Context

Amidst the jubilant celebrations of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the legacy of Jyotirao Phule, a pioneer in social reform, resonates deeply.

About Mahatma Jyotirao Phule

• Birth: Jyotirao Phule is one of them who was born in Maharashtra on 11th April and is remembered as a social reformer, author and activist. 
• Relevance: Though he was born in the 19th century his ideas are still relevant in the 21st century. 
• Phule’s Advocacy for Marginalized Groups: Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to bring change in the lives of deprived groups, especially women, Shudras and Dalits.
• Vision for Social Progress: Jyotirao Phule was a visionary par excellence who realized very early that for a nation to progress, the marginalized groups need to be given due recognition.

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Views of Jyotirao Phule: Advocate of Social Justice, Caste Equality, and Education

• Addressing Social Inequalities: Jyotirao Phule struggled to find the solution to remove the inequalities based on caste, class, gender and religion from society.
• Enlightenment and Empowerment:  He understood very early in life that People were kept in the dark and they had been dragged into following the empty customs and norms without adequate understanding. 
• Advocating for Social Justice: He envisioned the furtherance of everyone’s rights through social empowerment.
• Pre-Colonial Maharashtra: Jyotirao Phule’s philosophy was conceptualized against the backdrop of the polity and society in pre-colonial Maharashtra, which was in a deteriorated state.
• Founding of Satyashodhak Samaj: His critique of the Brahmanic religion, scriptures and theories, the founding of Satyashodhak Samaj (truth-seeking society) for the upliftment of the downtrodden to the ‘new moral community’ and his radical writings which pioneered a reformation movement in Hindu society deserve special attention. 
• Satyashodhak Samaj’s Role: He gave the people a voice and a vehicle by establishing the Satyashodhak Samaj which was the first of its kind for social empowerment. 
• Championing Caste Equality: It promoted caste equality and was devoted to securing social justice and human rights of low-caste people. 
• Emancipation through Education: Throughout his life, he fought to emancipate women from the clutches of rigid patriarchal order and found education as a tool to address such evils. 
• Rejecting Regressive Hierarchy: He rejected the system of regressive hierarchy which engineered divisions and schism among the oppressed Hindus.

Reforms by Jyotirao Phule

• Reforming Family and Marriage: Jyotirao Phule revamped the traditional family and marriage system and refuted the hackneyed views on the prescribed typecast roles of man and woman. 
• Contract Marriage Advocacy: He supported contract marriage as for him; marriage is not a holy sacrament but a holy contract. 
• Rejecting Priesthood: Additionally, he also rejected the priesthood system. 
• Orphanage for Widows: He was far ahead of his time as he opened an orphanage for helpless widows who got pregnant. 
• Championing Women’s Education: He left an indelible impression in the field of women’s education as he found it a ‘remedial whipcord’ for ‘nauseating wrong done to the women’.
• Compulsory Education Advocacy: He insisted on compulsory and free primary education and persuaded the British Government to make education compulsory till the age of 12 years. 
• Language Formula Pioneer: He was also the pioneer of the language formula in schools which was ultimately adopted by the Indian Government after independence. 
  • He opined that mother tongue (local language); Hindi and English were the three languages that every person should know.
• Vocational Education Advocacy: Jyotirao Phule also suggested that schools should provide education based on vocational skills. He believed that such a course would attract students and help them in gaining employment.

Conclusion

Jyotirao Phule’s foresight extended to educational reforms, advocating for vocational training and multilingual education, ideas that resonate with modern policies like the New Education Policy, 2020. In today’s pursuit of an egalitarian society, Phule’s principles remain indispensable

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Context

Global leaders will gather in Canada’s capital -Ottawa – to discuss progress in drafting a first-ever global plastic treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution by the end of the year. 

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Background of Global Plastic Treaty Talks

• Anticipated Climate Treaty: The hoped-for treaty, due to be agreed at the end of this year, could be the most significant deal relating to climate-warming emissions and environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement.
• Tackling the Plastic Pollution Crisis: At the UN Environmental Assembly in 2022, the world’s nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024 to address the world’s plastic pollution crisis.
• Lifecycle Approach: The Global plastic treaty is meant to address plastics through their entire lifecycle – from when they are produced, to how they are used and then disposed of.

Problem with Plastics

• Source of pollution: Plastic waste has become a global menace polluting landscapes and waterways, producing plastics involves releasing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Contribution in global carbon emissions: The plastic industry now accounts for 5 percent of global carbon emissions, which could grow to 20 per cent by 2050 if current trends continue.
• Increased plastic production: Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060 – unless the treaty sets production limits, as some have proposed. Most virgin plastic is derived from petroleum.

Negotiation in Ottawa

• Prior Talks on Global Plastics Treaty: Countries have become divided on the issues during three previous rounds of talks – held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Paris and most recently in Nairobi.
• Nairobi Talks: At the Nairobi talks, in November 2022, the draft treaty under review ballooned from 30 pages to 70 as some countries insisted on including their objections to more ambitious measures like production limits and phase-outs.
• Countdown to Compromise: Countries are now under pressure to find common ground before the final negotiations are held in December in Busan, South Korea.

Demand of Stakeholders

• Demands of a group of Like-Minded Countries: Many plastic and petrochemical-producing countries have opposed mentioning production limits.
  • These countries include Saudi Arabia, Iran and China and are known collectively as the group of Like-Minded Countries.
• Demands of High-Ambition Coalition: The 60-nation High-Ambition Coalition, which includes EU countries, island nations, Japan and the UAE, wants to end plastic pollution by 2040. 
  • This coalition has called for common, legally binding provisions to restrain and reduce the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels.
  • They also are proposing measures such as phasing out problematic single-use plastics and banning certain chemical additives that could carry health risks.
• US’s Demands: The U.S. says it also wants to end plastic pollution by 2040. But unlike the High-Ambition Coalition, it wants countries to set their own plans for doing so, and to detail those plans in pledges sent regularly to the United Nations.
• Demand of Petrochemical Industries:
  • Challenging Production Caps: The major petrochemical producers argue that production caps would lead to higher prices for consumers, and  the treaty should address plastics only after they are made.
  • Plastic Reuse and Recycling: These companies want to focus on encouraging the reuse or recycling of plastics, and on developing the market for burning plastics as fuel. 
  • Voluntary Chemical Disclosure: In terms of transparency about chemicals used in production, the group says companies should be allowed to disclose those chemicals voluntarily.
• Demand of Corporates:
  • Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty: More than 200 consumer-facing companies including Unilever, PepsiCo and Walmart have joined the so-called Business Coalition for a Plastics Treaty.
  • Key Figures in Plastics Talks: Like the petrochemical industry, these companies that rely on plastic packaging for their products have been a major presence in the plastics negotiations.
  • Advocating Comprehensive Treaty: But they support a treaty that includes production caps, use restrictions and phase-outs, reuse policies, product design requirements, extended producer responsibility, and waste management.

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Conclusion

While some advocate for stringent measures like production limits and phase-outs, others emphasize voluntary approaches and post-production interventions. Bridging these divides will be crucial to forging a comprehensive treaty that effectively addresses the lifecycle of plastics. 

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Context

Recently, petition against poll-time curbs raises legitimate questions about public participation.

Challenging Election Prohibitory Orders: Balancing Public Order and Civil Society Participation

• Election Prohibitory Orders: Election time prohibitory orders are seldom questioned, even if they amount to blanket restrictions that curb all gatherings. 
• Order Challenged Before Supreme Court: The clamping of prohibitory orders to prevent unauthorized meetings and processions in the run-up to the ongoing general election has been challenged in the Supreme Court of India by several activists. 
• Application Process Disparity: Political parties routinely seek permission for rallies, public meetings, and road shows.
  • Civil society groups often face unresponsiveness or denial when seeking similar permissions.
• Concerns Raised: Authorities aim to maintain public order during election campaigns. 
  • Legitimate question arises regarding the constitutionality of blanket orders and application denials.
• Impact on Civil Society Activities: Petitioners unable to conduct voter awareness programs due to prohibitory orders. It hinders efforts to inform voters about election candidates and disclosures made in affidavits.

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Questioning Section 144

• Section 144: This law empowers the magistrate of any state or union territory in India to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area.
• Limitations of Section 144: Section 144 grants the power to direct actions or refrains from certain activities. Court judgments have placed limits on this power, particularly concerning assemblies and public activities.
• Restrictive Nature of Section 144 Orders: Orders under Section 144 typically limit assemblies and require permission for public activities. Such restrictions may hinder public participation in democratic processes.
• Judicial Response: Courts question the validity of blanket Section 144 orders, particularly concerning voter education activities. Interim orders direct timely processing of applications for public gatherings.
• Election Influence: Debate arises on whether elections justify blanket restrictions on public participation. Role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and its potential influence on such restrictions is questioned.
• Concerns Raised: Debate on whether election-related powers can justify broad restrictions on public activities. Potential shift of statutory powers from designated authorities to the ECI raises constitutional questions.

Conclusion

The case highlights the delicate balance between maintaining public order and ensuring democratic participation. Further examination is needed to determine the extent of discretionary powers during elections and their impact on civil liberties.

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Context

India, like in many other countries, is undergoing a major “nutrition transition”.

Nutrition Transition in India and the Rise of Junk Food Consumption

• Shift in Dietary Patterns: India is undergoing a significant nutrition transition marked by a shift from traditional, fiber-rich diets to processed, high-calorie Western-style diets, coinciding with economic progress and urbanization.
• Rise of Junk Food Consumption: Rapid economic growth and urbanization have led to increased consumption of packaged and processed foods, termed “junk foods,” which are low in nutrients but high in calories, fats, salt, and sugar.
  • Examples of such junk or high in fats, salts and sugar (HFSS) foods include cookies, cakes, chips, namkeen, instant noodles, sugary drinks, frozen meals, canned fruits, Indian sweets, and bakery products. 
• Health Implications: Scientific evidence links junk food consumption to weakened immune systems, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and increased cancer risk, contributing to the rise of lifestyle diseases in India.
  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study published in 2023 estimates that in India  11% has diabetes, 35% is hypertensive and almost 40% are suffering from abdominal obesity.
• Advertising Impact on Indian Diets: A significant factor to consider while analyzing the evolving dietary habits of Indians is the influence of aggressive advertising to promote “tasty” and “affordable” comfort foods, particularly aimed at younger consumers. 
  • According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 93% of children ate food that was packaged, 68% drank packaged sweetened beverages more than once a week, and 53% ate these foods at least once a day. 
• Growth of Ultra- Processed Food Industry: The ultra-processed food industry in India has expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 13.37% between 2011 and 2021. Moreover, India’s food processing industry is predicted to be worth $535 billion by 2025-26.

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Indian Government’s Response to Junk Food and Public Health Concerns

• Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court of India emphasized the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution concerning public health hazards posed by unsafe food.
• Government Initiatives: Government initiatives like Eat Right India, the Fit India Movement, and Poshan 2.0 prioritize promoting healthy foods and active lifestyles.
• Regulatory Measures: FSSAI regulations restrict the sale of High in Fats, Salts, and Sugars (HFSS) foods in school environments.
• Call to Withdraw Misleading Health Drink Ads: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also issued notice to a health drink giant to evaluate and withdraw all misleading advertisements, packaging and labels that brand the product as a “health drink”.
• Concerns: Despite policy intentions, effective implementation remains a challenge, necessitating further action.

Strategies for Curbing Junk Food Consumption in India

• Clear Definition of HFSS Foods: Define HFSS foods to enable better implementation of food safety regulations, focusing on protecting children from harmful impacts.
• Strengthening of Compliance: Strengthen compliance through stricter enforcement by institutions like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
• Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL): Implement FOPL, such as warning labels indicating high salt content, to facilitate informed consumer choices.
• Indian Nutrition Rating (INR): Introduce INR based on nutritional profiles to guide consumers, addressing concerns of potential loopholes and voluntary compliance.
• Voluntary Regulations: Moreover, regulations are voluntary until a period of four years from the date of final notification of the regulations.
• Subsidizing Healthy Foods: Develop policies offering subsidies for healthy foods like whole foods, millets, fruits, and vegetables to improve availability and affordability.

Way Forward: Promoting Healthy Dietary Habits in India

• Behavioral Change Campaigns: Launch multimedia campaigns targeting children and young adults to promote healthy dietary habits.
  • Utilize initiatives like “vocal for local” to endorse local and seasonal produce and traditional foods, alongside educational efforts on balanced diets.
• Promoting Healthy Choices: Engage social media influencers to mainstream discussions about the health risks of junk foods and promote mindful eating practices.
• Call to Action: Acknowledge the urgency of transitioning to healthier diets and fostering public demand for nutritious foods.
• Empowering Informed Choices: Embrace a “Jan Andolan” or people’s movement for healthy and diverse diets, accompanied by sincere policy interventions to empower informed food choices.

Conclusion

Addressing the challenges posed by unhealthy dietary habits in India requires a multifaceted approach encompassing regulatory measures, consumer awareness campaigns, and policy interventions to promote access to and consumption of nutritious foods.

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