GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 13 | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

Rampura, a remote district inhabited by a tribal population, is marked by extreme backwardness and abject poverty. Agriculture is the mainstay of the local population, though it is subsistence due to the very small landholdings. There is insignificant industrial or mining activity. Even the targeted welfare programs have inadequately benefited the tribal population. In this restrictive scenario, the youth has begun to migrate to other states to supplement the family income. Plight of minor girls is that their parents are persuaded by labour contractors to send them to work in the Bt Cotton farms of a nearby state. The soft fingers of the minor girls are well suited for plucking the cotton.
The inadequate living and working conditions in these farms have caused serious health issues for the minor girls. NGOs in the districts of domicile and the cotton farms appear to be compromised and have not effectively espoused the twin issues of child labour and development of the area. You are appointed as the District Collector of Rampura. Identify the ethical issues involved. Which specific steps will you initiate to ameliorate the conditions of minor girls of your district and to improve the overall economic scenario in the district. (UPSC MAINS GS4)

Issues highlighted in case study 

• Vulnerable section: tribal population and minor girls 
• Labour laws like Inter State migrant workmen act 1979 
• Failure of targeted welfare programs 
• Migration 
• Subsistence agriculture and small land holding 
• Compromised NGO 
• Regulation of Labourer contractors 

Values tested: 

• Compassion towards minor girls 
• Leadership 
• Communication skills to persuade tribals 
• Integrity to punish the violators 

Steps to ameliorate conditions of minor girl 

• Health services for minor girls in district hospital to cure their health issues 
• Communicate with nearby state administration to identify minor girls and send them back to their hometown if they are forced/bonded/child labour 
• Extension services of women empowerment in the region for education (Eklavya schools), employment(minor forest produce) etc so women empowerment will create ripple effects on minor girls. 
• Rope in NGOs and other intelligence routes to have constant vigil on the status of women and result of welfare schemes. 
• Scholarship schemes from Ministry of Tribal Affairs at Pre-Matric, Post- Matric, National Scholarship etc. 

Steps for overall economic development 

• Shifting subsistence agriculture to intensive agriculture 
• Forging Farmer Producer Organisation/ cooperative society to tackle small land holding. – Take leverage of TRIFED initiatives like Van Dhan Yojna, TRIFOOD 
• Identify their cultural heritage and integrate it with tourism like Tribal Circuit in Swadesh Darshan Scheme 
• Identify the shortcomings of targeted welfare program and resolve them 
• Implement Green Credit Scheme 
• Take note of working of NGOs and align them according to their mandate otherwise write to National Commission of Schedule Tribes to take note of the situation 
• National Migration Support Portal to take leverage of technology in monitoring migrants which captures demographic details, livelihood, skill mapping, migration pattern etc. 
• Connect tribal with National Schedule Tribes Finance and Development Corporation which can provide them financial assistance to start their own venture 
• Critical analysis of tribal sub plan with all stakeholders.