Today's Brief 18-20/07/2024

Youtube English:

https://youtu.be/szlOJQpqcns?si=yagzpeID9Tya3Bg_

Youtube Hindi: https://youtu.be/CQY-wsX6gv4?si=XO6nmV54jeMCoS-A

1.U-WIN Portal: India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is a part of the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Program under National Health Mission (NHM).

It is one of the largest public health programs in the world under which vaccination is being provided free of cost to all pregnant women & children.

Vaccination can be availed against 12 vaccine preventable diseases: nationally against 11 diseases-

1. Diphtheria,

2. Pertussis,

3. Tetanus,

4. Polio,

5. Measles,

6. Rubella,

7. severe form of childhood Tuberculosis,

8. Rotavirus Diarrhoea,

9. Hepatitis B, Meningitis &

10. Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza Type B and

11. Pneumococcal Pneumonia and sub-nationally against 1 Disease - Japanese Encephalitis (JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts).

U-WIN platform captures each & every vaccination event of all pregnant women & children under Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): 100 Percent Funded by the central government.

The immunization Programme is one of the key interventions for the protection of children from life-threatening conditions, which are preventable. It is one of the largest immunization programs in the world and a major public health intervention in the country.

• The immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI).

• The program gained momentum in 1985 and was expanded as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to be implemented in a phased manner to cover all districts in the country by 1989-90.

• UIP become a part of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 Since, 1997, immunization activities have been an important component of the National Reproductive & Child Health Programme and are currently one of the key areas under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) since 2005.

• Under the Universal Immunization Programme, the Government of India is providing vaccination to prevent eleven vaccine-preventable diseases i.e.Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella,   severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib), Pneumococcal and Diarrhoeas due to Rota virus.

2.Mashco Piro tribes: also known as the Nomole people, are a fascinating and endangered tribe living in voluntary isolation. Here's what I can tell you about them:

Who are they?

• Uncontacted tribe: They actively avoid contact with outsiders and live in the depths of the Amazon rainforest in southeastern Peru

• Possible largest uncontacted tribe: Estimates suggest their population could be over 750, making them the largest such tribe globally

• Nomadic hunter-gatherers: They rely on hunting and gathering for subsistence

History and threats

• Traumatic past: During the 19th century rubber boom, they suffered enslavement, massacres, and displacement from their lands

• Endangered by encroachment:  Logging and development are pushing into their territory, forcing them out and threatening their way of life

• Importance of protecting their land: Their territory needs legal recognition and protection to ensure their survival
  

• Language: They speak a dialect of the Piro language. The term "Mashco" itself is considered derogatory

• Recent sightings: Increased sightings in recent years raise concerns as they may indicate the tribe is being forced out of their usual range

3.The green revolution in maize: The Green Revolution was largely about wheat and rice. India became self-sufficient, if not surplus, in these two cereal grains, thanks to high-yielding varieties bred by institutions such as the Mexico-based CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, under the leadership of scientists like Norman Borlaug and M S Swaminathan.

There is, however, another less celebrated revolution that has taken place in India — in maize. Between 1999-2000 and 2023-24, its annual output has more than tripled, from 11.5 to over 35 million tonnes (mt), with average per-hectare yields also rising from 1.8 to 3.3 tonnes.

Maize, unlike rice and wheat, isn’t much of a food grain. Hardly a fifth of India’s maize production is used for direct human consumption. An estimated 60% goes as feed for poultry birds and livestock. Such maize is indirectly consumed as food by households – in the form of chicken, egg or milk.

CIMMYT,

 which stands for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, is a significant organization dedicated to global food security. Here's a breakdown of their key areas:

Mission

• Non-profit focused on research and development [CIMMYT website].

• Develops improved varieties of wheat and maize to fight hunger and malnutrition

• Promotes sustainable agricultural practices for smallholder farmers, particularly in developing countries

Impact

• Contributes to breeding efforts for nearly half of the world's wheat and maize varieties

• Estimated annual benefits of $3.5 to $4 billion in the Global South

• Strengthens the livelihoods and resilience of millions of farmers

Headquarters and Reach

• Global headquarters in Texcoco, Mexico.

• Operates projects in 88 countries

• Collaborates with hundreds of partners as part of the CGIAR network

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)

commonly known as the Pusa Institute, is a premier national institute for agricultural research, education, and extension. It is situated in New Delhi, India. Here are some key points about IARI:

Overview

• Established: 1905

• Location: Pusa, New Delhi, India

• Affiliation: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

History

• IARI was originally established in Pusa (Bihar) in 1905 and was relocated to New Delhi in 1936 following an earthquake.

• It played a crucial role in the Green Revolution in India by developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.

4.Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in India are quasi-judicial bodies that specifically operate in Assam, India. Their primary function is to determine whether a person is a "foreigner" according to the Foreigners Act, 1946.

Purpose:

• Decide if a person is a foreigner who entered India illegally and doesn't hold Indian citizenship.

• This process is crucial in the context of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. People excluded from the NRC can be referred to FTs.

Functioning:

• Established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964.

• Each FT is headed by a member appointed as per guidelines set by the government.

• Members can be retired judicial officers, civil servants, or experienced lawyers.

• If a person is referred to an FT, they have the right to present their case and provide evidence of citizenship.

• The burden of proof lies with the person to establish they are not a foreigner.

Criticisms:

• FTs have been criticized for allegedly high rates of declaring people as foreigners, raising concerns about fairness and due process.

• Some argue the procedures favor the state and make it difficult for people to prove citizenship.

Current Situation:

• As of now, FTs only function in Assam. The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order applies to all of India, but other states have different procedures for handling suspected illegal immigrants.

4. Assam’s 700-yr-old Moidams to be considered for World Heritage List: The 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty — the Moidams from Assam — will be considered for nomination on the World Heritage List next week during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi on Sunday.

If the nomination comes through, it will become the first cultural site on the prestigious list from the northeastern region.

The nomination dossier for the Moidams was sent more than a decade ago and is presently on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is the first step towards the monument becoming a part of the final list.

Moidams are the unique burial mounds constructed by the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam, India, for over 600 years (1228-1826). These impressive structures served as tombs for royalty, aristocracy, and sometimes even nobles.

Structure

• Moidams consist of vaulted chambers, often with one or more rooms

• A hemispherical earthen mound encases the chambers, rising above the ground.

• An "chow-chali," an open pavilion, sits atop the mound's peak

• The base of the mound is fortified by a polygonal toe-wall and an arched entryway on the western side

• The construction materials include layers of brick and earth

The Ahom Dynasty

was a powerful and influential dynasty that ruled over the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, India, for nearly 600 years.

Overview

• Period: 1228-1826 CE

• Region: Assam, Northeastern India

• Founder: Sukaphaa

5. Ursula von der Leyen: re-elected as the President of the European Commission. 

Read More:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/explained-the-green-revolution-in-maize-9462437/#:~:text=There%20is%2C%20however%2C%20another%20less,from%201.8%20to%203.3%20tonnes.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam/how-do-assams-foreigners-tribunals-function-explained/article68419385.ece#:~:text=A%20tribunal%20is%20required%20to,of%20his%20or%20her%20case.