Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana

News: Recently, electric pottery wheels to 100 potter families in Maharashtra were distributed under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY).

It was launched in 2018.

Aim: To strengthen and improve the living of potters in the country by making them self reliant (Atma Nirbhar).

Features: Providing potters with modern equipment and training.

Significance

Revival of traditional art and culture of pottery

 eliminated drudgery from the process of pottery making 

 Increase in the production by 3-4 times.

Increase in income of potters manifolds

1) Ideas need time to mature.
2) Companies need time to grow.
3) Talent needs time to develop.
4) Relationships need time to strengthen.
5) Good habits need time to reward.
6) Trust needs time to get built.
7) Investment needs time to compound.

Success requires the art of being patient...
Good evening..🌸🌹🌻

VISION IAS MAINS 365 ENVIRONMENT 2020.pdf

Pleased to inform that Bihar has got its first Ramsar site. Kabartal in Begusarai, becomes a wetland of international importance.

It is an important wetland of the Central Asian Flyway for the population of migratory birds & biodiversity.

Wetlands are critical for absorption of floodwaters, are biodiversity hotspots and host critically endangered species!

Asan Conservation Reserve in Uttarakhand has also been designated as a Ramsar site, making it ‘Wetland of International Importance’.

Earlier in 2020, India designated 10 more wetlands as a Ramsar site, taking the total number from 27 to 37.

With 2 more inclusions, the total number of Ramsar sites in India is 39, the highest in South Asia.

*QUOTE

“Fake news is like ice, once it comes in contact with the heat of the truth it melts quickly and suddenly evaporates.”
- Oche Otorkpa

*FAKE NEWS & PAID NEWS*

*Fake News :*

Fake news refers to news, stories, informations, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false.
Fake news can be propagated through any media- print, electronic and social.


*Issues Associated with Fake News :*

1) Against Democratic ethos: democratic principles that ensure free and fair speech are compromised when the same principles allow for the spread of disinformation.
2) Compromising Election Process.
3) Citizens view any news published by mainstream media as true and believe it.
4) very few citizens try to ascertain the authenticity of news spread on social media.
5) Swinging public opinions based on misinformation campaigns to gain popularity or to malign the image, character of certain individuals.
6) Creating a sense of mistrust between people and government. eg- the news of tampering of electronic voting machine.
7) Social media largely unregulated.
8) Only few mechanisms exist such as defamation suit, filing of FIR, complaints to bodies like News Broadcasters Association (NBA), Broadcasting Content Complaint Council (BCCC), Press Council of India (PCI) etc.
9) Inciting violence and hatred among communities by using morphed photographs to show riots, insult to religious symbols or deities. For example- Muzaffarabad riots; exodus of North-east people from Bangalore etc.
10) Radicalization of youths through false propaganda spread through social media sites - eg-Kashmir youth’s radicalisation by militants.


*Challenges in Controlling Fake News*

1. No standard definition: The term ‘fake news’ is vague and there is no official definition of what constitutes fake news.
2. Lack of regulation: Self-regulation by mainstream media has largely been ineffective.
3. Any direct effort by the government to control fake news is seen as an assault on the freedom of media.
4. Difficult to achieve balance: The efforts to control fake news and legitimate investigative and source-based journalism.
5. Difficult to distinguishing between conscious fabrication of news reports and news reports put out in the belief that they are accurate.
6. The vastness of the internet users (over 35 crore in India) and social media users (over 20 crore WhatsApp users alone) makes tracing the origin of fake news almost impossible.

*Way Forward:*

1. Bring out policy to control fake news.
2. The PCI needs to be reformed and empowered - strike a balance between the freedom of media and speech on the one hand, and right to know on the other.
3. Awareness: People must be made aware about the menace of fake news, their dissemination and to practice caution while believing on any such items.
4. Authentic news: by government organizations. Eg -PIB on Twitter..
5. Social media houses should also come forward to bring in measures to curb the menace of fake news. Eg . Facebook has tied up with Boom Live, an Indian fact-checking agency, to fight fake news during the Karnataka elections.
6. Ensure critical media literacy - encouraging individuals to learn the skills required to navigate the internet and question the content they are exposed to.
7. Nurture a general culture of scepticism among citizens towards information.
8. Targeted and proportionate legal interventions when threat to life or national security.

The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry constituted a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites.

*QUOTE

”Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.”
-Jim Morrison

*MEDIA*

*Constitutional Provision :*

Article 19(1)(a) - gives freedom of speech and expression includes within its ambit, freedom of press

*SDG Media Compact by UN -* seeks to inspire media and entertainment companies around the world to advance the SDGs. Japanese media covers the SDGs – and the growing problem of climate change extensively

*Types of Media*:

1)Broadcasting
2)Print Media
3)Movies
4)Internet- Social media

*Role of Media :*

1. Enriching Democracy - Access to information is essential for a democratic society because it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices. Eg. - Community Radio -Sangam Radio, Telangana
2. Ensuring Accountability: It holds the political and permanent executive accountable to the people through its forums for debates, discussions and polls.
3. To play vital role in broadening the thinking of citizens, by empowering them with knowledge - Programs on Rajyasabha TV- Big Picture etc.
4. To fairly criticize any action that is against the spirit of justice or essence of democracy - Criticism of Emergency
5. To point out the corrupt practices -2G scam
6. To foster the spirit of unity and brotherhood among the people, and install faith in democracy and justice

*Issues with media :*

Competition between media houses has increased - decline in the standards of journalism.

1. High levels of inaccuracies - GPS Chips in Currency notes after demonetisation.
2. Fake news - Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case
3. Sensationalism: neglecting important public issues which needed to be addressed - ArushiTalwar Case
4. Poor coverage of important issues: In a mad race to gain TRP and popularity the media tends to show what people want to see - Farmers issues hardly covered- P. Sainath.
5. Media’s short attention span - Rarely keeps the follow up.
6. Phenomenon of paid news- by favouring a particular candidate for monetary or other consideration -Narottam Mishra Case
7. Trial by media - where media creates the perceptions of guilt or innocence of the accused - right of an accused for fair trial is encroached on. Rhea Chakraborty case.
8) Corporatization & monopolization of Media

*News Broadcasters Association (NBA) guidelines to regulate the media :*

1. Impartiality and objectivity in reporting
2. Ensuring neutrality- by offering equality for all affected parties in any dispute or conflict to present their point of view
3. Reporting on crime and safeguards to ensure crime and violence are not glorified
4. Depiction of violence or intimidation against women and children-- effort taken to conceal the identity .
5. Respect Privacy: As a rule channels must not intrude on private lives, or personal affairs of individuals, unless there is a clearly established larger and identifiable public interest.

*Regulating Bodies for Media:*

1) *Press Council of India (PCI) -*
1) helping newspapers maintain their independence
2) build a code of conduct for journalists and news agencies

Limitations on the powers of the PCI:
1) The PCI has limited powers of enforcing the guidelines issued. 
2) It cannot penalize newspapers, news agencies, editors and journalists for violation of the guidelines3)
3) It does not have the power to review the functioning of the electronic media like radio, television and internet media.

2) *News Broadcasters Association.* 
# The NBA has devised a Code of Ethics to regulate television content.
# NBA, is empowered to warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval and fine the broadcaster a sum upto Rs. 1 lakh for violation of the Code

3) *Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) :* controlling content of movies and television shows, etc.

4) *The Advertising Standards Council of India* has also drawn up guidelines on content of advertisements.

*Way Forward:*

The Media is referred as fourth estate of democracy. But free press does not mean an uncontrolled press. There shall be an uplifting the standards of journalism can only be solution. Every journalist must honestly and consciously make an attempt not to fall in any trap and raise the standard of journalism.

# Types of media

Some topic for essay could be on post covid /new normal etc.
This article could help . https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/11/our-post-pandemic-world-and-whats-likely-to-hang-round/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=hu-facebook-general&utm_medium=social

*QUOTE *

"‘SMART’ force — Strict andg Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno savvy and Trained."
- PM Narendra Modi.

*Police issues & Reforms*

Police - State Subject

*SDG-16 :* Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, *provide access to justice for all* and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

*Issues Related to Functioning of Police :*

1) *An Overburdened Police Force* :
# Sanctioned police strength - 181 police per lakh, the actual strength was 137 police.(2016)
# United Nations’ recommended standard - 222 police per lakh persons.
State police forces had 24% vacancies (about 5.5 lakh vacancies) in January 2016.
# long working hours, which negatively affects his efficiency and performance.

2) *Lack of Police accountability:* complaints of unwarranted arrests, unlawful searches, torture and custodial rapes.

3) *Poor quality of investigation* -
In 2015, the conviction rate for crimes recorded under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 was only 47%.
The reasons for low conviction rates in India is poor quality of investigation. (Law Commission ,2012)

4) *Political Criminalisation Nexus:*
Excessive power in the hands of police has been abused by the political executive to unduly influence police personal to serve personal or political interests. (ARC)

5) Law & order State subject - Centre state cooperation missing due to politics.

6) *Lagging modernisation Project* - CAG report -
# Modernisation without adequate increases in manpower - District control room without manpower.
# Basic facilities like forensic lab, fingerprint bureaus lacking.

7) Police Training-
# use of modernised equipment’s & process is low.
# unwanted police officers transferred to training institutions.

8) Lack of role clarity -
Police personal for VIP security. (Around 30% In Delhi)

*Steps taken by Govt :*

1) Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police Scheme: by MHA-
To reduce dependence on paramilitary troops and equipping police with latest equipments.
2) CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems)-
Connecting police stations to centralised database.
3) Scheme for Mega City Policing
4) Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

*Case Study : Community Policing*

In Kerala, an earlier project, namely the Janamaithri Suraksha Project had paved the
way for „ Community Police‟ system.Beat officers visit houses and
understands their needs and interacts with the community.This helps them to build link with the community members.

*Way Forward-*

1) Revamping Criminal Justice System: *Implementing Menon Committee and Malimath Committee recommendations.* Witness protection etc.
2) Replicating The Model Police Act, 2006

3) *Implementing Supreme Court Directives in Prakash Sigh Case,2006:*

a) Set up National Security Commission
b) Set up State Security commission.
c) Separate investigation and law& order function.
d) Set up Police Establishment Board
e) Set up Police Complaint Authority at state and district level.
f) Two year fixed term for DGP & SP.

4) Reforms in political system to reduce criminalisation of politics.
5) Changes in recruitment - Ensuring dedicated and honest police offices.
———————————————

*Status of Implementation of Supreme Court directions in Prakash Singh Case as per Justice Thomas Committee:*

1) State Security Commission(SSC) dominated by govt & police officers.
2) Composition & power of SSC & Police establishment Board at variance with SC directive.
3) Many SSC - No power to issue binding recommendations.
4) Duration of Directors and IGS not fixed - T.P. Senkumar case in Kerala.

Fig: Police officers per 1,00,000 inhabitants.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/columnists/love-and-war.html
Dr Ajoykumar Ex IPS, Ex MP

*QUOTE *

“Our urban spaces and governance mechanisms have become the theatres for political conflicts and economic struggles. ‘Exclusionary’ urbanization is benefitting certain social groups to the detriment of others, and directing resources to large metropolises depriving small and medium towns of funds needed for infrastructure and essential services”

— Hamid Ansari, Former, VP of India.

*ULB’s and URBAN ISSUES:*

*Urban Local Bodies* -

74th Constitutional Amendment-

Part IXA - The Municipalities

3. Schedule XII - illustrative list of functions that may be entrusted to municipalities.

Issues of ULB’s regarding fund, function & functionaries are the same as of PRIs. *Some additional points are the following.*

1)Further delegation of powers from ULBs: For eg- Smart Cities -decision-making powers available to the ULB to the Chief Executive Officer of the SPV.
2) Financial paucity-. Indian cities revenue is less than 1% of gross domestic product.

*Report :* Annual Survey of India’s City System, 2017 by *Janaagraha,* Centre for Citizenship and Democracy - Survey of 23 cities.

1) Lack of local democracy, with only two of the 23 cities putting in place ward committees and area sabhas at least on paper.
2) Only 9 of the 23 cities had a citizen’s charter.
3) cities don’t release even basic data about their functioning in usable formats.
4) Most Indian cities use town and country planning acts which were drafted decades before the economy was liberalized and the
5) lack of a modern, contemporary urban planning framework *may be costing India 3% of its GDP every year.*

*Steps taken by govt for ULBS :*

1. Performance linked grants: The 14th Finance Commission - Performance Grant to ULBs based on various reforms in areas like accounting, auditing, reporting, etc.
2. Comprehensive road map for municipal reforms by Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The road map, consisting of three tiers of reforms along three main avenues - Governance, Planning, and Finance.
3. Municipal Bonds: In 2017, NITI Aayog in its Three-year Action Agenda document also talks of utilizing Municipal Bond market. This would ensure low cost of borrowing.
4. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):
• It focuses at transforming 500 cities and towns into efficient urban living spaces over a period of five years.
• It follows a project oriented development approach in contrast to the area based approach of Smart Cities Mission.

*QUOTE *


"Your mantra must be Reform to Perform to Transform"

- Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi @ Civil Service Day.

*CIVIL SERVICES & REFORMS*

*Civil Services* - is professional body, comprised of career bureaucrats which are permanent, paid, Efficient & skilled.

*Features:*

1) Civil Functions
2) Impartial Selection
3) Neutrality - for political establishment
4) Anonymity - Ministerial responsibily

*Importance of the Civil Service to governance:*

1)Service presence throughout the country and its strong binding character
2)Effective policy-making and regulation
3)Effective coordination between institutions of governance
4)Leadership at different levels of administration.
5)Service delivery at the cutting edge level
6)Provide ‘continuity and change’ to the administration.

*Ailments afflicting Indian civil services :*

A) *Structural Weaknesses :*

1) Too much hierarchy
2) Oversised
3) Outmoded rules and procedures

B) *Operational weaknesses :*

1) Lack of professionalism and poor capacity building
2) Inefficient incentive systems
3) Lack of adequate transparency and accountability procedures - there is also no
safety for whistle blowers
4) Arbitrary and whimsical transfers – insecurity in tenures impedes
institutionalization
5) Political interference and administrative acquiescence
6)A gradual erosion in values and ethics

C) *Attitudinal Weaknesses :*

1) Elitist mentality
2) Procedure compliance than performance compliance
3) Status Quoist

*Civil Service Reforms :*

A) *Recruitment:*
1) Increase intake of specialist
2) Lateral Entry
3) Second ARC- National Institute of Public Administration
4) Hota Committee Report - Aptitude & leadership test , code of ethics

B) *Training:*

2nd ARC- Composition of LBSNAA, SVPNPA broadened by inducting experts.

C) *Performance Management:*

1) 6th Pay commission- Performance related incentive Scheme
2) Move from annual confidential report to Annual Performance Appraisal Report
3) 360 degree Appraisal.

Hong Kong Civil Services - continuation in the job subject to verifying the performance indicators from time to time.

D) *Attitudinal Reform* - Restore pride in service