Indian Society and Social Issues: June 2024 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

Global Gender Gap Report 2024

Why in News?
Recently, the World Economic Forum released the 18th edition of its annual for 2024, comprehensively benchmarking gender parity across 146 economies worldwide.

What are the Key Findings of the Report?

• Overall Findings:
  • The global gender gap score in 2024 is 68.5%, meaning 31.5% of the gap remains unaddressed.
  • Progress has been extremely slow, with only a 0.1% point improvement from 2023.
  • At the current rate, it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity globally far beyond the 2030 SDG target.
  • The gender gaps remain largest in Political Empowerment (77.5% unaddressed) and Economic Participation & Opportunity (39.5% unaddressed).
• Top-Ranking Countries:
  • Iceland (93.5%) remains the world's most gender-equal society for the 15 consecutive year. It is followed by Finland, Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden in the top 5 rankings.
  • 7 out of the top 10 countries are from Europe (Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Spain).
  • Other regions represented are Eastern Asia and the Pacific (New Zealand at 4), Latin America and the Caribbean (Nicaragua at 6), and Sub-Saharan Africa (Namibia at 8).
  • Spain and Ireland made notable jumps into the top 10 in 2024, climbing 8 and 2 ranks respectively compared to 2023.
• Regional Performance:
  • Europe leads 75% of its gender gap closed, followed by Northern America (74.8%) and Latin America & Caribbean (74.2%).
  • The Middle East and North Africa region ranks last at 61.7% of its gender gap closed.
  • Southern Asia region ranks 7 out of 8 regions with a gender parity score of only 63.7%.
• Economic & Employment Gaps:
  • Women's workforce representation lags behind men's across nearly every industry and economy at 42% overall and only 31.7% in senior leadership roles.
  • The "leadership pipeline" shows a 21.5% point drop from entry-level to managerial level for women globally.
  • Women's hiring into leadership roles deteriorated in 2023-24 due to worsening economic conditions.
• Care Burden Impact:
  • Women’s workforce participation is recovering from the recent surge in caregiving responsibilities, highlighting the urgent need for equitable care systems.
  • Equitable care policies like paid parental leave are increasing but remain inadequate in many countries.
• Technology & Skills Gaps:
  • Women remain underrepresented in STEM at 28.2% of that workforce versus 47.3% in non-STEM roles.
  • Gender gaps exist in skills like AI, big data, cybersecurity which will be crucial for the future of work.

How has India Fared in the Gender Gap Report 2024?

• India’s Rank:
  • India has slipped two places in the global rankings to 129th in 2024 from 127th in 2023 among 146 countries.
  • Within South Asia, India ranked fifth after Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Pakistan ranked last in the region.
• Economic Parity:
  • India is among the countries with the lowest levels of economic parity, similar to Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, and Morocco, with less than 30% gender parity in estimated earned income.
• Educational Attainment:
  • India showed the best gender parity in secondary education enrolment.
  • India ranked 65 in political empowerment of women and 10 in parity of years with female/male heads of state over the past 50 years.
  • However, women's representation at the federal level, in Ministerial positions (6.9%), and in Parliament (17.2%) remains low.
• Gender Gap Closure:
  • India has closed 64.1% of its gender gap as of 2024. The slip in ranking from 127 to 129 was primarily due to small declines in 'Educational Attainment' and 'Political Empowerment' parameters, although 'Economic Participation' and 'Opportunity' scores saw slight improvements.

Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons

Why in news?
On World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024, India celebrates significant progress in menstrual hygiene management, with the 5th National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020) reporting that around 80% of young women aged 15-24 now use safe menstrual hygiene products. However, the needs of one of the most marginalized groups of women in Indian prisons remain overlooked. Societal biases deny these women basic rights and proper highlighting a critical area for further improvement.

What is the Status of Menstrual Hygiene in Prisons?

1. Population:
   • According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are 23,772 women in Indian prisons, with 77% of them in the reproductive age group (18-50 years) and likely to be regular menstruators.
2. Inconsistent Access:
   • The availability of sanitary napkins is inconsistent across prisons, and the quality of these products could be better.
3. Uniform Product Size:
   • All prisons issue ‘one size’ sanitary pads, which do not cater to the varying needs of different women.
   • Most prisons do not offer other types of menstrual products like tampons or menstrual cups.
4. Lack of Facilities:
   • Despite the 2016 Model Prison Manual's recommendations, many states have not provided female prisoners with adequate water and washroom facilities.
5. Waste Disposal Issues:
   • Proper disposal of menstrual hygiene materials is often neglected, impacting both women’s health and the facility’s hygiene.
6. Additional Challenges:
   • Overcrowding and poor socio-economic conditions further hinder access to necessities like water, detergent, and soap.

Why is Menstrual Hygiene Management Overlooked in Prisons?

1. Stigma and Silence:
   • Menstruation itself can be a taboo subject, and there might be hesitation to discuss it openly, especially in a prison environment. This can make it difficult for women to ask for what they need.
2. Lack of Legal Framework:
   • There is no law mandating the provision of free, unlimited sanitary products in prisons.
3. Menstrual Health Schemes:
   • Existing schemes like the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme 2011, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana do not specifically address the needs of women prisoners.
4. Data Deficiency:
   • There is a lack of data on water availability in prisons, complicating efforts to address hygiene needs effectively.

What are the Government Initiatives Related to Menstrual Hygiene?

1. National Menstrual Hygiene Policy:
   • Introduced in 2023, this policy emphasises safe and dignified MHM for all. Remarkably, the policy identifies prisoners as a target population with compromised access to menstrual hygiene facilities, marking a positive step forward.
2. Lack of Concrete Plans:
   • The policy does not provide a specific action plan for improving menstrual hygiene management in prisons.
3. Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS):
   • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched MHS to promote menstrual hygiene among rural adolescent girls aged 10-19. The scheme provides subsidised sanitary napkin packs to adolescent girls through decentralised procurement, with Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers responsible for distribution and education.
4. Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):
   • Suraksha Suvidha Napkins (oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins) are available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras for Rs 1 each.

Way Forward

1. Period Pantry:
   • Create designated and accessible locations in prisons for inmates to discreetly request and obtain menstrual supplies, such as vending machines stocked with products or designated staff for distribution.
2. Hygiene Heroines:
   • Train incarcerated women to become peer educators on menstrual hygiene best practices. This empowers them to share knowledge with fellow inmates, fostering a sense of community and promoting self-care.
3. Guarantee Basic Standards:
   • The government should establish and uphold uniform national regulations for menstrual hygiene in prisons, including providing unlimited, free high-quality sanitary pads, ensuring clean and functional toilets with proper ventilation in female wards, and providing safe and hygienic disposal bins for sanitary pads.
4. Sustainability and Monitoring:
   • Establish a monitoring system to assess implementation, track product availability, and address issues. Promote menstrual hygiene as a basic right and include it in prison reform initiatives for an ongoing focus on women's well-being.

No Age Bar for Health Insurance in India

Why in news?
Recently, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has lifted the age ceiling for buying a medical insurance policy, a move that widens the insurance net and provides huge relief to senior Indians. Also, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has introduced 'Longevity India,' aimed at studying aging-related health issues and creating interventions for better health among the elderly.

What are the IRDAI’s Recent Directions Related to Health Insurance?

• IRDAI has dissolved the barrier to applying for health insurance in India that allowed only individuals aged 65 and lower to purchase health covers.
• It has instructed insurers to create specialised products for different demographics such as senior citizens, students, children, and maternity.
• It has also emphasized that insurers should strive to provide coverage for individuals with all types of pre-existing medical conditions, as outlined in the "Specific provisions applicable to health insurance products" published in the Government of India Gazette.
• Coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer and heart failure, is now available without refusal.
• It may increase insurance density and insurance penetration in India.
• Insurers are also required to offer premium payment in installments for policyholder convenience, and travel policies can only be provided by general and health insurers.
• Furthermore, there is no cap on coverage for AYUSH treatments, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.

What are the Areas of Uncertainty in IRDAI's Recent Health Insurance Directives?

1. Affordability for Senior Citizens:
   • One major concern is whether the health insurance premiums for senior citizens will be affordable. As people age, the risk of medical issues increases, which could lead insurers to price their products quite high for the elderly population.
   • The government may need to consider subsidies or other measures to make these policies accessible and affordable for seniors with limited income and savings.
2. Waiting Period for Pre-existing Conditions:
   • Typically, insurance companies impose a waiting period (e.g., 2-4 years) before covering pre-existing medical conditions.
   • More detailed regulations will be key in assessing their consumer-friendliness, particularly regarding waiting periods and immediate coverage conditions.
3. Impact on Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenditure:
   • While increasing health insurance penetration is a positive step, it may not directly translate to a significant reduction in out-of-pocket medical expenses for Indians.
   • This will depend on factors like the extent of coverage offered, co-pay rates, sub-limits, and overall affordability of the policies.
   • Comprehensive coverage with reasonable co-pays and limits will be required to make a substantial dent in the high out-of-pocket expenditure.

What is the Current Status of Insurance Sector in India?

1. About:
   • The Indian Insurance market is expected to reach USD 200 billion by 2027, making it the largest insurance market by 2032.
   • India is currently the 9th largest life insurance market and 14th largest non-life insurance market globally.
   • Both life and non-life insurance sectors have witnessed double-digit growth rates in recent years.
2. Insurance Penetration and Density:
   • In India, which was 2.7% in 2001, steadily increased to 4.2% in 2020 and remained the same in 2021.
   • Also, there has been a sharp increase in in India. Whole life insurance density went up from USD 9.1 in 2001-02 to USD 69 in 2021-22.
   • Insurance penetration and density are two metrics often used to assess the level of development of the insurance sector in a country.
3. Key Drivers of Growth:
   • Rising Disposable Income: As the Indian economy expands, so does disposable income, allowing people to allocate more towards financial security products like insurance.
   • Gross national disposable income is expected to expand by 8.9% in FY24.
   • Also, by 2030, India will add 140 Million middle-income and 21 Million high-income households which will drive the demand and growth of the Indian insurance sector.
4. Government Initiatives:
   • Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) are boosting insurance penetration in rural areas.
   • The FDI policy permits 74% foreign investment in Indian insurance companies.
   • Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world and is funded by the Government.
5. Pandemic-related Shift in Demand Patterns:
   • Covid-19 pandemic has increased the insurance penetration rate and triggered awareness on insurance and demand for protection products, especially health insurance.

What Measures can be Taken to Rejuvenate India’s Insurance Sector?

1. Parametric Insurance:
   • Leverage data analytics and IoT to create parametric insurance products that pay out based on pre-defined triggers/parameters (e.g., rainfall levels for crop insurance).
   • This could simplify claims processes and improve transparency.
2. Employer-driven Group Insurance:
   • Incentivise and promote employer-driven group insurance schemes, especially for sectors with a high proportion of informal workers like construction and manufacturing.
   • This can help achieve scale and improve insurance penetration.
   • In this regard, India can learn from Germany’s Bismarck Model.
   • Bismarck model is characterized by the mandatory participation of individuals in a social insurance program, which is funded through contributions from both employers and employees.
3. Public-Private Partnerships:
   • Fostering more public-private partnerships (PPPs) between insurers and government agencies/bodies.
   • PPPs can help design and distribute need-based, affordable insurance solutions, especially in underserved areas and segments.
4. Insurance Awareness Campaigns:
   • Undertake large-scale, multimedia awareness campaigns in partnership with the regulator and industry bodies.
   • These campaigns should focus on increasing insurance literacy, highlighting the benefits of being insured, and addressing common myths and misconceptions to achieve Insurance for All by 2047.

Fire Safety Regulations in India

Why in news?
The recent fire tragedies at a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot and a children’s hospital in Delhi have claimed the lives of at least 40 people in a span of 24 hours. This has shifted the spotlight on fire safety regulations and the need for stringent enforcement of safety measures, particularly in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters.

• According to the latest Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) Report, released by the as many as 7,435 people were killed in over 7,500 fire accidents in 2022.
• Published in 1970, the National Building Code (NBC) is India's central standard for fire safety. It was last updated in 2016. It provides detailed guidelines for general construction, maintenance, and fire safety of buildings.
• State governments are required to incorporate NBC recommendations into local building bylaws, as fire services are a state subject.
• The 'Model Building Bye Laws 2016' guide states and urban areas in drafting building bylaws.
• Apart from that, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also provides guidelines on fire safety in homes, schools, and hospitals.
• The National Building Code outlines measures to ensure fire safety, focusing on measures that can be reasonably achieved. It defines fire zones, such as residential areas and educational institutions, to prevent industrial and hazardous structures from coexisting with residential, institutional, and business buildings.
• Code also categorizes buildings into nine groups based on occupancy, such as hotels, hospitals, and assembly buildings. It emphasizes the use of non-combustible materials and minimum 120-minute rating for internal walls in staircase enclosures.
• The Code also outlines maximum height, floor area ratio, open spaces, and fire-resistant openings.
• The Code emphasizes the importance of flame-retardant electrical installation, with medium and low voltage wiring in separate shafts and false ceilings. All metallic items should be bonded to the earthing system.
• An emergency power-supplying distribution system is recommended for critical requirements, including exit signage, lighting, fire alarm systems, and public address systems.
• Code also recommends technologies for fire protection, such as automatic fire detection systems, down-comer pipelines, sprinklers, fireman's lifts, fire barriers, and escape routes.
• Fire safety rules in all states, including the National Building Code (NBC), are often ignored due to the absence of uniform safety legislation and the NBC being a "recommendatory document." Even mandatory certifications are not complied with. Fire safety audits are underutilized due to the failure of local bodies to conduct regular checks and enforce compliance. Shortage of staff exacerbates the issue, leading to tragic loss of lives in fires like the Rajkot game zone and Delhi hospital fires. National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) highlights the need for community resilience and compliance with safety norms.