वैश्विक भुखमरी सूचकांक – 2014

वैश्विक भुखमरी सूचकांक’ (GHI) विश्व के विकासशील देशों में भुखमरी व कुपोषण की गणना एवं इसके तुलनात्मक अध्ययन हेतु बहुआयामी सूचकांक है। इस सूचकांक को ‘अंतर्राष्ट्रीय खाद्य नीति अनुसंधान संस्थान’ (International Food Policy Research Institute-IFPRI) द्वारा दो गैर-सरकारी संगठनों (NGOs)- ‘वेल्ट हंगर हिल्फ’ (Welt Hunger Hilfe) और ‘कन्सर्न वर्ल्डवाइड’(Concern Worldwide) की सहायता से प्रतिवर्ष प्रकाशित किया जाता है। इस सूचकांक को तीन संकेतकों के आधार पर तैयार किया जाता है-अल्प-पोषण (Under-nourishment), बाल अल्पवजन (Child Underweight)एवं बाल मृत्यु दर (Child Mortality Rate)। इस सूचकांक में कम मान देश की अच्छी स्थिति को दिखाता है वहीं अधिक मान देश में भयावह भुखमरी को प्रदर्शित करता है। इस सूचकांक में पांच वर्ग बनाए गए हैं- 4.9 या उससे कम ‘अल्प’ (Low), 5-9.9 ‘मध्यम’ (Moderate), 10-19.9 ‘गंभीर’ (Serious), 20-29.9 ‘भयावह’ (Alarming)और 30 या उससे अधिक ‘चरम भयावह’ (Extreme Alarming) वर्ष 2014 के लिए यह सूचकांक 13 अक्टूबर,2014 को जारी किया गया। इस सूचकांक के महत्त्वपूर्ण बिंदु इस प्रकार हैं-

• वैश्विक भुखमरी सूचकांक (GHI)-2014 में भारत का स्थान 55वां (76 देशों में) है। भारत का वर्ष 2013 में 63वां स्थान था।

GHI स्कोर निकालने का फार्मूला

G H I =    PUN + CUW + CM 3

G H I –     वैश्विक भुखमरी सूचकांक

P U N-     अल्पपोषित जनसंख्या का प्रतिशत

C U W-   पांच वर्ष से कम आयु के अल्पवजन बच्चे

C M- पांच वर्ष से कम आयु के बच्चों की मृत्यु दर (प्रतिशत में)

• इस वर्ष भारत की स्थिति पाकिस्तान एवं बांग्लादेश (दोनों 57वें स्थान पर) से बेहतर है, लेकिन वह नेपाल (44वां स्थान) और श्रीलंका (39वां स्थान) से अभी भी पीछे बना हुआ है।
• वैश्विक भुखमरी सूचकांक, 2014 में भारत का स्कोर 17.8 है। गत वर्ष भारत का स्कोर 21.3 था। इस प्रकार इस वर्ष भारत ‘भयावह’ (Alarming) वर्ग से निकलकर ‘गंभीर’ (Serious) वर्ग में आ गया।
• इस वर्ष भारत का स्कोर अल्प-पोषण में 17 (अर्थात 17% जनसंख्या अल्प-पोषित), बाल अल्पवजन में 30.7 (अर्थात 5 वर्ष से कम आयु के 30.7% बच्चे अल्पवजन) और बाल मृत्यु दर में 5.6 (अर्थात 5 वर्ष से कम आयु के 5.6% बच्चे बाल मृत्यु का शिकार) रहा।
• इस रिपोर्ट के अनुसार वर्ष 1990 से 2014 तक वैश्विक भुखमरी की स्थिति में 39% सुधार हुआ है। वर्ष 1990 में विश्व का औसत GHI स्कोर 20.6 था जो 2014 में 39% कम होकर 12.5 हो गया।
• भुखमरी की स्थिति में इस सुधार के बावजूद अभी भी‘गंभीर’(Serious) स्थिति बरकरार है। विश्व की 805 मिलियन आबादी (80.5 करोड़) अभी भी भुखमरी की चपेट में है।
• इस वर्ष की रिपोर्ट में ‘चरम भयावह’स्थिति वाले मात्र दो देश हैं-बुरुंडी (76वां स्थान) और इरिट्रिया (75वां स्थान)। इसके अलावा 14 देश ‘भयावह’ स्थिति में हैं।
• इस वर्ष की रिपोर्ट में सबसे कम GHI स्कोर मॉरिशस और थाईलैंड (स्कोर-5, प्रथम स्थान) का है।
• इस वर्ष की रिपोर्ट का केंद्रीय विषय है-‘छिपी हुई भुखमरी’(Hidden Hunger)।

देश की पहली मानसिक स्वास्थ्य नीति का शुभारंभ

आधुनिकीकरण और अंधाधुंध विकास का सबसे बुरा प्रभाव मानवीय स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ा है, विशेषकर मानसिक स्वास्थ्य पर। आधुनिक युग की नवीन जीवन-शैली ने मानव मस्तिष्क को‘तनाव’ एवं ‘अवसाद’ का घर बना दिया है। कई बार अत्यधिक तनाव एवं अवसाद के परिणामस्वरूप व्यक्ति ‘आत्महत्या’ (Sucide) जैसे आत्मघाती कदम उठा लेता है। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन(World Health Organization -WHO) के अनुसार ‘अवसाद’ (Depression) जैसी मानसिक बीमारी विश्व में आत्महत्या की सबसे बड़ी कारक है। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के आंकडों के अनुसार वर्ष 2012 में संपूर्ण विश्व में लगभग 8,04,000 आत्महत्या के मामले सामने आए थे जिनमें से 2,58,000 आत्महत्याओं के पीछे प्रमुख कारक ‘अवसाद’ था। इसी परिप्रेक्ष्य में 10 अक्टूबर, 2014 को भारत के तत्कालीन केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री डॉ. हर्षवर्धन के द्वारा देश की प्रथम ‘मानसिक स्वास्थ्य नीति’ (Mental Health Policy) का शुभारंभ किया गया।

• 10 अक्टूबर को मानसिक स्वास्थ्य नीति के शुभारंभ के साथ ही आगे से प्रत्येक वर्ष 10 अक्टूबर का दिन ‘राष्ट्रीय मानसिक स्वास्थ्य दिवस’ (National Mental Health Day) के रूप में संपूर्ण भारतवर्ष में मनाया जाएगा।
• राष्ट्रीय मानसिक स्वास्थ्य नीति के ही तहत आगरा के मानसिक स्वास्थ्य संस्थान और अस्पताल के आधुनिकीकरण और विस्तार का प्रस्ताव है।
• राष्ट्रीय मानसिक स्वास्थ्य नीति ‘मानसिक स्वास्थ्य कार्य-योजना 365’ (Mental Health Action Plan 365) द्वारा समर्थित है। इसमें केंद्र सरकार, राज्य सरकारों, स्थानीय निकायों एवं सिविल सोसायटी संगठनों द्वारा अदा की जाने वाली विशेष भूमिकाओं का स्पष्ट रूप से उल्लेख किया गया है।
• इस नीति के शुभारंभ के अवसर पर तत्कालीन केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री डॉ. हर्षवर्धन द्वारा दो पुस्तिकाओं ‘सामान्य प्रैक्टिस में अनिवार्य मनोचिकित्सा का मॉड्यूल’(A Training Module of Essential Psychiatry in General Practice) और ‘सामान्य प्रैक्टिस में मनोचिकित्सा के लिए पथप्रदर्शक’ (A Guide to Psychiatry in General Practice) का विमोचन भी किया गया।
• मानसिक रूप से बीमार लोगों की देखभाल के लिए बनाए गए पूर्व कानून जैसे-भारतीय पागलखाना अधिनियम, 1858 (Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858) और भारतीय पागलपन अधिनियम, 1912 (Indian Lunacy Act,1912) में मानवाधिकार के पहलू की उपेक्षा की गई थी और केवल पागलखाने में भर्ती मरीजों पर ही विचार किया जाता था, सामान्य मनोरोगियों पर नहीं।
• स्वतंत्रता के पश्चात भारत में‘मानसिक स्वास्थ्य अधिनियम, 1987’ (Mental Health Act, 1987) अस्तित्व में आया, परंतु इस अधिनियम में कई खामियां होने के कारण इसे कभी भी किसी राज्य एवं केंद्र शासित प्रदेश में लागू नहीं किया गया।
• विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के‘मानसिक स्वास्थ्य एटलस, 2011’ (Mental Health Atlas of 2011) के अनुसार भारत अपने संपूर्ण स्वास्थ्य बजट का मात्र .06 प्रतिशत ही मानसिक स्वास्थ्य पर खर्च करता है जबकि जापान और इंग्लैंड में यह प्रतिशत क्रमशः 4.94 और 10.84 है।
• विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन ने पूर्वानुमान लगाया है कि वर्ष 2020 तक भारत की लगभग 20 प्रतिशत जनसंख्या (लगभग 30 करोड़ लोग) किसी न किसी प्रकार की मानसिक अस्वस्थता से पीड़ित होगी। वर्तमान में भारत में मात्र 3500 मनोचिकित्सक हैं, अतः सरकार को अगले दशक में इस अंतराल को काफी हद तक कम करने की समस्या से जूझना होगा।

Agreement Signed with NASA

The agreements signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which are currently valid, are given below. 1. Implementing Arrangement for cooperation on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission for scientific studies on Earth (signed in September 2014). 2. Reimbursable Agreement for Spacecraft Communication and Navigation support for India`s Mars Orbiter Mission (signed in June 2013). 3. Implementing Arrangement for Megha-Tropiques - Global Precipitation Measurement Cooperation (signed in March 2012). 4. Implementing Arrangement for collaboration on OCEANSAT-2 data utilisation activities (signed in March 2012). 5. Framework Agreement for cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes (signed in February 2008) 6. Memorandum of Understanding for flying Mini Synthetic Aperture Radar instrument in Chandrayaan-1 (signed in May 2006). 7. Memorandum of Understanding for flying Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument in Chandrayaan-1 (signed in May 2006). The benefits likely to accrue/accrued from cooperation between ISRO and NASA include exposure to certain high technological areas related to space, complex data processing techniques, sharing of data/infrastructure and joint science studies in understanding Earth and planetary system

Manned Space Mission

Presently, the Government has approved development of a few critical technologies relevant for manned space mission, which also includes development of a Crew Module. ISRO has developed a Crew Module which is similar to the Crew Module of manned flight in terms of its Aerodynamic shape, Mass, Thermal protection system, Parachute system and certain aspects of the structure. The crew module will be tested for its re-entry performance during the experimental flight of GSLV-MkIII.             The details of the commercially successful space missions, in the last three years, year-wise are given below: 2012: ·      Launch of an earth observation satellite SPOT-6 (France) and a micro-satellite PROITERES (Japan) onboard PSLV-C21 on September 09, 2012. This was a dedicated commercial mission and the amount spent on this mission was `80 Crores. 2013: ·      Launch of 6 micro-satellites namely, STRAND-1 (UK), NLS-8.1 (Austria), NLS-8.2 (Austria), NLS-8.3 (Denmark), SAPPHIRE (Canada) and NEOSSAT (Canada) on board PSLV-C20 utilizing the spare capacity of PSLV-C20 on February 25, 2013. No additional amount was spent on this mission as these satellites have been launched as co-passengers. 2014: ·      Launch of an earth observation satellite SPOT-7 (France) along with 4 micro-satellites namely, AISAT (Germany), NLS-7.1 (Canada), NLS-7.2 (Canada) and VELOX-1 (Singapore) on board PSLV-C23 on June 30, 2014. This was a dedicated commercial mission and the amount spent on this mission was ` 80 Crore.             The protection of planet earth from approaching asteroids/celestial bodies is a global issue. ISRO has taken up studies in this area and is participating in various international forums like Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, Planetary Defense Conference etc., to address the issues and work out the mitigation plan. Various technical options considered and evaluated by international community to keep away asteroids from the Earth are Kinetic impact, Gravity Tractor, Solar concentrator and Laser deflection.

Light Water Reactors

There have been some reports in the media raising certain issues regarding the quality of equipment and components in the Light Water Reactor (LWRs) at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu which has been set up in technical collaboration with M/s Atomstroyexport (ASE) of the Russian Federation. Presently, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) Units 1 & 2 (2X1000 MW), set up in technical cooperation with M/s ASE of the Russian Federation are under implementation. Unit-1 has been commissioned and connected to the grid in October 2013 and Unit-2 is under commissioning. In addition, Government has also accorded administrative and financial approval for construction of KKNPP-3&4 (2x1000 MW) to be located at the same site. Before the commencement of manufacturing of components and equipment for KKNPP, a detailed Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) was prepared by the manufacturers which was reviewed by the Russian designers and other Russian organisations and approved by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). All the equipments and components have cleared all the stages of this Quality Assurance Plan. Thus it has been ascertained by means of establishing systems for controlling the manufacturing process, that there is no compromise in the quality of the components supplied to KKNPP from M/s ASE of the Russian Federation. We have indigenously developed a Light Water Reactor of small size, operational for the last eight years. This technology is being upgraded for making a 900 MWe Light Water Reactor indigenously. Presently, we are in the process of preparation of detailed designs for approval by the Regulatory Authority, i.e. the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The present installed capacity of nuclear power capacity in the country, of 4780 MW comprises 4160 MW based on the indigenous technology and 620 MW [Tarapur Atomic Power Station Units 1&2 (TAPS 1&2) – 2X160 MW and Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Units 1&2 (RAPS 1&2) – 100 + 200 MW] based on foreign technical cooperation. In addition, seven reactors with an aggregate capacity of 5300 MW are at various stages of construction / commissioning. On progressive completion of these reactors the installed capacity of nuclear power in the country is expected to reach 10080 MW, of which, 2620 MW (TAPS 1&2 – 2X160 MW, RAPS 1&2 – 100+200 MW and Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Units 1&2 (KKNPP 1&2) – 2 X 1000), or about 26% would be based on foreign cooperation. The present installed capacity is planned to be tripled in the next ten years, based on both indigenous technologies and with foreign technical cooperation. The capacity based on foreign technical cooperation is expected to be about 31% after ten years.

Nuclear Power Programme

The Government is committed to implement the third stage of Indian Nuclear Power Programme, after an adequate nuclear installed capacity has been reached based on Fast Breeder Reactors to be set up in the second stage.  On account of non-existence of any fissile isotope in naturally occurring Thorium (unlike that existing in Uranium), commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin only when abundant supply of either Uranium or Plutonium resources are available.  Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a thorium based nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved level (without much further growth) of nuclear power programme with thorium alone, without additional demands on uranium or plutonium resources. Therefore, considering the meager domestic uranium resources in the country, it is feasible to start a significant commercial level Thorium based reactor programme in our country only after an adequate inventory of Plutonium becomes available from our Fast Breeder Reactors, comprising the second stage of Indian nuclear programme.  Accordingly, the utilisation of Thorium as a practically inexhaustible energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the Indian nuclear programme, which can be reached after a few decades.                         Substantial work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for utilisation of Thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), to serve as a technology demonstrator for use of thorium based fuel on a large scale.         The details are given below: Projects initiated in the last five years: Project Location Capacity (MW) Completion Cost (`crore) Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Units 3&4 (KAPP 3&4) Kakrapar, Gujarat 2 X 700 11459 Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7&8 (RAPP 7&8) Rawatbhata, Rajasthan 2 X 700 12320   The details of Nuclear Power Projects planned for start of work in the XII Five Year      Plan are given below : Project Location Capacity (MW) Indigenous Reactors Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP 1&2) Gorakhpur, Haryana 2 x 700 Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project (CMPAPP 1&2) Chutka, Madhya Pradesh 2 x 700 Mahi Banswara, 1 & 2 Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan 2 x 700 Kaiga 5 & 6 Kaiga, Karnataka 2 x 700 Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR 1&2) Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu 2 x 500 Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) Location to be decided       300 Reactors with Foreign Cooperation Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP 3&4) Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu 2 x 1000 Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP 1&2) Jaitapur, Maharashtra 2 x 1650 Kovvada, 1 & 2 Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh 2 x 1500 Chhaya Mithi Virdi, 1&2 Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Gujarat 2 x 1100

Increase in Emigration of Unskilled Workers

The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs Smt.Sushma Swaraj said in a statement regarding ‘Increase in Emigration of Unskilled Workers’laid on the table of the Lok Sabha today thatthere is no sharp increase in the emigration clearance granted to semi-skilled/unskilled workers during the last three years i.e. 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 which was 55949, 60501 and 57085 in those three years, respectively. Complaints have been received from Indian workers on the alleged cheating by recruitment agencies/agents offering placements abroad from time to time. Complaints received are generally in the nature of non-providing the promised employment/change of employment or condition of employment to the disadvantage of emigrants unilaterally by the Foreign Employer, non-payment/ delayed payment or underpayment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living conditions, physical harassment, non-renewal of visa and labour card on time, refusal to pay for the medical treatment, denial of leave and air-ticket to the hometown on completion of contract period, forcible custody of Passport and Visa, refusal of leave or ‘exit/re-entry permits’/‘final exit visa’ etc. Details of complaints received on the alleged cheating by recruitment agencies/agents offering placements abroad during the last one year, State-wise is at Annexure. Ministry of overseas Indian affairs has introduced a plan scheme on skill development for overseas employment, namely, SwarnapravasYojana in the current 12th Five year Plan. The scheme has been formulated to imbibe skill and expertise to potential migrants to prevent exploitation of these workers in the destination countries. The scheme will adhere to thebroad objectives of skill development in India, as envisioned by the National Skill Development Policy, 2009. For the 12th Five year Plan thetotal project cost envisaged is Rs137 crores and budgetary allocation for 2014-15 is Rs. 20 crore. MOIA has been mandated to train 5 Million people by 2022 under this scheme. The key objectives of the scheme are as under: Position India as a preferred source country for skilled and trained workers in select sectors that face skill shortages in the international labour market, and in which India enjoys competitive advantage Diversify destination-country base with focus on geographies/countries that will experience significant labour supply gaps & skill shortages and are of strategic interest to India Enhance employability of Indian Youth abroad and move them up the wage-chain by providing training and certification which will be internationally recognized Indian Missions have an exclusive wing to look into matters relating to Indian workers. Whenever a complaint is received from any Indian worker abroad or his family in India or any other source, the Indian Mission immediately initiates action to resolve the issue by getting in touch with the foreign employer/local authorities and emigrant worker concerned, if required visit labour camps and actively pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. Whenever necessary, the complainant is also provided counseling and accordingly referred to concerned labour office/court, Immigration and Police authorities etc. The Missions also provide interpreting services to the Indian complainants. For redressal of grievances of emigrants, Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at Dubai, UAE, has been established which is a 24X7 toll free multilingual helpline and also provides free legal, psychological and financial counseling to distressed Indians. Other Missions also have helpline/help desks to attend to grievances of Indian nationals. Indian Missions also actively interact with local Indian Communities in their socio cultural programmes so as to seek their help in times of emergencies and to redress the grievances of Indian workers. Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been established in the Indian Missions for on-site welfare of emigrants, which include offering food and accommodation like shelter for short term to Indian workers in distress, air-ticket at Government cost for repatriation to India, transportation of the mortal remains, initial legal assistance and emergency medical help and organizing awareness camps at prominent worker accommodation sites. Ministry has launched a soft-ware module in the Ministry’s website in which dependents of deceased emigrant can make entries relating to deceased emigrants and the concerned Indian Mission immediately acts on such requests in order to facilitate transportation of mortal remains. The Ministry has also been keeping a close watch over this issue through this module.