Brus reject resettlement site offer
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in News:
Three organisations representing the Bru community displaced from Mizoram have rejected the resettlement sites proposed by the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) – an umbrella group of non-Brus in Tripura.
Background:
The JMC comprising the Bengali, Mizo, Buddhist Barua and other communities had submitted a memorandum to the Tripura Government specifying six places in Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions of North Tripura district for the resettlement of the Brus who fled ethnic violence in Mizoram since 1997.
Bru Tribe:
- Bru (or Reang) tribals inhabit parts of Northeastern states of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura.
- In Mizoram, they are largely restricted to Mamit and Kolasib.
- In 1995, following a clash between Mizos and Brus, the Young Mizo Association and Mizo Students’ Association demanded that Brus be removed from the state’s electoral rolls, contending that the tribe was not indigenous to Mizoram.
- This led to an armed movement led by the militant outfit Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), and a political one by the Bru National Union (BNU).
- Many Bru villages were burnt down and scores allegedly raped and killed, which led to the displacement of 40,000 Bru people.
- A large number of Bru families fled to North Tripura.
- The first phase of repatriation started in November 2010, when 1,622 Bru families with 8,573 members were resettled in Mizoram.
- The process was stalled in 2011, 2012 and 2015 amid protests by Mizo NGOs.
- Brus settled in Tripura also expressed fears for their security in Mizoram.
Details:
- Due to ethnic tensions in Mizoram, around 34,000 people were forced to live in sub-human conditions in tents in Tripura.
- No solution could be reached all these years. In 2018, an agreement was signed and a package was sanctioned, but many people did not want to go back to Mizoram.
- Only 328 families moved back.
- Due to the initiative by Prime Minister, negotiations were started afresh. The displaced people will now be settled in Tripura permanently.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs brought the stakeholders to the talks in 2015, and a financial package of Rs. 435 crore was arrived at.
- The package covers 32,876 members of 5,407 Bru families. It included a one-time assistance of Rs. 4 lakhs in a fixed deposit within a month of repatriation, monthly assistance of Rs. 5,000 through direct benefit transfer, free rations for two years, and finally, Rs. 1.5 lakh in three instalments for building houses.
EWS quota challenge referred to Constitution Bench
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in News:
The Supreme Court has referred to a five-judge Bench, the substantial question of law whether the grant of 10% reservation to economically weaker sections of the society is unconstitutional and violates the 50% ceiling cap on quota declared by the court itself.
Background:
- The economic reservation was introduced in the Constitution by amending Articles 15 and 16 and adding clauses empowering the state governments to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness.
- The validity of the Constitutional Amendment was challenged, saying the 50% quota limit was part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
- A three-judge bench had refused to stay the implementation of the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, which provides the 10% quota.
Centre’s View:
- The Centre had argued that it was every State’s prerogative to provide 10% economic reservation in State government jobs and admissions in State-run education institutions.
Details:
- The primary question for the Constitution Bench to decide is whether “economic backwardness” can be the sole criterion for granting quota in government jobs and educational institutions for those who would otherwise have to compete in the general category.
Current Status:
- A nine-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court had in the Indira Sawhney case capped the reservation at 50%.
- It had struck down a provision that earmarked 10% for the economically backward on the ground that economic criteria cannot be the sole basis to determine backwardness.
- The Constitution provides only for reservation based on social and educational backwardness, such additional quota would need legislative action, including Constitutional amendments.
- Experts point out that Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution would need to be amended for implementation of the decision.
124th Constitution Amendment Bill
- It will provide 10% reservation to economically backward sections in the general category.
- The Bill will also cover those from the Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist and other minority communities.
- The quota will be over and above the existing 50% reservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
- Those who have an annual salary of less than Rs. 8 lakh per year and possess less than 5 acres of land will be able to avail reservation in educational institutions and jobs.
- The quota will be available to only those economically backward poor people not availing the benefit of reservation as of now, who have a residential house below 1,000 square feet, a residential plot below 100 square yards in a notified municipality, residential plot below 200 square yards in non-notified municipality area.
Centre formulating R&D policy to bolster drug discovery
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News:
The Centre is formulating a new Research & Development (R&D) policy.
Aim:
The aim of the policy is to boost drug discovery and the manufacture of medical devices in the country.
Details:
- The government has proposed to set up three major manufacturing parks.
- It will have an investment of ₹1,000 crore each.
- It is aimed at helping drive import substitution of basic raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and the making of medical devices.
- Numerous production-linked incentives are also on the anvil.
- There is a renewed focus on bringing together research institutions, academia and the industry to identify new chemicals, update processes and discover new drug delivery systems.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient:
- All drugs are made up of two core components namely Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), which is the central ingredient, and excipients.
- APIs are also called bulk drugs. Some of them are very critical as they are used in the production of essential medicines.
- APIs are often cheaper to import than to make.
Way forward:
- Efforts are being taken to reduce India’s reliance on imports, particularly from China.
- The plans include setting up research and manufacturing sites across the country to develop drugs and medical devices.
- Parks are being established, based on plug and play model with prior regulatory approvals, state of the art infrastructure, excellent connectivity, affordable land, competitive utility charges, and a strong R&D ecosystem.
- These would begin operations in about 2 or 3 years.
- The government must consider the industry executives’ call and provide subsidies to boost local manufacturing.
- Under the current system, approval processes are obsolete. There is a dire need to strengthen institutions.
- Scientists’ role in new discoveries must be recognized to help them commercialize the projects.
Pokkali rice seedlings travel from Kerala to the Sunderbans
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
What’s in News?
To tide over a crisis-like situation created by severe seawater incursion into paddy fields in vast areas of the Sundarbans after cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal, farmers are experimenting on the pokkali variety of rice from Kerala.
Pokkali Rice
- The pokkali variety is known for its saltwater tolerance.
- It is endemic to central Kerala.
- It is grown in coastal Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.
- It has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Pokkali is an ancient farming practice. One season of rice farming is alternated with another season of prawn culture.
- When the salinity is high, prawn farming takes over.
- The rice crop doesn’t require other fertilizer or manure as the tidal flows make the fields highly fertile and it draws nutrients from the prawns’ excrement and other remnants.
Details:
- The rice variety’s remarkable tolerance to salinity and floods makes it unique.
- About 80% of the rice paddies in the Sundarbans face the problem of saltwater incursion.
- If the pokkali experiment succeeds, it would be a good step to turn around the fortunes of the farmers.
Environment Ministry dithered on decision to close LG plant
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in news:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) decided against closing down operations of the LG Polymers plant in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Background:
- A gas leak in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh had claimed at least 11 lives and affected thousands of residents in five villages. The source of the leak was a styrene plant owned by South Korean electronics giant LG.
- The high-power committee (HPC) formed by the government to investigate the styrene vapor leak at LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam had submitted its 4000-page report to the Chief Minister.
What is Styrene?
- It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex.
- Styrene is an organic compound with the formula C8H8. It is a derivative of benzene (C6H6).
- It is stored in factories as a liquid, but evaporates easily, and has to be kept at temperatures under 20°C.
- Styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and in natural foods like fruits and vegetables.
What is styrene used for?
- Styrene is the main raw material for the synthesis of polystyrene, or (C8H8) n.
- Polystyrene, in turn, is a versatile plastic that is used to make parts of various appliances such as refrigerators or micro-ovens; automotive parts; and parts of electronics such as computers; and also, to manufacture disposable cups and in food packaging.
- Styrene is also used as an intermediate to produce copolymers — which are polymers derived from one or more species of monomers such as styrene.
What happens when exposed to styrene?
- As per the US-based Environment Protection Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes, irritation in the mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal issues.
- It is the mucous membrane that is mainly affected by exposure to styrene gas.
- And long-term exposure could drastically affect the central nervous system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy.
- It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases.
- However, EPA notes that there is no sufficient evidence despite several epidemiology studies indicating there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukaemia and lymphoma.
- Acute exposure to styrene via inhalation at 376 ppm for 25 minutes had resulted in nausea, a sense of inebriation and headache.
- But no studies have been carried out to understand the harmful effects from exposure at extremely high concentrations lasting a couple of hours.
- Currently, no studies have reported deaths from short-term exposure to styrene gas.
- Hence, it is not clear if the deaths were caused by styrene gas or some other chemical or a combination.
‘M.P. should not get GI tag for basmati rice’
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News:
- Madhya Pradesh has sought inclusion of its 13 districts for GI tagging for basmati.
- In response, the Punjab Chief Minister has written to the Prime Minister seeking his personal intervention against allowing this, quoting the larger interest of Punjab and other states which are already basmati GI tagged.
Which states have GI Tag for Basmati Rice?
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh and select districts of Jammu and Kashmir have GI tagging for basmati rice.
What are Punjab’s concerns?
- According to Punjab CM, India exports basmati to the tune of ₹33,000 crore every year and any dilution in registration could give advantage to Pakistan in the international market in terms of basmati characteristics, quality parameters.
- Pakistan also produces basmati as per GI tagging.
- The CM has pointed out that GI tag for basmati has been given on the basis of the traditionally grown areas of basmati due to special aroma, quality and taste of the grain, which is indigenous to the region below the foothills of the Himalayas in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the basmati of this area has distinct recognition across the world.
- It has been asserted that Madhya Pradesh does not fall under the specialised zone for basmati cultivation.
Geographical Indication:
- As per the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, a geographical indication tag can be issued for agricultural goods that are originating in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristics of such goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.