CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 6TH MARCH 2021

 1. BHARAT BIOTECH’S COVAXIN HAS AROUND 81%EFFICACY: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR INDIA? 

Bharat Biotech has reported around 81% ’. interim efficacy for COVAXIN, its vaccine against the noble coronavirus infection, in large scale human clinical trials. 

"Efficacy is a measure of how much the shot protects people against a virus or bacteria, compared with the situation in which they were not vaccinated. Efficacy looks at the ability of the vaccine to protect the inoculated population using various parameters ranging from the ability of the short to prevent mild to severe symptoms from showing even if you have been infected, to preventing you from getting infected with the disease altogether. 

COVAXIN is one of the two vaccines being used in India’s Mars vaccination program against covid-19.A higher efficacy would mean a higher chance at protecting the vulnerable population against the disease. 

2. WORLD HEARING DAY 2021: A LOOK AT SOME INNOVATIONS IN HEARING HEALTH CARE 

According to the World Health Organisation, around 5% of the world population (430 million people) suffers from disabling hearing loss with around onethird of people 65 years ofage . affected by it. It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million peopleor one in every ten people will have disabling hear loss. World Hearing Day is annually observed across the globe on 3 March to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to promote hearing care across the globe. 

“The World Health Organisation organises the annual events of the world hearing day at the WHO headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland. "Aim: «Promote Public Health actions for ear and hearing care Stimulate intersectoral partnership for ear and hearing care. Raise awareness on hearing loss and care ata national and community levels across the world. 

Around 466 million people live with disabling hearing loss, the majority of them reside in low and middle-income countries and lack access to the * yequired services and interventions. 

3. RAPE AND MARRIAGE: ON THE SUPREME COURT’S FAILURE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN 

Marital or other relationshi. between the termirator victim cannot be a ra:e defence 

Relationship between two individuals, including marriage, is built around love, respect, trust and consent. Within that civilized framework, a violent and exploitative acts like rape has no place. 

Seen in that context, the supreme court’s latest query to a Maharashtra government employee asking whether he would marry a girl He was accused of raping repeatedly while she was a minor is insensitive to the core. By offering Marriage as a solution to a rape victim, the judiciary failed to protect the rights of a girl. Instead of meting out Harsh punishment, the court asked the lawyer representing the accused to find out whether his client would be willing to marry the victim or risk going to jail. 

Equal rights activist have always worked hard against misogyny, patriarchal mindsets and other failings such as blaming the victim for rape. 

This arduous battle for equality becomes even more difficult when people in high offices make offensive remarks. On Monday, the Chief Justice of India (Cj]), Sharad A. Bobde, told the lawyer of the rape accused, ‘We are not forcing you....” 

The lawyer later told the court that his client refused to Marry the Girl because he was already married. In his petition, the accused recounted the allegations that he sexually abused the girls Since she was in High school, and also that he had threatened the minor. 

in another case, the Bench stayed the arrest of a man accused of rape after falsely promising marriage. The victim said she was promised marriage and was “Brutally and sexually abused”. The CJI asked the girl’s lawyer: “When two people are living as husband and wife, however brutal the husband is, can you Call sexual intercourse between them 'rape’?” In both cases, these crimes attract CVR penalties under the criminal law (Amendment) Act, 

2013. 

On Marital rape, though the recommendation was not included in the Act, the Justice J. S. Verma Committee was clear the law ought to specify That a marital or another relationship between the perpetrator and victim cannot be a defence against sexual valuation. Citing the judgement of the European Commission of Human Rights in C.R.Vs U.K., it endorsed the conclusion that “a rapist remains a rapist regardless of his relationship with ' the victim”. 

In Shimbhu and Anr vs State of Haryana (2013), the Supreme Court said the offer of a rapist to marry the victim cannot be used to reduce the sentence prescribed by law. When the scars of the Nirbhaya case are still raw, and a series of rape and murders are being reported against minors, especially Dalits, in Uttar Pradesh, the Judiciary’s shocking remarks echo a deep-set prejudice against gender equality. © The law should deliver justice, not blatantly tilt the scales against women’s rights. 

4. WHAT HARYANA’S MOVE TO RESERVE 75% PRIVATE OBS MEANS FOR COMPANIES 

Recently, Haryana Assembly has passed the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Bill, 2020 to reserve 75°o of private-sector jobs in the state for local residents. 

“It has led to a new debate on the growing trend of Jobs for locals and the associated concerns. 

“Every employer shall employ 75% of the local candidates with respect to such posts where the gross monthly salary or wages are not more than Rs 50,000 or as notified by the government, from time to time. 

4 What does the “local candidates” mean? 

"A candidate “who is domiciled in state of Haryana’”’ is called a local candidate and shall be able to avail the benefit of this reservation while seeking employment in private sector. The candidate will also mandatorily have to register himself ona designated portal while seeking benefit under this reservation. Employer too will have to make recruitments through this portal only. 

Will the enalized for not followin ‘rovisions of this act? 

“Yes, the employer can be find with the minimum rupees 10,000 to a maximum rupees 2 lakh once it is established that the employer has committed a violation of provisions of the act. If the employer continues to commit the violation even after conviction, a penalty of rupees 1000 per day till the violation continues shall be imposed. A penalty of rupees 50,000 shall be levied on the employer who produces false records for counterfeits or knowingly makes/produces a false statement. 

Whichcom companies overed under the law? 

1. According to the state government, the reservation law covers private companies, societies, trusts and partnerships firms in the state. 

The Haryana reservation law also provides training to eligible local candidates when qualified people are not available. 

The law defines local candidates as those domiciled in the state. For the domicile status, a person should be . born in Haryana or have lived there for at least 15 years. 

Who are the locals and how will it benefit them? 

«According to the law of the state, a candidate who is domiciled in Haryana is called a local candidate and will be able to avail the benefit of this reservation . while seeking employment in the private sector. 

For availing other job facilities, the candidates will also mandatorily have to register themselves ona designated portal. Moreover, the 

6. BENGULURU, SHIMLA 'MOST LIVEABLE’ CITIES IN GOVT’S EASE OF LIVING INDEX 

«The Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs releases the rankings of the Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020. 

"About ease of livin. index 2020: -Developed by: Ministry of housing and urban affairs in 2018. 

It is an assessment tool. By this tool, quality of life and the impact of various initiatives on urban Development are assessed. . 

Quality of life (35%): it looks at the indicators for decent urban life. These indicators include affordable housing, access to clean water, basic education, Health care facility, safety and security and recreation avenues. 

"Economic ability (15%): It captures the economic well being of citizens. It is done by evaluating the level of economic development and inequalities 1 ina _ Particular City. 

Sustainability (20%): It evaluate the availability of green spaces, green, | buildings, level of energy consumption. Moreover, the quality of natural resources such as air, water, and the cities ability to withstand natural disasters are also assessed. 

Citizen perception survey (30%): It provides a perception of the city residents. Thus, it allows citizens to evaluate the level and quality of development in their respective cities. 

Coverage: The index assessed 111 cities by bifurcating them into two categories: . 

*Million+ populated cities (those with the population of more than a million) and Less than a million populated cities (those with the population of less than a million) along with all the cities under the smart cities program. Million+ category: Benguluru has emerged as the top performer. It is followed by Pune, Ahmedabad,Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore. , Vadodara, Indore and Greater Mumbai. ‘ 

Less than Million category: Shimla is at the top in this category. It is followed by Bhubaneswar, Silvassa, Kakinada, Salem, Vellore, Gandhinagar, devangere and Tiruchirapalli.