards.
• Improve Network Infrastructure: Invest in improved network infrastructure in rural regions to facilitate geotagging. 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-door-to-a-housing-scheme-tribals-find-hard-to-open/article68219126.ece

• According to official data, the PM-WANI plan has resulted in a rapid increase in public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, with roughly 1,99,896 hotspots nationwide.

What is the Prime Minister’s WANI Initiative?

• PM Modi unveiled the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM WANI) in December 2020.
• It is an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
• It advances the purpose of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) of building a strong digital communications infrastructure.
  • The goal is to make internet connection more widely available, especially in distant and neglected places.
  • Implementation: Uses Public Data Offices (PDOs) located in public places such as train stations, banks, and post offices. Users can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi at these sites without using a SIM card. 

PM-WANI ecosystem consists of four parts: 

1. Public Data Office (PDO): It builds Wi-Fi hotspots and gives internet access to consumers.
2. The Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) offers authorization and accounting services to PDOs.
3. App Provider: It lists the accessible hotspots in the phone’s vicinity.
4. The Centre for Development of Telematics oversees the Central Registry, which contains information on App Providers, PDOs, and PDOAs. 

How to Use PM WANI?

• To use PM WANI services, customers must first install the Data PM WANI app on their cellphones.
• The programme allows users to connect to local public Wi-Fi PDOs.
• This application provides seamless connecting to PM-WANI-compliant Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing users to easily access internet services.

Offered Data Plans:

PM WANI provides a variety of data plans to meet different use needs: 

• Rs 6 plan: 1GB data for 1 day
• Rs 9 plan: 2GB data for 2 days
• Rs 18 plan: 5GB data for 3 days
• Rs 25 plan: 20GB data for 7 days
• Rs 49 plan: 40GB data for 14 days
• Rs 99 plan: 100GB data for 30 days

Role of Public Data Offices (PDOs)

• The PM-WANI plan allows rural entrepreneurs to build Public Data Offices (PDOs) in remote areas.
• These PDOs purchase internet bandwidth from telecom service providers or ISPs in order to provide low-cost Wi-Fi services.
• This concept allows people to access the internet even in places with poor or no data connectivity. 

Source: https://pmwani.gov.in/

• The Spices Board has taken aggressive steps with CODEX, the international food standards organisation, to address the critical issue of ethylene oxide (ETO) pollution in spices.
  • This endeavour comes after recent recalls of certain branded spices supplied from India to Hong Kong and Singapore owing to worries about ETO contamination.
  • Concerns over spice quality have also been expressed by nations such as the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, necessitating continuous assessments of Indian spice imports.

CODEX Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs

• The CODEX committee (CCSCH) was established in 2013 with the cooperation of over 100 nations, with India serving as the host country and the Spices Board serving as the Secretariat for committee meetings.
• Objectives:

• To consult with other international organisations on the spice market’s standard development process.
• To establish and expand global standards. 
• Since its creation, the CODEX Committee has been working to set worldwide standards for herbs and spices.

About the Codex Standards:

Codex standards are voluntary in nature and might be generic or particular. They are recognised as reference standards under WTO Agreements. 

1. General Standards, Guidelines, and Codes of Practice: These basic Codex publications primarily address sanitary practice, labelling, pollutants, additives, inspection and certification, nutrition, and residues of veterinary medications and pesticides, and apply horizontally to goods and product groups.
2. Commodity standards apply to specific products, however Codex is progressively developing criteria for food groupings.
3. Regional standards: Standards set by the different Regional Coordinating Committees that apply to their respective regions. 

India’s push for Permissible ETO Limits

• Advocacy for restrictions: Recognising the differences in rules between nations, India has lobbied for the introduction of restrictions on ETO usage.
  • So far, CODEX has not set a restriction on ETO usage, and India has proposed standardising ETO testing processes.
• Focus on Safety: While understanding the carcinogenic danger of ETO when used in excess, measures to prevent contamination have been increased.
  • Notably, India’s sample failure rate in spice exports is less than 1% in key countries, demonstrating the industry’s dedication to quality and safety.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/spices-board-discussing-setting-of-eto-limits-with-codex/article68179578.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIndia%20has%20taken%20up%20with,%2C%E2%80%9D%20an%20official%20told%20businessline.

The Street Vendors Act, which was celebrated as progressive legislation, is now facing significant operational issues. 

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 

• It is an Act passed by India’s Parliament to regulate and safeguard the rights of street sellers in public places.
• The Act seeks to preserve the rights of urban street sellers while also regulating their activity. It clearly defines the duties and responsibilities of both suppliers and various levels of government.
• According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, India has around 10 million street vendors, including major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. 

Significance of street vendors

• Street vendors account for around 2.5% of a city’s population and play a variety of roles in city life, including providing necessary services, a small income for migrants and the urban poor, and inexpensive items for others.
• Street vendors are vital for preserving affordability and accessibility to food, nutrition, and commodities distribution, as well as being part of the cultural fabric of cities such as Mumbai and Chennai. 

Challenges with Act Implementation

• Administrative challenges include an increase in harassment and evictions of street sellers, despite the Act’s emphasis on protection and regulation.Outdated bureaucratic attitude regards suppliers as unlawful entities.
• Lack of information and education of the Act among state officials, the general public, and vendors.
• Street vendor representatives have limited power in Town Vending Committees (TVCs), which are frequently controlled by local municipal officials.Tokenistic depiction of female sellers in television commercials. 
• Governing Issues: Inadequate current urban governing institutions.
• The Act is not fully integrated with the framework provided by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act for urban governance.
• ULBs have insufficient power and capacity.
• Top-down programmes such as the Smart Cities Mission prioritise infrastructure development while disregarding measures for including street sellers into municipal design.
• Societal Challenges: The dominant image of the ‘world-class metropolis’ is sometimes restrictive.Street sellers are marginalised and stigmatised as barriers to urban development rather than genuine contributions to the urban economy.
• These issues are reflected in city design, urban planning, and public views of neighbourhoods. 

Way forward.

• Decentralisation of Interventions: It is necessary to decentralise interventions and strengthen the capacity of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to plan for street vending in cities.
• Shift from department-led actions to deliberative processes: It is critical to shift away from high-handed departmental operations and towards true deliberate procedures at the Town Vending Committee (TVC) level. 
• Urban plans, city planning rules, and ordinances must be updated to incorporate allowances for street vending.
• Need-Based Welfare Provisions: The Act’s broad welfare provisions should be creatively used to meet the rising requirements of street vendors, such as mitigating the impact of climate change, e-commerce rivalry, and lower salaries.
• Adaptation to the National Urban Livelihood Mission: The National Urban Livelihood Mission’s street vendor sub-component should recognise changing circumstances and encourage new solutions to meet demands. 

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1986250#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20protect%20rights,and%20Plan%20for%20Street%20Vending

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is preparing to defend India’s human rights procedures at a key meeting of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in Geneva.
• This summit will decide if India’s NHRC will keep its “A status” accreditation. 

About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

	Details
Establishment	The Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993 established this statutory body.
Functions	Inquire about any infringement of human rightsRecommend quick temporary aid for victims and their families.Intervene in court cases involving human rights breaches.Review the constitutional and legal safeguards for human rights.Study international human rights instruments.Promote human rights literacy. Support the efforts of NGOs working in the field of human rights
Powers	Regulate its own procedures.Have all the powers of a civil court.Proceedings have judicial nature.
Chairperson	Applicants must be former Supreme Court Justices or Chief Justices appointed by the President of India.
Members	Four full-time members.Chairperson: Former Supreme Court Justice or Chief Justice; Other Members: Former Supreme Court Judges; Other Members: Former High Court Chief Justices.Three members have expertise or experience in human rights, including at least one woman-Seven ex-officio members:  Chairpersons of National Commissions viz., National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women , National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
Appointment	Removal by order of the President of India.Appointed by the President on the suggestion of a committee including the Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Home Minister, Leaders of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and others.Consultation with the Chief Justice of India on judicial appointments.
Removal	Removal by order of the President of India.Consultation with the Supreme Court Before Removal
Terms of Office	Hold office for three years, or until the age of 70.Ineligibility for continued government job after leaving office.Suitable for reappointment.
Salaries	Determined by the Central government
Reporting	Submits yearly or special reports to the central government and the relevant state governments.Reports presented to the different legislatures, together with a summary of action taken on the recommendations and reasons for non-acceptance of any suggestions.
Limitations	The commission is not empowered to investigate any case beyond the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting the violation of human rights is claimed to have occurred.Functions are recommendatory in nature, with no ability to penalise or grant remedy to offenders.Limited involvement regarding armed forces transgressions.

GANHRI’s Concerns About India’s NHRC

The SCA voiced concerns about India’s NHRC’s operational independence and composition, which might result in a degradation of its accreditation status in 2023.

• Political intervention: The NHRC-India encountered allegations regarding political intervention in appointments, jeopardising its independence.
• The involvement of the police in investigations into human rights crimes generated questions about impartiality and fairness.
• Lack of collaboration: The NHRC’s weak collaboration with civil society was criticised for undermining its ability to safeguard human rights.
• Lack of Diversity: The GANHRI identified a lack of diversity among NHRC staff and leadership roles. There is also an absence of gender and minority representation.
• Insufficient Protection of Marginalised Groups: The NHRC was judged to have taken insufficient action to safeguard marginalised groups, which violated the United Nations’ rules on national institutions (the “Paris Principles”). 

Source: https://nhrc.nic.in/press-release/nhrc-india-retains-its-status-accreditation-ganhri#:~:text=accreditation%20with%20GANHRI-,NHRC%2C%20India%20retains%20its%20'A'%20status%20of%20%3Cbr,consecutive%20term%20of%20five%20years.

• On April 12, the Environment Ministry announced further instructions on its Green Credit Programme (GCP).

Features of the Green Credit Programme:

• Open-Platform: Individuals, organisations, and public and private enterprises can invest in these environmental efforts and get ‘green credits’ in exchange. These credits are awarded depending on the environmental effect of the investment activity.
  • According to reports, public sector corporations like Indian Oil, Power Grid Corporation of India, National Thermal Power Corporation, Oil India, Coal India, and National Hydropower Corporation have registered to invest in the GCP.
• Set with Priority: The Ministry has established guidelines for the first project under the GCP, which will focus on afforestation. Participants can contribute to afforestation initiatives in degraded forest and wasteland regions, with tree planting overseen by state forest agencies.
  • The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous entity of the Environment Ministry, is in charge of managing the GCP. They develop algorithms for calculating green credits and operate a credit exchange trading platform.
• Regional Participation: Thirteen state forest departments have contributed 387 land parcels totaling almost 10,983 hectares of degraded forest area for afforestation initiatives under the GCP.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Successful participants will be given cost estimates for their chosen afforestation projects, allowing them to make more informed decisions and plan accordingly. 

Why has the GCP sparked controversy?

• Commodification of Environmental Conservation: Critics believe that the GCP reduces environmental conservation to a commodity, potentially compromising India’s forest conservation legislation.
• Forest Diversion Concerns: The GCP’s provision allowing enterprises to “exchange” green credits for complying with compensating afforestation criteria raises fears that it would be misused by industries trying to alleviate forest diversion regulations, notably in mining and infrastructure.
• Ecological Impact: Planting trees as part of an afforestation programme does not ensure ecosystem improvement. India’s different forest types necessitate unique techniques, and planting the incorrect trees might result in the spread of invasive species or damage sustainable ecosystems.
• Monoculture Threat: There is a concern that the GCP may encourage the replacement of natural forests with invasive monocultures, threatening biodiversity and ecological balance.
• Carbon Trading Controversy: The GCP permits green credits from carbon storage (e.g., tree planting) to be utilised in carbon trading. However, the mechanism for equating these activities is imprecise, raising concerns about the efficacy and legality of carbon trading programmes. 

Conclusion: 

The Green Credit Programme in India has been criticised for possibly commodifying conservation, raising worries about forest diversion, creating ecological dangers such as monoculture, and missing clarity in carbon trading procedures. As a result, intensive supervision and adaptability are required.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/what-are-the-new-green-credit-programme-rules-explained/article68088803.ece#:~:text=Under%20this%2C%20individuals%2C%20organisations%20and,to%20receive%20'green%20credits.'

• For the first time ever, the Central government has announced curriculum that should be taught to youngsters from three to six years old.

Objective of Aadharshila

• The early childhood education curriculum is meant to address core reading and numeracy deficiencies that may occur in later school years. 

Who launched?

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has announced the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024, termed ‘Aadharshila,’ which follows the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework.

Where?

• Aadharshila (English as foundation stone) is a detailed 48-week curriculum designed for children aged three to six who attend anganwadis.

Significance Aadharshila’s Curriculum

• Structure of Curriculum: The curriculum is organised weekly and covers 48 weeks of learning over a three-year period. It is intended to serve children aged three to six attending anganwadis.
• The curriculum begins with four weeks of initiation, which focuses on academic activities to help children transfer from their homes to the anganwadi centre. These activities are engaging, enjoyable, and allow for free play.
• The following 36 weeks are dedicated to discovery, free play, conversation, creativity, and appreciation. During this era, children engage in activities such as storytelling, singing rhymes, painting and craft, and other enjoyable hobbies. Conflict resolution, responsibility, and cooperation are common storytelling themes.
• Learning Objectives: Children learn about colours, shapes, numbers, body parts, family and friends, listening and reacting to directions, basic counting, and seasonal, festival, and culinary themes.

Anganwadi 

• Anganwadi services in India are part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) plan, which began on October 2, 1975.
• The primary goal of the Anganwadi programme is to improve the nutritional and health status of children aged 0 to 6, lay the groundwork for proper psychological, physical, and social development, and reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropout.

Conclusion: 

The launching of ‘Aadharshila’ represents a big step forward in early childhood education, with the goal of bridging basic gaps. To improve its effectiveness, continual monitoring, teacher training, and community involvement are needed..

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/education/centre-releases-curriculum-framework-for-three-to-six-year-olds/article68084489.ece#:~:text=SUBSCRIBE%20%26%20SAVE-,Aadharshila%20(translated%20as%20foundation%20stone)%20is%20a%20detailed%2048%2D,of%20pregnant%20mothers%20and%20children.

• The Agriculture Minister recently inaugurated the Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi.

What is the Krishi ICCC?

• The ICCC uses a variety of IT applications and platforms to provide actionable information and facilitate informed decision-making.
• 8 big LED screens present critical information in graphical style, including crop yields, production, drought conditions, cropping patterns, and important trends.
• The dashboard provides insights, warnings, and comments on agricultural schemes, programmes, projects, and initiatives, allowing stakeholders to access full information.

Data utilised by Krishi ICCC

The ICCC will consolidate geospatial data from various sources, including 

1. plot-level data from Soil Survey, 
2. weather data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 
3. sowing data from Digital Crop Survey, 
4. farmer-related data from Krishi MApper, 
5. geo-fencing and geo-tagging of land, and 
6. market intelligence from the Unified Portal. 

Objectives and Functionality

• complete Monitoring: The ICCC seeks to enable complete monitoring of the farm sector by combining geospatial data from multiple sources such as remote sensing, meteorological data, soil surveys, and market intelligence.
• Decision Support: Integrated visualisation enables policymakers and stakeholders to make quick and efficient decisions based on real-time data and analysis. 

Farmer-Specific Advice and Practical Applications

• Individual Farmer advises: The ICCC has the ability to generate individual farmer-specific advises using apps such as Kisan e-Mitra (a chatbot built for PM-Kisan recipients), which use AI and machine learning to tailor recommendations based on farmer data.

Practical Applications:

1. Farmer’s Advisory: GIS-based soil mapping, soil health card data, and weather information may all be visualised to provide customised crop selection and agricultural management advice.
2. Drought Actions: By correlating yield data with weather patterns, we may take preventative efforts to lessen the impact of droughts.
3. Crop Diversification: Analysing crop diversification maps can assist identify places that are appropriate for diverse cropping, hence increasing agricultural productivity.
4. Farm Data Repository: The Krishi Decision Support System (K-DSS) serves as an agriculture data repository, enabling evidence-based decision-making and the creation of tailored advice for farmers.
5. Validation of Yield: The ICCC provides the validation of yield data gathered through diverse applications, ensuring correctness and reliability.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/iccc-integrated-farm-data-dashboard-for-customised-solutions-9235150/#:~:text=The%20ICCC%20will%20enable%20comprehensive,sowing%20data%20from%20Digital%20Crop