PIB 15th June 2021

PRADHAN MANTRI BHARTIYA JAN AUSHADHI PARIYOJANA

Focus: GS II- Government Policies and Interventions

Why in news?

Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers virtually inaugurated the Pradhan mantri Bhartiya Jan aushadhi Kendra in Pragpur at Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan Aushadi Campaign.
• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
• The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India works under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• It also intends to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.

What is a generic medicine?

• There is no definition of generic or branded medicines under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 made thereunder. However, generic medicines are generally those which contain same amount of same active ingredient(s) in same dosage form and are intended to be administered by the same route of administration as that of branded medicine.
• The price of an unbranded generic version of a medicine is generally lower than the price of a corresponding branded medicine because in case of generic version, the pharmaceutical company does not have to spend money on promotion of its brand.

Mission of PMBJP

• Create awareness among public regarding generic medicines.
• Create demand for generic medicines through medical practitioners.
• Create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with high quality.
• Provide all the commonly used generic medicines covering all the therapeutic groups.
• Provide all the related health care products too under the scheme.

Vision of PMBJP

• To bring down the healthcare budget of every citizen of India through providing Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices.

Salient Features of the Scheme as follows

• Ensure access to quality medicines.
• Extend coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.
• Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity so that quality is not synonymous with only high price.
• A public programme involving Government, PSUs, Private Sector, NGO, Societies, Co-operative Bodies and other Institutions.
• Create demand for generic medicines by improving access to better healthcare through low treatment cost and easy availability wherever needed in all therapeutic categories.

Benefits of Jan Aushadhi Campaign

• The Jan Aushadhi initiative will make available quality drugs at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• Promote greater awareness about cost effective drugs and their prescription.
• Make available unbranded quality generic medicines at affordable prices through public-private partnership.
• Encourage doctors, more specifically in government hospital to prescribe generic medicines.
• Enable substantial savings in health care more particularly in the case of poor patients and those suffering from chronic ailments requiring long periods of drug use.

JARDALU MANGO

Focus: GS III- Geographical Indications

Why in news?

First commercial consignment of GI certified Jardalu mangoes from Bihar exported to United Kingdom.

Zardalu Mango

• “Zardalu Mango/ Jardalu Mango” of Bhagalpur (Bihar) are famous in world by virtue of its unique fragrance.
• Zardalu mango is light yellow in colour and is known for its sweet fragrance.
• They also received the GI tags.
• Jardalu mango was first planted in Bhagalpur region by Maharaja Rahmat Ali Khan Bahadur of Kharagpur.
• Jardalu mango from Bhagalpur had found a preferred place on the dining tables of different Prime ministers, the Presidents of India, Lok Sabha Speakers, vice-presidents of India and other dignitaries at national and state level.
• Recently department of Posts, Government of India and Department of Horticulture, Government of Bihar have joined hands to supply ”Shahi Lichi” & “Zardalu Mango” to the people at doorstep. 
• Customers can place order on website “horticulture.bihar.gov.in” online.

About GI Tag

• Geographical Indications of Goods are defined as that aspect of industrial property which refer to the geographical indication referring to a country or to a place situated therein as being the country or place of origin of that product.
• Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country.

• Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• GI is also governed by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force with effect from September 2003, this tag is issued by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.
• The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years.
• It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
• The Geographical Indications Registry would be located at Chennai.
• Any association of persons, producers, organisation or authority established by or under the law can be a registered proprietor.
• Their name should be entered in the Register of Geographical Indication as registered proprietor for the Geographical Indication applied for.
• Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags i.e. 47 products followed by Tamil Nadu (39).

SAGARMALA SEAPLANE SERVICES (SSPS) 

Focus: GS III- Infrastructure

 About Sagarmala Seaplane Services

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is initiating the process of commencing operations of the Seaplane services, on the select routes, under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) framework through prospective airline operators.
• The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the Ministry.
• Several destinations are envisaged for seaplane operations.
• The proposed Origin-Destination pairs under Hub and Spoke model include various islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Guwahati Riverfront & Umranso Reservoir in Assam, Yamuna Riverfront / Delhi (as Hub) to Ayodhaya, Tehri, Srinagar(Uttrakhand), Chandigarh and many other tourist places of Punjab & HP, Mumbai (as Hub) to Shirdi, Lonavala, Ganpatipule; Surat (as Hub) to Dwarka, Mandvi & Kandla, Khindsi Dam, Nagpur & Erai Dam, Chandrapur (in Maharashtra) and/or any other Hub & Spoke suggested by the Operator.
• One such Seaplane Service is already in operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 31st October 2020. 

Advantages of Sagarmala Seaplane Services

• To provide connectivity and easier accessibility to remote locations, SDCL is exploring plans to leverage the potential of the vast coastline and numerous water bodies/rivers across India by commencing seaplane operations. 
• Sea Plane will utilize the nearby water bodies for take-off and landing and thus connect those places in a much economical way as conventional airport infrastructure like a runway and terminal buildings are not required for seaplane operations.
• The seaplanes services will be a game-changer providing a supplementary means of faster and comfortable transportation across the nation.
• Apart from providing air connectivity to various remote religious/tourist places, it will boost tourism for domestic and international holidaymakers.
• It will save travel time and stimulate localized short distance travelling especially in the hilly regions or across the rivers/lakes etc.
• In addition to the infrastructural enhancements at the places of operations, it will enormously boost tourism and business activities.
• By providing air connectivity to numerous remote, religious/tourist places and unexplored locations near the water bodies will make the journey easier.
• It will generate employment opportunities and stimulate tourism on these new locations, which will consequently contribute to the country’s GDP in the long run.

Threats of Sagarmala Seaplane Services

• Ecological Concerns regarding Plant and Animal Life.
• Threat to Wildlife.
• Environment Pollution Problems.
• Litter problems in tourism places.