What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What are the Legal Provisions for Star Campaigners?
• What Benefits Do Star Campaigners Get?
• What are the Concerns Regarding Campaigning by the Star Campaigners?
• What Needs to be Done to Maintain Decorum and Restraint in Campaigning?

Why in News?

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was appointed as a ‘star campaigner’ by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its campaign in Gujarat.

What are the Legal Provisions for Star Campaigners?

• Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 (RP Act) provides for law relating to expenditure incurred by ‘leaders of a political party’.
  • These ‘leaders of a political party’ are popularly known as ‘star campaigners’.
• These star campaigners are usually the top leaders of a political party but can include other celebrities as well.
• The only requirement is that these persons have to be members of the political party that appoints them.
• The RP Act provides that a recognised political party (national or State) can appoint a maximum of 40-star campaigners while a registered unrecognised political party can appoint up to 20.
• These names are to be communicated to the Election Commission (EC) and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the States as applicable within seven days from the date of notification of such election.
• In case of a multi-phase election, a political party can submit a separate list of star campaigners for different phases.

What Benefits Do Star Campaigners Get?

• The RP Act provides that expenditure incurred by the ‘leaders of a political party’ on account of travel for campaigning for their political party shall not be deemed to be part of the election expenditure of a candidate of such party.
  • The election expenditure limit for candidates is ₹95 lakh per Lok Sabha constituency in larger States and ₹75 lakh in smaller States.
  • Hence, these star campaigners would be vote-fetchers for candidates set up by respective parties without affecting their expenditure limit.
• However, this is applicable only if the star campaigners limit themselves to general campaigning for the party.
  • If in any rally/meeting organised, the star campaigner seeks votes in the name of contesting candidate(s) or shares the dais with them, then the rally/meeting expense shall be apportioned to the election expenditure of such candidate(s).
• If the star campaigner incurs boarding/lodging expenses while campaigning for any candidate(s), it shall be included in the expenditure account of such candidate(s) irrespective of whether it is paid for by the candidate(s).
• Further, if any candidate(s) travel with the star campaigner, then 50% of the travel expenditure of the star campaigner shall also be apportioned to such candidate(s).

What are the Concerns Regarding Campaigning by the Star Campaigners?

• The star campaigners of all parties have been found guilty of using inappropriate and abusive words against leaders of other political parties.
  • They were appealing to caste/communal feelings of electors and making unsubstantiated allegations.
• Another issue is with respect to the assessment of expenditure incurred for the rally/meeting of such star campaigners which is always significantly lower than the actual expenditure.
  • This may be due to the rate card used by the EC that does not reflect current market rates for various items.
  • This results in lower apportionment of expenditure to contesting candidates.

What Needs to be Done to Maintain Decorum and Restraint in Campaigning?

• At present, the RP Act stipulates that political parties can appoint or revoke the appointment of star campaigners.
  • As per Article 324 of the Constitution, the EC is the highest authority that has been vested with the powers of superintendence and control of elections.
  • Hence, the law may be amended to authorise the EC to revoke the ‘star campaigner’ status of a leader, in case of any serious violation of Model Code of Conduct.
  • This would hopefully instil a sense of responsibility among them and ensure that campaigns maintain the necessary decorum and restraint.
• Also, the assessment and apportionment of rally/meeting expenses where star campaigners’ campaign for particular candidate(s) should be made more robust.

Q.1. What are recognised political parties in India?

A registered party is recognised as a National/state Party (by the Election Commission of India) only if it fulfils certain conditions. Parties recognised as such are given unique symbols which only the official candidates of that party can use.

Also Read:

• Criteria to be Recognised as a National Party
• Electoral Funding

Q.2. What is the significance of Article 324 of the Constitution?

Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of President of India and the office of Vice-President of India shall be vested in the Election Commission.

What’s in today’s article?

• About International Labour Organisation
• Objectives of ILO
• Membership of ILO
• Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate Report

Why in the News?

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has published a report title "Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate".

About International Labour Organisation

• The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it’s based on social justice.
• In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• The ILO is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Objectives of ILO

• The ILO has four strategic objectives:
  • Promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work,
  • Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income,
  • Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all, and
  • Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

Membership of ILO

• The ILO has 187 state members.
• India is a founding member of the ILO and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• The ILO constitution permits any member of the UN to become a member of the ILO.
• To gain membership, a nation must inform the director-general that it accepts all the obligations of the ILO constitution.

Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate Report

• The ILO published this report to bring attention to the global health threat workers are currently facing.
• A scoping exercise was conducted to identify the most recent trends and priorities for climate change and worker safety and health.
• Based on the available evidence, the report addresses the following key issues:
  • Excessive heat
  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
  • Extreme weather events
  • Workplace air pollution
  • Vector-borne diseases
  • Agrochemicals
• Key Highlights of the Report:

• Billions of workers are exposed to hazards exacerbated by climate change.
• Workers across different sectors are exposed to these hazards but some workers, such as agricultural workers and other outdoor workers carrying out heavy labour in hot climates are particularly at risk.
• Strong evidence demonstrates that numerous health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction and mental health conditions, among many others.
• Every year, an estimated 22.85 million occupational injuries, 18,970 deaths and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are attributable to excessive heat alone.

Thousands more die from pesticide poisoning (>300,000), workplace air pollution (>860,000), solar UV radiation (>18,960 due to non-melanoma skin cancer alone) and parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

Q1. Who started Labour Day in India?

India began celebrating Labour Day on May 1, 1923, in Chennai, and is also known as 'Kamgar Divas', 'Kamgar Din', and 'Antrarashtriya Shramik Divas'. The day was first observed by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, and is considered a national holiday in the country.

Q2. What is the objective of the National Skill Development Mission?

Ensuring high-quality training standards through high-quality teaching and benchmarked institutions according to national and international standards which result in a highly-skilled workforce and global job opportunities.

Source: ILO 

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)?
• Plastic treaty talks - Background
• Problem with plastics

Why in News?

Global leaders will gather in Canada's capital -Ottawa - to discuss progress in drafting a first-ever global treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution by the end of the year. This treaty is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

If negotiated and agreed upon by members, this treaty could be the most significant deal relating to climate-warming emissions and environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

What is United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)?

• About
  • UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
  • UNEA enjoys the universal membership of all 193 UN Member States and the full involvement of major groups and stakeholders.
  • It gathers ministers of environment in Nairobi, Kenya every 2 years.
• Creation
  • UNEA was created in 2012, as an outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Brazil.
• Function
  • UNEA sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance, and defines policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges.

Plastic Treaty Talks - Background

• At the UN Environmental Assembly in 2022, the world's nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024 to address the world's plastic pollution crisis.
•  The treaty is meant to address plastics through their entire lifecycle - from when they are produced, to how they are used and then disposed of.

Problem with Plastics

• Source of pollution
  • Plastic waste has become a global menace polluting landscapes and waterways, producing plastics involves releasing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Contribution in global carbon emissions
  • The plastic industry now accounts for 5 per cent of global carbon emissions, which could grow to 20 per cent by 2050 if current trends continue.
• Increased plastic production
  • Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060 - unless the treaty sets production limits, as some have proposed. Most virgin plastic is derived from petroleum.

Negotiation in Ottawa

• Challenges
  • Countries have become divided on the issues during three previous rounds of talks - held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Paris and most recently in Nairobi.
  • At the Nairobi talks, in November 2022, the draft treaty under review ballooned from 30 pages to 70 as some countries insisted on including their objections to more ambitious measures like production limits and phase-outs.
  • Countries are now under pressure to find common ground before the final negotiations are held in December in Busan, South Korea.
• What do countries want in the treaty?
  • Demands of group of Like-Minded Countries
    • Many plastic and petrochemical-producing countries have opposed mentioning production limits.
    • These countries include Saudi Arabia, Iran and China and are known collectively as the group of Like-Minded Countries.
  • Demands of High-Ambition Coalition
    • The 60-nation High-Ambition Coalition, which includes EU countries, island nations, Japan and the UAE, wants to end plastic pollution by 2040.
    • This coalition has called for common, legally binding provisions to restrain and reduce the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels.
    • They also are proposing measures such as phasing out problematic single-use plastics and banning certain chemical additives that could carry health risks.
• What does the petrochemical industry want?
  • The major petrochemical producers argue that: 
    • production caps would lead to higher prices for consumers, and 
    • the treaty should address plastics only after they are made.
  •  These companies want to focus on encouraging the reuse or recycling of plastics, and on developing the market for burning plastics as fuel. 
  • In terms of transparency about chemicals used in production, the group says companies should be allowed to disclose those chemicals voluntarily.
• What do corporate brands want?
  • More than 200 consumer-facing companies including Unilever, PepsiCo and Walmart have joined the so-called Business Coalition for a Plastics Treaty.
  • Like the petrochemical industry, these companies that rely on plastic packaging for their products have been a major presence in the plastics negotiations.
  • But they support a treaty that includes production caps, use restrictions and phase-outs, reuse policies, product design requirements, extended producer responsibility, and waste management.

Related Topics:

• How to Deal with the Plastic Waste Menace?
• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2024
• What are Microplastics?

Q.1. What are single plastics?

Single-use plastic products include plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags that are designed for or intended to be used once and discarded.

Q.2. What is 2015 Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was adopted in December 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France. The agreement aims to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming and to tackle climate change and its negative impacts.