News: Government has recently said in Lok Sabha that it has achieved the target of abolishing manual scavenging. What are the issues with these claims? Bonded labour: There are large number of manual scavengers who are even employed as bonded labourers in the states like Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura and Bihar, UP. Child Labour: Manual scavenging is one of the largest employers of… Continue reading “Bonded labour, child labour-Manual scavenging in India is far from being eradicated”
Tag: down to earth
Neurocysticercosis: Worms thriving in brains, Assam’s tea garden workers lose lives, livelihoods
What is the News? According to a study, Neurocysticercosis(NCC) was one of the leading causes of seizures in developing countries particularly in areas without proper sanitation and where pig-rearing was widespread. What is Neurocysticercosis(NCC)? Neurocysticercosis(NCC) is a zoonotic disease. It is a neurologic infection caused when a human consumes meat from — or is indirectly… Continue reading Neurocysticercosis: Worms thriving in brains, Assam’s tea garden workers lose lives, livelihoods
“Radioactive Pollution in water: A global concern for human health”
Context-Although Water pollution has been a concern since many decades .But, radioactive pollution of water is newly emerging threat. Recently, radioactive contamination and associated health impacts have been reported in many parts of the globe. Radioactivity is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of particles or waves from the unstable nuclei of some elements. What causes… Continue reading “Radioactive Pollution in water: A global concern for human health”
World unprepared for future pandemics: Global Health Security Index 2021
What is the News? The Global Health Security Index 2021 has been released. About Global Health Security Index(GHS) GHS is the first comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of health security and related capabilities across 195 countries. Published by: Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The report was developed with Economist… Continue reading World unprepared for future pandemics: Global Health Security Index 2021
Delhi Pollution-Looking at social. political facets of climate crisis can help in better adaptation
News– Rising Pollution level is a health hazard and a violation of Article 21. India is currently ranked the fifth-most polluted country in the Global Air Quality Index list. interventions dictated by policies, so far, have been binary in nature. This is primarily because we have been treating air pollution as a technological problem or as one that requires the… Continue reading Delhi Pollution-Looking at social. political facets of climate crisis can help in better adaptation
World Inequality report 2022: World’s most extreme inequality increase in India
What is the News? World Inequality report 2022 has been released. The report is authored by Lucas Chancel, co-director of the World Inequality Lab and coordinated by famed French economist Thomas Piketty among others. Contents1 What are the key findings of the World Inequality Report 2022 related to India?2 What is the significance of these… Continue reading World Inequality report 2022: World’s most extreme inequality increase in India
Draft extended producer responsibility policy: How gaps in achieving fundamental goals can be closed
News: MoEFCC has released a draft EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) policy for management of plastic waste in India. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 introduced the concept of EPR to manage plastics in India. It has seen inadequate progress in the last five years as the policy failed to translate into action, due to the… Continue reading Draft extended producer responsibility policy: How gaps in achieving fundamental goals can be closed
Storm surges and relief: Why India should rethink its cyclone response
News: Factors such as the cyclone’s intensity, high tides and topography results in storm surges, which are the principal cause of destruction in major cyclones. It is important that, in this period, we recognise that there is more to cyclone risk management than the total number of evacuees. However, the usual approach has certain deficiencies… Continue reading Storm surges and relief: Why India should rethink its cyclone response
India revokes PepsiCo’s potato patent
Contents1 What is the News?2 Background3 What has been done now?4 What is the significance of this decision? What is the News? The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Authority has revoked a PVP (Plant Variety Protection) certificate granted to PepsiCo India Holding (PIH) on a potato variety (FL-2027) on multiple grounds. Note:… Continue reading India revokes PepsiCo’s potato patent
Did poor government handling in Kerala cause 2018 floods? Yes, says CAG
What is the news? A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out at the lapses in Kerala governments planning, capacity building, flood forecasting and dam management during 2018 state floods. What are the key findings of the report? Bureaucratic issues– The flood plains of Kerala had not been identified and… Continue reading Did poor government handling in Kerala cause 2018 floods? Yes, says CAG
