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Subject: Governance

Important aspects of Society

  • All India Survey on Higher Education: A Wake-up Call for the Muslim Community

    Higher

    Central Idea

    • The recently released All India Survey on Higher Education 2020–21 has shown some alarming trends. While there have been improvements in the enrollment of certain communities in higher education, there has been a drastic drop in the enrollment of Muslim students. The survey provides a grim picture of the marginalisation of the Muslim community in higher education and the need for the government to take action to address.

    Findings of the survey

    1. Enrollment overview:
    • Enrollment of Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs in higher education increased by 4.2%, 11.9%, and 4% respectively compared to 2019-20.
    • The upper castes showed the highest growth rate of 13.6%, after declining with the implementation of Mandal II in the late 2000s.
    1. Enrollment of Muslim students:
    • The enrollment of Muslim students dropped by 8% from 2019-20, by 1,79,147 students. This level of absolute decline has never happened in the recent past for any group.
    • UP accounts for 36% of the total decline in Muslim enrollment, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (26%), Maharashtra (8.5%), Tamil Nadu (8.1%), Gujarat (6.1%), Bihar (5.7%) and Karnataka (3.7%).
    • Muslims constitute about 4.6% of total enrollment in higher education while they represent about 15% of society.
    • Among major states, in 2020-21, Muslims did not do better than Dalits except in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Delhi. Kerala tops in the percentage of Muslim youth (43%) who are currently attending higher education.

    Factors behind declining enrollment of Muslim students

    • Lack of job opportunities: Muslim students face a high unemployment rate, which means that they may not see higher education as a path to a good job.
    • Discrimination: There is discrimination in the job market against Muslim candidates. Studies have shown that Muslim candidates are less likely to be invited to job interviews compared to candidates with Brahmin or Dalit names.
    • Economic factors: Muslim students may not have the financial means to pursue higher education, and may have to work to support themselves and their families. This can lead to a high dropout rate.
    • Violence and ghettoization: Violence against Muslims has increased, which has led to a sense of fear and insecurity, and has restricted their mobility. This has resulted in a trend towards ghettoization.
    • Discriminatory policies: Some state governments have stopped providing financial support to Muslim students pursuing higher education. This has made it more difficult for them to access higher education opportunities.

    All you need to know about Sachar Committee report, 2006

    • The Sachar Committee was commissioned by the Indian government in response to concerns about the social and economic status of Muslims in India.
    • The committee surveyed the status of Muslims across various parameters, including education, employment, and access to social services.
    • The report found that Muslims in India were disproportionately affected by poverty, illiteracy, and lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and sanitation.
    • The report highlighted the need for affirmative action policies to address the marginalization of Muslims, such as reservations in education and employment.
    • The report also recommended the establishment of an Equal Opportunities Commission to address discrimination against Muslims and other minority communities in India.
    • The Sachar Committee Report sparked a national debate about the social and economic status of Muslims in India and led to increased attention on the issue of affirmative action for marginalized communities.

    Policy recommendations to address low Muslim students enrollment

    • Initiate positive discrimination policies: The government could implement policies such as sub-quotas for Muslims within the OBC quota to improve their access to higher education opportunities.
    • Provide scholarships and fellowships: The government could provide greater financial support to minority students pursuing higher education, such as scholarships and fellowships, to help them overcome economic barriers.
    • Address discrimination in the job market: The government could work to create more job opportunities for Muslims and address discrimination in the job market to help improve their economic prospects.
    • Promote social and economic equality: The overall goal should be to promote greater social and economic equality for Muslims in India, which could involve a range of policies and initiatives focused on education, employment, and other areas.

    Conclusion

    • The All-India Survey on Higher Education highlights the deepening marginalisation of the Muslim community in higher education and the need for the government to take action to address the situation. Positive discrimination in favour of Muslims, as recommended by the Sachar Committee Report, is the need of the hour to ensure equitable access to higher education for all communities. Without such efforts, India will not be able to realise its potential and contribute to the harmonious development of society.

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    Also read:

    SC quota for Dalit Muslims and Christians

  • Misleading food ads and regulations to curtail them

    Central idea: Misleading claims

    • FSSAI flagged 32 cases of food business operators (FBOs) making misleading claims and advertisements in contravention of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018.
    • The cumulative count of such offences has shot up to 170 in the last six months.
    • FBOs urged to avoid making unscientific and exaggerated claims for larger consumer interest.

    Regulations for tackling misleading ads and claims

    • Regulations include-
    1. FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018
    2. CCPA’s regulations, and Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.
    • FSSAI seeks truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, and scientifically substantiated claims.
    • Claims suggesting suitability for prevention, alleviation, treatment, or cure of a disease, disorder, or particular psychological condition prohibited unless permitted under the regulations of the FSS Act, 2006.

    Response of FSSAI

    • Scrutinized products in categories such as health supplements, organic products, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products, and staples endorsing certain health and product claims.
    • Alleged violators include manufacturers and/or marketers of nutraceutical products, refined oils, pulses, flours, millet products, and ghee.
    • Cases referred to concerned licensing authorities to issue notices and withdraw the misleading claims or scientifically substantiate them.
    • Failure to comply would invite penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh, suspension, or cancellation of licenses for repeated offenses.

    Recent observations in the food advertising ecosystem

    • Non-disclosure: Close to 788 ads processed against food advertising, about 299 related to non-disclosure by food influencers, and 490+ ads found to be misleading.
    • Fairly violative sector: Violations across different food categories and food.

    Definitions of various terms

    • Natural food product: A single food derived from a recognized natural source with no additives or chemicals.
    • Fresh: This reference is allowed only for products not processed except washing, peeling, chilling, trimming, cutting, or low-dose irradiation.
    • Pure: It is used for single-ingredient foods with nothing added and devoid of all avoidable contamination.

    Expectations from a consumer’s point of view

    • Clinical data: Companies need to provide clinical data about the outcomes pertaining to the control group, the administered group, and the observed period of the claimed outcomes.
    • Interpretable ads: Advertisements need to be modified in a way a consumer can interpret.

     

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  • Moving Beyond COVID-19: Need for Contextual Understanding

    COVID-19

    Central Idea

    • COVID-19 has transitioned from a population-level challenge to more of an individual health concern, and it is time for India to shift gears and apply the lessons learned from the pandemic.

    WHO Announcements on COVID-19

    • On January 30, 2020, COVID-19 was announced as a public health emergency of international concern.
    • On May 5, 2023, WHO declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.

    Issues of misinformation during the second wave of COVID-19 in India

    • False claims about a third wave affecting children: In April-May 2021, there was a COVID-19 misinformation blitzkrieg that a third wave in India would affect children, leading to children being repeatedly asked to wear masks and deprived of schooling and learning.
    • Lack of scientific evidence: School closure and making masks mandatory for schoolchildren had their origin in nearly identical challenges of actions not being supported by scientific evidence.
    • Influencers’ impact on public discourse: Social media influencers, not necessarily subject experts, were shaping the public discourse, which was not effectively addressed by governments.
    • Disparate viewpoints: Disparate viewpoints existed among experts and influencers living in India and abroad, with the latter making more definitive and stronger arguments for school closure and mask wearing for children in India.
    • Failure to consider local context: The sub-groups of super-specialists and those staying abroad failed to factor in the local context while coming up with their opinions.
    • Dogmatic stands of self-proclaimed experts: Self-proclaimed experts and influencers have adopted a dogmatic stand and have been selectively and conveniently using emerging evidence and published literature to support their stand, often misguiding gullible followers.
    • COVID-foreverers: A group of disparate individuals and social media groups keep insisting on the enforcement of restrictions such as universal masking at ‘the drop of the hat’, often on frivolous grounds.

    What lessons were learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?

    • The importance of preparedness: The pandemic highlighted the importance of being prepared for future outbreaks and the need for robust public health infrastructure.
    • The role of misinformation: The pandemic showed how misinformation can spread rapidly and have serious consequences, highlighting the need for better education and awareness to combat misinformation.
    • The importance of local context: The pandemic demonstrated the importance of factoring in local context when making policy decisions, as different regions and countries may face different challenges and require different interventions.
    • The danger of dogmatic thinking: The pandemic showed how dogmatic thinking can be dangerous, and the need for an open-minded and evidence-based approach to decision-making.
    • The importance of nuance and context in epidemiology: The pandemic highlighted the need for nuanced understanding of epidemiology, and the importance of taking into account the broader context when interpreting scientific studies.
    • The need for a shift in focus: With COVID-19 transitioning from a population-level challenge to more of an individual health concern, there is a need to shift the focus from COVID-19 fixation to tackling other pressing health challenges.
    • The importance of integrating COVID-19 response with general health services: The pandemic showed the need for integration of COVID-19 response with general health services, and the importance of a balanced approach to public health.

    Way forward

    • Formal training courses on the principles and practice of epidemiology should be offered by the government to prepare India for more nuanced responses to outbreaks and epidemics and to curb misinformation.
    • The government needs to integrate the COVID-19 response to general health services.
    • India’s response to surges, outbreaks, and epidemics (of any infectious disease and not just COVID-19) should be guided by a nuanced understanding of epidemiology and not unduly derailed by social media influencers.
    • Schools should not be closed for a COVID-19 uptick, and wearing masks in order to attend school should never again be made mandatory, as children were never at risk from moderate to severe COVID-19.
    • It is time to drop the COVID-19 fixation and move on to tackle other more pressing health challenges in the country.

    Conclusion

    • The COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges and lessons for India and the world. The issues of misinformation and lack of context-based policy interventions have been major obstacles in effectively tackling the pandemic. It is time to apply the lessons learned and shift focus to other pressing health challenges while being prepared to respond to future outbreaks and epidemics with a nuanced understanding of epidemiology.

    Mains Question

    Q. During the COVID-19 pandemic, how did misinformation pose a significant challenge? Discuss what lessons have we learned from it?

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    Also Read:

    Covid is no longer an Emergency: what changes?

  • Legalizing Cannabis Cultivation and Decriminalizing Drug Use

    Cannabis

    Central Idea

    • Himachal Pradesh is reportedly considering legalizing cannabis cultivation, joining Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The criminalisation of cannabis cultivation and drug use in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 has resulted in long pre-trial incarceration, stigmatisation of users, and poor rehabilitation prospects. A public health approach could help address drug dependence and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system.

    What is Cannabis?

    • Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes.
    • The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD).
    • It is used by smoking, vaporizing, within the food, or as an extract.

    Prospects of legalizing Marijuana

    1. Health benefits:
    • The cannabinoids found in Cannabis is a great healer and has found mentioned in Ayurveda.
    • It can be used to treat a number of medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, insomnia, HIV/AIDS treatment, and cancer.
    1. Ecological benefits:
    • The cannabis plant and seeds apart from being labelled a super-food as per studies is also a super-industrial carbon-negative raw material.
    • Each part of the plant can be used for some industry. Hemp currently is also being used to make bio-fuel, bio-plastics and even construction material in certain countries. The cosmetic industry has also embraced Hemp seeds.
    1. Marijuana is addiction-free:
    • An epidemiological study showed that only 9% of those who use marijuana end up being clinically dependent on it.
    • The ‘comparable rates’ for tobacco, alcohol and cocaine stood at 32%, 15% and 16% respectively.
    1. Good source of Revenue:
    • By legalizing and taxing marijuana, the government will stand to earn huge amounts of revenue that will otherwise go to the Italian and Israeli drug cartels.
    • In an open letter to US President George Bush, around 500 economists, led by Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, called for marijuana to be “legal but taxed and regulated like other goods.
    1. A potential cash crop:
    • The cannabis plant is something natural to India, especially the northern hilly regions. It has the potential of becoming a cash crop for poor marginal farmers.
    • If proper research is done and the cultivation of marijuana encouraged at an official level, it can gradually become a source of income for poor people with small landholdings.
    1. Prohibition was ineffective:
    • In India, the consumption of synthetic drugs like cocaine has increased since marijuana was banned, while it has decreased in the US since it was legalized in certain states.
    • Moreover, these days, it is pretty easy to buy marijuana in India and its consumption is widespread among the youth. So it is fair to say that prohibition has failed to curb the problem
    1. Marijuana is less harmful:
    • Marijuana consumption was never regarded as a socially deviant behaviour any more than drinking alcohol was. In fact, keeping it legal was considered as an enlightened view.
    • It is now medically proven that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.

    All you need to know about Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985

    • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is an Indian law that prohibits the production, manufacture, possession, transportation, sale, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
    • The Act was enacted in response to the US-led global war on drugs in the 1970s.
    • The NDPS Act has been amended several times since its enactment, with the most recent amendment being in 2014.
    • The Act defines different categories of drugs and prescribes different punishment for different offenses.
    • The Act has been criticized for its strict provisions, especially for small-scale drug users, who are often imprisoned and face difficulty accessing rehabilitation and de-addiction centers. In recent years, there have been calls for decriminalizing small-scale drug use and treating drug consumers as victims rather than offenders.

    Why criminalizing drug users is not a good option?

    • Pre-trial incarceration and stigmatization: Criminalization means long pre-trial incarceration and stigmatization of drug users, who are often from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds.
    • Lack of access to de-addiction centres: Many drug users lack access to de-addiction centres, which makes their rehabilitation difficult.
    • Difficulty in rehabilitation: Putting drug users behind bars makes their rehabilitation difficult and exposes them to the risk of becoming peddlers.
    • Overburdened criminal justice system: Over-criminalisation of drug users clogs already burdened courts and adds to the workload of overworked investigating agencies.
    • Squandering public resources: Public resources that could have been deployed to set up a robust rehabilitation network are squandered away in the process.
    • Ineffective in deterring drug use: Criminalisation was intended to deter the use of drugs. However, drug dependence has increased over the years across the world.
    • Undermining social well-being: The over-criminalisation of drug users undermines their social well-being, which perpetuates the cycle of addiction and crime.

    Steps to address the negative impact of criminalizing drug users

    • Decriminalization: The government should consider decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal consumption, as recommended by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This will treat drug users as victims rather than culprits and facilitate their rehabilitation.
    • Public health approach: The government should adopt a public health approach to address drug use as a public health issue. This involves providing healthcare services to drug users, focusing on their well-being and rehabilitation, rather than just punishing them.
    • Differentiating between peddlers and consumers: The government should differentiate between drug peddlers and drug consumers and take different approaches to dealing with them. While drug peddlers should be punished, drug users should be treated as victims and provided with rehabilitation services.
    • Setting up a robust rehabilitation network: The government should allocate resources to set up a robust rehabilitation network for drug users. This will help address the root cause of drug use and reduce its negative impact on society.
    • Public awareness campaigns: The government should conduct public awareness campaigns to educate people about the negative impact of drug use on health and well-being. This will help reduce the demand for drugs and prevent drug use among the population.

    Facts for prelims

    What is CBD oil?

    • CBD oil is a type of oil that contains cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant.
    • CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the plant and diluting it with a carrier oil such as hemp seed oil or coconut oil.
    • It is used for a variety of purposes, including reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and improving sleep.

    Conclusion

    • The criminalization of drug use in India has not deterred drug dependence and has resulted in a burden on the criminal justice system. A public health approach could help address drug dependence and reduce the stigma associated with drug use. India could learn from the examples of countries like Portugal and Canada and the state of Sikkim.

    Mains Question

    Q. Recently more and more states are considering legalizing cannabis cultivation. In light of this discuss the benefits of its cultivation and impact of criminalizing drug users in India.

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    Also read:

    Himachal Pradesh considering legalizing Cannabis Cultivation

  • Govt. program for Non-Communicable Diseases renamed

    disease

    Central Idea: The article discusses the decision by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to rename and expand its program for the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

    What are Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)?

    • NCDs are also known as chronic diseases, which are not caused by infectious agents and are not transmissible from person to person.
    • NCDs are long-lasting and progress slowly, typically taking years to manifest symptoms.
    • Examples of NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.
    • These diseases are often caused by modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, and environmental factors.
    • NCDs are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for around 70% of all deaths globally.

    Why in news?

    • The addition of many new diseases and health initiatives have prompted the Indian government to expand and rename its NCD program.

    Renaming of the NCD Program and Portal

    • The Ministry has renamed the NPCDCS as the “National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases [NP-NCD].”
    • The application or software named Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Non-Communicable Disease (CPHC NCD IT) will now be renamed “National NCD Portal.”
    • The Ministry communicated this decision to the States on May 3, 2023, through a one-page letter and asked them to adhere to the changes.

    Implementation and future action

    • The NPCDCS is implemented under the National Health Mission across India.
    • The letter addressed to Principal Secretaries and Health Secretaries of all States and Union Territories advised the government to use the new names for the scheme and portal in all their future references and correspondences with the Indian government.
    • Under NPCDCS, 677 NCD district-level clinics, 187 District Cardiac Care Units, 266 District Day Care Centres and 5,392 NCD Community Health Centre-level clinics have been set up.

    Burden of NCDs in India

    • The study ‘India: Health of the Nation’s States – The India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative in 2017’ by the ICMR estimated that the proportion of deaths due to NCDs in India has increased from 37.9% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016.
    • The four major NCDs are:
    1. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
    2. Cancers
    3. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) and
    4. Diabetes
    • The study shared four behavioural risk factors – unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and the use of tobacco and alcohol.

    Solutions to mitigate NCD burden

    • Promote healthy lifestyle: Encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as regular physical activity, balanced and nutritious diet, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and getting enough sleep.
    • Increase awareness and education: Increase awareness among the public about the risk factors of NCDs and educate them about ways to prevent these diseases.
    • Improve healthcare infrastructure: Increase access to healthcare facilities, especially in rural and remote areas, to ensure early detection, treatment, and management of NCDs.
    • Implement policies and regulations: Implement policies and regulations that promote healthy living, such as increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, and regulating the marketing of unhealthy food products.
    • Foster public-private partnerships: Foster partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society organizations to work collaboratively towards preventing and managing NCDs.
    • Increase research and innovation: Increase research and innovation in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of NCDs to develop new and effective interventions.

     

     

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  • Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP): A Step in the Right Direction

    ACP

    Central Idea

    • Maharashtra’s Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) aims to address the challenges of rapid urbanisation by adopting a holistic approach to urban governance. The ACP is set to focus on improved governance, address persistent civic issues, and increase funding avenues for the urban local bodies. The success of the ACP could have a significant impact on Maharashtra’s economy and lead to ease of living in urban areas.

    Urban population of India

    • According to the Census of India 2011, the urban population of India was 377 million, which accounted for 31.16% of the total population. Around 590 million people would live in the cities by 2030.
    • While cities constitute about 3 per cent of the land in the country, they generate 70 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and contribute substantially to economic growth and opportunities.
    • There is a robust relationship between the index of cities’ liveability and the country’s GDP per capita suggesting that long-term growth is only feasible if the city attributes in terms of providing equitable access to basic services, residences, and improved economic management are woven seamlessly through digital service delivery platforms.

    Challenges of urbanization in Maharashtra

    • Deficient Infrastructure: Maharashtra’s cities are grappling with issues of deficient infrastructure, such as inadequate roads, public transport, water supply, and waste management systems.
    • Air Pollution: Urbanization has led to an increase in air pollution in Maharashtra’s cities, primarily due to vehicular emissions and industrial activities.
    • Social Inequities: The growth of informal settlements and slums in Maharashtra’s cities has led to social inequities, with the urban poor lacking access to basic services, such as healthcare, education, and housing.
    • Mobility and Migration: Maharashtra’s cities continue to face the challenge of frequent mobility and migration, with an inward net movement of people for better livelihood opportunities.
    • Vulnerabilities to Disasters and Climate Change: Rapid urbanization has increased the vulnerability of Maharashtra’s cities to disasters and climate change, such as floods and heatwaves.
    • Poor Urban Planning: Many of the challenges faced by Maharashtra’s cities are a result of poor urban planning, with a lack of coordination between various government departments and inadequate implementation of policies and programmes.

    What is Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP)?

    • The Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) is an initiative of the Government of Maharashtra aimed at addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization in the state by adopting a holistic approach to urban governance.
    • The ACP has identified 57 cities that have been proposed for the programme. Service level benchmarking will be done for the cities based on the data collected on the Performance Assessment System of the Government of Maharashtra.
    • The performance of the 57 selected cities would be monitored and ranked quarterly through a standard digital monitoring platform with indicators on the themes of urban infrastructure, education, urban services, skill development, and climate change.
    • The ACP is based on three priority areas: inclusive urban development, scientific data methods for assessing and monitoring outcomes, and citizen participation in civic affairs.

    ACP

    The Maharashtra government’s Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) focuses on three priority areas

    1. Inclusive Urban Development: The ACP aims to bring an integrated approach to urban programming that involves all development sectors. This is aimed at ensuring that the benefits of urban development reach all sections of society, including the most vulnerable.
    2. Scientific Data Methods: The ACP seeks to adopt scientific data methods for assessing and monitoring the outcomes of both state and central schemes. This will provide a better understanding of the impact of various policies and programmes on the ground.
    3. Citizen Participation: The ACP aims to enhance the voice and participation of citizens in civic affairs through physical and digital means. This is aimed at ensuring that governance is citizen-centric and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.

    Other key features of Maharashtra’s ACP

    • Improved Governance: The ACP is set to focus on improved governance, address persistent civic issues, and increase funding avenues for the urban local bodies. This is aimed at ensuring that the governance of cities is efficient, transparent, and accountable.
    • Service Level Benchmarking: Service level benchmarking will be done for the cities based on the data collected on the Performance Assessment System of the Government of Maharashtra. This will enable the state government to monitor and rank the performance of the 57 selected cities quarterly through a standard digital monitoring platform.
    • Provision of Adequate Potable Tap Water: The ACP agenda includes provisioning adequate potable tap water to all households by taking advantage of the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission.
    • Reformed Property Tax: The ACP aims to reform property tax by delinking it from the reasonable rental value method and adopting the market value of the property as a base for assessment.

    Facts for prelims

    What is Urban 20 (U20)?

    • Within the G20 ecosystem, a city diplomacy initiative called the Urban 20 (U20) was launched in December 2017.
    • As one of the formal Engagement Groups under G20, the U20 forum was meant to collectively raise critical urban issues of G20 cities during the G20 negotiations.
    • Despite U20’s concerted efforts to run parallel to G20, the absence of any written constitution, procedures, or formal agreement has made U20 unable to effectively address the aspirations and concerns of cities.

    Conclusion

    • It is time to accept the reality that New India is moving from its villages to the cities, and therefore, the need for renewed thinking and policies that are citizen-centric. The ACP is an example of a policy that puts people first as part of urban development. This effort by the Government of Maharashtra is strategically contextualised with the Viksit Bharat vision for India in 2047.

    Mains Question

    Q. New India is moving from its villages to the cities which highlights the need for renewed thinking and policies that are citizen-centric. In light of this discuss how Maharashtra’s Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) could help to address the challenges of urbanization

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    Also Read:

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Urban Planning

     

  • All Cantonments to be disbanded: Centre

    cantonment

    Central Idea: The Union government has kicked off a plan to abolish the 62 cantonments around the country as “archaic colonial legacies”. The first cantonment to be renamed a military station is Yol in Himachal Pradesh.

    What is the plan?

    • The plan is to carve out the military areas in all cantonments and convert them into “exclusive military stations” with the Army exercising “absolute control” over them.
    • The civilian areas, in turn, will be merged with the local municipalities, which will be responsible for their maintenance among other things.
    • The Army moved away from the concept of cantonments after independence, mainly due to the friction between military and civilian authorities.
    • But some major cantonments continued to exist. Ex. Pune Cantonment, Agra Cantonment etc.

    What are Cantonments?

    • Cantonments in India are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are stationed for administrative purposes.
    • These cantonments are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006 which provides for municipal administration and control of these areas.
    • There are 62 cantonments in India which are located in various states across the country.
    • These areas are maintained by the Defence Estates Organization (DEO) under the Ministry of Defence, and are distinct from military bases or barracks which are temporary locations for military personnel.
    • Cantonments are generally considered to be areas with better infrastructure and facilities compared to other parts of the country.

    Their features

    • Cantonment Boards are democratic bodies comprising elected and nominated members.
    • In terms of Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing Accommodation therein is the subject matter of the Union.
    • The Station Commander of the Cantonment is the ex-officio President of the Board, and an officer of the IDES or Defence Estates Organisation is the Chief Executive Officer who is also the Member-Secretary of the Board.
    • They have equal representation of elected and nominated/ex-officio members to balance official representation with democratic composition.
    • They maintain ecological balance while providing better civic facilities to the residents.

    History of establishments

    • The Cantonments Act, 1924 was enacted by the British to regulate the municipal administration of Cantonments.
    • After India’s independence, the Cantonments Act, 1924, was modified to suit the democratic setup of the country.
    • The Cantonments Act, 2006, replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924, and aims to provide greater autonomy and accountability to the Cantonment Boards.

    Categories

    There are four categories of Cantonments, depending on the size of the population residing inside a Cantonment:

    1. Category I: Cantonments having a population of more than 50,000.
    2. Category II: Cantonments having a population of 10,000 to 50,000.
    3. Category III: Cantonments having a population of less than 10,000.
    4. Category IV: Industrial or training Cantonments, irrespective of their population size.

  • Govt. to release Manual for Organ Donation & Transplantation

    organ

    Central Idea: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is working on a transplant manual as a step-by-step guide for the implementation of organ donation and transplantation programmes in hospitals and a standard course for training transplant coordinators.

    Organ transplant in India: Key statistics

    • According to data accessed from the Health Ministry, the number of organ transplants has increased by over three times from 4,990 in 2013 to 15,561 in 2022.
    • Of the 15,561 transplants, a majority — 12,791 (82%) — are from live donors and 2,765 (18%) are from cadavers (the dead).
    • Up to 11,423 of the 15,561 organ transplants are for the kidney, followed by liver (766), heart (250), lung (138), pancreas (24) and small bowel transplants (3).
    • Most of these transplants occur in private hospitals, the numbers in government hospitals are relatively lower.

    About National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)

    • In 2019, the GoI implemented the NOTP for promoting deceased organ donation.
    • Organ donation in India is regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.

    Types of Organ Donations

    • The law allows both deceased and living donors to donate their organs.
    • It also identifies brain death as a form of death.
    • Living donors must be over 18 years of age and are limited to donating only to their immediate blood relatives or, in some special cases, out of affection and attachment towards the recipient.

    (1) Deceased donors:

    • They may donate six life-saving organs: kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestine.
    • Uterus transplant is also performed, but it is not regarded as a life-saving organ.
    • Organs and tissues from a person declared legally dead can be donated after consent from the family has been obtained.
    • Brainstem death is also recognized as a form of death in India, as in many other countries.
    • After a natural cardiac death, organs that can be donated are cornea, bone, skin, and blood vessels, whereas after brainstem death about 37 different organs and tissues can be donated, including the above six life-saving organs

    (2) Living donors:

    They are permitted to donate the following:

    • one of their kidneys
    • portion of pancreas
    • part of the liver

    Features of the NOTP

    • Under the NOTP a National Level Tissue Bank (Biomaterial Centre) for storing tissues has been established at National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), New Delhi.
    • Further, under the NOTP, a provision has also been made for providing financial support to the States for setting up of Bio-material centre.
    • As of now a Regional Bio-material centre has been established at Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

    More moves for facilitation:  Green Corridors

    • Studies have suggested that the chances of transplantation being successful are enhanced by reducing the time delay between harvest and transplant of the organ.
    • Therefore, the transportation of the organ is a critical factor. For this purpose, “green corridors” have been created in many parts of India.
    • A “green corridor” refers to a route that is cleared out for an ambulance carrying the harvested organs to ensure its delivery at the destination in the shortest time possible.

    Recent amendments

    (1) No Age Bar

    • Now an individual of any age can register for organ transplant.
    • People beyond 65 years in need of an organ donation will also be eligible to get one.
    • The government has decided to do away with a clause in the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) guidelines as the clause violates the Right to Life.

    (2) Doing away with domicile compulsion

    • Earlier an organ recipient could register for a prospective transplant in domicile State.
    • States like Gujarat had made it mandatory for registered patients to furnish a domicile certificate to be eligible for a transplant.
    • In November last year, the Gujarat High Court quashed the discriminatory policy of the State government.

    About NOTTO

    National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is a national level organization set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network
    2. National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank)

    [I] National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network

    • This has been mandated as per the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011.
    • The network will be established initially for Delhi and gradually expanded to include other States and Regions of the country.
    • Thus, this division of the NOTTO is the nodal networking agency for Delhi and shall network for Procurement Allocation and Distribution of Organs and Tissues in Delhi.
    • It functions as apex centre for All India activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of Organs and Tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.

    [II] National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank)

    • The Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011 has included the component of tissue donation and registration of tissue Banks.
    • It becomes imperative under the changed circumstances to establish National level Tissue Bank to fulfill the demands of tissue transplantation including activities for procurement, storage and fulfil distribution of biomaterials.
    • The main thrust & objective of establishing the centre is to fill up the gap between ‘Demand’ and ‘Supply’ as well as ‘Quality Assurance’ in the availability of various tissues.

    The centre will take care of the following Tissue allografts:

    1. Bone and bone products
    2. Skin graft
    3. Cornea
    4. Heart valves and vessels

    Various issues involved

    • Lack of awareness: Lack of awareness leads to myths and misconceptions about organ donation, which further discourages people from donating organs.
    • Religious and cultural beliefs: Some religious and cultural beliefs view organ donation as a desecration of the body, which hinders organ donation.
    • Lack of infrastructure: India faces a shortage of medical infrastructure and facilities for organ donation.
    • Legal and regulatory challenges: India’s organ donation system is heavily regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
    • Socioeconomic factors: Poverty and lack of education can lead to reduced access to information and medical services, making it difficult for people to donate organs.
    • Organized crime: Organized criminal networks involved in organ trafficking and commercialization also create challenges for organ donation in India.
    • Stigma and Discrimination: Stigma against organ recipients, particularly those who receive transplants from other communities or castes, is also a challenge in promoting organ donation in India.

    Way forward

    • Developing a National Organ and Tissue Donation Registry: The registry could maintain a database of donors and recipients, along with their medical history and compatibility information.
    • Setting up Mobile Organ Donation Units: These units could be equipped with medical personnel and equipment to conduct donation procedures in remote areas.
    • Crowdfunding for Organ Transplant Surgeries: This could be used as a means to raise funds for organ transplant surgeries, especially for underprivileged individuals who cannot afford the cost of treatment.
    • Promoting Living Donor Transplants: Living donor transplants can help increase the number of organs available for transplantation.
    • Incentivizing for Organ Donation: Incentives could be introduced to encourage more people to donate organs. This could include tax breaks, priority access to medical treatment, and other benefits.
    • Leveraging Technology: Technology could be used to develop better donor and recipient matching algorithms, create virtual waiting lists, and streamline the donation and transplantation process.
    • International Collaboration: India could collaborate with other countries to share best practices, leverage technology, and develop new approaches to organ donation and transplantation.

     

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  • A Troubling Statistic in India’s Nutritional Landscape

    nutrition

    Central Idea

    • A troubling statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data, conducted in 2019-21, is not well-known. Going without food for an entire day at this critical period of a child’s development raises serious concerns related to severe food insecurity.

    Statistics from the NFHS-5 data

    • Zero-food: Among mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months, 18% reported that their child did not eat any food whatsoever (“zero-food”) in the 24 hours preceding the survey. The zero-food prevalence was 30% for infants aged 6-11 months, 13% among 12-17 months old, and 8% among 18-23 months old.
    • Zero-protein: More than 80% of children in the age group of 6-23 months had not consumed any protein-rich foods for an entire day (“zero-protein”). Close to 40% of children in the age group of 6-23 months did not eat any grains (roti, rice, etc.) for an entire day.
    • Zero-milk: Six out of 10 children in the age group of 6-23 months do not consume milk or dairy of any form every day (“zero-milk”).

    The current measures for undernutrition

    • Stunting: It is a measure of chronic malnutrition, where children are too short for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s height with the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards.
    • Wasting: It is a measure of acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their height. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.
    • Underweight: It is a measure of both chronic and acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.

    Limitations of current measures of undernutrition

    • Anthropometric measures: The assessment of the extent of nutritional deprivation among young children in India has relied on measures of anthropometric failure such as the percentage of children short for their age (stunting) or weighing less given their height (wasting), compared to a reference population. These measures are, at best, proxies suggesting plausible overall deficiencies in the child’s environment, without any guidance on the specific nature of the deficiencies. They do not provide insight into the specific food groups that are lacking in the child’s diet.
    • Multifactorial nature: Given the multifactorial nature of what causes stunting or wasting among children, it is challenging for any single ministry or department of the Government of India to take responsibility for designing, implementing and monitoring policies to reduce undernutrition among children.
    • Sensitivity: The sensitivity of the stunting prevalence to what population reference is being used makes it problematic as a policy metric for creating and evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and interventions.
    • Lack of data: The fact that we do not know what India eats highlights a core deficiency in data related to food and dietary consumption. This limits the ability to design effective policies and programs to improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative

    Description
    NFHS-5 Conducted in 2019-21, it revealed that 18% of mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months reported zero-food intake.
    Mission Poshan 2.0 A flagship programme aimed at achieving SDG 2 “zero hunger” and focuses on food-based initiatives.
    Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Increased access to improved toilets among Indian households from 48% to 70% between 2016 and 2021.
    Zero Food Metric A food-based metric that provides a good start to monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0.
    White House initiative on hunger, nutrition and health Launched by the US to end hunger by 2030.

    Calorie intake recommendations by WHO

    • According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33 per cent of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food. This proportion increases to 61 per cent at 12 months of age.
    • The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food.
    • It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through on-demand breastfeeding, meaning the child is breastfed whenever they need it throughout the day and night, and not solely when the mother is able to provide it.
    • Consequently, the percentage of food-sourced calories only increases further when a child cannot receive breast milk when needed.

    What is the need for Poshan 2.0?

    • Achieving SDG 2: Poshan 2.0 is a flagship program that aims to achieve SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and ensure year-round access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food by 2030.
    • Targeting maternal and child nutrition: Poshan 2.0 focuses on food-based initiatives, including its flagship supplementary nutrition program service as mandated by the 2013 National Food Security Act, to target maternal and child nutrition.
    • Developing food-based metrics: To effectively monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate food-based metrics to measure the extent of food insecurity among Indian households.
    • Improving nutritional security: The goal of Poshan 2.0 is to ensure affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children to improve nutritional security among Indians.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments: A national effort to establish routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population is the need of the hour to measure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children, and constitute the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Way ahead

    • Elevating food intake among young children to be of primary importance, as opposed to being referred to as “complementary” in policies and guidelines related to maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
    • Extending the 24-hour recall questions on consumption of various food items to the population of children under five years to better understand food security for all populations in India.
    • Developing appropriate food-based metrics to effectively monitor and assess the performance of Mission Poshan 2.0.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population to measure the availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children.
    • Consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India and ensuring affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.

    Conclusion

    • Given the urgency of the situation and the critical need for prompt action to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition among Indians, it is recommended that India takes inspiration from the United States. Recently, the US launched a high-level initiative aimed at ending hunger by 2030, which could offer valuable insights and guidance to India’s efforts in this direction.

    Mains Question

    Q. Statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data on hunger and malnutrition is troubling. In this backdrop discuss the need for Poshan 2.0 for India.

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    Also Read:

    A reality check on Nutrition programs

     

  • Psychedelics and its uses to treat Depression

    Central idea: The context of the article is about the use of psychedelic drugs for both recreational and medicinal purposes.

    What are Psychedelics?

    • Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter an individual’s perception, mood, and thought processing while still allowing the individual to remain conscious and with unimpaired insight.
    • They are non-addictive and non-toxic, and cause less harm to the end user compared to illicit drugs.
    • The two most commonly used psychedelics are LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin. Researchers have also developed synthetic psychedelics.
    • In India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 prohibits the use of psychedelic substances, except for ketamine which is used under strict medical supervision.

    History of psychedelics

    • Humans have used psilocybin and mescaline for ceremonial, healing, and spiritual rituals for millennia.
    • The modern-day use of psychedelics is commonly associated with the German chemist Arthur Heffter isolating mescaline from the peyote cactus in 1897.
    • In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD while investigating compounds related to ergotamine.
    • LSD was widely used as a therapeutic catalyst in psychotherapy between 1947 and 1967, until it was criminalized in the US due to medical concerns and the Vietnam War.

    Experience of using psychedelic substances

    • Users of psychedelic substances report changes in perception, somatic experience, mood, thought-processing, and entheogenic experiences.
    • Perceptual distortions most commonly include the visual domain.
    • Somatic experiences may include the visceral, tactile, and interoceptive domains.
    • Mood changes may include elation, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia.
    • Entheogenic experiences include transcendental and ineffable spiritual experiences.

    How do they work inside the body?

    • Classical psychedelics boost brain serotonin levels.
    • Psilocybin’s therapeutic effects require a ‘trip’ that is mediated by the activation of serotonin receptors.
    • Modern neuroimaging suggests that psychedelics increase the cross-talk between different brain networks, and this correlates with the subjective effects of psychedelics.

    Can psychedelic substances cause any harm?

    • Death due to direct toxicity of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline has not been reported in the literature despite 50-plus years of recreational use.
    • Synthetic psychedelics have been associated with acute cardiac, central nervous system, and limb ischemia, as well as serotonin syndrome.

    What is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?

    • Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has three types of sessions: preparatory, medication, and integration.
    • In the medication session, the patient is accompanied by a male-female co-therapist dyad and a psychedelic drug is administered in a comfortable and well-appointed room.
    • Over the next 6-8 hours, the therapists listen to the patient while maintaining a neutral therapeutic stance.
    • In the integration session, the therapists work with the patient to interpret the contents of their psychedelic experience into meaningful long-term change, based on their thoughts and ideas.

    Uses to treat Neuropsychiatric Disorders

    • Research has shown that psychedelic substances have potential therapeutic benefits in treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
    • In recent trials, a single dose of psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce depression scores and improve symptoms of PTSD in participants.

    Back2Basics: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

    Details
    Purpose Combat drug abuse and trafficking in India
    Scope Consolidates and amends the existing legal framework related to narcotics and psychotropic substances
    Regulations Strictly regulates and controls the production, manufacture, sale, transport, possession, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
    Special Courts Establishment of special courts and appointment of special public prosecutors to handle cases related to drug trafficking and abuse
    Covered Substances Opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy
    Classification Substances classified into different schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use
    Punishment Imposes different levels of punishment for offenses related to each schedule
    Enforcement Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), and state-level drug enforcement agencies
    Functions Prevention of drug abuse and trafficking, investigation and prosecution of drug offenses, rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts

     

     

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