PIB Summaries 19 April 2025

Content:

1. PM hails inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
2. India’s Fight Against Anemia

PM hails inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

What is UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register?

• Launched in 1992, the Memory of the World Programme seeks to:
  • Preserve documentary heritage of global significance.
  • Facilitate universal access to this heritage.
  • Raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding such knowledge systems.

Relevance : GS 1(Culture ,Heritage)

Types of Documentary Heritage Included:

• Manuscripts
• Printed books
• Archival records
• Oral traditions
• Audio-visual materials
• Digital documents

Criteria for Inclusion:

A documentary heritage must meet one or more of the following:

• World significance (influence across nations/cultures)
• Uniqueness or rarity
• Integrity and authenticity
• Threatened status (risk of loss or destruction)
• Impact on history, culture, religion, science, or literature

Some major entries across the world include:

India’s Entries in UNESCO Memory of the World Register

1. IAS Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection (1997)
2. Saiva Manuscripts (2005)
3. Rigveda Manuscripts (2007)
4. Tarikh-e-Khandan-e-Timuriyah (2011)
5. Laghukalachakratantrarajatika (Vimalaprabha) (2011)
6. Shantinatha Charitra (2013)
7. Gilgit Manuscripts (2017)
8. Maitreyavyakarana (2017)
9. Abhinavagupta Manuscripts (2023)
10. Ramcharitmanas (2024)
11. Panchatantra (2024)
12. Sahrdayaloka & Locana (2024)
13. Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (2025)
14. Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra (2025)

Significance of the Inclusion

Global Recognition of Indian Heritage:

• Validates India’s intellectual and spiritual contributions to world civilization.
• Elevates the status of Indian classical knowledge systems on the global stage.

Soft Power & Cultural Diplomacy:

• Boosts India’s soft power projection globally.
• Reinforces India’s image as a civilizational state with deep cultural roots.
• Aligns with India’s push for “Vishwa Guru” (world teacher) narrative.

Preservation and Scholarly Access:

• Enables international collaboration in preserving these texts.
• Facilitates digitization, translation, and wider academic access.

About the Texts Recognized

Bhagavad Gita:

• A 700-verse dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, part of the Mahabharata.
• Synthesizes spiritual, ethical, and philosophical wisdom.
• Influential on leaders (e.g., Gandhi, Vivekananda, Aurobindo) and global thinkers.

Natyashastra:

• Attributed to Bharata Muni, foundational text on dramaturgy and performing arts.
• Covers theatre, dance, music, aesthetics, stage design, makeup, and emotional expression (Rasas).
• Basis of Indian classical dance and theatre like Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Koodiyattam.

Cultural and Political Context

• Reflects India’s renewed focus on cultural resurgence under initiatives like Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, and Vikasit Bharat 2047.
• Part of larger efforts to reclaim indigenous knowledge systems marginalized during colonial rule.
• Highlights synergy between culture and governance in current policy discourse.

Implications

For Indian Society:

• Encourages younger generations to reconnect with traditional texts.
• Promotes interdisciplinary learning linking philosophy, performance, and literature.

For the World:

• Offers non-Western epistemologies to global knowledge systems.
• Serves as a bridge between ancient traditions and contemporary human values.

Challenges Ahead

• Need for accurate translations, authentic commentaries, and contextual pedagogy.
• Risk of politicization or misinterpretation in global academic circles.
• Ensuring inclusive representation of India’s diverse traditions beyond Sanskritic texts.

India’s Fight Against Anemia

 Overview: Why Anemia is a Public Health Challenge

• High Prevalence:67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls in India are anemic (NFHS-5).3 in 4 Indian women have low dietary iron intake.

• Causes:Nutritional: Iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A deficiencies.Non-nutritional: Parasitic infections (e.g., worms), malaria, haemoglobinopathies (like thalassemia), fluorosis.Socio-economic: Early pregnancies, poor maternal care, food insecurity.

• Impact:Impaired cognitive and physical development in children.Reduced productivity and learning capacity in adolescents and adults.Increased maternal and neonatal mortality, low birth weight (LBW) babies, and complications during pregnancy.

Relevance : GS 2(Health ,Social Issues,Governance)

Government Response: From Policy to Practice

Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) – Launched 2018

A flagship program with a 6x6x6 strategy:

• 6 Target Beneficiaries:Preschool children (6–59 months)Children (5–9 years)Adolescents (10–19 years, girls and boys)Pregnant womenLactating mothersWomen of reproductive age (15–49 years)

• 6 Interventions:Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation :Tailored by age and physiological status; color-coded tablets/syrups.Biannual Deworming : Through National Deworming Days (Feb 10 & Aug 10).Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) : ’Solid Body, Smart Mind’ campaign promoting 4 key behaviors (diet, hygiene, deworming, IFA intake).Testing & Point-of-Care Treatment : Use of digital devices to detect and treat anemia on-site, especially in schools and ANC clinics.Mandatory Fortification : Iron-fortified foods in ICDS, mid-day meals, and other public health programs.Addressing Non-Nutritional Causes :Focus on areas with high prevalence of malaria, fluorosis, and genetic disorders.

• 6 Institutional Mechanisms:
  • Coordinated efforts from NHM, ICDS, Education, WCD, PRIs, and Urban Local Bodies.
  • Integration with POSHAN Abhiyaan and School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat.

Progress and Outcomes

• Mass Outreach: 15.4 crore children/adolescents received IFA supplements in Q2 FY 2024–25.
• Digital Monitoring Tools: Real-time tracking of screening and IFA supply chain using mobile dashboards and MIS.
• Expanded Coverage: Implemented across all villages, blocks, and districts via existing platforms like NIPI and WIFS.
• Cross-Sectoral Convergence: AMB aligns with education, nutrition, rural development, and women’s welfare sectors.

Global & Indian Scenario

• Global Burden (2019):~500 million women (15–49 years) and 269 million children under 5 affected.37% of pregnant women globally anemic.
• India (NFHS-5):Increase in anemia prevalence compared to NFHS-4, highlighting persistent nutritional gaps.

 Supporting Government Programs

• National Health Mission (NHM): Provides funding, IEC activities, and training to states for AMB implementation.
• National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI): Supplies age-appropriate IFA and deworming tablets.
• Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS): Focuses on adolescents (10–19 years) in schools and out-of-school settings.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan: Integrates AMB with a larger effort to improve nutritional indicators among women and children.

Challenges Ahead

• Rural-Urban and Gender Divide: Girls and women in rural areas more vulnerable due to cultural taboos, food insecurity, and low awareness.
• Monitoring & Compliance: Despite digital tools, ensuring regular intake and adherence remains a field-level challenge.
• Behavioural Barriers: Resistance to supplementation due to myths, side-effects (like nausea), or lack of awareness.

 Way Forward

• Community Involvement: Leverage ASHAs, AWWs, teachers, and peer educators to improve last-mile outreach.
• Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC): Targeted IEC campaigns addressing food taboos, adolescent nutrition, and maternal diets.
• Innovation & Technology: Expansion of AI-based anemia screening tools and mobile data systems.
• Policy Strengthening: Greater budgetary allocation, decentralised planning, and state-specific strategies.