SYNOPSIS- IASbaba’s TLP 2016 [21st April] – UPSC Mains GS Questions [HOT]

ARCHIVES

SYNOPSIS- IASbaba’s TLP 2016 [21st April] – UPSC Mains GS Questions [HOT]

1. What do you understand by mega food parks? Can you identify the backward and forward linkages of food park in the economy? Also discuss their potential in creating sustainable employment opportunities.

• Intro:

Mega Food Parks Scheme (MFPS) was launched in 2008 whereby, the Government provides Financial Assistance up to Rs. 50 Crore to set up modern infrastructure facilities for food processing called Mega Food Parks.

• Body:

1. The key objectives of the scheme are to reduce wastage of perishables; raise processing of food items from 6% to 20% and raise India’s share in Food Processing Industry from 1.5% to 3%.
2. A mega food park is basically a hub and spoke architecture comprising Collection Centers (CCs) and Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) as spokes linked to a Central Processing Centre as hub.
3. THE CCs collect the produce from the farmers and cooperatives, which is then sent to PPCs which sort the products and do the primary operations of pulping, juicing etc. The semi processed products are then transferred to the CPC for the final operations of grading, processing labelling etc.

• Forward and Backward linkages:
• Backward linkages of food park include primary collection and processing centers, farmers, APMC mandis to provide for food raw material, warehousing facilities, MSMEs which produce cardboard boxes and plastics.
• Forward linkages for food park include storage facilities, shops, wholesale and retail markets, e-commerce websites among others.

• Sustainable employment opportunities:

1. Mega food parks hold huge potential for direct and indirect potential. This can help in exploiting potential of individual farmers, self help groups, farmer groups ensuring a sustained procurement.
2. The MFP will generate blue collar jobs in the factories for unskilled and semi skilled workers, e.g. machine operating and maintenance, mixers, cleaning staff etc.
3. It will also generate white collar jobs in R&D in increasing shelf life, product development etc. and to managers, engineers ,accountants etc.
4. this scheme through its forward linkage can give fillip to START UPs in food processing.
   Employment can be generated in construction of cold storage facilities, warehousing and transportation and logistics.

• Conclusion:

Write a suitable conclusion.

Best answer: AFFU.

Agriculture supply chain mismanagement results in huge wastage of food grains and perishable items like vegetables,fruits. This leads to reduced price discovery for farmers, increased prices to consumers. To mitigate this problem, government has stepped up efforts for food processing, mega food parks is one such step
MEGA FOOD PARK:
-It aims to provide a mechanism to bring together farmers, processors and retailers and link agriculture production to the market so as to ensure maximization of value addition, minimization of wastages and improving farmers’ income
-to provide modern infrastructure facilities for the food processing along the value chain from the farm to the market with a cluster based approach based on a hub and spokes model
LINKAGES:
Any food processing initiative like mega food park is the lynchpin in the chain where its
BACKWARD LINKAGES consists of source of raw materials i.e. Agricultural produce, cold storage, warehousing facilities ,transportation, value addition through primary processing centers connected to central processing centers
FORWARD LINKAGES consists of market for the value added produce through marketing support, tie ups with traders,MNCs,to connect with the end use consumer
POTENTIAL FOR EMPLOYMENT:
Mega food parks hold huge potential for direct and indirect potential. This can help in exploiting potential of individual farmers, self help groups, farmer groups ensuring a sustained procurement.
The value addition services like testing, processing can provide employment to skilled youth
this scheme through its forward linkage can give fillip to START UPs in food processing
apart form this employment can be generated in construction of cold storage facilities, warehousing and transportation sectors

2. “In our country, democracy is not a natural sentiment that people are born with. It is an idea that has to be cultivated in an essentially unequal society.” This statement by Dr. B R Ambedkar resonates as much with the India of present as it did with India of 70 years back. Critically comment.

Since ancient, through medieval times and till Indian renaissance was born, due to incorrect interpretations, Indian society was crippled with immense inequality. Patriarchal mindset, caste system, communalism, unequal powers, etc. characterized the inequality. Towards the end of these, people of India had lost the natural sentiment of democracy and especially minorities in India had loyally accepted the rule of the majority. Thus, there was a strong need to cultivate the idea of democracy, according to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

(Or)

For Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, “Democracy in India is only a top dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic and there was a complete absence of equality in Indian Society”. His idea of democracy was not just limited to political democracy; it also extends to social and economic democracy. According to him, his community still continued to accept a position of humiliation only because caste Hindus persist in dominating over them and thus he stressed for cultivating the idea of democracy in then unequal society – based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.

However, even after more than six decades his views are quite prophetic in nature and on a careful reading one would always find its relevance even now. Unfortunately, our democracy as seen presently totally lacks the spirit of reverence in all public acts which prevents people from doing wrong by respect for authority and for the laws, having an especial regard to those who are ordained for the protection of the underprivileged and oppressed.

• People and politics are still subjected to various social ills like casteism, elitism, antagonism, class divisions, communal divides, the functioning of democracy is not smooth and affecting the effectiveness of governance.
• Division of society on caste and communal lines – prevalence of intra-caste marriages, notions of caste purity etc.
• Class divisions – politics are influenced by elite, low or no voice for common man, money and muscle power in politics, unbreakable communal and caste based entrepreneurship links etc.
• Gender discrimination, patriarchal mindset, obstructionist mandate, lack of freedom of decision and suppressing attitudes etc., disturbing the fair play of democracy.

However, over the years, democracy in India is maturing. Many reformative measures have taken up to counter social evils and to establish an egalitarian society. Numerous examples like women reservation, free and compulsory education, protection laws for SC, STs and backward classes, inclusive development, local self governments etc., are placed. However, owing to serious implementation lag in the system, our initiatives have achieved only limited results. Standardised education, ethical sense and government intervention at all levels would flush out these impediments in an effective manner and bolster our work as per the principles of Constitution.

Best answer: SVSR

Democracy sustains and thrives fairly in a country where people are given equal treatment in all aspects. In a country like India where cultural diversity is at its core and people and politics are subjected to various social ills like casteism, elitism, antagonism, class divisions, communal divides, the functioning of democracy is not smooth. And, thus, people and society is bound to adopt democratic principles for building a welfare state.

This view of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has derived from the societal conditions of India pre and post independence times. Unfortunately, these conditions are still prevalent in the society, but in a modified form and affecting the effectiveness of governance, they are:

> Division of society on caste and communal lines – prevalence of intra-caste marriages, notions of caste purity etc.

> Class divisions – politics are influenced by elite, low or no voice for common man, money and muscle power in politics, unbreakable communal and caste based entrepreneurship links etc.

> Gender discrimination, patriarchal mindset, obstructionist mandate, lack of freedom of decision and suppressing attitudes etc., disturbing the fair play of democracy.

However, over the years, democracy in India is maturing. Many reformative measures have taken up to counter social evils and to establish an egalitarian society. Numerous examples like women reservation, free and compulsory education, protection laws for SC, STs and backward classes, inclusive development, local self governments etc., are placed. However, owing to serious implementation lag in the system, our initiatives have achieved only limited results. Standardised education, ethical sense and government intervention at all levels would flush out these impediments in an effective manner and bolster our work as per the principles of Constitution.

3. We regularly witness news of schools and colleges banning apparels of certain kinds in their premises in the name of maintaining decency and sanctity of their institutions. How far you agree with such directives and steps? Do you feel a line has to be drawn in such cases? Examine.

Introduction:

News of ban on certain kinds of apparels like jeans, t-shirts in schools and colleges are regularly witnessed. The aim of these directives as claimed by these institutes is to maintain decency and sanctity of the institutes. Sometimes, these bans cross limits. There is a necessity to draw a line is such cases to address what is acceptable or unacceptable.

Limiting the ban:

1. Suppression of freedom of expression: It is against our fundamental rights enshrined in art 21 and 19 of constitution.
2. Fanning intolerance and gender disparity: several Hindu groups like ABHM in support with certain Khap Panchayats had issued so called fatwa’s to prevent girls from wearing certain apparels. It fans wrong notions like ‘certain apparels invite eve teasing and rape’ and gradually builds up intolerance against women.
3. Moral policing: Creates a moral divide based on one’s apparel
4. Climatic and lifestyle demand: certain western apparels are breezy and faster worn than their Indian counterparts, thus making them an instant choice.
5. Indian Dress code might not be suitable for universities with foreign students.
6. Wrong interpretation of Indian culture: As clothes reflect a mindset, banning may portray a rigid mindset at global platform.
7. Psychological: Banning will only create psychological urge towards banned apparel and hence, might trigger wide spread dissent.
8. Economic: Many clothing lines are aimed at youth. Banning may harm their as well as country’s long term interests.

Restriction on apparel:

1. Impart professionalism: engineering students in final seems and B-school grads require professional training before placements which mandates a professional attire.
2. Equality and unity: Uniformity in apparel bridges economic disparity amongst students and lends them a sense of belongingness to one institution.
3. Controls adolescent mind: Adolescent minds often get distracted with certain clothing items even if they are more eye-appeasing.
4. Boost to Indian wear: Indian attire like saris are restricted to only college functions. Ban may foster adoption of Indian wear and also our handloom items.
5. Focus on education and career rather than materialistic life.
6. Prevents harassment and crimes against girl students.

Factors that need to be considered to evolve a dress code:

1. Given the impact of globalization on our society especially among the youth with regards to attire they wear, we need to consider this aspect carefully to formulate any set of rules.
2. Apart from this non local students have attitudes that are entirely different from the local community towards the clothing. For example North Eastern Indian students have their unique style of clothing, which may be not be the norm in places like Kerala or Gujarat.
3. Inter generational differences of opinion regarding what constitutes decent attire.

Conclusion:

1. Give your opinion clearly as to whether you think a line needs to be drawn in such cases and how far you agree with such directives and steps based on the above arguments.
2. Examples of recent events can be stated.

Best answer: Saurabh

Schools and colleges are required to maintain decency and decorum in their campus in order to impart effective learning to the students. To achieve this, there have been multiple attempts are banning of various kind of apparels.

These attempts reflect a paternalistic attitude by the authorities as:
1) The Constitution through Articles 21 accords the freedom to the citizens to choose what they wear
2) Clothes are not the measure of decency of a person and hence such bans are mostly futile
3) Authorities may be unaware of the wearing traditions of a particular community and may end up hurting their sentiments through such bans
4) Such kind of restrictions are mostly targeted at the females, which reflects the rotten mindset which treats them as “custodians” of all kind of decency

However, not all such bans are bad:
1) Some basic ground rules for clothing, till they are not gender biased; are required for maintaining decency
2) These dress codes impart uniformity among the students thus creating a more equal atmosphere in the institution
3) A dress code imparts a kind of discipline and order among the students which is essential for running an educational institution

Certainly, decency and discipline are essential ingredients of a good educational institution and clothing plays a small, however, an important role in this aspect. Hence, I agree that basic dress codes are necessary. But there must be a line drawn so that such directives do not have an unnecessary overbearing.