GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the Uttarakhand government for permitting the felling of thousands of trees in the Jim Corbett National Park to expand a tiger safari, highlighting the link between political corruption and environmental damage.

1. Court's Critique on Environmental Damage:

• Violation of practices: The Supreme Court has criticized the Uttarakhand government for allowing the felling of approximately 6,000 trees in the Jim Corbett National Park to expand a tiger safari, describing it as a violation of conservation practices.
• Ecosystem disruption: Justice B.R. Gavai emphasized the importance of protecting tigers as an indicator of ecosystem well-being, stating that events like illegal tree felling cannot be ignored as they disrupt the ecosystem.
• Detrimental impact of political corruption: The judgment underscores the detrimental impact of political corruption on environmental conservation efforts, particularly in the management of wildlife parks and the compatibility of tiger safaris with conservation measures.

2. Role of Expert Bodies and Guidelines:

• Only with guidelines: The Central Zoo Authority and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, affiliated with the Union Environment Ministry, support the existence of tiger safaris if conducted within established guidelines.
• Eco-tourism: These safaris divert attention away from core forest zones, promoting their inviolate nature and raising public awareness about conservation, with eco-tourism as the primary objective.
• Risk of commercialization: However, recent arguments advocating safaris as sources of employment opportunities for locals pose a risk of commercialization and political influence, as seen in the Corbett Park case.

3. Recommendations for Governance and Conservation:

• Balance between tourism and conservation: The Supreme Court has called upon the Centre to develop guidelines for safari conduct to balance tourism and conservation objectives.
• Need for circumspection: It emphasizes the need for circumspection in government messaging regarding tourism and conservation to prevent political capture and prioritize environmental protection.
• Proactive governance: The Court's recommendations highlight the imperative for proactive governance and policy measures to safeguard wildlife and ecosystems while promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Context:

Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated following a recent incident in the South China Sea, where the Philippine Coast Guard encountered obstacles from Chinese vessels during a resupply mission near Second Thomas Shoal.

1. Escalating Tensions in the South China Sea:

• Illegal action: Manila accuses China of "reckless and illegal" actions in the South China Sea after Philippine boats were blocked by Chinese vessels during a resupply mission near Second Thomas Shoal.
• Constant confrontations: Incidents between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guards in the South China Sea have become recurrent, with past confrontations involving the removal of Chinese installations near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
• Contested territorial claims: The root cause of tension lies in contested territorial claims, with China asserting sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, despite a favorable ruling for the Philippines from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

2. Shift in Philippine Leadership and Foreign Policy:

• Assertive stance: Earlier Philippines pursued a cautious approach towards China, seeking to avoid further provocation. However, no the country has adopted a more assertive stance.
• Allowing American presence: Philippines has strengthened strategic and defense ties with the United States, allowing increased American military presence in the Philippines and hosting large-scale military exercises.
• Direct challenge to China's coercive actions: The Philippines aims to enhance its defense capabilities and assert sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, challenging China's coercive actions and expanding U.S. collaboration.

3. China's Response and Regional Implications:

• Strategic pawn against China: China views the deepening U.S.-Philippines ties as a challenge and accuses Washington of using Manila as a strategic pawn against Chinese interests in the region.
• Strained relations: Beijing's unilateral territorial claims and coercive tactics in the South China Sea have strained relations with neighboring countries, prompting calls for dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.
• Broader geopolitical dynamics: The incident underscores the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, where competing territorial claims and great power rivalries pose challenges to regional stability and maritime security.

Context:

There is a growing discourse on the need to increase women's participation in the economy to foster economic growth in India. However, this is hindered by various factors, primarily rooted in patriarchy, which perpetuates gender disparities in the labor market.

1. Root Cause: Patriarchy's Impact on Women's Participation:

• Women's low participation in the Indian labor market stems from the patriarchal social system, which prioritizes male dominance in family, community, and society.
• Under patriarchy, women are traditionally assigned the role of homemakers, responsible for unpaid household chores and caregiving duties, limiting their entry into the formal labor force.
• The undervaluation of women's unpaid work further reinforces gender disparities, as it lacks recognition, upward mobility, retirement benefits, and is often perceived as inferior and repetitive.

2. Challenges and Exploitation in Women's Labor Market Participation:

• While increasing education levels among women may boost their labor market participation, it often leads to exploitation, particularly among domestic workers who support professional women.
• Women's participation can be enhanced by reducing the burden of unpaid domestic work through infrastructure support, technological advancements, and redistributing household responsibilities.
• Addressing gender inequality in the labor market requires not only sharing domestic duties between men and women but also eliminating women's subordination within households.

3. Need for Policy Intervention and Protection of Domestic Workers:

• Policymakers must prioritize measures to alleviate women's domestic burdens and ensure equal opportunities for women in the labor market.
• Ratification and enforcement of international labor standards, such as the International Labour Organization Convention on domestic workers' rights, can safeguard the rights and dignity of domestic workers.
• Neglecting the rights and protections of domestic workers, particularly in the face of increasing women's labor force participation, risks perpetuating exploitation and undermining the potential economic gains.