01 Dec 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Child Protection Services Scheme
2. Policy to promote Women Empowerment
3. World AIDS Day
4. Science Technology and Innovation Hub
5. Bijli Utsav
6. Omicron Variant
7. Gender Inclusion Fund

1. Child Protection Services Scheme

GS II, Governance & Polity Related

Prelims: The Child Protection Services Scheme and its objective, Constitutional provisions for child protection.

Mains: Significance of the scheme 

Context: In order to deliver services to children in difficult situations, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to implement a centrally sponsored scheme called the Child Protection Services Scheme.

Objectives of the Scheme (Relevant points for Prelims)

• The  Child Protection Services Scheme aims at ensuring age-appropriate education of children.
• Nutrition of children
• Access to vocational training
• Recreation 
• Proper delivery of healthcare services
• Counselling
• The Child Care Institutions operating under the Ministry of Women and Child Development will look after the objectives of the scheme and its equal implementation among rural and urban children.

Also Read about ICDS in the linked article.

Significance of the scheme: (Relevant points for Mains)

• The census of 2011 revealed that there are 472 million children under the age of 18 and they occupy 39% of the total population. Therefore it becomes extremely important to secure and protect the children and their rights that would lead to the culmination of a welfare state as envisaged by the Constitution.
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been entrusted with the directive of monitoring the laws, policies and administrative mechanisms that are in agreement with the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
• The NCPCR will work in association with the State Commissions for the protection of Child Rights through consultation, webinars, and planning important awareness programmes. This will exemplify an excellent instance of cooperation between the centre and state towards a noble purpose.

Read more about child protection in India in the linked article.

How the Indian Constitution protects child rights (Important for Prelims)

• Article 21 A – This provision of Part III of the Constitution guarantees the Right to free and compulsory education for all children within the age group of 6-14.
• Article 24 – Ensures the Right to be protected against employment in hazardous industries till the age of 14.
• Article 45 – This Directive Principle of State Policy promotes early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.

2. Policy to promote Women Empowerment

GS I Related, Role of women

Context: The important and topical subject of women empowerment was highlighted in a session of the Rajya Sabha wherein the government initiatives towards women empowerment were discussed.

Mains: The issue of women empowerment, Government’s Intervention and the way forward.

Government Initiatives to empower women

• India has come a long way from the age of social discrimination against women to the present time wherein the concepts of women empowerment and gender equality have become key priorities. 
• The Government of India has taken active participation in providing impetus to the establishment of gender equality and women empowerment as envisaged by SDG 5.
• Various schemes of the Government  have intervened to bring in social, educational, economic and political upliftment of women such as
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – Aims at protecting the interests of the girl child, preventing gender-biased activities in the society and in various organisations.
  • National Social Assistance Programme – This programme of the Ministry of Rural Development facilitated the increase of pension for poor, elderly, disabled widows from rupees 200 to rupees 800.
  • Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) – Looks after the security of elderly women.
  • Scheme for adolescent girls (SAG)

• The  National Education Policy of 2020 emphasized gender equity and worked towards introducing opportunities for equal access to quality education.
• To expand the employment opportunities and economic independence of women the government has provided training in collaboration with Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. In addition to this, the Government of India also enacted labour codes to assist women to work in a congenial and safe environment.
• The crime against women has been taken into account and different legislations have been made to protect the dignity and rights of women. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, Prevention of sexual harassment at workplace (POSH), Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006, the Dowry Provision Act was brought into action.

Walking Ahead: 

• Despite a series of legislation being enacted we witness crime against women rising with every passing day. This is a time when our lawmakers and administrators must ascertain the loopholes that prevail in the implementation of the policies and programmes. 
• Most of the time the policies remain decorated in the files especially in matters related to women safety which is a major issue. This must be addressed to increase women participation in schools, colleges and workplaces. However, India has come a long way when it comes to women participation in various sectors.
• The Government of India has decided to implement an umbrella scheme called ‘Mission Shakti’ which aims to offer an integrated approach for the safety, security and empowerment of women and thereby making them equal partners in nation-building. This will be a welcoming step towards the progress of the entire concept of women empowerment.

3. World AIDS Day

Related to GSI Society Section, GS II Health Section and GS III Science and Technology Section

Prelims: About World AIDS Day (when and why is it celebrated?), about AIDS, About NACO

Mains: Prevention of discrimination against AIDS patients

Context: World AIDS Day celebration was organised on the 1st of December 2021 by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) which emphasized important aspects of the global theme for 2021 which is “End inequalities. End AIDS”.

About World AIDS Day:

• World AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus) Day is celebrated to tackle the deadly HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and spread awareness and prevent discrimination against those who suffer from this detrimental disease.
• This day also commemorates the individuals who lost their lives due to HIV related illnesses.
• This day, in history, was celebrated as the first health day in the year 1988.
• Every year on the 1st of December, several communities of the world come together and celebrate World AIDS Day. The year 2021 marks 40 years since the onset of the disease.
• The theme for every year is chosen by the Global Steering Committee of the World AIDS Campaign. 

Read more about AIDS & HIV in the linked article.

Preventive Measures Discussed: 

• It was highlighted in the event that there has been a considerable improvement in the number of individuals diagnosed with HIV in terms of their free access to antiretroviral treatment.
• Adaptability and customization of strategies are major areas of focus for NACO to end AIDS.
• Special attention will be given to eliminating the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
• The three zero targets to eliminate the pandemic were mentioned:
  • Zero infections
  • Zero deaths
  • Zero discrimination

• The Digital India campaign has played a remarkable role in assisting NACO to revamp its monitoring units with the help of an IT-enabled system. The NACO mobile application was launched for better management of modules for AIDS which would benefit the private practitioners.
• For the establishment of a comprehensive approach to tackling AIDS, the Government of India is trying to engage the public and private entities, NGOs, pharma industries to mobilize their support and remove the social stigma attached to AIDS.

Read more about AIDS and India in the linked article.

4. Science Technology and Innovation Hub

Related to GS III, Science and Technology; GS II, government initiatives     

Prelims: About the STI hubs

Mains: Significance

Context: The Union Minister for Science and Technology presented an update on seven Science Technology Innovation hubs established for the socio-economic development of SC (Scheduled Caste) and ST (Scheduled Tribes) communities.

About STI hubs: 

• The STI hubs, established by the Department of Science and Technology, work towards providing training on skill development for capacity building of SC and ST populations in science and technology.
• STI hubs have been set up in the eastern region of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Hyderabad, Ladakh, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya.
• These STI hubs are encouraged to develop technologies in areas such as drinking water, aquaculture, oil extraction, mushroom cultivation, low-cost sanitary napkins, nutrition. 

Significance: 

• The STI hubs will address the weakest linkage existing in the livelihood system through science and technology interventions.
• This will promote social enterprises based on livelihood systems.
• This will work on Indigenous Knowledge Systems by converting the skills into livelihood opportunities.

5. Bijli Utsav

Related to GS III Economy; Energy

Prelims: About the event, NBFC

Context: In order to celebrate 75 years of Independence, Bijli Utsav was organised by REC limited, a public infrastructure finance company under the Ministry of Power in Assam.

About the Event:

• This event highlighted the importance of electricity, challenges faced during the electrification of remote areas and access to power.
• Several competitions were held and LED bulbs were distributed to the winners.
• REC Limited is an NBFC that focuses on financing the power sector and its development across the country. It is engaged in projects such as generation, transmission, distribution and renewable energy sectors.

6. Omicron Variant

Related to GS III, Science & Technology; GS II Health

Prelims: Important Facts

Mains: Preventive Measures

Context: Samples of genome sequencing of passengers testing positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been collected and the Government is continuing to keep a track of the situation.

Details:

• The new omicron variant has been declared as a variant of concern by the WHO and was detected first in South Africa.
• It is a globally dominant delta plus and the most troubling COVID-19 variant.
• Consists of high mutation capacity and rate.
• The name omicron has been derived from the Greek alphabet to prevent the stigma attached to the country that detected it. This was decided by the World Health Organisation.
• The new variant is alleged to reduce the efficiency of vaccines and other treatments along with diagnostic detection failure. 

Preventive Measures Suggested:

• A risk-based and scientifically designed approach is the need of the hour accompanied by a travel ban.
• The public health measures should be monitored and ensured that they are followed to stop the spread of the variant at the initial stage. These measures include proper usage of masks, social distancing and proper ventilation.
• The samples of passengers have been sent for genome sequencing to INSACOG labs to develop a whole government approach.

Read more on coronavirus variants in the link.

7. Gender Inclusion Fund

Related to GS II, Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors

Prelims: Important facts about the Fund

Mains: Significance

Context: The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education has released a guideline on the accountability of the school management in the matter of safety and security of children studying in government schools, government-aided schools and private schools. This includes the setting up of the Gender Inclusion Fund under the scope of the National Education Policy.

About:

• The Gender Inclusion Fund aims to deliver quality and equitable education for all girls.
• It will ensure 100% enrollment of girls in schools and record participation rate.
• The funds will assist the states to build up effective community-based interactions that would identify the cause of barriers that prevent girls’ education and look into the issues of transgender students.

Significance:

• The Gender Inclusion fund will be a welcoming step to reduce the gender gap and encourage girls to get enrolled in schools without any hesitation.
• This will provide a foundation stone for women empowerment by addressing the important issue of gender equality and result in increasing the nation’s capacity to popularise inclusive education for girls, socially and economically disadvantaged groups (SEDG) and individuals with disabilities and transgenders.
• This fund will offer scholarships to the students by a single-window system without any difficulties.

Read previous PIB here.

December 1st, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here