The Indian Express Analysis - 8th August 2018

Table of Contents

Clampdown on oxytocin: why, what now

• Oxytocin is naturally secreted by the pituitary glands of mammals during sex, childbirth, lactation or social bonding, and is sometimes called “love hormone”.

• During childbirth – it can contract the uterus and induce delivery, control bleeding, and promote the release of breast milk.

• Misuses of Oxytocin in → cows + vegetables + Speeding up the puberty of young girls trafficked into prostitution.

• It is not clear how the hormone affects plant growth and the long-term effects of a steady diet of oxytocin is not known Acc to Himachal High court judgement in 2016 –

• Oxytocin filters into the milk

• Responsible for breast and uterine cancers, male impotence.

• Harmful for eyes, especially in children.

• Affects the reproductive ability of woman…

• Responsible for high spike in tuberculosis cases

• A study commissioned by the central government and published in the June 2014 issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Research, reported that “exogenous OT (Oxytocin) injections do not influence its content in milk”, and that “OT present in milk is rapidly degraded during intestinal digestion, ruling out its intestinal absorption and associated adverse health consequences, if any”.

• The National Dairy Research Institute has informed that there is no scientific evidence that artificial use of Oxytocin has adversely affected progeny of cattle and buffaloes resulting in dwindling of livestock.

• However, continuous Oxytocin use could lead to a progressive addiction and lack of response to normal let down of milk.

• Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) — a Health Ministry body that advises central and state governments on technical matters “agreed on a draft notification for regulating, restricting the Oxytocin formulations for human use to be supplied only to registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector”.

• July 1 – private companies would not be allowed to manufacture oxytocin for domestic use, and private retail chemists would not be allowed to sell it.

• The government subsequently pushed the deadline back to September 1.

• The import of oxytocin was banned by a separate notification on April 24.

• Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Limite

Commissions Of Inaction GS 2 – Governance

“Over the years, in many important debates, this statutory body has often played the role of a foot-soldier of frivolousness.” In India there are national commissions aplenty, all supposed to be parastatal watchdogs to oversee the implementation of human rights and civil liberties. In 1978 1. Central Minorities Commission 2. SC ST Commission ( Const. status in 1992) In 2003, it was split into two bodies – SC + ST commissions 1990 – National Commission for Women Act 1990 1992 – First Commission under it was set up In 1993 :-

1. National Commission for Backward classes

2. National Commission for safai karmcharis.

3. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) In 2004 :-

1. Minority educational institutions

2. National Commission for Protection of child rights. Procedure for appointment of members are different The NHRC must be headed by a former Chief Justice of India and have two members each from amongst judges and human rights experts NCM and NCW chairs and members are to be appointed by the government in its unrestricted discretion. aspirants for the chair and membership of NCM should only be “committed to the cause of women”

Conclusion :-

Under the noses of these supposedly autonomous national bodies, the situation of citizens’ human rights and civil liberties has been moving from bad to worse. National commissions are white elephants: Expensive and ineffective.

A good ally to invoke, difficult to walk with

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was not afraid to be seen in the company of industrialists .

• Gave example of Gandhi

• It is true that Gandhi was not against capitalists.

• Gandhi saw them as bringing benefits by their knowledge and hard work.

• He lived in G D Birla’s house.

• He was against capitalism not capitalists. “Everything belonged to God and it was from God. Therefore, it was for His people as a whole, not for a particular individual. When an individual had more than his proportionate portion he became a trustee of that portion for God’s people”. (Harijan, February 23, 1947). **Trustee – an individual person or member of a board given control or powers of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes specified. Important Conceptual Shift Of Gandhi :-

1. Shift in the status of the rich person (capitalist) from being an owner to becoming a trustee.

2. Shift is in placing ownership of the property with God and above any individual

3. The recognition that there are two parts to the wealth that is created : a. Belongs Capitalist b. Belongs to the God/People The challenge here is to determine which, or how much, is the individual’s “proportionate portion” and which is the portion that belongs to People. “My idea of society is that while we are born equal, meaning that we have a right to equal opportunity, all have not the same capacity. It is, in the nature of things, impossible… People with talents will have more, and they will utilise their talents for this purpose. If they utilise their talents kindly, they will be 1% rule – Warren Buffet