PIB Summary- 30th January, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Marine Products exports registers growth

Context

Exports of Marine Products registered a growth of 35% to $6.1 Billion during April-December 2021 as compared to $4.5 Billion during the same period in the year 2020.

Exports of Marine Products from India

• Previously, the exports stood at $4.4 Billion in 2014 and $5.5 Billion in 2019, the exports of Marine Products registered a significant growth in 2021.
• In the month of December 2021, exports of Marine Products touched $720.51 Million, registering a growth of 01% compared to $562.85 Mn in December 2020.
• The overall exports of Marine Products in the Financial Year March 2020 to April 2021 was $5.96 Billion.
• $6.11 Billion has already been scaled during the first three Quarters of Financial Year 2021-22.
• The sector is likely to exceed the all-time high of $7.02 Billion exports achieved in the FY 2017-18, despite the impact of the Covid19 pandemic.

Top export destinations

• USA
• China
• Japan
• Vietnam
• Thailand

Top export items

• Frozen shrimps- 74% share in value terms (USD)
• Frozen Fish (7%)
• Frozen Squid (5%)
• Others (6%)

Government Initiatives in support of exports of Marine Products

• Marine Products Export Development Authority
  (i) Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), is a statutory body set up in 1972 under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
  (ii) Objective: Promotion of export of marine products from India.
  (iii) It regulates exports of marine products and takes all measures required for ensuring sustained, quality seafood exports from the country.
  (iv) It is also empowered to carry out inspection of marine products, its raw material, fixing standards, specifications, and training as well as take all necessary steps for marketing the seafood overseas.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
  (i) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched in 2020 with an array of 100 diverse activities.
  (ii) With a budget of Rs. 20,050 crore, it is the largest investment to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
  (iii) PMMSY is being implemented over a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories.
  (iv) PMMSY has set a target of Rs. 1,00,000 crore fisheries export, an additional 70 lakh tonnes of fish production, and generation of 55 lakh employment.

Exports of Ready To Eat products rises

Context

India’s export of final consumer food products such as Ready to Eat (RTE), Ready to Cook (RTC) and Ready to Serve (RTS) under the APEDA has registered a significant growth in the last decade.

Details

• Due to policy interventions on Value Addition of products for exports, the food products under the RTE category have registered a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12%.
• The share of RTE in APEDA export has increased from 2.1% to 5%.
• India has exported over $2.14 billion worth of final food products in 2020-21.
• Since final food products are time saving and readily available, the demand for food items under the categories of RTE, RTC and RTS has increased manifold in recent years.

Ready to Eat Category

• The products includes,
  (i) Biscuits & Confectionery – Accounts to 52.32% share in RTE export
  (ii) Indian Sweets and Snacks – 37.04%
  (iii) Breakfast Cereals – 4.11%
  (iv) Pan Masala and Betal nuts – 3.28%
  (v) Wafers – 1.73%
  (vi) Jaggery – 1.52%
• Top destinations
  (i) S.A, U.A.E, Nepal, Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Sudan, U.K, Nigeria, and Singapore.
  (ii) USA is the top importing country in four categories of RTE products such as Biscuits & Confectionery, Breakfast cereals, Indian sweets and snacks, and Pan Masala & Betal Nuts.
  (iii) The remaining two products under RTE are significantly imported by Malaysia and Nepal.

Ready to Cook Category

• The products includes,
  (i) Flours and milled products – Accounts to 34.34% share in RTC export
  (ii) Ready to cook – 31.69%
  (iii) Powder & starch – 24.28%
  (iv) Papad – 9.68%
• Top destinations
  (i) S.A, Malaysia, U.A.E, Indonesia, UK, Nepal, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh and Qatar.
  (ii) USA is the top importing country of Flours and Milled Products and Ready to Cook from India in 2020-21.
  (iii) The UK and Indonesia are at the top in importing Papad and Powder & Starch during 2020-21.

Ready to Serve Category

• The major final food products under the RTS category include – jellies, squash & juices, energy products/drinks and ice cream, soups, sauces, pasta and seasoning.
• The exports of RTS have been growing at a CAGR of 11% in the last one decade.

Initiatives to promote exports

The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products has been attributed to the various initiatives taken by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) like,

• Organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries
• Exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.
• Promotion of geographical indications (GI) registered agricultural and processed food products in India by organizing virtual Buyer Seller Meets on agricultural and food products with the major importing countries across the world.
• APEDA has recognized 220 labs across India to provide testing services to a wide range of products and exporters.
• APEDA also assists in upgradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans.
• APEDA provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.

National Commission for Women

Context

• The Prime Minister will address the 30th National Commission for Women (NCW) Foundation Day programme on 31st January, 2022.
• The theme of the programme is ‘She The Change Maker’

National Commission for Women

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up as a statutory body in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• Objectives:
  (i) Review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women
  (ii) Recommend remedial legislative measures
  (iii) Facilitate redressal of grievances
  (iv) Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women
• Key Functions:
  (i) Investigate and examine matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws.
  (ii) Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for improving the conditions of women.
  (iii) Review the existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommend amendments
  (iv) Take up cases of violation of the provisions of the Constitution and of other laws relating to women with the appropriate authorities.

National Commission for Women

The National Commission for Women was set up in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. This body was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
It recommends the remedial legislative measures, facilitates redressal of grievances and advises the government on all policy matters affecting women. It enjoys all the powers of a civil court.
The first commission was constituted on 31st January 1992 as Jayanti Patnaik as the chairperson. Alok Rawat IAS is the first male member of the National Commission for Women (NCW). His appointment filled the 4th seat on the five-member body. Ms Rekha Sharma is the current Chairperson of the National Commission for Women. She took over Lalitha Kumaramangalam as the new Chairperson in September 2018.

Composition of National Commission for Women

The Commission must consist of a minimum number of members which includes a chairperson, a member secretary, and the other five members.
Chairperson: The central government should nominate the chairperson.
Five members: The five members are also to be nominated by the central government from amongst the person of ability, integrity, and standing. They should possess experience in various fields like law or legislation, trade unionism, management of industry potential of women, women’s voluntary organization, education, administration, economic development, and social good-being.
Member Secretary: The Central Government also nominates member secretary. He/ she should be either an expert in the field of management, an organization, or an officer who is a member.

Functions of National Commission for Women

• Inquiry and Investigation
  The National Commission of Women enjoys the powers of a civil court. It investigates and examines the matters related to the safeguards ensured for feminine society under the Constitution of India. It took complaints suo moto notice of issues related to the non-implementation of laws and non-enforcement of laws and non -compliance of policy decisions, guidelines enacted and aimed at mitigating hardships ensuring the welfare and then take up issues arising out of matter with the concerned authorities.
• Action Research
  NCW members take part in the planning process of socio-economic development of women, propose measures to encourage their representation in all spheres, and review their advancement. It also examines the safeguards provided for women in the Constitution and other laws study their working, recommend amendments to meet any inadequacies or deficiencies, and advocate measures for effective implementation.
• Legal Intervention
  The Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat, (PMLA) is an innovative component with its roots in the traditional Nyaya Panchayats. It is created by NCW for the redressal and speedy disposal of cases. It has taken up 7500 cases so far. The essential feature of PMLA is cordial mutual settlement and flexibility in implementation, aiming to empower women in the justice delivery mechanism.

The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions:

• Investigation and Examination: Investigate and examine all the matters relating to the safeguards provided for the women under the Constitution and other laws.
• Presentation of Reports: Table reports to the Central Government, every year and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards
• Recommendations: Make in such reports and recommendations for the effective accomplishment of those safeguards for enhancing the conditions of the women by the Union or any State.
• Review, every now and then, the current provisions of the Constitution and other laws distressing the women and prescribe alterations and suggest curative legislative measures meet any break, inadequacies, and incapacity in such legislation.
• Cases of Violation: Take up cases of infringement of the provisions of the Constitution and of other laws relating to the women with the relevant authorities.
• Suo Moto Notice: It looks into complaints, and takes Suo Motto notice of matters relating to – deprivation of women’s rights, Non-implementation of the laws, and Non-compliance of policy decisions guaranteeing the welfare for women society.
• Special Studies and Investigation: It conducts special studies or investigation on the concerning issues or circumstances emerging out of segregation and outrages against ladies and recognizes the limitations in order to suggest techniques for their expulsion.
• Research: Undertake the promotional and educational research so as to propose ways of ensuring due representation of women in all fields and identifies the factors responsible for impeding the support services and technologies for reducing drudgery and professional health hazards and for escalating their efficiency.
• Participation in all spheres particularly in Planning: take part and advice on the planning process of socio-economic development of women.
• Evaluation: assess the progress of the development of women society under the Union and State.
• Inspection: investigate or cause to be inspected a jail, remand home women’s establishment or other places of guardianship where ladies are kept as detainees.
• Funding: fund litigation, relating issues affecting a large body of women.
• Reporting: make periodical reports on any issue pertaining to women and in particular various difficulties under which women toil.

Drawbacks of National Commission for Women

• It has no actual legislative powers. It only has the powers to suggest amendments and submit reports which are not obligatory on a state or Union Governments.
• It does not have the power to choose its own members. The power selecting members is vested with the Union Government and the nature of the country’s volatile political scenario tends the commission to be politicized.
• It is reliant on financial assistance from the Union Government and this could compromise the independence of the Commission.
• The jurisdiction of the commission is not operating in Jammu and Kashmir and considering the current political unrest and human rights infringements in the region, the presence of commission is vital.

Complaints and Counseling Unit of National Commission for Women

This cell is the Core unit of the commission and pro members. The power selecting members is vested with the Union Government and the nature of the country’s volatile political scenario tends the commission to be politicized.
The jurisdiction of the commission is not operating cesses the complaints received oral, written, or suo moto under Section 10 of the NCW Act. The complaints received relate to domestic violence, harassment, dowry, torture, desertion, bigamy, rape, and refusal to register FIR, cruelty by husband, deprivation, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment at the workplace.
The complaints are dealt with and tackled in various ways such as Investigations by the police are expedited and monitored, disaggregated data are made available to various state authorities to facilitate action, family disputes are resolved or compromised through counselling.

List of Women-Specific Legislation

There are multiple laws that have been passed for the safety and rights of women in India. Given below is a list of few such laws:

• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961) (Amended in 1986)
• The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 (3 of 1988)
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION and REDRESSAL) Act, 2013
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
• The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986