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ENVIRONMENT/ S & T
TOPIC:GeneralStudies3
ThebattleoverBtcotton(PartI:UnderstandingtheBasics)
WhatisBt?
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein
(cry proteins), which are toxic to many species of insects.
WhereisBtfound?
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Bt can be found almost everywhere in the world. Surveys have indicated that Bt is
distributed in the soil sparsely but frequently worldwide.
Bt has been found in all types of terrain, including beaches, desert, and tundra habitats.
HowmanykindsofBtarethere?
There are thousands of different Bt strains, producing over 200 cry proteins that are
active against an extensive range of insects and some other invertebrates.
WhereisBtused?
WhatisGeneticallyModifiedOrganisms(GMO)?
When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another
organism in a laboratory, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is also
sometimes called "transgenic" for transfer of genes.
SelectivebreedingtechniqueandTransgenictechnique:
There are different ways of moving genes to produce desirable traits. For both plants and
animals, one of the more traditional ways is through selectivebreeding.
Forexample, a plant with a desired trait is chosen and bred to produce more plants
with the desirable trait.
More recently with the advancement of technology is another technique. This technique
is applied in the laboratory where genes that express the desired trait is physically moved
or added to a new plant to enhance the trait in that plant. Plants produced with this
technology are transgenic.
Often, this process is performed on crops to produce insect or herbicide resistant plants,
they are referred to as GeneticallyModifiedCrops(GMcrops).
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Most GM crops grown today have been developed to resist certain insect pests. There are
GM plants being developed today to produce specific vitamins, resist plant viruses and
even produce products for medical uses.
WhatisBtcotton?
ResultsofinsectinfestationonBt(right)andnonBt(left)cottonbolls.
Bt cotton was the first genetically modified (GM) crop technology to be commercialised in
India.
Three Bt cotton hybrids, developed by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) joint venture,
were approved by Indian authorities in early 2002.
Btcottoncontroversy
1. NodataonBtCottonseffectivenessunderpracticalfarmingconditions
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This controversy has become one of the focal points in the global debate on GM crops.
2. MonsantovsIndianFarmers
Seed is the basis of agriculture; the means of production and the basis of farmers
livelihoods.
In less than two decades, cotton seed has been snatched from the hands of Indian
farmers by Monsanto, displacing local varieties, introducing GMO Bt cotton seeds and
coercing extravagant royalties from farmers.
Since Monsantos entry into India in 1998, the price of cotton seeds has increased by
almost 80,000% (from 5 9/KG to 1600 for 450 gms). 300,000 Indian farmers
have committed suicide, trapped in vicious cycles of debt and crop failures, 84% of these
suicides are attributed directly to Monsantos Bt cotton.
3. Monsanto,IndianfarmersandtheGovtofIndia
There are 3 issues related to the state of seed and the current conflicts related to Monsanto,
Indian farmers and the Govt of India.
First is the farmers rights to reliable and affordable seed and with it the duty of the
government to protect farmers right to livelihood and right to life. It is the governments
duty under Art 21 of the constitution to protect the life of all its citizens.
Second is the issue of IPRs, patents, royalty, technology fees in the context of false claims
and a failing technology, and the duty of Government to act to revoke a patent according
to Article 64 and Article 66 of the Indian Patent Act. There is a show cause notice served
to Monsanto by the Central Government regarding the patent.
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The third is the issue of monopoly on seed. The Government has a duty to prevent
monopolies being established. The issue of monopoly is before the Competition
Commission of India which has stated that Monsanto has violated Competition laws and
there is Prima Facie evidence of monopoly.
(In tomorrows DNA, we shall discuss the controversy surrounding Monsanto and patent
protection.)
Connectingthedots:
Write a brief note on genetically modified crops and how they differ from hybrid crops.
What are the possible challenges and benefits of GM crops?
What do you understand by the term Bt? Discuss the controversy surrounding Bt
Cotton in India.
NATIONAL
TOPIC:GeneralStudies2
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MGNREGAMISNeedtoachievemore
WhatisMGNREGAMIS?
Workers entitlement data and documents such as Registration, job cards, muster rolls.
Work selection and execution data including, shelf of approved and sanctioned works,
work estimates, works under execution, measurement.
Employment demanded and provided.
Financial indicators such as funds available, funds used, and the disaggregated structure
of fund utilizations to assess the amount paid as wages, materials and administrative
expenses.
ImportanceofMGNREGAMIS
ShortcomingsofMGNREGAMIS
The scale of information available is no small achievement. Individual worker details from
around 2.5 lakh gram panchayats are available in the MGNREGA MIS. However, there are
some shortcomings which need to be addressed.
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Limitedaccess
MIS is accessible only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. IST. This is a huge impediment for
collaborative work across time zones.
Nodatadictionary
Samemeaning,differentnames
Missinglinkages
Technologyshouldnotlessenaccountability
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Digitisation and computerisation is a welcome move but it has been observed that
accountability is being shifted by officials.
It should be known that an information system doesnt end up controlling the legal
rights.
There are several situations when a written request for work by a worker is not entered
in the MIS till funds for work allocation are made available from the Centre. This is
illegal as the Act mandates provision of work within a stipulated time of requesting for it.
Similarly, the generation of the FTO is withheld till funds for wage payments are
released. There are other instances when the FTO is not generated if a worker fails to
furnish his or her Aadhaar number.
Some are harder to locate as there is no paper trail or stated intention but realised only
retrospectively once the workers are affected.
Hence, many such examples illustrate how the IT infrastructure becomes a tool
prioritising administrative needs as opposed to being a programme enabler.
In this regard, the phrase code is law should be recalled where code, as in software, and
code, as in law, can both be instruments of social control.
Technological architecture can also be used to perpetuate falsehoods. For instance,
consider the flawed mechanism of the calculation of delay compensation when wages are
not paid on time.
Ideally, the compensation should be calculated from the 16th day of completion of a
work week till the day on which the workers actually receive their wages. However, the
compensation is computed based on the payment date, which is not the date on which
the wages get credited into the workers accounts.
The difference of the two calculation methods run into crores of rupees that rightfully
belong to the workers. While the automated calculation is a progressive measure, its
basis must be correct and transparent.
Thus, even with the flawed calculation no compensation has been paid shows that
technology can be a strong aid but not a replacement for accountability.
Conclusion
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The system design choices should reflect the values of the worker-centric programme
and hence principles need to be followed for compassionate design.
Connectingthedots:
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