MODEL ANSWERS:
1. There is a direct connection between the climate crisis and rising food insecurity across the globe. In this context, suggest adequate measures to deal with these burning issues simultaneously.
Introduction
In the past few decades, the nations have taken impressive strides to make the world free of hunger by 2030 and thus achieve the promises made under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has been made possible due to the strong cooperation and partnership between multiple stakeholders including the governments, citizens and the private sector.
Main Body
Interlinking food system & climate change: Changes in the climate patterns have an impact on all the components of the global food system, ranging from production to consumption. This leads to destruction of land and crops, killing of livestock, depletion of fisheries, and cutting off of the transport. This further has a domino effect on food production and access. Food systems also have a direct connection with climate change since studies have shown that the food sector
contributes close to 30% of the world’s greenhouse gases.
Current Scenario: While there has been appreciable progress, the agenda of putting an end to world hunger and malnutrition in all possible forms by 2030 seems to be increasingly difficult due to the climate change challenges. The Covid 19 pandemic has further worsened the situation and has led to doubling of population under chronic hunger to 270 million.
Vulnerable nations affected worst: Unfortunately, most of the vulnerable islands communities are some of the lowest emitters in the world as well. They rely majorly on fishing, and livestock which would be majorly impacted by climate change. For instance, the top 10 most food-insecure countries in the world are responsible for just 0.08% of global carbon emissions.
How to deal with these issues
Make the poor more resilient: The focus must be on resilience-building and adaption for poor and vulnerable communities, and developed nations must take the lead in financing these changes.
India’s role: India must transform the existing food systems in order to make them much more inclusive and sustainable. This, in turn, would also translate into improved farm incomes and nutrition security for the poorest sections of the society. Focus also need to be put on diversifying the cropping patterns with inclusion of more millets, oilseeds, pulses, horticulture,
etc.
Finance for Adaptation: The developed nations must follow up on the pledges they made to provide financial support for adaptation in developing countries.
Adopt a multi-faceted approach: A lot of thought has to be put on providing alternative livelihood options to the communities at danger.
Conclusion
Redesigning and reimagining food systems, especially the ones that have been followed for
centuries isn’t easy and thus we need to take climate change adaptation and mitigation into
consideration to give a push towards this forced, yet necessary change.
2. India’s window to take advantage of the demographic dividend is fast closing. In this context, how can we transform our elderly population into active participants in the Indian economy.
Introduction
Ageing population in any nation is a direct consequence of two factors – declining rate of reproduction and an increased life expectancy. As a result of these two factors, India is also facing an issue of an ageing population, albeit at a slow pace. This presents its own set of challenges that need new policies and approach to tackle these challenges.
Main Body
Roadblocks in the Upliftment of the Elderly
Ever evolving healthcare needs: Taking care of the elderly population has its own set of associated challenges. Especially the elderly who can’t afford costly private healthcare facilities are at the behest of the government to provide them such facilities. Thus, the government is striving to find a solution to this problem of providing high quality, yet affordable and accessible healthcare to the elderly.
India’s low HAQ Score: The 2016 version of the Healthcare Access and Quality Index ranked India at 145th position amongst the 195 nations considered. India lags behind the BRICS peers as per this index, which highlights the issues in India.
Social Issues: Elderly is India also have other challenges which are unique to the Indian society, including neglect from the family, lower levels of education which makes them more dependent on others, socio-cultural stigma and lack of trust on institutionalised health-care services.
Cocktail of Health, Economy and Unproductivity: All these factors work in tandem and worsen the situation of those who are already at the risk.
Possible way Forward
Government’s role: With only 3% of the GDP made a part of the healthcare budget, India spends a meagre amount on its public health care as compared to the other nations, which got exposed during the Covid19 pandemic. Thus, in the coming years, this spending needs to increase considerably. The government must also make favorable policies for the private sector to invest more in this area.
Health Related ‘Elderly-First’ Approach: Just like the government’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy, the other health programs of the government must also focus on seniors-first approach since they are the most vulnerable.
Socio-Economic Inclusion of Elderly: Many European nations depend on the youth working as volunteers to help and care for the elderly. Switzerland has a similar concept where youth can earn ‘time credit’ for helping the needy. A similar concept can also be implemented in India.
Emphasis on Elderly Women: Amongst the elderly population as well, the elderly women are more vulnerable as compared to their male counterparts. The policies of the government must also highlight the same and adopt a more accommodative approach towards the elderly women. Making them independent will go a long way in empowering them.
Conclusion
A nation’s development is not just measured by its economic numbers, but also by the way that is takes care of its elders, and those who are at a disadvantaged position. Thus, such policy measures should remain at the centre of the government’s focus.
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