23 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. MILAN - 2022
2. ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsite’
3. Workshop on POSH

1. MILAN – 2022

Syllabus: GS III, Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Prelims: SAGAR, MILAN exercise

Mains: Significance of multilateral naval exercise to strengthen India’s maritime security.

Context: The multilateral exercise of the Indian Navy will commence from the 25th day of February in Visakhapatnam. This exercise is popular as MILAN 2022. 

The theme for 2022: ‘Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration’

Aim of the exercise: The multilateral exercise intends to nurture operational skills, introduce best practices and procedures enabling a learning environment on maritime domain and the relative doctrines. 

The MILAN Exercise: The background

• It is a biennial multilateral naval exercise that took its advent in 1995 by the Indian Navy at Andaman and Nicobar Command. 
• This event could not be held in 2001 and 2016 due to International Fleet Reviews.
• At its onset, the MILAN exercise witnessed the participation of only four countries, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. 
• Gradually, there was a significant increase in the number of participants along with the expansion of advanced maritime policies that intend to ensure security and safety of the oceanic space. 
• The SAGAR initiative by India has further added on to the vision and mission of this multilateral exercise. 
• Besides, it will also include participation from island nations in the western Indian Ocean region.
• With the expansion of the Indian Navy’s engagement with Friendly Foreign Countries, there was a need to further strengthen the naval cooperation by enhancing the scope of the MILAN exercise bringing together both regional and extra regional navies of the world. 
• Visakhapatnam, being the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, was nominated to host the event. 

MILAN 2022:

• MILAN 2022 will experience the largest ever participation of more than 40 countries sending their warships/ high level delegations.
• This edition of the exercise will be focusing on sea exercise on surface, sub-surface and air domains and weapon firings. 
• There will be discussion to address the issues of common interest by cooperation in the areas such as anti-piracy, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, etc. 
• Therefore, MILAN 22 will provide a significant opportunity to foster bonds of maritime cooperation across oceans.

2. ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsite’

Syllabus: GS III, Environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved the proposal of Dadu Majra dumpsite remediation in Chandigarh and agreed to offer financial assistance to make the city completely free of garbage.

Details of the matter:

• The ‘Heritage City’ of Chandigarh was founded in 1953 and planned by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and is renowned for its meticulously planned public spaces, greenery and maintenance of the strict eco-friendly norms. 
•  A large number of Community and Public Toilet seats have been provided in the city that transformed the lives of the people making it hygienic and dignified. 
• The city of Chandigarh has been recognised as 1-star Garbage Free in the recently concluded Star Rating Assessment for Garbage Free Cities in 2021 under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban 2.0. 
• The city was recognised for its commitment to transform ‘manhole to machine hole’ as the best performing union territory in the SafaiMitra Suraksha  Challenge 2021.
• The progressive steps taken by the city to achieve its target of becoming a garbage free city, must be taken further and replicated across the country. 

Read about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the linked article

3. Workshop on POSH

Syllabus: GS I, Role of women and associated issues

Prelims: POSH

Mains: Effectiveness of the POSH law in assuring the safety of women at the workplace.

Context: The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice conducted the first workshop on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) of women at workplace. 

Glimpses of the Discussion:

• It was highlighted that there is a dire need for women to come out and be upfront about the harassment they have faced at the workplace which would add on to the effectiveness of the law against such harassments. 
• The deplorable act of sexual harassment at workplace in an infringement of the Fundamental Rights guranteed under Article -14 & 21 of the Indian Constitution. 
• Other challenges in dealing with the cases of sexual harassments and the sensitivities attached have also been discussed.

The legal set up against sexual harassment:

• The subject of sexual harassment gathered prominence in the light of certain guidelines framed by the Supreme Court in the famous Vishakha Case. 
• These guidelines had legally defined the act of sexual harassment and formed the basis of the POSH act of 2013. 
• The act mandates the creation of an Internal Complaints Committee at each office branch with 10 or more employees.
• The complaints committee is entrusted with the responsibility of collecting evidence and shall have a provision of conciliation before the initiation of inquiry if requested by the complainant. 
• Violation of the norms of the act will be punishable accompanied by a fine. 

Read more about Sexual Harassment at Work Place in the linked article

Read previous PIB here.

February 23rd, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here