Madrasas ‘unfit’ for proper education, NCPCR tells SC
Why in the News?
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has argued to the Supreme Court that madrasas are not suitable or fit for children to receive proper education, in response to petitions challenging an Allahabad High Court judgment that struck down the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act, 2004.
NCPCR Criticizes Madrasas in India
- The NCPCR argues that madrasas in India promote the supremacy of Islam, despite only teaching a few NCERT books.
- The commission identifies curriculum issues, teacher eligibility, funding opaqueness, land law violations, and lack of holistic learning environment as major problems.
- Teachers in madrasas are largely reliant on conventional methods for learning religious texts, creating a haywire system.
- The commission also criticizes the lack of planning for social events and extracurricular activities, stating that madrasa education is not comprehensive or thorough.
- The commission also cites a violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution, which prohibits forced religious instruction or worship.
- The High Court ordered the transfer of madrasa students to regular schools, but the Supreme Court stayed the implementation in April.
- The commission also cites the Darul Uloom Deoband Madrasa in Uttar Pradesh, which has a strict interpretation of Sharia and has issued fatwas restricting followers in terms of faith, life, and other aspects.
Cabinet approves health cover for all aged 70 and above
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved health coverage for senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), benefiting nearly 4.5 crore families and six crore senior citizens by providing ₹5 lakh free health insurance cover on a family basis.
Exploring the Expansion of the AB PM-JAY Scheme
Manifesto Promise and Approval:
- The expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) was a key promise in the BJP manifesto. With the scheme’s approval, a significant new benefit is being introduced for senior citizens.
Eligibility for Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above:
- The scheme now extends benefits to all individuals aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status. This broad eligibility aims to ensure that senior citizens receive the healthcare support they need.
New Distinct Card for Seniors:
- To streamline the benefits process, eligible senior citizens will be issued a new, distinct card under the AB PM-JAY scheme. This card will help in easily accessing and managing their healthcare benefits.
Additional Coverage for Existing Beneficiaries:
- Senior citizens who are already covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year. Importantly, this top-up is for their personal use and will not need to be shared with family members under the age of 70.
Coverage for Other Seniors:
- For seniors who are not currently covered by AB PM-JAY, the scheme will provide up to ₹5 lakh per year on a family basis. This ensures that even those previously outside the scheme’s scope will receive substantial health coverage.
Choice for Current Public Health Insurance Beneficiaries:
- Senior citizens who are benefiting from other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have the option to continue with their existing schemes or opt for AB PM-JAY.
Inclusion of Private and ESIS Policyholders:
- The scheme clarifies that senior citizens aged 70 and above who are covered under private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) will also be eligible for benefits under AB PM-JAY. This inclusivity ensures a broader range of coverage options for seniors.
Scale of AB PM-JAY:
- AB PM-JAY is recognized as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. It provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, benefiting approximately 55 crore individuals or 12.34 crore families.
Announcement and Implementation:
- The expansion to include persons aged 70 and above was officially announced by Prime Minister Modi in April. This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing healthcare access for the senior population.
Centre gives clearance for ‘Mission Mausam’
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet approved ‘Mission Mausam’, a two-year program aimed at enhancing research and capacity in atmospheric sciences, weather surveillance, modelling, forecasting, and management. Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the mission will include the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems.
World’s ‘polar bear capital’ prepares for climate challenges
Why in the News?
Churchill, a remote town north of Winnipeg, Canada, is known for its abundant polar bear population. However, as climate change becomes a concern, locals are designing more flexible buildings and attracting a wider range of visitors to accommodate the potential impact of shrinking sea ice on the bear population.
Churchill’s Adaptation to Climate Change
- Churchill, a remote town north of Winnipeg, Canada, is adapting to climate change by designing more flexible buildings and attracting more diverse visitors.
- The town, once home to a large population, has seen a surge in bears due to the shrinking sea ice.
- A local mechanic has built a recreational vehicle to safely see bears, attracting tourists who spend an average of $5,000 a visit.
- Churchill is now billed as the polar bear capital of the world, offering upscale restaurants and plenty of mom-and-pop hotels.
- The town is also promoting tourism for beluga whales, highlighting opportunities for seeing the northern lights, spotting birds, and dogsledding.
- The town has taken over damaged infrastructure, such as the shuttered port and damaged train tracks, and has metal jacks for adjusting to changing weather conditions.
- Lauren Sorkin, executive director of the Resilient Cities Network, lauds Churchill’s proactive approach to adapting to climate change’s impact on the economy and tourism.
Organ-on-chip tech could boost BioE3 objective to personalise medicine
Researchers typically take a decade and $2.3 billion to bring a drug from lab to market, with a significant hurdle being that drugs that pass animal testing often fail in human testing.
India’s ‘BioE3’ Policy and the Global Organ-on-Chips Market
- India’s ‘BioE3’ policy aims to drive innovation in the biotechnology sector by establishing biomanufacturing facilities, bio-AI hubs, and bio-foundries.
- The policy focuses on precision therapeutics, aiming to develop and administer drugs according to individual patient needs.
- Recent advancements in human-relevant 3D culture models, or ‘new approach methods’ (NAMs), have shown promising results in precision therapeutics.
- The global organ-on-chip market is expected to be worth around $1.4 billion by 2032 due to increasing investments in R&D within NAMs, particularly in organ-on-a-chip technology.
- The demand to replace the use of animals to test drugs is a major driving factor in the organ-on-chip market.
- CN Bio and Vivodyne raised $21 million and $38 million in seed funding to expand their R&D in organ-on-chip technology.
Drug Testing and Development
- Traditional drug development process takes almost a decade and an average cost of $2.3 billion, with many drug candidates failing in the final stages of clinical trials.
- Organ-on-chip technology offers a more accurate and efficient platform for testing drugs without involving animals or humans in preclinical testing.
- Organ-on-chip devices are expected to provide a better understanding of the drug-candidate’s efficacy and toxicity, reduce the use of animals, and pave the way for personalised treatment.
- The FDA Modernisation Act 2.0 in September 2022 allows researchers to develop, use, and qualify organs-on-chips as a suitable alternative wherever applicable.
Investments in Technology
- The U.S. National Institutes of Health allocated $100 million in funding for scientists to develop specific organs-on-chip devices.
- The FDA Modernisation Act 2.0 in September 2022 allows researchers to develop, use, and qualify organs-on-chips as a suitable alternative wherever applicable.
- International pharmaceutical companies are evaluating organ-on-chip models in a bid to move away from animal testing.
Challenges for India
- India amended the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019 to permit the use of human organs-on-chips and other NAMs prior to and in conjunction with animal testing when evaluating new drugs.
- To fully harness the technology’s potential, India needs to establish dedicated centres that facilitate collaboration between industry and academia.
- The establishment of organ-on-chip centres could improve the healthcare system and boost the economy.
Main Body: Churchill’s adaptation strategies include:
- Flexible Building Designs: The town is investing in more flexible and resilient building designs to cope with the changing weather conditions caused by climate change. This includes constructing buildings that can withstand extreme weather and adjusting to shifting ice patterns.
- Enhanced Tourism Infrastructure: To attract and accommodate a diverse range of visitors, Churchill is promoting various tourist activities, including polar bear viewing, beluga whale watching, northern lights observation, bird spotting, and dogsledding. The town has developed upscale restaurants and hotels to cater to tourists.
- Infrastructure Management: Churchill has taken control of damaged infrastructure, such as the shuttered port and damaged train tracks. Metal jacks have been installed to adjust infrastructure to changing weather conditions, helping to maintain the town’s functionality.
- Recreational Vehicle for Bear Viewing: A local mechanic has created a specialized recreational vehicle for safe polar bear viewing. This innovation not only enhances tourism but also provides a safer way to observe polar bears, mitigating potential risks associated with increased bear activity.
- Proactive Climate Adaptation: The town’s approach to climate adaptation is praised by experts, such as Lauren Sorkin from the Resilient Cities Network. Churchill’s proactive measures aim to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on both the polar bear population and the local economy.
Conclusion: Churchill’s adaptation strategies illustrate a proactive and innovative approach to addressing the challenges posed by climate change. By enhancing infrastructure, promoting tourism, and developing specialized solutions for bear viewing, the town is working to safeguard its economy and protect its polar bear population amidst changing environmental conditions.