SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. WHAT IS THE GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX AND WHY IS INDIA TRAILING?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, India ranks 107 out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index in which it fares worse than all countries in South Asia barring war-torn Afghanistan.

THE EXPLANATION:

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:

• India’s score of 29.1 places it in the ‘serious’ category.India also ranks below Sri Lanka (64), Nepal (81), Bangladesh (84), and Pakistan (99). Afghanistan (109) is the only country in South Asia that performs worse than India on the index.
• China is among the countries collectively ranked between 1 and 17 having a score of less than five.
• India’s child wasting rate (low weight for height), at 19.3%, is worse than the levels recorded in 2014 (15.1%) and even 2000 (17.15%), and is the highest for any country in the world and drives up the region’s average owing to India’s large population.
• Prevalence of undernourishment, which is a measure of the proportion of the population facing chronic deficiency of dietary energy intake, has also risen in the country from 14.6% in 2018-2020 to 16.3% in 2019-2021. This translates into 224.3 million people in India considered undernourished out of the total 828 million people undernourished globally.
• India has shown improvement in the other two indicators – child stunting has declined from 38.7% to 35.5% between 2014 and 2022 and child mortality has also dropped from 4.6% to 3.3% in the same comparative period. On the whole, India has shown a slight worsening with its GHI score increasing from 28.2 in 2014 to 29.1 in 2022. Though the GHI is an annual report, the rankings are not comparable across different years. The GHI score for 2022 can only be compared with scores for 2000, 2007 and 2014.
• There are 44 countries that currently have “serious” or “alarming” hunger levels and “without a major shift, neither the world as a whole nor approximately 46 countries are projected to achieve even low hunger as measured by the GHI by 2030”.

ABOUT THE REPORT:

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels. GHI scores are based on the values of four component indicators – undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.

GHI is based on four indicators:

• The proportion of undernourished in a population
• The proportion of children under the age of five suffering from wasting (less weight in proportion to their height)
• The proportion of children under five suffering from stunting (low height in proportion to their age)
• The mortality rate of children under five

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS: INFRASTRUCTURE

2. THE LEADS (LOGISTICS EASE ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES) INDEX 2022

THE CONTEXT: LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2022 was released recently by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The LEADS survey assesses the views of various users and stakeholders involved in the value chain of logistics sector. This survey is conducted recognize the enablers, hindrances and gaps within the logistics ecosystem.
• This annual survey ranks logistics ecosystem of each state and union territory across India using data received from stakeholders (perception data) and states and union territories (objective data).
• The LEAD 2022, unlike the former versions, adopted the classification-based grading, with states and union territories classified under four broad categories – coastal states, hinterland/landlocked states, northeastern states and union territories.
• This indigenous data-backed index assesses the logistics infrastructure, services, and human resources across 36 states and union territories.
• It provides three performance categories – Achievers (states and UTs achieving 90 per cent or more), Fast Movers (states and UTs scoring between 80 and 90 per cent), and aspirers (states and UTs with percentage scoring below 80 per cent).
• The 15 states and UTs that have been categorized as achievers in the logistics index chart 2022 are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• The fast movers in the latest report are Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura.
• 15 states and UTs categorized as aspirers are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The index aims to boost the logistics performance across India, which is critical for reducing the cost of transactions and boosting international and domestic trade.
• The LEADS 2022 will assist in the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) and the National Logistics Policy (NLP) by identifying gaps in the existing logistics services, infrastructure and regulatory environment.

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. NITI AAYOG REPORT ON LEAD POISONING IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: The report, prepared jointly by government think tank Niti Aayog and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), it highlighted the growing concern of lead poisoning among children under 19 years of age in India.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A new report by the CSIR and NITI Aayog found that India has the highest health and economic burden caused by lead poisoning.
• It analysed 89 data sets from 36 researches that were carried out between 1970 and 2014 to confirm the findings of the 2020 report of the UNICEF and the non-profit Pure Earth.
• The 2020 report found that India accounted for 275,561,163 of the total 800 million children who were poisoned by lead across the world. This means that 50 per cent of children in India suffered lead poisoning.
• This report also found that lead poisoning costed 5 per cent of the Indian GDP because of low economic productivity and lesser lifetime earnings. It also caused 2.3 lakh premature deaths in the country.
• The NITI Aayog-CSIR report assessed lead poisoning caused by battery recycling, occupational hazards like lead mining, smelting, welding, soldering and automobile repatriating as well as other sources like adulterated spices, cosmetics and traditional medicines.
• It found that lead poisoning continues to spike in India despite the phasing out of usage of lead in petrol – the major source of lead poisoning – by the year 2000.
• The recent study confirmed that India has the highest prevalence of lead poisoning among children under the age of 19.
• This is causing slow, irreversible brain damages that are adversely affecting the children’s intellectual capabilities and causing other health complications.
• The report found that Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have the highest average blood lead levels (BLL) among the Indian states. They accounted for 40% the total Indian population with high average BBL.
• The report called for the implementation of national and state-level policies to tackle the issue of lead poisoning.
• These include identification of at-risk population through BLL monitoring, finding the sources of spike in BLLs and sensitization of healthcare workers to strengthen the monitoring, detection and treatment against lead poisoning.
• It also recommends conducting targeted research and intervention to identify new sources of lead poisoning.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Lead Poisoning:

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. Its widespread use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant public health problems in many parts of the world.

KEY FACTS:

• Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
• Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time. Human exposure is usually assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
• Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus.
• There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
• Lead exposure is preventable.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

4. GLOBAL STATUS OF MULTI-HAZARD EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS — TARGET G

THE CONTEXT: The report titled “Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems — Target G” was jointly released by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the occasion of International Day for Disaster Reduction (October 13).

THE EXPLANATION:

• The findings of the report are based on the assessment of the data from the Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM) – an online tool the enables the member states to report their progress on the targets of The Sendai Framework (2015-2030).
• Target G of the Sendai Framework seeks to increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) and disaster risk information and assessment by the year 2030.
• The recently released report found that 50 per cent the countries in the world do not have early warning systems to prepare against natural disasters.
• Africa, South America and several countries in Arab and Caribbean region have very low coverage of MHEWS.
• On average, at least 40% of countries in every region have reported the use of MHEWS.
• Less than half of Least Developing Countries (LDC) and only 33 per cent of Small Island Developing Countries have MHEWS.
• The number of deaths in countries with limited early warming coverage is eight times higher than in countries with substantial to comprehensive coverage.
• An early warning system is up to the mark if it covers the four elements – risk knowledge, technical warning and monitoring service, communication and dissemination of warnings and community response capability.
• The recent report called for the increased investment in all these elements, with a particular focus on risk knowledge to improve disaster planning and boosting capacity of at-risk community for early action.
• It also called for increasing investments in data and technology for strengthening hazard monitoring, faster warning dissemination and better tracking of progress.
• It also recommends rating of effectiveness of the MHEWS, especially in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing countries.

About United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):

• UNDRR (formerly UNISDR) is the United Nations focal point for disaster risk reduction. UNDRR oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing what works in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk.
• UNISDR’s Strategic Framework 2016-2021 has a vision to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses for a sustainable future with the mandate to act as the custodian of the Sendai Framework, supporting countries and societies in its implementation, monitoring and review of progress.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. SCIENTISTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLANTED AND INTEGRATED HUMAN BRAIN CELLS INTO NEWBORN RATS

THE CONTEXT: Scientists have successfully implanted and integrated human neurons into new-born rats.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Studying of complex psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism is difficult since animals do not experience them like people and human beings cannot be used for the research.
• Human brain cells made using stem cells in perti dishes do not grow to the size of human neurons and their isolation from human body makes it difficult to study the symptoms of the neurological disorders.
• These limitations are addressed by implanting and integrating a group of human brain cells called organoid into the brains of new-born rats.
• Integration of human brain cells in new-born rats helps research psychiatric disorders and test treatment against them.
• Only young rats are used for the implantation since brain stops developing after a certain age in rats. This limits how the implanted brain cells integrate.
• The researchers found that the organoids can grow relatively large in young rats, covering about one-third of the rat’s brain.
• The integration was tested by blowing air across the rats’ whiskers, which triggered electrical activity in the human neurons. This means that the human tissue in the brain was able to process the external stimulation of the rat’s body.
• The researchers also tested and concluded that the implanted human neuron can send signals back to the rat’s body.
• The technique was recently used to study the Timothy Syndrome. The researchers found that organoids made using brain cells of patients with Timothy Syndrome grew more slowly and displayed less electrical activity than those from healthy people.
• This study will play a major role in improving the current understanding about human brain development and neurodevelopment disorders.
• However, implanted neurons did not replicate the key features of the developing human brain.
• The implantation of human neurons in rats does not make them more human-like because of the limitations on how deeply these neurons integrate with the rat brain.
• However, these barriers may not exist in species closely related to humans like primates and thus causes ethical concerns over progressing further into the experiment.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

6. WHAT ARE RYTHU BHAROSA KENDRAS?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, an Ethiopian delegation led by the country’s Agricultural Minister Dr Meles MekonenYimer is in Andhra Pradesh (AP) to study the first-of-its kind Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), which have been set up by the AP Government.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the officials, that Ethiopia has shown keen interest in the RBKs. Since the country wants to increase its agriculture output, it seeks to improve the quantity and quality of yields, reduce production costs, and provide newer skills to its farmers.

What are Rythu Bharosa Kendras?

• Set up for the first time in the country, the RBKs are unique seeds-to-sales, single-window service centres for farmers that have been set up across the state.
• They are a one-stop solution to all farmers’ needs and grievances. RBKs sell pre-tested quality seeds, certified fertilisers and animal feed. Farmers can purchase or hire farm equipment, and even sell their produce at the prevailing MSP in the RBKs.
• Touted as role models for the country, agriculture and horticulture officials manning the RBKs also provide services like soil testing and make recommendations — on which crops to sow, and quantity and type of fertiliser to be used. The state government also pays crop insurance, procures grains and makes payments to farmers through the RBKs.

Have the RBKs proved to be helpful to farmers?

• RBKs facilitate interaction between farmers, agriculture scientists, and agriculture extension officers right at the village level. Apart from providing services and items for sale, RBK officials demonstrate new farm equipment and provide training to farmers.
• Based on inputs provided by officials after soil testing and weather conditions, many farmers have changed their cropping patterns and benefited immensely, according to the state Agriculture Department. The RBKs have been responsible for elimination of spurious seeds and uncertified and dangerous fertilisers, which can cause crop damage and failures.
• Over 10,700 RBKs — multi-functional kiosks with digital Aadhar authentication equipment — have been set up across the state. The RBKs, staffed by agriculture and horticulture graduates, help farmers decide the crops they should cultivate in a scientific manner.
• They also assist in selling their produce at MSPs, through supporting systems of e-cropping, geo-tagging, and the CM App through which payments are made to farmers. AP CM who floated the RBK concept says it is a game-changer for Andhra Pradesh’s farmers.
• The Centre has recently nominated the RBK concept for the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s “Champion’’ award. Officials say several agrarian countries are expressing interest in understanding the RBK concept and seek to implement it in their countries.