1.Developing a Care Ecosystem in India
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS 2 – Social Justice
Context:
The creation of a robust care economy is essential for India’s long-term economic growth and societal equilibrium. As India’s economy rapidly evolves, its society experiences significant changes.
Care Economy
The care economy includes all activities related to caregiving, whether paid or unpaid. This encompasses childcare, elder care, support for people with disabilities, and other forms of assistance. Traditionally, caregiving has largely been the responsibility of women within families, but there is growing recognition that it is a shared duty that impacts everyone.
The Need for a Care Economy Strategy in India
Changing Demographics :
India’s demographic profile is expected to shift between 2020 and 2050, necessitating increased elderly care while maintaining levels of childcare. According to a United Nations Population Fund study, as of 2022, about 25% of India’s population is aged 0-14 years, and 10.5% is above 60 years. This translates to approximately 360 million children and 147 million elderly individuals requiring care. By 2050, the proportion of elderly persons is expected to rise to 20.8%, or around 347 million people, while the number of children will still be close to 300 million, even as their proportion decreases slightly to 18%.
Ageing Population:
With increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, the elderly population is growing, necessitating more focus on elderly care.
Childcare:
Despite the ageing population, childcare remains critical. Families need support to raise children, ensure their healthy development, and balance work and family responsibilities.
Gender Inequality:
Women’s full participation in the economy is vital for reducing gender inequality. However, India faces a challenge with a low female labor force participation rate (FLFPR). The Economic Survey 2023-24 states that India’s FLFPR was 37% (2022-23), significantly below the global average of 47.8%. A key factor behind this is the disproportionate caregiving burden on women.
Care Burden:
Women in India bear multiple caregiving responsibilities, from childcare to looking after elderly, sick, and disabled family members. They also engage in substantial unpaid domestic work, with women aged 15-64 spending about three times more time daily on unpaid domestic work than men, which often hinders their full workforce participation.
Childcare Focus:
To increase women’s workforce participation, the focus is now on childcare. Some state governments are enhancing support services through the existing Anganwadi network. The 2024-25 Budget saw a 3% increase in the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s budget for the integrated childcare and nutrition program (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme).
Beyond Childcare:
While childcare is essential, it is also important to acknowledge that women are primary caregivers throughout the life course of household members. Therefore, their caregiving responsibilities must be redistributed.
Why Prioritise the Care Economy?
Gender Equality:
Investing in the care economy can create opportunities for women to participate more fully in the workforce and achieve greater economic independence, addressing the disproportionate caregiving burden they currently carry.
Economic Growth:
A healthy care economy boosts overall economic growth. When caregivers receive the necessary support, they can engage in productive work outside the home, contributing to the economy.
Quality of Life:
Adequate care services improve the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients. Whether ensuring quality education for children or dignified care for the elderly, a well-functioning care system benefits everyone.
Recent Initiatives
Formulating a Strategy:
A project led by Karmannaya Counsel, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and others, with support from the Ministry of Women and Children Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working to unlock opportunities in India’s care economy. Their policy brief highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy.
Public and Private Investments:
As India aims to become a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, there is a pressing need to prioritize investments in rebuilding the care economy. Both the public and private sectors must contribute to realizing new business opportunities in the care sector, especially for women-led development.
Key Considerations
Hired Caregivers:
The demand for external caregivers is rising in urban and peri-urban areas. However, there are no standardized processes for employing such workers. Domestic workers often take on caregiving roles without proper training or protection. There is a need for minimum wages, employment standards, safety measures, and quality standards for care provided by hired workers.
Community-Based Creches:
Various models of community-based creches for children operate in some states, through partnerships between government and non-government bodies. These models need to be reviewed for replicability, financial sustainability, and scalability. A more extensive network of creches suitable to the local context is necessary to facilitate women’s workforce participation.
Elderly and Disabled Care:
With an aging population, caring for the elderly and disabled is becoming increasingly important. Policies and programs that support caregivers, whether they are family members or hired professionals, are needed. This includes respite care, training, and legal protections.
Need for Policy Intervention
The gap in the training, skilling, and certification of a mix of care workers required to meet the growing demand needs to be addressed. The Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council, the Healthcare Sector Skill Council, and the National Skill Development Corporation are the apex bodies involved in the skilling and certification of different cadres of care workers.
The World Economic Forum’s report on the ‘Future of Care Economy’ highlights three perspectives:
- As a driver of economic productivity.
- As investors and employers (business perspective).
- Focusing on gender equality and disability inclusion (human rights perspective).
There is a need for a comprehensive policy that defines the care ecosystem from a life course perspective. A committee comprising the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Labour and Employment, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship would be ideal to initiate the process.
2.India’s First Quantum Computer Under NQM
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology
In News:
India’s first quantum computer will be launched under the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
About the Mission:
The mission aims to establish a quantum computer with 20-50 qubits in the next three years, 50-100 qubits in the next five years, and 50-1000 qubits in the next ten years. This is essential for India to develop its own quantum computing capabilities to protect critical digital infrastructure, given that China has the highest state investment in quantum computing, surpassing even the US.
National Quantum Mission:
- Approved by: Union Cabinet on 19th April 2023.
- Total Cost: ₹6003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
- Implementation Strategy: Establish four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and National R&D institutes focusing on:
- Quantum Computing
- Quantum Communication
- Quantum Sensing & Metrology
- Quantum Materials & Devices
- Promote R&D through basic and applied research in mandated areas.
Mission Objectives:
- Develop intermediate-scale quantum computers using various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
- Establish satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over 2000 km within India.
- Enable long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries.
Quantum Computing Goals:
- Short-term: Achieve 20-50 qubits in three years.
- Medium-term: 50-100 qubits in five years.
- Long-term: 50-1000 qubits in ten years.
Impact:
The mission will elevate India’s technology development ecosystem to global competitiveness, benefiting various sectors including communication, health, finance, and energy. It will have applications in areas such as drug design, space, banking, and security. The mission will also support national initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
3.Hoolock Gibbons
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus: GS 3 – Species in News
Context:
The Assam wildlife department has recommended that the Centre grant forest clearance for oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary:
- An isolated evergreen forest area in Jorhat district of Assam, officially established and renamed in 1997.
- Contains India’s only gibbons—the hoolock gibbons—and Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate—the Bengal slow loris.
Hoolock Gibbons:
- Smallest and Fastest Apes: Hoolock gibbons are the smallest and fastest of all apes, unique to India’s northeast.
- Distribution: Found in forested areas from eastern India and Bangladesh to Myanmar and southern China.
- Habitat: Thrive in thick evergreen, mixed evergreen, and scrub forest.
- Appearance: Characterized by longer hair, curved white brow streaks, and a faintly triangular-shaped head.
- Diet: Primarily frugivorous, but their diet may include insects, leaves, and other vegetable matter.
- Threats: Habitat loss and hunting for food.
- Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered in the IUCN Redlist; the eastern hoolock is Vulnerable. Both species are also listed in Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act,
4.World’s Indigenous Peoples
Context:
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on August 9th.
About the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:
- Date: Celebrated worldwide on August 9th, marking the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.
- 2024 Theme: Focuses on the Role of Indigenous Women in Preserving and Transmitting Traditional Knowledge.
Background:
- Indigenous Women’s Role: Indigenous women are vital to their communities, playing key roles as guardians of natural resources and preservers of traditional knowledge. They are also at the forefront of defending their lands and advocating for indigenous rights globally.
- Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous communities have long held sophisticated knowledge systems for survival, environmental stewardship, and cultural values, predating modern science. This traditional knowledge is dynamic and equally valuable as contemporary scientific knowledge.
Issues Faced by Indigenous Women:
- Despite their significant contributions, indigenous women often face multiple layers of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and more. Their rights to self-determination and control over ancestral lands and resources have been systematically violated.
- Challenges: Indigenous women struggle with high levels of poverty, limited access to education, health services, and basic sanitation, low political participation, and high rates of domestic and sexual violence.
Major Initiatives by the Indian Government:
- Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan:
- Objective: TRIFED aims to scale up operations by converging various government schemes and launching tribal development initiatives under this mission. Goals include establishing 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, 3000 Haat Bazaars, 600 Godowns, 200 Mini TRIFOOD Units, 100 Common Facility Centres, 100 TRIFOOD parks, 100 SFURTI clusters, 200 Tribes India retail stores, and developing e-commerce platforms for tribal products.
- Tribes India Outlets:
- Expansion: Seven new Tribes India outlets have been inaugurated in Jagdalpur, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, and Sarnath. These outlets showcase tribal products from across the country, including geographic indication (GI) and Van Dhan items. The Sarnath outlet, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, is the first at an ASI heritage site, bringing the total number of outlets to 141.
- Van Dhan Software Application:
- Functionality: This application processes Van Dhan proposals online, integrates with geographic information systems (GIS) for monitoring project implementation, and generates related reports. A Digital Connect program is also proposed to establish two-way communication with stakeholders.
- Other Related Initiatives:
- TRIFED has been implementing several key programs for tribal empowerment. Over the past two years, the “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP” has significantly impacted the tribal ecosystem. The Van Dhan tribal start-ups have created employment opportunities for tribal gatherers, forest dwellers, and homebound artisans. During the pandemic, skill development efforts for tribal artisans continued, with 17 training programs approved, benefiting 340 artisans and developing 170 new products.
- Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY):
- Overview: Launched on April 14, 2018, by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED, this scheme aims to enhance tribal incomes through value addition of tribal products. It involves establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for skill upgradation, capacity building, and setting up primary processing and value addition facilities. Each Kendra comprises 15 Self Help Groups, each with 20 tribal gatherers. These Kendras remained operational during the pandemic, ensuring livelihoods for tribal people.
- Tech for Tribal Programme:
- Launch and Purpose: TRIFED, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Roorkee, IIM Indore, Kalinga Institute of Social Science, Bhubaneswar, and SRIJAN, Jaipur, launched this program in its first phase. Supported by the Ministry of MSME, it aims to transform 5 crore Tribal Entrepreneurs by building capacity and imparting entrepreneurship skills to tribal forest produce gatherers under PMVDY. The program focuses on developing entrepreneurship skills among tribal communities.