GS Analyst: Daily Editorial In Brief

Context

The discussion on urbanisation and Dalit liberation in India encompasses debates on caste discrimination, urban governance, and promises of development. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's view of urbanisation as a means of Dalit empowerment contrasts with the realities faced by Dalit communities in modern cities. Persistent caste-based segregation, discrimination, and unequal access to resources highlight the challenges in addressing caste oppression in urban areas.

Caste Dynamics in Urban Spaces

• Ambedkar's Perspective:Ambedkar viewed urbanisation as a potential avenue for Dalit liberation, seeing cities as spaces where the grip of caste oppression could weaken due to factors like anonymity and opportunities for economic advancement.
• Persistence of Caste in Cities: Despite the hopes pinned on urbanisation, caste-based segregation and discrimination continue to shape the spatiality of Indian cities, manifesting through practices like housing discrimination and Brahminical regulations on public spaces.
• Impact on Dalit Communities: Studies reveal that Dalits and Muslims face severe segregation and lack access to basic municipal services in urban areas, highlighting how urbanisation has not lived up to the expectations of Dalit liberation.

Challenges in Urban Governance and Caste Segregation

• Policy Implications: Urban governance policies and housing crises contribute to sustaining caste-based segregation, with Dalits and Muslims facing the most severe impacts according to research.
• State-Sanctioned Discrimination: Government regulations on issues like meat shops and street food further perpetuate caste-based discrimination, reflecting a Brahminical influence on public spaces and reinforcing purity-pollution ideologies.
• Inequitable Access to Services: Dalit and Muslim ghettos often lack access to essential services like clean drinking water, while forced evictions disproportionately affect these communities, indicating systemic failures in urban governance.

Challenges for Dalit Liberation in Urban Spaces

• Failed Promise of Urbanisation: Despite the belief in urbanisation as a liberating force, the persistence of caste-based discrimination and segregation in cities highlights the shortcomings of this transition for Dalit communities.
• Evolution of Caste Structures: Caste oppression in urban areas has evolved through language, policy, and state sanction, allowing caste to thrive despite attempts at liberation through urbanisation.
• Persistent Marginalisation: Even after a century of urban development, Dalits continue to face marginalisation and discrimination, indicating a failure of Indian cities to fulfill the promises of equality and liberation.

Context: The Supreme Court's recent ruling on the felling of 6,000 trees in the Jim Corbett National Park sheds light on the intersection of conservation goals, revenue interests, and environmental protection laws in India's forest management.

The judgment:

• Upholding Conservation Principles: Despite existing conservation laws, the ruling exposes the prioritization of revenue over environmental protection, highlighting a departure from the principles laid down in landmark judgments such as Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra vs. State of Uttar Pradesh.
• Emphasis on Eco-Centrism: The Supreme Court's directive to shift from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism underscores the need to reevaluate ecotourism practices in national parks like Jim Corbett. The ban on tiger safaris in core areas aims to minimize environmental damage and protect biodiversity.
• Application of Precautionary Principle: By invoking the precautionary principle, the Court emphasizes the urgency of preventing irreversible environmental degradation. The decision not only safeguards tigers but also underscores the need to protect other endangered species and biodiversity hotspots.

What the court missed:

• Lack of Methodological Clarity: While the Court seeks to recover the cost of restoration from responsible parties, the absence of a well-defined methodology for assessing environmental damage poses challenges. Current valuation methods like compensatory afforestation levy and net present value fail to account adequately for ecosystem services.
• Need for Ecosystem-Based Valuation: The Court missed an opportunity to prioritize ecosystem services over revenue-generating activities like ecotourism. A valuation method based on ecosystem services could better capture the true environmental cost and generate more revenue in the long term.
• Reference to International Precedents: Drawing from international precedents, such as the reasoning provided by the International Court of Justice in Costa Rica v. Nicaragua, could have enriched the understanding of methodologies for evaluating environmental damage and compensating for loss.

Context: India's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2070, as declared at COP26, highlights the need for large-scale investments in renewable energy infrastructure. However, the transition to decarbonisation raises concerns about its socio-economic impact, particularly on marginalized communities.

The Disbenefits of Solar Energy

• Inequitable Land Acquisition: The establishment of solar parks often involves acquiring large tracts of land from rural communities, leading to displacement and loss of livelihoods. Existing laws like the Land Acquisition Act 2013 are inadequately enforced, leaving affected communities vulnerable to exploitation.
• Double Marginalisation: Marginalized groups, including women, lower-caste individuals, and landless laborers, bear the brunt of land acquisition for solar projects. Women, in particular, face job losses and increased vulnerability due to changes in traditional roles and inadequate safety measures.
• Unfulfilled Promises: Despite promises of benefits such as free electricity and job opportunities, communities impacted by solar projects often find these commitments unmet. Lack of accountability and legal recourse further exacerbates their plight.

Overlooked Human and Biodiversity Externalities

• Water Scarcity: Solar projects in drought-prone areas exacerbate water scarcity issues, with inadequate planning for water use and environmental impact assessments exempting solar farms from scrutiny.
• Biodiversity Impact: Large-scale solar installations disrupt regional biodiversity, leading to declines in pollinator populations and crop yields. Policy exemptions and ambiguities exacerbate these environmental concerns.
• Social Justice and Governance:Strengthening laws and regulations to enforce accountability enhance community participation, and monitor project outcomes is essential to address the human and environmental costs of energy transition.

Harnessing Energy Justice for Holistic Decarbonization Policies

• Socially Equitable Transitions: Policymakers must prioritize social justice in decarbonization efforts, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and mitigation of adverse impacts on marginalized communities.
• Improved Governance: Strengthening laws and regulations to enforce accountability, enhance community participation, and monitor project outcomes is essential to address the human and environmental costs of energy transition.
• Inclusive Decision-making: Local communities should be actively involved in decision-making processes concerning the use of their land and resources, promoting transparency and accountability in sustainable energy projects.