5 October 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Kerala urgently needs to identify risk zones

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

Topic: GS3 – Disaster and disaster management

Context

The article discusses the increasing vulnerability of Kerala to natural disasters, particularly landslides and floods, due to unplanned development, climate change, and environmental degradation It emphasises the need for proactive disaster management and community-based risk reduction strategies.

Introduction

• Landslides in Wayanad district of Kerala have exposed the State’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
• The recent event, ranking among the deadliest in India, has prompted a reassessment of disaster management approaches in Kerala.

Kerala’s Shifting Disaster Risk

• Kerala, previously considered a relatively disaster-free zone, has seen increased frequency and intensity of disasters.
• Settlements spread from coastal areas to steep hill slopes, with infrastructure built without considering natural drainage and slope stability.
• Coastal erosion affects more than 250 km of Kerala’s 590 km coastline, while the lowlands face recurring floods.
• Landslides in the Western Ghats and increased extreme weather events are attributed to climate change and rapid warming of the Arabian Sea.

Need for Landslide Inventory Map

• Wayanad, characterised by deep gorges and ravines, is vulnerable to landslides, with tremors often preceding such events.
• A scientific reappraisal of landslide causes is needed, as the understanding remains incomplete.
• Kerala requires a landslide inventory map to identify zones prone to landslides, considering factors like geology, soil characteristics, and human activities.
• This would facilitate better monitoring of triggering mechanisms like rainfall or tremors, allowing timely warnings.

Impact of Climate Change

• Warming of the Arabian Sea has increased the risk of extreme weather events in Kerala, such as floods, heatwaves, and cyclones.
• Rising sea temperatures have made the region conducive to cyclogenesis, which impacts Kerala’s weather patterns.
• Events like Cyclone Ockhi highlight the growing impact of climate change on Kerala’s vulnerability.

Need for a Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management

• Kerala’s disaster management practices are reactive, focusing on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation.
• A shift to proactive practices is needed, as suggested by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Kerala should define disaster risk zones based on multiple physical and social criteria, covering watersheds/river basins.

Community-Based Disaster Risk Management

• People’s participation is essential in preparing disaster risk maps and ensuring effective disaster risk management.
• The introduction of community-based disaster risk management in Kerala can strengthen community involvement and integrate disaster risk management into local development.
• A quadruple helix model, involving community organisations, academia, government, and industry, can enhance resilience and response to disasters.

PYQ: Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats. (100 words/5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2013)

Practice Question:  Discuss the challenges faced by Kerala in managing natural disasters like landslides and floods. Suggest measures to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience through community involvement. (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Time for State governments to end systemic discrimination in prisons

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity – Judiciary

Context

The Supreme Court ruling addressed caste-based discrimination in Indian prisons, targeting colonial-era practices that persisted post-independence. It emphasised constitutional values like equality, dignity, and the prohibition of untouchability. The Court mandated revising discriminatory prison manuals to align with these values.

Introduction

• The Supreme Court ruling prohibiting caste-based discrimination in prisons marks a significant step in ending colonial-era practices in prison administration.
• The judgement emphasises the need for alignment with the core philosophy of the Constitution, which advocates equality and prohibits discrimination.

Colonial Practices in Prisons

• The Supreme Court addressed caste-based rules in jail manuals, highlighting the role of caste in the allocation of duties, classification of prisoners, and designation of some groups as “habitual offenders.”
• The Court traced the history of these rules, which linked caste with prison labour, food, and the treatment of prisoners.
• Lower caste prisoners were assigned menial or “polluting” tasks, while those from privileged castes retained their caste-based privileges.

Violation of Constitutional Principles

• The Court found that allocating occupations based on caste was an extension of the caste system and untouchability.
• Practices such as requiring food to be cooked by prisoners from a “suitable caste” and assigning specific tasks to the “scavenger class” violated the constitutional prohibition against untouchability.
• These rules also infringed upon the right to dignity and the right against forced labour and exploitation.

A Call for Reform

• The Court directed the revision of prison manuals within three months to eliminate discriminatory practices.
• It also called for the removal of vague definitions of ‘habitual offenders’ that perpetuate stereotypes about entire communities.
• State governments are urged to revisit prison administration laws to end systemic discrimination and ensure alignment with constitutional principles.

PYQ: Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2020)

Practice Question:  Examine the impact of caste-based discrimination in the Indian prison system. How does the recent Supreme Court ruling address these issues, and what measures can be taken to reform prison administration?  (150 Words /10 marks)