What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: Why Punjab keeps flooding

Context:

Recently Punjab faced its worst flood. The state government has declared all its 13 districts as flood-hit. Punjab is flooded in rainy season due to its geography. It is considered as the land of five rivers which are flooded in monsoon. Also, the human factors contribute to these floods making the situation worst.

Floods are caused by Rivers flowing beyond their carrying capacity:

• Three perennial Indus water tributaries flow through Punjab- Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Also, Ghaggar River and several small tributaries and hill streams, locally known as choes,flows through the state.
• These rivers carry and deposit the alluvium they carry on their river banks. This makes Punjab alluvium rich and agriculturally one of the most fertile places in India. Punjab now produces nearly 20% of the India’s whet and 12% of its rice production. It accounts for merely 1.5% of its geographical area.
• However, Punjab also faces the flood-like situation due to these rivers. Rivers are swollen due to rainfall in Punjab and upper catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Ann elaborate system of earth embankments, locally known as Dhussi bandhs, forms the first line of defense against the flooding. However, they are often overwhelmed by these floods.
• This year heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have lead to Beas swelling greatly. Ravi was also swollen due to rainfall in Himachal and J&K. This caused the collapse of Madhopur Barrage. As a result, many parts of Punjab were inundated due to heavy low in Ravi.
• The incessant rain in Punjab’s Malwa region has caused water logging in many districts of Punjab.
• According to IMD, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and J&K have all recorded more than 45% excess rainfall (above the normal rainfall).

Dams and their Management Boards make the flood situation worst:

• Three dams located upstream on the perennial rivers of Punjab play a significant role in controlling the river’s flow downstream.
• The Bhakra Nangal Damsituated on Sutlej is located in Bilaspur district and Pong Dam on the Beas River is located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Both are operated by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). BBMB is a statutory body constituted under Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966.
• Thein Dam, officially called Ranjit Sagar dam, is on the river Ravi. It is located at the border of J&K and Punjab. It is operated by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and state’s irrigation department.
• Water is released from these dams to prevent overtopping if the excessive rain fills up the dams. Overtopping is the catastrophic event caused when the water level in reservoir exceeds the dam’s crest.
• Even the controlled water release during the heavy rainfall can cause flooding downstream.
• Punjab state officials have accused BBMB of mismanagement in the operation of these floods. It was stated that BBMB keeps reservoir levels too high in July and August to ensure water for irrigation and power. There isn’t any storage capacity left when sudden rain arrives in August and September.
• BBMB also has not provided any timely warnings. And the sudden water release has caused blindsiding of state officials downstream. Thus, there was no coordination between Punjab state officials and BBMB to manage the safe water release.
• BBMB is controlled by Centre with the mandate to provide irrigation and generate power. It has failed in flood management. This has d to disenchantment of Punjab. Also, the amendment to  BBMB rules in 2022 has allowed officers across India and not just Punjab and Haryana, to hold post in BBMB. This has led to the feeling that voice of Punjab is stifled in BBMB.

Problem with the Dam governance:

• Experts have called for the better management of Dams. The Madhopur barrage was destroyed due to sudden water release by Thein dam.
• Also, there is lack of communication between the officials upstream and downstream as the gates were not opened on time.
• The illegal mining of the riverbeds for the sand and other minerals have caused the weakness of these earthen embankments.

Way Forward:

The floods in Punjab are aggravated due to mismanagement of dam authorities. The illegal mining worsens the situation by weakening these embankments. State and Punjab governments must coordinate to provide immediate relief to victims of flood. Also, they must take long-term measures such as improving governance structure of dam authorities, curbing illegal sand mining, regular de-silting of dams.

 

Editorial 2: What Rajasthan’s coaching centre Bill says, why it matters

Context:

Rajasthan Government has passed the Rajasthan Coaching Centers (Control and Regulation) Bill to regulate the coaching industry. It aims to create health and supportive environment to help students achieve their academic and professional goals.

Reasons for its enactment:

• 88 coaching centre students had dies, including 70 in the Kota, the “coaching capital” of India. In the past five years 78 students have died by suicide.
• Rajasthan high court has commissioned a study into student stress by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
• In the report submitted by Department related Standing Committee on Women, Education, Children and Youth, it is highlighted that there lacks a regulatory framework at national level to regulate the proliferating coaching industry in India.
• There are widespread reports of financial frauds in these coaching centers. Also, there are many instances of student suicide, drug abuse, and mental health struggles.
• This law makes provisions for registration, control, and regulation of coaching centers. It also aims to set minimum standards and requirements for their registration.
• It is a decisive step to curb the commercialization f coaching institutes. It encourages coaching centers to take appropriate measures provide security and reduces student stress in the preparation of different competitive exams.

Important provisions of the Bill:

• The proposed law will be enforced by the state level authority comprising of senior education and police officials, a psychiatrist, and representatives of coaching centers and parents’ body.
• It also constitute the district level committees having district magistrate, superintendent of police, and chief medical and health officer among their members. This committee will ensure the registration of coaching centers, their compliance with the law and the setting up of grievance readdressal cells.
• These district committees will regulate the various functions of coaching centers including the fee charged by them, grievance readdress mechanism and their pedagogy.
• Coaching centers must apply within a period of 3 months after the enforcement of this Act.
• The coaching centers must have a physical area of not less than 1 sq meter per student. They must engage tutors with minimal graduation degrees.
• It curbs the misleading promises or guarantee of good ranks or good marks. They must provide weekdays off to their students and teachers.
• They must have s system of counseling and a website having updated details of qualification of tutors, hostel facilities, fees, and the data on success rates.
• Violation of the act is punishable with the fine of Rs.50, 000 in first instance and Rs. 2 lakh on further violations. Subsequent violation may lead to cancellation of registration.
• It applies to coaching centers having more than 100 students.

Criticism of provisions:

• It fails to set the minimum age requirement for the student to enroll in the coaching center.
• It fails to address the problem of student suicides. It does not make psychological or career counseling mandatory. This bill disregards the central guidelines.
• The committees are over represented by state officials. This may lead to red-tapism and inspector raj.
• It could adversely affect small coaching institutes and force coaching centers out of the state, adversely impacting the economy of Kota.

Way Forward:

This bill can merely be considered as the first aid on the problems that plague the Indian education system. Rote learning is emphasized in the schools. Also there is significant gap in the curriculum of school and the syllabus of these competitive exams. New Education Policy is the stepping stone in correcting education system. Government must consult all stakeholders to tackle the menace of student suicide.