Current Affairs – February 01, 2021

 

India

President launches first round of Pulse Polio Programme 2021

President Ram Nath Kovind on January 30, 2021 launched the countrywide Pulse Polio Programme for 2021 by administering polio drops to children less than five years old at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Polio National Immunization Day (NID), also known as the “Polio Ravivar”, was observed on January 31.

73^rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi observed Martyrs’ Day

The 73rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was observed as Martyrs’ Day on January 30, 2021. He was assassinated on this day in 1948.

ISRO Chief inaugurates satellite developed by engineering students in Coimbatore

ISRO Chief K. Sivan inaugurated a private satellite, developed by a group of 12 students of Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore at the cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The academic satellite will be launched on February 28 from Sriharikota Range by PSLV C-15. The satellite will study Internet of Things (IoT) among other subjects.

Economy & Corporate

Nepal awards 679 MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project to India’s SJVN

A meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN), whose Chair is Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, decided to award the 679-Megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower Project to Indian public sector company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) delivery method.

14 new minor forest produce (MFP) items included under MSP scheme

The government has decided to include 14 new minor forest produce (MFP) items under the mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce through minimum support price (MSP) scheme to provide remunerative and fair prices to tribal gatherers of forest produces. Newly included items are Tasar Coccoon, elephant apple dry, bamboo shoot, Malkangani seed and wild dry mushroom among others.

World

EAM S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken hold talks on phone

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken have spoken over phone recently during which the two leaders discussed issues of mutual concern, including COVID-19 vaccination efforts, regional developments and next steps in expanding bilateral ties.

U.N. urges countries to repatriate children of Islamic State extremists from Syria

The U.N. counterterrorism chief is urging countries to repatriate the 27,000 children stranded in a massive camp in northeastern Syria, many of them sons and daughters of Islamic State extremists who once controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Vladimir Voronkov told an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council on January 29, 2021 that “the horrific situation of the children in Al Hol (camp) is one of the most pressing issues in the world today.”

UN Chief receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in New York City

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Guterres, 71, received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at a New York City public school on January 28, 2021.

Bangladesh sends 3^rd atch of Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char Island

The third batch of Rohingya refugees living in camps at Cox’s Bazar district sailed for relocation at the newly developed facility at the Bhashan Char island in Bangladesh on January 29, 2021. Rohingya are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing the military crackdown in the Rakhine province of Myanmar in August 2017.

Russia: Vladimir Putin signs bill to extend nuclear treaty with US

Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 29, 2021 signed a bill into law ratifying a five-year extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the US. The validity period of the New START will be extended by five years to February 5, 2026.

Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen, who warned of ozone hole, dies at 87n

Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen, who warned of ozone hole and was awarded the 1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize, died at the age of 87 on January 28, 2021. Crutzen’s science clearly drove political action. A 1987 treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, led to a worldwide phase-out of ozone-eating chemicals, including the chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration and other applications.

Sports

Ladakh: First Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival concludes

In Kargil Ladakh, the first ever Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival, 2021 concluded at Munskit Chumik Zanskar on January 30, 2021. The Festival featured various cultural and sports activities like ice hockey, snow skiing, horse riding, yak riding, ice climbing, snow sculpture, archery matches.

Economic & Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 56, Issue No. 5, 30 Jan, 2021

Comment

The Anxious State

Questionable Permission, Ineffective Programme

From the Editor's Desk

‘Unintended’ Consequences of State Intervention

Gopal Guru

From 50 Years Ago

From 50 Years Ago: Enough of This Planning

Strategic Affairs

The Capital–Labour Rupture and the World Order

Atul Bhardwaj

Commentary

Technology Diffusion and Competition in the Smartphone Industry

Shashi Kr Shaw

Working with Women’s Groups to Improve Nutrition in India

Kalyani Raghunathan, Sapna Desai

Remembering B D Dhawan (1938–2020)

M Dinesh Kumar, P K Viswanathan, R Maria Saleth

Book Reviews

Beyond the Limits to Growth

Satya Brata Das

Managing Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy

Ajit Phadnis, Manan Pathak

Perspectives

Situating Women in Tamil Mahabharatas - Questioning Frames, Breaking Moulds

Vijaya Ramaswamy

Special Articles

Performance of Self-help Groups in India

Pankaj Sinha, Nitin Navin

Rural Economic Growth and Emerging Pattern of Rural Towns

Niti Mehta

Impact of Public Distribution System on Quality and Diversity of Food Consumption

Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Imrana Qadeer

Notes

Diabetes Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies - Awareness and Perception of Diabetics in Punjab

Pooja Kansra, Sumit Oberoi

Current Statistics

Current Statistics

Letters

Paving Way for Uniform Civil Code

Arudra Ravindran

In Opposition to State Crackdown

AISA, AISF, APCR, Bhim Army, Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, BSCEM and 31 others

Appointments/Programmes/Announcements

Advertisements

The role of occupational therapy for children with learning disabilities

 Seema is six years old and in class 1. Her parents consulted me because despite knowing her classwork and answering everything orally in class, her teacher found that she could not copy from the board, had incomplete written work and had alphabets and number reversals. This is an example of Learning Disability (LD), a challenge that occupational therapists often need to work with.

LD is a diagnosis that encompasses difficulties in processing information, manifested as problems with the 3Rs: reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia) and arithmetic (dyscalculia). In addition to having one or more types of learning difficulties, children with LD also present with some other coexisting diagnoses like attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depression and tics. Though not intellectually challenged, as reflected in a normal IQ, children with LD have difficulties with academic performance. Studies suggest that 5-15 percent of children in India have a type of learning disability.

Occupational Therapy is a branch of medicine that helps individuals optimise their performances in meaningful activities that occupy their time. For children, this would comprise school, play, and social interaction with friends. Children with LD have difficulties in each of these areas and an occupational therapist helps improve sensory processing skills (understanding, registering and responding to sensory information), fine motor skills (required for writing), attention (by improving sitting tolerance), and social behaviour (interacting with peers). Occupational therapists work on rewiring the brain to enhance such behaviour. This is achieved through meaningful activities that are motivating and fun to children, helping them practice a skill and retain it. For example, an OT session could include sensory based play using swings, monkey bars and obstacle courses, fine motor activities through board games and adaptive aides like the iPad to enhance time management and visual attention.

Sensory processing is the ability of the brain to receive information from sense organs such as the eyes, ears, joints, and skin, process it, and help the body give an appropriate response. Examples would be responding to the teacher, reading something, standing in line for assembly, writing something down or sitting straight. OT works on improving sensory processing using sensory play and goal-directed interventions. Fine motor skills are also targeted through various games used to build muscles and strengthen small hands, helping them hold pencils longer and write faster. OTs today employ visual schedules and timers as aides to help make the concept of time more concrete for children who have difficulty paying attention or are disorganised.  Technology is also being used as a tool to help children with LD.

OT is a big proponent of early intervention where the motto is “the younger the child, the better the outcome.” This being said, it is important to remember that the brain can constantly rewire itself and therapy will continue to work at any age as long as the child is presented with innovative challenges that keep her/him engaged.

By Dr Franzina Coutinho

Source: Indian Express, 15/01/21

Quote of the Day

 

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan

“मैं अपने जीवन में बार-बार असफल हुआ हूं और इसीलिए मैं सफल होता हूं।”
माइकल जॉर्डन

Risa in the Culture of Tripura

 The Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb recently wore “Risa” on Kokborok Day. The Chief Minister of late has made Risa, his style statement. The Government of Tripura is to promote Risa at national and international level.

What is Risa?

• Risa is the traditional dress of Tripura. Risa is worn by both men and women of Tripura.
• The dress for women in the upper half of the body has two parts namely Risa and Rikutu. Risa covers the chest part and rikutu covers the whole upper part. The dress of women that covers the lower half of the body is called Rigwani or Rignai.
• Each clan of Tripura has their own “Rignai” pattern and design. The clans of Tripura are identified based on the Rignai.
• Men of Tripura use Risa for head turban and also for tying the waist over Dhuti. When men wear Risa, it gives them strength and indicates the status of the person. It is also used as muffler in winter season.
• Risa is also used in Tripura culture to hold baby.
• “Risa Sormani” is an adolescent ceremony of a Tripuri girl child. On this day, the 12-14 year old girl is given risa to wear for the first time.

History of Risa

• The history of Tripuri attire originated before Manikya kings’ rule.
• In ancient period, the intelligence of a woman in the community was judged based on her woven Risa and Rignai designs.
• The Manikya king Maharaj Trilochana had invented 250 Rignai and Risa designs for his 250 wives. However, most of these designs were lost with passage of time. The Tripura Government is therefore trying to promote Risa and other traditional attire of Tripura.

Kokborok Day

Kokborok Day is celebrated in Tripura to celebrated the development of Kokborok language. Every year, the day is observed on January 19. The Kokborok is the official language of Tripura. January 19 was chosen to celebrate Kokborok Day as the language was recognized as an official language on this day in 1979.

Current Affairs – January 29, 2021

 

India

PM addresses the rally of NCC in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at Cariappa Ground in Delhi on January 28, 2021. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force were present on the occasion.

Indo-French year of Environment launched

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on January 28, 2021 launched the Indo-French year of Environment with his French counterpart Barbara Pompili. The basic objective is to strengthen Indo-French cooperation in sustainable development, increase the effectiveness of actions in favor of global environment protection and give them greater visibility.

National Marine Turtle Action Plan launched

Considering the need to have a conservation paradigm for marine mega fauna and marine turtles, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released ‘Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National Marine Turtle Action Plan’ in New Delhi January 28, 2021.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses WEF’s event on Restoring Cross Border Mobility

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare addressed the event on Restoring Cross Border Mobility by World Economic Forum’s Common Trust Network on January 28, 2021 through video conference. The purpose of the event was to discuss the policies, practices and partnerships needed to reopen borders and enable essential travel, tourism and commerce in a safe and sustainable way.

India, Japan review progress of projects in Northeastern region

India and Japan on January 28, 2021 reviewed progress of various ongoing projects in the Northeastern region in areas of connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development and harnessing of water resources. The review was carried out at the fifth joint meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Japanese Ambassador Suzuki Satoshi.

NSA Ajit Doval, his US counterpart Jake Sullivan held discussions

Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan discussed continuing close co-operation in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting regional security, according to the White House.

PM Modi addresses WEF’s Davos Dialogue virtually

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Dialogue via video conferencing on January 28, 2021.

Economy & Corporate

National Informatics Centre Services Inc. celebrates 25 years of its establishment

National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI), a Public Sector Enterprise under National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), celebrated 25 years of its establishment on January 28, 2021. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice attended the event as the Chief Guest.

Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till Feb 28

The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on January 28, 2021. Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July.

World

NZ and Vietnam top COVID-19 “performance index”

New Zealand and Vietnam were ranked the best performing countries in their response to the pandemic according to a COVID-19 “performance index” put together by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think-tank, which sought to assess the impact of geography, political systems and economic development in assessing outcomes. India ranked 86 out of 98 countries.

NZ and Denmark top Corruption Perception Index

India’s rank has slipped six places to 86^th among 180 countries in corruption perception index (CPI) in 2020. For 2020, Transparency International (TI)’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was released on January 28, 2021. The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people. New Zealand and Denmark were ranked first.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day to be observed on Jan 30

January 30, 2021 will mark the second annual World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, highlighting the global community’s commitment to ending Neglected Tropical Diseases that cause immeasurable suffering among the world’s most marginalized communities.  India joins the world to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases. On this day the Qutub Minar will be lit up along with other landmarks across the world.

Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman passes away at 94

Cloris Leachman, an American actress whose career spanned more than seven decades, died on January 27, 2021 at the age of 94. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘The Last Picture Show’ in 1971.

A science teacher explains: Are cockroaches resistant to nuclear radiation?

 A cockroach is undoubtedly one of the toughest and most resilient creatures planet earth has ever known. Crawling and buzzing around for nearly 250 million years and belonging to the Jurassic period, they roamed with cavemen and witnessed the evolution of humankind. Having survived the giant asteroid 66 million years ago, which wiped out the mighty dinosaurs, cockroaches have an uncanny ability to survive and flourish in both arctic and extreme tropical conditions.

Practically unstoppable, you cannot block them as they can amazingly squeeze through a crevice as thin as a quarter of their body height in less than a second while capable of running at a speed of about 50 body lengths per second nearly equivalent to a human running at 320 km/h. Capable of withstanding forces more than 900 times their body weight without sustaining an injury, one cannot crush them easily. These exquisite creatures can live for nearly a week without their heads. Without highly pressurised blood vessels, unlike humans, they do not bleed out. Instead, their neck seals off the opening. With an open circulatory system, they can breathe through spiracles without the head and eventually die of thirst. Surprisingly, they can survive without food till about a month and without water, for about a week. While they cannot regenerate their heads, they are blessed with impressive regenerating powers capable of regrowing lost limbs, antennae and even their eyes.

They can run, walk, jump, almost fly and swim while holding their breath for 40 minutes. With a diverse diet ranging from normal food – sugar, meat cheese and even cardboard, nails, blood including rotten food they can find a meal just about anywhere even though it may be poisonous to most animals. Equipped with a super-strong immune system that seeks out and kills harmful microbes, no environment is unhygienic, no food inedible for them.

With remarkable talents, abilities akin to superpowers, they are so smelly, slimy, greasy and gross, that we do not have a superhero “Cockroach Man”, despite roaches being an ideal candidate for the same while we do have superhero characters based on much less capable and primitive creatures like the spider, ant and wasp.

According to urban legend, cockroaches have the grit to withstand and outlive a nuclear disaster. This theory further got credence because after the disaster bombs namely “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the ubiquitous cockroaches were seen on the site of rubble and destruction. The question is, is this fact or fiction?

Actually, it is a bit of both! Extensive research has proved that roaches have a remarkable ability to endure radiations. While radiation of 1000 radon units (rad), which was emitted in Hiroshima, Nagasaki explosions is fatal for humans when exposed for 10 minutes, 50 percent of the roaches exposed to this level remain alive and kicking and even at 10000 rad about 30 percent would be healthy. This is seemingly the tolerance limit as when exposed to a higher level of radiation, their survival rate was marginal. With much slower cell reproduction cycle, roaches can withstand radiation, unless they are going through the ‘molting process’ or ‘exoskeleton growing phase’ when they are weak and vulnerable to the exposure with a high probability of fatality. Directly exposed to a nuclear blast, they succumb to intense heat.

The extraordinary abilities of roaches have inspired scientists to develop rescue robots that could be used to locate survivors in confined spaces in the event of a natural calamity like earthquakes or manmade disasters.

Will the roaches survive the nuclear apocalypse and inherit the earth?

The answer is a clear no, notwithstanding being “insectes extraordinaire” unlike fruit flies, flower beetles and scorpions, the roaches cannot endure Nuclear Armageddon much against the common perception at large.

By Rachna Arora

(The writer is PGT- Physics at Shiv Nadar School, Noida)

Source: Indian Express, 24/01/21