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

Silent Crisis of Mental Health in India

Why in News?

The report on Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021 has brought to light a pressing issue concerning mental health in India, an area that remains critically underexplored despite its significant public health implications.

Key Takeaways

• Suicide rates are alarmingly high, with men making up 72.5% of victims.
• There is a stark disparity in suicide rates among different age groups, particularly among men aged 18-59.
• Societal norms discourage men from seeking help for mental health issues.
• Technological innovations like AI are emerging as tools for mental health support.

Additional Details

• Suicide Rates: In 2021, over 73,900 more men than women died by suicide, despite research indicating that women typically experience higher levels of anxiety and depression.
• Impact of Societal Norms: Cultural expectations often prevent men from expressing emotional struggles. The stigma surrounding mental illness exacerbates this issue, leading men to externalize their struggles through aggression or substance abuse.
• Government Initiatives: The National Mental Health Program (NMHP), implemented since 1982, aims to tackle the mental health burden, while the Mental Health Care Act 2017 ensures access to mental healthcare for all.
• Kiran Helpline: Launched in 2020, this 24/7 toll-free helpline provides support for anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
• Technological Innovations: AI tools like the Adayu Mindfulness app offer personalized mental health insights, while brain stimulation techniques such as tDCS show promise in treating severe depression.
• The silent crisis of mental health in India calls for a comprehensive approach that includes increasing mental health literacy, promoting innovative technological solutions, and dismantling societal stigmas. 
• By enhancing awareness and access to mental health resources, it is possible to create a supportive environment where individuals, especially men, feel empowered to seek help without fear of stigma.

Mains Question

Q: Examine the socio-cultural, psychological, and systemic factors behind India's men's mental health crisis and propose measures to enhance mental healthcare accessibility and awareness.

Global Tuberculosis Report 2024

Why in News?

According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, India has achieved a significant 17.7% decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence from 2015 to 2023. This decline surpasses the global average of 8.3% and highlights India's commitment to eliminating TB by 2025 under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

Key Takeaways

• In 2023, 8.2 million new TB cases were reported globally, marking the highest number since 1995.
• Estimated TB deaths were 1.25 million in 2023, a slight decrease from 1.32 million in 2022.
• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 87% of the global TB burden.
• India recorded approximately 27 lakh TB cases in 2023, with 25.1 lakh diagnosed and treated.

Additional Details

• Global TB Trends: India’s TB incidence declined from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 195 per lakh in 2023.
• Treatment coverage in India increased to 89% in 2023 from 72% in 2015.
• India is unlikely to meet the WHO End TB Strategy milestones set for 2025, aiming for a 75% reduction in TB deaths and 50% reduction in incidence.
• The report highlights ongoing challenges such as insufficient global funding (only USD 5.7 billion available against a target of USD 22 billion by 2027) and catastrophic health costs affecting nearly 20% of households with TB in India. 
• To combat these issues, strategies like expanding TB preventive therapy, improving diagnostics, and enhancing community support systems are essential for progressing towards elimination goals.

Inheritance Norms in Hindu Succession Act, 1956

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the inheritance provisions under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (HSA), emphasizing cultural norms and legislative consistency rather than viewing inheritance as a matter of gender inequality. Several petitions had challenged the validity of the provisions, arguing for equitable treatment of men and women in inheritance matters.

Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Court clarified that inheritance laws should not be framed purely as a gender equality issue.
• Cultural context plays a significant role in Hindu inheritance practices.
• The court maintained the need for legislative change to be initiated by Parliament, not through judicial decisions.
• Women have the right to distribute their property as they wish through a will.

Additional Details

• Supreme Court’s Observations: The court noted that after marriage, a woman becomes part of her husband's family and gains corresponding rights to inheritance within that family.
• Cultural Context: Inheritance practices reflect deep-rooted cultural values, often preventing a married woman's parents from interfering in her inherited properties.
• Legislative Change: The court reiterated that modifications to inheritance laws should reflect broad societal agreement, rather than individual disputes.
• Wills and Autonomy: The court highlighted that women can freely distribute their property through wills, reinforcing individual autonomy.
• Previous Recommendations: Bodies such as the Law Commission and the National Commission for Women have suggested equal inheritance rights, contingent on the views of states and Union Territories.

What is the Hindu Succession Act, 1956?

• About: The Act provides a legal framework for property distribution when a Hindu individual dies intestate, establishing rules for heirs, their rights, and property division.
• Applicability: The Act applies to Hindus, including various sects and religions, and extends across India, with specific provisions for Scheduled Tribes.
• Schools of Hindu Law: It creates a uniform system of inheritance applicable to both the Mitakshara and Dayabhaga schools.
• Distribution of Property: Class I heirs, including widows, sons, daughters, and mothers, receive equal shares.
• Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005: This amendment grants daughters coparcenary rights by birth, equal to those of sons.
• The Supreme Court's observations on inheritance provisions under the HSA highlight the interplay between cultural traditions and legislative frameworks. 
• The court emphasized the importance of gender justice and societal values in Hindu inheritance laws while acknowledging the need to respect individual autonomy and consider potential legislative reforms. 
• It is well established that a law's purpose cannot be undermined solely due to the hardship it may cause.

Mains Question

Q: Examine the inheritance rights under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

Workplace Culture of India

Why in News?

The distressing case of Anna Sebastian, a chartered accountant whose death has been attributed to work-related stress, highlights the critical need to address the toxic workplace culture prevalent in India. This situation underscores ongoing issues related to the exploitation of workers.

Key Takeaways

• Toxic work environments characterized by long hours and stress are widespread in many corporations.
• Corporate initiatives often fail to provide genuine solutions to workplace issues.
• Public sector jobs typically offer better job security and a more supportive work culture compared to private sector roles.
• Long working hours have been linked to significant health risks and fatalities.
• There exists a disparity between GDP and working hours across different nations.

Additional Details

• Toxic Work Environment: The normalization of long working hours and stress is driven by a profit-centric focus. Terms like "organizational stretch" and "variable pay" are often used to justify overworking employees, leading to burnout.
• Responses to Work Culture Issues: Corporate policies such as codes of conduct and work-life balance initiatives frequently lack depth, failing to tackle the root causes of workplace toxicity.
• Abusive Leadership: The absence of legal recourse against workplace harassment fosters an environment where abusive practices can thrive unchallenged. Many employees feel that performance evaluations are biased, contributing to a toxic atmosphere.
• Public vs. Private Sector: Public sector organizations generally provide greater job security and a more supportive atmosphere, aided by unions that represent employee grievances effectively.
• Health Impacts: In 2016, the WHO and ILO reported that long working hours resulted in 745,000 deaths due to stroke and ischemic heart disease, a significant increase since 2000. Older workers who consistently worked over 55 hours a week exhibited higher mortality rates.
• GDP and Working Hours: The ILO indicates that countries with shorter working hours often have higher per capita income, contrasting with India and Bhutan, which have longer hours but lower income levels.

What is the Regulatory Framework Regarding Labours in India?

• Constitutional Framework: Labour is listed in the Concurrent List, allowing both the Central and State governments to legislate, with certain matters reserved for the Centre.
• Judicial Interpretation: The Supreme Court in the case of Randhir Singh vs Union of India (1982) emphasized the goal of "Equal pay for Equal work."Key constitutional articles include:
  • Article 14: Ensures equality before the law.
  • Article 16: Guarantees equal opportunity in public employment.
  • Article 39(c): Advocates against the concentration of wealth to the detriment of society.
• Legislative Framework:Recent initiatives aim to enhance working conditions, including the consolidation of four major labour codes yet to be implemented:
  • Code of Wages, 2019
  • Industrial Relations Code, 2020
  • Social Security Code, 2020
  • Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
• The Factories Act, 1948:
  • Section 54 mandates that daily working hours must not exceed nine hours.
  • Section 51 states that no worker should work over 48 hours in a week.
• The Minimum Wages Act, 1948: Requires that overtime pay must be at least double the standard rate for hours exceeding nine in a day or 48 in a week.

What can be Done to Improve Work Culture in India?

• Regulatory Framework: There is a need for a regulatory framework to hold corporate boards accountable for workplace conditions and employee welfare. This includes establishing clear guidelines for employee treatment.
• Cultural Shift: Corporations should promote a culture of respect and recognition, where employee contributions are valued. Efforts to improve work-life balance and genuine engagement with employees can lead to healthier work environments.
• Awareness and Advocacy: Increasing awareness about workplace culture issues can empower employees to voice concerns and advocate for their rights.
• Learning from International Standards: Adopting frameworks where employees can seek legal recourse for mental stress could improve protections in India.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Companies must integrate a commitment to enhancing workplace culture into their strategies, recognizing that employee well-being is vital for long-term success.

Mains Question

Q: Discuss the key issues surrounding workplace culture in India. What regulatory reforms are necessary to improve employee-employer relations?

Recognising the Economic Value of Unpaid Work in India

Why in News?

Recently, a research paper has highlighted the economic value of unpaid work, particularly the contributions made by women, emphasizing the need for its recognition in productivity measures.

Key Takeaways

• Unpaid work, especially by women, significantly contributes to the economy yet remains largely unacknowledged.
• Women spend substantially more time on unpaid domestic tasks compared to men, reflecting gender disparities in labor responsibilities.
• Incorporating unpaid work into national economic metrics is crucial for achieving gender equality and sustainable development goals.

Additional Details

• Unpaid Work: Refers to activities, primarily performed by women, that do not receive monetary compensation, such as care work, domestic chores, and community services.
• Economic Contribution: Unpaid work plays a vital role in the economy, often representing a significant portion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), especially in developing nations.
• Gender Disparities: Societal norms lead to women disproportionately taking on unpaid work, which limits their access to education and paid employment opportunities.
• Research Findings: The study utilizing data from the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey indicates that women not in the labor force spend over 7 hours daily on unpaid tasks, while employed women contribute about 5.8 hours daily.
• The valuation of unpaid work was estimated at Rs 49.5 lakh crore using the Opportunity Cost method and Rs 65.1 lakh crore with the Replacement Cost method for the year 2019-20.
• Policy recommendations advocate for recognizing unpaid work to enhance gender equity within the workforce.
• Recognizing and valuing unpaid work is essential for promoting gender equality and improving economic productivity. By integrating unpaid work into economic metrics and implementing supportive policies, we can address existing disparities and empower women’s participation in the workforce, fostering a more equitable society and sustainable economic growth.

Livelihood Promotion Among Tribals

• PDS Innovations: Expanding the Public Distribution System (PDS) to include nutritious staples (e.g., pulses, oils) can help bridge the nutrition gap in marginalized tribal communities.
• Door-to-door Delivery of PDS: Ensuring remote communities have consistent access to essential food supplies through door-to-door delivery.
• Enhanced Access to CFR: Giving tribes more control over forest resources through enhanced Community Forest Rights (CFR) can encourage sustainable harvesting of minor forest produce (MFP).
• Fair Market Prices: Ensuring that tribals receive fair compensation for MFPs such as honey, tamarind, wild mushrooms, and mango kernels is essential for their economic independence. Government initiatives, particularly those backed by organizations like the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), can facilitate market access and fair prices.
• Financial Protection: Regulating microfinance to prevent predatory lending and debt cycles will protect tribal communities from economic exploitation.
• Leveraging Past Lessons: Reflecting on the successes and shortcomings of past projects like OTDP and PDS innovations is crucial to refining future strategies.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborative efforts among district administrations, local governance, non-profits, and civil society organizations are vital to building community resilience.
• Value Addition: Promoting the processing of MFPs into value-added products (such as mango kernels for confectionery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals) can provide additional income sources for tribal communities.

Conclusion

The tragic deaths from mango kernel consumption in Odisha underscore the urgent need to address the severe livelihood crisis facing tribal communities, driven by poverty, food insecurity, and economic exploitation. Strengthening forest rights, improving market access, ensuring fair pricing for minor forest produce, and implementing targeted government initiatives can uplift and empower tribal populations in a sustainable manner.

SC’s Concerns Over Inaction on Sex Trafficking

Why in News?

The Supreme Court criticised the Union government over its failure to establish a dedicated Organised Crime Investigative Agency (OCIA) for tackling sex trafficking –– a promise made to the court in 2015.

Human trafficking in India

• India is a source as well as a destination country for human trafficking. 
• The main source countries are Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar from where women and girls are trafficked in the lure of a better life, jobs and good living conditions on this side.
• According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, India recorded as many as 10,659 cases of human trafficking between 2018 and 2022.
• Maharashtra registered the highest number of cases i.e. 1,392 in the past five years, followed by Telangana (1,301) and Andhra Pradesh (987).

Reasons for Human/Sex Trafficking

• Poverty: Individuals and families living in poverty are more susceptible to the false promises of traffickers who offer better opportunities and livelihoods.
• Lack of Awareness: Low literacy levels and limited awareness make people, especially in rural areas, more vulnerable to deception and exploitation.
• Migration: Unregulated migration, both domestic and international, creates opportunities for traffickers to target individuals who are disconnected from their support networks.
• Inadequate training of law enforcement agencies, and corruption exacerbate the challenges of effectively addressing trafficking.

Implications of Sex Trafficking

• Human Rights Violations: Victims of sex trafficking suffer severe violations of their fundamental human rights, including freedom, dignity, and bodily autonomy.
• Perpetuation of Inequality: Sex trafficking reinforces existing social inequalities, especially against women and marginalized groups, perpetuating cycles of poverty and discrimination.
• Economic Costs: Trafficking undermines workforce potential and economic growth.

Constitutional Safeguards in India

• Article 23: Prohibits trafficking in human beings and forced labor.
• Article 21: Ensures the right to life and personal liberty, which has been interpreted to include the right to live with dignity.
• Article 39(e): The state should ensure that the health and strength of workers and children are not abused, and that citizens are not forced to take jobs that are not suitable for their age or strength.

Legal Safeguards in India

• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012: Protects children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Provides a framework for the protection, treatment, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection.
• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act was amended in 2019 to enlarge the mandate of the Central agency to include human trafficking.
• Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860: Includes provisions such as Sections 370 and 370A, which criminalize trafficking and exploitation of persons.
• Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill: Although pending, this proposed legislation aims to create a more comprehensive approach to handling trafficking through prevention, protection, and victim rehabilitation.