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Monthly DNA
01 Dec, 2020
36 Min Read
GS-Paper-1 Social Issue (Mains-essay)
Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has virtually inaugurated an Assistance to Disabled Persons Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and devices to Divyangjan or Divyang. These are Hindi word meaning the ‘one with a divine body’. The Prime Minister decided that persons with disabilities should no longer be referred to as disabled persons or viklang (someone with non-functional body parts).
Facts:
The camp was organized by the **Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur. ALIMCO is a not-for-profit Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) established in 1972 and it works under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Person with Disability (DEPwD).
Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme: It is in operation since 1981.
Definition: The scheme follows the definitions of various types of disabilities as given in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) (PWD) Act 1995.
PWD Act was replaced by the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
Act Provisions Rights and entitlements
Guardianship
Establishment of Authorities
Penalties for offences
|
Objective: To assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential.
Grants: Grants-in-aid are released to various implementing agencies (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, National Institutes, Composite Regional Centres, District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, State Handicapped Development Corporations, NGOs, etc.) for purchase and distribution of aids and assistive devices.
Assitence: Aids/appliances which do not cost more than Rs. 10,000 are covered under the Scheme for single disability. However, in some cases the limit would be raised to Rs.12,000. In the case of multiple disabilities, the limit will apply to individual items separately in case more than one aid/appliance is required.
Full cost of aid/appliance is provided if the income is up to Rs. 15,000 per month and 50% of the cost of aid/appliance is provided if the income is between Rs. 15,001 to Rs. 20,000 per month.
Government Initiatives:
Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: "Person with disability" means a person with long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.
Accessible India Campaign: Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs: A nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility that will enable PwDs to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.
DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to PwDs, like special schools, vocational training centres, community-based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc.
National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities: It aims to increase opportunities for students with disabilities for pursuing higher education and grants 200 fellowships per year to students with disability.
Unique Disability Identification Project: It aims to create a national database for PwDs and issuing Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card along with disability certificate. Once the project covers all persons with disabilities, UDID Cards will be made mandatory for availing various government benefits.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances: It aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities: It is celebrated worldwide on 3rd December and was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Initiatives for Mentral Health: National Mental Health Programme, which was launched in 1982 to improve the status of mental health in India.
KIRAN: Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline for addressing mental health issues, coordinated by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), Tamil Nadu and National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), Madhya Pradesh.
Source: PIB
India has launched the first-ever SCO Online Exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage. The launch happened during the 19th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of Government (SCO CHG), held in New Delhi. India highlighted that the cross-border terrorism is the biggest challenge for the SCO countries.
Developed by: First ever of its kind the exhibition was developed and curated by the National Museum, New Delhi, in active collaboration with SCO member countries.
Participants: Museums from India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Knowledge about Different Schools of Buddhism: The visitors can explore the Indian Buddhist treasures from the Gandhara and Mathura Schools, Nalanda, Amaravati, Sarnath, etc. in a 3D virtual format.
Although both the Mathura and Gandhara schools of Art share some rudimentary similarities between themselves, there are some fundamental differences between the two: which is highlighted in the table given below:
Areas of differences |
Gandhara School of art |
Mathura School of Art |
Reign |
Kushana Dynasty |
Kushana Dynasty |
Area |
Gandhara (Now located in the Peshawar Valley of Modern-day Pakistan) |
Mathura |
Outside influences |
Greek and possibly Macedonian influence |
|
Religious influence |
Buddhism |
|
Material Used |
Bluish- Grey sandstone Grey sandstone |
Spotted red sandstone |
Features of Buddha sculptures |
Spiritual Buddha Sad Buddha Bearded Buddha Less ornamentation Great detailing Buddha in Yogi postures Greek factors like wavy hair, large forehead, long ears |
Smiling Buddha Less emphasis on spiritual aspects Shaven head and face Muscular Physique Graceful posture of Buddha Seated in Padmasana Buddha surrounded by two monks: Padmapani (holding Lotus) and Vajrapani( Holding Vajra) Halo around the head of Buddha decorated with geometrical motifs The Standing Buddhas of the Sravasti, Sarnath, and Kausambhi
|
Various Mudras of Buddha in Gandhara Art |
Abhayamudra- Don’t fear Bhumisparshamudra -Touching the earth Dhyana mudra- Meditation Dharmachakramudra-A preaching mudra |
— |
Artistic Wealth and Excellence: The international exhibition gives a glimpse of the artistic wealth displayed in various museums across Asia and also represents the artistic excellence embedded within an eclectic historical timeline.
Features:
The Pakistan Hall depicts the life of Gautama Buddha and buddhist art through a collection of impressive Gandhara art objects including fasting Siddhartha and footprint of Buddha from Sikri, meditating Buddha from Sahri Bahlol, miracle of Sravasti from Gandhara, etc.
The State Oriental Art Museum, Moscow contributed objects which depict the Buddhist Buryat Art of Russia through icons, ritual objects, monastery traditions etc.
The Dunhuang Academy of China contributed a rich digital collection on Buddhist art which includes ingenious architecture, resplendent murals, decorative designs, costumes etc.
India's stands on Terrorism: India raised the issue of terrorism at the meeting and highlighted it as the enemy of humanity. It expressed its concerns about state-sponsored terrorism and in particular cross-border terrorism.
India supports the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Recently, India’s annual resolution on the issue of counter-terrorism was adopted by consensus in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
India also criticised Pakistan for using terrorism as a instrument of state policy and called upon the members of SCO to fight it collectively.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Source: PIB
Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska institute have tried to answer why influenza infections lead to an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. They have described findings leading to so-called “superinfections”.
They cite the example of Spanish flu, which was an influenza pandemic that swept across the world in 1918–20. Unlike many other pandemics, the Spanish flu hit young healthy adults, due to the superinfections caused by bacteria, in particular pneumococci.
Superinfections: These are infections occurring after or on top of an earlier infection, especially following treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. It is an overgrowth of an opportunistic pathogen from the bacterial or yeast imbalance of systemic antibiotics. For example, influenza is caused by a virus, but the most common cause of death in influenza patients is secondary pneumonia, which is caused by bacteria. However, the reason behind influenza infections leading to an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia is not known. |
Researchers looked at the mechanisms behind this increased susceptibility. They found that different nutrients and antioxidants leak from the blood. This creates an environment in the lungs that favours the growth of bacteria.
The bacteria adapt to the inflammatory environment by increasing the production of HtrA enzyme. HtrA weakens the immune system and promotes bacterial growth in the influenza-infected airways. The results of the research could be used to find new therapies for double infections between the influenza virus and pneumococcal bacteria.
Influenza
Pneumonia
|
Source: IE
Arunachal Kiwi got organic certification for Kiwi under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER). [MOVCD-NER is a scheme for the north-eastern states by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under the Central government.]
Arunachal Pradesh is the first in the country to get this certification for Kiwis. These kiwis have grown Ziro Valley located in the Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal. An agricultural practice/product is considered organic when there are no chemical fertilisers or pesticides involved in its cultivation process. Such certifications can be obtained after a scientific assessment done by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Source: IE
Scientists at Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute have identified Zebrafish’s genes that can promote heart regeneration. They have sought to decode the heart regeneration processes, which can illuminate strategies to improve human cardiac regeneration.
Zebrafish is a tiny freshwater fish found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to South Asia’s Indo-Gangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams. It can regenerate almost all its organs, including the brain, heart, eye, and spinal cord within a short time period.
Its unique characteristics lie in its transparency during its embryonic stages, allowing observing all organs. This is why the zebrafish is used as a model organism.
Source: TH
Peacock soft-shelled turtle - vulnerable species have been rescued from a fish market in Assam’s Silchar. Scientific Name: Nilssonia hurum.
Features:
They have a large head, downturned snout with a low and oval carapace of dark olive green to nearly black, sometimes with a yellow rim.
The head and limbs are olive-green; the forehead has dark reticulations and large yellow or orange patches or spots, especially behind the eyes and across the snout.
Males possess relatively longer and thicker tails than females.
Habitat: India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In India, it is widespread in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent. These are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with mud or sand bottoms.
Threats: The species is heavily exploited for its meat and calipee (the outer cartilaginous rim of the shell). Threats in the River Ganga to the species are those generic for all large river turtles, including reduction of fish stock, as a result of overfishing, pollution, increase in river traffic, and sand mining, among others.
Source: IE
The World AIDS Day
GS-Paper-3 Health (PT-MAINS-IV)
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, if not treated. Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely, even with treatment.
**Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a lentivirus, which is a sub-classification of the retrovirus. It causes the HIV infection which over time leads to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
Types of HIV
Type One |
Type Two |
|
|
AIDS |
HIV |
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease. |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) is the causal factor (reason) for AIDS |
Complications and secondary infections from this disease kill the host. |
The virus is incapable of killing a host by itself. |
AIDS is a condition acquired only after the contraction of HIV. |
HIV is a virus and like other viruses, can spread from person to person. |
Some FACTS
Transmission: HIV is transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk.
**To transmit HIV, bodily fluids must contain enough of the virus. A person with ‘Undetectable HIV’ cannot transfer HIV to another person even after transfer of fluids. ‘Undetectable HIV’ is when the amount of HIV in the body is so low that a blood test cannot detect it. Treatment can make this possible. But regular monitoring of the same through blood tests is also required.
Symptoms
Around 80% of people infected with HIV develop a set of symptoms known as Acute Retroviral Syndrome, around 2-6 weeks after the virus enters into body. The early symptoms include fever, chills, joint pains, muscle aches, sore throat, sweats particularly at night, enlarged glands, a red rash, tiredness, weakness, unintentional weight loss and thrush. A person can carry HIV even without experiencing any symptoms for a long time. During this time, the virus continues to develop and causes immune system and organ damage.
Global Stats
Indian Stats The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017. India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995. |
Treatment-Strategies
Anti-Retroviral Therapy:
Stem Cell Transplant:
UNAIDS
National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)
The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), launched in 1992, is being implemented as a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of HIV/ AIDS in India. Over time, the focus has shifted from raising awareness to behaviour change, from a national response to a more decentralized response and to increasing involvement of NGOs and networks of People living with HIV (PLHIV).
The NACP I started in 1992 was implemented with an objective of slowing down the spread of HIV infections so as to reduce morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS in the country.
In November 1999, the second National AIDS Control Project (NACP II) was launched to reduce the spread of HIV infection in India, and (ii) to increase India’s capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis.
NACP III was launched in July 2007 with the goal of Halting and Reversing the Epidemic over its five-year period.
NACP IV, launched in 2012, aims to accelerate the process of reversal and further strengthen the epidemic response in India through a cautious and well defined integration process over the next five years.
**Key priorities under NACP IV
Package of services provided under NACP IV
Care, Support & Treatment Services
HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act
The Government of India enacted the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the year 2017 and was in force in 2018. The State and Central Government are responsible for the following measures:
The Act lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited.
HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act maintain that without the consent of the person, no one can conduct any HIV tests or treatment related to HIV. Also, the person won’t be under any compulsion to disclose his/her HIV status except when required by the Court. Informed consent for an HIV test will not be required in case of screening by any licensed blood bank, a court order, medical research, and epidemiological purposes where the HIV test is anonymous and not meant to determine the HIV status of a person. Establishments keeping records of information of HIV positive persons shall adopt data protection measures. The requirement for HIV testing as a prerequisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited.
In the case of violation of the act, the party disclosing information on a person with HIV or advocating hatred against them will be punished with a fine of one lakh rupees or imprisonment ranging from 3 months to 2 years.
Ombudsman Appointment under HIV and AIDS Bill
Recent News The World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December every year all over the world. It was founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was the first ever global health day with a motto of raising public awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a pandemic disease caused by the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which damages the human immune system. In 2019, 6,90,000 people died from HIV-related causes and 1.7 million people were newly infected, with nearly 62% of these new infections occurring among key populations and their partners.
**Theme for 2020: “Global solidarity, resilient HIV services.”
In 2020, the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, it is a call for more protection and support to these health workers who have long been on the frontline of HIV service delivery. Significance: It reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away and there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. It is an opportunity to show solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV worldwide. |
Source: Vikaspedia
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