22 August 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. ANOTHER GLASS CEILING

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Editorial Page; Page: 08)

Topic: GS2– Governance GS2 – Social Justice

Context:

The article criticizes a recent UPSC advertisement for lateral entry into 45 posts without reservations, arguing that it undermines social justice and perpetuates existing inequalities.

Gramscian Theory of Hegemony and Lateral Entry in UPSC

• The concept of hegemony, as theorized by Antonio Gramsci, highlights the dominance of a particular class or group in shaping the cultural and ideological norms of society.
• This theory is recently illustrated by the advertisement for lateral entry into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for 45 posts without any provision for reservation.
• This decision reflects the subtle perpetuation of a dominant cultural narrative that excludes marginalized communities, contradicting the ethos of Antyodaya—a philosophy that aims to uplift the last person in line by creating a conducive and representative system within the bureaucracy, government, and judiciary.
• Despite breaking glass ceilings in electoral politics, the bureaucratic and judicial domains still remain largely inaccessible to Dalits and other marginalized groups.

Meritocracy Versus Social Justice

• The advertisement states that the UPSC is seeking “talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation-building.”
• This could be interpreted as an open call where applicants from all castes are free to apply, with selection based on merit.
• However, historical evidence suggests that in the absence of reservation, candidates from Dalit and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are often overlooked due to perceived deficiencies in “merit.”
• This raises critical questions about the inherent biases in our understanding of merit and its implications for social justice.
• At a time when marginalized communities are striving to reclaim their cultural narratives and histories, such advertisements could undermine their morale and representation at higher levels of governance, perpetuating the myth of meritocracy.

The Problem with Lateral Entry Without Reservation

• On the surface, lateral entry into the UPSC appears to be a progressive move, potentially bringing new and diverse perspectives, technical expertise, and innovative approaches to governance.
• However, this raises concerns about the definition of “technical experts” and whether they predominantly come from a particular segment of society. The lack of domain experts from SC and ST communities suggests that the reservation policy needs to be revisited and strengthened to ensure diversity and inclusion in these crucial positions.
• Without a clear and unbiased recruitment process, which separates interviewers from their social and caste biases, lateral entry risks perpetuating existing social inequalities.

Social Justice and the Reservation Debate

• The Supreme Court’s verdict on subclassification within the SC and ST communities for reservations was seen as a step towards ensuring that the benefits of reservation reach the most marginalized.
• However, the recent UPSC advertisement seems to contradict this notion of social justice. Social justice is not just about providing equal opportunities; it also involves ensuring equality in those opportunities—across political, economic, and administrative domains.
• Reservation has historically been a tool to democratize the recruitment process and challenge the monopolization of power by dominant groups.
• The introduction of lateral entry without reservation threatens to undermine this progress, particularly given the already low representation of ST and SC communities at these levels.

Addressing Structural Inequalities in Academia

• The issue of lateral entry also brings to light the broader problem of structural inequalities within Indian academia, where the “Not Found Suitable” (NFS) condition is frequently used to justify the exclusion of marginalized candidates.
• This practice reflects deep-seated biases and uneven power dynamics within society. To address this, there is a need for a redressal committee to investigate cases where positions are declared NFS, ensuring transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.
• Clear criteria should be established to determine eligibility for various posts, with provisions beyond the 13-point roster system to ensure the inclusion of marginalized communities in lateral entry positions.

Moving Beyond Lateralism to Multilateralism

• In the context of an increasingly multilateral world, it is crucial to move away from the concept of “lateral-ism” in recruitment, representation, and reservation.
• A more inclusive approach is needed that recognizes and addresses the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities, ensuring that all segments of society are adequately represented in positions of power and influence.
• Only through such measures can we begin to dismantle the hegemonic structures that perpetuate inequality and build a more just and equitable society.

Advantages of Lateral Entry

Need for Specialized Knowledge: Governance is becoming more and more complex requiring specialized skills. For example, increasing penetration of data dominance in our lives. Generalist officers cannot be always expected to be up-to-date with specialized knowledge. Therefore, people with expertise and specialist domain knowledge are required to navigate the complex needs of present-day administrative challenges. Filling The Gap: According to Department of Personnel and Training data, there is a shortage of about 1500 IAS officers. Lateral entry can help bridge this deficit. Bringing a Change in Work Culture:  It will help in bringing change in bureaucratic culture in Government sector culture. This bureaucratic culture is criticized for red-tapism, rule-book bureaucracy, and status-quoist. Lateral Entry helps in bringing the values of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Government sector. It will help in building a culture of performance within the Government sector. Participatory Governance: Presently, governance is becoming a more participatory and multi-actor endeavor. In this context, the lateral entry provides stakeholders such as the private sector and non-profits an opportunity to participate in the governance process.     Arguments Against Lateral Entry Outsourcing Expertise:  There is a difference between bringing expertise and being part of the decision-making process. For bringing expertise, the government doesn’t strictly need to hire private-sector personnel. Expertise is widely available and used by almost every ministry — expert committees, consultations, think tank engagements, etc. Cumbersome Decision-Making Process:  The success of lateral entry requires an understanding of the system and an ability to work with the “permanent” establishment. No training or orientation is provided for this. By the time networks are built, it is time to move on. On past evidence, the lateral entrants who made the biggest impact are those who served in the system for a length of time and at different levels Profit Motive vs. Public Service:  Private sector approach is profit-oriented on the other hand motive of the Government is public service. This is also a fundamental transition that a private sector person has to make while working in government. Conflict of Interest:  Hiring of the private sector into administrative positions raises issues of potential conflict of interest. This issue requires a stringent code of conduct for entrants from private sectors to ensure conflict of interest is not detrimental to the public good.

Practice Question:  Critically analyze the implications of lateral entry into the UPSC without reservation provisions. What are its potential impacts on social justice and representation of marginalized communities in the Indian bureaucracy? (250 words/15 m)

2. This land is their land

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Ideas Page; Page: 09)

Topic: GS3– Environment

Context:

The article discusses the environmental degradation in India, particularly in the Western Ghats, caused by activities like quarrying and construction.

Environmental Degradation and Human Intervention

• Landslides and other environmental disasters have become more frequent due to aggressive human activities, such as quarrying, mining, and construction in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats.
• The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) identified these regions as highly sensitive and recommended banning such activities. Despite this, the report faced opposition and was initially suppressed by the government, labeled as “anti-development.”
• When the report was eventually made public, it sparked both protests and support, particularly in Kerala, where a translated version reached a wide audience.
• The resistance from local communities against environmental degradation underscores the tension between development and ecological preservation.

The Struggle Against Quarrying and its Impact on Communities

• The case of Chemban Mudi in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district illustrates the devastating impact of unchecked quarrying.
• For over a decade, large-scale quarrying activities caused significant health and environmental damage, including respiratory illnesses, landslips, and water contamination.
• The local community, led mostly by women from Kudumbashree units, launched a successful mass movement to halt these operations in 2013. The struggle highlights the power of grassroots activism in confronting environmental injustices, despite the risks and challenges involved.

Empowerment Through Technology and New Opportunities

• Technological advancements, particularly the proliferation of affordable smartphones, have empowered previously marginalized communities, enabling them to communicate, organize, and access new opportunities.
• For example, tribal communities in remote areas now use smartphones to stay connected and engage in economic activities, such as selling livestock online.
• This technological empowerment offers hope that the “meek” can assert their rights and claim their share of the nation’s resources.

Proposals for Empowering Local Communities

To further empower communities like those in Wayanad, the article proposes four specific measures:

• First, it suggests transferring control of rock quarries to local women’s groups, as seen in the successful example of Mendha (Lekha) village in Gadchiroli.
• Second, it recommends restricting the tourism industry to homestays organized by tribals, a model that has worked well in Goa and Sikkim.
• Third, it advocates for the management of tea estates to be handed over to labor cooperatives, ensuring fair wages and decent living conditions for workers.
• Lastly, it calls for a legal challenge to the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), arguing that it unjustly restricts people’s ability to defend themselves and their property from wildlife threats, thus infringing on their fundamental rights.

The Call for a New Dawn of Assertion

• The article concludes with a call to action for the common people of India to shed their meekness and assert their rightful claims.
• The article expresses hope that this empowerment will lead to a new era where the meek can truly inherit the earth, not through passive acceptance, but by actively claiming their rights and resources.
• The vision is one of a society where the marginalized and oppressed rise up to challenge the injustices they face, using both traditional means and new technologies to secure their place in the world.

Practice Question:  Discuss the impact of human activities on the ecological balance in sensitive regions like the Western Ghats. How can marginalized communities be empowered to protect their environment and assert their rights, in line with Gandhian principles? (250 words/15 m)