16 July 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. ‘Big brother’ to ‘Brother’, a Nepal-India reset
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations – Bilateral Relations |
| Context |
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Background of India-Nepal Relations
- Relations between India and Nepal have been strained since 2015 when both countries had different prime ministers.
- The adoption of Nepal’s new Constitution in 2015, which India wanted amended, sparked bilateral turbulence.
- Despite initial assurances to India, Nepal promulgated the Constitution without amendments, leading to a significant downturn in relations.
Blockade and its Aftermath
- India imposed a six-month blockade on Nepal, ostensibly blaming Madhesi activists, causing significant hardship and fostering long-lasting resentment in Nepal.
- Nepal’s leadership reacted by signing ten agreements with China covering trade, transit, power, and transport.
- The blockade’s aftermath saw Nepal’s prime minister make provocative statements about historical and national identity, further straining relations.
Political and Diplomatic Dynamics
- Despite meetings between the prime ministers post-blockade, tensions persisted with provocative suggestions from Nepal about India’s national symbols.
- India’s 2019 political map update, which included disputed territories, led Nepal to amend its Constitution to assert its claims over these areas.
- India’s increasing involvement in Nepali governance and politics, including fielding advocates for its ideological positions, further complicated relations.
Challenges and Opportunities
- With India’s prime minister starting his third term and Nepal’s new leadership, there is an opportunity to reset and stabilise relations.
- The Indian government may need to revisit its approach to Nepal, emphasising policy corrections and mutual respect.
- The principle of non-interference, as part of the Panchsheel doctrine, should guide India’s engagement with Nepal.
Importance of Non-Interference
- India’s relentless engagement in Nepal’s politics contradicts the Panchsheel doctrine’s principle of non-interference.
- A hands-off policy could lead to a politically stable and economically energised Nepal, benefiting both nations.
- Nepal is a significant remittance-sending country to India, supporting livelihoods in some of India’s poorest regions, highlighting the mutual benefits of a stable relationship.
Internal Dynamics in Nepal
- The political chaos in Nepal has weakened its ability to engage on equal terms with India.
- Previous Nepali leaders have had varied success in maintaining balanced relations with India.
- The recently concluded prime ministerial term saw significant concessions to India, including agreements that potentially compromised Nepal’s sovereignty.
Hydropower and Economic Issues
- Nepal’s recent agreements with India, particularly in hydropower, have sparked controversy due to restrictions favouring India.
- The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has been given unique privileges not afforded to other embassies, raising concerns about unequal treatment.
- Delinking Nepal’s hydropower from its water resources to bypass parliamentary ratification highlights the complexities of bilateral agreements.
Regional Cooperation
- The new leadership in Nepal has the opportunity to advocate for reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, benefiting the entire region.
- India’s policymakers need to recognize Nepal’s non-negotiable friendship with China, which does not preclude strong ties with India.
- Balancing these relationships is crucial for regional stability and cooperation.
Historical and Cultural Context
- The historic and cultural ties between India and Nepal should be leveraged to improve relations.
- Misconceptions about Nepal in Indian academia and public opinion need to be addressed through better communication and outreach.
- Nepal’s open border with India, often seen as a security concern, can be a model for future peaceful South Asian integration.
Future Prospects
- Both nations need to move beyond historical grievances and power dynamics to forge a mutually beneficial relationship.
- Nepal’s new leadership must assert its sovereignty and engage with India on equal terms.
- India’s policymakers should adopt a more respectful and cooperative approach, recognizing Nepal as a distinct and important neighbour.
Conclusion
- The potential for a positive and stable relationship between India and Nepal exists, contingent on mutual respect and non-interference.
- By addressing outstanding bilateral issues and fostering regional cooperation, both countries can achieve greater stability and prosperity.
- Embracing a more balanced and respectful relationship will benefit not only India and Nepal but also the broader South Asian region.
| Practice Question: Analyse the factors contributing to the recent strain in India-Nepal relations and suggest measures to enhance bilateral cooperation and stability. (250 Words /15 marks) |
2. The toll that extreme heat takes on women
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health |
| Context |
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Context of Extreme Heat and Gender Inequality
- Extreme heat has become a persistent reality, with 2023 being the warmest year on record.
- In May-June 2024, several parts of India experienced record-breaking temperatures.
- Women are disproportionately affected by extreme heat due to unequal power dynamics, gender norms, and limited access to resources.
- India ranks 18th from the bottom in the Global Gender Gap Index, highlighting significant gender inequalities.
- Given that India is home to a significant proportion of the world’s women, addressing extreme heat’s impact on them is crucial.
Hidden Toll on Women
- A report by the Asian Development Bank highlights the unequal impact of extreme heat on women in Asia and the Pacific.
- Women in informal settlements face multiple challenges due to rising temperatures, with their homes often turning into heat chambers.
- Women in these areas also work in poorly ventilated kitchens, experiencing high temperatures while cooking.
- Extreme heat exacerbates time poverty and the care burden for women, reducing their productivity.
- Heat stress results in women working longer hours to complete unpaid work at home, leading to significant productivity losses.
- According to a report, heatwaves cause women in India to lose about 90 minutes of care work productivity per day.
- This adds to the pre-existing gender differences in time-use patterns, where women already spend significantly more time on unpaid work than men.
- More than two-thirds of women’s productivity loss from heat strain occurs in the domain of unpaid labour.
- The opportunity costs associated with heat stress include lost income, skill acquisition, and rest.
Challenges Faced by Urban and Rural Women
- Urban female informal labourers face harsh weather conditions in marketplaces, streets, construction sites, and other outdoor settings.
- These workers, including street vendors, domestic helpers, construction workers, and sanitation workers, are vulnerable to climatic extremes.
- Energy poverty, characterised by a lack of cooling facilities, exacerbates their vulnerability.
- Green spaces and natural cooling methods are increasingly scarce in dense urban areas.
- Water scarcity and power fluctuations further challenge maintaining hydration and comfort.
- In rural areas, women begin their days cooking on biomass stoves, exposing them to heat and health hazards.
- Over half of rural Indian families rely on biomass for cooking, highlighting a significant public health issue.
- Women in rural areas work long hours under heat stress, whether indoors in poorly ventilated homes or outdoors in fields.
- Restrictive gender norms on mobility and clothing exacerbate heat stress for rural women.
- Prolonged exposure to heatwaves affects crop yields, impacting poor rural women’s food security and poverty levels.
Health Strain from Heat
- Heat-related diseases are increasing with rising temperatures, causing heat cramps, heat stroke, and hyperthermia.
- Women’s physiological makeup, including body fat percentage and water content levels, affects their heat tolerance and hydration.
- Hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycles and pregnancy further impact women’s body temperature regulation.
- Women face a dual burden from heat-related health issues as they are more susceptible and bear the majority of caregiving responsibilities.
- Heat stress significantly impacts maternal and child health, leading to higher rates of preterm delivery, miscarriage, and stillbirths.
- Given India’s higher maternal mortality rates, the impact of heat strain on maternal and child health is particularly concerning.
Strengthening Resilience and Adaptation
- The burden on women becomes evident as India grapples with soaring temperatures and heat-related losses.
- Strengthening women’s resilience to heat stress is essential through climate-friendly urban planning and sustainable cooling technologies.
- Ensuring fair division of care work and public provisioning of essential services is crucial.
- Addressing the social power gradient that determines women’s capacity to face climate crises is imperative for effective adaptation and resilience.
- Immediate concerns should include developing and providing access to sustainable cooling technologies, equitable distribution of care work, and improving public services.
| PYQ: Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. (100 words/5m)(UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2013) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the impact of extreme heat on women in India and suggest measures to mitigate these gender-specific challenges. (150 Words /10 marks) |
