GS-2 Governance
- ASHA workers and NGOs are essential in aiding government efforts to tackle the WASH-attributable burden of disease in India. Discuss. (250 words)
Introduction:
Unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services continue to be a major health risk despite significant advancements. Both ASHA workers and NGOs play crucial roles in reducing the WASH-related burden of disease.
Body:
India faces several WASH challenges, particularly in rural areas. The major challenges include:
- Lack of Access to Clean Water: Over 163 million people in India lack access to clean water, and 21 percent of the country’s communicable diseases are caused by unsafe water.
- Inadequate Sanitation Facilities: India has the highest number of people practicing open defecation in the world. According to UNICEF, nearly 50 percent of India’s population defecates in the open, leading to environmental pollution and spreading of diseases.
- Poor Hygiene Practices: Lack of knowledge and awareness of basic hygiene practices such as hand washing and personal hygiene leads to increased risks of disease transmission.
- Infrastructure Challenges: Lack of proper infrastructure to store and distribute clean water and dispose of waste creates additional challenges.
- Urbanisation: Rapid urbanisation in India has put pressure on existing water supply systems, leading to inadequate water supply and sanitation facilities.
- Climate Change: Climate change is expected to increase water scarcity in India, exacerbating the existing WASH challenges.
- Funding: Insufficient funding for WASH programs and lack of political will is another significant challenge.
- Poor Maintenance: Lack of proper maintenance of WASH facilities results in breakdowns and a decrease in the lifespan of facilities.
- Gender Inequality: Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the lack of WASH facilities, particularly in rural areas, where they face difficulties in accessing water and sanitation facilities.
- Cultural Practices: Some cultural practices in India, such as caste-based discrimination, limit access to WASH facilities for certain communities.
ASHA Workers’ Contributions to WASH-Related Health Interventions
- Community Hygiene Education:
- ASHA workers provide education on proper hygiene practices, like hand-washing, through direct community engagement.
- Promoting Sanitation Practices:
- ASHA workers advocate for the use of toilets and safe sanitation habits, helping to curb open defecation.
- Data Gathering and Monitoring:
- ASHA workers collect and report data on water quality, sanitation conditions, and health outcomes, guiding targeted health interventions.
- Facilitating Access to Resources:
- ASHA workers link communities with government programs that improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
- Detecting and Reporting Disease Outbreaks:
- ASHA workers identify and report outbreaks of waterborne diseases, enabling timely interventions.
NGO Initiatives in Enhancing WASH Services:
- Raising WASH Awareness: NGOs educate and mobilise communities around WASH practices, increasing awareness and adherence.
- Example: Water.org partnered with local NGOs to promote sanitation and hygiene in rural regions of India.
- Implementing Innovative WASH Solutions: NGOs introduce innovative, cost-effective solutions to improve hygiene and sanitation access.
- Example: SEEDS deployed mobile hand-washing stations in disaster-stricken areas.
- Advocating for WASH Policy Changes: NGOs work with governments to shape and support policies that enhance sanitation and hygiene standards.
- Example: UNICEF’s collaboration with the Indian government helped shape the Swachh Bharat Mission.
- Supporting Data-Driven Decision Making: NGOs assist in data collection and analysis, providing the evidence base for informed WASH interventions.
- Example: The Wash Institute collaborated with the Indian government on an urban sanitation study.
Path Forward for Effective WASH Interventions:
- Enhancing Community Outreach and Education: Engage ASHA workers and NGOs in ongoing WASH campaigns to drive grassroots behavioural change.
- Partnerships: Build partnerships between ASHA workers, NGOs, and policymakers to advocate for robust WASH policies, leveraging NGO expertise for policy recommendations.
- Scaling Successful Innovations: Use successful pilot projects as blueprints for expanding WASH programs, involving NGOs to ensure innovation and sustainability.
Conclusion:
Collaborative efforts between ASHA workers and NGOs can significantly reduce the WASH-related health burden in India, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 of preventing diseases and promoting better health and hygiene practices.
- Analyse the role of the “e-Courts Project” in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Indian legal system through digital modernisation. (150 words)
Introduction:
E-courts involve the digitisation of court processes, electronic case filings, online case management, and the creation of virtual courts, aiming to reduce India’s substantial backlog of nearly 5 crore pending cases. It was conceptualised in 2005. Currently third phase of the project is ongoing.
Body:
Challenges of the Indian Judiciary:
- Significant Backlog: Over 4.70 crore cases are pending across Indian courts, with more than 70,000 cases in the Supreme Court alone.
- Long Delays: 40% of pending cases have been unresolved for over five years, including 59 lakh cases in the 25 High Courts.
Role of E-Court Projects in Enhancing Judicial Efficiency:
- Digitisation of Records: E-courts facilitate the digitisation of case records, enabling easy access and retrieval, which saves time and effort compared to manual searches.
- Example: High Courts have set up Judicial Digital Repositories (JDRs) to manage and preserve digital records.
- Reducing Physical Appearances and Costs:
- Electronic filing allows for faster submission of documents, eliminating the need for physical court visits and reducing legal costs.
- Backlog Reduction:
- Automation of case management through e-courts helps in reducing the backlog by providing judges with comprehensive case status and enabling quicker scheduling of hearings.
- Faster Case Disposal Through Virtual Courts: Virtual courts expedite case disposal by allowing remote hearings, reducing dependency on physical infrastructure.
- Example: Phase-3 seeks to spruce up the digital infrastructure of courts by setting up 2500 new modern, virtual-friendly courts, establishment of 1150 virtual courts, and 4,400 eSewa kendrasin all court complexes.
- Promoting Transparency and Accountability:
- E-courts enhance transparency by allowing litigants to track case progress, thereby promoting accountability and minimising corruption or favouritism.
Challenges and Limitations of E-Courts:
- Digital Divide: Limited access to technology and low digital literacy among citizens can hinder the effective use of e-courts, creating disparities in access to justice.
- Example: only 38 percent of households in the country are digitally literate. Additionally, only 31 percent of the rural population uses the internet as compared to 67 percent of the urban population.
- Infrastructural Issues: Technical glitches and inadequate infrastructure can disrupt the smooth functioning of virtual courts, leading to delays.
- Resistance to Change: Some members of the legal community may resist adopting digital processes due to unfamiliarity or concerns about job security.
Conclusion:
The e-courts project has been instrumental in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s legal system, particularly in reducing case backlogs. It seeks to create a judicial system that is more affordable, accessible, cost-effective, predictable, reliable, and transparent for every individual who seeks justice or is part of the delivery of justice in India.
ETHICS
1Q. “Positive attitude is a driving factor in any work and it is a prime factor in civil service.” Discuss [10M, 150words]
Introduction:
Attitude refers to a person’s consistent way of thinking, feeling, and behaving towards particular situations or issues. In civil service, a positive attitude is crucial as it shapes how officials approach their duties and interact with the public.
Body:
Importance of positive attitude in civil service:
- Motivation and productivity: A positive attitude drives civil servants to perform their duties with enthusiasm, increasing productivity and efficiency.
E.g. Countering social orthodoxies.
- Resilience in adversity: It helps civil servants remain optimistic and resilient when facing challenges, enabling them to find solutions rather than being discouraged.
E.g. Implementation of SBM to resolve open defecation issue.
- Fostering public trust: A positive attitude encourages transparency and empathy, building trust between civil servants and the public.
E.g. Court compassion towards vulnerable through NALSA.
- Collaboration and teamwork: Civil servants with a positive outlook are more likely to collaborate effectively with colleagues, fostering a cooperative work environment.
E.g. PM GATI Shakti multi ministerial coordination.
- Ethical decision-making: A positive attitude is often aligned with ethical values, guiding civil servants to make decisions that serve the public good.
Limitations of positive attitude in bureaucracy:
- Overconfidence: Excessive positivity can lead to overconfidence, causing civil servants to overlook potential risks or challenges in decision-making.
E.g. Neglect of vulnerable people voice.
- Ignoring realities: A strong positive attitude might cause civil servants to ignore or downplay systemic issues, leading to unrealistic expectations or ineffective policies.
E.g. Red tape bureaucracy as in FRA.
- Resistance to criticism: Civil servants with an overly positive attitude may resist constructive criticism, hindering personal and institutional growth.
E.g. India rank 159th in Press freedom index.
- Stress and burnout: constantly maintaining a positive outlook can be emotionally draining, potentially leading to stress and burnout in high-pressure environments.
E.g. Quantitative failed target leads to stress.
- Unbalanced decision-making: Overemphasis on positivity can lead to a lack of critical analysis, resulting in decisions that are not thoroughly vetted.
Conclusion:
While a positive attitude is vital in civil service, it must be balanced with realism and critical thinking. Civil servants should cultivate a mind-set that combines optimism with a pragmatic approach, ensuring that decisions are both inspired and grounded in reality.
