UPSC Mains Daily Answer Writing (21-12-2022) - GS 2

Questions

Q1. Recently four labour codes were passed to rationalize multiple labour laws. Discuss how they can empower labour and enumerate the challenges involved. (15 marks)

Q2. Climate change is impacting every aspect of life. In the light of this statement,  discuss the impact of climate change on hunger and poverty alleviation programs. (250 words) 15 marks

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Model Solutions

Q1. Recently four labour codes were passed to rationalize multiple labour laws. Discuss how they can empower labour and enumerate the challenges involved. (15 marks)

Model Structure
Introduction

• Three labour codes were passed in 2020 which subsumed 25 central laws. They are codes on occupational safety, health and working conditions; social security and industrial relations with aim to further improve economic activity and labour benefit in tandem.

Main body

• These labour codes simplify complicated and archaic laws to empower labour by-
  • Promotes fixed term employment to ensure employers fulfill basic labour rights, and reduces influence of trade unions.
  • It enhances the social security net of informal sector workers thus making them less vulnerable to any eventuality and reduces out of pocket expenditure in case of health emergency.
  • Easier dispute resolution means more productivity thus keeping employers and employees both benefitted.
  • Added benefits like maternity leaves, measures to address gender pay gap and better job conditions.
  • Ease of doing business means better investment and thus modernizing safety conditions and advanced equipment.
• But it has some issues like-
  • Labour in concurrent list means states have been given leeway to mold these codes as per local demands.
  • Diminishing the role of trade unions means workers are at mercy of management and courts which will only add to delays.
  • Provision for hiring and firing at will means conditions of service will become vague and detrimental to the interests of labourers.
  • Doesn’t talk about paternity leaves.

Conclusion

• A recent periodic labour force survey observed 71% of salaried class had no written contract and 50% lacked any social security. Thus it is imperative that the new codes must also look to formalize the economy to make it more efficient and keep workers at the centre of development.

Q2. Climate change is impacting every aspect of life. In the light of this statement, discuss the impact of climate change on hunger and poverty alleviation programs. (250 words) 15 marks

Model Structure
Introduction:
Global Food Policy Report 2022 has warned that climate change may push many Indians towards hunger by 2030 due to a decline in agricultural production and disruption in the food supply chain.

Main Body

• Challenges to hunger alleviation programs:
  • Declining crop yields: due to prolonged droughts put thousands of people at risk for starvation.
    • With a rise of 2 degrees, North West results in a 12% decrease in yield.
  • Increasing pest attacks: will further aggravate the productivity of the group.
    • E.g. 2020 Locust Attack.
  • Land degradation: where biodiversity and agriculture production are affected.
    • Eg. Rising sea levels cause saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and impacts agricultural yields.
  • Disaster led damage: more intense floods, cyclones will impact the crops.
    • E.g. In 2017 alone, this damage accounted for 100 million tonnes crop.
  • Climate change led to biological deficiencies: By 2050, higher CO2 emissions could push an additional 138 million people into zinc deficiency.
• Challenges to poverty alleviation programs:
  • Rising Costs of food and water: Basic needs of life will be made unaffordable.
  • Productivity of labor: will reduce by 2% of the working hours according to ILO, because of climate change.
  • Job losses: where by 2030 more than 100 million people could fall back to climate change led to extreme poverty.
  • Lowers the standard of livelihood: Lower strata people will face the brunt because of rise in carbon – through emissions, forest fires etc. (world inequality lab report).
• Way Forward
  • Increase Resilience of Livelihoods: climate smart employment generation programmes.
  • Build Resilience of Agricultural Systems: increase the PQRS of agriculture – Productivity, Quality, Resilience and Sustainability – climate smart agricultural practices (ZBNF, Precision farming).
  • Managing Genetic Resources: R&D in bringing diversity in crop cultivation according to the local needs.
  • Bring social protection measures: Mid day meals, cash transfers etc.

Conclusion

• Merging the poverty and environment agenda is the need of the hour, with a focus on availability, access, and absorption of the food by the citizens.

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