Current affairs- April 20, 2016
Insult to God to have unauthorised places of worship: SC
The Supreme Court has expressed anguish over inaction of
authorities for allowing the existence of unauthorised places of worship on
roads and pavements across the country, saying “it is an insult to God.”
- The court has
warned chief secretaries of states and Union territories of serious
consequences if they did not comply with its orders directing removal of
religious structures which came up on pavements and public land after
September 2011.
2011 order of the court:
The court, in September, 2011, had said that it had undertaken the
exercise primarily to ensure that “henceforth no public land, public park or
public street is encroached for constructing religious structures”.
- All collectors and
district magistrates in the country were directed to meticulously ensure
that no further land is encroached in their respective districts. The
district magistrates and collectors had to ensure that no commercial
activity is carried out from unauthorised structures on public land.
- The district magistrates
were also directed to send their reports every month to the chief
secretary of the state regarding fresh encroachment and status of existing
unauthorised structures. The chief secretaries, in turn, were to file
affidavits before the court once in three months on regular basis.
- However, none of the
states had complied with its interim orders and were taking the matter
lightly by seeking time to file even the court-mandated quarterly status
reports.
Why be
concerned about this?
Individuals or groups occupying public spaces by setting up places
of worship is a rampant problem everywhere in India. In this regard, it is most
welcome that the Supreme Court is taking such a tough stance on this issue.
- However,
disheartening is the lack of enthusiasm among governments to act against
those grabbing land in this manner. Every case of such grabbing allowed to
succeed has the effect of emboldening many more to follow suit.
What needs to
be done?
Governments should act promptly and sternly to signal loud and
clear that such encroachment on public spaces will no longer be tolerated.
Most of rural India still opts for open
defecation: NSS report
According to recently released Swachhta Status Report by the National Sample Survey (NSS) Office, more than half the
rural population of the country still opts for open defecation.
About the survey:
The nation-wide rapid survey was conducted during May-June 2015,
concurrently with the 72nd round of the NSS. The survey was to track the
government’s flagship programme, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Highlights of the survey:
- The survey estimates that
52.1% of people in rural India choose open defecation compared to 7.5% in
urban India.
- Only 45.3% rural
households have a sanitary toilet, while in urban areas, the figure stands
at 88.8%.
- The lowest percentage of
households having sanitary toilets was reported in Jharkhand (18.8%),
Chhattisgarh (21.2%) and Odisha (26.3%).
- The States with the
highest numbers were Sikkim (98.2%), Kerala (97.6%) and Mizoram (96.2 %).
- 1% of the villages and 42%
urban wards have community toilets. However, they were not being used in
1.7% villages and 1.6% urban wards. Also, in 22.6% of the villages and
8.6% urban wards, community toilets were not being cleaned.
- While 87.9% of the urban
households were found to have access to water for use in toilets, only
42.5% rural households had this facility. For this situation to improve,
under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), the incentive for individual toilet
has been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000, to provide for water,
including for storing water for hand-washing and cleaning.
Why open
defecation is still rampant?
The main reason for open defecation is behaviour and mindset of
the people who have continued the practice for centuries. Adequate availability
of water for toilets is also a concern.
Performance of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin):
Since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) on October 2,
2014 there is an improvement of 8.12 percentage points in number of rural
households having toilets, with 50.17% rural households covered as of February
2016.
Trading bloc to India: Cut tariffs or exit FTA
talks
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has asked India to
either agree to eliminate tariffs on most products quickly or leave the talks
on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Background:
RCEP members are upset over India’s protectionist stance, focusing
only on the export of manpower and not on liberalising trade in goods and other
services, as well as investment. They have issued this ultimatum being irked by
what they perceive as New Delhi’s “obstructionist, defensive and half-hearted
approach” that is “delaying” the conclusion of the talks.
What’s the demand?
Some member countries want India to take a long-term approach and
agree to eliminate duties in goods (barring in a few sensitive sectors in
agriculture & industrial goods) on a higher threshold within a decade to
help India leverage the opportunities arising out of the Global Value Chain.
About Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership:
The RCEP is among the proposed three mega FTAs in the world so far
– the other two being the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership, led by the US) and
the TTIP (Trans -atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the US and
the EU).
- The agreement (FTA) is
proposed between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six
states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan,
South Korea and New Zealand).
- RCEP negotiations were
formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.
- RCEP is viewed as an
alternative to the TPP trade agreement, which includes the United States
but excludes China.
New PF withdrawal norms on hold
The government has announced a complete and unconditional rollback
of new PF norms that barred employees from withdrawing their provident fund
corpus before retirement.
Background:
Under the rules notified in February, employees were not allowed
to withdraw their entire PF amount if they had quit or lost their present jobs,
making it mandatory for them to wait till 58 years of age for a final
settlement.
- Under the norms that now
stand reversed, employees could withdraw their own share of PF savings
along with the interest on them. The balance, comprising the employer’s
contribution, was to be withheld by the EPFO till the employee attained 58
years of age.
- Previously, employees had
been allowed to withdraw the total EPF amount before retirement for
medical emergencies, to fund children’s marriage or while changing jobs.
EPF accounts are mandatory for firms hiring at least 20 employees
and are funded by employees paying 12 per cent of their salary with a matching
contribution from employers.
Facts
India has signed an MoU with Mauritius on cooperation in
the field of traditional system of medicine and Homoeopathy. The MoU was signed during the recent visit of Minister of State
for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health
& Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik to Mauritius. This MoU will promote cooperation in the field of traditional
system of health and medicine between the two countries which already share
these traditions due to our unique historical and cultural ties. It envisages
exchange of experts, supply of traditional medicinal substances, joint research
and development and recognition of the traditional systems of health and
medicine in both countries. It also aims at promotion and popularization of the
various Indian traditional systems which fall under AYUSH.
