Content:

1.   Silica scars

2.   Public health — insights from the 1896 Bombay Plague

3.   Building on the revival of the manufacturing sector

 Silica scars

Context : Silicosis and Mining Industry Growth

Relevance: GS 2 (Health)

Practice Question: Evaluate growing cases of silicosis among mining workers in India. Analyse the need of balancing growth ambitions and well-being for a developing country like India (250 Words)

• India is extracting more quantities of crucial minerals like silica inorder to achieve its growth ambitions.

• Silica (silicon dioxide) is a  component in sand and stone.

• Mine workers are at risk due to prolonged exposure to silica dust, leading to silicosis, a chronic lung disease.

Magnitude of the Problem:

• In 1999, over 8 million people were reported to be highly exposed to silica dust.

• The NGT’s directive to draft new guidelines for silica mining and set up health-care facilities highlights the issue’s seriousness.

Legal and Policy Framework:

• Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 requires mine employers to notify threats of silicosis and provides for annual health check-ups.

• Many operators fail to report to the Directorate General of Mines Safety, limiting the state’s ability to monitor and intervene.

• Health-care providers often misdiagnose silicosis as tuberculosis, missing early cases.

Role of the National Green Tribunal:

• The NGT directed health-care facilities in silica mining areas to improve early diagnosis and treatment, but these initiatives have not been fully realized.

Analysis of the Issue:

• Lack of Accountability and Passivity:

• Failure in Enforcement: Operators often do not comply with health reporting requirements, leading to inadequate state oversight.

• Data Gaps and Misdiagnosis: Silicosis is frequently misdiagnosed, which prevents accurate data collection and effective management of the disease.

Impact on Workers:

• Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment: Many workers do not seek help until the disease is advanced, partly due to job insecurity.

• Environmental and Health Justice: The neglect of silicosis reflects broader challenges in balancing economic growth with worker health and environmental protection.

Need for Proactive Measures:

• Specialized Health-Care Facilities: Establishing hospitals and clinics in mining areas can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

• Educational Campaigns: Raising awareness among workers about silicosis symptoms and risks can lead to earlier detection.

Public health — insights from the 1896 Bombay Plague

What is Plague?

• The plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

•  It historically caused devastating epidemics, such as the 1896 Bombay Plague, affecting millions due to poor public health infrastructure and limited medical knowledge at the time.

Relevance : GS 2( Health)

Practice Question: What are lessons for today from 1896 Bombay plague. Highlight importance of advance data collection in mitigating the issue. (250 Words)

• The Bombay Plague (1896–97) exposed the inadequacies of colonial public health infrastructure in India.

• The Indian Plague Commission was established in 1898 under T.R.Fraser to investigate the outbreak, focusing less on community health and more on order through surveillance and control.

Surveillance as a Tool for Control:

• Mapping was used to monitor movement through railways, inspection points, and police cordons.

• Maps emphasized where disease could spread rather than who was affected, suggesting control over the epidemic was about managing mobility.

• Surveillance infrastructure in the form of vibrant, detailed maps obscured the human impact and severity of the plague.

Role of Policing:

• Quarantine measures, inspections, and confinements were enforced by police rather than relying on community trust.

• Observation camps and military involvement in hospitals highlighted a reliance on forceful control to manage the spread of the plague.

Impact on Public Health Policy:

• The integration of policing into health management defined disease surveillance, reinforcing a coercive response.

• Over time, medical professionals took on some responsibilities, shifting the focus from force to medical oversight, but historical precedents influenced ongoing policy and practice.

Ethical Considerations:

• Historical public health responses prioritized control over community well-being, often at the expense of individual rights and human dignity.

• The past invites more humane, participatory approaches to public health, ensuring transparency and respect for rights.

• The legacy of oppressive frameworks in public health surveillance reminds us to balance effective oversight with ethical obligations.

Relevance to Contemporary Public Health Strategies:

• Lessons from the Bombay Plague highlight the importance of framing health crises in ways that affirm human dignity.

• Modern surveillance mechanisms must serve the collective good, avoiding the reintroduction of past inequities and hierarchies.

• The integration of advanced data collection methods should be done with caution, ensuring privacy, trust, and fair resource distribution.

Building on the revival of the manufacturing sector

Context: India is progressing toward becoming a global manufacturing hub, driven by strategic policy measures like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Relevance:GS 3(Economy)

Practice Question: Discuss the role of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in reviving India’s manufacturing sector.Suggest key challenges and measures.(250 Words)

Performance and Impact of the PLI Scheme

• Sectoral Boost: Benefited industries such as mobile manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and automobiles.

• Positive Outcomes: Manufacturing output grew by 21.5%, and GVA increased by 7.3% in 2022-23, as per the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).

• Major Contributors: Basic metals, petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, and food products accounted for 58% of manufacturing output, growing collectively by 24.5%.

Challenges Highlighted in ASI Data

• Input Costs: Input prices surged by 24.4% in 2022-23, leading to a disparity between manufacturing output growth (21.5%) and GVA growth (7.3%).

• Import Dependency: High dependence on imported inputs affects value addition and increases vulnerability to global disruptions.

Strategies for Future Growth

• Expanding PLI Scope: Extend incentives to labour-intensive industries (e.g., apparel, leather, footwear) and sunrise sectors (e.g., aerospace, space technology, capital goods).

• Green Manufacturing: Encourage eco-friendly production and R&D in advanced technologies.

• Simplified Tariffs: Implement a three-tier import tariff system to lower input costs and improve global value chain integration.

Regional Imbalances in Manufacturing

• Geographic Concentration: States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh dominate manufacturing GVA and employment, creating regional disparities.

• Need for Equitable Growth: States should reform land, labour, and power markets, invest in infrastructure, and attract investments for balanced development.

Focus on MSMEs and Women

• MSMEs: Contribute 45% of India’s manufacturing GDP and employ 60 million people. Tailored PLI incentives (lower thresholds and targets) can empower MSMEs to scale up and innovate.

• Women’s Participation: Increasing female workforce participation could raise manufacturing output by 9%, as estimated by the World Bank. Supportive infrastructure near factories can facilitate this.

Vision for 2047

• Sectoral Contribution: Manufacturing’s GVA share could rise from 17% to 27% by 2047 with sustained efforts and reforms.

• Key Drivers: Ease of doing business, cost reductions, and leveraging current policy measures will be critical to unlocking India’s manufacturing potential