Latest News
EDITORIALS & ARTICLES
Mar 08, 2022
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2022: DATE, HISTORY, SIGNIFICANCE, THEME THIS YEAR
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Genesis:
Nari Shakti Puraskar
About Water-Cycle
Highlights of International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP)
SLINEX
Who were the Phules?
African Elephant
Aarogyasri Scheme
Genesis:
- The concept of International Women’s Day emerged in the early 1900s at a time of great unrest and debates among women against oppression and inequality.
- In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. The next year, the Socialist Party of America observed the first National Woman’s Day across the United States on February 28, 1909.
- Observed for the first time in 1911, International Women's Day aims to highlight and recognise the achievements of women in different spheres while also bringing attention to important issues including gender discrimination that exist even today.
- Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
- Simultaneously, in 1910, the second International Conference of Working Women was held in Denmark’s Copenhagen, where Clara Zetkin, who led the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day.
- She proposed that every year, every country should celebrate on the same day to press for their demands. The conference with over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, and working women’s clubs greeted Zetkin’s suggestion unanimously.
- On March 9, 1911, International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than one million women and men attended the rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.
- However, less than a week later, on March 25, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire took place in New York City where more than 140 women and girls died, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants.
- One of the deadliest fires in the history of the United States, it drew significant attention to the working conditions and labour legislation in the country and became a focal point of the subsequent International Women’s Day events.
- Meanwhile in Russia, on the eve of World War I, women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February, with a strike for “bread and peace” to protest the death of over two million Russian soldiers.
- While it was February 23 on the Julian calendar used then in Russia, according to the Gregorian calendar, it was March 8. Since then, it has remained the global date for International Women’s Day as many women across Europe started protesting and raising their demands on that date.
- In the United Nations, it was celebrated for the first time in 1975, and in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by the Member States in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
- In 1996, the UN announced their first annual theme — “Celebrating the Past, planning for the Future”, followed by “Women at the Peace table” in 1997. In 1998 “Women and Human Rights”, in 1999 “World Free of Violence Against Women”, each year had a new theme.
- Campaign themes over the years have also included: #ChooseToChallenge, #EachforEqual, #BalanceforBetter, #PressforProgress, #BeBoldforChange, #PledgeforParity, #MakeItHappen, #TheGenderAgenda and many more.
- The theme of 2022 International Women’s Day is “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
- International Women’s Day is celebrated to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
- The event celebrates women's achievements and raises awareness about women's equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity.
- Organisations like colleges and institutions across the world celebrate International Women’s Day by holding public speeches, rallies, exhibitions, workshops and seminars on themes and concepts, debates, quiz competitions and lectures.
- Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century.
- Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.
- At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Nari Shakti Puraskar
- Nari Shakti Puraskar (Highest civilian honour for women in India) is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment.
- The awards are presented by the President of India on International Women's Day (8 March).
- The awards were instituted in 1999 under the title of Stree Shakti Puraskar and were renamed and reorganised in 2015.
- There are given in six institutional and two individual categories, which carry a cash prize of rupees two-lakh and one-lakh, respectively.
- The Award in each category shall carry a Certificate and a cash amount.
- The award would be given to eminent or outstanding Institutions or organizations and individuals.
- The Puruskars are open to all Indian Institutions, organisations and individuals without any distinction or discrimination on ground of race, caste or creed.
- In case of Individual category, the awardee must be above 30 years of age on 1st January of the year for which the award is to be given.
- The applicant should have worked in the relevant field for at least last 5 years.
- She should not have been a recipient earlier of the award (including Stree Shakti Puruskars).
- Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award for best private sector organization or public sector undertaking in promoting the well-being and welfare of women. Named after Ahilyabai Holkar, an 18th-century ruler of the Malwa kingdom.
- Kannagi Devi Award for best state which has appreciably improved Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Named after Kannagi, the central character of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram.
- Mata Jijabai Award for best urban local body for providing services and facilities to women. Named after Mata Jijabai, mother of Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.
- Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award given to a civil society organisation (CSO) doing outstanding work for the welfare and well-being of women. Named after Rani Gaidinliu, a 20th-century Naga spiritual and political leader.
- Rani Lakshmi Bai Award given to the best institution for research and development in the field of women empowerment. Named after Lakshmibai, one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and a queen of Jhansi.
- Rani Rudramma Devi Awards given to two District Panchayats and two Gram Panchayats for work in the area of women welfare especially related to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana. Named after Rudrama Devi, a 13th-century ruler of Deccan Plateau.
- It helps to improve the condition of women, especially those at the margins of our society and empower them to take rightful place in society.
- It helps in realizing the potential of women.
- It helps to ensure that all women become part of decision making at family level, which will follow as a result of their economic empowerment.
- It helps to strengthen women’s skill development in traditional and non-traditional sectors.
- It helps in promoting women in non-traditional sectors like science and technology, sports, art, culture concretely.
- For the significant work towards safety and security, health and wellness, education, life skills, respect and dignity of women etc.
- It showcases the government commitment towards women with the aim to strengthen the position of women in the society.
- It will provide an opportunity for young Indians to understand and acknowledge the contribution of women in building a strong nation and society.
- The award is just a just a step towards empowering women and helps in realising their potential and harnessing their innovative ideas in every field. There is no sector where women have not made their mark and made the country proud.
About Water-Cycle
- The water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or from the ocean to the atmosphere, by the physical processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. Fresh water cycles from ocean to air to clouds to rivers and back to the oceans.
- The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes.
- Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow.
- Water in different phases moves through the atmosphere (transportation). Liquid water flows across land (runoff), into the ground (infiltration and percolation), and through the ground (groundwater).
- Groundwater moves into plants (plant uptake) and evaporates from plants into the atmosphere (transpiration). Solid ice and snow can turn directly into gas (sublimation). The opposite can also take place when water vapor becomes solid (deposition).
- Warmer air can hold more moisture than cool air. As a result, in a warmer world, the air will suck up more water from oceans, lakes, soil and plants. The drier conditions this air leaves behind could negatively affect drinking water supplies and agriculture.
- As the Earth warms up, the water cycle has begun to intensify in a “wet-gets-wetter-dry-gets-drier” pattern.
- The changes to the water cycle were largely due to older emissions, from the mid 20th century and earlier. We have increased our emissions dramatically since then.
- Climate change is disrupting weather patterns, leading to extreme weather events, unpredictable water availability, exacerbating water scarcity and contaminating water supplies.
- Extreme weather events and changes in water cycle patterns are making it more difficult to access safe drinking water, especially for the most vulnerable children.
- Large shifts in the water cycle mean that dry areas become drier, and wet areas become even wetter. This will mean more droughts and extreme flooding, say scientists.
- Around 74 per cent of natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related, including droughts and floods. The frequency and intensity of such events are only expected to increase with climate change.
- Around 450 million children live in areas of high or extremely high-water vulnerability. This means they do not have enough water to meet their everyday needs.
- When disasters hit, they can destroy or contaminate entire water supplies, increasing the risk of diseases like cholera and typhoid to which children are particularly vulnerable.
- Rising temperatures can lead to deadly pathogens in freshwater sources, making the water dangerous for people to drink.
- Contaminated water poses a huge threat to children’s lives. Water and sanitation related diseases are one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old.
- Every day, over 700 children under 5 dies from diarrhea linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Climate change exacerbates water stress – areas of extremely limited water resources – leading to increased competition for water, even conflict.
- By 2040, almost 1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely high-water stress.
- Rising sea levels are causing fresh water to become salty, compromising the water resources millions of people rely on.
- By changing air temperatures and circulation patterns, climate change will also change where precipitation falls. These precipitation projections are already becoming reality.
- Changes in precipitation patterns will challenge many farmers, as well as natural ecosystems.
- The heavier bursts of precipitation caused by warmer, wetter air can lead to flooding, which can of course endanger human lives, damage homes, kill crops, and hurt the economy.
- Heavier rainstorms will also increase surface runoff — the water that flows over the ground after a storm.
- This moving water may strip nutrients from the soil and pick up pollutants, dirt, and other undesirables, flushing them into nearby bodies of water.
- As runoff dumps sediments and other contaminants into lakes and streams, it could harm fish and other wildlife.
- Fertilizer runoff can cause algae blooms that ultimately end up suffocating aquatic critters and causing a stinky mess.
- The problem is compounded by warming water, which can’t hold as much of the dissolved oxygen that fish need to survive. These conditions could harm fisheries, and make conditions unpleasant for folks who like to use lakes and streams for fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities.
- Warmer temperatures and increasing acidity are making life difficult for sea creatures. These changes are transforming food chains from the bottom-up.
- Many fish are moving poleward in search of cooler waters, which has implications for the fishing industry and people who like to eat fish.
- Temperature changes also have the potential to alter major ocean currents. Because ocean temperatures drive atmospheric circulation patterns, this could change weather patterns all over the world.
- As ice sheets and mountaintop glaciers melt, they’re dumping extra water into the oceans; the resulting sea level rise jeopardizes coastal properties around the world.
- It’s very hard to set up permanent rain gauges or evaporation pans on the 70% of our planet’s surface covered in water. Plus, when we assess change over the long term, we need measurements from decades ago.
- When fresh water falls as rain on the ocean, it dilutes the sea water and makes it less salty. When water evaporates from the surface, the salt is left behind, increasing the salinity. This means we can use the better-recorded changes in the ocean’s salinity as a kind of rain gauge to detect water cycle changes.
- Earlier research used this method to track changes to the salinity at the ocean’s surface. This research suggested the water cycle is intensifying dramatically.
- New methods enabling us to precisely link changes in the ocean’s salinity to changes in the part of the water cycle moving fresh water from warmer to colder regions.
- Currents, waves and circular eddy currents keep the ocean’s waters in constant motion.
- Some people and ecosystems will be hit harder than others, as the IPCC report last year made clear. For example, Mediterranean nations, south-west and south-east Australia, and central America will all become drier, while monsoon regions and the poles will become wetter (or snowier).
- In dry areas hit by these water cycle changes, we can expect to see real threats to the viability of cities unless alternatives such as desalination are put in place.
- Decades of scientific research have shown the extremely clear relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and rising global temperatures, which in turn drives water cycle intensification.
- We must move as quickly as humanly possible towards net-zero emissions to reduce the damage from climate change.
- The drought scenario could be mitigated by having more water storage in dam or in groundwater.
- Increasing water storage, making irrigation systems more efficient, and making sure crops are appropriate for the local climate are a few ways municipalities can help to stave off water stress.
- Wind and solar power projects can help, too, because they use less water than traditional power plants.
- Adoption of water-efficient irrigation measures such as drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation along with efficient and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Perhaps the best way to increase water supplies is to reuse the water we have. With intensive treatment, wastewater can be returned to taps without first being released into the environment.
- Rather than focusing on impact assessment a risk–based approach should be adopted to assess and respond to climate change.
- A number of measures are required to protect freshwater ecosystems such as reducing extraction of water from ground and surface water, maintaining water flows, management of macrophytes, artificial oxygenation and mixing, sediment removal etc. so that fresh water ecosystems are not affected largely by small climate induced changes.
- Freshwater ecosystems are vital for global biodiversity and ecosystem services. Freshwater ecosystems are susceptible to the impacts of environmental change, which may cause irreversible damage to these ecosystems upon which huge amount of biodiversity and ecosystem services are dependent.
- When a diversity of healthy habitats of freshwater ecosystems can be maintained, the assimilative ability of freshwater ecosystems will be further strengthened. Incorporation of long lasting, observed study data with models and manipulative experiments will assist the progress of mechanistic, and hence predictive, perceptive of responses to future climate change.
Highlights of International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP)
- India has been hosting the International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) since 2012 elections where international delegates are invited to visit the Polling stations and see the electoral processes in practice for themselves in person.
- India focuses on making electoral system more inclusive, accessible and participative.
- While highlighting the various initiatives taken by Election Commission of India for facilitating senior citizens, PwD and women voters, he appreciated the innovative and localized solutions implemented by field officers to overcome barriers faced by various categories of voters.
- Even during the Covid pandemic with travel restrictions, IEVP in India has not been discontinued and continues to be held in an innovative virtual mode.
- The extension of postal ballot facility to senior citizens and PwD voters has taken ECI literally at the doorstep of voters and consistent efforts have led to enthusiastic participation of women voters in the elections as compared to their male counterparts.
- For instance, in recent elections in Uttarakhand, female voter turnout was 67.2% as compared to 62.6% male voter turnout; Goa recorded 80.96% female turnout while male turnout was 78.19%.
- Ensuring the motto of ‘No Voter to be left behind’, our polling personnel crossed tough terrains and snow-covered regions in Uttarakhand and also reached out to remote and sensitive regions in Manipur, even if the polling parties had to be airlifted or traverse on foot in those regions.
- In border areas to ensure security, drones were pressed into surveillance. Vigil on social media posts was also kept to ensure no undue misinformation vitiated the poll process. Efforts by expenditure monitoring teams ensured inducement free elections.
- Commission’s aim has been to work with three broad objectives - Covid safe Elections, hassle-free comfortable voting experience and maximum voter participation.
- Election Commissioner highlighted the major milestones including the adoption of the Model Code of Conduct, system of deputing Election Observers, EVM-VVPAT and Information & Communication Technology in the glorious journey of Indian elections in the last 70 years for ensuring free, fair, transparent and ethical elections.
- He also gave an overview of the various initiatives taken by ECI including voter connect through SVEEP and voter friendly polling stations to ensure ease of voter registration and facilitation for various categories of voters for enhanced electoral participation.
- The Election Commission is a permanent and an independent body established by the Constitution of India directly to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
- Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.
- The Election Commission is an all-India body in the sense that it is common to both the Central government and the state governments.
- It must be noted here that the election commission is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.
- The Election Commission shall consist of the chief election commissioner and such number of other election commissioners, if any, as the president may from time-to-time fix.
- The appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners shall be made by the President.
- When any other election commissioner is so appointed, the chief election commissioner shall act as the chairman of the election commission.
- The president may also appoint after consultation with the election commission such regional commissioners as he may consider necessary to assist the election commission.
- The conditions of service and tenure of office of the election commissioners and the regional commissioners shall be determined by the president.
- The chief election commissioner and the two other election commissioners have equal powers and receive equal salary, allowances and other perquisites, which are similar to those of a judge of the Supreme Court.
- In case of difference of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and/or two other election commissioners, the matter is decided by the Commission by majority.
- They hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They can resign at any time or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.
- The chief election commissioner is provided with the security of tenure. He cannot be removed from his office except in same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court. In other words, he can be removed by the president on the basis of a resolution passed to that effect by both the Houses of Parliament with special majority, either on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- He does not hold his office till the pleasure of the president, though he is appointed by him.
- Any other election commissioner or a regional commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the chief election commissioner.
- The Constitution has not prescribed the qualifications (legal, educational, administrative or judicial) of the members of the Election Commission.
- The Constitution has not specified the term of the members of the Election Commission.
- The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government.
- The powers and functions of the Election Commission with regard to elections to the Parliament, state legislatures and offices of President and Vice-President can be classified into three categories, viz,
- Administrative
- Advisory
- Quasi-Judicial
- To determine the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout the country on the basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.
- Toprepare and periodically revise electoral rolls and to register all eligible voters.
- To notify the dates and schedules of elections and to scrutinise nomination papers.
- To grant recognition to political parties and allot election symbols to them.
- To act as a court for settling disputes related to granting of recognition to political parties and allotment of election symbols to them.
- To appoint officers for inquiring into disputes relating to electoral arrangements.
- To determine the code of conduct to be observed by the parties and the candidates at the time of elections.
- To prepare a roster for publicity of the policies of the political parties on radio and TV in times of elections.
- To advise the president on matters relating to the disqualifications of the members of Parliament.
- To advise the governor on matters relating to the disqualifications of the members of state legislature.
- To cancel polls in the event of rigging, booth capturing, violence and other irregularities.
- To request the president or the governor for requisitioning the staff necessary for conducting elections.
- To supervise the machinery of elections throughout the country to ensure free and fair elections.
- To advise the president whether elections can be held in a state under president’s rule in order to extend the period of emergency after one year.
- To register political parties for the purpose of elections and grant them the status of national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance.
- The Election Commission of India strives to be an Institution of Excellence by enhancing active engagement, participation; and deepening and strengthening electoral democracy in India and globally.
- The Election Commission of India maintains independence, integrity and autonomy; ensures accessibility, inclusiveness, and ethical participation of stakeholders; and, adopts highest standards of professionalism for delivering free, fair, and transparent elections to strengthen the trust in electoral democracy and governance.
- To uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution viz, equality, equity, impartiality, independence; and rule of law in superintendence, direction and control over the electoral governance;
- To conduct elections with highest standard of credibility, freeness, fairness, transparency, integrity, accountability, autonomy and professionalism;
- To ensure participation of all eligible citizens in the electoral process in an inclusive voter centric and voter friendly environment;
- To engage with political parties and all stakeholders in the interest of electoral process;
- To promote awareness about the electoral process and electoral governance amongst stakeholders namely, voters, political parties, election functionaries, candidates and people at large; and to enhance and strengthen confidence and trust in the electoral system of this country;
- To develop the human resource for effective and professional delivery of electoral services;
- To build quality infrastructure for smooth conduct of electoral process;
- To adopt technology for improvement in all areas of electoral process;
- To strive for adoption of innovative practices for achieving excellence and overall realization of the vision and mission;
- To contribute towards the reinforcement of democratic values by maintaining and reinforcing confidence and trust of the people in the electoral system of the country.
- The Association of World Election Bodies, commonly referred to as ‘A-WEB’, was established on October 14, 2013 in Song-do, South Korea.
- A-WEB is the first global organization of election management bodies, and the membership currently consists of 115EMBs as members and 20 Regional associations as associate members.
- Under the slogan of ‘Democracy to Grow for All Worldwide,’ the A-WEB Secretariat provides training programs for election officials of member nations and undertakes country programs at the request of member organization, providing support during the election cycle to boost election management capacity.
- The current chairman is Sushil Chandra from Republic of India.
- A-WEB was inaugurated on October 14, 2013. Over 400 participants from 140 election management bodies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations attended the ceremony in Song-do, South Korea, where the Secretariat was established. 97 organizations gained membership into A-WEB.
- The Executive Board serves the executive function and meets yearly to make decisions on A-WEB's general direction.
- It consists of up to ten member organizations and the Board must maintain a continental balance.
- The more members there are from a particular continent, the more members of the Executive Board should be from that continent.
- The Executive Board is headed by a chairperson who leads the meetings of the board.
- The remaining members make up the second body, the General Assembly.
- The General Assembly convenes once every two years and votes on important issues related to A-WEB and decisions made by the Executive Board.
- The General Assembly also elects the members of the Executive Board and confirms the induction of new member organizations.
- Finally, the secretariat carries out the general administrative work of A-WEB and is based in the country where the Secretary General (elected by the Executive Board) resides. Currently the secretariat is based in Song-do, South Korea. Other member countries send secondee staff to operate the office.
SLINEX
- It is a bilateral Maritime Exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
- The first SLINEX exercise took place in 2005. The eighth edition took place in 2020.
- SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies.
- The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges.
- Exercises during Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea.
- The exercise will also showcase capabilities of our indigenously constructed naval ships and aircraft. Surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions, manoeuvres and cross deck flying operations are planned during the exercise, which will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already established between the two friendly navies.
- SLINEX series of exercise exemplifies the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened mutual cooperation in the maritime domain.
- These will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already existing between the two navies.
- SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Hon’ble PMs vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.
- In the domain of international relations, military diplomacy has, in recent years, emerged as a major tool to further diplomatic interests of nations.
- Participation in international level military exercises is an indication of the highest level of trust and confidence between the member nations.
- It is a key confidence building measure (CBM) and an indication of the faith reposed by India on another nation or a group of member nations.
- On the operational side, military exercises enable militaries to understand each other’s drills and procedures, overcome language barriers, and facilitate familiarisation with equipment capabilities.
- It also facilitates understanding and familiarisation with new technologies that other countries may be utilising and enables on-the-job training of each other’s crews.
- This is particularly useful in the event of joint operations whether in war or in operations other than war (OOTW) - humanitarian aid, disaster relief, anti-piracy, etc. – when nations come together for a common cause. A fine example was the aid assistance provided by a host of nations during the tsunami in South East Asia where a massive land, air and sea rescue effort was successfully executed to provide relief to the affected countries.
- Perhaps, the most important advantage of joint military exercises is ‘strategic signalling’. A joint exercise with one or more nations serves the purpose of signalling to a third country of the influence we have in the region and a demonstration of our resolve to further our diplomatic objectives.
- On the intangible side, military exercises promote brotherhood and camaraderie between soldiers and militaries.
- Besides goodwill, it is a tool for projection of a nation’s soft power – culture, language, customs, beliefs, food habits and lifestyle.
- Soldiers all over the world have almost similar rank and organisational structures, which helps establish a unique spirit of bonding and friendship between their communities irrespective of the country of origin.
- In 2015, PM introduced the vision of SAGAR or ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region’ to focus on cooperative measures for sustainable use of the oceans. The mission provides a framework for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the region.
- The vision assumes significance in current times as it is becoming increasingly apparent that marine security, maritime commons, and cooperation are of utmost important to nations’ security and economic aspirations.
- India’s goal with SAGAR is to strengthen economic and security connections with its maritime neighbours while also assisting in the development of their maritime security capabilities. For this, India would collaborate on information sharing, coastline surveillance, infrastructure development, and capability enhancement.
- India also wants to protect its national interests and ensure that the Indian Ocean region becomes more open, collaborative, and respectful of international law.
- The vision is important for the country to leverage blue economy. The blue economy offers India a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve its national socioeconomic goals (job creation, energy security, environmental resilience, and so on) while also improving connections with its neighbours.
- The vision also holds importance amid China’s increasing assertiveness and influence in the Indian Ocean region through its maritime silk route, which is part of the BRI programme.
- Furthermore, Chinese investments in India’s neighbours are dual in nature, with both commercial and military underpinnings. India’s strategic worries have been raised by the string of pearls.
- Launched in May 2020, Mission Sagar, under the Vision SAGAR was India’s initiative to deliver Covid-19 related assistance to the countries in the Indian Ocean region. As part of this Mission, INS Kesari successively visited Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles to deliver assistance to our maritime neighbours in dealing with the Covid crisis.
- India’s humanitarian assistance included supplies of essential food items, medicines, Ayurvedic medicines and deployment of Medical Assistance Teams (MAT) to Mauritius and Comoros. The Mission was launched to engage with countries in the Indian Ocean Region, in line with the PM’s vision of SAGAR.
Who were the Phules?
- Mahatma Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule stand out as an extraordinary couple in the social and educational history of India. They spearheaded path-breaking work towards female education and empowerment, and towards ending caste- and gender-based discrimination.
- In 1840, at a time when child marriages were common, Savitri at the age of ten was married to Jyotirao, who was thirteen years old at the time. The couple later in life strove to oppose child marriage and also organised widow remarriages.
- Savitribai Phule was a trailblazer in providing education for girls and for ostracized portions of society. She became the first female teacher in India (1848) and opened a school for girls with her husband, Jyotirao Phule.
- She went on to establish a shelter (1864) for destitute women and played a crucial role in grooming Jyotirao Phule’s pioneering institution, Satyashodhak Samaj, (1873) that fought for equality of all classes. Her life is heralded as a beacon of women’s rights in India. She is often referred to as the mother of Indian feminism.
- Savitribai’s most prized possession was a book given to her by a Christian missionary. Impressed by her enthusiasm to learn, Jyotirao taught Savitribai to read and write.
- Savitribai undertook teachers’ training at Ahmednagar and in Pune. She became a qualified teacher after she passed her 4th examination in 1847.
- Determined to change the condition of women in the country, Savitribai, along with Jyotirao, a man of social reform himself, opened a school for girls in 1848. She became the first female teacher of India. This caused waves of fury in society.
- In 1853, Savitribai and Jyotirao established an education society that opened more schools for girls and women from all classes, in surrounding villages.
- Sympathizing with the plight of widows in India, Savitribai opened a shelter for them in 1854. After years of continuous reform, she paved the way to build a large shelter in 1864 for destitute women, widows and child brides cast aside by their families. She educated them all. She also adopted Yashwantrao; the son of a widow sheltered in this institution.
- Oppressed classes were forbidden from drinking water from the common village well. Jyotirao and Savitribai dug a well in their own backyard for them to drink water from. This move caused a furore in 1868.
- Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. She was declared to be the best teacher in the state by the British government in 1852. She received further praise from the government in 1853 for her work in the field of education.
- After the death of Jyotirao Phule, the bubonic plague spread across Maharashtra in 1897. Not one to be a mere spectator, Savitribai rushed to affected areas to help. She opened a clinic for plague victims in Hadapsar, Pune.
- While carrying a 10-year-old plague victim to the clinic in her arms, she contracted the disease herself. On March 10, 1897, Savitribai Phule breathed her last.
- Her life and work are a testament to social reform and female empowerment in Indian society. She remains an inspiration for many women rights’ activists in modern times.
- Jyotirao, the revolutionary that he was, observed the lack of opportunities for education for young girls and women. He started to educate his wife at home and trained her to become a teacher.
- Together, by 1848, the Phules started a school for girls, Shudras and Ati-Shudras in Poona. The historic work was started by Jyotirao when he was just 21 years old, ably supported by his 18-year-old wife.
- In 1853, Jyotirao-Savitribai opened a care center for pregnant widows to have safe deliveries and to end the practice of infanticide owing to social norms. The Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (Home for the Prevention of Infanticide) started in their own house at 395, Ganj Peth, Pune.
- Jyotirao and Savitri did not have biological children, and adopted the child of a widow. Yashwantrao grew up to be a doctor, rendering his services in the 1897 Bubonic plague.
- The Satyashodhak Samaj (The Truth-Seeker’s Society) was established on September 24, 1873 by Jyotirao-Savitribai and other like-minded people. The Samaj advocated for social changes that went against prevalent traditions, including economical weddings, inter-caste marriages, eradication of child marriages, and widow remarriage.
- The Phules also had far-sighted goals — popularising female education, establishing an institutional structure of schools in India, and to have a society where women worked in tandem with men.
African Elephant
- African elephants are the largest animals walking the Earth. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa.
- There are two species of African elephants—the savanna (or bush) elephant and the forest elephant. Savanna elephants are larger than forest elephants, and their tusks curve outwards.
- In addition to being smaller, forest elephants are darker and their tusks are straighter and point downward. There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton between the two species.
- Forest elephants are uniquely adapted to the dense forest habitat of the Congo Basin, but are in sharp decline due to poaching for the international ivory trade and habitat loss and fragmentation.
- It is estimated that probably one-quarter to one-third of the total African elephant population is made up of forest elephants.
- There are some areas where there is both high quality habitat and stable elephant populations. These include Gabon, the northern Republic of Congo, northern Botswana, northern Tanzania and northern Kenya.
- Gabon holds roughly half of all forest elephants, which occur across almost the entire country’s area (about 250,000 sq km). It is the principal stronghold of a species that once numbered in the millions.
- As key species in their ecosystem, forest elephants provide unique ecological services related to seed dispersal, trampling and nutrient cycling. This is why they are called “ecosystem engineers” and “mega-gardeners”.
- More recent work has shown the link between elephants and carbon sequestration. This is because tree species whose seeds are dispersed by elephants tend to be much larger, with higher wood density and higher carbon content than tree species dispersed by other methods, such as by monkeys or the wind.
- Across the African continent the populations of both species of African elephants — forest and savanna — have been declining due to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict.
- The species are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and poaching for the illegal ivory trade is a threat in several range countries as well.
- Human encroachment into natural areas where bush elephants occur or their increasing presence in adjacent areas has spurred research into methods of safely driving groups of elephants away from humans.
- Farmers have tried scaring elephants away by more aggressive means such as fire or the use of chili peppers along fences to protect their crops.
- There have been increasing reports of human-elephant conflict (crop-raiding) in some areas.
- Forest elephants are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “Critically Endangered” — a category for species that have declined over 80 per cent within three generations. And it has listed savanna elephants as “Endangered” — indicating a decline of over 50 per cent within three generations.
- Playback of the recorded sounds of angry Western honey bees has been found to be remarkably effective at prompting elephants to flee an area.
- To ensure good decision-making for wildlife conservation, it’s important to know how many elephants there are. Researchers, practitioners and policy-makers all need data they can trust when designing new protected areas, managing existing ones, and creating national and international conservation laws and strategies.
- A collaborative approach between the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Gabonese National Parks Agency and Vulcan Inc (a philanthropic foundation), able to plan and implement our nationwide, systematic population survey of forest elephants in Gabon using DNA from fresh elephant dung. This was the first national DNA-based assessment of any free-ranging large mammal in Africa.
- Our first aim was to collect as many dung samples as possible. We then assigned each dung pile to an individual elephant using DNA analysis.
- The population estimation method depends on a proportion of individual elephants being “captured” more than once; a method formally known as spatially explicit capture-recapture.
- Elephant densities were highest in relatively flat areas with a high proportion of reasonably intact lowland tropical forests. They were not found in high densities near the national border.
- Gabonese government initiated a series of national meetings with the aim was to outline a national strategy plan that addresses the concerns of the local communities affected by elephants.
Aarogyasri Scheme
- The Aarogyasri scheme was started in 2007 under the YS Rajasekhar Reddy-led Congress regime in United Andhra Pradesh as the Rajiv Aarogyasri Scheme.
- The scheme was rechristened DR NTR Vaidya Seva under the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime in 2014. It was later named DR YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
- Towards achievement of universal health coverage for BPL families whether defined in terms of financial protection or access to and effective use of health care, Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing state sponsored Dr.YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme.
- This scheme certainly counts to be one of the pioneers in terms of achieving equity and providing accountable and evidence-based good-quality health-care services in the state to assist poor families from catastrophic health expenditure.
- The aim of the Government is to provide Universal Health Coverage to BPL families. The scheme is a unique PPP model in the field of Health Insurance, tailor made to the health needs of poor patients and provides end-to-end cashless services for identified diseases under secondary and tertiary care through a network of service providers from Government and private sector.
- The scheme has established a demand-side mechanism that mobilizes and channels additional public financing to health, introduced an explicit benefits package, pioneered cashless care and fostered public private partnerships.
- The scheme is designed in such a way that the benefit in the primary care is addressed through free screening and outpatient consultation both in the health camps and in the network hospitals as part of scheme implementation.
- The IEC activity during the health camps, screening, counselling and treatment of common ailments in the health camps and out-patient services in network hospitals is supplementing the government health care system in preventive and primary care.
- In order to facilitate the effective implementation of the scheme, the State Government set up the Dr.YSR Aarogyasri Health Care Trust, under the chairmanship of the Honorable Chief Minister. The Trust is administered by a Chief Executive Officer who is an IAS Officer. The trust, in consultation with the specialists in the field of insurance and healthcare, runs the scheme.
- Dr.YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance scheme is unique in its applicability since no other State/ government agency has provided universal health coverage to the poor. The choice of hospital for treatment is with the patient.
- The entire process from the time of conduct of health camps to the screening, diagnosing, treatment, follow- up and claim payment is made transparent through online web-based processing to prevent any misuse and fraud.
- The scheme is complimentary to facilities available in government hospitals and put together provides Universal Health Coverage to BPL population including Prevention, Primary care and In-Patient care.
- All the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) which are the first contact point, Area/District Hospitals and Network Hospitals, are provided with Help Desks manned by VAIDYA MITHRA's to facilitate the illiterate patients.
- To provide free quality hospital care and equity of access to BPL families by purchase of quality medical services from identified network of health care providers through a self-funded reimbursement mechanism (serviced by Trust).
- To provide financial security against the catastrophic health expenditures.
- To strengthen the Government Hospitals through demand side financing.
- To provide universal coverage of health for both urban and rural poor of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
- Changing Tertiary care profile:
- As the scheme progressed the pre-existing load of diseases is coming down, particularly in relation to the high-end diseases in cardiology, neurosurgery, gynaecology and obstetrics etc.
- This may be attributed to the decrease in preload which is contributed by procedures under the scheme such as valve replacement surgeries and congenital cardiac defects, SOLs in brain and chronic disorders in gynaecology.
- Improvement in documentation and regulatory effect on Hospitals:
- The empanelment procedure, defined diagnostic and treatment protocols, capturing of admission notes, daily clinical notes, operation notes, discharge summary and uploading of diagnostic reports including films, WebEx recording of Angio and Laparoscopic procedures and other photographic evidences have resulted in profound improvement of medical documentation in the State and regulatory effect on the hospitals.
- Improvement in quality of services:
- Continued monitoring of the services both online and in the field by the elaborated field mechanism coupled with disciplinary action against erring hospitals is greatly contributing to the quality of treatment under the scheme.
- Establishing Medical Protocols tailor-made to local situations:
- The scheme by taking into consideration of availability of local infrastructure and standard medical practices defined standard medical protocols with the help of senior specialists in each field.
- Employment Generation:
- The scheme generated indirect employment potential as the insurance company, network hospital and other stake holders have to employ number of people in different cadres such as Vaidyamithra, MEDCO, VMCCO, duty doctors, para medical technicians, staff nurses etc.,
- Health Awareness:
- Since implementation of the scheme Health camps held in rural areas not only screened people but also played key role in bringing health awareness among the population through IEC activity.
- Counselling by field staff and paramedical staff is also contributing to the health awareness among rural poor.As pre-evaluation of the patient is also cashless under the scheme, the people are motivated to approach network hospitals as and when suspected of suffering from identified diseases.
- Morbidity pool and Disease Mapping:
- As the entire patient data of people attending health camps, network hospital OP, in-patient treatment details and treatment details of the beneficiaries approved under the scheme are captured online, it created huge morbidity data of the population.
- Early recognition and Disease IEC activities, health camps, counselling by field staff and awareness campaigns by the Trust and district administration is helping in early recognition and disease prevention.
- Performance of Government Hospital:
- Hospitals from Govt sector with requisite infrastructure are empanelled to provide services under the scheme and they are entitled to receive same payment as the private and corporate hospitals.
- This is helping Govt., hospitals to earn much needed finances for improving infrastructure, provide quality care to the patients. This system is motivating more and more government hospitals to participate in the scheme and utilize the revenue earned to improve facilities to provide quality medical care.
- Government decided to retain 20% of earnings by the Government Hospitals to create revolving fund to regularly assist these hospitals to improve their infrastructure and decided to utilize art thus bring reforms in tertiary medical care
- Primary care has to be available within a kilometer from the patients’ homes. For this, sub-centres and wellness centres should have MBBS doctors with basic infrastructure. This is not well addressed by the insurance model.
- Establishment of health hubs in the state, in which 50 per cent of the beds would be reserved for Aarogyasri, being driven by profit, would only cover secondary and tertiary services.
- Several patients admitted under Aarogyasri at the government’s SVRR Government General Hospital in Tirupati, complained of being asked to buy some of the medicines on their own.
- The staff, who were appointed on contractual basis at the height of the COVID-19 second wave, had struck work, citing non-payment of salary for 4-5 months.
- A cross-section of empanelled hospitals, made it clear that the dues to them from the government were piling up.
- The decision to implement AP Allopathic Private Medical Care Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2002 more strictly will add more burden as they need to have more facilities of their own.
- Diseases such as Malaria, HIV AIDS, Filaria, Tuberculosis, etc. Are not covered under the scheme.
- Doctoral staff is either vacant or if it exists, it is underpaid or not paid.
- When the partnership is with the for-profit private/corporate sector, where the underlining principle is profit making, the core principle of partnerships of beneficence and equity is undermined.
- The centrally sponsored Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY Pradhan Mantri- Jan Aarogya Yojana) is being implemented by the National Health Agency and government of Andhra Pradesh by entering into a memorandum of understanding to implement the central scheme. The expenses are shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and states as is the norm in all schemes.
- Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a national public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low-income earners in the country.
- The programme is part of the Indian government's National Health Policy and is means-tested. It was launched in September 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. That ministry later established the National Health Authority as an organization to administer the program.
- Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
- Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes - Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).
- Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country. The beneficiaries can avail benefits in both public and empanelled private facilities.
- One of the core principles of Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission is to co-operative federalism and flexibility to states.
- For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States, it is proposed to set up Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) at apex level Chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.
- States would need to have State Health Agency (SHA) to implement the scheme.
- To ensure that the funds reach SHA on time, the transfer of funds from Central Government through Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission to State Health Agencies may be done through an escrow account directly.
- In partnership with NITI Aayog, a robust, modular, scalable and interoperable IT platform will be made operational which will entail a paperless, cashless transaction.
- It will target about 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data covering both rural and urban. The scheme is designed to be dynamic and aspirational and it would take into account any future changes in the exclusion/ inclusion/ deprivation/ occupational criteria in the SECC data.
POSTED ON 08-03-2022 BY ADMIN
Next previous 
General Studies
Political Science and International Relations
Some Reference Essays
List of previous year essay topics (1997-2019)
IAS GOOGLE is googled by the team of Raja Sir’s Cracking IAS Academy. Sources include The Hindu, Indian Express, pib.nic.in, Down To Earth, Economic Times, Vigyan Prasar, AIR and the like. IAS GOOGLE has been prepared in pace with emerging UPSC Trends.