Day 18 – Q 5.What are ‘life cycle vulnerabilities’? How can those be addressed? Give suggestions.
5. What are ‘life cycle vulnerabilities’? How can those be addressed? Give suggestions.
‘जीवन चक्र भेद्यता’ क्या हैं? उनसे कैसे निपटा जा सकता है? सुझाव दें।
Approach.
Understand that this is an open ended question, most important things in not to be binded by any one point of view. As an aspiring bureaucrat even if you are expected to suggest changes on how to tackle uncertainties of people in the country by Systemic solutions, but as a individual – a person should himself be ready for tackling uncertainties. It is expected that you point out different uncertainties in different phases of Life and different people across the spectrum. Also in Solutions, you can deal with it in different ways like Legal , Constitutional measures, Judicial Activism , NGOs and Media, also by an Individual himself – Psychologically, by tacking Preventive steps and by Changing his orientations of life. The Breadth of your coverage matters more than the Depth of your coverage
Answer
Uncertainty can be defined as Striking of an event when one does not expect it, it is the brute luck that can strike anytime to anyone irrespective of his mental preparedness, irrespective of his socio economic situation and his geographical existence. However, Life can itself be defined as Tackling through Uncertainties. It is said that Uncertainties are inevitable and they are not just or unjust – but the way the society in general and the Individual in particular deals with it make it Just or Unjust.
Uncertainties are certain, in anyone’s life – though the level and the type of Uncertainties are determined by the Maturity of any Country to deal with it- While heart attack, road accident, tragic loss of a family member can strike to anyone at any time- but certain Third world specific uncertainties- Like Frequent Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan, Flooding of Indian cities every monsoon, Female Feticide, Dowry Deaths, Collapse of old buildings and bridges, Judicial under trials etc.
Life Cycle of Vulnerabilities
It is said that the “Accident of Birth” should not be the biggest determinant in an individual’s life. Life should provide every individual with equal opportunities irrespective of his current deplorable situation. It is the responsibility of the Government and the System in a particular country to make sure that the “Starting Point” remains same for all and all Individuals get the “Basic Security” necessary to explore his potential and his hard work become the only “Parameter for Success” in his life, for this it is necessary to reduce the Uncertainties through “Systemic Changes and Policies” at various stages of an Individuals life as Follows-
| Age group | Age Related Vulnerabilities | Systemic Solutions | Examples in India |
| At Birth and Neonatal Care | Huge number of Maternal and Infant mortality due to various factors, Female Foeticide | Institutional Delivery, Awareness about Importance of Girl child, Providing proper nutrition. | Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu suraksha Karyakram, PM surakshit matritva abhiyaan,Laqshya initiative,Mothers Absolute Affection ( MAA) programme. |
| Adolescence | Child labor, Sexual exploitation, Addiction, Peer Pressure, Parental Pressure, Undernourishment, Malnutrition | Awareness among youth, various programmes for education & employment, Strict Laws against exploitation and Child Labor. | Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) , Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana,Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),Scheme For Adolescent Girls ,Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Boys-SAKSHAM, Gender Champions scheme. |
| Mid Age | Financial Instability, Poverty, Health related instabilities. Education and Skill related inabilities, Unemployment, Stress and Depression | Poverty Alleviation program, Health Insurance, Employment generation, Bridging gap in Skills and Education, Awareness and Engagement programmes | Aayushman Bharat, Ujjawala Scheme,Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). |
| Old Age | Financial distress, Loneliness, Health issues. | Emotional and Financial Care, Health insurance, proper pensions, Accessible and Affordable Health care. | Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana. |
Uncertainties can be different not only at Temporal stages but also at functional levels. Eg- A farmer may have uncertainties related to weather, a soldier would have the uncertainty related to “insecurity of his Life”, Rich face uncertainties due to “abundance of wealth” – of getting robbed or getting killed, Poor face vulnerabilities due to lack of wealth.
Vulnerabilities can be tackled by other measures as well such as –
- Constitutional Measures
- By providing certain essential rights as Fundamental rights and ensuring that they are enjoyed by each and every individual.
- By frequent, additions and subtractions of laws according to the needs of the time. Eg – Making IT specific laws in today’s world.
- Judicial activism
- Ensuring that Judiciary is active and not just a passive spectator
- Suo Motu – PIL – by the Judiciary to keep an effective watch
- Judiciary being – transparent and clean institution itself and not subject to paradoxicalness.
- NGOs and Media
- A vigilant Media- as at the Vanguard of Democracy
- Media and NGOs – bridging the gap between People and the Government.
- Media resort to ethical practices and not unethical means and uphold “Responsible Journalism”
Though, Various systemic Solutions can help us tackle “Life Cycle Vulnerabilities” but the power to deal with uncertainties’ should come by accepting the fact that “Uncertainties are Omnipresent” – Hence, the ultimate level of Deterrence comes at the Psychological level of an individual as follows-
- Accepting the certainty of problems- by Embracing and not Avoiding problems.
- Knowing that the only way of Happiness is by “Solving Problems”.
- Learning – ” The Value of Suffering”—- how “pains are good”
- Learning that “Failure is the way forward”
- Learning that you are “architects of your own beliefs”
- Learning the way out of Depression, despair, hopelessness to Hope, Enlightenment, Excitement.
Thus, though Life itself means – “navigation through sufferings and uncertainties” ,yet proper – Preparedness, Mitigation strategy, Proper Response and Recovery – be it at the Systemic level in form of Policies or at personal Level – through mental toughness can be the way forward.
BEST ANSWER : ANKITA MUNSHI
