VISION

 Why in news?

• NITI Aayog, along with a working subgroup of officials and members of civil society, has prepared a draft national migrant labour policy.
• This was spurred by the exodus of 10 million migrants (as per government estimates) from big cities during the Covid-19 lockdown.

What is the approach adopted?

• The draft describes two approaches to policy design:
  1. focussing on cash transfers, special quotas, and reservations
  2. enhancing the agency and capability of the community and thereby removing aspects that come in the way of an individual’s own natural ability to thrive
• The goal is not to provide temporary or permanent economic or social aids”, which is “a rather limited approach”.
• The policy thus rejects a handout approach, opting instead for a rights-based approach.
• It seeks “to remove restrictions on true agency and potential of the migrant workers.”

How should migration be dealt with?

• The policy emphasises that migration should be acknowledged as an integral part of development.
• Government policies should not hinder but seek to facilitate internal migration.
• This compares with the approach taken in the Report of the Working Group on Migration, released in January 2017.
• It was released by the then Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
• The report argued that the movement from agriculture to manufacturing and services was inherently linked to the success of migration in the country.

What are the concerns with the existing law?

• The 2017 report argued that specific protection legislation for migrant workers was unnecessary.
• It said that migrant workers should be integrated with all workers, covering regular and contractual work.
• The report discussed the limitations of The Inter State Migrant Workers Act, 1979.
  • The 1979 Act was modelled on a 1975 Odisha law.
  • The Act was designed to protect labourers from exploitation by contractors.
  • It offered safeguards for their right to non-discriminatory wages, travel and displacement allowances, and suitable working conditions.
  • However, this law covered only labourers migrating through a contractor. It left out independent migrants.
  • The 2017 report questioned this approach, given the size of the country’s unorganised sector.
• The report called for a comprehensive law for these workers, which would form the legal basis for an architecture of social protection.
• The NITI Aayog’s policy draft too, mentions that the Ministry of Labour and Employment should amend the 1979 Act for “effective utilisation to protect migrants”.

What are the key recommendations of the draft policy?

• The draft policy lays down institutional mechanisms to coordinate between Ministries, states, and local departments.
• The objective is effective implementation of programmes for migrants.
• It identifies the Ministry of Labour and Employment as the nodal Ministry for implementation of policies.
• The draft asks it to create a special unit to help converge the activities of other Ministries.
• This unit would manage-
  1. migration resource centres in high migration zones
  2. a national labour Helpline
  3. links of worker households to government schemes
  4. inter-state migration management bodies

• Migration focal points should be created in various Ministries.
• Inter-state migration management bodies - Labour departments of source and destination states along major migration corridors should work together through the migrant worker cells.
• Labour officers from source states can be deputed to destinations.
• E.g. Bihar’s experiment to have a joint labour commissioner at Bihar Bhavan in New Delhi

• Need for data - Both the 2017 report and the new draft stress the need for credible data.
• The draft calls for a central database to help employers “fill the gap between demand and supply.”
• It would also ensure “maximum benefit of social welfare schemes”.
• The draft policy asks the Ministries and the Census office -
  1. to be consistent with the definitions of migrants and subpopulations
  2. to capture seasonal and circular migrants data
  3. to incorporate migrant-specific variables in existing surveys

• Both documents see limited merit in Census data that comes only once a decade.
• The 2017 report called on the Registrar General of India to release migration data no more than a year after the initial tabulation.
• It also suggests including sub-district level, village level, and caste data.
• It also asked the National Sample Survey Office to include questions related to migration in the periodic labour force survey, and to carry out a separate survey on migration.
• Preventing exploitation - The draft policy describes a lack of administrative capacity to handle issues of exploitation.
• State labour departments have little engagement with migration issues.
• The local administration, given the usual constraints of manpower, is not in a position to monitor migration.
• This has become the breeding ground for middlemen to thrive on the situation and entrap migrants.
• The draft points to the legal support and registrations tracking potential exploitation in Nashik and certain blocks in Odisha.

• It also flags the poor supervision of migration trends by anti-trafficking units in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

What are the ways to stem migration?

• Even as it underlines the key role of migration in development, the draft recommends steps to stem migration.
  • This is an important difference with the 2017 report.
• In this regard, the draft asks source states to raise minimum wages to “bring major shift in local livelihood of tribals.
• This may result in stemming migration to some extent”.
• The absence of community building organisations (CBO) and administrative staff in the source states has hindered access to development programmes.
• This has pushed tribals towards migration.
• The “long term plan” for CBOs and panchayats should thus be to alleviate distress migration.
• They should aim for a more pro-poor development strategy in the sending areas that can strengthen the livelihood base in these areas.
• Alongside the long-term goal, policies should promote the role of panchayats to aid migrant workers.
• Panchayats should maintain a database of migrant workers, issue identity cards and pass books.
• They should provide “migration management and governance” through training, placement, and social-security benefit assurance.
• Also, urban and rural policies should be integrated to improve the conditions of migration.

What are the other specific recommendations?

• The draft asks the Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Housing and Urban Affairs to use Tribal Affairs migration data.
• This is to help create migration resource centres in high migration zones.
• It asks the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to focus on skill-building at these centres.
• The Ministry of Education should take measures under the Right to Education Act to -
  • mainstream migrant children’s education
  • map migrant children
  • provide local-language teachers in migrant destinations
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs should address issues of night shelters, short-stay homes, and seasonal accommodation for migrants in cities.
• The National Legal Services authority (NALSA) and Ministry of Labour should set up grievance handling cells.
• These should fast track legal responses for trafficking, minimum wage violations, and workplace abuses and accidents for migrant workers.

Source: The Indian Express

1)  PM Narendra Modi To Inaugurate 2nd Edition of ‘Maritime India Summit’

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021, from March 2 to 4, 2021. The ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ is the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India. FICCI is the industry partner for the summit.

•The theme of the event is “Exploring the potential business opportunities in the Indian Maritime sector and making Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

•The objective of the Summit is to promote both domestic and international investment in the Indian Ports and Maritime sector. The summit will provide a powerful platform for international collaboration with partner countries for mutual exchange of knowledge and opportunities. Around one lakh delegates and 40 partner countries are expected to participate in the event.

2)  Karnataka to Host 2nd Khelo India University Games 2021

•The second edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2021, is scheduled to be held in Karnataka. This announcement was made by the Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri BS Yediyurappa and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju. The KIUG-2021 will be hosted by JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). In 2021, Yogasana and Mallakhamb have been added to the University Games, in an effort to preserve and promote the century-old sporting disciplines of the country.

3)  India signs trade deal, $100 million defence agreement with Mauritius

•The Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar was on an official visit to two key Indian Ocean region countries- Maldives and Mauritius. The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited the Island nation Mauritius to review the comprehensive and important bilateral relationship between the two nations. India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement-(CECPA)) with Mauritius.

4)  India, World Bank ink project for enhancing school education in Nagaland

•The Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and the World Bank signed a $68 million agreement for “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project”, to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland. The $68 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of 5 (five) years.

5)  Jasmine Harrison from UK becomes youngest woman to row Atlantic Ocean

•A British woman, Jasmine Harrison of England has become the youngest woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The 21-year-old from Thirsk, North Yorkshire in the UK, achieved the feat by finishing top in the 2020 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, organized by Atlantic Campaigns.

•Harrison, who is a swim instructor and bartender by profession, travelled 3,000 miles (4,828km) across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes. Harrison began her journey in Spain’s Canary Islands on December 12, 2020, and arrived in Antigua on February 20, 2021.

6)  Spacecraft Named in Honor of Black Woman ‘hidden Figures’ Mathematician

•A space supply ship, Cygnus NG-15 cargo dubbed as ‘S.S. Katherine Johnson has been named in honour of Katherine Johnson, a Black NASA mathematician, who played a critical role in the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 6 Mission. The S.S. Katherine Johnson arrived on February 22, 2021, and will be at the International Space Station until May 2021. 

7)  World’s biggest cricket stadium set for first match

•The biggest cricket stadium in the world will hold its first international match, with the newly renovated Sardar Patel Stadium to host the third Test between India and England. Both India and England had a forgettable outing in their last pink-ball outings. 

📰 Indradhanush 3.0 to fill gap in immunisation due to COVID

 Vision IAS Prelims 2021 Test 17 With Solution in Hindi PDF

Vision IAS Prelims 2021 Test 19 With Solution PDF

 What is the issue?

• Recent charges of sedition [IPC Section 124A] against individuals have brought the focus back to a law introduced in the Indian Penal Code in 1870.
• The fact that this law is often used to control dissent calls for a relook into its relevance at the present age.

What was the Supreme Court’s observation?

• In Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the sedition law.
• It noted it as being a reasonable restriction on free speech as provided in Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
• It made clear that a citizen has the right to say or write whatever she/he likes about the government, or its measures.
• But this is only as long as she/he does not incite people to violence against the government and not do things with the intention of creating public disorder.

What are the legal procedures to be followed?

 Why in news?

A new law in Australia seeks to make technology platforms such as Google and Facebook pay news publishers for use of their content.

What is the law all about?

• It is named the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code Bill 2020.
• It mandates a bargaining code that aims to force Google and Facebook to compensate media companies for using their content.
• It mandates that these platforms negotiate with publishers of news regarding payment for their content.

What was the response?

 Shankar IAS Current Affairs Magazine January 2021 PDF

1)  PM Modi inaugurates Oil & Gas projects in Assam

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated to the nation INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited’s Secondary Tank Farm at Madhuban, Dibrugarh, and a Gas Compressor Station at Hebeda Village, Makum, Tinsukia remotely from Dhemaji in Assam. He also inaugurated the Dhemaji Engineering College and laid the foundation stone for Sualkuchi Engineering College in Assam.

2)  Home Minister released a book ‘Rashtra Pratham – 82 varshon ki Swarnim Gatha’

•Home Minister Amit Shah has released a book ‘Rashtra Pratham – 82 varshon ki Swarnim Gatha’ in New Delhi. The book chronicles the glorious history of CRPF since its raising in 1939 and it has detailed and thoroughly researched accounts of CRPF’s journey, challenges, successes, and sacrifices and said it will become a source of inspiration for personnel joining the force.

•CRPF jawans have always remained at the forefront be it in Left Wing Extremism affected areas, borders or providing security ring to the Indian Parliament.

3)  Dr Harsh Vardhan launches Mission Indradhanush 3.0

•Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0, (IMI 3.0), to expand immunization coverage across the country. The focus of IMI 3.0 will be on children and pregnant women who missed their vaccine doses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

4)  47th Khajuraho Dance Festival 2021 begins

•The 47th Khajuraho Dance Festival began in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh which is based on the Indian classical dance tradition. Khajuraho Temples come alive with splendour, beams, and the hustle-bustle of art lovers at the Festival. The first-day event is dedicated to Bharatanatyam performance by Geeta Chandran and her troupe and Kathak performance by Deepak Maharaj.

5)  Rajnath Singh inaugurates DRDO skill centre for fire safety training

•Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has inaugurated Skill Development Centre (SDC) for Fire Safety Training of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) through virtual mode at Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh. The first of its kind in India facility has been created by Delhi based DRDO laboratory ‘Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES)’.

6)  Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Resigns

•The Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, V Narayanasamy has submitted the letter of his resignation and his council of ministers on February 22, 2021, to Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. The decision was taken as the Congress-led Government in the UT lost its majority in the House, which is 14.

•Following a series of resignations, the ruling government was reduced to a strength of 12. Two MLA resigned in January 2021 while 2 resigned in February 2021.

7)  ICGS C-453 Interceptor boat commissioned into services in Chennai

•The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICG) named C-453 was commissioned into services in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This was the 17th interceptor boats out of the 18 which are being indigenously built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

8)  DRDO Conducts Two Successful Launches of VL-SRSAM Missile System

•Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted two successful launches of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM). DRDO carried out the launch from a static vertical launcher from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. The launches were monitored by senior scientists from various DRDO labs involved in the design and development of the system. During the test launches, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various Range instruments.

9)  HSBC Raises India’s GDP Forecast for FY22 to 11.2%

•HSBC has raised its growth forecasts for India in the coming fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22), from 9 per cent to 11.2 per cent, following a pick up in business activity and a steady fall in COVID cases. The 2020-21 GDP forecast of India by HSBC remains -6.3 per cent, as projected earlier.

10)  RBI brings State Bank of Sikkim under its regulatory purview

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought the State Bank of Sikkim under its regulation. Till now, RBI had the right and obligation to function as a banker to all the state government except for the state government of Sikkim. Now the bank will be regulated by the RBI on a par with other banks, however, the bank’s ownership structure will not change.