Current Affairs 07 October 2024

CONTENTS

1. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission
2. Salt Pan Land
3. Cholera
4. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
5. Geographical Indication (GI) tags
6. Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan

 Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission

Context:

The Government will soon roll out the next version of the livelihood mission for urban poor and vulnerable sections – National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM 2.0). This will focus on six groups, including construction workers, gig workers, waste management workers, care workers, domestic workers and transportation workers.

Relevance:

GS II: Government policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
2. DAY-NULM 2.0

About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is a program launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in India. Here are the key features of the mission:

Implementation:

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, meaning that both the central government and state governments contribute to its funding.
• The funding ratio between the Centre and the States is 75:25, except for the North Eastern and Special Category states, where the ratio is 90:10.

Mobilization and Self-Help Groups:

• DAY-NULM has successfully mobilized more than 8.4 million urban poor women across India.
• It has formed over 831,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in over 4,000 towns as of 2023.

Objectives and Focus:

• The mission focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship among the urban poor, particularly women.
• It aims to enhance their capacity to access financial services and create sustainable livelihoods.
• The mission aims to uplift the urban poor by providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development and access to credit.

Components:

• The mission includes various components such as skill training, self-employment, social mobilization and institution development, and street vendor rehabilitation.

DAY-NULM 2.0

The DAY-NULM 2.0 (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission) is a revamped initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of the urban poor through financial support and infrastructure development.

• Scheme Overview:
  • The government will help eligible urban poor individuals or groups access microcredit up to Rs 4 lakh for individuals and Rs 20 lakh for groups.
  • This microcredit will come with a subsidised interest rate of 5%.
• Key Benefits:
  • The microcredit will assist beneficiaries in:
    • Starting small enterprises.
    • Developing social infrastructure, like setting up labour chowks.
    • Providing innovation grants for activities like purchasing sanitation machinery.
• Pilot Exercise:
  • To launch the NULM 2.0, the government will conduct a pilot exercise in 25 cities to:
    • Identify urban poor.
    • Ensure the correct targeting of schemes to enhance the beneficiaries’ earnings and living standards.

-Source: The Hindu

Salt Pan Land

Context:

The Maharashtra government has issued a GR (Government Resolution) allocating 255.9 acres of salt pan land, distributed over three land parcels in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, for the construction of rental houses in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project through a lease agreement.

Relevance:

GS I: Geography

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are salt pans?
2. What are the terms for allocation of land?
3. What are the concerns?
4. What lies ahead?

What are salt pans?

• Salt pan lands are ecologically important salt marshlands.
• They are low-lying areas around the shore that are used for salt cultivation.
• They act as holding ponds and work as a sponge for the absorption of rain. They are a coastal area’s natural defence against flooding.
• They help intertidal activity, and are home to diverse flora and fauna.

What are the terms for allocation of land?

• Four conditions have been put forth for the allocation of the land which will be given at a concessional rate of 25% of the prevailing rate.
• The State government will collect the land revenue from the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), the special purpose vehicle (SPV), and pay it to the Central government.
• The DRPPL will bear the cost of resettlement of the labourers working on the land, and other incidental costs for the acquisition of the land.
• But the court cases and other legal matters will be handled through the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), a government body.
• The land will be used for rental housing, slum rehabilitation, and affordable housing for economically weaker sections.
• The DRPPL is an SPV in which an Adani Group entity holds 80% stake and the State government has a 20% stake.
• The land will be leased to the Maharashtra government for a period of 99 years, and it cannot be used for commercial activities.

What are the concerns?

• Urban planners and environmentalists say that an impact assessment study needs to be done before opening up large packs of land for intensive activities like housing.
• They also say that the salt pan lands on the Eastern Express Highway have played an important role in keeping the eastern suburbs free from flooding.
• The most important demand with respect to the Dharavi project has been for in-situ rehabilitation.
• Urban planners point out that handing over land parcels in different parts of the city for a developer will lead to formation of ghettos.
• They also say that the impact of hyperactivity on ecologically sensitive areas needs to be studied.

What lies ahead?

• Land Transfer:
  • The Centre will transfer land ownership to the State government.
• Project Approval:
  • The State government will give the go-ahead to DRPPL once the project plans are approved.
  • DRPPL must secure approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change before moving forward.
• Legal Concerns:
  • Environmentalists anticipate potential legal challenges, suggesting the process can be contested in court.
• Litigation:
  • As per a Government Resolution (GR) issued by Maharashtra, any litigation related to this matter will be handled by DRP, a government body.

-Source: The Hindu

Cholera

Context:

Recently, Cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, has experienced a resurgence, leading to approximately 4,000 deaths in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is cholera?
2. Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera
3. Factors Leading to Cholera Resurgence

What is cholera?

• Cholera is caused by a bacteria called Vibrio cholera and is usually spread through contaminated drinking water or food. It causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration.
• If left untreated, cholera can be fatal, even in healthy people.
• The deadly effects of the disease are due to the toxin produced in the small intestine which causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water which results in diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts or electrolytes.
• Cholera bacteria might not cause illness in all the people who are exposed to them, but they still pass the bacteria in their stool, which can contaminate food and water sources.
• While modern sewage systems have been known to have eliminated cholera in most countries, there is a potential risk in situations of inadequate sanitation and unnatural circumstances like war and poverty.

Symptoms

• While most people exposed to the cholera bacterium might not know they have been infected, they can still infect others through contaminated water as they shed cholera bacteria in their stool for seven to 14 days.
• Some of the symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and dehydration. Signs of cholera include fatigue, sunken eyes, dry mouth, extreme thirst, dry skin, little or no urination, low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance which can cause muscle cramps and lead to rapid loss of salts such as chloride, sodium and potassium.

Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera

The Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera has worsened significantly between 2022 and 2024, with a notable increase in cases and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 22 countries experienced ongoing cholera outbreaks, and as of August 2024, 2,400 deaths had been recorded globally. Cholera’s impact primarily affects Africa and Asia, though imported cases have been seen in Europe. By 2023, global cholera cases increased by 13%, and deaths rose by 17%, totaling 4,000 fatalities. The geographic spread of cholera has shifted, with a decline in Asia but a doubling of cases in Africa, primarily due to healthcare inequities. India reported 3,805 cholera cases by August 2024 in a multi-country outbreak that affected neighboring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Factors Leading to Cholera Resurgence:

• Impact on Water Quality:
  • Floods, monsoonal rains, and extreme weather events cause sewage overflows into water sources, while droughts and heatwaves concentrate cholera bacteria, leading to outbreaks.
• Water and Sanitation:
  • According to UNICEF (2019), 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 3.6 billion have inadequate sanitation facilities, creating conditions ripe for cholera spread.
• Microplastic Adaptation:
  • Research from 2023 shows Vibrio pathogens (cholera-causing bacteria) can attach to microplastics, potentially adapting to thrive in ocean environments.
• Conflict Zones:
  • Areas impacted by conflict face major disruptions in health and sanitation services, increasing vulnerability to cholera outbreaks.
• Displaced Populations:
  • Overcrowded conditions among displaced individuals without access to clean water increase cholera risks.
• Vaccine Shortages:
  • In 2023, only 36 million doses of cholera vaccines were produced—far less than the demand. A single-dose regimen was introduced due to this shortage, replacing the usual two-dose standard.
• Limited Health Infrastructure:
  • The lack of robust health services in the most affected regions severely limits effective outbreak response and containment measures. Currently, there is only one manufacturer producing Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs), resulting in a 40-million dose shortage annually.

-Source: The Hindu

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

Context:

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) completed its three-year journey on 27th September, aiming to revolutionize the nation’s digital healthcare ecosystem by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in healthcare.

Relevance:

GS II- Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
2. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission:

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will help connect digital health solutions across the country.
• All Indians will get a digital health ID under this scheme.
• Every citizen’s health record will now be digitally secure.
• The health ID will be used as health account.
• Personal health records can be linked to this account and viewed with the help of a mobile application.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will provide reliable data, leading to better treatment and savings for patients too.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is the flagship scheme of the Union government as a part of the Indian government’s National Health Policy.
• AB-PMJAY provides a health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh a family a year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, to India’s bottom 40% poor and vulnerable population.
• The programme was launched in September, 2018.
• AB-PMJAY is under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The PM Jan Arogya Yojana beneficiaries get an e-card that can be used to avail services at an empanelled hospital, public or private, anywhere in the country, with which they can walk into a hospital and obtain cashless treatment.
• The scheme has certain pre-conditions by which it picks who can avail of the health cover benefit. While in the rural areas the list is mostly categorized on lack of housing, meagre income and other deprivations, the urban list of PMJAY beneficiaries is drawn up on the basis of occupation.

Key Features of AB-PMJAY

• PM-JAY is a health assurance scheme that covers 10.74 crores households across India or approximately 50 crore Indians.
• It provides a cover of 5 lakh per family per year for medical treatment in empanelled hospitals, both public and private.
• It provides cashless and paperless service to its beneficiaries at the point of service, i.e., the hospital.
• E-cards are provided to the eligible beneficiaries based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011).
• There is no restriction on family size, age or gender.
• All previous medical conditions are covered under the scheme.
• It covers 3 days of hospitalisation and 15 days of post hospitalisation, including diagnostic care and expenses on medicines.
• The scheme is portable and a beneficiary can avail medical treatment at any PM-JAY empanelled hospital outside their state and anywhere in the country.
• The Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of Coronavirus under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Geographical Indication (GI) tags

Context:

Recently, the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted the GI tag to eight products from the Assam region, including traditional food items and several unique varieties of rice beer.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About New GI Tagged Products
2. Geographical Indications (GI) Tag

About New GI Tagged Products

Different Types of Rice Beer Unique in their Way:

• Bodo Jou Gwran: It is mainly said to contain the maximum amount of alcohol amongst Bodo rice beers, nearly 16.11%.
• Maibra Jou Bidwi: It is also famous as Maibra Jwu Bidwi or Maibra Zwu Bidwi; it is considered a prestige drink of welcome amongst the Bodo tribes. Half-cooked rice is taken for brewing and then fermented with ‘amao’ – a source of yeast.
• Bodo Jou Gishi: The fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage is traditionally fermented in a traditional Bodo way.

Traditional Food Products:

• Bodo Napham: Fermented fish is prepared anaerobically inside a sealed container for 2-3 months, which is a favourite dish among them.
• Bodo Ondla: Rice powder curry preparation, aromatic with garlic, ginger, salt, and alkali.
• Bodo Gwkha: Known as Gwka Gwkhi, this is a traditional preparation among themselves during the time of the Bwisagu festival.
• Bodo Narzi: Semi-fermented food prepared with jute leaves, Corchorus capsularis, is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and essential minerals.
• Bodo Aronai: It is a small, traditional cloth of 1.5-2.5 meters long and 0.5 meters wide, symbolizing Bodo heritage.

Geographical Indications (GI) Tag

Definition and Importance:

• Geographical Indications of Goods indicate the country or place of origin of a product.
• They assure consumers of the product’s quality and distinctiveness derived from its specific geographical locality.
• GI tags are an essential component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and are protected under international agreements like the Paris Convention and TRIPS.

Administration and Registration:

• Geographical Indications registration in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• The registration and protection are administered by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The registration is valid for 10 years, and it can be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.

Significance and Examples:

• GI tags provide a unique identity and reputation to products based on their geographical origin.
• The first product in India to receive a GI tag was Darjeeling tea.
• Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags with 47 registered products, followed by Tamil Nadu with 39.

Ownership and Proprietorship:

• Any association, organization, or authority established by law can be a registered proprietor of a GI tag.
• The registered proprietor’s name is entered in the Register of Geographical Indication for the applied product.
• Protection and Enforcement:
• Geographical Indications protect the interests of producers and prevent unauthorized use of the product’s name or origin.
• Enforcement of GI rights helps maintain the quality and reputation of the products associated with their specific geographical regions.

Location of the Geographical Indications Registry:

• The Geographical Indications Registry is located in Chennai, India.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan

Context:

Recently, the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) to tackle dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses was launched by the World Health Organisation

Relevance:

GS II: Health

About Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP):

• The goals of the Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan also include reducing the global burden of diseases caused by Aedes-borne arboviral infections, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. It encourages coordination and integration in the global response for managing outbreaks.
• Key Components:
  • Emergency Coordination: To provide leadership and coordination for an effective response.
  • Collaborative Surveillance: Developing and using surveillance tools for early detection, control, and field investigations of outbreaks.
  • Community Protection: Engaging local communities in adopting preventive measures, including mosquito population control.
  • Safe and Scalable Care: Ensuring health services can manage and prevent deaths through necessary care.
  • Access to Countermeasures: Promoting research and development of new treatments and vaccines.
• Implementation and Alignment: The plan will be implemented until September 2025. It integrates with global efforts, including the Global Vector Control Response (2017–2030) and the Global Arbovirus Initiative (2022), focused on strengthening vector control and addressing arboviruses with epidemic consequences.

-Source: The Hindu