GS-1

Human Trafficking:

While more research is needed on the scope of human trafficking, below are a few key statistics:

• The International Labor Organization estimates that forced labor and human trafficking is a $150 billion industry worldwide.
• A Global Report on Trafficking in Persons launched today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation.

The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally.

• 81% of them are trapped in forced labor.
• 25% of them are children.
• 75% are women and girls.

Victims:

The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. The second most common form of human trafficking is forced labour (18%) Worldwide, almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children. However, in some parts of Africa and the Mekong region, children are the majority (up to 100% in parts of West Africa).

India: Trafficking of Child and women is a serious concern prevalent in India. According to areport published by the US Department of State, India is the source, destination and transitcountry for human trafficking.

Purpose: The main purposes for human trafficking given in the NCRB report are:

• Sexual exploitation.
• Forced Marriage.
• Forced Labour.
• Domestic servitude.

Vulnerable section:

The statistics of the Ministry of Women and Child Development states that 19,223 women and children were trafficked in 2016 against 15,448 in 2015, with the highest number of victims being recorded in the eastern state of West Bengal.

People from the lower caste or the tribal communities and the women and children from the excluded groups of the society are generally lured of a better lifestyle and employment opportunity and sold by the agents.

Main causes include:

Economic Reasons: Poverty, unemployment,regional disparities that encourage migration and hence more vulnerable to trafficking.

Political Reasons: Issues of porous borders, corrupt Government officials, the involvement of immigration and law enforcement officers to control borders. Lack of adequate legislation and of political will and commitment to enforce existing legislation or mandates are other factors that facilitate trafficking in persons.

Social and Cultural Reasons: Gender Discrimination,harmful traditional and cultural practices such as Devdasi.

Existing provisions to tackle Human trafficking:

1) International provisions:

• The most important international instrument to combat trafficking is the Palermo Protocol, a supplement to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000). Article 5 of the Protocol requires States to criminalize trafficking, attempted trafficking, and any other intentional participation or organization in a trafficking scheme.
• Two International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions: The ILO Forced Labour Convention (Convention No. 29 of 1930) and its newly adopted Protocol, which Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (Convention defines forced or compulsory labour, and the ILO No. 105 of 1957).
• The UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949) requires States to punish any person who exploits the prostitution of another person.
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibits a number of practices directly related to trafficking, including slavery, the slave trade, servitude and forced labour.
• Instruments Concerning the Trafficking of Women: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women requires States to take all appropriate measures to suppress all forms of trafficking in women and exploitation of prostitution of women.

2) Provisions in India:

Trafficking in Human Beings or Persons is prohibited under the Constitution of India under Article 23.

The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

Criminal Law (amendment) Act 2013 has come into force wherein Section 370 of the Indian PenalCode has been substituted with Section 370 and 370A IPC which provide for comprehensive measures to counter the menace of human trafficking including trafficking of children for exploitation in any form including physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs.

Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. It provides precise definitions for different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment.

There are other specific legislations enacted relating to trafficking in women and children Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, apart from specific Sections in the IPC, e.g. Sections 372 and 373 dealing with selling and buying of girls for the purpose of prostitution.

State Governments have also enacted specific legislations to deal with the issue. (e.g. The Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012).

What needs to be done now?

• Anti-human trafficking bodies need to work in collaboration to bring about a successful outcome in the prevention, detection and prosecution of the crime and the rehabilitation of victims.
• The role of media and communication in combating trafficking should be enhaced by contributing to ground intelligence and effective dessimiation of information.
• Industry can and should avoid hiring trafficked labor in high-risk sectors like the textile and garment industries. Best practices including the protection of whistle blowers, screening supply chains for bonded labor and direct recruitment, should be the norm not the exception.
• Other ethical practices include educating customers on the human costs of trafficking to help them understand the need for non-exploitative business practices that might incur higher costs.

Need for anti- trafficking legislation:

• More than 300,000 children went missing in the country between 2012 and 2017, government data shows. Around 100,000 are yet to be traced and it is feared that many of them could have been trafficked.
• In 2016, for instance, 111,569 children were reported missing. Of these, 55,944 children were traced but only 8,132 trafficking cases were reported. Many of these children are victims of modern slavery — forced into prostitution, labour or domestic work.
• They are also used as drug mules and even given up for adoption illegally. Poverty and lack of opportunity also pushes a lot of young women, especially from the interior parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand, into prostitution.
• Despite the enormity of the problem, India lacks a single comprehensive law for human trafficking. At present, trafficking is covered under half-a-dozen laws resulting in confusion and poor enforcement.

Flow of Thoughts:

Fascism:

What is Fascism?

Causes for the Raise of Fascism:

After World War 1, many countries were devastated. When the capitalist system was engulfed in deep crisis and faced with the threat from a revolutionary movement of the working class, the ruling classes in Germany opted for an extreme form of rule that abolished bourgeois democracy. Mussolini’s Italy and Japan were also fascist regimes. The conditions of economic hardship caused by the Great Depression brought about an international surge of social unrest.

Italy:

• After WW1 Italy was devastated. More than thousands of Italians were dead, wounded or suffered from injuries the remainder of their lives.
• Italy was hit with inflation and high unemployment rates.
• Treaty of Versailles has ignored the Italian delegation. Italy felt humiliated and national leaders found this treatment unforgivable.

Germany:

• After WW1 Germany as a nation was weakened by the Treaty of Versailles.
• Loosing their colonies in Africa.
• Having to pay reparations for damage caused by war.
• Returning Rhine land to France and not being able to put military troops in that area.
• Germany territory was taken to give to other countries.

Characteristics of Fascism:

• Extreme militaristic nationalism is the chief characteristic of Fascism.
• Contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism.
• A belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites.
• The desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”), in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation.

Core Ideas:

1)Irrationalism:irrationalism constitute the core idea of fascist world view. Truth, according to fascism, "is a subjective quality, available only to a few gifted people whose will or spirit or personality is greater than that of common masses."

2) Racialism: The racialist imperatives were so deep-rooted in the scheme that Hitler used to often proclaim that "We think with our blood". So much so that the fascists would claim that "any knowledge dispelling racial superiority would not be knowledge at all". "Science, like every other human product, is racial and conditioned by blood".

3) Statism - Drives towards a Corporate State: The notion of Volkish spirit guided through course of stateformation under fascism. Volk was conceived of as "the organic wholeness of the national community – acommunity where the German spirit reigned supreme and subordinated all individual interest and priorities".

4) Elitism: Fascism drew legitimacy from the notion of elitism. Both Hitler and Mussolini argued that people are essentially uneven in their mental make-u,. physical strength and spiritual endowments.

Operational dynamics: In operational terms fascism of Italy and nazism of Germany is regarded as "Totalitarianism of the Right" .

Its main features include:

1) Centralization and concentration of power: The top government organs centralized power both in Germany and Italy. Accordingly all sorts of provincial administrative mechanisms were dismantled.

2)Single Party: Fascism had no place for democracy and it was especially hostile to Communism. There is only one party that of fascists and the members were elites of the nation.

3) Absolute Leadership: Fascist States have invented such slogans as "Leader is the party; the party is the leader". The leader owed his authority through the built up of charisma and personal traits.

Fascism and challenges to contemporary life: Fascism did not 'die' with Mussolini and Hitler. Fascism promises to raise its head whenever democracy, either by accident or design, mismatches development, thereby frustrating the cause of stability and contentment among the people.Tlie binary opposition of "us" and "they" resurface and breed intolerance and contempt within a society.

To conclude:Fascism does not cater to the entirety of the life processes despite its misleading spiritual vocabulary and soul-gratifying phrases. The fullness of life depends on embracing pluralism and tolerance of other lifestyle and thought processes. Life always blossoms in variety.

Flow of Thoughts:

GS-2

Electoral Reforms:

Significance of elections in a democracy:

Elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance. Because direct democracy—a form of government in which political decisions are made directly by the entire body of qualified citizens—is impractical in most modern societies, democratic government must be conducted through representatives. Elections enable voters to select leaders and to hold them accountable for their performance in office.

Simultaneous Elections:

Free and fair elections are held for the continuity of good governance in democracy like India. A debate which has periodically taken place in this country is about holding simultaneous elections to the state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

The trend of Simultaneous elections:

Our country’s first general elections were held in 1951-52. There was a simultaneous General Election to Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies. This trend had continued in three subsequent General Elections held in 1957, 1962 and 1967.

But in 1968 and 1969, the cycle got disrupted due to the premature dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies. Similarly, in the year 1970, it was the turn of Lok Sabha that it itself got dissolved prematurely. As a result of premature dissolution and extension of the terms of Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the cycle of simultaneous elections got disturbed.

What are the arguments in favour of conducting simultaneous elections?

It would ensure consistency, continuity and efficiency in the governance. Because, enforcing a Model code of Conduct during elections time would impact implantation of development programmes.

Election expenditure is rising steadily in India. Elections have unfortunately become the root cause of corruption and black money. Supporters who argue for the simultaneous elections say that it would curb corruption and build more conducive socio-economic system.

Frequent elections pose a huge burden on resources — both manpower and financial. The opportunity cost of these lost resources is too high to ignore as India is a resource-constrained developing economy. Therefore, simultaneous elections would do away with this.

Besides, frequent elections disruptpublic life with political rallies and noise pollution and the sharpening of caste, religious and communal divide by dishonest politicians looking to garner votes would increase due to recurring polls.

Four reasons cited by the PM in support of Simultaneous Elections:

• Massive expenditure.
• Diversion of security and civil staff from primary duties.
• Impact on governance due to the model code of conduct.
• And disruption to normal public life.

But, why is it difficult hold simultaneous elections now? What are the challenges therein?

Constitution says that the life of the Parliament shall be Five years unless it is dissolved prematurely for other reasons. Same provision is applicable to Assemblies as well. Holding simultaneous polls might be desirable from many points of view but it may not be possible to getting it back in reality. Why?

The simultaneous elections to Parliament and State legislatures till 1967 were less by design and more due to dominant party system. When that neatness was lost in the 1960s and later in the 1990s, it owed much to the dismantling of the dominant party system. The election cycle became remained same for last few decades due to coalition politics, active role played by state parties and greater power sharing among parties.

If we enforce the system of simultaneous elections, we would need to curtail the legislature’s power to unseat a government.  An assembly is elected for a period of five years. It can be dissolved only when the government in that state cannot carry on, as per the provisions of the constitution. A no-confidence motion must be passed by the House, and with no alternative government being confirmed. So, the impact on the fundamental instrument of the no-confidence motion is an important question that needs to be answered.

Other question is that in the event of state government’s premature break down, will these states be under the president’s rule till the next elections? Even if the President carries on the government for the remainder of the period, it means that the States would be penalised for not producing a majority government.

There is another practical difficulty. Suppose simultaneous elections are held but the government loses its majority in the Lok Sabha, what will happen to those 29 States governments, even if they have an absolute majority?

Law Commission stance:

The Justice B P Jeevan Reddy-headed Law Commission said in its 170th Report in May 1999 that “we must go back to the situation where the elections to Lok Sabha and all the Legislative Assemblies are held at once”.

Presently, The Law Commission had asked for the EC’s position on five Constitutional issues, and 15 sociopolitical and economic issues, that need to be addressed before the government can gear up to hold simultaneous polls.

The Law Commission’s “Draft working paper — Simultaneous Elections — Constitution and Legal Perspectives”, which has been sent to the Union Law Ministry, states: “Simultaneous elections may be restored in the nation by amending the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act 1951 and Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and those of the State Legislative Assemblies.

What can be done now? - Holding of elections in two phases:

Elections could be held in two phases. Elections to some Legislative Assemblies could be held during the midterm of Lok Sabha. Elections to the remaining legislative assemblies could be held with the end of Lok Sabha’s term.

The elections of legislative assemblies whose term ends six months after the general elections to Lok Sabha can be clubbed together. However, the results of such elections can be declared at the end of the assembly’s tenure.

Conclusion:

Implementing simultaneous polls would require a substantial shift from the status quo and would involve amendments to the Constitution and election-related laws.To be sure, there are multiple issues that will need to be addressed if the country intends to move in this direction. The concerns and suggestions of different stakeholders will have to be debated in order to build political consensus around the idea. That said, the proposal will not only have economic benefits but will free up precious political space for policy discussions. It will also help in taking forward the process of economic reforms as decisions will not always be hostage to assembly elections.

Flow of Thoughts:

Police Reforms:

Policing in India:

Under the Constitution, police is a subject governed by states. The centre is also allowed to maintain its own police forces to assist the states with ensuring law and order. Therefore, it maintains seven central police forces and some other police organisations for specialised tasks such as intelligence gathering, investigation, research and recordkeeping, and training. The primary role of police forces is to uphold and enforce laws, investigate crimes and ensure security for people in the country.

Why reforms are necessary?

Police is an exclusive subject under the State List of the Indian Constitution. States can enact any law on the subject of police. But most of the states are following the archaic Indian Police Act 1861 with a few modifications. Also, police have become the ‘subjects’ of Parliamentarians and legislators – with a high degree of politicization and allegiance towards ruling party. India still follows the Police Act, 1861, framed by the British, largely with an aim to crush dissent. The Act was a reaction to the sepoy uprising of 1857.

Challenges faced by police force in the country:

Collection and analysis of preventive intelligence: The most important and challenging task faced by the police today is the collection and analysis of preventive intelligence and follow-up action, especially pertaining to terrorists and insurgents who pose a constant challenge to internal security.

Criminal Investigation: The other important, but badly neglected, aspect of policing is criminal investigation. Standards have declined sharply in the last few years. Unfortunately, the so-called premier investigation agencies like state CIDs and the CBI are no exception.

Vacancies: Many states continue to have huge vacancies. Even the apex court’s direction to fill these posts has not yielded the desired results.

Outdated arms and equipments: Most state police forces continue to use obsolete equipment and arms, and lack the latest technology that would help in investigation and intelligence-gathering.

Lack of Organisation: There are no organisations to provide the police forces with tested and dependable specifications on equipment and technology. They are generally dependent on vendors, who often sell outdated or not-so-suitable technology.

Lack of proper training: Well-trained and motivated human resources are key to any police force’s success. But, most training academies are poorly staffed and often don’t have the necessary facilities. Institutions need to be upgraded in terms of facilities, equipment and technology.

Executive’s apathy:

The Central government had formed committees to create a Model Police law in line with the Court’s directions. It also came up with the Model Bill in 2006. However, the Model Bill of 2006 drafted under Soli Sorabjee’s chairpersonship has been adopted in breach by 17 states and entirely ignored by the Centre.

Another Police Act drafting committee was also formed in 2013 to make revisions to the 2006 model. Dutifully, it has given its recommendations, which now lie mouldering in bureaucratic caverns measureless to man.

Supreme Court’s directions:

In September 2006, the Supreme Court of India, in Prakash Singh Vs Union of India passed a historic judgment directing the Central and State Governments towards operational reform and functional autonomy of the police. The Indian Police Foundation was inaugurated in 2015 to mount pressure on State governments to implement the directions of the Supreme Court on police reforms (Prakash Singh v. Union of India).

In September 2006, the court issued various directions to the centre and states including:

Constitute a State Security Commission in every state that will lay down policy for police functioning, evaluate police performance, and ensure that state governments do not exercise unwarranted influence on the police.

Constitute a Police Establishment Board in every state that will decide postings, transfers and promotions for officers below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, and make recommendations to the state government for officers of higher ranks.

Constitute Police Complaints Authorities at the state and district levels to inquire into allegations of serious misconduct and abuse of power by police personnel.

Provide a minimum tenure of at least two years for the DGP and other key police officers within the state forces

Ensure that the DGP of state police is appointed from amongst three senior-most officers who have been empanelled for the promotion by the Union Public Service Commission on the basis of length of service, good record and experience.

Separate the investigating police from the law and order police to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved rapport with the people.

Constitute a National Security Commission to shortlist the candidates for appointment as Chiefs of the central armed police forces.

Way ahead:

In a large and populous country like India, police forces need to be well-equipped, in terms of personnel, weaponry, forensic, communication and transport support, to perform their role well. Further, they need to have the operational freedom to carry out their responsibilities professionally, and satisfactory working conditions while being held accountable for poor performance or misuse of power.

Codifying checks and balances in respective police Acts will bring assurance against illegal orders by the political establishment to the police. Only when full political accountability joints with the betterment in capacity, capability and equipment can we begin true police reform.

Flow of Thoughts:

GS-3

GM crops:

What is a GM crop?

A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring it through pollination. The resulting plant is said to be “genetically modified”.

What is the science behind GM crops?

Ever since the discovery of the DNA double-helix model by Watson and Crick, scientists realised it was possible to manipulate the DNA features of an organism to create new traits in them by borrowing genes from other organisms and mixing it with theirs. In the case of GM food, scientists insert into a plant’s genome one or several gene from another species of plant or even from a bacterium, virus or animal. This is to inject desired traits such as pest-resistance or Vitamin A (as in the case of golden rice).

Advantages of GM crops:

• Higher crop yields.
• Reduced farm costs.
• Increased farm profit.
• Improvement in health and the environment.

Arguments against GM crops:

• There is no clarity about impact of GM crops on human health and environment. The scientific community itself seems uncertain about this. It is also argued that once GM crops are introduced risks outweigh benefits. Also, the technology is irreversible and uncontrollable.
• Introducing genetically modified versions of various crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of crops. In fact, globally, there is a clear view that GM crops must not be introduced in centres of origin and diversity.
• There is also a potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM crops and the risk of these toxins affecting nontarget organisms.
• There is also the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other anti-nutrition factors in foods.

What can be done now?

• A precautionary approach towards any open release of GMOs is necessary. India has mega biodiversity hotspots like the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats which are rich in biodiversity yet ecologically very sensitive. Hence it is necessary to be careful before introducing GM crops in these sensitive areas.
• Field trials in India, in which the State governments have a say, must ensure that there are sufficient safeguards against such violations. If GM food is allowed to be sold to consumers, they must have the right to know what they are buying, and labelling should be made mandatory.
• A strong regulatory authority should also be established for overseeing matters related to GM crops.

Way ahead:

Extensive research on GM crops will identify trust in regulatory agencies and industry as being a critical factor in public willingness to accept GM technology. The government should adopt a participatory approach to bring together all stakeholders to develop regulatory protocols that restore trust in the process.

The burden of proof(that GM crops are not harmful) lies with the promoters of GM technology to persuade consumers, farmers and activists that among various alternatives available for sustainable food production.

Flow of Thoughts: