Attacks, Productivity and Rights

Agriculture & Climate Change + Iran & US

Hello

In this week’s newsletter, we are talking about Naxal attacks in India, agricultural productivity, forest fires and the US-Iran Nuclear Deal.

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Naxal Attacks: The present and the past

Recently in Chhattisgarh, a Naxal attack was reported, in which 22 soldiers were killed and 31 were injured in a four-hour terror encounter.

 Why are we talking about this?

 Naxal attacks are not new 12,000 people have lost their lives in this violence in the last two decades, including 2,700 security force personnel. Naxals target locals, police and government workers to fight for improved land rights and jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor.

(Source: DNA, Economic Times, The Print)

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Agricultural Productivity

A team of researchers from Cornell University developed an all-encompassing econometric model. They linked year-to-year changes in agricultural productivity and weather measures with output from almost 200 systematic variations of the climate models and the results were consistent. This study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Source: Nature

Some interesting yet concerning observations have come to light:

1. Due to Climate change, the farming productivity has gone down by 21 %. 

2. As per the researchers, this is equivalent to losing 7 years of farm productivity since the 1960s.

3. Researchers think that the primary reason for this could be changing weather conditions, which includes increased flooding and drought in different regions. 

(Source: Business Standard, Indiatimes, Tribuneindia)

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Children of Women Prisoners in India

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development presented a report of the challenges faced by children of women prisoners in Indian jails.

Example- the inaccessibility of education. 

The findings in the report showed that : 

1. 6% of children interviewed had no means of schooling.

2. 9% studied under the National Institute of Open Schooling. 

3. Moreover, children who needed special care did not have access to special schools or institutions which could support them. 

The respondents shared that visits from their children were never consistent, 13% said they had never met their children while in prison. 

Supreme Court guidelines say that children can meet their mothers at least once a week. However, in reality, respondents said that visits from their children were less, 13% said they had never met their children while in prison. 

(Source: The Swaddle, Indian Kanoon)

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Forest Fires

Uttarakhand, the state which is prone to frequent disasters, had an incident of a forest fire. In past years, there have been reports of 75 incidents of forest fires, 50 in forest reserves and 25 in civil or van panchayats. It has affected 105.85 hectares of forest land of the state. 

Source: Logical Indian

According to experts, three factors cause the spread of forest fire — fuel load, oxygen and temperature

Preventive Measures: Waterholes can be developed across the mountains to recharge groundwater and maintain moisture in the soil.

(Source: Indian Express, The Hindu)

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The Nuclear Deal: US and Iran

The US and Iran have a past of negotiations, treaties and distrust. From the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran to the constant threats by Iranian leaders against Israel. Along with actions and development of nuclear weapons by Iran, has kept the US on its toes. 

In July 2015, Iran and six other countries signed an agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the agreement, there are clauses on Uranium stockpile and advanced centrifuge research and development. However, the USA under Donald Trump stepped out of the agreement, which led to a lack of checks and balances on Iran’s actions

Source: Council of Foreign Relations

Currently, Joe Biden wants to return to the former agreement. Conditions presented by Iran: 

1. Since, it was the US that first violated the deal, so Washington has to take the first step by lifting sanctions.

2. Since Iran’s elections are nearby it may take time to reflect on the deal as the state doesn’t take such big decisions when the elections are near.

(Source: BBC, CNN, AP News)

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What else is happening?

1. As per a study published by The Lancet Psychiatry, 1 in 3 covid survivors has shown neurological and mental health disorders. 

2. The Government is vaccinating people at a rate of 2.6 million doses according to Bloomberg Tracker. At this rate, it will take India 2.4 years to vaccinate 75% of its population according to Dr Anthony Fauci, the American physician-scientist and immunologist.

3. As the vaccination process gains momentum, the International Monetary Fund plans to upgrade its global growth forecast. 

4. As per an analysis by Oxfam, women spend 351.9 minutes on unpaid labour and men spend 52 minutes. Women’s unpaid labour is worth $10.9 trillion.

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   Written by: Meemansa Narula