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Daily News Simplified - DNS

14 04 20Notes

SL. NO. TOPICS

THE HINDUPAGE NO.

1 MGNREGA jobs crash to 1% of normal 01

2 Centre may raise loan to pay GST dues to States 01

3 Sacking by subterfuge – Editorial 06

4 Ambedkar and the Poona Pact – Article 07

Dated: 14-April-2020 DNS Notes

Title 1. MGNREGA jobs crash to 1% of normal (The Hindu – Pg. 01)Syllabus Prelims: Economy, Social Welfare

Mains: GS Paper III - Economy, Social WelfareTheme Petition in SC to pay full MGNREGA wagesHighlights

Activists petitioned the Supreme Court demanding that the government pay full wages to all active job card holders during this time, following its own instructions issued to other employers.Employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has collapsed to just over 1% of the usual rate this month due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Employment in April - 1.9 lakh Employment in March – 1.6 crore Employment in February -1.8 crore

The crash in employment rates under the scheme is despite the fact that migrant workers returning to villages should have increased demand in rural areas.States were asked to continue implementing the scheme while following social distancing guidelines.MGNREGA daily wages increased by Rs 20 under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana relief package. This relief is meaningless at a time when most States have closed down MGNREGA worksites to curb the spread of COVID-19.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is a demand-driven social security measure that provides a minimum of 100 days of unskilled work per household in a financial year.It is hailed as world’s largest anti-poverty program.Backbone of the rural economy in difficult times

According to the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census, around 40% of rural households are landless and depend on manual labour.

Overall, 7.6 crore families hold active job cards under the scheme.5.5 crore families found work under the scheme last year.

It is an average daily wage of Rs 209. Areas with low consumption expenditure have higher MGNREGS demand as

compared to areas with higher consumption expenditure. Women, SC and ST workforce increased under MGNREGS during times of

economic distress.

Paradigm shift with the implementation of MGNREGA Rights-based –‘right to work’ as a justiciable right. Demand driven - resource transfer from Centre to States is based on the

demand for employment in each State. Self-targeting - overcomes the problem of targeting. Unemployment allowance - when work is not provided within 15 days of

demand. Bottom-up - nature and choice of works are to be decided in Gram Sabha. With GPs implementing 50 per cent of the works in terms of cost, it empowers

grassroots democratic institutions. Transparency and Accountability

o Social audito Ombudsmano Proactive disclosure on web portal

Performance of NREGS


There is evidence to suggest that MGNREGA has contributed to – Increased rural wages – The average wage per person-day has gone up by

81 per cent since the Scheme’s inception, with state-level variations. Decent work – Creches facility, shade etc Reduced distress migration - On an average, 5 crore households have

been provided employment every year since 2008. Successful in its targeting – as the scheme is self-targeting Risk mitigation mechanism – non-normative rainfall during the agricultural

season leads to higher overall participation in NREGS Agriculture

o Usage of barren areas for cultivationo creation of assets on lands of small and marginal farmerso Aided small and marginal farmers in moving to dual and multi-

cropping.o MGNREGS has contributed to improved or sustained groundwater

levels, increased water availability for irrigation, increased irrigated area and finally, improved drinking water availability for humans and livestock.

Empowerment of the weaker sections - As per a NSSO reporto Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) have accounted for 51

per cent of the total person-days generated.o Women for 47 per cent, well above the mandatory 33 per cent as required

by the Act.o FRA beneficiaries are entitled to 150 days of employment. In states like

Rajasthan, communities like the Sahriyas have been given an entitlement of 200 days

Financial inclusion - Payments under the scheme are by way of Direct Benefit Transfers.

Human Development Indicator –o Improvement in food security and nutrition.o Availability and work by adult household members in MGNREGS

inversely affects child labour and positively impacts children’s schooling.

Suggestions for improvement of design of MGNREGA Expanded definition of ‘work’ – eg: de-silting of canals and water bodies,

sanitation (Tamil Nadu model). Up-skilling the MGNREGS Workers - convergence with Deen Dayal

Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), involvement of SHGs. Micro financial benefits – like micro credit, micro insurance, using the JAM

trinity. Making gram sabha the focal point of the program (Meghalaya model) Institutionalizing social audit (Andhra and Telangana model) Performance audit of MGNREGA by CAG Grievance redressal– Allowing all stakeholders to lodge complaint against

erring officials Number of person-days can be increased in drought affected areas.

Case StudyTamil Nadu - Institutionalizing convergence systems in the state

Tamil Nadu has institutionalized an approach of resource convergence by


inter-weaving MGNREGA with other public works programmes. The prime objective behind this approach is to create assets which can ensure

livelihood security to the beneficiaries and to help in the regeneration of the natural resource base of the rural economy concerned.

The state has successfully implemented MGNREGA in collaboration with the departments of Agriculture, fisheries, horticulture and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).

Personal Notes

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Title 2. Centre may raise loan to pay GST dues to States (The Hindu Pg. No. 01)Syllabus Prelims: Economy, Social Welfare

Mains: GS Paper III - Economy, Social WelfareTheme Failure of Central Government to transfer GST Revenue to statesHighlights

Context:The economic slowdown in the recent times accompanied by outbreak of COVID-19


has led to the fall in the collection of the GST revenue including the GST Compensation cess. Hence, the Central Government has failed to transfer the pending compensation payments to the states for several months.In this regard, the Central Government has recently highlighted that it may resort to market borrowings to compensate the states for their revenue loss.

UNDERSTANDING THE GST COMPENSATION MECHANISM The introduction of the GST was a major tax reform aimed at simplifying and

rationalizing the indirect tax regime in India. It subsumed a number of central and state indirect taxes such as Excise Duty, Service tax, Central Sales Tax, VAT/ Sales Tax, Octroi duty etc.

Some of the states had apprehension that introduction of the GST would lead to fall in their revenue. Hence, in order to allay the fears of the states, the Central Government promised for compensating the states for the losses in their revenuethrough the imposition of GST Compensation cess.

Compensation cess is levied on luxury and sin goods, and the proceeds are used to compensate states for any loss they incur within the first five years of GST implementation.

According to the GST Act, States and UTs with Assemblies are guaranteed compensation if the GST revenue growth is less than 14 per cent. The amount is paid bi-monthly.

SHORTFALL IN THE GST COMPENSATION AMOUNT

As the above figure shows, the states’ average compensation requirement has shot up from Rs 6,600 crore/month in 2018-19 to Rs 17,000 crore/month in the April-October period in 2019-20. However, the GST compensation cess collection has remained stagnant at around 8,100-crore/month.

For the year 2019-20, the Centre has paid the compensation to the states only till November 2019. It is yet to pay for the next 2 months i.e. December and January 2019 and beyond. Further, since there was shortfall in the GST compensation amount, the Central Government has utilised the surplus cess collected in the previous years to compensate the states.

It is to be noted that Central Government cannot dip into Consolidated fund of India if the proceeds from the cess turn out to be insufficient. Hence, the Government is mulling to borrow money from the market to pay the compensation amount to the states.


About GST CouncilThe GST Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax. The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.Every decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council shall be taken by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting, in accordance with the following principles, namely:

The vote of the Central Government shall have a weightage of one third of the total votes cast, and

The votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast.

Personal Notes

Title 3. Sacking by subterfuge - Editorial (Page number 06)Syllabus Prelims: Polity & Governance

Mains: GS Paper II - Polity & GovernanceTheme Using ordinance route to tweak tenure of the State Election CommissionerHighlights

The NewsThe Supreme Court has sought response from the AP government on petition filed by the former State Election Commissioner questioning the state government’s ordinance that tweaked the tenure of the State Election Commissioner and the eligibility conditions for his/her appointment.Context: What is the controversy all about?

Recently the Andhra Pradesh government had passed an ordinance making the following changes

1. To cut the SEC’s tenure from five to three years and


2. To amend the eligibility criterion for appointment of SEC (from being an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary and above to one who had served as a High Court judge)

In effect the above changes resulted in termination of the then SEC and appointment of a new SEC who was a retired judge of Madras High Court.

The legality of the ordinance was challenged in the apex court by the then SEC through a petition on the ground that it had violated the constitutional principle of independence of Election Commission.

State Election Commission The State Election Commission in India was established under 73rd

Amendment vide Article 243K to conduct elections for local governments in India like Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipalities.

The following provisions under Article 243 K ensures independence of State Election Commission are1. Removal Procedure: Though the SEC is appointed by the governor of the respective state, he/she can be removed by the President only in the manner a judge of a high court is removed which is constitutionally prescribed.2. Conditions of service cannot be varied: Though the conditions of service is determined by the governor with aid and advice of political executive, it cannot be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment

Now by changing the eligibility conditions for appointment and reduction of tenure the AP government is seen to have changed the conditions of service albeit not directly, who has proven to be disadvantageous to the State Election Commissioner.

Independence of Election Commission in generalIn pursuit of the objective of free and fair conduct of elections in the world’s largest democracy the constitution envisages Election Commission as an impartial and independent constitutional authority through the following provisions1. Security of Tenure

6 years or 65 whichever is earlier Please note the tenure of state election commissioner on the other hand is

determined by the governor2. Removal Procedure

Can be removed by president only in the manner like that of a Supreme Court Judge

3. Conditions of Service Cannot be varied to his/her disadvantage

Debate around Independence of Election Commission There is a protracted debate in India on the independence of Election

Commission mainly on account of his/her appointment procedure. The CEC and ECs in India are appointed by President in accordance with the

aid and advice of the CoM, in effect the political executive. This has invigorated debates around independence of the Election

Commission as the appointment procedure has a bearing on the decisions of the ECs tilting towards the ruling political party.

Accordingly a number of have recommended alternative systems of appointment to ensure the independence of EC in India.

Dinesh Goswami Committee: Appointment should be made by the President in consultation with Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition

Law Commission in its 255th report of 2015: Collegium System for appointment of ECs like Judges like


Personal Notes

Title 4. Ambedkar and the Poona Pact – Article (The Hindu Pg. No. 7)Syllabus Prelims: History & Culture

Mains; GS Paper II - History & CultureTheme About B.R. AmbedkarHighlights 1. On January 1, 1927 Dr. Ambedkar organised a ceremony at the Koregaon

Victory Memorial, which commemorated the Indian soldiers who had died in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, during the Battle of Koregaon. Here he inscribed the names of the soldiers from the Mahar community on a marble tablet.

2. Mahad Satyagraha took place in 1927 in Mahad, Raigadh district of present day Maharashtra. It was an anti-Brahmin movement led by B.R. Ambedkar.The Untouchables were not allowed to use water from common water sources like tanks. During the satyagraha, the Untouchables exercised their right to draw water from the Chavdar Tank. B.R. Ambedkar himself ceremonially took a drink of water from the tank, after which local caste Hindus rioted, and Brahmins took elaborate measure for the ritual purification of the tank.

3. The First Round Table Conference was convened in London on November 12, 1930. The depressed classes were represented by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and


Rao Bahadur Srinivasan. He participated in all three round-table conferences.

4. Poona Pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes on September 24, 1932.

5. In July 1942, Ambedkar was appointed the member of Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member. He resigned from this post in May 1946.

6. Ambedkar was opposed to the strike by civil servants. For him strike is nothing more than a breach of contract of service. It is only a civil wrong not a crime.

7. Newspapers started by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Mooknayak (literally translates to the leader of voiceless) was his

first Newspaper. Bahiskrit Bharat (Excluded India), later rechristened Janata (The

People). Prabudhha Bharat (An Awakened India – 1956).

8. Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha was the first organization formed by Dr. Ambedkar in 1924.

9. Dr. Ambedkar formed the Independent Labour Party (ILP) in August, 1936, which participated in the provincial elections of Bombay and won 13 seats out of 15 seats reserved for scheduled castes. Independent Labour Party was transformed by Ambedkar as the All India Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942. It was a political party which participated in the general elections of 1946 but was completely defeated.After his death, his political party Scheduled Caste Federation was renamed as Republican Party of India in 1957 by his followers.

10. Some of his famous books include – The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become

Untouchables Buddha and His Dhamma; ‘The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women‘ Emancipation of Untouchables The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India Pakistan or Partition of India Thoughts on Linguistic States

11. DR. Ambedkar was appointed as the first Law Minister of Independent India, but he resigned from the Cabinet on September 1951 due to differences with Pt. Nehru on the Hindu Code Bill.

12. Dr. Ambedkar was elected as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

13. D. Ambedkar was defeated in the election to the Lok Sabha in 1952. However, he was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in March 1952. In May 1954, he again contested in the by-election to Lok Sabha but was defeated again. He realised that a party which has no base in rural areas has no future.

14. Ambedkar considered the Right to Constitutional Remedy as the Soul of the Constitution and Union of India as “indestructible union of destructible states”.

15. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism on October 14, 1956. He died on December 6, 1956 at Delhi due to severe diabetic neurosis.

Poona Pact The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister, Ramsay


MacDonald, on August 16, 1932. Award established separate electorates and reserved seats for

minorities and the depressed classes. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had a viewpoint that the depressed classes should be

treated as a distinct, independent minority separate from the Hindus. While strongly disagreeing with the Communal Award, the Congress

decided neither to accept it nor to reject it. Mahatma Gandhi saw the Communal Award as an attack on Indian unity and

nationalism. He thought it was harmful to both Hinduism and to the depressed classes.

Mahatma Gandhi demanded that the depressed classes be elected through joint and if possible a wider electorate through the universal franchise, he went on an indefinite fast on September 20, 1932.

An agreement was reached between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. The agreement was signed by Pt Madan Mohan Malviya and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and some Dalit leadersat Yerwada Central Jail in Pune.

The Poona Pacto It abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed

classes.o But the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from

71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.

o The Poona Pact was accepted by the government as an amendment to the Communal Award.

Personal Notes

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