“YASH focus” programme on COVID-19 pandemic
Context :
National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) launched ‘Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)’ a programme on health and risk communication with a focus on COVID-19.
YASH Programme :
- YASH Programme is a comprehensive and effective science and health communication effort for promoting grass-root level appreciation and response on health and would help to save and shaping the lives of people at large and build confidence, inculcate a scientific temper, and promote health consciousness among them.
- The programme aims to convey the authentic best practices of cutting down on the transmission of coronavirus.
- The programme will encompass development of science, health, and risk communication software, publications, audio-visual, digital platforms, folk performances, trained communicators, especially in regional languages to cater to various cross-sections of the society in the country.
- Under the programme, strategies have been worked out to involve academic, research, media, and voluntary organizations to facilitate necessary actions and emergency preparedness of society to address the challenge.
- The programme is aimed at minimizing risks at all levels with the help of public communication and outreach activities, promoting public understanding of common minimum science for community care and health safety measures like personal sanitation and hygiene, physical distancing, maintaining desired collective behaviour and so on.
J&K and Article 54
Context :
Recently, in a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query “if the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be part of the Electoral College for the election of the President of India”, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked to refer to Article 54 of the Constitution of India.
Key Points :
- Article 54 specifically mentions NCT of Delhi and Puducherry as eligible to be part of the Electoral College. There is no word about the newly-formed UT of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
- Under Article 54, the President is elected by an Electoral College, which consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all the States and also of NCT of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
- Also the J&K Reorganisation Act, which came into existence from August 2019, does not specify anything about whether the legislature of J&K would be able to vote in the election for a President.
- Inclusion of new members in the Electoral College in Article 54 would require a Constitutional Amendment to be carried out through two-thirds majority in Parliament and ratification by over 50% of the States.
International Labour Day
Context :
International Labour Day or Worker’s day is celebrated on 1 May every year. The day commemorates the Haymarket affair or the Haymarket massacre in Chicago. The day aims to celebrate labourers and the working class. The day promotes international labour associations.
Events :
- The day is observed as a national holiday in many countries.
- On this special day, the composition of Faiz Ahmed ‘Faiz’ is remembered. He has spoken about the rights of the workers.
- Labour unions and socialists celebrate the day by organizing programs and improving wages and working conditions of the workforce.
History :
During the rise of industrialization, the US exploited the working class during the 19th century and made them work up to 15 hours a day under rigorous conditions that exploited them. On 1 May 1886, thousands of workers came on the road and fought against the working hours. On 4 May, the police acted to disperse the public assembly when an unidentified person threw a bomb. Due to the blast several people and police officers died and more than 100 people were injured. The incident is remembered as the Haymarket affair.
In India :
International Labour Day was celebrated for the first time in India on 1 May 1923. The observation of the day was initiated by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Chennai. The day aims to bring respect and rights to the workers.
Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App
Context :
Due to nationwide lockdown because of Covid-19 crisis, people are using Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App to locate their nearest Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) and availability of affordable generic medicine with its price.
Key Points :
- Janaushadhi Sugam App has been developed by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- It helps people to
- Locate nearby Janaushadhi kendras(through Google Maps).
- Search Janaushadhi generic medicine.
- Analyse product comparison of generic v/s branded medicines in the form of MRP & overall savings etc.
Janaushadhi kendras :
- Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) are set up across the country under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) so as to provide generic medicines.
- Generic drugs are marketed under a non-proprietary or approved name rather than brand name. These are equally effective and inexpensive compared to their counterparts.
- By taking generic medicines patients can reduce his/her expenditure on medicines drastically.
- Generic medicines are sold at 50% to 90% lesser prices as compared to the market prices of branded medicines.
- The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency for PMBJP.
- All drugs procured under this scheme are tested for quality assurance at NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) accredited laboratories and are compliant with WHO GMP (World Health Organisation’s Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks.
- Government grants of up to 2.5 lakhs are provided for setting up of PMBJKs.
- They can be set up by doctors, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups, NGOs, Charitable Societies, etc. at any suitable place or outside the hospital premises.
Source : pib
Erosion in Ladakh Himalayas
Context :
Scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) studied rivers in Ladakh Himalaya. Their study found out the 35,000-year history of river erosion and identified hotspots of erosion and wide valleys that act as buffer zones.
Highlights :
- The study showed the operation of rivers in drier Ladakh Himalaya in longer time scales and the response of Ladakh Himalaya to varying climates.
- As per the study, Ladakh Himalaya forms a high altitude desert between Greater Himalayan ranges and Karakoram Ranges.
- The scientists also got the idea of water and sediment routing, which is crucial as the country gears up its infrastructure and develops smart cities.
- The scientists traced the rivers draining Himalaya and its foreland erode the most and identify the zones that receive these eroded sediments and fill up.
- It was found that most sediments were derived from Higher Himalayan crystalline that lies in the headwater region of Zanskar. The dominant factors responsible for sediment erosion were deglaciation and Indian Summer Monsoon derived precipitation in the headwaters despite the presence of a geomorphic barrier between the upper and lower catchments of the river, and it remained connected throughout its aggradation history.
- This study will help to understand river-borne erosion and sedimentation, which are the main drivers that make large riverine plains, terraces, and deltas that eventually become the cradle to evolving civilizations.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG):
WIHG is a research institute for the study of Geology of the Himalaya under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI. It was established in 1968. It is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. It provides consultancy and advisory services to various organizations for geotechnical feasibility of major and minor hydel projects, site selection for bridges and their foundation, slope stability, and control of landslides, site selection for deep tube wells, among others.