CONTENTS
- eSanjeevani
- Yudh Abhyas
- Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)
eSanjeevani
Context:
Union Health Minister recently informed the Rajya Sabha that the Centre’s telemedicine application eSanjeevani has completed 14,17,81,384 teleconsultations.
Relevance:
GS III- Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is E-Sanjeevani?
- Benefits of telemedicine
What is E-Sanjeevani?
- Ministry eevani AB-HWC) in the hub and spoke model and patient to doctor (eSanjeevani OPD).
- E-Sanjeevani OPD (out-patient department) is a telemedicine variant for the public to seek health services remotely; it was rolled out on 13th of April 2020 during the first lockdown in the country.
- e-Sanjeevani OPD is a Govt of India flagship telemedicine platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), Mohali under the aegis of MoHFW, Govt of India.
- It provides free consultations to any Indian citizen.
- However, with covid cases surging, the demand for doctors is up while the supply has reduced due to doctors being pulled out for covid ward duties.
- It enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real-time.
- At the end of these remote consultations, eSanjeevani generates electronic prescriptions which can be used for sourcing medicines.
- Andhra Pradesh was the first state to roll out eSanjeevani AB-HWC services in November 2019.
Benefits of telemedicine
- Transportation: Patients can avoid spending gas money or wasting time in traffic with video consultations.
- No missing work: Today, individuals can schedule a consultation during a work break or even after work hours.
- Childcare/Eldercare Challenges: Those who struggle to find care options can use telemedicine solutions.
Yudh Abhyas
Context:
Armies of India and the United States will begin another edition of their joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ at Fort Wainwright in Alaska.
Relevance:
GS III: Security challenges
Dimensions of the Article:
- Yudh Abhyas: India-USA Joint Military Exercise
- Yudh Abhyas 2023 (19th Edition)
- List of Other India-USA Exercises
Yudh Abhyas: India-USA Joint Military Exercise
- Yudh Abhyas is an annual joint military exercise conducted between the armies of India and the USA.
- The exercise has been held continuously since 2004, aiming to foster cooperation, share training, and enhance joint operating skills.
Yudh Abhyas 2023 (19th Edition):
- The 2023 edition is the 19th iteration of the joint exercise, hosted alternately between India and the USA.
- The training will focus on the deployment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
- Various operations related to peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) will be practiced.
- Swift and coordinated relief efforts in response to natural calamities will be practiced by troops from both nations.
- The exercise will involve the employment of a coalition-integrated battle group in challenging mountainous and extreme climatic conditions, incorporating elements like heliborne or airborne operations.
List of Other India-USA Exercises:
- Army: Vajra Prahar (Joint Special Forces Exercise)
- Navy: MALABAR (Multilateral Naval Exercise)
- Air Force: Cope India, Red Flag (Multilateral Air Exercises)
Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)
Context:
Recently, the Minister of State for Education informed the Lok Sabha about the Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF), mentioned in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
Relevance:
GS II: Education
Dimensions of the Article:
- Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)
- Interventions for Girls’ Education under Samagra Shiksha
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)
Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF):
- The Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) aims to ensure high-quality education for all children, with a focus on promoting gender inclusion.
- It seeks to address concerns related to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), including females and transgender individuals.
- The fund will be utilized to provide necessary amenities, such as secure and sanitary vending machines, to enhance educational infrastructure.
National Education Policy (NEP) and Gender Inclusion:
- The NEP emphasizes “Equitable and Inclusive Education,” aiming to ensure that no child is left behind due to socio-cultural identities.
- It recognizes the concerns of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) and promotes gender as a cross-cutting priority for achieving gender equality in education.
- Specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0, part of NEP, allocate dedicated resources for SEDGs, including girls.
Interventions for Girls’ Education under Samagra Shiksha:
- Opening of schools in the neighborhood to facilitate access for girls.
- Provision of free uniforms and textbooks for girls up to class VIII.
- Appointment of additional teachers, including women teachers, to ensure quality education.
- Stipend for girls with special needs (CWSN) from class I to XII.
- Construction of separate toilets for girls for improved sanitation and hygiene.
- Sensitization programs for teachers to promote girls’ participation.
- Development of gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials, including textbooks.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs):
- KGBVs are residential schools for girls from disadvantaged groups, such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) categories.
- These schools cater to classes VI to XII and are established in Educationally Backward Blocks to reduce gender gaps in education.
