25th FEBRUARY 2019 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Action plan for free treatment of hepatitis patients launched

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

★ As part of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Indian government rolled out National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) with an aim to eliminate viral hepatitis that infects and kills more than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

National Action Plan :

★ The Action Plan provides a strategic framework, based on which National Viral Hepatitis Control Program was framed and launched in 2018.

★ The aim is to eliminate hepatitis by 2030. I am confident that the programme will be successful.

★ According to the action plan, one model hepatitis treatment centre will be established in each State in a government institution in the first year and model centres will be increased gradually.

★ India plans to have a decentralized health management for hepatitis, which is necessary for effective treatment. An integrated plan is being prepared, with the involvement of doctors, experts and state governments.

Need of National action Plan :

★ According to WHO estimates, viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths globally in 2015, a number comparable to deaths due to tuberculosis, worldwide.

★ In India, it is estimated that there are 4 crore people suffering from Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore people suffering from Hepatitis C.

National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) :

★ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the ‘National Viral Hepatitis Control Program’, with the goal of ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 in the country.

★ It also seeks to achieve significant reduction in the infected population, morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C, A and E.

★ The program is in line with India’s global commitment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3. SDG 3.3 calls to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases by 2030.

Aim :

★ Combat hepatitis and achieve country wide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030

★ Achieve significant reduction in the infected population, morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C viz. Cirrhosis and Hepato-cellular carcinoma (liver cancer)

★ Reduce the risk, morbidity and mortality due to Hepatitis A and E.

Objective :

★ Enhance community awareness on hepatitis and lay stress on preventive measures among general population especially high-risk groups and in hotspots.

★ Provide early diagnosis and management of viral hepatitis at all levels of healthcare

★ Develop standard diagnostic and treatment protocols for management of viral hepatitis and its complications.

★ Strengthen the existing infrastructure facilities, build capacities of existing human resource and raise additional human resources, where required, for providing comprehensive services for management of viral hepatitis and its complications in all districts of the country.

★ Develop linkages with the existing National programmes towards awareness, prevention, diagnosis and treatment for viral hepatitis.

★ Develop a web-based “Viral Hepatitis Information and Management System” to maintain a registry of persons affected with viral hepatitis and its sequelae

Source :- The Hindu

Guj CM launches second edition of water conservation scheme

GS PAPER - 03 AGRICULTURE - Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Context :

★ Gujarat Chief Minister launched the second edition of the state government's water conservation drive called "Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan".

Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan :

★ The scheme aims to deepen water bodies in the state before monsoon to increase storage of rainwater to be used during times of scarcity.

★ The scheme involves cleaning and desilting of River Front.

★ Sprucing up of Irrigation Canal

Source :- Business Standard

Permanent residence certificate row: Protesters set ablaze Arunachal deputy CM’s residence [ Explained / Opinion ]

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Context :

★ Violence erupted in Arunachal Pradesh over the issue of Permanent Residence Certificate to six non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (APSTs) living in the Namsai and Changlang districts and to the Gorkhas living in Vijaynagar.

Background :

★ Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis and Mishings were demanding Permanent Residence Certificate.

★ Most of these communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in neighbouring Assam.

★ According to reports, the demand by these communities for PRC, recognising them as residents of the state, is long-standing, but is opposed by powerful groups.

★ A Joint High Power Committee (JHPC), after holding discussions with the stakeholders, recommended granting PRC to the six communities, who are not natives of Arunachal Pradesh but have been living in Namsai and Changlang districts for decades.

Why are people in Arunachal protesting against PRC?

★ several community-based groups and organisations in Arunachal Pradesh, who feel the rights and interests of indigenous people will be compromised if the proposal is implemented.

Permanent Residence Certificate :

★ Permanent resident certificate is a legal document issued to Indian citizens that serves as evidence of residence and is required to be submitted as residential proof for official purpose.

★ Those citizens who are not currently residing in the state but are sure of permanently staying therein can also apply for it.

Purpose of this Certificate :

★ Permanent Residence Certificate is a legal document that serves as an evidence of residence and thus must be submitted wherever a residence proof is required.

★ Permanent Residence Certificate should be produced in many situations such as admission in educational organisations, job reservation under specific quotas especially for government jobs, etc. to get local preferences.

★ To apply for ration card permanent residence certificate is a vital and mandate document.

★ To avail the provisions of various schemes of the state or to claim scholarships of the State, permanent residence certificate is essential.

Source ;- Indian Express

After 50 Years, India Invited to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Plenary

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests

Context :

★ In a 1st time India has been invited to the inaugural plenary of the foreign ministers' conclave of the OIC, a powerful grouping of Muslim majority nations, meeting as ‘guest of honour’.

More about the news:

★ The 46th Session of the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers will be held in Abu Dhabi from March 1 to 2.

★ The invitation to India by the OIC comes at a time when India has been mounting diplomatic offensive against Pakistan to isolate it internationally following the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) :

★ The OIC — formerly Organisation of Islamic Conference — is the second largest inter-governmental organisation in the world after the UN, with a membership of 57 states in four continents.

★ The OIC describes itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world”

★ Stated objective is “to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world”.

★ The OIC has reserved its membership for Muslim-majority countries.

★ Russia, Thailand, and couple of other small countries have Observer status.

India and OIC:

★ At the 45th session of the Foreign Ministers’ Summit in May 2018, Bangladesh, the host country, had suggested that India, where more than 10% of the world’s Muslims live, should be given Observer status, but Pakistan had opposed the proposal.

Source :- Indian Express

Smart turn: Karimnagar looks to the sun

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

★ Municipal body has made rooftop solar panels mandatory for large houses

More about the news :

★ The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) signed an MoU with the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO) for the generation of 1.45 MW of power through solar rooftop panels.

★ The municipal body has passed a resolution requiring all houses, apartments, community halls and commercial establishments with a built up area of more than 300 square yards (2,700 sq.ft) to install solar panels on rooftops.

Karimnagar Smart City project :

★ The MCK is now claiming the mantle of becoming the first corporation to make it mandatory for all new houses to install solar panels.

★ The civic body would provide a 30% subsidy for the installation through TSREDCO.

★ Integrating solar power is mandatory as part of the Karimnagar Smart City project, and the civic body is making it easier by providing net-metering facility with the Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL). This would enable property owners to earn from the surplus power they generate.

Additional News:

★ A 2018 study by Mercom Capital India group has ranked Telangana second in India in solar power, generating more than 3,000 MW. Karnataka has been ranked first.

Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme :

Solar Rooftop System :

★ In this system, in any residential commercial, institutional and industrial building, the solar panels are installed in the roof. It can be of two types: Solar Rooftop System having storage facility by using battery and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop System.

Grid Connected Solar RoofTop System :

★ It is also known as SPV system. In this system the DC power generated from SPV panel is converted to AC power by using power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid either of 33kV/11 kV three phase lines or of 440/220 Volt three/single phase line depending upon the capacity of the system which is installed at institution or commercial establishment or residential complex and the regulatory framework specified for respective States.

★ The power is generated by these systems during the day time and is utilised properly by the powering captive loads and send the excess power to the grid till it is available. If due to cloud cover, solar power is not enough or sufficient to run it then the captive loads are served by drawing power from the grid.

Aim :

★ It aims to achieve a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW/40GW from rooftop solar projects by 2022.

★ The program encourages installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic power generation plant for self-consumption as well as supply/sale of electricity to the grid.

Source :- The Hindu

MSME Ministry’s First Conclave on Empowering Marginalised Sections’ Women Entrepreneurs

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context :

★ Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME, will organise a Conclave “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 2019, Financing & Enabling Women from Marginalised Sections”.

Conclave on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 2019 :

★ First of its kind conclave endeavours to empower women entrepreneurs from marginalised sections and enable their growth and success in business by offering substantial knowledge on various business opportunities and national best practices in doing business.

★ The conclave is organized under the National SC-ST Hub initiative of the MSME ministry which is targeted towards developing a supportive ecosystem towards SC/ST entrepreneurs.

★ Issues of access to financing, assessing risks and growth mantras enabling SC-ST women entrepreneur to set up and run a sustainable business will be discussed during the day-long programme.

Source :- PIB

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