05 Aug 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

August 5th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction
2. Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA)
3. Fluorosis
4. Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon

1. Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction

Context:

Webinar series jointly organised by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Details:

• The webinar series included four webinars on the issues of thunderstorms and lightning, cloudbursts and floods, cyclones and storm surges, climate change and extreme weather events.

To know more about cyclones and storm surges, check CNA dated May 22, 2020.

2. Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA)

Context:

GKRA providing livelihood opportunities to migrant labourers of 116 districts in 6 States.

• The 6 states are Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• The scheme led to the creation of a number of public infrastructure works such as water conservation structures, rural houses, cattle sheds, farm ponds, community sanitary complexes, etc.

To know more about GKRA, check CNA dated June 19, 2020.

3. Fluorosis

Context:

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute of the DST, have developed an equipment-free paper-strip based naked eye fluoride ion detection and quantification kit in drinking water.

Details:

• It can be operated by non-experts for household use to evade Fluorosis-based disorders.

What is Fluorosis?

• Fluorosis is a crippling disease resulting from the deposition of fluorides in the hard and soft tissues of the body due to excess intake of fluoride through drinking water/food products/industrial pollutants over a long period.
• It results in dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, and non-skeletal fluorosis.
• Dental fluorosis affects children and discolours and disfigures the teeth.
• Skeletal fluorosis affects the bones and major joints of the body like neck, backbone, shoulder, hip and knee joints resulting in severe pain, rigidity or stiffness in joints.
  • Severe forms of skeletal fluorosis result in marked disability.
• Non-skeletal forms of fluorosis are earlier manifestations, which develop long before the onset of typical changes in teeth and skeletal bones these are seen as gastrointestinal symptoms and may overlap with other diseases leading to misdiagnosis.
  • It affects men, women and children of all age groups.
• Easy detection of fluorides in water can help prevent public health hazards.
• There is no treatment for severe cases of skeletal fluorosis, only efforts can be made towards reducing the disability which has occurred.
• However, the disease is easily preventable if diagnosed early and steps are taken to prevent intake of excess fluoride through the provision of safe drinking water, promote nutrition and avoid foods with high fluoride content.
• Dental and skeletal fluorosis is irreversible and no treatment exists, the only remedy is prevention by keeping fluoride intake within safe limits.

4. Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon

Context:

Winners of the Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon declared.

Details:

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog declared the results of its flagship national annual innovation marathon challenge, ATL Tinkering Marathon 2019 held over 5000+ Atal Tinkering Labs across the country.
• 150 winners were announced.

To know more about the Marathon challenge, check PIB dated Nov 14, 2019.

Read previous PIB here.

August 5th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here