What is the News ?

The 20-member group is going to perform Seethakali folk art, outside Kerala for the first time as to revive one of the fading dance forms of Kerala.

Facts About:

• In the early times, Seethakali was performed as part of the harvest festival Onam.
• From Atham star till the 28th day after Onam, the performers who belong to the subaltern communities go from one house to another performing this art.

Key Features of Seethakali:

• Folk Dance Drama: Seethakali is a traditional folk dance drama that was once performed during the festival days in erstwhile Desinganad (Kollam, Kerala), primarily during the Onam festivities.
• Dalit Artists: The performance was carried out by Dalit artists belonging to the Veda and Pulaya communities, focusing on presenting episodes from the Ramayana from Sita’s perspective.
• Vanayatra to Andardhanam: Seethakali portrays the journey from “vanayatra” (exile to the forest) to “andardhanam” (descend into the earth) of Sita, featuring a blend of songs, storytelling, and fast movements.
• Instruments: The dance drama is accompanied by instruments such as ganjira, manikatta, chiratta, and kaimani.
• Narrative through Songs: Seethakali’s story is conveyed through songs, with 28 collected over three years, featuring a folk style influenced by Vallappaattu, Kuthirappaattu, and Rakshasappattu.
• Oral Tradition: Seethakali songs were orally transmitted from one generation to the next, which led to a pause in the tradition.
• Basic Movements: The dance involves basic steps, striving to preserve the original essence of the art form.
• Character Ensemble: The performance includes key characters such as Sita, Ram, Lakshman, Ravan, and Hanuman.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/artistes-breathe-a-new-life-into-seethakali-folk-art/article67234768.ece

What is the News ?

Recently, the poop of tigers has helped a team of scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) understand the prey selection patterns of the striped feline in the Indian part of the Terai-Arc Landscape.

Facts About:

• It is an 810km stretch between the river Yamuna in the west and the river Bhagmati in the east.
• It comprises the Shivalik hills, the adjoining bhabhar areas and the Terai flood plains.
• It is spread across the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and the low-lying hills of Nepal. 
• About 22% of the wild tiger population in India is found across the TAL, living amidst some of the highest human and livestock densities on the subcontinent.
• The landscape boasts of some of India’s most well-known Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas, such as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Nepal’s Bardia Wildlife Sanctuary, Chitwan National Park, Sukhla Phanta Wildlife Sanctuary.
• These forests are home to three flagship species: the Bengal tiger(Panthera tigris), the greater one-hornedrhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Key Facts about the Wildlife Institute of India

• It is an autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
• It was established in 1982.
• It offers training programs, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
• The Institute is actively engaged in research across the breadth of the country on biodiversity-related issues.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/10-tiger-corridors-across-india-need-attention-experts/articleshow/95518729.cms

What is the News ?

The State of India’s Birds Report has been released recently.

Facts About:

• The State of India’s Birds (SoIB) report based on data collected from approximately 30,000 birdwatchers has unveiled concerning trends regarding India’s bird population.
• The study highlights a substantial decline in numerous bird species, attributing this decline to a range of factors.

About SoIB Report

• The SoIB report aims to evaluate the conservation status of a wide range of species regularly present in India.
• It is published by a partnership involving 13 governmental and non-governmental organizations, including SACON, WII, and ZSI.
• The report extensively employs data from over 30 million observations on eBird by more than 30,000 birdwatchers.
• The report assesses distribution range size, abundance trends over the long term and since 2015, and information from the IUCN Red List to categorize Indian species into Low, Moderate, and High Conservation Priority tiers.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Widespread Decline: Among the species analyzed, 60% of those assessed for long-term trends show decline, while 40% exhibit a decline in current annual trends.
• Raptors and Vultures: Birds consuming vertebrates and carrion, including raptors and vultures, have significantly declined, possibly due to pollutants or prey availability reduction.
• Endemics and Biodiversity Hotspots: Endemic species in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot have experienced rapid declines over the past decades.
• Positive Outlook: Certain generalist species, exemplified by the Indian peafowl, demonstrate remarkable increases in abundance, with a 150% rise observed over the past decades.
• Conservation Priority: The report classifies species into High, Moderate, and Low Conservation Priority, with 178 species as High Priority, 323 as Moderate, and 441 as Low Priority. Noteworthy species include the Ruddy shelduck, Indian courser, Narcondam hornbill, and Nicobar megapode.

Identified Threats to Bird Species

• The report underscores threats encompassing forest degradation, urbanization, energy infrastructure.
• Birds are highly impacted by environmental pollutants like Nimesulide affecting vulture populations, climate change’s impacts on migratory species, avian diseases, and illegal hunting and trade.

Actions and Research Implications

• Targeted Conservation: The report advocates for the conservation of specific groups, such as grassland specialists that have suffered a more than 50% decline, highlighting the importance of protecting and preserving grassland ecosystems.
• Long-Term Monitoring: The significance of continuous, systematic bird population monitoring is emphasized to comprehend subtle fluctuations in bird numbers.
• In-Depth Research: Further research is needed to understand the causes behind both declines and increases in bird populations.
• Synergy among Policies: The report calls for the harmonization of policies related to river, water, and wasteland development, recognizing the multifaceted role of abundant, widespread bird species.
• Citizen Participation: Citizen Engagement plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, warranting an essential role in the action plan for bird population and habitat preservation.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/state-of-indias-birds-report-lists-20-species-of-highest-conservation-priority-for-kerala/article67241741.ece

What is the News ?

In recent years, several states in the U.S. have enacted ‘right to repair’ laws.

Facts About:

• It refers to government measures that forbid manufacturers to impose barriers that deny consumers the ability to repair consumer products.
• The sectors identified for the right to repair include farming equipment, mobile phones/tablets, consumer durables, and automobiles/automobile equipment.
• Government has launched a unified portal, https://righttorepairindia.gov.in, to onboard leading brands and reliable third-party technicians to provide easy access to overhauling services.
• The portal has on boarded leading brands such as Apple, Samsung, Honda, Kent RO Systems, Havells, Hewlett Packard, and Hero MotoCorp.
  • The portal seeks to streamline trade between original equipment manufacturers and third-party sellers.
• The right to repair has been recognized in many countries across the globe, including the USA, UK, and European Union.

Significance of Right to repair for India:

• Lowering costs for consumers: By providing access to third-party technicians, the right to repair can reduce costs for consumers who may not be able to afford expensive repairs or replacement devices.
• Reducing electronic waste: India is one of the largest generators of electronic waste in the world, and the right to repair can help reduce e-waste by extending the lifespan of electronic devices and appliances.
• Supporting small businesses: The right to repair can also support small businesses that provide repair services, by creating a level playing field with manufacturers who may have previously had a monopoly on repairs.
• Empowering consumers: By giving consumers the ability to repair their own devices or choose where to have them repaired, the right to repair empowers consumers to make informed choices and take control of their own devices.
• Promoting transparency and collaboration: The right to repair framework aims to build a consumer-centric ecosystem that promotes transparency and collaboration between manufacturers, sellers, and consumers.

Challenges associated with implementing right to repair in India

• Limited Access to Information: Many manufacturers do not provide adequate information to consumers about repair options or how to repair devices, which can make it difficult for consumers to exercise their right to repair.
• Lack of Awareness: Consumers lack awareness about their rights to repair and the benefits of repairing their devices leading to a lack of demand for repair services, limiting the growth of the repair industry.
• Opposition from manufacturers: Some manufacturers may oppose the right to repair, arguing that it could compromise their intellectual property rights or lead to safety concerns making it difficult to pass legislation or regulations to support the right to repair.
• Limited availability of spare parts: The availability of spare parts is often limited in India, particularly for older or less common models of devices makes it difficult for repair technicians to perform repairs or for consumers to find reliable repair services.
• Lack of regulatory mechanism: Currently, there is no comprehensive regulation in India that governs the right to repair which can lead to confusion among consumers and repair technicians about their rights and responsibilities, and may limit the growth of the repair industry.

Way Forward:

Many countries around the world have been attempting to pass effective ‘right to repair’ laws. But the movement has faced tremendous resistance from tech giants such as Apple and Microsoft over the years.

The New York legislation is a reminder that it is time to not only acknowledge the right to repair of consumers but also respond to the corresponding rights of the manufacturers. This warrants some expedited policy changes to recognise the ‘right to repair’, be it through amendments in the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 or through a separate law.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-right-to-repair-movement-7400287/

What is the News ?

There is a shift in Centre’s policy towards minority education in the past few years. It has discontinued two key educational schemes for religious minorities and gradually cut down on the expenditure incurred on the programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. 

Facts About:

Minority Educational Schemes: Overview

• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme: Initially covering classes 1 to 10, now limited to classes 9 and 10.
• Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme: Supports class 11 and above students, with increased funding this fiscal year.
• Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme: Aided professional and technical courses, underwent significant funding reduction.
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF): Provided financial assistance for research scholars but discontinued in 2022.
• Padho Pardesh: Discontinued interest subsidy scheme for higher education abroad.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship: Scholarship for meritorious girls discontinued.

Policy Shift and Consequences

• Change in Focus: Despite acknowledging the importance of education for religious minorities and inclusive growth, the government has discontinued two key educational schemes, narrowed the scope of another, and reduced expenditure on multiple programs by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Beneficiary Drop: Between 2019 and 2022, the number of beneficiaries under six educational schemes for religious minorities decreased by 7%, while government spending on these programs declined by around 12.5%.
• Budget Cuts: The Ministry of Minority Affairs faced a budgetary reduction of 38.3% for the fiscal year 2023-24, from Rs 5,020.5 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 3,097 crore. Additionally, a significant portion of funds allocated in the previous year went unutilized.

Importance of Strengthening Educational Aid

• Diverse Religious Minorities: India encompasses over 30 crore people from religious minority communities, including Muslims (14.2%), Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0.4%), and Zoroastrians.
• Challenges Faced by Muslims: Muslims, the largest religious minority, confront challenges in areas like economics, health, and education. Their participation in formal employment remains low, with many working in the informal sector under poor conditions.
• Sachar Committee Report: The Sachar Committee highlighted the deprivation and neglect faced by Muslims across various development dimensions, underscoring the need for affirmative action.
• Formation of Ministry of Minority Affairs: Responding to these challenges, the UPA government established this Ministry in 2006 to ensure focused attention on the issues affecting minority communities.

Challenges and Impact

• Reduction in beneficiaries and funding has impacted the implementation of schemes, resulting in a widening gap in education and economic parameters.
• Poor coverage of beneficiaries and unchanged low unit costs remain hurdles in scheme implementation.
• Muslim students’ enrolment in higher education is lagging behind other communities, worsening the existing disparities.

Way Forward

• Strengthen educational aid through enhancing scholarships, such as pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means, and national overseas scholarships.
• Implement targeted schemes based on the 15-Point Programme to address development gaps in minority-concentrated localities.
• Make scholarships demand-driven and provide additional financial resources to improve unit costs.
• Increase the total budget allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs to address the deprivation in educational attainment for minorities.

Source: https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/mar/doc202231626301.pdf