Remedies For Unnatural Jail Death
Why in news?
Recently, SC directed the Chief Justices of all HC to register petitions suo motu to identify the kin of prisoners who died unnatural deaths and order the states to provide them compensation.
What is the need for this Judgement?
- Normally, the National and States Human Rights Commissions decide and award compensations in cases of custodial torture, deaths.
- However, compliance by State governments is low as these commissions do not exercise any power of contempt.
- This judgment is significant as the high court will now directly award compensation and ensure compliance by the States.
- It also asked the Ministry of women and child development to formulate procedures for tabulating children who died unnatural deaths in custody or in child care institution by this year end.
What is the significance?
- Human rights in a welfare state are not dependent on the status of the person whether he is a criminal or a victim.
- There is no reason at all to exclude their kin from receiving compensation only because the victim is a criminal.
- It is also important to look into the unnatural deaths of children in child care institutions for providing the children of our country with a better future.
Global Human Capital Index - WEF
Why in news?
The “World Economic Forum’s - Global Human Capital Index”, ranked India at a 103rd among 130 countries.
What does the report say?
- The Global Human Capital Index 2017 ranks countries on how well they are developing their human capital.
- The rankings are based on four thematic dimensions — capacity, deployment, development, and know-how.
- The index is led by Scandinavian nations Norway, Finland and Switzerland, followed by large economies such as the US and Germany.
- In South Asia, the race is led by Sri Lanka at rank 70 and Nepal at 98, while India has a slightly better standing than Bangladesh & Pakistan.
- With the exception of Sri Lanka, the other South Asian countries are yet to reach the 60% threshold in HDI.
What are the implications for India?
- This is a scathing commentary on how India is handling its demographic dividend.
- India stands at the bottom among the G20 nations, is the lowest among BRICS nations.
- Dragged down by its poor labour participation and a big gender gap, India seems to be struggling against huge challenges.
- It has been noted that although India’s current educational attainment rate has improved over past generations, its youth literacy rate stands at a paltry 89%.
What are the positives for India?
- Despite the low ratings, the report notes that India is showing signs of slowly moving in the right direction.
- The primary way to realise the full human potential is by increasing inclusivity and expanding access to education and employment opportunities.
- On that note, the country scores well on the ‘know-how’ parameter that measures the use of specialised skills at work - such as economic complexity, availability of skilled employees.
- The other markers are that India ranks well on are its improving education system, skill diversity of graduates and high-skilled employment share.
What are the worldwide trends?
- The world average was only 62% on human capital development.
- Only 25 nations were found to have tapped at least 70% of their human capital, while for 14 countries was below 50%.
- South Asia’s overall score was behind the Middle East and North Africa but ahead of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- China was ranked an impressive 34th and its rapid expansion of educational attainment across its younger generations is poised to be an asset in preparing the future workforce.
We provide assistance for out station IAS, IPS aspirants to choose from over 40 hostels nearby the institute with the best of facilities
Author : Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai.
Comments