UPSC (IAS) Preparation - Only most important current affairs for UPSC / IAS /UKPSC

16 March 2016

Impact of Passive Smoking on Children

As per Global Youth Tobacco Survey, a school-based survey of students in grades 8, 9, and 10 conducted in 2009, one in five students live in homes where others smoke, and more than one-third of the students are exposed to smoke around others outside of the home; one-quarter of the students have at least one parent who smokes.

Exposure to second hand smoke results in lung cancer and heart diseases among adults, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), chronic respiratory infections, exacerbation/worsening of asthma, reduced lung function growth, middle ear diseases, and acute respiratory illnesses among children. Smoking in the home affects babies and young children as well as the elderly and other adults, especially women.

The Government has taken measures including, inter alia, the following to curb smoking: (i) Enactment of the “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003”.

(ii) Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

(iii) Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the objectives to (a) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (b) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (c) ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco laws and (d) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.

(iv) Notification of rules to ban smoking in public places.

(v) Notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes.

(vi) Notification of rules on new pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages.

(vii) Launch of public awareness campaigns through a variety of media. v Government of India has banned certain kinds of smokeless tobacco products like gutkha and chewing tobacco through the notification issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Other tobacco products are regulated by the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003), which contain provisions, inter alia, relating to ban on sale of tobacco products by/to minors, ban on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions, ban on promotions/advertisements of tobacco products, etc.

steps taken towards elimination of Kala-Azar

To achieve the Kala-azar elimination goal by 2017 set by the WHO, the following steps have been taken:

1. National Roadmap for Kala-azar Elimination (2014) has been circulated to states with clear goal, objectives, strategies, timelines with activities and functions at appropriate level. This document has been developed for focused intervention at national, state, district and sub-district and village levels.

2. Treatment of Kala-azar patient with single day single dose Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) injection has improved treatment compliance. Unintrupted free supply of AmBisome is ensured by WHO.

3. Regular supply of diagnostic kit (rapid diagnostic test) and drugs in states is ensured.

4. Funds are provided to states for incentive of Rs. 500/- to Kala-azar patient and Rs. 2,000/- to PKDL case from GoI to compensate loss of wages.

5. Incentive of Rs. 300/- to ASHA /health volunteer to bring Kala- azar suspected case to health facility and to ensure complete treatment. ASHA is also being paid Rs. 200/- during indoor residual spray for social mobilization and community acceptance to allow spray in their rooms.

6. Active search of Kala azar and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) case and IEC/BCC with the help of development partners.

7. In 21 high endemic districts of Bihar (15 districts), Jharkhand (4 districts) and West Bengal (2 districts), DDT has been replaced by Syenthetic Pyrethroid where vector showed tolerance towards DDT. All endemic Kala-azar villages are covered with focal spray where new case is found during non IRS period. Hand Compression pumps are being used for spraying.

8. Govt. of India is closely working with development partners like Bill Melinda Gates Foundation(BMGF); KalaCORE Consortium; Rajendra Memorial Research Institute (RMRI); National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Patna and World Health Organisation (WHO) for achieving the desired goal of elimination.

9. The Kala-azar Elimintion is being reviewed on monthly basis by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and higher officials of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Programme is striving hard to achieve elimination within the target set by WHO. With the supportive monitoring, regular reviews and field visits, 502 (80%) blockPHCs out of 625 endemic block PHCs have shown less than one case per 10,000 population in 2015 at block PHC level.

Addressing the Problems of Rural Health

The health status of the population, especially that of rural population, does require improvement. However, the condition of the health services in rural areas of the country has improved after the launch of the National Rural Health Mission.

As per the National Health Profile, 2015, the number of beds in rural hospitals is 183602 as against 492177 beds in urban hospitals.

Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide health care facilities lies with the State Governments. To address the healthcare challenges, particularly in rural areas, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 to supplement the efforts of the State/UT governments to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has now been subsumed under the National Health Mission (NHM) as its Sub-Mission, along with National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as the other Sub-Mission.Support under NHM is provided to State/UTs for setting up new facilities or renovation of existing facilities, health human resource on contractual basis, drugs, equipment, diagnostics, Ambulances, Mobile Medical Units etc based on the requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

The government has already taken steps towards provision of free services for maternal health, child health, adolescent health, family planning, universal immunization programme, and for major diseases such as TB, vector borne diseases such as Malaria, dengue and Kala Azar, leprosy etc. Other major initiatives for which states are being supported include JananiShishuSurakshaKaryakram (JSSK), RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK), RashtriyaKishorSwasthyaKaryakram (RKSK), implementation of National Health Mission Free Drugs Service Initiative and National Health Mission Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, Strengthening District Hospitals and implementation of National Quality Assurance Framework. To address health inequities, 184 High Priority Districts have been identified for enhanced fund allocation and focused attention.

Measures to Reduce Anaemia in Women

As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - III (2005-06), prevalence of anaemia in women is 55.3%. State-wise prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) as per the latest survey data is given below.

The steps taken by Government to prevent and treat anaemia amongst women are as follows:

i. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2013 launched “National Iron Plus Initiative” as a comprehensive strategy to combat the public health challenge of Iron Deficiency Anaemia prevalent across the life cycle. There are age specific interventions with Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation and Deworming for improving the haemoglobin levels and reducing the prevalence of anaemia for all age groups, that is children 6-59 months, 5 – 10 years, adolescent girls and boys (11-19 years), pregnant and lactating women and women in reproductive age group (20 – 49 years).

ii. Universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia is a part of ante-natal care and all pregnant women are provided iron and folic acid tablets during their ante-natal visits through the existing network of sub-centers and primary health centres and other health facilities as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).

iii. Every pregnant woman is given iron and folic acid, after the first trimester, to be taken 1 tablet daily for 6 months during ante-natal and post-natal period. Pregnant women, who are found to be clinically anaemic, are given additional tablet for taking two tablets daily.

iv. Government of India has given directions to the States for identification and tracking of severely anaemic cases at all the sub centres and PHCs for their timely management.

v. Health and nutrition education through IEC & BCC to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promotes iron absorption.

vi. To tackle the problem of anemia due to malaria particularly in pregnant women and children, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITBNs) are being distributed in endemic areas.

vii. Health management information system & Mother Child tracking system is being implemented for reporting the cases of anemic and severely anaemic pregnant women.

viii. MCP Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet are being distributed to the pregnant women for educating them on dietary diversification and promotion of consumption of IFA.

ix. 184 High Priority Districts (HPDs) have been identified and prioritized for Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health+ Adolescent (RMNCH+A) interventions for achieving improved maternal and child health outcomes.

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100% FDI decision in food processing sector will play a big role in doubling farmers’ income by 2022

100% FDI decision in food processing sector will play a big role in doubling farmers’ income by 2022: Minister

Aspire to turn India into the food factory for the world in the next few years: Minister

I am looking at a market that goes to the farmer’s doorsteps: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Food Processing Industries Minister inaugurates 31^st edition of AAHAR

Highest ever participation in International Food and Hospitality Fair 2016

Amidst the global slowdown, India continues to be one bright spot. Many foreign players whom I met at international food expositions, requested me to put in a word, so that they can participate in AAHAR. This is testimony to the changed global outlook towards India and the strengthening of ‘Brand India’, thanks to the global outreach of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, the Government has worked hard to create an environment conducive to the growth of the economy. The food processing sector in India is going to be one bright spot which will propel this growth.

- Union Food Processing Industries Minister, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, at inauguration of AAHAR 2016

Inaugurating the International Food and Hospitality Fair 2016, being held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the Minister said that the Budget decision to allow 100% FDI in multi-brand retail for food products produced and processed in India will play a catalytic role in leapfrogging Indian economy. She underlined that the decision pertains to FDI in 100% swadeshi and home-grown food.

The average Indian spends 40% of his income on eatables, and only 10% of what we grow is processed in India. Recalling these facts, the Minister pointed to the huge opportunity that beckons investors. She said that the FDI decision would give a boost to the sector, and would contribute to the eventual aim of uplifting farmers and doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

I wish I did not have to go the market; I wish the market came to me.

Recalling the big market access challenge that India’s farmers face, Smt. Badal said that she is looking at a market that goes to the farmer’s doorsteps, an industry that chases the farmer. She said that the 100% FDI decision would usher in a partnership between industry and farmers, play a huge role in creating backward infrastructure linkages and plugging wastages, thereby improving the farmers’ prospects.

The Minister spoke also of the e-marketing platform that is slated to be launched in April 2016, hailing it as a revolutionary initiative by the Prime Minister. She said that the digital platform will integrate 585 regulated markets, providing farmers and traders with access to opportunities for purchase/ sale of agri-commodities at optimal prices in a transparent manner. Smt. Badal spoke also of the Government’s vision to tap the potential for organic farming in North East India.

Stating that 42 Mega Food Parks are coming up, the Minister said that foreign players can tie up with these parks in pursuing ‘Make In India’, even for specific nations of their choice. This would be facilitated by the plug-and-play model under which these parks would operate, wherein common infrastructural facilities would be provided. Smt. Badal said that she aspires to turn India into the food factory for the world in the next few years.

Aspire to turn India into the food factory for the world in the next few years

- Union Food Processing Industries Minister, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

The Minister congratulated the India Trade Promotion Organization for the unprecedented participation response to AAHAR 2016, especially with its focus on new and young entrepreneurs, and added attractions such as a Culinary Art Competition.

The Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, Shri L. C. Goyal said that AAHAR has transformed from a trade promotion event to a growth propelling event. He said that it has become India’s best known brand in food and hospitality sector, having acquired a prominent place in the global calendar of international expositions.

Shri Goyal said that the decision to allow 100% FDI in the sector would have a huge multiplier effect, by reducing post-harvest wastage, helping crop diversification, incentivizing global players to invest and produce in India and by creating a large number of jobs. He said that this would also help the other objectives of Make in India, Skill India and Start up India.

The Chairman said that ITPO’s role is being reoriented, with introduction of e-tendering and e-refunds. He said that the proposal to redevelop Pragati Maidan Complex into a world-class exhibition-cum-convention complex is at an advanced stage of consideration. He underlined that the administration will not allow any event to be adversely affected, due to the redevelopment project. Noting that AAHAR 2016 has broken previous records in terms of both number of exhibitors and space given to exhibitors, Shri Goyal said that the new motto of ITPO is ‘Better and Bigger’.

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Flagship Programme in FPIs

Thedevelopment of food processing industries in the country, the Ministry is implementing a major flagship Central Sector Scheme of Infrastructure Development for food processing having components of Mega Food Parks, Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure and Setting up / Modernization of Abattoirs.As per latest Annual Survey Industries: 2012-13, the total number of factories in the registered food processing sector in the country was 37,175.In terms of investment in fixed capital, registered food processing sector is growing annually at an average of 18.47 per cent during five years ending 2012-13. As per latest, ASI 2012-13, the Fixed Capital in food processing industries was at ₹ 1,58,865 crore.

For setting up of integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities in the country, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure since 2008. Under the scheme, financial assistance @ 50% of the total cost of plant & machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for NE region and difficult areas (North Eastern states, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of ₹ 10 crore per project is provided for setting up the cold chain infrastructure.Under this scheme, a total 66 projects with 2,92,391 metrictonne storage capacity for fruits and vegetables have been sanctioned by the Ministry during the last three years and the current year. In addition, 30850 MT cold storage capacity for fruits and vegetables, have been created in 7 operational Mega Food Parks projects under the Scheme of Mega Food Parks of this Ministry.

Government is also providing various other incentives to promote creation of cold chain infrastructure in the country as detailed below:

• Services of pre-conditioning, pre-cooling, ripening, waxing, retail packing, labeling of fruits and vegetables have been exempted from Service Tax in Budget 2015-16.

• Loans to food & agro-based processing units and Cold Chain have been classified under Agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) as per the revised RBI Guidelines issued on 23/04/2015.

• Under Section 35-AD of the Income tax Act 1961, deduction to the extent of 150% is allowed for expenditure incurred on investment for (i) setting up and operating a cold chain facility; and (ii) setting up and operating warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce.

• Government has extended Project Imports benefits to cold storage, cold room (including for farm level pre-cooling) or industrial projects for preservation, storage or processing of agricultural, apiary, horticultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic and marine produce and meat. Consequently, all goods related to Food Processing, imported as part of the project, irrespective of their tariff classification, would be entitled to uniform assessment at concessional basic customs duty of 5%.

• Refrigeration machineries and parts used for installation of cold storage, cold room or refrigerated vehicle, for the preservation, storage, transport or processing of agricultural, apiary, horticultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic and marine produce and meat under Tariff Head: Chapter 84 are exempted from Excise Duty.

• Construction, erection, commissioning or installation of original works pertaining to post-harvest storage infrastructure for agricultural produce including cold storages for such purposes are exempted from Service tax.

• Capital investment in the creation of modern storage capacity has been made eligible for Viability Gap Funding scheme of the Finance Ministry. Cold chain and post-harvest storage has been recognized as an infrastructure sub-sector.

Air Pollution

The Government has notified National Ambient Air Quality Standards envisaging 12 pollutants to control air pollution under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These norms have been formulated to adopt uniform methodology for measurement of air pollutants with the help of network of 612 monitoring stations set up across the country. The Government has also notified emission standards for on-road vehicles and mass emission standards for new vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The same are enforced by Transport Departments of the State Governments through Pollution Under Control (PUC) regime. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set up a mechanism called ‘Environmental Surveillance Squad’ (ESS) programme for carrying out surprise inspections of industrial units based on adoption of a uniform approach and elimination of subjectivity in scheduling of inspection. The role of State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees is critical in enforcing the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

The steps taken by the Government to mitigate air pollution in cities in the country include the following:-

(i) Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards envisaging 12 pollutants;

(ii) Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;

(iii) Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;

(iv) Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel, ethanol blend etc. replacing petrol and diesel;

(v) Promotion of cleaner production processes;

Taking note of the gravity of Air Pollution, the Government has taken some more measures, which include:

(i) Launched National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 10 cities and now extended to 23 cities;

(ii) Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;

(iii) Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020;

(iv) Comprehensive review of all Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical Waste and Electronic Waste.

(v) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;

(vi) Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;

(vii) Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries.

(viii) Regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR.

(ix) Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

(x) Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries.

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Water Pollution

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees(PPCs) is monitoring the quality of water bodies at 2500 locations across the country under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQMP) which indicate that organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution. Based on the magnitude of organic pollution, CPCB in 2008 identified 150 polluted river stretches which increased to 302 in 2015. The rivers stretches are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated / partially treated sewage and discharge of industrial wastewater. CPCB assessed the total volume of municipal wastewater generation in the country at about 61,948 MLD as against the installed sewage treatment capacity of 23,277 MLD leaving a wide gap of more than 38,671 MLD. Similar observations were made by WHO in its reports on water pollution.

The steps taken by the Government to address the issues of water pollution include the following:-

i. Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments;

ii. Installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System to check the discharge of effluent directly into the rivers and water bodies;

iii. Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality;

iv. Action to comply with effluent standards is taken by SPCBs / PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers;

v. Financial assistance for installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units;

vi. Issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge;

vii. Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to industries and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

viii. Implementation of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) for conservation and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country which have been merged in February, 2013 into an integrated scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) to undertake various conservation activities including interception, diversion and treatment of waste water, pollution abatement, lake beautification, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation etc.