Tragedy on tracks (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Governance
Prelims level: Social safety net
Mains level: Functions and responsibilities both centre and states

Context:

• Sixteen more names were added on Friday to the lengthening toll — of migrants run over by a freight train in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, after they, in exhaustion, fell asleep on the tracks, on the way to their homes.
• The livelihoods of these workers had dried up after the iron factory in Jalna, which employed them, had pulled down its shutters because of the lockdown. The workers were trekking to Bhusawal, about 150-km away, to catch a Shramik Special train to return to their homes in Madhya Pradesh.

Social safety net:

• The social safety net (SSN) consists of non-contributory assistance existing to improve lives of vulnerable families and individuals experiencing poverty and destitution.
• Examples of SSNs are non-contributory social pensions, in-kind and food transfers, conditional and unconditional cash transfers, fee waivers, public works, and school feeding programs.

Wheels of the country’s economy:

• There is little doubt that the migrant workers are essential and indispensable for the wheels of the country’s economy to turn. They help run factories, build roads and houses, harvest crops, collect garbage and pull rickshaws.
• But it’s a measure of....................................

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Conclusion:

• The public health challenge posed by the novel coronavirus has led to some meaningful conversations on improving the country’s healthcare facilities. It should also occasion discussions on putting in place social security nets for the migrant workers.
• After the pandemic, these workers cannot go back to the ill-lit shadows of the economy that they have been forced to occupy for so long.

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q1. With reference to the cobra, consider the following statements:
1. Cobra is one of the four venomous snakes that accounts for most of the snakebite deaths in India.
2. The cobra venom is neurotoxic.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Mains Questions:
Q1. Aurangabad incident must draw attention to .....................................................?

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