04 MAY 2023

Topic 1: Yanomami

Context: Brazilian government has promised to speed up the expulsion of illegal miners in the country’s largest indigenous territory, Yanomami.

Key details:

• Yanomami region stretches across Roraima and Amazonas states in the northwest corner of Brazil’s Amazon.
• It has been a subject of interest for illegal gold miners for decades.
• 20 per cent of the Yanomami community died due to violence, the spread of diseases and damage to the environment.
   

About the Yanomami people:

• The Yanomami are a group of 35,000 indigenous people who live in some 200–250 villages in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Venezuela and Brazil.
• The Yanomami do not recognize themselves as a united group, but rather as individuals associated with their politically autonomous villages.
• Yanomaman languages comprise four main varieties:
  • Ninam,
  • Sanumá,
  • Waiká, and
  • Yanomamö.
     

Impact of illegal mining in Yanomami territory

• Malaria:
  • The number of malaria cases rose by 1,090 per cent in Indigenous areas and 75,576 per cent in mining areas.
• Deforestation and malnutrition:
  • Historically, the indigenous people of Yanomami have relied on the forest, birds and animals to feed themselves.
  • But illegal gold mining has destroyed vast patches of the forest, leading to a scarcity of food.
• Mercury poisoning:
  • Miners in the region search for gold by mixing liquid mercury into excavated sediment of the Amazon’s rivers, which has polluted Yanomami areas traditionally used for hunting, fishing and gathering.
  • This has also contributed to the increase in cases of malnutrition among children.Topic 2 : HER-2

Context: AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd said it has received an approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the cancer drug trastuzumab deruxtecan for treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
 

Key details:

• The company has been granted approval to import and market trastuzumab deruxtecan used in the treatment of select “HER-2 positive” breast cancer.
• Globally, trastuzumab deruxtecan is approved in more than 40 countries, including the US, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.
• HER2 is a form of growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of multiple tumours, including breast, gastric, lung and colorectal cancers.
  • It is one of the biomarkers expressed in breast cancer tumours.Topic 3 : Listeria contamination

Context: A host of Cadbury chocolates have been recalled in the United Kingdom over fears of potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes infection with flu-like symptoms.
 

Key details:

• Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
  • The bacteria exists in the environment.
  • It is found in water, soil and some animals’ intestines.
  • While these are the most common sources of a listeria infection, it has also been known to spread from infected humans and close contact with farm animals. 
• The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.
• The World Health Organization characterises it as a serious but preventable and treatable disease.
• While it is a relatively rare disease with 0.1-10 cases per million people a year.
• The high rate of death associated with this infection makes it a significant public health concern.

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Topic 4 : Debt-for-climate swaps

Context: In the past decade, debt-for-climate swaps have grown relatively popular among low- and middle-income countries.
 

What is it?

• Debt-for-climate swaps allow countries to reduce their debt obligations in exchange for a commitment to finance domestic climate projects with the freed-up financial resources.
• It was introduced as a debt restructuring device that aims to combat climate change by ensuring that debt-ridden countries do not incur additional debt while addressing climate change locally.
• The idea of debt swaps:
  • Debt swaps possess dual objectives:
    • to promote specific investment and policy action
    • some debt relief.
  • Acquisition of debt with some concession is the logic underlying the concept.
  • For instance, a debt-for-climate swap is an agreement between the creditor and a debtor by which the former forgoes a portion of the latter’s foreign debt, or provides it debt relief, in return for a commitment by the government to invest in a specific environmental project.
• How it will work:
  • A new agreement would be worked out with a multilateral or bilateral partner to replace the terms of the initial loan agreement.
  • It would direct the remaining debt on mutually agreed terms towards “green or blue” domestic investments.
    • Green investments focus on projects or areas committed to preserving the environment.
    • Blue investments focus on sustainable use of ocean resources.
       

Why these swaps are attractive?

• Fulfill commitments under various agreements:
  • The signatories to the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), a global coalition of financial institutions, have a commitment to provide financial assistance to developing countries to build clean, climate-resilient futures.
  • Debt-for-climate swaps are one way to fulfil their commitments.
• Transparency:
  • Debt-for-climate swaps are attractive instruments due to their transparency.
  • The concessional capital is assured to be directed to climate projects with third-party guarantors overseeing the escrow fund.
  • Transparency is key for assurance of commitment.
• Investments in island countries:
  • Debt-for-climate swaps offer an innovative way to make climate investments in climate-vulnerable island developing economies while creating the much-needed fiscal space.
  • At the same time, debt-for-climate swaps support climate investment by committing a country to swing their spending from debt service to an agreed public investment.
     

Conclusion

• The main problem with principal financial instruments is that they disturb the already strained economy in exchange for assistance.
• However, debt-for-climate swap creates the much-needed fiscal space without causing policy disruptions.
• Swaps are mainly advantageous for small developing countries.
• However, the scaling up of the debt swap is still much lower than grants as creditors do not see their gain in this deal.
• Debt swaps can only be successful if the creditors are not rigid on returning the debt’s whole value.
• Rich countries have a responsibility to support poorer nations.
• This demands the dispensation of debt to poorer countries in the Global South due to the Global North’s climate debt from disproportionately higher emissions.Topic 5 : Internal Complaints Committees

Context: A government panel that looked into allegations of sexual harassment by some of the nation’s top wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief found that there was no Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), as mandated by law under the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act.
 

Key details:

• As many as 16 of the 30 national sports federations of disciplines in which India has participated in the 2018 Asian Games, Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Commonwealth Games, do not meet this mandatory compliance.
• And this, when there has been a record uptick in women’s participation in sports.
• Their number in the Khelo India Games, an index of this growing trend, showed a 161 per cent increase from 2018 to 2020.
   

What is the Internal Complaints Committee under the law?

• The ICC was designed to be the first port of call for any grievance under the PoSH Act to create a safe workplace environment for women.
• As per the law, it needs to have a minimum of four members:
  • at least half of them women.
• A functional ICC is one of the key conditions set up by the Ministry of Sports to grant annual recognition to the federations.

The PoSH Act 2013:

• The POSH Act was enacted to protect against sexual harassment of women in workplaces.
• This Act makes it mandatory for employers to provide a safe and secure work environment to female employees.
• Employers must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee in their organisation to address complaints of sexual harassment.
  • A woman must head the ICC.
  • At least half of its members should be women.
  • Employers must take steps to prevent sexual harassment and ensure that the victims are not victimised or discriminated against.
  • Employers must provide necessary support and assistance to the complainant and make arrangements for her work in case she has to be transferred.Topic 6 : Bengal Florican

Context: An India Habitat Trust team is conducting a survey of the critically-endangered grassland species Bengal Florican at Dudhwa National Park.
 

The Bengal florican:

• It has not been spotted for last few years now indicating a fall in numbers or extinction.
• The Bengal florican  also called the Bengal bustard, is a bustard species.
• It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
• It is the only member of the genus Houbaropsis.
• Bengal floricans live in open tall grassland habitats with scattered bushes.

Dudhwa national park:

• The Dudhwa National Park is located in the Terai belt of marshy grasslands in Uttar Pradesh.
• It is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
• The park is located on the Indo-Nepali border
• The area was established in 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary for swamp deer.
• The area was notified as a national park in January 1977.
• In 1987, the park was declared a tiger reserve and brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’.
• Together with the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary it forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

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Topic 7 : World Press Freedom Index 2023

Context: India slips in press freedom index, ranks 161 out of 180 nations
 

Key details:

• In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
• Comparison with neighbours:
  • In comparison, Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150.
  • Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022.
• Top and bottom positions:
  • Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom, while Vietnam, China and North Korea constituted the bottom three.
• Who release the report?
  • Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF) comes out with a global ranking of press freedom every year.
  • RSF is an international NGO whose self-proclaimed aim is to defend and promote media freedom.
  • Headquarter: Pari.
  • It has consultative status with the United Nations.
• Objective:
  • The objective of the World Press Freedom Index is to compare the level of press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories.
• Definition of freedom:
  • RSF defines press freedom as the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.Topic 8 : Strait of Hormuz

Context: The Iranian Revolutionary Guard seized a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
 

Key details:

• The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
• It provides the only sea passage from the Arabian Gulf to the open ocean.
• It is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.
  • A third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and almost 25% of total global oil consumption passes through the strait.
• What is a strait:
  • A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
  • It may be formed by a fracture in an isthmus (a narrow body of land that connects two bodies of water).
  • Tectonic shifts can lead to straits like this.

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Topic 9 : Internal Complaints Committees and The PoSH Act (updated)
 

Context: An investigation revealed that more than half — 16 — of India’s 30 national sports federations do not have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), a legal requirement under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013.

Key details:

• As many as 16 of the 30 national sports federations of disciplines in which India has participated in the 2018 Asian Games, Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Commonwealth Games, do not meet this mandatory compliance.
• And this, when there has been a record uptick in women’s participation in sports.
• Their number in the Khelo India Games, an index of this growing trend, showed a 161 per cent increase from 2018 to 2020.

What is the Internal Complaints Committee under the law?

• The ICC was designed to be the first port of call for any grievance under the PoSH Act to create a safe workplace environment for women.
• As per the law, it needs to have a minimum of four members:
  • at least half of them women.
• A functional ICC is one of the key conditions set up by the Ministry of Sports to grant annual recognition to the federations.
• Employers must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee in their organisation to address complaints of sexual harassment.
  • A woman must head the ICC.
  • At least half of its members should be women.
  • Employers must take steps to prevent sexual harassment and ensure that the victims are not victimised or discriminated against.
  • Employers must provide necessary support and assistance to the complainant and make arrangements for her work in case she has to be transferred.

About the Act:

• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, commonly known as the PoSH Act, was passed in 2013.
• The POSH Act was enacted to protect against sexual harassment of women in workplaces.
• This Act makes it mandatory for employers to provide a safe and secure work environment to female employees.
• It defined sexual harassment, lay down the procedures for complaint and inquiry, and the action to be taken in cases of sexual harassment.

History:

• The 2013 law broadened and gave legislative backing to what are known as the Vishaka Guidelines, which were laid down by the Supreme Court in a judgment passed in 1997.
• The Vishaka Guidelines defined sexual harassment and imposed three key obligations on institutions:
  • prohibition, prevention, redress.
• The Supreme Court directed that they should establish a Complaints Committee, which would look into matters of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
• The court made the guidelines legally binding.

The complaints committee

• The PoSH Act mandated that every employer must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at each office or branch that had 10 or more employees.

What constitutes sexual harassment under the PoSH Act?

• Physical contact and advances
• A demand or request for sexual favours
• Sexually coloured remarks
• Showing pornography
• Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

In addition, the PoSH Act mentions five circumstances that amount to sexual harassment:

• Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment;
• Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment;
• Implied or explicit threat about the complainant’s present or future employment status;
• Interference with the complainant’s work or creating an offensive or hostile work environment;
• Humiliating treatment of the complainant that is likely to affect her health or safety.

Procedure for complaint under the Act

• It is not compulsory for the aggrieved victim to file a complaint for the ICC to take action.
• The Act says that she may do so and if she cannot, any member of the ICC shall render all reasonable assistance to her to complain in writing.
• If the woman cannot complain because of physical or mental incapacity or death or otherwise, her legal heir may do so.
• The ICC may either forward the victim’s complaint to the police, or it can start an inquiry that has to be completed within 90 days.
• The ICC has powerssimilar to those of a civil court in respect of:
  • summoning and examining any person on oath, and
  • requiring the discovery and production of documents.
• When the inquiry is completed, the ICC must provide a report of its findings to the employer within 10 days.
• The identity of the woman, respondent, witness, any information on the inquiry, recommendation and action taken, should not be made public.
• What happens after the ICC has filed its report?
  • If the allegations of sexual harassment are proved, the ICC will recommend to the employer to take action in accordance with the provisions of the service rules of the company.
  • The ICC may also recommend that the company deduct the salary of the person found guilty.
  • The compensation is determined based on five aspects:
    • suffering and emotional distress caused to the woman;
    • loss in career opportunity;
    • her medical expenses;
    • income and financial status of the respondent; and
    • the feasibility of such payment.
• If either the aggrieved woman or the respondent is not satisfied, they may appeal in court within 90 days.
• Protection against a false complaint of sexual harassment
  • In such a case the ICC may recommend to the employer that it take action against the woman, or the person who has made the complaint.
  • The Act, however, makes it clear that action cannot be taken for mere inability to substantiate the complaint or provide adequate proof.