Daily Current Affairs : 25-August-2023
The Khanan Prahari mobile app, initiated by the Ministry of Coal, has garnered substantial attention and support since its launch. This innovative tool empowers citizens to combat illegal coal mining by reporting incidents through geotagged photographs and textual information. To further bolster this initiative, a corresponding web portal named the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) has been created to identify unauthorized mining locations. In this essay, we will delve into the key features of the Khanan Prahari mobile app and explore the critical concerns associated with illegal coal mining in India.
Key Features of Khanan Prahari Mobile App
Reporting Incidents
One of the most remarkable features of the Khanan Prahari app is its user-friendly incident reporting system. Citizens can effortlessly document instances of illegal mining by capturing photographs and providing comments describing the incident. Furthermore, the app enables the geotagging of these photographs by utilizing GPS location data. This not only makes the reports more credible but also aids authorities in pinpointing the exact locations of illicit activities.
Confidentiality
Privacy and security are paramount concerns when reporting illegal activities. The Khanan Prahari mobile app addresses this by ensuring the confidentiality of the user’s identity. This reassures individuals that their involvement will remain anonymous, encouraging more people to come forward and report illegal mining incidents without fear of reprisal.
Complaint Tracking
Transparency and accountability are vital components of any effective reporting system. To this end, Khanan Prahari provides complainants with a unique complaint number upon registering an incident. This number allows them to easily track the status of their reported complaints through the app. Such transparency fosters trust between citizens and the authorities, making it easier to monitor and address illegal mining cases promptly.
Concerns of Illegal Coal Mining
Illegal coal mining poses a myriad of pressing concerns that affect not only the environment but also society and the economy:
Environmental Damage and Biodiversity Loss
Illegal coal mining often disregards environmental regulations, leading to severe ecological damage. This includes deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. These adverse effects can have far-reaching consequences for local ecosystems and wildlife.
Displacement of Local Communities
Communities living in proximity to illegal mining sites often face displacement due to safety concerns and land acquisition. This upheaval disrupts their way of life and can lead to economic hardships and social instability.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Miners involved in illegal coal mining typically work in hazardous conditions without proper safety measures. This places their lives at risk and can lead to accidents and fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory oversight.
Loss of Government Revenue and Economic Impact
Illegal mining deprives the government of much-needed revenue, as operators evade taxes and royalties. This loss of income hampers public services and infrastructure development, negatively impacting the country’s economy.
Social Conflict and Criminal Activities
Illegal coal mining can fuel social conflicts, as various parties vie for control of lucrative mining areas. Additionally, the profits generated from illegal mining often find their way into funding criminal activities, exacerbating law enforcement challenges.
Human Rights Violations
The illicit nature of illegal mining often results in the violation of human rights, as miners and local communities may be subject to exploitation, abuse, and unsafe working conditions.
Important Points:
Khanan Prahari Mobile App:
- Purpose: Developed by the Ministry of Coal, the Khanan Prahari app enables citizens to report illegal coal mining incidents.
- Reporting: Users can easily report incidents using geotagged photographs and comments.
- Confidentiality: The app ensures user anonymity, encouraging more people to report incidents.
- Complaint Tracking: Complainants receive a unique complaint number for easy tracking of their reports.
- Transparency: The app fosters trust between citizens and authorities through transparent reporting.
Concerns of Illegal Coal Mining:
- Environmental Damage: Illegal mining leads to deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction.
- Biodiversity Loss: It results in a loss of biodiversity, impacting local ecosystems and wildlife.
- Displacement: Communities near mining sites often face displacement, causing social and economic disruption.
- Unsafe Working Conditions: Miners in illegal operations often work in hazardous conditions without proper safety measures.
- Loss of Government Revenue: The government loses revenue due to tax evasion and royalties, affecting the economy.
- Social Conflict: Illegal mining can lead to social conflicts and criminal activities.
- Human Rights Violations: Miners and local communities may suffer exploitation, abuse, and unsafe conditions.
Why In News
The Khanan Prahari mobile app has garnered immense attention, amassing a total of 483 complaints registered in just its first month of operation. This impressive level of engagement underscores the app’s effectiveness in addressing mining-related issues and promoting transparency in the industry.
MCQs about Khanan Prahari
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What is the primary purpose of the Khanan Prahari mobile app?
A. To promote coal mining in India
B. To report incidents of illegal coal mining
C. To track government revenue from coal mining
D. To provide safety measures for coal miners
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What key feature ensures user privacy and security in the Khanan Prahari app?
A. Transparent reporting
B. Geotagging of photographs
C. Confidentiality of user identity
D. Complaint tracking
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What are some of the concerns associated with illegal coal mining, as discussed in the essay?
A. Promotion of biodiversity
B. Economic development
C. Environmental damage and displacement of communities
D. Improved working conditions for miners
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What is the unique complaint number provided to complainants in the Khanan Prahari app used for?
A. Tracking the status of reported complaints
B. Identifying the location of illegal mining sites
C. Promoting transparency in government operations
D. Taxation of coal mining operations
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