18th November 2020 Currents Affairs Analysis
By IASToppers' Editorial Team | 2020-11-18 17:00:00
Issues related to Health & Education
Guillain Barre Syndrome
In a rare complication, some patients infected with Covid-19 have been found suffering from Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). In India, such cases have been reported since August.
What is Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)?
It is a very rare autoimmune disorder.It is caused by bacteria or viral infection.
The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown.
In the past, patients of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome showed GBS symptoms, as did those infected with Zika, HIV, Herpes virus and Campylobacter jejuni.
Symptoms: First symptoms are a tingling or itching sensation in the skin, followed by muscle
Treatment: There's no known cure for GBS. However, Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and
sometimes plasma therapy helps recovery in patients with GBS.
How does it affect?
The immune system, in an attempt to kill the coronavirus, accidentally starts attacking the
peripheral nervous system. Attacking them can affect limb functions.
The peripheral nervous system is a network of nerves that lead from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body.
[Ref: Indian Express]
Arunachal records best sex ratio, Manipur the worst
A 2018 report on “vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System” was published by the Registrar General of India.
Highlights of the Report:
Arunachal Pradesh recorded 1,084 females born per thousand males, followed by Nagaland
(965) Mizoram (964), Kerala (963) and Karnataka (957).
The worst was reported in Manipur (757), Lakshadweep (839) and Daman & Diu (877), Punjab (896) and Gujarat (896).
Delhi recorded a sex ratio of 929, Haryana 914 and Jammu and Kashmir 952.
The number of registered births increased to 2.33 crore (89.3%) in 2018 from 2.21 crore
(81.3%) registered births in 2019.
How a birth and death certificate is issued?
The birth or death certificate is issued free of charge by the Registrar concerned if reported
within 21 days.
If reported within 21-30 days - it can be registered on payment of the prescribed fee.
If more than 30 days but within a year - it can be registered with the written permission of the
prescribed authority and on production of an affidavit and on payment of a fee.
If reported after one year - registered only on an order of the Magistrate of the First Class after verifying the correctness and on payment of the prescribed fee.
The prescribed time limit for registration of birth or death is 21 days. Some States however register the births and deaths even after a year.
What is Civil Registration System?
Civil Registration System (CRS) in India is the unified process of continuous, permanent,
compulsory and universal recording of the vital events (births, deaths, still births) and
characteristics thereof.
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 provides for the compulsory registration of births and deaths.
Civil Registration records are the best source of Vital Statistics.
For the individual, records emanating from CRS provides her/his legal identity and access to
the rights of a citizen including entitlements (social benefits provided by the Government).
For the country, the requirement of a complete CRS system is a must as it has important administrative and statistical uses.
The data generated through a complete and up to date CRS is essential for socio-economic
planning and to evaluate the effectiveness of various social sector programs.
They also serve as the cornerstone of public health system.
Key Facts:
Sex ratio at birth is number of females born per thousand males.
It is compulsory to report births and deaths to the Registrar of Births and Deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (Act No. 18 of 1969).
Births and deaths are registered only at the place of their occurrence. A birth can be registered without the name of the child.
[Ref: The Hindu]
Step Up for TB 2020 report launched
Recently, a report named ‘Step Up for TB’ was released by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the StopTB in partnership.
It surveyed 37 high TB-burden countries.
Highlights of the report:
Critical medical innovations are reaching far fewer people who urgently need them, because many countries continue to lag in getting their policies in line with new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
TB remains the world’s top infectious disease killer, with more than 10 million people falling ill
National treatment programmes must prioritise use of all-oral treatment regimens for people with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
facility.
39% do not use a modified all-oral shorter treatment regimen and 28% of countries are using injectable medicines when treating children with DR-TB.
85% of countries do not use the lifesaving point-of-care urinary TB LAM test for routine diagnosis of TB in people living with HIV (recommended by WHO).
Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection that usually attacks lungs. It can also spread to other parts of body, like brain and spine.
A type of bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis causes it. There are two forms of the disease:
Latent TB (TB infection):
Immune system of the body keeps infectious bacteria from spreading.
Patients don’t have any symptoms, and are not contagious. But the infection is still alive and can one day become active.
Active TB (TB disease):
The germs multiply and make sick. Also can spread the disease to others. Ninety percent of active cases in adults come from a latent TB infection.
A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer Pain in the chest
Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Vaccination:
Children receive an anti-TB vaccination — the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine — as part of a regular immunization program in India.
Govt. efforts to eradicate TB:
National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:
TB control efforts are initiated countrywide since 1962 with inception of National TB Control Programme.
The programme was reviewed and revised strategy was pilot tested in 1993.
The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) was launched in 1997 and further
renamed as National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in the year 2020 by Central TB
Division, Government of India.
Goal: To achieve a rapid decline in burden of TB, morbidity and mortality while working towards elimination of TB by 2025.
India National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB 2017 – 2025:
The Indian TB National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017 - 2025 is produced by the government of India (GoI).
The NSP 2017 - 2025 describes the activities and interventions that the GoI believes will bring about significant change in the incidence, prevalence and mortality from TB.
The NSP sets out the recommendations of the GoI.
The requirements for moving towards TB elimination in India have been arranged in four strategic areas of Detect, Treat, Prevent and Build.
Nikshay Poshan Yojana:
Launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for incentives for nutritional support to TB patients.
All notified TB patients are beneficiaries of the scheme.
The patient must be registered\notified on the NIKSHAY portal.
Financial incentive of Rs.500/- per month for each notified TB patient for duration for which the patient is on anti-TB treatment.
It is a centrally sponsored scheme under National Health Mission (NHM).
TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign:
The campaign has been started in nine states in the country in September 2019. It was launched as an accelerator to National Strategic Plan.
Promoting health seeking behavior in the community for early case detection. Preventing emergence of new cases of TB.
Key components under “TB Harega, Desh Jeetega” campaign:
Community Engagement Advocacy and Communication Health & Wellness centres and TB Inter-Ministerial collaboration Private health sector engagement Corporate sector engagement Latent TB Infection Management
Three pillars of the campaign are:
Clinical approach
Public health component Active community participation
Saksham Pravaah:
Saksham Pravaah is a Tata Institute of Social Sciences project that implements counselling services for Drug Resistant (DR) TB patients in collaboration with the Mumbai District Tuberculosis (TB) Control Society (MDTCS).
The programme supported by the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria was initiated in August
2014 as an extension of the HIV counselling capacity building initiative.
Saksham means "Capable" or “Self? reliant” in Sanskrit. [Ref: Indian Express]
Environment, Ecology & Disaster Management
Green collectives to protest against Anakkayam hydel project
Various environmental organisations will join hands for a protest against the planned felling of over 1,800 large trees in Vazhachal forests for a proposed small hydro-electric project by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
Why such protest?
The project is not economically viable.
It was granted the go-ahead without obtaining permission from the tribal communities which enjoy inviolable community forest rights in the area.
The plan is to fell about 2,000 large trees and also create a 5.617-km-long tunnel within the forest for the project.
The forest area is ecologically fragile. In 2018, a massive landslide followed by minor landslips occurred in the proposed project site.
It has the potential to negatively impact the livelihood potential of one of the most particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in Kerala i.e. the Kadars.
The Kadars depend on the biodiversity-rich stretch for non-timber forest produce like honey
and black dammar and many varieties of tubers.
The project site is known for lush forest with several huge trees.
Tribals both Kadars and Malayars, from five oorus - Sholayar, Anakkaayam, Perumbra, Thavalakkuzhippara and Vachumaram have traditional rights for collection of forests
resources for the area identified for the project.
About the Anakkayam Project:
It is a tailrace development project.
It envisages generation of 7.5 MW power using tailwater from the Sholayar hydel project.
The project received environment clearance in 1990 itself, and the state government sanctioned eight hectares of forest land under the Vazhachal Forest Division for the project.
However, the project was stalled for several reasons.
The transfer of forest land was delayed by more than 20 years, causing its environmental clearance to stand cancelled.
But in 2013-14, the project obtained both Stage-I and Stage-II environmental clearances. The project is being implemented as a Clean Development Mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Athirapally Hydel Electric Project:
The Kerala government has approved the proposed Athirapally Hydro Electric Project (AHEP)
on the Chalakudy river in Thrissur district.
The total installed capacity of project is 163 MW.
Chalakudy river originates in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu and is joined by its major tributaries Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve:
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is located in Kerala.
It stood 7th in the country in terms of Management Effectiveness in the 2018 Assessment (among 50 Tiger Reserves in the country).
Parambikulam was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2010.
It is a well-protected ecological part of the Nelliampathy - Anamalai sub unit of the Western
Ghats and is buffered by ecologically similar forests of other Forest Divisions and Protected Areas
of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Here evergreen forests, moist and dry deciduous forests and grasslands are found. Unique habitats like montane grasslands and marshy grasslands (locally known as
‘vayals’) are extensively found.
The Asian elephant, Guar, Spotted deer, Sambar and Barking deer (Muntjac) are found here. Other important species found in the reserve are:
Lion-tailed macaques Nilgiri Tahr
Malabar giant squirrel and Flying squirrel
Freshwater fish especially Mahseer (an endemic game fish)
Tarantula (large bodied spiders)
Five man-made reservoirs (Parambikulam, Thunakadavu, Peruvaripallam, Poringalkuttu and
Sholayar) are present in the reserve.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve along with Anamalai Tiger Reserve form the northern most extension of Anamalai portion of the Western Ghats before being blocked by Palakkad Gap.
Key Facts:
A Clean Development Mechanism, as per Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol (which India is a signatory to), can earn a country certified emission reduction credits in recognition of the clean, green energy it produces or utilises.
The project categorized as clean because hydroelectric power is categorised as “clean” as it is renewable and does not pollute unlike fossil fuels.
[Ref: The Hindu]
Call for protection of geological sites
The recent incident of overcrowding and reckless acts of visitors endangering the natural arch has raised concerns to safeguard the heritage sites of Visakhapatnam and establish a geo park.
Globally, geo parks are sustained through geo tourism activities like excursions, Nature trails, guided tours, hiking and academic meets.
Erra Matti Dibbalu:
Erra Matti Dibbalu is also called as Red Sand Hills.
It is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument, which is situated near Bheemunipatnam, at the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Erra Matti Dibbalu site is more than 12,000 years old.
It was recognised as a National Geo-Heritage Site in 2014 and as a protected site by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2016.
The significance of the place was discovered by William King, a geologist from the Geological Survey of India.
It is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills.
The red sand sediments are unconsolidated and loose. The red colour of the dunes is due to the
“ferrogination” of the “haemitite”.
The width of the dunes vary from 200 metres to two kilometres, spread across five kilometres along the coast.
The rare sand dunes have an important and interesting history of evolution.
The sand deposits have been reported only from three low latitude tropical regions in South Asia:
Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu
Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka
The dunes are Paleo-environmental indicators and these can give vital clues to the past and the future.
The sediments are washed away in monsoon, turning the sea a bright red.
Efforts to create awareness:
In July 2019, INTACH organised a campaign along with the Department of Tourism, Archaeology and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority to create public awareness on geo heritage spots in the region.
They push to get recognition of:
A geo park for Visakhapatnam consisting of Erra Matti Dibbalu (red sand dunes) Natural rock formations at Mangamaripeta
Million-years-old Borra Caves
Volcanic ash deposits said to have originated from the volcanic eruption of Toba in Indonesia 73,000 years ago near Araku
UNESCO Global geoparks:
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection,
education and sustainable development.
It promotes the importance and significance of protecting the Earth’s geo-diversity through actively engaging with the local communities.
A UNESCO Global Geopark uses its geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society.
It uses:
Earth’s resources sustainably
Mitigating the effects of climate change Reducing natural disasters-related risks
UNESCO Global Geoparks give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their identification with the area.
The creation of innovative local enterprises, new jobs and high quality training courses is stimulated as new sources of revenue are generated through geotourism, while the geological
resources of the area are protected.
The Geoparks are established through a bottom-up process.
In case an aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark includes a World Heritage Site or Biosphere Reserve, a clear justification and evidence has to be provided on how UNESCO Global
Geopark status will add value by being both independently branded and in synergy with the other designations.
Borra Caves:
The caves are located in the Ananthagiri mandal of the Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Borra Caves are one of the largest limestone caves of the country.
It was discovered in 1807 by William King George of the Geological Survey of India. They are located at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level.
Borra Caves were formed due to the flow of Gosthani River on limestone deposits.
The caves have stalactite and stalagmite formations of Shiva-Parvati, mother-child, crocodile, human brain, rishi’s beard and cow’s udder among others.
Key Facts:
The only other place in the country to have a similar stretch of red sand dunes is Tamil Nadu, which has the Teri dune complex.
Biosphere Reserves: Focus on the harmonised management of biological and cultural diversity
and World Heritage Sites promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value.
[Ref: The Hindu]
Bilateral & International Relations
Virtual APEC summit 2020
Asia-Pacific leaders called for open and multilateral trade to support a global economy in a recently held APEC 2020 summit.
About Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum:
It is a regional economic forum established in 1989.
Aim: To create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced growth and
accelerating regional economic integration.
It has 21 members –Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; USA; Viet Nam.
the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies, and by 2020 for developing economies. These goals were adopted at Bogor, Indonesia.
[Ref: Economic Times]
Key Facts for Prelims
Saqqara
Egypt announced the discovery of more than a 100 intact sarcophagi at Saqqara, dating back more than 2,500 years ago.
A sarcophagus is a stone coffin or a container to hold a coffin.
Saqqara, home to more than a dozen pyramids, ancient monasteries, and animals burial
sites, is a vast necropolis of the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. It is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The sealed wooden coffins belonged to top officials of the Late Period and the Ptolemaic period
of ancient Egypt.
Launched in 2015, it is a joint initiative of Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of
Earth Sciences in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).
Aim: It is intended to promote Science and Technology and demonstrate how science could lead
India towards a developed nation within a short span of time.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Science for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Global Welfare’. [Ref: PIB]