Why are fisherfolk protesting the Vizhinjam port project?
GS PAPER 1: Water bodies
Important for
Prelims Exam: About Vizhinjam port
Mains Exam: Significance of Vizhinjam port
Why in News?
Vizhinjam has been on the boil for the past four months with protesters mainly fisherfolk and their families laying siege to the under-construction Vizhinjam port. The protestors led by the Latin Archdiocese have been demanding the halting of the construction work of the port by Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited.
Vizhinjam port project:
- The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is an ambitious project taken up by Government of Kerala.
- It is touted as a “dream project and a game changer for the fortunes of Kerala”.
- It was announced as a fast-track project in 2009 though actual work began much later.
- The key advantage of the site is the availability of naturally deep draught and proximity to the East-West shipping channel.
- The Kerala government gave the contract for the construction and running of the port to Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd., based on the concession agreement, for 40 years to begin with.
What lies at the heart of the protests?
- According to protesters, the port work has aggravated the coastal erosion along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram.
- They have raised seven demands which include, a scientific study to assess the impact of the port work on the shoreline after stopping the construction of the port.
- Further, around 300 families along the coastline were shifted to relief camps after their houses were destroyed due to high-intensity coastal erosion.
- The protesters demand a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the fisherfolk in the region, an assured minimum wage when the sea turns rough due to inclement weather, and subsidised kerosene for boats.
Has it aggravated coastal erosion?
- All types of construction work along a coast, aggravate sea erosion (loss of beach) and accretion (gain of beach).
- Any structure be it groyne, seawall, or breakwater intensifies erosion on one side and accretion on the other.
- Although coastal erosion is dominant in all coastal districts of Kerala, it is more severe along the coastline of Thiruvananthapuram.
- A study conducted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Society of Integrated Coastal Management, and the Ministry of Environment and Forest had noted that the erosion is minimum at Thrissur (1.5 %) and maximum at Thiruvananthapuram (23%), even before the port construction. In Kerala’s case, the seasonal shoreline changes would be more severe during monsoon months due to the high-energy short storm waves that lash the coast almost in a perpendicular position moving the sand offshore. The latest report of the expert committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal and Shoreline Monitoring Cell observed that erosion in spots such as Valiyathura, Shanghumugham, and Punthura remained the same as before and after the commencement of the port construction (December 2015).
- However, during the October 2020–September 2021 period, spots like Kochuveli and Cheriyathura to the north of Valiyathura suffered erosion. The report noted that the relatively high number of cyclones formed over the Arabian sea after cyclone Ockhi in 2017 was the main reason for the recent erosion and accretion and that the impact of the port activity on either side of the coast had less significance.
What is the government’s stance?
- The Kerala Government made it clear that since the coastal erosion is due to climate change as reported by various agencies, the demand for stopping the port construction cannot be conceded.
- Officials argue that the Vizhinjam seaport is being constructed inside a natural sediment cell which is a pocket-like area in which interruptions to the movement of sand along the coast do not significantly affect the adjacent coastline.
Is the Vizhinjam project important?
- Located on the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula, just 10 nautical miles from the major international sea route and east-west shipping axis, and with a natural water depth of more than 20m within a nautical mile from the coast, the Vizhinjam port is likely to play a pivotal role in the maritime development of the country and Kerala.
- The port is expected to leverage the growth of minor ports in Kerala and other regional ports, creating thousands of employment opportunities.
Global Report on Health equity for Disbales
GS Paper: 2- Government policies and interventions
Important for
Prelims exam: World Health Organzation, Persons with disabilities
Mains exam: Concerns related to persons with disabilities
Why in News?
A report titled Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities was released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December).
Key Highlights of the Report
- Around 1.3 billion people, or one in six people globally, are currently affected by major disability.
- Many people with disabilities face the risk of dying much earlier than people without disabilities—even up to 20 years earlier—because of systemic and persistent health inequities.
- It is challenging to address these inequities because an estimated 80% of persons with disabilities live in low- and middle-income nations with limited resources.
- Their chance of developing chronic conditions like asthma, depression, diabetes, obesity, dental problems, and stroke is doubled.
- Many of the discrepancies in health outcomes are caused by avoidable, unfair, and unjust situations rather than underlying medical disorders.
- Some factors of healthcare equity issues include:
- hostile behaviour of healthcare professionals
- Health information forms that are difficult to understand
- Access to a health centre is impeded by physical barriers, a lack of transportation, or financial constraints.
What are the Recommendations?
- It is crucial to promote inclusion, accessibility, and non-discrimination in the medical community as well as to ensure that people with disabilities engage fully and effectively in all facets of society.
- The challenges that people with disabilities confront should be alleviated by health systems.
- Ensuring health equity for people with impairments has additional advantages and helps progress global health priorities in three ways:
- Having universal health coverage depends on everyone having access to health equity;
- Populations can become healthier when inclusive public health initiatives are implemented fairly across many sectors; and
- A key element of all initiatives to safeguard everyone in times of health emergency is advancing health equity for people with disabilities.
- To ensure that people with disabilities may exercise their legal right to the best possible standard of health, governments, health partners, and civil society organisations should ensure that all health sector initiatives include them.
What are the initiatives taken so far?
India
- Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016
- Unique Disability Identification Portal
- Accessible India Campaign
- DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
- Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances
Global
- “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific under the Incheon Strategy.
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations.
- International Day of People with Disabilities.
- United Nations Guidelines for People with Disabilities.
Bilateral Relation Between India & Germany
GS PAPER 2: Relations between India and neighbouring countries
Important for
Prelims Exam: About Bilateral Relation Between India & Germany
Mains Exam: Significance of Germany for India
Why in News?
German Foreign Minister is on a two-day visit to India. India and Germany held wide-ranging discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation including in energy, trade and climate change and signed a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement to enable people to study, research and travel in each other’s country.
Background
- India and Germany have a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, which has been further strengthened with the launch of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of Heads of Government which allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of new areas of engagement. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism. The 6th Inter-Governmental Consultations were held in Berlin on May 2, 2022.
- As the 4th and 5th largest economies in the world respectively, Germany and India share a robust economic and developmental partnership. Besides strong economic ties, both countries have a shared interest in upholding democratic values, the rules-based international order, multilateralism as well as the reform of multilateral institutions.
Multilateral Cooperation:
- Germany and India support each other on UNSC expansion within the framework of the G4. The last meeting of the G4 was held at the level of Foreign Ministers on the side-lines of the 77th UNGA in September 2022. Germany joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in February 2020 and participated in the first Governing Council meeting in March 2020.
- In April 2021, the German Federal Cabinet approved the signing of the amended framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and thereby confirming Germany’s accession to the ISA. On September 10, 2021, during their visit to Delhi, Parliamentary State Secretaries from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development handed over the Instrument of Accession to Secretary (Economic Relations), MEA.
Defence Cooperation:
Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in September 2006 provides the framework for bilateral defence ties. To further enhance the Defence Industry and Defence Cooperation between Germany and India, the Arrangement on Implementation of the Agreement of 2006 concerning Bilateral Defence Cooperation was signed in February 2019 in Berlin.
Ship visits/Passex:
- INS TEG participated in Hamburg Port Festival in 2012 and INS TARANGINI participated in Hanse Sail Rostock/ Sail Bremerhaven in August 2015.
- Two Indian Navy ships INS TARKASH and INS TABAR were transited through Kiel Canal in July 2019 and July 2021 respectively.
- German naval frigate ‘BAYERN’ conducted a PASSEX with INS TRIKAND on August 26, 2021, and made a port call at Mumbai on January 21, 2022, as a part of its seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
German investments in India:
Germany is the 9th largest FDI source for India. The total FDI from Germany to India from April 2000-June 2022 is over USD 13 billion. During 2021-22, German FDI was USD 728 million. In FY 2022-23 (up to June 2022), German FDI in India was USD 89 million. (Source: DPIIT). As per Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, there are more than 1,700 German companies in India. German investments in India have been mainly in sectors of transportation, electrical equipment, metallurgical industries, services sector (particularly insurance), chemicals, construction activity, trading and automobiles.
Sister State/City Arrangements:
- The States of Karnataka and Bavaria, Maharashtra and Baden-Wuerttemberg, and the cities of Mumbai and Stuttgart have twinning arrangements. The city of Aurangabad and Ingolstadt (Bavaria) signed a Letter of Intent for a Sister City Partnership in April 2022. Twin city relations between Coimbatore and Esslingen were established in 2016.
- The States of Bavaria and Hamburg have representative offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Several German cities including Karlsruhe have representative offices in Pune. North Rhine Westphalia has close relations with West Bengal. Pune and the city-state of Bremen have an informal cooperation agreement. Himachal Pradesh and Rhineland Palatinate are discussing closer cooperation.
The lingering crisis of labour post-pandemic
GS Paper: 3- Economy
Important for
Prelims exam: International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Mains exam: Inflation and economic slowdown
Why in News?
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently released two reports that gave an indication of the global employment scenario post-pandemic.
Key Highlights
The Global Wage Report 2022-2023
- The Impact of inflation and COVID-19 on wages and purchasing power’ discuss the twin crises, inflation and economic slowdown, which created a “striking fall” in real monthly wages around the globe.
- The report blames the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis for this situation.
- Another report, the ‘Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2022: Rethinking sectoral strategies for a human-centred future of work’ stated that the Asia-Pacific region lost about 22 million jobs in 2022.
- ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said the decrease in wages is placing millions of workers in a dire situation. “Income inequality and poverty will rise if the purchasing power of the lowest paid is not maintained.
- The ILO report on wages looked at the real and nominal wages of employees.
- The word “wage”, was defined as the total gross remuneration including regular bonuses received by employees during a specified period for time (monthly for the report) worked as well as for time not worked, such as paid annual leave and paid sick leave.
- The nominal wage data shows the adjusted figures after accounting for consumer price inflation while real wage growth refers to the year-on-year change in real average monthly wages of all employees.
- “In each edition of the Global Wage Report the objective is to collect wage data from as many countries and territories (about 190) which are then grouped into five separate regions.
- In India, the nominal wages rose to ₹17,017 per month in 2021 from ₹4,398 in 2006. The data was taken from the Government of India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- But when inflation is factored in, the real wage growth in India plunged to -0.2% in 2021 from 9.3% in 2006. In China, the growth decreased from 5.6% in 2019 to 2% in 2022. In Pakistan, the growth is -3.8%. Figures of Sri Lanka were not available. The negative growth in India started after the pandemic.
- The report said the increasing cost of living has the greatest impact on lower-income earners and their households as they have to spend most of their disposable income on essential goods and services, which generally experience greater price increases than non-essential items.
Is inequality rising?
- At the Asia-Pacific level, only the jobs in high-skill occupations saw a recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, which is true across all subregions.
- The ILO said it is raising concerns about increased inequality. While there is an employment gain of 1.6% among high-skill workers between 2019 and 2021, there is no such substantial gain among low-to-medium-skill workers.
- Among the G-20 countries, the report noted a significant gap in the average level of real wages between advanced G-20 countries and emerging G-20 countries such as India.
- It is on the level of about $4,000 per month in advanced economies and about $1,800 per month in emerging economies.
What are the ILO’s remedies?
- The report suggests a set of policy options and responses to the cost-of-living crisis. Citing studies, the report said that 75 to 95 million people were pushed into extreme poverty during COVID-19.
- It said the bargaining process for future nominal wage adjustments should embrace a sufficiently large but prudent price expectation.
- “This could contribute to safeguarding the standard of living of households — particularly low-income households — against unexpected future inflation hikes, while avoiding an undesirable wage-inflation spiral,” it said.
- The report said that there is a need to strengthen labour market institutions and wage policies. The ILO states that the creation of decent formal wage employment is a prerequisite for a more equitable distribution of wages and income, and is a key contributor to equitable and sustainable wage growth.
- It wants governments to focus on gender pay gap as when women leave the labour market, they are less likely to return than men.
- Most importantly, the report says that a multilateral approach is the key to solving the crises around us. There is an urgent need to address the negative effects of climate change; increasing inequalities; the poverty, discrimination, violence and exclusion endured by millions of people, including the discrimination that women and girls continue to suffer in many parts of the world; the lack of vaccines and access to adequate sanitation and essential healthcare for all; and the growing digital divide between poor and wealthier countries.
- The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently released two reports that gave an indication of the global employment scenario post-pandemic.
- The report suggests a set of policy options and responses to the cost-of-living crisis. Citing studies, the report said that 75 to 95 million people were pushed into extreme poverty during COVID-19.
Services PMI hits 3-mth high
GS PAPER 3: Economic Indexes
Important for
Prelims Exam: About Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)
Mains Exam: Significance of Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)
Why in News?
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Services PMI Business Activity Index rose from 55.1 in October to 56.4 in November, indicating a sharp increase in output that was the quickest in three months’ even amid higher operating expenses.
Key Highlights
- Indian service providers continued to reap the benefits of strong domestic demand, with PMI data for the penultimate month of 2022 showing faster increase in new business and output.
- Employment rose at a solid pace that was among the quickest in over three years.
- On the prices front, services companies across India reported higher operating expenses.
- In addition to greater transportation costs, firms reported higher prices for energy, food, packaging, paper, plastic and electrical products.
- Private sector activity in India increased for the 16th consecutive month in November, and at the fastest pace since August.
What is a PMI?
PMI or a Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity — both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is a survey-based measures that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before. It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.
How does one read the PMI?
A figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity. Anything below 50 denotes contraction. Higher the difference from this mid-point greater the expansion or contraction. The rate of expansion can also be judged by comparing the PMI with that of the previous month data. If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate. If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate.
What are its implications for the economy?
The PMI is usually released at the start of the month, much before most of the official data on industrial output, manufacturing and GDP growth becomes available. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity. Economists consider the manufacturing growth measured by the PMI as a good indicator of industrial output, for which official statistics are released later. Central banks of many countries also use the index to help make decisions on interest rates.