12 July 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Breaking the taboo around men’s reproductive health
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health |
| Context |
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Introduction
- World Population Day, observed on July 11, highlights global population challenges, including male infertility.
- Male infertility is often stigmatised and misunderstood, leading to emotional and psychological stress and hindering progress in reproductive health solutions.
Prevalence of Male Infertility
- The World Health Organization estimated that 60 million to 80 million couples worldwide faced infertility in 2004.
- In India, based on World Health Organization data, an estimated 13 million to 19 million couples struggle with infertility, with male infertility accounting for 50% of these cases.
- Factors such as environmental pollution and lifestyle changes are expected to increase infertility rates.
Understanding Male Infertility
- Male infertility can manifest as an absence of sperm, low sperm count, or low sperm motility.
- Causes include stress, hormonal imbalances, genetic and anatomical factors, epigenetic influences, infections, environmental pollutants, and lifestyle factors.
- Lifestyle factors impacting fertility include diet, sleep patterns, work schedules, and consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
- The trend of late marriages among youth poses challenges due to declining sperm quality with age.
Importance of Awareness and Lifestyle Interventions
- Awareness of reproductive and sexual health is crucial, particularly from secondary school to junior college.
- Parents, especially fathers, should educate their sons about reproductive health.
- Young men should adopt healthy lifestyle practices, including proper diet, regular sleep, and avoidance of alcohol, tobacco, and other intoxicants.
- Limiting the excessive use of mobile phones and laptops near the body is recommended.
- Stress reduction through regular exercise, yoga, and meditation can improve reproductive health.
- Couples should adopt healthy lifestyle practices to enhance their reproductive health and well-being.
Treatment Options for Male Infertility
- Treatment varies based on the cause and form of infertility and should be guided by a medical professional.
- Routine semen analysis, conducted after two to seven days of sexual abstinence, is a common diagnostic step.
- Physical or anatomical issues, such as blocked sperm flow, undescended testicles, or abnormal urethral openings, can be corrected with surgery.
- Treatments for the absence of sperm include intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), donor sperm insemination, or adoption.
- Couples with low sperm count but good sperm motility may conceive naturally, while those with low sperm count and motility may require intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), or ICSI.
- Genetic counselling is crucial for male infertility due to gene mutations before pursuing assisted reproductive technologies.
Conclusion
- Open and informed discussions on reproductive health are urgently needed, particularly for male infertility.
- Awareness building, sex education, and timely medical interventions can support couples on their journey to parenthood.
- Breaking the taboo surrounding male infertility and fostering a supportive environment can help many couples achieve their dream of having children.
| Practice Question: Discuss the challenges and implications of male infertility in India. How can awareness and lifestyle interventions help address this issue? Suggest measures to break the stigma associated with male infertility. (150 Words /10 marks) |
2. Should States get special packages outside Finance Commission allocations?
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)
| Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity – Federal structure |
| Context |
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Demand for Special Financial Packages
- In the run-up to the Union Budget, the Chief Ministers of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have demanded special financial packages for their respective States.
- These demands could potentially increase the fiscal burden on the Centre and other States.
- There is a debate on whether States should get special packages outside Finance Commission allocations.
Basis for Finance Commission Allocations
- The Finance Commission determines allocations based on income, population, area, forests and ecology, and demographic performance.
- In 2020-21, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar received the largest amounts, while Karnataka and Kerala saw the largest decreases.
- The criteria used by the Finance Commission can change the distribution of funds among States.
Political Influence on Central Transfers
- Beyond Finance Commission devolution, the Centre determines how the remaining amount is spent.
- States closer to the Centre politically tend to get more funds.
- Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, being part of the National Democratic Alliance, are likely to receive more funds due to their political importance.
Limited Discretion in Finance Commission Transfers
- The scope for discretion in Finance Commission transfers is very limited.
- Other Central transfers are also determined by principles of distribution, though the schemes can be debated.
- Large-scale discretionary transfers are generally not done to maintain fiscal prudence.
Justification for Additional Central Support
- Andhra Pradesh experienced a fiscal shock after bifurcation, partly offset by revenue deficit grants.
- Bihar faces a serious fiscal capacity problem, with per capita development spending less than 60% of the all-States average.
- Additional Central support for Bihar has not fully offset its fiscal challenges.
Impact of Additional Central Aid on Economic Performance
- Higher allocations from the Centre can boost the growth of a State, but the issue of governance and effective use of funds is crucial.
- Poorer States often have greater leakage of funds.
- Bihar’s credit-deposit ratio is lower than the national average, indicating that its savings are leaking out to other States.
Resource Flow and Regional Development
- Revenue sharing beyond the Finance Commission’s purview has increased, leading to more centrally sponsored schemes.
- Resource flow to richer regions is higher than to poorer regions, which cannot be explained by governance differences alone.
- More resources need to be channelized for higher capital investment in poorer regions for balanced regional development.
Impact of GST on State Fiscal Autonomy
- Goods and Services Tax has resulted in significant loss of fiscal autonomy for States.
- States cannot set the tax rate, affecting their ability to provide public services.
- There needs to be flexibility within the GST structure to maintain fiscal autonomy without compromising fiscal harmonisation.
GST and Federalism
- GST has damaged federalism due to the diverse needs of different States.
- Greater decentralisation is needed to address the diverse problems of States.
- The organised sector benefits more from GST, while the unorganised sector, concentrated in backward States, suffers.
- GST reform is needed, such as collecting tax at the last point to reduce complications and corruption.
Political Influence on Central Aid
- Seventy per cent of Central spending is non-discretionary, but the remaining 30% is discretionary.
- Political considerations influence the allocation of discretionary funds.
- Greater decentralisation and autonomy to States is needed to reduce political influence on fund allocation.
Need for Deliberation on Central Schemes
- The Centre’s decision to introduce new schemes can tie up State resources.
- National-level deliberations are needed to determine which schemes the Centre should intervene in and which should be left to States.
- The 14th Finance Commission recommended that the Centre should focus on schemes with large externalities or national priorities.
Conclusion
- The demand for special financial packages by Bihar and Andhra Pradesh highlights the ongoing debate on fiscal federalism and the allocation of resources.
- A balanced approach is needed to ensure equitable distribution of funds while maintaining fiscal prudence and autonomy for States.
| PYQ: The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasised in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and the extent to which cooperative federalism would answer the shortcomings. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2015) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the implications of special financial packages for states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh on fiscal federalism in India. (250 Words /15 marks) |
