Good Governance

1. Governance means the process of making decisions and implementing those decisions.
2. Good governance means using power properly to manage a country’s social and economic resources for development.
3. Good governance should be participatory, meaning people should have a chance to take part in decision-making.
4. It should include men, women, minorities, backward classes and weaker sections of society.
5. Rule of law means that laws should be followed fairly and equally by everyone.
6. Consensus-oriented governance tries to consider different opinions and reach a common decision that benefits the community.
7. Equity and inclusiveness mean that everyone should get equal opportunities to improve their well-being.
8. Effectiveness and efficiency mean that government institutions should provide good results and use resources properly.
9. Accountability means that the government and public institutions must be responsible for their actions and answerable to the people.
10. Transparency means that government information should be openly available, clear and understandable to the public.
11. Responsiveness means that government institutions should respond to people’s needs and problems within a reasonable time.
12. Good governance aims to reduce corruption, protect the rights of people and ensure that the voices of vulnerable groups are heard.
13. Good governance is important because it helps create a fair, inclusive, peaceful and developed society where people’s present and future needs are considered.

Artificial Sweeteners 

1. Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes used instead of regular sugar.
2. They are chemically made and provide a sweet taste with little or no calories.
3. They are commonly found in diet drinks, sugar-free sweets and low-calorie foods.
4. Examples include saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, Ace-K, neotame and advantame.
5. Artificial sweeteners may help in reducing calorie intake and managing body weight in some situations.
6. They can be useful for people with diabetes because they generally have less effect on blood sugar than regular sugar.
7. They may help prevent tooth decay because they are not easily fermented by bacteria in the mouth.
8. Some people may experience digestive problems such as gas, bloating or diarrhoea after consuming them.
9. Some studies have raised concerns about possible links with metabolic problems and changes in gut bacteria, but the evidence is not conclusive.
10. The WHO advises against relying on non-sugar sweeteners for long-term weight control or preventing diseases, as some research has linked higher long-term consumption with health risks.
11. Instead of depending on artificial sweeteners, people can reduce added sugars by eating fruits and choosing unsweetened foods and drinks.

Tackling Hunger Globally

Hunger is a major indicator of social injustice prevailing across the world. It has existed for centuries and has contributed to many social and political movements. During the French Revolution, shortage of bread in Paris contributed to public unrest along with demands for political freedom. Food shortages and economic hardship have also caused riots and protests against unjust government policies. The Boston Tea Party showed how food-related commodities could become symbols of protest against unfair taxation.

Global food crises led to the establishment of the World Food Programme (WFP) to address hunger and food insecurity. Several United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, WHO and UNDP, work to improve food security. Hunger is multidimensional and differs according to social and economic conditions. It may mean missing a meal or suffering from chronic undernutrition and physical weakness. Hunger also has emotional and political effects on farmers, workers and families.

Poor and hungry people can be exploited through unfair laws, low wages and limited opportunities for self-sustenance. Government schemes providing subsidised food grains may fail because of corruption, black marketing or poor-quality supplies. Thus, hunger is not simply a lack of food but is also connected with poverty and social inequality.

Population growth can put pressure on limited food, water and land resources. Thomas Malthus argued that rapid population growth could eventually create food shortages. Hunger and poverty form a vicious cycle because hunger reduces people’s physical and psychological ability to work. Food crises can also cause environmental damage through deforestation, soil erosion and cultivation of marginal lands.

Several measures can help tackle hunger, such as agricultural self-reliance, farm cooperatives, fair prices for farmers and debt relief. Increasing arable land under cultivation can also improve food security. Supporting small farmers and farm workers can reduce exploitation and poverty. Hunger remains a serious global problem in regions such as Ethiopia, Somalia and parts of India. Therefore, governments, international organizations and society must work together to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food.