10 August 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Refugee rights, the gendered nature of displacement
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice, GS2 – Governance |
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Analysis of the news:
Global Displacement Crisis
- Armed conflict, violence, human rights abuses, and persecution force millions worldwide to flee their homes, becoming displaced people. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by the end of 2023, 117.3 million people globally were forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order.
- Of these, 37.6 million were refugees. The numbers are expected to rise due to ongoing conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas war, the Ukraine-Russia war, and fresh threats to the Rohingyas in Myanmar.
The Female Face of Displacement
- India, historically a refugee-receiving nation, has hosted over 200,000 diverse refugee groups since independence. As of January 31, 2022, 46,000 refugees and asylum-seekers were registered with UNHCR India, with 46% being women and girls.
- Women refugees bear disproportionate burdens, being solely accountable for children, often the last to flee, and saddled with gendered caregiving responsibilities.
- The United Nations Population Fund recognizes that “the face of displacement is female,” with displacement impacting women’s physical and mental health. Refugee women face multiple stressors, including deaths of family members, camp life hardships, altered family dynamics, and limited access to networks and safety.
- Prolonged conflict, post-conflict gender role shifts, breakdowns in social support systems, and socio-economic challenges expose women to increased risks of gender-based abuse, including transactional sex.
Mental Health Challenges for Displaced Women
- Displaced women are at higher risk of psychological conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. They are twice as likely to show PTSD symptoms and over four times more likely to exhibit depression than men.
- A study in Darfur, Sudan, indicated 72% of displaced women were affected by PTSD and distress due to traumatic events and living conditions in camps.
- Evidence suggests female refugees are more susceptible to mental health issues than males. Social and gender inequalities, especially in patriarchal societies, lead to the dismissal of displaced women’s experiences.
- Women with psychological vulnerabilities are stigmatised and isolated. Refugee families, with limited resources, prioritise physical over mental health, often neglecting women’s mental health needs.
- Mental health service usage is lower among refugees compared to locals and lower among women than men. In India, patriarchal norms and stigma surrounding psychosocial disabilities restrict access to information and services.
- Available mental health services are typically in government hospitals with long waits or through unregulated NGOs, sought only when issues escalate. Women face challenges like stigma, shame, communication barriers, and low awareness.
Conventions, Rights, and India’s Role
- The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognizes long-term mental or intellectual impairments as psychosocial disabilities, ensuring rights without discrimination.
- India ratified the UNCRPD and enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWDA), guaranteeing rights to persons with disabilities, including free and barrier-free healthcare access.
- However, refugee women with psychosocial disabilities are excluded from these guarantees due to legal oversight, stigma, discrimination, and barriers like language and finance.
- The Supreme Court of India has affirmed refugees’ right to life under Article 21, including healthcare, but access is limited to government hospitals. Refugees are excluded from most public health programs, and private healthcare is costly.
- Without express guarantees for refugees with disabilities, these women remain unable to realise their rights, violating their right to life as mandated by the Court and UNCRPD.
Addressing Structural Gaps
- India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol and lacks specific domestic legislation for refugees, including those with disabilities.
- A uniform, codified framework is needed to fulfil India’s international commitments, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasises empowering vulnerable populations, including disabled and refugee communities.
- Effective policymaking requires integrating refugees with disabilities into accessible programs and collecting disaggregated data on their health for systematic identification and registration.
Way forward
- Adopt a comprehensive legal framework specifically for refugees, incorporating protections for mental health aligned with international standards.
- Integrate refugees into existing public health programs and ensure access to mental health services without discrimination.
- Increase awareness and reduce stigma around mental health through community outreach.
- Establish multilingual support services and strengthen partnerships with NGOs to provide targeted mental health interventions.
- Collect disaggregated data on refugees’ health needs to inform policy decisions and ensure that resources are allocated effectively.
| Practice Question: Discuss the challenges faced by female refugees in India, and evaluate the existing legal and policy frameworks addressing their needs. How can India enhance its support for refugee women with psychosocial disabilities? (150 Words /10 marks) |
2. No population Census — in the dark without vital data
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
| Topic: GS2 – Governance |
| Context |
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Introduction
- The Indian Census, delayed for over three years, is crucial not only for population counting but also for collecting diverse locational, familial, and individual data.
- The delay is creating misconceptions among officials about replacing the Census with alternative methods.
Importance of the Census
- The Census provides a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics, including education, occupation, employment, health, and livelihoods.
- Large-scale surveys like the National Family Health Survey and the Periodic Labour Force Survey rely on outdated Census data, affecting their reliability.
Consequences of Delaying the Census
- The absence of up-to-date Census data undermines the reliability of surveys and the measurement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators.
- Delaying the Census is seen as irresponsible, given its significance in understanding demographic transitions and leveraging demographic dividends.
- Conducting a Census requires machinery comparable to a general election, which has been successfully conducted despite uncertainties.
- Opinions on evaluating government schemes without reliable data highlight the Census’s importance as a denominator for monitoring program success.
Demographic Changes and Global Significance
- Rapid demographic transitions in India necessitate an updated Census to understand changes in familial structures, locational distribution, and occupational composition.
- India, a significant player in the global population scenario, requires accurate demographic data to influence world population prospects effectively.
Census vs. Caste Census
- The debate around a caste Census is primarily politically motivated, focusing on differential entitlements rather than genuine inclusion.
- A caste Census, while historically conducted, might not be the best tool for assessing inclusion and deprivation.
- There is a lack of systematic assessment of mobility in education and occupation against caste, despite affirmative action.
Scientific Community’s Role
- The scientific community should advocate for conducting the Census without delay, emphasising that surveys and administrative statistics cannot replace it.
- The delay raises concerns about whether the Census is being deliberately avoided or simply postponed.
Conclusion
- The Census is essential for accurate demographic data and planning.
- The debate between conducting a traditional Census versus a caste Census highlights the need for clarity and focus on broader developmental goals.
| Practice Question: Analyse the impact of the delayed Indian decadal Census on policy-making and SDG measurement. Why is timely Census data crucial for accurate demographic and development planning? (250 Words /15 marks) |
