Dec 12th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. The Case of Malaria - World Malaria Report (2024)

CONTEXT: The World Health Organisation (WHO) South East Asia Region contributes about 1.5% of the burden of malaria cases globally and India accounted for about half of all estimated cases in 2023, followed by Indonesia, which carried just under one-third.

Estimated malaria deaths in the region fell by 82.9%, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023. Together, India and Indonesia accounted for about 88% of malaria deaths in the region.
This is according to the WHO’s latest World Malaria Report (2024) released on Wednesday.
The report notes that since 2000, the WHO South-East Asia Region has made remarkable progress against malaria and estimated malaria cases in the region fell from 22.8 million in 2000 to 4 million in 2023-a reduction of 82.4%.
“In the period 2022-2023, four countries achieved reductions in their malaria caseload-Bangladesh (-9.2%), India (-9.6%), Indonesia (-5.7%) and Nepal (- 58.3%). Meanwhile, three countries saw case increases-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (+47.9%), Thailand (+46.4%) and Myanmar (45.1%).
In 2023, both Timor-Leste and Bhutan reported zero indigenous cases of malaria. A reduction in case incidence of 87% was achieved between 2000 and 2023, from 17.7 to 2.3 per 1000 population at risk.
“These gains have been largely attributed to progress in India, which saw 17.7 million fewer estimated cases and a 93% decrease in case incidence since 2000,” the report said.
Meanwhile, new data from the WHO revealed that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000, but the disease. Remains a serious global health threat, particularly in the WHO African Region. According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 5,97,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023. This represents about 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths.
Meanwhile, as of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory had been certified malaria-free by WHO.

Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites.
There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species-P. Falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
Malaria is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
The mosquito becomes infected after biting an infected person. The malaria parasites then enter the bloodstream of the next person the mosquito bites. The parasites travel to the liver, mature, and then infect red blood cells.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of malaria usually begin within 10-15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.
Fever, headache and chills are typically experienced, though these symptoms may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria.
In malaria endemic areas, people who have developed partial immunity may become infected but experience no symptoms.

Prevention: Vector control interventions: Vector control is the main approach to prevent malaria and reduce transmission.

Treatment:

It is preventable and curable.

Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths, and also contributes to reducing transmission.

2. Manual scavenging

CONTEXT: The Supreme Court on Wednesday vowed to go to “any extent possible” to ensure that manual scavenging and hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks are wiped out, saying the issue dealt with the question of human dignity.

The Supreme Court was referring to its October 20, 2023 judgment in which it had issued directions to the Union and State governments to take measures to eradicate manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning across the country.

The court had noted that these “inhuman” occupations continue, often with fatal results when workers die of asphyxia, the state of being unable to breathe, which causes somebody to die or to become unconscious

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.

It covered only dry latrines and the definition of manual scavenging was restricted to a person employed for manually carrying human excreta. Also, there was no stress laid upon the rehabilitation of these workers and the lenient penal punishment could not create deterrence in society.

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act 2013 replaced the Act of 1993.

Unlike the previous act, which was drafted with cleanliness in mind, the current legislation emphasises the human dignity, rights and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India (2014): The SC highlighted the importance of rehabilitation, to prevent present as well as future generations from working as a manual scavenger.

Salient Features of the PEMSR Act 2013:

It bans manual scavenging and widened the definition of manual scavengers-to include all forms of manual removal of human excreta like an open drain, pit latrine, septic tanks, manholes and removal of excreta on the railway tracks.
It calls for a survey of manual scavenging in urban and rural areas and the conversion of insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines.
It makes it obligatory for employers to provide protective tools to the workers.
It lays key focus on rehabilitating the manual scavengers by providing them with ready-built houses, financial assistance and loans for taking up alternate occupation on a sustainable basis.
The offence of manual scavenging has been made cognizable and non-bailable.

Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS): It was revised in 2013, with the:

Provision of One Time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- to one identified manual scavenger in the family.

Capital subsidy upto Rs. 3.25 lakh to identified manual scavengers and their dependents for self-employment projects upto Rs. 10.00 lakh.

Skill Development Training upto two years to identified manual scavengers and their dependents with stipend @ Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period.

NAMASTE scheme: The National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme was launched in 202223 for 100% mechanisation of sewer work by 2025-26. The SRMS has now been merged with the NAMASTE scheme.

The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), focusing on eliminating manual scavenging and promoting sanitation worker safety.
NAMASTE, with an outlay of Rs. 349.70 crore, aims to cover all 4800+ ULBS by 2025-26, replacing the earlier Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).

As per the new modified scheme, profiling of Sewer/Septic Tanks Workers (SSWS) engaged by ULB would be undertaken.

3. Social Dialogue Report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)

CONTEXT

The Social Dialogue Report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), released in Geneva on Wednesday, has recommended the governments to uphold fundamental principles and rights at work, especially freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.

The report, focusing on ‘peak-level social dialogue’ (PLSD), also asked the member countries to equip labour administrations and social partners with the necessary resources and technical capacities for effective participation in PLSD.

It found that countries’ compliance with freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining had deteriorated by 7% between 2015 and 2022. “This decline was driven by an increase in violations of the fundamental civil liberties and bargaining rights of employers, workers, and their representative organisations,” the report said.

International Labour Organization (ILO):

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) dedicated to improving labourconditions and living standards throughout the world.

History:

It was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice.

In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the newly formed UN.

HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.

It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDP), a coalition of UN organization aimed at helping meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Members: The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands.

Structure: It is the only tripartite U.N. agency that brings together governments, employers and workers’ representatives of 187-member States.

4. Rising Corporate Profits vs. Stagnant Wages: The Impact on Demand and Economic Recovery

Key Issues:

Corporate Profit Surge vs. Wage Stagnation:
- Corporate profits reached a 15-year high in March 2024, with profitability rising to 4.8% of GDP, quadrupling in the past four years.
- However, wages have shown minimal growth, with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) across key sectors between 2019 and 2023 ranging from 0.8% (engineering, manufacturing, process, and infrastructure – EMPI) to 5.4% (fast-moving consumer goods – FMCG).
- Staff costs in listed companies have been decreasing, with sharper declines when managerial compensation is excluded.
Inflation and Real Income:
- Inflation, averaging between 4.8% and 6.7% annually from 2019-20 to 2023-24, has further eroded real income growth.
- Stagnant or declining real wages contribute to weakened purchasing power, impacting demand in the economy.

Sectoral Wage Growth Trends:
- Lowest CAGR: EMPI sector (0.8% growth).
- Highest CAGR: FMCG sector (5.4% growth).
- In 2023, average wages ranged from ₹19,023 in FMCG to ₹49,076 in IT, highlighting disparities in absolute earnings.
Impact on Demand and Recovery:
- Low wage growth has been cited as a factor in subdued consumption, particularly in urban areas.
- Post-COVID recovery, fueled initially by pent-up demand, has slowed as wage stagnation hampers broader economic recovery.
Concerns Raised by Economists:
- Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran flagged this wage-profit imbalance as “self-destructive,” suggesting that inadequate worker compensation undermines demand for corporate products.
- He stressed the need for a better balance between profits and wages to sustain economic demand and growth.
Structural Challenges:
- Analysts highlight that labor market dynamics, with surplus labor and limited bargaining power, contribute to slow wage growth.

The pandemic has exacerbated inequality and set the economy back by an estimated one year relative to pre-pandemic growth trajectories.

5. Nepal in news

6. Impeachment of Judges - Infographic

CONTEXT: The Opposition has started efforts to move an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav for his controversial statements at a recent Vishwa Hindu Parishad event.

Independent MP and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal has initiated the work to submit separate notices to both Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to impeach Justice Yadav.

The notice needs the endorsement of 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha to be considered by the Chairman or 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha to be taken up as an impeachment motion in the Lok Sabha.