1. ISRO's SSLV-D3 Launch of EOS-08 Satellite
CONTEXT: ISRO’s SSLV-D3 Launch of EOS-08 Satellite on August 16, 2024,
- Launch Vehicle: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D3)
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota
- Objective: The SSLV-D3 successfully placed the EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite into a 475-km circular orbit.
Satellite Specifications
- Bus: Built on ISRO’s Microsat/IMS-1 bus
- Mission Life: 1 year
- Orbit: Circular Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 475 km altitude
Technological Developments
- Integrated Avionics System: Includes Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package.
- Structural Enhancements: Structural panel with embedded PCB, embedded battery.
- Antenna Systems: Micro-DGA (Dual Gimbal Antenna), M-PAA (Phased Array Antenna).
- Power and Sensing: Flexible solar panel, Nano star sensor.
Payloads
- Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR):
- Purpose: Imaging in Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) bands.
- Applications: Satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity, industrial and power plant disaster.
- Global Navigation Satellite System – Reflectometry (GNSS-R) Payload:
- Purpose: Demonstrates GNSS-R-based remote sensing.
- Applications: Ocean surface winds, soil moisture, cryosphere applications, flood detection, in-land water body detection, especially over the Himalayan region.
- SiC UV Dosimeter (LEOS):
- Purpose: Measurement of UV radiation.
Mission Impact
- Technological Advancements: The EOS-08 satellite incorporates several new technologies, enhancing capabilities in Earth observation and remote sensing.
Scientific Contribution: Provides critical data for various applications including environmental and disaster monitoring, as well as detailed observations of Earth’s surface and atmospheric conditions.
2. Snapshot of Migration in India
Data Overview
- Survey: National Sample Survey Office’s 78th Round (2020-21)
- Sample Size: Over 11.63 lakh respondents
- Focus: Intra and inter-State migration patterns and reasons
Detailed Migration Data
Analysis
- Key Migration Flows: The significant migration flow from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra highlights economic opportunities and employment prospects as driving factors.
- Economic Migration: Represents a substantial proportion (22%) of the reasons for migration, with Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra being a notable trend.
- Marriage Migration: Predominates as the main reason for migration (68.2%), reflecting traditional patterns and family dynamics.
This comprehensive overview provides insights into the migration patterns across India, highlighting key trends and significant flows in both economic and social contexts
3. Kerala's Dependence on Migrant Workers
Key Issues
- Legislative Challenges
- Karnataka’s Local Employment Bill: The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, proposes reserving jobs for locals in the private sector.
However, similar legislation is considered impractical and counterproductive in Kerala due to strong opposition and the potential negative impact on the State’s economy.
- Hostility and Integration
- Local Sentiment: While some local manual laborers oppose job reservations for locals on ethical and constitutional grounds, migrant workers often face hostility from the local workforce.
- Migrant Experience: Rajendar Naik, a plywood industry worker, reports local hostility towards migrants. George Mathew from the Progressive Workers’ Organisation highlights that migrants are often seen as an underclass, and any move to remove them would face government resistance due to their essential role in the economy.
- Economic Dependence
- Workforce Statistics: A report by the Kerala State Planning Board in 2022 noted that there were 31 lakh migrant workers in Kerala in 2017-18, with 21 lakh being temporary. Migrants constitute about 26.3% of Kerala’s workforce, playing a critical role in sectors like construction, fishing, plywood, and hospitality.
- Economic Reliance: Benoy Peter of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development asserts that Kerala relies heavily on migrant workers, more than they rely on the state. A shift in migrant worker trends could lead to significant economic disruptions.
- Labour Market Dynamics
- Unskilled and Semi-skilled Jobs: Kerala faces a gap in the availability of workers for unskilled and semi-skilled jobs. Local workers often prefer higher-skilled or less labor-intensive jobs, leading to a reliance on migrant labor.
- Minimum Wages and Benefits: Migrant workers in Kerala receive minimum wages higher than in their home states and benefit from health insurance and educational programs for their children. However, there are issues with the implementation of minimum wage notifications and legal challenges affecting their enforcement.
- Living Conditions and Welfare
- Living Standards: Despite some provisions for migrant workers, issues remain regarding their living conditions. Supriya Debnath, a migrant worker, highlights the poor conditions faced by some workers, including incidents like a migrant living in a dog kennel.
- Government Initiatives: Kerala has introduced measures like health insurance and educational programs for the children of migrant workers, but challenges persist in providing dignified living conditions.
Summary of Findings
- Dependence on Migrant Workers: Kerala’s economy is deeply intertwined with migrant labor, particularly in sectors requiring unskilled or semi-skilled workers. This dependence makes it impractical to implement job reservation policies for locals without risking economic harm.
- Social Dynamics: There is a complex social dynamic where migrant workers face both necessary economic integration and social hostility. Efforts to address these issues must balance economic needs with the welfare and dignity of migrant workers.
Policy and Implementation Issues: Legal and administrative challenges, including the enforcement of minimum wage laws, affect the working conditions and benefits provided to migrant workers.
