Current Affairs by Abhishiekh Saxena

Model Answer

Question #1. Discuss the vulnerability of India for Disaster induced displacement. Give example and suggest measures to mitigate the risk of increasing number of Climate Refugees.

Answer

Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and disaster displacement is one of its most devastating consequences. Entire populations are already suffering the impacts, but vulnerable people living in some of the most fragile and conflict-affected countries are often disproportionately affected. Refugees are internally displaced people (IDPs) and are on the frontlines of the climate emergency. Many are living in climate “hotspots”, where they typically lack the resources to adapt to an increasingly hostile environment. 

The Sunderbans, the only mangrove forests where tigers live, have been suffering from escalating natural disasters and land loss as climate change accelerates. People are being forcibly displaced through brutal loss of livelihood, and consequent crushing poverty. Still, like most other Governments across the world and even the United Nations, the Indian Government fails to recognise them as ‘climate refugees.’

Climate change and impacts

• The key impact is poverty. A decrease in crop yields is projected which increases the risk to livelihood and leads to poverty.
• Due to rising sea-levels, the densely populated “mega-deltas” especially in Asia’s small islands are most at risk from floods, storms and coastal flooding and eventual submerging, with a potential impact on tens of millions of people.
• The overall impact on health will be negative, especially for the poor, elderly, young and other marginalized sections of society.

The challenge is to better analyse these causes of displacement, to identify the areas where the effects of climate change are most likely to occur and to examine the character of forced displacement and other population movements they could trigger. 

Steps taken that can help

• Monitoring the nature of disaster: The nature and cause of the disaster must be assessed. It has to be classified on the basis of geography and cause.
• Providing shelter to displaced people: The case of “sinking” small island states caused by rising sea levels constitutes a particular challenge. As a consequence, such areas become uninhabitable and in extreme cases the remaining territory of affected states can no longer accommodate the whole population or such states disappear as a whole. When this happens, the population cannot return and becomes permanently displaced to other countries.
• Promote more livelihood opportunities in non-agricultural sectors. Agriculture is a top source of employment in many South Asian nations, but it is also arguably the region’s most climate-vulnerable sector. Consequently, its workers are highly susceptible to climate-driven displacement.
• Empower non-federal authorities to better tackle climate-induced displacement risks: the role of NGOs and civil societies can contribute to the issue. There should be funding for rehab centres for displaced people to provide them adequate facilities.
• Integration of global allies: Global collaboration and integration on the climate induced refugees must be considered giving them a status of vulnerable under the convention. Their recognition will make countries to ensure their protection under that regime.

Conclusion

 India needs to formulate migration centric policies, strategies, and institutional mechanisms in order to ensure inclusive growth and development and reduce distress induced migration. And the government at Centre needs to provide amenities and social securities for Internally displaced population, which is riddled with the issues of inadequate housing; low-paid, insecure or hazardous work; extreme vulnerability of women and children to trafficking and sex exploitation etc.

Question #2. Describe the key points of revived National policy on Biofuels. What are the challenges associated with the implementation of alternate fuel strategy in India?

Answer

In order to promote biofuels in the country, a National Policy on Biofuels was made by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the year 2009. Globally, biofuels have caught the attention in last decade and it is imperative to keep up with the pace of developments in the field of biofuels. Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the on-going initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development and offers great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling of Farmers Income, Import Reduction, Employment Generation, Waste to Wealth Creation. 

Key features of revived policy

• To allow more feed stocks for production of biofuels,
• To advance the ethanol blending target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to ESY 2025-26 from 2030.
• To promote the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India program, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs).
• To add new members to the NBCC.
• To grant permission for export of biofuels in specific cases, and
• To delete/amend certain phrases in the Policy in line with decisions taken during the meetings of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.

Need for amendment 

• Till 2018, only sugarcane was used to derive ethanol. Now, the government has extended the ambit of the scheme to include food grains like maize, bajra, fruit and vegetable waste, etc. to produce ethanol.
• This move helps farmers gain additional income by selling the extra produce and also broadens the base for ethanol production in the country.
• As Ethanol is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. 
• Starting with 5% blending, the government has set a target of 10% ethanol blending by 2022 and 20% blending (E20) by 2030.

Challenges for implementing the alternate fuel strategy in India

• Availability of sufficient feedstock on a sustainable basis: Current regulations in the country allow production of ethanol from sugarcane, sugar, molasses, the maize and damaged food grains unfit for human consumption. 
• Further, surplus rice with FCI is also allowed. Some states have demanded that rice procured by state governments be allowed for ethanol production. 

• • However, there is the issue of diverting food grains from human consumption to ethanol production when hunger and malnutrition are still problems faced by many in the country.

• Production Facilities: Ethanol production facilities have to be augmented if the goals of 20% blending by 2030 are to be achieved. Currently, ethanol production is largely confined to the sugar producing states. 
• Less efficient feedstock companies: Sugar mills, which are the key domestic suppliers of bio-ethanol to Oil Marketing Companies, were able to supply only 57.6% of the total demand. 

• • The mills also do not have enough financial stability to invest in biofuel plants.

• Price uncertainty: The prices of both ethanol and sugarcane are fixed by the government leading to concerns among investors regarding the price of bioethanol.
• Availability of Ethanol: Ethanol is not equally available all over the country. This leads to an increase in transportation and logistics costs.
• Moreover, handling and storage of ethanol are also risky as it is a highly flammable liquid.
• Challenge for vehicle manufacturers: Vehicle manufacturers must work with vendors to develop automobile parts compatible with ethanol. 
• They should work on engine optimization for higher ethanol blends. 
• Environmental clearances: Currently, ethanol production plants/distilleries fall under the “Red category” and require environmental clearance under the Air and Water Acts for new and expansion projects. 
• This often takes a long time leading to delays.

Today, alternate fuel generation strategies should be the priority of the government seeing the on-going fuel crisis in the world. Biofuels are one such component of alternative fuel that can serve India for longer time, as we have a wealth of feedstocks for generation of Biofuel. Indigenous strategies will be the only way to achieve self-dependency in energy sector for India.