18 Mar 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. The forecast after a fake news campaign in Tamil Nadu

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions.

Mains: Fake news/Disinformation.

Details:

• A malicious fake news campaign in Tamil Nadu led to violence and a law and order crisis in early March 2023.
• The police acted promptly and countered the claims with factual reports, on-the-spot investigations, and personalized appeals.
• As most of the news is consumed through social media sources, the propagation of fake news is the biggest threat to democracy, specifically in an election season. Thus the issue should be ranked high as a potential threat to destabilize democratic institutions.

Details about the incident:

• On 1st March 2023, a significant political event in Tamil Nadu was attended by leaders of various political parties.
• On a subsequent day, video clips of migrant workers leaving Tamil Nadu for the Holi holidays started surfacing on social media. It was said that there was an exodus from the State because of incidents of violence.
• In order to support the narrative, fake news stories about the death of a migrant worker were seeded online.
• Even one of the reputed media groups projected these stories as news without verifying their authenticity.
• The fact checker (Alt News) stepped in and broke the cycle of disinformation.
• Significant actions were taken by the authorities.

Other details are covered in the link: 08 Mar 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

Measures taken to address disinformation in different countries:

• The European Union (EU) has established the Code of Practice on Disinformation 2022. Some of the initiatives of the code are:
  • Transparent political advertising
  • Empowerment of researchers and fact-checkers
  • Steps to reduce manipulative behaviour
  • Tools for flagging disinformation
• The United Kingdom has also introduced an Online Safety Bill, which is under review by a committee in the House of Lords.
  • The bill expects social media platforms (intermediaries) to actively monitor problematic content.
  • However, many companies are opposing the bill in the interest of privacy.

Measures taken in India:

• It is argued that there is no serious discussion or action in addressing the menace of disinformation in India.
• The Indian government has often adopted Internet shutdowns without due regard to proportionality. It is suggested that this is a non-transparent and autocratic approach.
• It is often criticized that the union government has greater power to strike down any content that is “unpalatable”. For instance,
  • The Union government can block access to any information in the interest of the sovereignty and the integrity of India, the security of the state, or public order through Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 regulate content by online publishers of news and social media intermediaries.
• The draft amendment introduced in IT Rules 2021 intends to empower Press Information Bureau to flag inaccurate and fake information related to government bodies on social media.

Also read: New Social Media Rules, IT Rules 2021

Way Ahead:

• In order to balance free speech (Article 19 of the Indian Constitution) and protect citizens from disinformation, a more studied, comprehensive, and calculated set of legislative actions is required.
• The Supreme Court in Tehseen S. Poonawalla vs Union Of India case (2018), held that it is the responsibility of the government (both Union and State) to take measures to curb the dissemination of “irresponsible and explosive content that have the potential to incite mob violence or lynching of any kind”.

Conclusion:

The fake news incident in Tamil Nadu serves as an indicator of what lies ahead in the run-up to the general elections of 2024 as voters rely on social media for information more than any other sources.

Also read: Tackling Fake News: Sansad TV Perspective Discussion of 4th Mar 2023

Nut Graf: A disinformation campaign can not only lead to a law and order crisis but can also pose a serious risk to democracy, as most of the information is consumed through social media. Both the state and the central governments should collaborate to address this situation and come out with a robust framework to tackle the root causes of disinformation.

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Left high and dry in the Nilgiris

Syllabus: Environment conservation and associated concerns.

Mains: Relocation from forests and associated concerns.

Details:

• The Tamil Nadu Forest Department and more than 700 families in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Gudalur in the Nilgiris (including Kattunayakans, Irulas, Paniyas, and Kurumbas) signed the ‘golden handshake’ agreement.
• The agreement was made after the Mountadden and Wayanadan Chetty communities obtained an order from the Madras High Court in 2007 seeking relocation away from the forest due to a lack of basic amenities.
• The objective of the agreement was to benefit the local communities inside the tiger reserve and aid conservation efforts.
• However, the Adivasis claim that the Chettys wanted to relocate as they had no traditional ties to the forest. 
• The first phase of the relocation started in 2017. Almost 569 families from the four Adivasi groups have been relocated so far.

Also read: Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006

Associated concerns:

• Adivasis are dissatisfied with the relocation as they have not received the promised compensation.
• An Adivasi rights activist highlights that many of the Adivasis are unaware of what they were owed in the first place because the promises were made with little paperwork and documentation.
• Though the Mountadden and Wayanadan Chettys have largely relocated, Kattunayakans and the Paniyas have not been resettled fairly.
• The two communities complain that they were cheated by a few Forest Department personnel, some landowners, or middlemen.
• The activists are trying to ascertain the level of fraud, but there are many challenges like:
  • The community is suspicious of outsiders and it is difficult to gain their trust.
  • They are illiterate and do not know the money and accounts clearly.
  • There is a lack of documents and evidence.
  • Many land brokers have cheated them by over-inflating the land prices or relocating them to government land.
• It is also argued by many experts that the funds for the relocation should have been granted by at least 2010 (as the land was affordable). Now with inflation, it is difficult to find adequate land for earning a living through agriculture.
• As there is no document to prove ownership of land, it is difficult to get compensation or a loan in case of crop failure.
• The government-built houses allocated to relocated families are in dilapidated condition. Several other structures suffered damage due to heavy rains in 2018 and 2019.
• Many cases of fraud have been perpetrated against Adivasi groups during the relocation process.
• The communities have a deep connection with the forests that are considered sacred groves and sites of worship. It is particularly difficult for older members of the community to leave the forest.
• They also fear an identity loss if they move out of the forests.
• Despite the allegations of fraud and cheating, the forest department is continuing the relocation process.

Conclusion:

• Though some state officials and forest staff are trying to address the concerns of the Adivasis, nothing concrete has been done or achieved till now.
• Many villagers are firm that they will not leave the forest until there are more favourable negotiations or at least what was promised in the original agreement is offered completely.

Also read: Rights of Forest Dwellers: RSTV – In Depth

Nut Graf: The ‘golden handshake’ agreement between the forest dwellers of Mudumalai Tiger reserve and the forest department aims to benefit the local communities and aid the conservation efforts. However, there are several concerns associated with fraud and cheating that needs to be addressed by the government and forest officials.

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. House Matters

Syllabus: Parliament functioning and issues arising out of it.

Mains: Parliament functioning.

Context: Deadlock in the Budget session of the Parliament.

Details:

• The second part of the Budget session of Parliament is in a deadlock. The Congress party demands a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations of dubious financial transactions and dishonest business practices against a leading corporate house.
• On the other hand, the leading Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is asking for an apology for remarks made in London (by Mr. Rahul Gandhi) about democratic backsliding in India.
• As the Indian diaspora is expanding, the ripple effect of politics in India is bound to go beyond its geographical boundaries.
• The Member of Parliament who spoke in London is not able to speak in Parliament and explain his remarks. There is also an initiative to terminate his membership in the house. 
• It should be noted that democracy allows criticism and thus an initiative to terminate the membership is an ill-advised move that has the potential to amplify the fears of a democratic deficit in India.
• It is also accused that the ruling party is silent on the issue of the linkage of the big corporate house with public sector entities like Life Insurance Corporation and the State Bank of India.
• It is suggested that the government, the Rajya Sabha Chairman, and the Lok Sabha Speaker should cooperate with the Opposition and hold discussions on the controversy surrounding a big firm.
• It will ensure the government’s credibility.
• It should be noted that there are precedents of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in cases of financial fraud.
• Moreover, Parliament has a role of fixing accountability which should not be overlooked. The government and the opposition should hold quality debates on issues of governance.

Also read: Functions of Parliament in India

Nut Graf: The Budget session of the Parliament is in a situation of a deadlock and thus it is important that all the stakeholders such as the Government, the Opposition, the Lok Sabha Speaker, and the Rajya Sabha Chairman should hold appropriate discussions to ensure transparency and credibility of governance.